PLUS

Judges 6:12 “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”

In December 1944, Allied success on the Western Front was far from assured. Though the Germans had been pushed back, they enjoyed a reduced front and shorter supply lines. Hitler saw an opportunity for a counterattack, though it necessitated bad weather to reduce the Allied airpower advantages.

As the Germans were planning their counterattack, General Patton’s advance was hindered by bad weather. On December 8^th, 1944, Patton called Chaplain James O’Neill and tasked him with writing a prayer for good weather. General Patton approved of the Chaplain’s prayer and ordered 250,000 copies of the following to be distributed to every man:

“Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.”

Figuratively, 21^st century America does not have fair weather for the cause of Christ and the maintenance of our Christian heritage. We have had to contend with immoderate rains and hostile conditions. If we are to crush oppression and wickedness, establish God’s justice, and advance from victory to victory then we must follow the pattern of the Third Army – humbly beseech God to grant us favor.

PLEASE PRAY FOR FAIR WEATHER FOR CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA. It is only God’s power that can change the prevailing forecast.

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that the press mocks the power of prayer while Christians neglect its power), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Ephesians 5:14-16 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Two conditions were necessary for Admiral Yamamoto’s thoughts following his attack on Pearl Harbor to be proved true (see previous post). The awakening of a sleeping giant was not enough; that awakened giant needed to be filled with “terrible resolve.”

We must not be simply awakened by the continued attacks on us, our faith, and our God. Instead, we must be resolved to do something about it. Success in an off-cycle election is small stakes. The real test of our resolve will come through a Biblical steadfastness in our prayer lives, our testimonies, and our votes. We must redeem the time we have been given, or the window of opportunity to turn this nation back to God may irreversibly close. One small success will not reverse the tide of secularism in America. Now that we are awake we must stay active or our influence will atrophy once again.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AN AWAKENED CHRISTIAN POPULACE TO FOLLOW UP ON SUCCESS WITH CONTINUED RESOLVE. It has taken a continued crisis to awaken us. May terrible resolve prompt us to never slumber again!

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day and for ever.”

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the architect of the tactically successful attack on Pearl Harbor. Following the attack, it is said that Yamamoto lamented: “I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” Indeed, this dizzying tactical success turned into a dramatic strategic failure as the awakened sleeping giant fought back with resolve.

The Christian electorate finally seems to be awakening after the attacks we have endured during the last several years. If last month’s election results in Ohio, Houston, Kentucky, and elsewhere are any indication, Christians are finally engaged with resolve in the political process. Molly Ball, staff writer at The Atlantic described the results as “a backlash from mainstream voters.” (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/liberals-are-losing-the-culture-war/414175/)

Maybe we were finally prodded off the sidelines. Maybe we finally realized that it is our responsibility to pray for elections and vote according to Biblical values. Maybe we were tired of hearing that we were ‘on the wrong side of history’ or ‘out of step with the times.’ Maybe we recognized that our rights could be the next ones trampled upon. Maybe we awoke to the truth that our Lord does not ‘evolve’ in His beliefs.

Regardless of the reason, this off-cycle election is a small indication that we can turn our recent tactical losses into the motivation for strategic triumph. May we not just accept this single victory, but instead see it as a sign of our power if we fully awaken and stand with an unchanging Christ.

PLEASE PRAY THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD FULLY AWAKEN TO OUR CITIZENSHIP RESPONSIBLITIES. May we sleep no longer!

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that political correctness hinders our ability to solve major national problems), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

The 1777 Thanksgiving Proclamation by the Continental Congress was bursting with thankfulness, praise, and gratitude (see the previous post). The colonists recognized that it was their indispensible duty to uplift the Lord’s name in this way. Yet, in historical context it was not a time that thankfulness, praise, and gratitude came naturally.

Though the Continental Army had recently won the Battle of Saratoga, they were years from victory. In fact, the British had just captured Philadelphia and the poorly fed and equipped revolutionaries were about ready to settle down at Valley Forge for a harsh winter a short distance from the British ranks. The Americans had no major allies and were struggling to maintain themselves as a viable fighting force. Yet, they took time to give solemn thanksgiving and praise.

Our circumstances should not dictate our attitude towards God. Regardless of whether the enemies of God in this nation are closing in on all sides, we should have a spirit that gives solemn thanksgiving and praise.

REGARDLESS OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, WE MUST MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE OF THANKSFULNESS AND PRAISE. It is the only way that, under Christ’s nurturing hand, we can cultivate the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety.

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

The following Thanksgiving Proclamation, America’s first, was issued by the Continental Congress on November 1^st, 1777:

“FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth ‘in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.’

And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.”

The Continental Congress recognized our profound obligation to God. They encouraged us to praise and worship Him with one heart and one voice out of gratefulness. They recognized they we don’t deserve His mercy, and encouraged our repentance.

EVEN AFTER THANKSGIVING, PLEASE CONTINUE TO BLESS HIS NAME. It is our indispensible duty!

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that the scene on Black Friday belies a spirit of thankfulness and contentment), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!