it's time to pray

Proverbs chapter two, beginning at verse one: "My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find...

First Samuel 13, verses 11 to 13: "Samuel said, 'What have you done?' Saul said, 'When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, "The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord." Therefore, I felt compelled, and offered a bu...

The book of Esther chapter four, verses 14 to 16: "'Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?' Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 'Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish,...

If Christ is in us, old things have passed away. That means all habits, old patterns and self-centered desires. It means a new value system comes in-a new heart, a new mind, and a new way of thinking, speaking and living. We adopt the position that what God says is good is good, and what God says is evil is evil. And we don't try to change that, even if it's in opposition to our agenda or this wor...

Second Samuel chapter six, verses six and seven: "And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God." Now when you look at this story, you and I see the mistake of Uzzah. In trying to pro...

On the occasion of Mother's Day, hear Proverbs chapter 31 beginning at verse 25: "Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many...

For almost 10 years now, I've been exhorting you and myself in New York City to pray. But today I'd like to pray for you, especially those who have suffered sorrow in this time of the coronavirus. Father God in Jesus' name, Lord, I ask that You would bring comfort that only You can bring to those that are listening to my voice today, who are in a place of sorrow, despair and fear of the future. Lo...

The book of Jeremiah chapter 29, beginning at verse 11: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found of you, says the Lord, and I will bring y...

It's time to pray for our families, for our schools, for people throughout the nation, for people who don't have a voice to cry out for themselves and for the unborn. Ask God to give us the grace to pray. Ask God in Jesus' name for the power to pray, for the courage to pray, for the faith to pray. That you and I would be a people that learn the lessons that God has been trying to teach us all thes...

Our religious-ness or empty religious effort, is an awful taste in the mouth of God. We attempt to be holy in our own strength. We attempt to be accepted by God because we read a lot of Scriptures, pray a lot or maybe just do a little bit better than we did yesterday-somehow thinking that this will make us acceptable to God. Although these are not bad things alone, without the heart of God, these...

The Gospel of Luke, chapter seven, beginning at verse 12: "And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, 'Do not weep.' Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still....

The book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 24 and 25. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." It's undoubtedly true that the family in our generation is under attack. The breakdown of the family unit has left man...

Psalm 46, verses 1 to 3 and 8 to 11, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling…Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars...

Matthew chapter 19 and verse 26: "But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" The disciples had just been confronted by something they knew they couldn't humanly do. I've always said that the end of ourselves is the beginning of God. It's a barrier through which we all have to cross. So many choose to stay on the side of unbelief...

Proverbs chapter one, verses 20 and 21: "Wisdom calls aloud outside, she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city." These verses tell us that God always has and always will call out to societies that are about to face terrible and, for some throughout history, fatal hardship. But sadly, when you go on in this chapter of s...

Philippians chapter four, verses four to nine, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ J...

In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verses 3 to 5, Paul says, "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." There's a strength available to us, and it's only available when we become weak....

The Gospel of Luke chapter eight, verses 24 and 25: "And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!' Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' And they were afraid, and marveled, saying one to another, 'Who can this be?'" Or, as the King James Bible says, "What m...

I want to remind you today that God extended His hand from heaven in sending His son Jesus Christ to die for us, washing away our sins. This is good news for all people. Not just for some people, not just strong people, not just the wealthy, or for those who have degrees on their wall. It's for all people-everyone born into this world. God sent his son Jesus as a baby in a seemingly powerless stat...

Philippians chapter four, verse six: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." The longer I've walked with God, the more prayer has become the absolute delight of my heart. The group that I pray with in the morning remarks with awe at how quickly God is answering our prayers. Many times, clear answers come bef...

In John chapter 14, verses 1 to 6 Jesus said, "'Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way yo...

John chapter four, beginning at verse nine: "Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, 'How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?' For Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, "Give me a drink", you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.'" So many peo...

The book of Isaiah 43:1-5 says, "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. F...

Psalm 146, beginning at verse five, "Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down;...

The book of Isaiah, chapter 41 verses 10 to 13: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them-those...