Friends, our prayer focus for November brings us right into my backyard: the USA.
Many things will be decided and revealed in this month of our nation\’s history, but what cannot be changed is the power of intercession to guide our country God-ward. Prayer is timeless, but affects every single moment of time. Hearts that come before the Lord—carrying purity of desire to see His will accomplished—will never be ignored by Him. This cannot be underestimated. Clean hands and a pure heart are the most powerful instruments of change. Money, fame and influence dwarf the might of a persistent woman or man in Christ, whose righteous prayers avail much!
On November 11, friends from across the SEAPC community will be meeting in Plymouth, Massachusetts to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing on our shores. We believe this is a strong prophetic moment, and reminder to our nation in 2020. We will unite with churches and ministries from the Boston area, led by our friends from a Chinese-American congregation, River of Life Christian Church Boston. This church family has been praying faithfully at Plymouth every November 11 for the last 15 years.
I walked and prayed with them last year alongside my two oldest children, and witnessed the power, joy, and persecution they received right here in America for their gratefulness to God of what happened at Plymouth. I was deeply humbled to see Chinese-American believers, who have endured great oppression and persecution, genuinely give thanks to God for what happened here 400 years ago. The courage of a small, persecuted group of families coming from England to America for freedom and future resounds with them, as it must with each one of us.
There are many forces at work this month trying hard to divide America, and pit people against each other as leverage for gain. I believe this simple celebration returns us to what builds a truly godly nation: the presence of God and family. Our nation’s spiritual roots are planted not on politics or power-plays, but on one family after another choosing to build a future that looks like Jesus. As November 11 reminds us, this is no easy task, no matter where you are from. However, this is the bedrock that builds a godly nation. We are blessed in America to have this heritage at our roots, and for remembrance in a year like 2020. We are not perfect, but His ways are. We must pray and follow them.
Galatians 3:14 says, \”Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles [Nations] with the same blessing He promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.\”
This Blessing of Abraham is the eternal way our Father builds a nation set-apart. It is where every believer in America must place our eyes and prayers this month. This Blessing is not for certain races or nations, at the expense of others. It\’s for ALL who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is true, and it works. God will back it up, and bless every single family that makes the choice to enter into it.
Let God continue to bless America, because our land has chosen to follow after His way of Blessing. We cannot forget the power of pure hearts and the strength of godly family to guide our way forward. It\’s this posture that will unite us all under Him.
Thank you for praying with us for the USA this month. It is prayer and the way we live our faith that speaks to the soul of our nation. It\’s time for God\’s blessing to unify and heal us all!
