Hope for a nation that embraces pornography

***Hope for a nation that embraces pornography

Please pray with me:

Reverence:
Father, You are holy. Holy, Holy, Holy. Holy is the Lord.
You are pure. Yes, You are Holy, and You are unchanging.

You are patient with us when we don't hear You. You keep loving us when we turn from You. You remain steadfast when we rebel against the commandments that You gave to protect us!

Yet, You know us and You judge us. You do so for our good that we may live.

Father, You have called us to purity. You have called us to be holy in thought, word, and deed and You have provided a pathway and a process meet Your calling.

Your Word:

1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Response:
Father, pornography is now celebrated. It has become an intentional act of rebellion in our nation. How can we, as a nation, give up our addiction to inappropriate sexual pleasure? You know. How many times did Israel's sexual indiscretion lead to captivity? Are we not captive now? If so, we don't know it.

Speak, Lord. Open our hearts to desire to hear You.
Open our minds and touch us that we might think clearly.
Open our ears, that we might say, "Speak Lord, for your servant hears."
Help us to spend time before You, listening.

Did You, in Your mercy, allow Israel to go into captivity? So they would have time to think? ...and listen?

Requests:
Father, we cannot do this by ourselves. We cannot even approach the mammoth sin that is destroying our nation. We need Your help. Truly, Your Body...the Body of Christ, does not escape this addiction. So we all suffer under the grip that this pleasure-based sin brings.

Please bring us to the point that we want to hear You.
Show us the path to listen that we may return to You.

Father, it seems we have also lost the sound of Your voice. We don't know when You are speaking. Yet, Your Word is sure. You have given us Your Word. Open our eyes to see our pitiful condition and drive us to Your Word. Your Word is sure and You are faithful.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

For those who suffer with pornography addiction.
Father, this addiction destroys every relationship...even with ourselves. Help Lord, in Your mercy. You are there when addicts look at porn. You know what is going through their minds and bodies. Father YOU made our minds and bodies. You know how they work and You know how to help us. I'm asking for Your help.

Father, may Your church rise up and stand in the gap for these people: especially those within their fellowship that struggle with this. Help us to realize that we, Your Church, The Body of Christ, suffers with this sin.

Show us how to rise up and realize that the whole body suffers...lead us into prayer for those who are gripped mercilessly by the devil who has come to steal, kill and destroy them. He seeks to destroy every relationship in their lives. Jesus, are these Your words:

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Show us the path to be overcomers. Bring us to the end of ourselves that we may diligently seek You. Father, may we not judge those who are in the grips of this addiction. Your Word tells us that we are all suffering when one suffers.

1 Corinthians 12:26
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

We all suffer under the addiction of pornography, but You are able. Open our eyes to see Your pathway to freedom.

Readiness:
Your Word will make us ready. Make us hungry! Make us thirsty!


Glue our eyes to Your Word, which promises to set us free. Work in our hearts that we want to be free, crave to be free and yet, know our weakness. Father, bring to our knowledge that no one escapes the consequences of this sin....so that we all rise up against it.

Forbid Your church, the Body of Christ, to leave these people in this situation. Humble us, convict us all that we have a part to help them.

Ready us by giving us a willingness to let go of judgement and arrogance. Help us ALL to know that this is OUR problem, that YOU have the answer. You are our Hope and YOU are ABLE.

Rejoicing:
Bring us to rejoicing. May it start in the Body of Christ. Show us the way, help us to walk in it and then rejoice in bring others along. Unify us Father, that we may cleanse this nation and

...that we may be found faithful in the day of His coming.

In the Name of Jesus Christ,

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Intercessors For America offers a variety of helpful resources to pray about pro-life issues: daily devotionals, prayer bookmarks, and special reports.

Please consider these prayers for the revival of our nation:
For the U.S.
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Disaster Recovery Prayers
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For Pastors, especially in the U.S.

***This prayer is my own and the content does not reflect the philosophy or policies of any organization. It is inspired by the Intercessors for America newsletter. Learn more and consider joining this incredible organization, that is committed to praying for America.

For assistance in understanding God's Word, consider the Derek Prince Legacy Radio podcasts. This and other free and life-changing resources can be found at https://www.derekprince.org/.

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Human Trafficking

…a prayer for:

• Those held in slavery, especially children and young women;
• Those who enslave;
• Those who fight against it.

Facts:

• Boys, girls, young women from around the world: 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year, primarily from Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala, Philippines and China.
• An additional 100,000 U.S. children exploited by the commercial sex industry each year.
• 200,000 U.S. citizens (primarily children and young women) face high risk of being trafficked within the U.S. for sexual purposes.

Please pray with me:
Father, human trafficking seems like something we only see on television. It seems to live somewhere else, removed from our reality. It is unthinkable that it is on our street, in our communities, in our parks…even right in front of us. We are unaware, unconscious, and therefore we miss it.

Forgive us for being so self-absorbed that we have overlooked such heinous activity. Father, we easily overlook these individuals and we dismiss them, rather than recognizing that they are each unique, one-of-a-kind, and precious in Your sight.

These are people You created and that You know. We minimize their value and their existence. Open our eyes, transform our awareness, raise up anger, and show us what we can do about this industry that is born of evil.

Father, little girls and boys, even toddlers, and young women —these most vulnerable people are held as slaves, hidden, abused, and without hope of escape. They are stripped of any value, treated as disposable animals, and repeatedly sold on a daily basis until they are finally discarded as trash. Surely, on every day of their lives, a part of them dies.

Where is hope? How can they find it? Strengthen them to hold strong. Comfort them in some mysterious way. Give them ideas of escape and a deep belief that there are people who seek their release and healing. Affirm in them that You, their Creator value them deeply and that You have not abandoned them.

Did you not speak to the child, Samuel, and call him? Children are precious to You. Are they not part of your inheritance? Rise up on this matter. Raise up an army so that these children and young women do not hope in vain.

What about family members who steal the self-worth through incest? Surely You must cry as this heinous sexual misconduct steals every speck of value from these victims. The damage is done. Something deep inside of them has been changed and only You can heal this deep, deep damage to their body and spirit. ONLY You! Truly, the damage is so deep that only You can reach it. Will You?

Forgive us for ignoring what is so difficult to even consider. Forgive us for knowing about it and turning our backs. Forgive us for filling our lives and minds up to the brink with frivolous amusements so there is no room to consider these realities that are before us. O Lord God of judgment, how will we stand before You. Surely, unless we change, we will weep at what we have attended to and what we overlooked. Save us from this fate!

We give You thanks that You are sovereign and that You beckon us to turn to You for help in time of need. Lord God, on this matter, we have been sparse in seeking You. Forgive us and put these things on our hearts. Bring true repentance and grant us prayers that we may seek You continuously on those things that are of such grave consequences.

We are to hate what You hate and love what You love. Surely You hate this industry and those who participate for their personal gain. Raise up Your army, Lord God of the Universe. Did You not tell us in Psalm 50 that the world is Yours? …and the fullness thereof? Then we ask for the following:

FOR THOSE WHO TRAFFICK:
It seems unbelievable that there are those who have sunk so low as to profit from the sale of another person. How can we have sunk so low? Father, what horrid, atrocious thing happened to those that are involved with the trafficking of human beings, selling their bodies, and organizing these hell-houses where others come and pay to indulge themselves? What goes so incredibly wrong that people visit these places?

Bring newness of life to those who organize, transport, and otherwise participate in this industry for their physical and financial gain. Open their minds and hearts to switch sides that many may be saved. Did you not do this with the Apostle Paul? And did he not serve You faithfully for the remainder of his life? Can You not do it here in this time and in these places? We ask it.

FOR THOSE WHO WOULD JOIN THE BATTLE:
Father, for an army of prayer warriors. Please protect the longevity of these prayer commitments. Enable them to continue and not tire. Protect them emotionally as they scope out the stories. Place an individual, perhaps a youth who is missing, for each person to pray for specifically.

Protect these prayer warriors from Satan who will hate and attack them. Place a wide and tall hedge about them and may the light of Christ be so bright that it blinds the enemy’s sharpshooters. Preserve and protect those who pray.

Place organizations in front of those who would join in the battle; and prick the spirit of those who would serve in them. Uphold these individuals, press and urge them to become involved.

You changed and hardened Pharaoh’s heart! You redirected the servants of King Saul and they prophesied. Can You not change the hearts of those who would become involved in this industry? Aren’t You able to redirect those who do evil, and focus those who would fight to raise up the cause of Christ.

FOR THOSE WHO FIGHT:
What about organizations like Love 146? They stand steadfast and unflinching. Daily, they move on the street. Strengthen their hearts and resolve. Protect their innermost beings from fainting at the disgust and waste that they face every day. Oh Father, protect their families and may they see clearly the balance between their unending work with it’s dire urgencies— and their families. May their families not be without their presence.

Holy Spirit, give them solutions, strategies, and raise up a network of protagonists to advocate for what is needed. Do they need funding? Physical houses? Offices? Staff? What about marketers, lawyers, temporary places of safety? Who will speak on behalf of Love 146 and other organizations? Must they do it themselves, in addition to their “street work”? Father, please bring many people alongside them with a deep commitment to help.

There are other organizations too. Put your shadow of invisibility over all of them that they become elusive to the enemy. Yet send out Your messengers to speedily bring miracle after miracle that You are glorified, and that Your testimony goes forth…and that these soldiers may be encouraged. May their joy be complete as new survivors move into recovery.

Give these warriors-for-the-cause a boldness, an undying strength. Give them insight and tactics to undermine this industry. Give them advocates to speak on their behalf and carry on the education to those of us who have been indifferent. May hearts be turned. May their words cause listeners to become activists.

Work in the hearts of the Church at large that we may hate this as much as You do. May we seek You with great audacity and feverous, vehement, and unceasing pesterings, that You would be compelled to move speedily and mightily!

Wage the war against this blight. May the light of Christ shine in the face of the enemy, so brightly that he enemy is blinded and left impotent to retaliate. May these warriors of Christ, snatch these victims out from under the hands of Satan.

All things are at Your disposal! All the money, all the resources – create a supply line of assistance, of revenue, of financial support, of people who will commit to helping to the rescue and healing of these people who have been imprisoned.

Father, may this army be unrelenting through Your strength, Your strong right arm, and Your hand and surely, by Your Spirit. May Jesus Christ be served with excellence that may we all stand honorably before You on the day of our judgment.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

References:
Please read this article by World News Magazine
The Global Shame of Sex Trafficking:
http://www.worldmag.com/2015/08/the_global_shame_of_sex_trafficking

Those trafficked into the U.S.
http://misacor-usa.org/index.php/who-is-trafficked-in-the-usa-from-where

Types of human trafficking in the U.S.
http://misacor-usa.org/index.php/what-types-of-human-trafficking-in-the-usa
…are often forced to work in massage parlors, brothels, strip clubs and escort services. Some examples of human trafficking for forced labor in the United States include domestic work in private homes, small, family businesses such as restaurants, begging rings, factories and agricultural farms.

What the Bible teaches about human trafficking
http://www.gotquestions.org/human-trafficking.html

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html The United Nations defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”

Prayer for those held captive by pornography:

According to the Institute for the Study of Labor, a private, global, independent economic research institute, in their article on the impact of pornography on marriage, they indicate that in 2010, 13% of all Internet traffic is for “erotic content.” Essentially, pornography is replacing marriage. To hear an 11-minute podcast on this topic, from World News Group, please click here.

Please pray with me:

Adoration:
“Father, You know us (Rom 8:27). You know our hearts and minds, and You are a God of compassion (Psalm 145:8). You are gracious. You care diligently about our well being (I Peter 5:7).

You are holy and worthy of our praise and worship. Your love for us is without bounds, and You consistently beckon us to seek You, to seek Your help, and to receive Your grace and mercy.

You are the ultimate care and love for us. Your compassion is at the ready to embrace us and lift us from the muck and mire of our daily existence and bring us to a place of peace, security, and sufficiency.

Confession:
“We have not prayed as we should to save the institute of marriage, as You define it. We have not been diligent to find ways to preserve and mentor new marriages to increase their success rates—especially when they faced challenges. Forgive us.

“We have allowed marriage to become a temporary arrangement for a tax credit, rather than the covenant that You designed. We have forgotten that You are the Author of marriage and we have re-purposed and modified Your gift to accommodate our sin. Forgive us.

“We have allowed the media to pour out erotic messages and flood the public places with alluring sexual content. We have not been diligent in prayer against these messages or in prayer for those behind it, or the victims in front of it. Forgive us.

“We seek to satisfy our bodies without respecting them, or acknowledging them as a gift from you. We have not been good stewards. Forgive us.

“We have forgotten Your directive to populate the earth and we devised and elevated our own thinking to gratify ourselves without commitment or responsibility. Forgive us.

“We have followed this path of destruction for so long, that nations are now on the path to extinction. We know about this and we haven’t taken heed or corrective action. Forgive us and have mercy on us.

Thanksgiving:
Thank You that You care about each of us, and every part of our being (Luke 12:7). Thank You for Your commandments and instructions that You have given us— that we might be kept safe; that we can be protected against the harm of our enemy (John 10:10).

Thank You that You are a God of hope. Romans 15:13. Thank You that You have not left us without help, and You encourage and even command us to ask for Your assistance in all things. (Matthew 7:7)

Thank You that nothing is beyond Your ability. We come to You with thanksgiving that You are for us (Romans 8:31). We are grateful that nothing can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:38). We are grateful for the ultimate strength of Your love for us.

We thank You that You came to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1).

Supplication:
O Father, many are held captive by pornography—at so many levels. Some are held captive to seek it, find it, and indulge in it. Some are captive to produce and distribute it. Some are caught and held against their will, forced to participate for the financial gain, and heinous indulgence of others. We appeal to You to help them.

You have commanded us in Psalm 119:37 to turn away our eyes from this sin. And you have shown us in Psalm 101:3 that we are not to set any wicked thing before our eyes. So we know that this is dangerous, that it is sin, and that it is possible to avoid it. We need Your help to be diligent and pleasing before You.

Send witnesses that will speak meaningfully to these individuals. Sharpen the mind and bring the words of life to these who are caught in this trap. Strengthen their minds to hear and protect the hearts of those who would listen.

Surely, O God, send Your Holy Spirit. May He comfort those who are ripped apart by addiction. May Your hope infiltrate their very being and not let go. May it give them resolve to flee from temptation through the strength that Christ bought on the cross to secure their freedom.

May those involved with this industry come to the realization that Your care is personal and it is for them. May they come to the humbling knowledge that Christ’s care includes dying for them—because of Your great love for them. May they realize that as their Creator, You made them with specific purpose and value…and may they cling to You to help.

Raise up an army of people who have been caught in the pornography trap. Save them! You are a merciful God! Save them from this destruction! Set them on a path to turn on their captors and lead the way to freedom. You, O God, can bring repentance to those who would hear. Yes, repentance and salvation and freedom for the captives.

So who are those who would hear and follow the path to freedom? You know. Raise up an army of prayer warriors to seek You diligently on behalf of those who suffer. May we be unrelenting before You day and night and not rest while this path of death torments its victims.

Encourage those who pray against pornography. Drive us to seek You and praise You for the release, the victory for each captive that is set free. Grant us vision on the support system needed that those who are free may remain so. Bring to life the ministers of Your Word to find and receive those who can hear.

Grant us prayers. Grant us undying hope. Establish in Your Word that we may be found faithful at the Day of His coming.

In Jesus’ Name.