Call 2 Fall

Today!

"As the students go, so goes our nation!"

TODAY is the Collegiate Day of Prayer. Join a united, multi-generational day of prayer for revival and awakening on college campuses in America.

Prayer info: collegiatedayofprayer.org/resources/what-pray/

TONIGHT: Watch the Collegiate Day of Prayer Simulcast, hosted by Asbury University.
Livestream 8pm-10pm ET: https://2023cdopstream.sardius.live/

Pray with us!

Remembering D-Day.

On the night of June 6, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt went on national radio to address the nation for the first time about the Normandy invasion. His speech was a prayer:

"My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen."

𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒: 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑛 𝐷. 𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑡 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑢𝑚

Love your enemies.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:43-48). In today's reading in 1 Samuel 26, we see a practical demonstration of this same biblical teaching to love our enemies.

Many years ago, I had someone in my life who I believed was trying to make me miserable. The truth is, they weren't, but my response was not loving. I did the opposite of what the Bible teaches in Matthew 5:43-48. My lack of love for that person brought unforgiveness into my life, and as a result, I began hurting people around me. I was heartbroken when the Holy Spirit showed me my error and brought conviction. I confessed my sin to the Lord and asked for His forgiveness, as well as forgiveness from others.

1 Samuel 26 shows us we can acknowledge that there are people who will try to hurt us or cause trouble, but we must remember that our enemy is not of flesh and blood. In the middle section of this chapter, we see that our response should be one of showing mercy to those we perceive as troublemakers in our lives. In the last part of the chapter, we see that our ultimate response should be to trust God with those we might consider our enemies while loving them unapologetically. Today, as our nation reels from several senseless, evil shootings, the family and friends of those killed have a decision to make about forgiveness, as well. Let us pray for the believers among them, that they will bring their grief to God and allow Him to work a miracle of forgiveness in their hearts even as they grieve.

Today, you may be dealing with hurts brought about by your family, co-workers, neighbors, or someone at church. In my situation, I never set out to intentionally hurt or cause trouble, but I admit I did and am genuinely sorry for the hurt I caused. I ask the Lord to daily show me how to love everyone around me and not view anyone as an enemy. I encourage you to ask the Lord for an opportunity to bring healing to whatever strife you have in your own life. Do not try to do this on your own but under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I want to testify that loving others brings victory in my life and in the lives of those around me. I recommend you study Scripture and ask the Holy Spirit for healing and reconciliation. I also recommend reading "Choosing Forgiveness" by Nancy Leigh Demoss and "Total Forgiveness" by R.T. Kendall.

As we seek to grow in relationship with God, we ought to be reading the Bible every day. We are about to begin 2 Samuel as part of FRC's two-year, chronological Bible reading plan. If you are not yet participating, now is a great time to join with us. (frc.org/bible)

𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐽𝑎𝑦 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛, 𝐹𝑅𝐶'𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛

Obedience matters!

Today's reading is in 1 Samuel 15 and 16. I encourage you to read both chapters and invite the Holy Spirit to show you insights as you seek to honor God. Earlier in 1 Samuel, God chose Saul, and Samuel anointed him to be the first king of Israel. In chapter 15, we read of Saul's disobedience as he rejected God's commands. The same Samuel who anointed him was also the one to confront Saul for reinterpreting Scripture and becoming self-absorbed rather than relying on God's Word to lead the people. As a result of his disobedience, God rejected Saul.

Saul received specific instructions, which is a reminder to us that communication with God--through prayer and His Word--is vital as we seek to live godly lives. Saul understood his assignment but decided to obey only a portion of the instructions rather than being completely obedient to the Lord. He thought he could justify his disobedience, but as we read in this chapter, Samuel rebuked him because he was more interested in himself than others. Ultimately, Saul was replaced by a man whose heart was for God.

Samuel provides a valuable lesson in this chapter that is best summed up like this: obeying the Word of God is better than offering a sacrifice. Heeding the voice of God is better than offering the fat of rams.

In whatever decisions come your way today, may you seek the Lord and stay in His holy Word. Through your submission to Him, you will be able to remain obedient to the work He has called you to.

frc.org/bible

Today is the . We encourage you to take time today to pray for our country.

The National Day of Prayer shares how to pray for America here: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/prayforamerica

Use FRC's prayer guide for the Supreme Court case that could overturn Roe v. Wade: https://prayvotestand.org/dobbs

Tune in this evening to the 2022 National Day of Prayer broadcast at 8:00 PM ET: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2022broadcast

What a gift!

In Joshua 18, there is a land distribution taking place. Joshua asks the Israelites why they are delaying taking possession of the land the Lord has given them. The Israelites have not had permanent dwelling places in generations, so while they may have reasons for their hesitation, they are neglecting a gift, freely given to them. Perhaps you have received a gift from someone and, after unwrapping it, you put it away or delayed using it. The greatest gift we have is our salvation and, as hard as it is to understand, many who have received this gift have not done anything with it.

Today is a good day for us to examine our hearts and see where we are in our relationship with Jesus. If you have received the gift of salvation, we encourage you to seek the Lord daily and share your faith with others. If you have never received the gift of salvation, confess your need for a savior and invite Jesus into your life today.

Read Romans 3:23; Ephesians 1:7; John 3:16; Luke 13:3; John 14: 6; Romans 10:9-10; John 10:10; and John 14:3, and then tell someone about your decision to follow Jesus.

What do these stones mean to you?

Over the last several weeks' assigned readings in FRC's Stand on the Word Bible reading plan, we have read in Deuteronomy and now Joshua. Multiple passages have touched on teaching and testifying to children the things the Lord has done in our lives. In Joshua 4, we have another such reminder:

"Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?' 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So, these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever." Joshua 4:4-7 (ESV)

The purpose of this memorial was so the people of Israel could teach their children about God's great and mighty work, and those children would continue to teach future generations about the miracles God performed.

I know of a church in Central Virginia where the pastor often referred to this passage of Scripture to remind the people of the work God was doing in their midst. The church was building a multi-purpose building and the children were asked to submit names for the building. An overwhelming number of submissions were made for the name, "Twelve Stones." When the children were asked why they wanted the name to be Twelve Stones, they responded that the building would be used to minister to the community. They believed the name would offer opportunities for them to tell others about the mighty work of God.

You may want to consider getting twelve stones and stacking them in your front yard, on your desk, or some other place as an opportunity for others to ask, "What do these stones mean to you?" I pray you have many opportunities to testify about God's work in your life.

𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐽𝑎𝑦 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛, 𝐹𝑅𝐶'𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛

In Deuteronomy 26:16-19, we read that God commands us to observe His statutes and ordinances. The passage continues, saying we must be careful to do them with all our heart and soul. Have you ever attempted to complete an assignment when your heart simply was not in it? I think we all have a testimony we could share.

We are called not only to observe these commands given to us by God but also to do so wholeheartedly. I am reminded of the hymn of faith, "Trust & Obey," written by John Henry Sammis:

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

This hymn conveys the blessing we experience when we trust God's Word and do His will. Today, I hope these verses and lyrics encourage you to lean into God with all your heart and soul. God is our hope, and we can trust Him as we surrender in complete obedience to Him.

𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐽𝑎𝑦 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛, 𝐹𝑅𝐶'𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛

"As people of prayer, I am calling on you to pray and engage others to pray for the United States Senate as they consider Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination."

A Call to Pray and Stand for Human Life During the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, the judge was asked the following question by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.): “Can you provide a definition for the word ‘woman’?” After a pause, Jackson responded, “No, I can’t....

In Numbers 30:1-2, Moses reminds the people that making a promise to God is a serious matter. The promise must not be broken because it is an obligation to God.

What about you? Do you think carefully before you make a commitment to God? To others? Our words and hearts must be in sync. We pray that you will take the time to examine your heart before you speak. May the Lord Jesus work in our lives to help us earn trust in the eyes and hearts of all who are in our homes, our churches, and the public square. We all expect the Lord to keep His promises; I believe He expects us to keep ours.

Perhaps this brings to mind a time when you made a promise to God or someone else, but did not keep it. We urge you to bring that before the Lord to confess it and ask for His forgiveness. May this moment of repentance set you free to be a promise keeper.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the dramatic conversion of Saint Patrick, a teenage slave who became a mighty missionary of the gospel in Ireland. May Patrick’s life be an inspiration for us to share the Good News with those in darkness and make a positive salt and light difference in our culture. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Shine Jesus Shine!

A message from Jay Johnston, FRC's National Prayer Director and Chaplain:

Throughout my work in ministry, I've come to see the strength and blessings of Bible study groups. This came not only through my time serving as a pastor and volunteer in the local church, but also as I served to provide leadership in discipleship and evangelism with a church publishing organization that studied and consulted on church practices. We launched a Sunday school evangelism strategy that was birthed out of the local church, ultimately seeing thousands of churches engage in this strategy and effectively share the Gospel, teach the Bible, multiply their leadership, and bless others by ministering through small groups.

As I traveled across the country teaching and preaching, I would remind people of the largest volunteer army in the world -- Sunday schools, small groups, and discipleship groups that meet weekly comprise the largest group of volunteers on the globe. They are positioned to be a blessing to those within and outside their groups by meeting the needs of the people in their community and around the world.
As God transforms our lives, we should desire to bless others. Being connected to a Sunday school/small group in a church can equip you to be a blessing as you get involved with the work of that small group. If you are not connected to a small group, I encourage you to find a church that has them. Be sure the church believes, teaches, and preaches the Bible and carries out the Great Commission. If you are already part of a church community, I encourage you right now to pause and pray, asking the Lord to show you how you can be a blessing to others, both inside and outside the church.

The opportunity to bless and be a blessing to others can change your life and the life of those around you. In Numbers 6:24-26, we read the priestly blessing "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." The very desire for blessing comes from God. Yes, God loves to bless people and He wants followers of Christ to be people who bless others.

The words "keep you" in vs. 24 are consequential. The Lord wants to keep us and give us life and peace. The encouragement of the Lord's face shining on you (vs. 25) and the knowledge that He is pleased with you bring absolute peace. These three verses show love and tenderness and offer encouragement that the Lord will deliver us from our troubles. May you not be dismayed in these days of war and unrest. I pray you experience the fullness of Christ and that you sense His face as it shines on you.

Sign up to receive FRC's Prayer Team emails: frc.org/subscribe

In Leviticus 19:1-2, the Lord spoke to Moses and said, "Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." If you are following along with FRC's Stand on the Word Bible reading plan, you know we are currently reading through the book of Leviticus. The main messages that have stood out in this week's readings are a) God is Holy and b) He is calling us to be a holy people.

As we look toward Easter, may our daily prayer be: Dear God, I praise you that you are Holy. May the Holy Spirit work in my life to make me Holy for your glory and honor. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The call to be holy brings to mind the song "Lord Prepare Me." The first verse says,

"Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You"

May this be so as we offer ourselves in worship to God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

A message from Jay Johnston, FRC's National Prayer Director and Chaplain:

"We are entering the season in which we turn our attention to the death of Jesus, culminating in the celebration of His resurrection on Sunday, April 17. Over the next forty days, I want to encourage you to read Scripture, pray, and listen to hymns and songs of praise. By participating in these acts of worship you can prepare yourself and your family to experience Easter with all the freshness of a spring morning.

If you are not following along with FRC's daily Bible reading plan, I encourage you to join us today. We are on a two-year journey of reading the Bible chronologically and it's never too late to begin. Visit the Stand on the Word webpage and jump in: FRC.org/bible.

Today's reading is from Leviticus 7-9. I would like to take a moment to focus on chapter 7, verses 11-18. The peace offering always took place after the other offerings and was an act of praise and thanksgiving for what God had done. The peace offering is also a reminder to us that the only true peace is found in Jesus. May you take time today as a follower of Christ to embrace the peace God gave you at the moment of your salvation. If you are reading this and have never experienced the peace that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus, I invite you to stop everything you are doing and give your heart to Him now. I often say that Jesus is a perfect gentleman and only goes where He is invited, so invite Him into your life today and receive eternal life."

Join us tonight for a special address from Tony Perkins, "The State of Faith, Family, and Freedom."

When: Monday, Feb. 28, 8 PM ET

Watch: frc.org/address and our page.

Why: Tuesday evening we’ll hear President Biden’s take on the state of our union. Whichever direction he takes with his address, the president’s assessment of our national state is likely to fall far short of offering an adequate remedy to a nation -- and a world -- in crisis. America was built upon the faith of its people, the cornerstone of the family, and the freedom for faith and families to thrive. So, what is the state of faith, family, and freedom? And how can we together advance these pillars of our democracy?

Tune in Monday night as we explore the most pressing issues of our time along with policy solutions regarding the protection of human life, parental rights, religious liberty, and international religious freedom.

Here are five ways you can pray for Ukraine:

𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞.

The Ukrainian people are tough, and they’re not surrendering without a fight. Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukrainians have learned the value of having their own sovereign democratic country, and many don’t want to return to being ruled by yet another Russian autocrat, no matter what the cost.

Ukrainians don’t know what the future holds for their country. In a moving scene on live TV, CNN’s Clarissa Ward captured footage of a small group of Ukrainians kneeling to pray in a city square in Kharkiv in the freezing cold.

As these Ukrainians, and surely so many others like them, are driven to their knees in prayer, we should join them. Pray for safety for the people of Ukraine, that residential areas would not be targeted, and that God would comfort those who are afraid. Many Ukrainians are Christian; pray that their faith would be strengthened to withstand this trying time.

𝟐. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞.

“Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring,” President Joe Biden rightly said in a tweet this week. However, world leaders bear the responsibility to respond, and the choices they make even in the next few days can shape the course of history.

Pray that they would have wisdom as they make decisions regarding sanctions, military support, and other means of deterring Russia and supporting Ukraine.

𝟑. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲.

Ukrainian church leaders were already grappling with how to respond to an imminent invasion from Russia. Now that one is underway, they will need to lead their congregations with wisdom and courage.

The possibility of a refugee crisis becomes even more likely during a war, and churches and Christian ministries will inevitably be at the forefront, providing assistance and spiritual and material help to the displaced and hurting. Pray that God would prepare and equip ministries to aid those in need.

𝟒. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞.

Wednesday, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, requesting that he end his invasion. On their behalf, Chairman Hryhorii Komendant wrote:

"Today we pray to the Creator of the Universe with a special request for wisdom for those who are authorized to make decisions so significant for the whole world, in whose hands the fate of humanity has turned out to be. This applies primarily to you, Mr. President of the Russian Federation. This prayer of ours is filled with hope for the generosity of the Almighty God and the openness of the heart that accepts grace."

𝟓. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦.

Recent years have seen a decline in freedom around the world—the Chinese government choked Hong Kong, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, and military coups took over Sudan and Burma. This is a dangerous time for the free world and a devastating one for the people who now live under oppression.

As Putin attacks Ukraine, peace and freedom are once again under siege. This conflict benefits very few people, and even some people in Russia see that. Despite extensive government propaganda, some Russians have protested Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In response, Russian authorities have cracked down on their own citizens, arresting at least 1,700 protestors in 53 cities.

Pray for peace in Ukraine and throughout Europe. Pray that plans intended for evil would be thwarted. Pray for the expansion of freedom around the world.

𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐴𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑙 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑅𝐶 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔.

Russia has invaded Ukraine.

Please pray for the people of Ukraine and their military. 🇺🇦

"He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth... He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations...' The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (Psalm 46:9-11)

Here are five ways you can pray for Ukraine: https://frcblog.com/2022/02/praying-ukraine/

In Exodus 34:14, we read that God is a jealous God. The verse refers to the second commandment, found in Exodus 20:4-6, which says:
"You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

The Scripture calls us to have an undivided heart. Today is an excellent day to examine your heart, time, and possessions to ensure you are putting and keeping God first in your life.

God's jealousy is to be honored because He is God and wants the best for us. He loves us and longs to have an ongoing relationship with us. If we are putting other things before God, we miss out on knowing and loving Him. May these words from verse 1 of the song "How He Loves," recorded by David Crowder, remind you of God's love for you.
"He is jealous for me, Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree, Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy, When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, And I realize just how beautiful You are, And how great Your affections are for me, And oh, how He loves us, oh, Oh, how He loves us, How He loves us oh."

Heavenly Father, I praise you for your everlasting love. I pray that each person who reads this will establish you as their first love. May the Holy Spirit be free to convict and root out anything that hinders one's love relationship with you and that each person will confess anything that keeps them from seeking you first. Thank you for your redemptive love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Pray for Leah Sharibu.

Four years ago today, Leah Sharibu’s world was turned upside down. She went from being a normal schoolgirl in a rural region of Nigeria to being a captive of a faction of one of the world’s most notorious terrorist groups, Boko Haram.

On February 19, 2018, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, in northeast Nigeria. They kidnapped 109 students. However, they quickly released all but one: Leah Sharibu.

The girls who were released said the terrorists would not free Leah, who was just 14 years old at the time, because she refused to renounce her faith in Christ and convert to Islam. The world has not seen or heard from Leah since, but multiple recent reports indicate that she is still alive.

Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam told Open Doors: “It has been almost four years since Leah’s abduction. What a traumatic experience for this teenage girl. But we are grateful to God that she is still alive. The news of her being alive should encourage our hearts to remain hopeful that one day Leah will be set free.”

Reports indicate that Leah may have two young children at this point, likely a result of r**e and/or forced marriage to one of her captors. The truth remains unclear, but one thing is for sure—Leah needs our prayers. Here are three ways you can pray for Leah:

1. Pray for Leah’s release from captivity.

This weekend marks the beginning of Leah’s fourth year in bo***ge. Pray that her captors would have a miraculous change of heart. Also, pray that the Nigerian government—which has blatantly neglected the pleas for help from Nigerian Christians who are routinely victimized by terrorist attacks—would be motivated to locate and rescue Leah.

2. Pray for Leah’s encouragement and protection.

Persecution can place immense strain on one’s character, mental health, and walk with the Lord. Pray that the Lord would encourage Leah and give her the mental, emotional, and physical strength and perseverance she needs. Pray that no harm would come to her body from Boko Haram terrorists or others.

3. Pray for Leah’s family and the many Christians just like Leah who are facing persecution.

One often-forgotten consequence of persecution is the effect it has on the victims’ families. Since her kidnapping, Leah’s family has been distraught. Her mother does not even have proof that her daughter is alive. She has visited the United States to ask American leaders to urge the Nigerian government to help but has little to show for it. Pray that God would comfort Leah’s family while they wait and pray for Leah’s freedom.

Today, Leah is the face of so many persecuted people whose names and stories the world does not know. She reminds us of the price people pay to follow Christ. As we remember that Leah was captured four years ago, please also pray for the millions of others who face religious persecution in Nigeria, China, North Korea, Pakistan, and far too many other places.

𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐴𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑙 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑅𝐶 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔.