Religious Freedom: God in the Public Square

[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.]

“Can you imagine an America where you can only worship, pray, learn about God, and talk openly about Him inside a designated, state-sanctioned building? Such is life for some believers in other nations worldwide. Sadly, we are seeing more and more silencing of Christians in this Christian nation.

“Some Christians in America will relegate themselves to a position of safety inside of their homes, Christian schools, and church buildings anyway. We have to make a decision: are we going to hide our faith or share it? If we don’t talk about Jesus, the nation will become increasingly lost. If we stay silent on issues, our nation will become more anti-Christian. If we don’t vote, those who govern will continue to take actions that limit our religious freedom, stifle our voices and actions, and put judges in place that legislate from the bench. If we don’t run for office, how can we expect legislation that is in alignment with our values?

“Break out of your box, Church! Get your faith out in your neighborhoods, cities, schools, and workplaces before you can’t. Your gifts weren’t meant to be for the Body of Christ alone, but to show those who don’t yet know Him just how very much He loves and cares about them. Your God-given creative ideas are meant to change society and benefit all those you encounter every day. Your faith can be an example to the struggling. Get your faith-filled hands on the sick and hurting. Feed the sick, deliver the oppressed, invent something life-changing, write legislation, govern righteously, and change the world!”

“If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.” (Luke 19:32-33; NIV)

Points for Prayer (By, Cindy Jacobs):

Commit to the Lord that you will be His vessel in the public square and encourage other Christians to be also.

Pray for the Church, that we will not fear being open about our faith in public.

Ask God to pour out His creativity on His Body, resulting in witty inventions and solutions to systemic problems in the nation.

Decree that the Ekklesia will legislate in the heavens and that many will be called into government positions from local city councils and school boards to state and national legislative levels. Pray they do not miss their opportunity to make a difference.

Pray for the persecuted Church in the nations of the earth.

A Prayer You Can Prayer:

Lord, we never thought we would see the day in America where our ability to gather together is limited by government action, but we are now living in that day. Using COVID-19 as the reason, some state and local governing officials have taken the opportunity to limit our meeting together. They have gone so far as to limit small gatherings even in our homes! These God-less ones have deemed the Church to be non-essential. This is the worst of government overreach! It causes us to pray for the persecuted church in other nations. Lord, have mercy and grant them grace, boldness, and freedom!

While we will push back against this limiting of our First Amendment rights, we will also find other ways to gather. We will worship You everywhere we go. We will see our influence multiply as we get outside our familiar venues of worship and worship publicly online, in the streets, in our parks, and anywhere else we can. The limitations are fanning the flames of evangelism. There are so many hurting, searching people right now. The enemy’s plan is backfiring! What he has meant for his evil purposes, You are turning to Your purposes! Grant us great creativity to share the Gospel of the Kingdom. Get the Ekklesia legislating Your purposes into the nation! We will see Your Kingdom come and Your Will be done in America in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

Today’s Decree:

The Church is taking their faith to the streets!

Learn more about Cindy Jacobs and Generals International here.