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We continue to intercede, for there are no days off in the spiritual battle between good and evil.
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How do we, as intercessors, approach the task of praying for healing across the bitter chasm of political division now that the elections have passed? We go to the ultimate answer, Scripture, for the foundation of effective prayer. In John 17: 22, Jesus prays to the Father that we, the body of Christ, will be one, as He and the Father are one. This is truly impossible in a world so divided, but intercession itself is the definition of bridging the chasm between heaven and earth. Through submission to God, intercessors enter into the spiritual wisdom Holy Spirit gives in prayer. The realm of prayer that brings heaven to earth is the realm that will also bridge the division in our nation. We know and believe that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). So what is the next step as we cry out to see the prayer of Jesus answered in these tumultuous post-election days?
First, the Greek word hen, translated as ‘one’ in Strong’s Concordance 1520, means “primary.” Unity has to be primary in our hearts and focus as intercessors. If Jesus, the Lord of Glory, focused on it before He ascended to heaven, then we need to adjust our mindset to see unity as our primary goal as well. The second definition of hen is “certain.” There is a definite, certain blessing that arises as we attain unity with the mind of Christ. It is not available with a worldly mindset, but as we submit our minds to God and receive the gift of the mind of Christ, we can operate in the oneness and certainty of unity with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Next, we must embrace that the battle is the Lord’s. He brought us to the battle, He brought us through the battle, and He will enable us to bring healing to our nation now that election verdicts have been rendered.
This spiritual battle that we have engaged in has been hard fought. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). Most Christians will agree that the election of Donald Trump as our nation’s 47th president is truly a miracle. Mainstream media spewed divisive rhetoric and vitriolic insults as the candidates in national, state, and local elections ran their campaigns. Prayer and intercession cleanse the atmosphere through calling on the name of Jesus. The same God that brought this miracle of answered prayer in elections will continue to give supernatural answers as we keep the priority of oneness and unity with God’s heart and mind as our primary focus.
Continuing in prayer for our nation, its newly elected leaders, and the body of Christ is a mandate from heaven. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). The biblical urgency to pray for leaders must continue to be a priority, as well as praying for our fellow citizens who may or may not share our biblical values. Our nation has suffered greatly because of apathy from the church. We must not allow this to occur again but exercise prayer and intercession, believing that the effective, zealous prayers of the righteous avail much (James 5:16)
Earlier this week, Intercessors for America led and manned a 36-Hour National Prayer Strike involving hundreds, if not thousands, of intercessors from all fifty states. Other nationwide Christian ministries joined in this unprecedented prayer effort to cover our nation and the national and state elections in prayer. Never have we seen such a widespread move of prayer in the months prior to the elections and especially during that historic 36-hour period. The unity of the Spirit was tangible on the prayer call as IFA state leaders led sections of time in fervent prayer. Between prayer sessions the audio lines were unmuted so all could hear periods of zealous prayer where hundreds of intercessors were raising their voices at once in unity. Summer Ingram of Liberty Counsel, a guest prayer leader in the 36-Hour Prayer Strike, commented on how moving and encouraging it was to hear the heavenly sound of fiery intercession. Dave and Kris Kubal, President/CEO and CPO of Intercessors for America, stated that the spiritual atmosphere in our nation had been tense as they travelled to election events prior to November 5th. Dave and Kris said they could sense a positive shift in the spiritual atmosphere on the morning of Election Day after a night of constant intercession on the 36-Hour Prayer Strike.
The same God who brought victory in the election for biblical principles will heal the spiritual rifts in this nation as we continue to press on in energetic biblical prayer.
Share your prayers for unity and healing below.
(Lisa Townsend is IFA’s Louisiana State Prayer Leader. Photo Credit: Pedro Lima on Unsplash)