Pray for Pensacola

Over and over again, God promises that he is the protector and that He will never leave or forsake us. Some say, if you have to do it alone, do it. But we are NEVER alone. We never have to do it alone. Abraham was tasked to leave his family and go where God was leading. He was never alone. And he is deemed the father of faith today. Wherever we go or whatever we confront, we are never alone. What do you want to start in your life that you fear you will fail at or will put you in a disadvantage or will put you on the outside of things? Where God is leading, you will never be on the outside of Him. You will never be alone.

Take the first step. One person on our team is a teacher. When she started out to be a teacher, she imagined herself as an elementary ESE teacher. She got her degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. She took the first step in obedience to God. He called her to that profession, and she obeyed. Within three years, she was teaching high school math. A few years after that, she was teaching students in the adolescent psychiatric unit in Pensacola. Today she is training ESE teachers. She thought she would teach elementary students for the rest of her life. But in a few years, that changed drastically!! Often our first step looks nothing like where we are going to end up. Take the first step. Let God surprise you on the journey.

Jesus could have taken a shortcut. But, he allowed the long run. He could have gotten power, not the supernatural kind, but power. It was promised. But he allowed the long run, the supernatural power. He broke himself open and poured himself out. The long run will not look familiar. It doesn’t fit the mold. It’s supernatural. See the temptation of the shortcut.

The devil does not let up. If he can’t make you doubt yourself, he will try again. It is so important to know who you are as a child of God. You are His. His love, workmanship, plans, and purpose are all wrapped up in you. He is invested. And the darkness of this world wants us to doubt that. When He was challenged, Jesus didn’t have the need to prove anything. He knew who He was. He was secure in God’s love and purpose. He didn’t have to prove himself to the devil….and neither do you. You are His. End of story. You belong. You are worthy. You are loved. You are not alone. There is nothing left to prove. We pray for this journey of Christianity that you are on. We pray for a deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit, like a relationship that Jesus had with the Spirit. If you feel lonely or like you don’t belong, you can’t fake it until you make it. But you can dive down deeper to who He is. You can take your time in getting to know the whole Godhead and yourself. But know this for a fact:there is no need to prove yourself to anyone. You are accepted and you belong.

Jesus was just affirmed by God in his baptism. Then He is led to the desert to be tested. The devil’s ploy was to attack every affirmation. His job was to make Jesus doubt who He was and make Him think that He was less than and on the outside. He faced the enemy in a dry and empty place BUT knew who He was. He came out standing on God’s affirmation alone, not on how He proved himself or on man’s title. The enemy is still active today. He attacks us the same way. Many of us have been rejected so many times that we feel like less or like we don’t belong. We have all felt like this at some point. It’s a sting that goes deep. Do you know that we have a crisis in our country called emotional poverty? We live behind a mask because at one time we felt less than or like we don’t belong and it unregulated us. We don’t want to expose our unregulated emotions or mindset. But, as always!, Jesus has been through it. He knows how to get through it. He fought for us so that we can rely on Him. If there are areas of your life that you feel are off center, we are praying for you ❤️

For the season of Lent, we are reading from “The Sanctuary for Lent” by Josh Scott. The excerpt reads that our problems “ are the result of what happens when human beings eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When we take it upon ourselves, to judge, to decide who lives and who dies, who counts and who doesn’t, things get ugly in the world…. The good news, Paul argues, is that while the problems of the world are human products, so is the solution”. Adam and Eve caused our downfall, but Jesus brought salvation from that. “Instead of grasping the destructive fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, Jesus embraces vulnerability, and in doing so calls all human beings out of hiding. The question for us is, how do we want to be human: the Adam way or the Jesus way?” Today, receive mercy and show mercy to your fellow humans. We do not have to he hidden from one another ❤️

For the season of Lent, we are reading from “The Sanctuary for Lent” by Josh Scott. The excerpt reads,” the good news, Paul argues, is that while the problems of the world are human products, so is the solution”. Adam and Eve caused our downfall, but Jesus brought salvation from that. “Instead of grasping the destructive fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, Jesus embraces vulnerability, and in doing so calls all human beings out of hiding. The question for us is, how do we want to be human: the Adam way or the Jesus way?” Today, receive mercy and show mercy to your fellow humans. We do not have to he hidden from one another ❤️

Friday 9-Saturday 9. Can we just say wow. We set this calendar in 2022 and look at God. Revival is holy because it brings us into the presence of God in a way we cannot deny. It goes beyond emotions. It goes beyond logic. However, we are filled up to pour out. We pray that revival changes us into the servants God intended us to be. We pray revival takes us there but that we also take it wherever we go. God is already ahead of us, leading us. Already. Let that be your prophetic word for your situation and for the upcoming year. Already. Thank you for following us.

Friday 9-Saturday 9. Can we just say wow. We set this calendar in 2022 and look at God. Revival is holy because it brings us into the presence of God in a way we cannot deny. It goes beyond emotions. It goes beyond logic. However, we are filled up to pour out. We pray that revival changes us into the servants God intended us to be. We pray revival takes us there but that we also take it wherever we go. God is already ahead of us, leading us. Already. Let that be your prophetic word for your situation and for the upcoming year. Already. Thank you for following us.

Thursday 9-Friday 9 Hagar. She was used, abused, mistreated, and then cast out. It wasn’t right that Sarai used her. It wasn’t right for Hagar to be so smug and taunting. But, people are human, and we can all do trash things. And then when God extends His hand to us in a moment of grace, even in our mess, we know He is for us. He was for Sarah and Abraham. And He was for Hagar. He saved her and Ishmael from death and ENSURED her lineage would survive. And yet, here we are, thousands of years later still fighting. We are all precious in His sight, red and yellow, black and white. We grew up singing about it. The Palestinians, Israelites, Saudis, Iranians, Iraqis, etc, they are all precious in His sight. The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. So, we pray for the active work on all sides to get to the goal of peace. Peace is a supernatural thing. If there was peace in the world right now- no wars- that would be a miracle. It will take God’s power, love and respect for one another, and willingness on both sides of any war for it to stop- or one side gets demolished. We pray against annihilation. We pray for peace. We pray for peace in the boundary lines. We pray peace for neighboring lands. We pray for the people. In war, people suffer. We pray for protection. We pray against the education of hate and pray for the education of solution. We pray God raises up solution makers. We also pray about the wars in other countries. Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and Russia. There are SO MANY armed conflicts in so many countries in Africa. We call an end to violence. We call for the leaders to put ego behind them and their people before them. We pray they submit to the spirit of God.

Wednesday 9-Thursday 9. We are praying to break the strongholds that are over this area. We cannot break them with law or force or coercion. We break it with praying and fasting to change us so that we can be the difference makers. We fight against so many systems of oppression. Oppression keeps us low, powerless, ineffective. And, it keeps the land from knowing God. So we pray this fast has changed you. We pray that God speaks to you about how to be part of this godly force that will fight these things spiritually. We pray you continue to pray. We pray you continue to fast. We pray you obey the voice of God when he tells you what to say, how to move, where to go. We pray that we will fight these strongholds with you.

Tuesday 9-Wednesday 9. Today we are praying for our disabled population. The Bible is clear-give those with disabilities your time, effort, and love. Jesus came to serve. And so here we are to carry His mission on. We pray for the organizations that build ramps and accommodations that make buildings and homes accessible. We pray for their finances and resources. We pray they are able to accommodate more places. We pray for the church to learn how to be more accommodating. We pray for those with disabilities to have equal access to education, transportation, communication, and health care. We pray for their specific needs in each of these areas. We pray for more non profits. We pray for those in the church to serve in their communities, in every area. Lord, make us equipped to know how to help someone with a disability. Show us, as the church, how not to discriminate. Help us to see a person and not a need. Help us build a loving and inclusive community where all abilities are accepted and no one is excluded. Help us build this community on relationship. Teach us how to serve.

Monday 9-Tuesday 9. Today we are praying for missionaries. Missionaries are those who are sent on a religious mission. First we pray that those missions are done in a pure and submitted heart. We pray that those missions leave the land more prosperous that when it was first encountered. We pray the blessings and favor of God pour out so that the mission is successful in His eyes. We pray encouragement. Often times, missionaries go to other places to start nonprofits to help in those places. They do so nameless and unseen. It can he discouraging. We pray for God to lift their spirits in encouragement. We pray that God shows them what their work is accomplishing. We pray for their supporters to prosper as well. We call the finances in. We also pray for their personal needs to be met. We pray for their friends and family as well. Let every area of their lives be touched with the favor of God.

Sunday 9-Monday 9, We are praying for those who have been church hurt. We are a village. We need to support one another. When one of us is hurting, compassion is necessary. Right now, people are hurting. People who were once in our congregations are hurting. Some people have left over misunderstandings. But some have left due to abuse/manipulation. Irreparable damage is done when we use people for a specific purpose rather than wanting a person to be in your village simply because they are alive and valuable. We also have to be aware of putting our ego ahead of someone. Rules before people rarely work out. Anybody married can tell you someone will suffer in a situation like that. So, we pray for understanding conversations in safe places. We pray for judgement free zones and safe places for people to heal. We pray for those who have hurt can see the situation through Jesus’ eyes. We pray for apologies and open conversations to happen. And, if those deconstructing are not ready for those conversations, we have to wait patiently on God. If you are praying for them, God has heard and He has a plan. Those who wait on God renew their strength. Wait on Him and show love in the meantime. We pray for healing.

Saturday 9-Sunday 9. We are praying for our college age students. First, we pray for their mental health and finances. It’s extremely difficult to focus and perform in school when these concerns weigh us down. We pray they get the counseling and mental help they need. We also pray for scholarships, Pell grants, and no interest loans (it’s Biblical) to help them financially. We also pray what Paul said to Timothy. Don’t let anybody count you out. I’ve heard it said that young people are so eager to drop everything and change the world because they have nothing to lose, unlike adults who don’t want to risk losing their properties or finances. That’s not true. Youth have their whole future to lose. Our youth lead the way many times. See the revival we had in ‘95- it would not be possible without actively participating youth. The revivals we see now are led and directed by our college age youth. So we continue to pray for our youth. We pray protection over them. We pray freedom over them. We declare these things so that nothing opposed to God can hold them back from being the world changers that they are. Let no one count you out. We also pray that they have such a relationship with God that they do indeed set the example for godly speech, conduct, love, faith, and moral purity. We also pray that their example motivates the older demographic to be more like Jesus. Guide them, Lord. Like a shepherd, use your gentle rod to guide them.

Friday 9-Saturday 9. We are praying for more foster families and for our foster children. The Bible tells us what to do when we see injustice to the parentless. Vindication and justice. These children have done no wrong. Yet, they end up in a system where it is easy to see them as a burden. The system also can cause us to lose sight that these are babies who need a defender. First, we pray they have luggage and not plastic bags when they have to be removed from the home. We pray they end up in a loving and affirming home, a home that actively shows love. We also pray for the compassion in Pensacola to grow. Pensacola needs good foster homes. We need more foster homes. We pray today for more people to step up and become foster families. We pray today for more people to step up and become foster families. We pray today for more people to step up and become foster families. We pray today for more people to step up and become foster families. This is our village, and we need to take care of each other. We also pray irresponsible parties are successfully vetted and are never given a chance to exploit these children.

Thursday 9- Friday 9. We pray for the Englishes and the Reimagine events. They have motivated us to get beyond the walls. They have motivated us into communities. They are definitely iron that sharpens iron. They are two people who have spurred us on in the faith and to good deeds, for sure. We pray for their continued imaginations. We pray for the vision God has given them comes to fruition. We pray for resources, finances, and appointments of destiny. We pray for the family needs, whether it be personal, professional, or relationally. We pray for a team that rises up around them to start and carry on more reimagine events and/or new ideas. We pray for continued support in the community.

Wednesday 9-Thursday 9. We pray for our first responders. We pray for our police department, corrections department, fire department, and EMTs. In scripture, Paul expands on what Jesus said when He said, Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Give to God what is His. Paul says that our taxes pay for these civil services. Give honor where honor is due. These men and women serve and put themselves in danger most days. We pray for their safety and the safety of their families. We pray for their stress levels to go down. We pray that they have opportunities to destress. We pray for pay increase. We pray for education increase. It seems what that the jobs our taxes pay for often times need more staff, more education, and better pay. So, we pray for these systems to hire good and honest hard working people. We pray for budgets to be worked out. We pray for opportunities for more education, education that is paid for, education that is relevant. We pray their departments get the resources they need. We pray for their needs.

Tues 9-Wednesday 9, we are praying for the judges who reside in this county. When Israel left Egypt, they came into a new land- first by Moses and then by Joshua. After Joshua died, there was no designated leader. It was easy for the people to disobey God. In their disobedience, they were made prisoners by their enemies. The enemy robbed them. Then the Lord raised up judges. Judges lead our city. So, we pray for them to make wise decisions, non biased decisions, decisions that will not hinder progress. We pray for them to match the judgement to the crime. We pray for compassion and mercy when needed. We pray for critical thinkers who see the cases clear as day. We pray for their ventures to be successful. We pray for their needs to be fulfilled. We pray for their finances. We pray for their safety and the safety of their family. We pray that the needs of their families will be met. We pray that they are blessed to be a blessing. We pray against corruption. We call it out if it is happening. We call it out to cast it out.

Mon 9-Tues 9, God considers himself equal with the prisoner. He sees them valuable. He does not see prisoners as people who threw their lives away. He sees them worthy of a relationship, worthy of interaction, worthy of a new beginning, worthy of Him. Today we pray for the prisoners. We pray that they do jot get discouraged. We pray they find the programs they need. We pray for human connection. We pray for relationships to be healed in their families. We pray they never give up and for the resources to help them not give up. We pray for the chaplains of the jail. They preach love; they counsel; they support; they teach; and they love. That’s the first thing. This is what and who they love because they see the value. We pray for their resources to grow. We pray for their resources to grow so that they can more readily help those coming out of the jail. We pray for the needs to be fulfilled. We pray for their families. We pray for their needs, safety, and finances as well. Thank you for all you do!

Sun 9-Mon 9. We are praying for the women of this city to be women of integrity. It’s all about the inside. The problems plaguing the church are not homosexuality and/or abortion. It’s character. We need sermons on and accountability for character. We need clear expectations about what integrity is and how to live that way. We need clear expectations that this is the code. And when others break the code, there is no hiding, only reconciling. We need close people around us to be a safe place where we can support one another and be real and raw with one another. We will all struggle with difficult choices and being true to the Ten Commandments. However, when we have trusted people around us and we see ourselves for who we truly are ( Proverbs 3:7), we can trust the dirty in us to not be aired about but to be lovingly confronted. So, women, we pray you find these people who can call you out-not to be above you or better than you and not because that’s all they look for. But we pray you find the people who will confront you when you hurt their feelings, not gossip about you and tell everyone else about it but you. We pray you find that support system that helps you be a better person of integrity. We pray for messages in the church to be directed to how we can be people of better integrity and character. We pray for safe places, honest friends, and accountability.

Sat 9-Sun 9, We are praying for our neighbors and how we can love our neighbors and neighborhoods. In a season of fasting, this is the game plan table. We are praying and fasting for change. That change often happens in us. So, intentionally, today we are praying for God to show us needs or ideas on how needs can be met for our neighbors. Pray for God to build relationships. Pray for God to show you the need. Pray for God to give you the game plan. He always has a plan. He is just waiting for us. We pray this season of fasting reinvigorates you, refreshes you, and reenergizes you to be the one for the one.

From Friday at 9-Saturday at 9 we are praying for better job opportunities and for those needing employment. God reminded me of 2 Kings 4. The widow needed employment. The widow needed resources. She was out of time. But the anointing in Elisha, the voice of God in Elisha, said, let’s make for ourselves a miracle! We pray for financial miracles today. We pray for God to come through! We pray for an Elisha or a word from God to come through for your situation. We also pray for better employment. We love Navy Federal and other big companies that come here and make pay competitive. We continue to pray for those resources to come in. If you can be an Elisha today, we pray for the way to be made for you to be that. If you are wanting to be an Elisha, when we see the homeless or someone in need, we can give them some oil in the form of money or a gift card. May we not withhold when we have it today.

Just love. Put your ego second. Put your emotions second. And if you are not doing those things, you are the problem. There is evidence when we love. Our families are close. Our parents and children have great, non manipulative relationships. Our children have great relationships with their friends, their spouses. We have great, open, and honest relationships. If our lives are not a picture of this, then we need love to do a work in us. We need Jesus to change some mindsets and heal some wounds so we can love better. The best family is a full family Note: we know that there are some selfish people out there who will never put their ego/selfish wants/hurtful behavior aside. If this is a family member of yours or you needed to leave one family, God puts orphans in families. We pray for you to find a full, loving family. We pray for God to bring it. He is the God of adoption. When David’s family rejected him, God more than made up for it. That is His business.

Wednesday 9-Thursday 9. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to throw our cares, pressures, anxieties, etc onto God. First of all, he’s more than able because of the cross. Second, because he is our high priest, he understands. Isaiah predicts that the Messiah would be rejected by man and would be closely acquainted with grief and sorrow. Jesus walked through the same mess that we walk. He is our stand in because He has been through it. He knows the struggle. So, we pray against the stigma of mental illness. We pray for those who are struggling that they would ask God for His plan, and they would walk out that plan. Whether God uses counselors, medication, the family in your life, the friends in your life, inner healing, He has a plan for you and for your mental stability. It is a harsh world that is ruled by systems. Often times these systems can be oppressive, and we still have to live in them. Covid restrictions were hard for everyone. The education system gives many families headaches. The health care system has its own restrictions that make getting effective care difficult. There are many systems in place. But Jesus came to walk through the systems to bring you relief from the pain. We pray that God beings the plan, reveals the pains, and brings healing. We pray for those in this medical field. We pray for resources, understanding, and finances for these practices.

From Tuesday 9-Wednesday 9, we are praying to break the stronghold of poverty over this city. So much has changed since we started praying and fasting over this city. With the help of , Navy Federal, airbus, and other corporations moving to this area, this city has seen a huge influx of resources. We have a ball field; UWF has a football team; the city has events like ; downtown has grown exponentially, we have great, great restaurants; and is a crazy, wonderful thing; and we keep seeing more and more growth. We have been blessed with so much activity. However, we still have more to accomplish. Our county still struggles with unequal pay, teacher shortages, homelessness, and unemployment. So, we continue to pray for more jobs and resources in this area. We pray for those corporations to pour into our community. We pray for a mindset that not only invites more jobs to this area but also the mindset to give. Poverty is broken when there is no need. We pray for those with the resources to not build bigger silos but bigger tables. We pray for the mindset that we all win when we all win. And, we thank and pray for those who are creating these events/businesses/restaurants/ideas that are making Pensacola the unique and fascinating place it is. We pray for more ideas, resources for those ideas, successful ventures, and for their ‘local vibe’ to live out loud.

Mon 9-Tuesday 9: We have heard it said that children need to be seen and not heard. But Jesus wanted to entertain children. They were a priority to Him. He invited them closer to Him and blessed them. He knew we learn from children. We pray for those ministries and organizations for children, whether it be children’s church or another kind of organization. We pray for those programs to benefit children, to show them how to be empowered, to show them how special and competent they are. We pray for the workers to be renewed daily. We pray for money, resources, and community connections that will make these ministries and organizations better to be able to accomplish more. We pray for a people to receive Jesus’ heart and mindset where it comes to children.

From Sunday at 9-Monday at 9 we are praying specifically for the men in this city to be men of integrity. As we hear about more and more male pastors being caught in sin, this prayer is dire. We have consistently prayed this prayer for years, intentionally. So, we continue until we see change, and then we still continue. We pray for the men in this city to want God and His presence more than riches, fames, recognition, or any other lust of the flesh. We pray that they would build what God tells them to and leads them to without hesitation. If God leads them to riches, fame, recognition, we pray that they wait on God’s timing. May the men in this city want to build their character more than buildings or personal empires. We pray that they do stay faithful to what God has called them to build. We pray for the men in this city to love their households like Jesus loved the bride he is coming back for. We pray for the men in this city to call out for repentance on behalf of those who have sinned and continue to sin. We pray for them to cultivate their character. We pray for their protection as they walk the holy way. We pray they keep their eyes on God and that He lights their path, as He promises in His word.

From Saturday at 9pm-Sunday at 9pm, we are praying for those who serve the community. There are organizations like DCF, Gulf Coast community, Habitat for Humanity, American Legion, and many more. The ones who created these organizations did so in an act of- There needs to be help, and I am here to serve today. Those who work there today often times put themselves second over others’ needs. They have taken on the burdens that a community has. This is Biblical work. We pray for them to be blessed and to receive supernatural blessings. Often times, these organizations are understaffed and overloaded. So we pray for an act of balance. We pray that there are more laborers for the work load. We pray for students to see these organization as legitimate places to work and build in. We pray for more resources, more money, and more education.