Scott Presson is a former CBN staff contributor and writer whose commentaries regarding personal and spiritual issues have been published around the world. He is also an award winning TV Producer, Editor and a former Journalist, who has traveled extensively covering everything from politics and weather to domestic terrorism and the front lines of the Middle East conflict.
CBN.com - In a very real sense our country is at a crossroads. Most Christians know that the upcoming presidential election is a mandate for our nations future. Even those who are unbelievers sense that this election is pivotal in shaping the course of our nation.
Chances are the next president will pick at least three Supreme Court justices and fill many other vacancies throughout our courts system. The choices our next president makes will no doubt influence the battles over legalized abortion and same-sex marriage. Other morally relevant issues such as stem-cell research, religious expression in schools, pornography, and the continued attempts to eliminate the Christian foundation of our country are broadening the battle front. The choices our president makes will capture the hearts and minds of the American people for years to come.
A persistent godless minority knows that the majority of people in this nation will never endorse their radical views. They realize that if Americans have the chance to vote either yes or no for their agenda, they would reject it outright. Knowing that they are not widely accepted, theyve attempted to co-opt the U.S. courts. Sympathetic judges have overstepped their constitutional authority and ruled against morality and Christians time and time again.
At a recent hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., made the comment that the courts are exceeding their power. If we let them, out of control judges will be the death of our country!
A lot of people sense we are on the cusp of breakthrough in the United States. Other ministries are currently in the midst of concerted prayed efforts. Several recognized prophets such as Cindy Jacobs, Dutch Sheets and Lou Engle have prophesied that Virginia is the womb of this nation and that revival will begin here and spread throughout North America. Within CBN there is a refreshing spirit of unity and a sense that we are at the dawn of a new day.
But it is going to take a concerted effort of dedicated Intercessory prayer to continue to move forward!
On June 22 CBN began a 21 day prayer effort called Operation Breakthrough. The intent is to mobilize an army of prayer warriors. As Christians we are fighting a very real battle against unseen forces:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ( )
As the Church, we alone shoulder the responsibility for the future of our nation. History does indeed belong to the Intercessors. We will be held accountable to God for our involvement or lack of.
Lets answer the call and unite with our partners for these prayer requests and the others mentioned. As we focus and pray and humble ourselves according to Gods Word, I believe we will see a great changes in Iraq and even greater changes in our nation. As we draw near to God he will forgive our sins and heal our land. The battle has not been lost and the die has not been cast! We must endeavor to do Gods will, so He will change the direction of our nation and our courts. We must answer the call to be watchmen on the wall and intercede for the above requests for our nation.
CBN.com - Every legal remedy has now been offered for Terri Schiavo. Nearly every appeal has been exhausted. Every argument has been weighed and discarded. Every maneuver of man has been tried. People have protested – loudly. People have prayed passionately. Many tears have been shed for this woman.
Has the American legal system prevailed AGAINST the will of the people instead of for the will of the people? Instead of protecting the innocent, has our system of government condemned the innocent to die?
This is what the Bible says about the death of innocent people:
There are six things the LORD hates – no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers (
).
God hates those that kill the innocent. Please pray that the people who had it within their power to do the right thing in this situation and did not will repent.
Jesus healed many people who could not take care of themselves. He also said He came to do the will of the Father. So evidently the will of God is that people who are laid up and unable to take care of themselves are worthy of being healed.
Look at this:
One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. And the Lord's healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but they couldn't reach him. So they went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his mat, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." "Who does this man think he is?" the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to each other. "This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins?" Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you think this is blasphemy? Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'? I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!" And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat, and went home praising God (
).
This man had friends that cared enough for him and his future that they went to the trouble to make sure he got in front of the Lord! It’s amazing that in that day and time, without any form of modern medicine or hope of recovery, people still saw worth in the life of a man even though he was probably not a productive member of society. Maybe they also had to feed him.
Is God doing anything for Terri Schiavo? He certainly is. The Throne Room of Heaven is fully aware of what is going on. God has not abandoned Terri Schiavo.
Here are three tremendous things going on in Heaven as you are reading this:
1. Every tear shed for Terri Schiavo has been collected and saved by Almighty God. That’s right. God is keeping track of ALL the tears shed for Terri Schiavo. I saw Terri’s mother crying on TV. God did, too. God actually makes decisions about our lives based on those tears:
"Remember, O LORD, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight." Then he broke down and wept bitterly. Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD: "Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life …(
).
The tears of Hezekiah moved God. He actually prolonged his life on earth. God wants us to see that NOTHING goes unnoticed by Him. When it comes to us, God sees the intent of our hearts and He moves sovereignly in any way He desires. God keeps track of all our sorrows and has all our tears as a deposit for the future:
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. On the very day I call to you for help, my enemies will retreat. This I know: God is on my side. O God, I praise your word. Yes, LORD, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light (
).
2. Terri Schiavo has an attorney pleading her case in the Throne Room of God. Moreover, God’s will always wins. Look at this:
For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Advocate … (
).
Jesus Christ is the ultimate attorney. That should be enough to make any earthly attorney shake in his boots. He’s been to the jails in the depths of Hell. He’s set prisoners free and broken the chains of injustice and unrighteousness. He’s proved His case to the World. Terri Schiavo cannot lose. It’s a win-win.
3. Terri Schiavo has Jesus interceding for her right now:
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (
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Jesus is our prayer partner – all the time. He never gets tired, and the Word says He is always about His Father’s business. That’s another win-win situation for Terri and for us.
God rules. He has collected the tears of sorrow and tears of joy and saved them for His will and purpose. There is no wisdom or scheme of man that is above God. There is no plan that prevails above God’s plan.
says take courage, Jesus has conquered this world. Jesus still loves us despite trouble and calamity. Nothing has separated Terri Schiavo or you and me from the Love of Jesus Christ. NOTHING.Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (
).
Please continue to pray for Terri Schiavo and her family today. However, rest in this fact: God is CONTINUALLY doing His work and His will in this situation, in your life, and in the world.
CBN.com - We pray and want instantaneous answers but very few of us pray and expect instantaneous answers. Heres a reality check - God always answers prayer! Yep, always. And heres the caveat you dont want to hear - it's not always a "Yes" answer. Sometimes- in fact a lot of times- its a No answer.
Why? God wants our whole lives, not just our desperate attempts to reach out to Him once in awhile. He wants a "Relationship with us.
God knows He can make any situation right in a heartbeat; even that cold, dead, no way is this ever going to happen prayer request we have in the bottom of our hearts. We tend to see things in our limited understanding. A loved one is sick - what can we do? We cant pay our bills and theyre cutting off the heat - what are we going to do? God knows. The kids are acting up and acting out God knows. Work is intolerable - God knows. Our spouse is caught up in sin - God knows. Were on our last nerve - God knows!
God can make it all right instantly and yet it seems like He always makes us walk it out. Why? Well, how could we have an understanding of what unbelievers suffer through unless we have gone through them ourselves? How can we be a truthful witness for Him unless we have had to live through the tough times also?
Remember, God gave us that free choice. He knew down through time people would jump into sin. The Word even talks about the pleasures of sin for a season. He knew the result of all that disobedience would be sin on top of sin. He knew it would all play out through generation after generation. He knew we would make poor choices and that would cause curses and more sin. He knew He was going to need a people that would have an understanding of what life brings good and bad. The only way that would ever happen was to allow all of the good and bad of life to affect us too.
That old bumper sticker that said prayer changes things is the truth. The thing is were always looking for it to change what were praying for and we never realize that prayer changes us! The very exercise of prayer draws us closer to God and helps establish an enduring relationship with Him. We love to ask, ask, and ask. I used to say - Lord, just once - let it go my way! Actually I still do sometimes, but I also have learned to pray please do your will in this situation. Ive learned to pray in the Spirit when I have no idea how to pray in a situation. Ive learned to pray with expectation that I am going got get an answer, and Im learning to trust that even though the answer may not always be what I want to hear, God still has everything under control.
Paul was on to something when he said be content in all situations. Thats easy to say, hard to do. Pauls the perfect example of what Im talking about. God allowed him to go through all the rough times, so the Holy Spirit inspired words he wrote would be a guidebook for our lives now.
Its never too late to establish that relationship with God. Its not too late to rise up and fulfill the call on your life. Its not too late to be what God ordained for all of us to be. It takes faith, trust in Him, and a relationship. As Christians we have a foundation already. All it takes is building upon that. God says draw near to Him and He will draw near to us. Thats a beginning. We have to read the Word. We must begin to pray. We need to develop and desire a relationship with our Creator. The Word says what we sow, we will reap. If we sow fervent prayer, we will reap a harvest of prayer for ourselves because JESUS IS OUR INTERCESSOR BEFORE THE THRONE. Well also reap the harvest of a relationship with God that He wants with us, His children, and that we need for Him to do His perfect will in our lives.
Can God change your life?
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Discover how you can find peace with God.You can also send us your prayer requests or chat online with the CBN Prayer Team
