Angel Alvarez holds a New York City record…and it’s probably not one you want to take away from him. In 2011 during a botched drug deal, Alvarez was shot repeatedly by an assailant and the police – a total of 26 times. Yet somehow he survived, which as far as anyone knows is a feat unmatched in the Big Apple. Alvarez’ nickname among friends now is “Swiss Cheese,” and he reportedly has a lot of trouble getting through metal detectors.

When they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done for them.

Acts 14:27

What’s so notable about the apostle Paul taking the time to joyfully declare “all that God had done” for him? He’d just been through an experience not unlike that of Angel Alvarez. Paul had been stoned by an angry crowd and left for dead. But miraculously he rose up, and then went right back to the work God had called him to do…counting it all a blessing.

Do you trust that God will bring about a good result even through bad circumstances? He will – for those who love and serve Him. That’s the key…not for you only, but for America and its leaders. Make that your prayer today!

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:26-32

Walt Disney personally recruited the late Dean Jones in 1965 for a role in the movie That Darn Cat. The rising young star appeared to have everything the world could offer, but he was depressed and suicidal. “It was a fast track life,” said Jones. “I was making $50,000 a week. I had the Ferraris and beautiful women and all the rest of what I thought would satisfy my life. And it was empty. Really empty.”

Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like.

Luke 6:47

But the still small voice of the Lord told him his current lifestyle “will never satisfy you.” After a drunk-driving accident nearly took his life, Jones cried out to Him: “I’ve done everything in this world I thought would make me happy and it doesn’t work. I have everything and I have nothing.” Jones said “yes” to God and true peace flooded his heart.

The Bible is the only true foundation for life. Thank your Heavenly Father for those godly role models in Hollywood past and present who seek Him daily. Pray also that your national and local leaders will base their lives and decisions on the truth of God’s Word.

Recommended Reading: James 1:19-27

Ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and ancient Rome were among those who practiced heliotherapy or the use of light as therapy to heal. That practice is still around today in a variety of forms – one being the bili light to treat jaundice in premature babies. In the presence of a special blue light, the infants are able to rid their bodies of too much bilirubin.

As many as touched it were made well.

Matthew 14:36

The presence of God, through Jesus, healed people, too. Christ said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) His light heals all sickness and pain. In today’s passage, the people of Gennesaret asked to touch the hem of Christ’s clothes. God’s presence was so mighty that even the garments on Jesus’ body were full of His power.

Every time you pray, you enter God’s throne room and are ushered into His presence…and in His presence, there is power. Remember when Moses returned from being with God on Mt. Sinai? His face glowed! Pray for God’s people to spend so much time with Him that their faces reflect His light and start a healing process for this nation and its leaders.

Recommended Reading: John 8:12-19

You’ve just landed a new job and are sitting down with Human Resources to work out an acceptable salary. “Now,” the H.R. manager says, “we have two annual salary options for this position. We can pay you either $39,156 or $7,308. Since we want you to be happy, we are offering you $7,308 per year. Welcome aboard!”

Accept my blessing…because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.

Genesis 33:11

If that sounds nonsensical, consider this: The average annual wage in the United States is $39,156. The average annual wage in Mexico is $7,308. Yet the “World Happiness Report,” which is a scientifically-based, expansive study conducted internationally, found that Mexicans rank higher in happiness than U.S. citizens. “Happiness” was measured by the ability to stay positive, recover from negative feelings, care about and spend time with family and friends, and allow one’s self to be “captured” by emotions like joy and awe.

After a long history of scheming, Jacob realized that all he really needed was the love of his family. With that, he said, “I have enough.” As you pray for America today, remember that peace and contentment will come not with more things…but from more love.

Recommended Reading: Matthew 6:19-34

Humans are quick to forget the blessings they receive. They thank God when things are good, but grumble, complain and succumb to fear when things are bad – as if God had never showed them any care.

And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.

Joshua 4:20

God knew how quickly His people forgot His miraculous provisions. He told Joshua to have a man from each of the twelve tribes take a stone out of the river where the priests stood while the Lord held the water back. After the people crossed over, Joshua said, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground…so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21, 22, 24)

During this month of Thanksgiving, construct a memorial: a list, a poster, a rock pile. Remember what the Lord has done for you and this country, and remind your children and grandchildren. Continue to pray for the leaders and people of this nation to turn to God, the giver of all good things (James 1:17).

Recommended Reading: Matthew 15:32-38

Ten years ago, Brian Nichols went on a murderous rampage at the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta. He killed four people and injured others. Hours later, Nichols took Ashley Smith, a widowed young mother, hostage in her apartment. Smith was struggling with life and with a drug addiction. Yet God gave her the courage to remain calm during the ordeal. After several hours, she asked Nichols if she could read the book, The Purpose Driven Life. Nichols conceded and told her to read it out loud. Eventually, Ashley was able to leave the apartment and Nichols was arrested.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Isaiah 40:29

“I really believe that God spared my life because He wanted me to go around the world and tell people that He changed me,” said Smith. “You know, I didn’t do anything in my apartment that night but lay down my brokenness to God and He’s brought me to a very different place in my life in the last 10 years.”

As you spend time with the Lord, ask Him for His unlimited strength during your times of weakness. Pray also that your nation’s leaders will depend on God for their needs.

Recommended Reading: II Corinthians 12:2-10

When Zechariah prophesied about the restoration of Israel, he said that in those days people would grab hold of a Jew’s robe and want to go with them because they heard that God was with them (Zechariah 8:23). When Peter and John answered the Scribes and Pharisees with boldness, the religious leaders took note that the apostles had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah 4:6

A life that is centered in Christ will be evident to others. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Even more, God is not just with believers in Him; His Holy Spirit resides within them (I Corinthians 6:19).

Are you living your life through His indwelling Spirit in such a way that you stand out from the crowd? Do people know you are a Christian because of your love? If not, abide in Him through prayer, read the Bible and practice acts of kindness. Trust that God will accomplish His will through you by His Spirit. Then pray for the eyes of people in America to be opened to see the love of Jesus in the Christians around them.

Recommended Reading: John 15:4-17

Many have said that you should never pray for patience…it will encourage the Lord to test your faith in many ways. But steadfastness, described as a life of faithfulness amid troubles and afflictions, may require a great deal of patience. The Rev. George Horne, an English churchman in the 1700s, provided this definition: “Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility. Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride; she bridles the tongue, restrains the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures persecutions, consummates martyrdom.”

Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:4

The apostle Paul tells us as Christians “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God…Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2) James says to “count it all joy” when you are tested (James 1:2) so that you gain the full effect of God’s plan for you.

Be faithful. Pray for others enduring trials – and for this nation’s leaders facing impossible decisions, that they may never doubt God’s goodness and grace.

Recommended Reading: James 1:2-8, 12-17