National Day of Prayer for Texas - September 3rd

Tomorrow, September 3rd, has been declared by President Trump to be a National Day of Prayer for Texas and all the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Abraham Lincoln signed a similar proclamation during the Civil War (1863) imploring God to hear from heaven and heal our land. Abraham Lincoln wrote that only a nation whose God was the LORD would be blessed. My prayer for tomorrow is similar in spirit to the one Abraham Lincoln' prayed. He was a man burdened for his nation and longed for God's healing touch. My prayer is that God would hear our united cry for Him to heal our land from the devastation of this natural disaster, but more importantly, to heal our land from the devastation being caused by human hands and hearts.

I recently heard a pastor talk about all of the ugliness, hatred, violence that has permeated our nation as being a manifestation of the spirit of the antichrist. He said that the hatred being displayed by some is not political, economical, or even logical. It is the spirit of the antichrist that is preparing the way for his ultimate reign over the nations as the global leader.

However, in these dark days, the Church has been given a very specific mission from God. We are called and commissioned to restrain the spirit of the antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 

The restrainer of the spirit of lawlessness is the Holy Spirit. The Church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior are the Church. So, the Church is the restrainer! Our job is to restrain the mystery of lawlessness until Jesus takes us out of the way (Rapture). Whether you believe the Rapture occurs before, mid, or after 7 years of Tribulation does not matter. Our job is the same until Jesus blows the trumpet and calls us home. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

So, tomorrow, it's time for the Church to unite. Jesus has commanded us to be ONE in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink unto one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13) A church united in prayer in Jesus Name is powerful. There is no other name greater than Jesus. There is no other name under heaven by which a person or a nation can be saved. There is no weapon formed against it that can prosper. It's time to pray in the authority He has given us by the shedding of His blood on the cross. In these last days, we must set aside all our petty differences and preach as the Apostle Paul preached.

One message - the Cross.

Paul said when it came to preaching he stuck to the main message, Jesus Christ and Him crucified because the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:2, 1:18)

It's time for the church to get back to the basics - Jesus and the saving power of the cross. The Apostle Paul exhorted the Church to "watch, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong and that everything we do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

So, tomorrow, if you are called by God to be a part of the restraining power of the Holy Spirit against the spirit of lawlessness, let's forget politics and unite under the headship of Jesus Christ and cry out to the God of Israel and pray for healing in our land.

LORD, GOD, we come before you in humility, united by the Holy Spirit and covered by the blood of the Lamb and ask that you hear our prayer.
Your Word says that if we, Your people called by Your name, come before you, humble themselves and seek Your face, turn from our wicked ways, and pray You will hear from heaven and heal our land. So, LORD, we come before You and ask that You heal our land from the devastation of this hurricane and other natural disasters coming, recede the waters, comfort those who have lost their homes, possessions, loved ones, and provide for their needs in supernatural ways. Open up the floodgates of heaven and rain down Your provision. Thank you, Jesus, for those who have responded to the call to help those who are suffering. Strengthen them for the work, protect them from harm, and bless their labors. LORD, revive Your church, strengthen us by the power of Holy Spirit to stand firm in the faith, to be brave and strong so that we can restrain the spirit of the antichrist that is trying to destroy our nation. Help us to stand in the gap in prayer and love for the people of this nation. We ask You, O God of Israel, the Great I AM, to pour out Your healing power over Texas and America, not because we are worthy but because You are a God of mercy, unfailing love, and compassion. We pray in the Name above every name, Jesus - the root of David, the bright and Morning Star, the Lion from the Tribe of Judah, our Victorious King, the One who is and was and is to come. Amen.

Love,
Yolanda