Separation of Church and State

[Beginning 9/25, and continuing through Election Day, November 3rd, GiveHim15 is joining forces with many other national prayer ministries in 40 Days of Prayer for America. Cindy Jacobs of Generals International provides today’s prayer focus.]

“Since the removal of prayer in schools in 1962, there have been many other situations where ‘freedom of religion’ has been misconstrued by the court system as ‘freedom from religion.’ 

“The statement in the First Amendment that ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion’ has become known as ‘the establishment clause.’ In misconstruing it, the courts have often placed their decisions in direct opposition to the second half of that statement: ‘or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ None of the cases where the ‘establishment clause’ has been used by the courts to strike down free exercise of religion in the public square has ever been based on a law passed by Congress. The laws have changed on actions by judges in our courts, especially at the Supreme Court level.

“At times, the conflict has been between the free exercise of the Christian faith in the marketplace and an individual who is offended by the practice who then sues the former. In addition to the removal of prayer from the public square, there have been cases calling for the removal of the Ten Commandments from government offices and land, removal of nativity scenes from public land, removal of Bible reading in the public places, and inequitable access to public facilities and funds by Christian groups.”

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12; NKJV)

Points for Prayer (By, Cindy Jacobs):

Repent, as Daniel did in Daniel 9, on behalf of our governing leaders and our judges (this is often referred to as identificational repentance), especially our Supreme Court Justices, for laws and judicial decisions that misconstrued the First Amendment.

Pray that many of these decisions would be challenged and overturned, so that true freedom of religion is secure in the United States once again.

Use the Isaiah 22:22/Matthew 16:19 keys to shut the spiritual door where the First Amendment is used to shut down Christian activities outside the walls of our church buildings.

Intercede for those who hate Christians and seek to close Christian businesses or otherwise cause believers harm. Declare that they would not be able to misconstrue the First Amendment to their advantage in the future. Pray that we would show compassion toward them and that they would come to know the love of Christ.

A Prayer You Can Pray:

Father, we identificationally repent for the sins of our governing leaders and our judges for decisions they have made that have brought injustice and death into our culture. It is a tragedy that even our Supreme Court justices have misconstrued the U. S. Constitution at times and bent it to their personal or political ideologies. It was never meant to be manipulated for that reason. It was meant to provide the foundation to keep our republic secure. As we seat a new Supreme Court Justice, let her be one that will uphold the rule of law. Let her even help to overturn laws that were decided to please a society instead of on a solid constitutional basis. 

We take the keys of the Kingdom and use them to proclaim what will be and won’t be allowed in America. We say that the First Amendment rights of the Church and of Believers will be honored. We declare that we will no longer be discriminated against. We say that the Gospel will be preached across this land, Jesus will be glorified, and the nations will hear the Word of the Lord from our shores! We pray for those that are almost rabid in their attempts to shut the Church down and keep us from meeting, even in small groups in our homes. We say to that anti-Christ spirit, “You are bound and gagged in Jesus’ Name!” We are children of the Most High God and we will not be shuttered or silenced! We will operate in love and intercession for all who hate us, but we will enter into civil disobedience if necessary to retain our freedom. We are those the Son set free and we will live in that Christ-given and constitutionally-guaranteed freedom! Amen.

Today’s Decree:

The First Amendment will not be manipulated by those who oppose the Lord, His people, and His ways.

Learn more about Cindy Jacobs and Generals International here.