With the media and Hollywood constantly bashing Christians, it’s refreshing to see a celebrity speak out about his faith—even if it’s young pop star turned bad boy turned devout Christian Justin Bieber.

Religion News Service reported that on September 20, Bieber sang the Christian worship song “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” to tens of thousands of fans on his Purpose Tour in Paris.

As of 2015, Bieber had sold 46.5 million records in the U.S. His album, “My World,” went platinum, and Forbes has listed him three times as one of the top ten most powerful celebrities in the world (2011, 2012, 2013).

However, his Purpose Tour wasn’t the first time Bieber publicly professed his faith. In 2015, he told Complex, “I just wanna honestly live like Jesus … He created a pretty awesome template of how to love people and how to be gracious and kind. If you believe it, He died for our sins.”

Bieber hasn’t always been the devout Christian he is now. Having reached excessive fame by the young age of 13, Bieber spiraled down a dangerous path. Most of his infamous behavior occurred between 2013 and 2014, when he engaged in numerous physical altercations, run-ins with the law, drug use and sex. 

But Bieber has seemingly put all that behind him. “I shouldn’t be on the planet still. I think it was by the grace of God … ” he said. “My faith has gotten me to where I am. My faith has brought me to a whole other level. I love talking about my faith.”

Bieber does more than just talk about his faith. At a November 13 concert at the Staples Center, Bieber’s pastor took to the stage and gave a sermon to the large crowd. In 2014, the pop star was baptized by Pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong Church, Bieber’s Church. He has a small cross tattoo on his face, a cross tattoo on his chest, and the word “Yeshua,” the Hebrew name for Jesus, tattooed on his rib cage.

Hopefully Bieber stays on the right track and continues to spread his faith, despite the secular influence of Hollywood. {eoa}

This article originally appeared on .

At our core, we were made to do one thing: talk to God. It’s a lifestyle, something that defines us night and day, twenty-four seven. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing.”

But our culture presents other things as more important. Stores, restaurants and fitness centers stay open around the clock. Cable news goes constantly. The internet offers endless choices of music, movies, TV shows and shopping sites.

We live in a distracted world, yet all these options leave us unfulfilled—saturation doesn’t bring satisfaction. There is a deeper hunger inside, an ache we’re trying to soothe, a cry longing to be heard. Something is struggling against this busyness.

But if we don’t take time to listen, we might not hear. If we don’t ask the right questions, we won’t get the answers. Take a moment and ask yourself: What would we do if the music stopped? How would we cope if we couldn’t watch our shows, drink our lattes or buy things anytime we wanted? Who would we be, apart from all these distractions?

There is a spiritual void that the things of the world—and the chaos and busyness of our culture—cannot satisfy. It’s into this spiritual emptiness that the Word of God speaks:

“The voice of him who cries out, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rough places a plain; then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.'” (Is. 40:3–5).

What is this preparation for? How can we invite the Lord’s presence?

It starts by creating space to be with Him. We must clear the path, eliminate mental traffic and set aside time for God. We need to establish boundaries. In our distracted culture, that could mean turning off our phones and devices for a few hours. The Holy One doesn’t want to compete for our attention—He wants to be first place!

We’re all tempted to base our identities on our jobs, hobbies or interests, but Jesus invites us to find our significance in Him. God is the one who made us, knows us, and will determine where we spend eternity. Placing boundaries in our lives so that we have time for Him will pay off in the long—and short—term.

Our Father is calling out, “Come away from distraction and prepare the way for Me. I will fill your heart with glory beyond what you can imagine.” Jesus wants to remove all the things that hinder love—and this includes everything that keeps us from Him.

Take time and ask the Lord what He’s calling you to lay down, where He wants you to go, or not go, and which issues He wants to address. Let Him highlight whatever is getting in the way, and how He wants you to respond.

Reprinted with permission from the © International House of Prayer in Kansas City. A Detroit native who was raised in Vermont and Connecticut, Adam Wittenberg worked as newspaper journalist until 2012, when he moved to Kansas City to complete the Intro to IHOPKC internship. Afterwards, he earned a 4-year certificate in House of Prayer Leadership from IHOPU and is now on full-time staff in the Marketing department. Adam is also active in evangelism and has a vision to reach people everywhere with the good news of Jesus Christ.

We know America is at a tipping point, but what can we do? 

Nothing on our own, apostle and best-selling author Dutch Sheets says.  

“There were times in the Scriptures when praying and doing what was right on an individual basis simply wasn’t enough. On occasion, God said, ‘Gather the people to Me,'” Sheets says.  

So now, he is among many Christian leaders who are calling all believers to a time of prayer in October ahead of the election.  

Want to participate? Watch the video to see more. 

Let’s Take Action from Dutch Sheets Ministries on Vimeo.

Not long from now, the American people will go to the polls to elect the next president of the United States. We face tremendous challenges—a stagnant economy, racial tension and growing threats from radical Islam.

Voters increasingly feel the American dream is slipping away, that their children will be worse off, that the system is rigged against them and is not working for them. The vast majority of Americans—as many as two-thirds of us, according to the latest polls—know we are on the wrong track. We need a change.

In this election, Hillary Clinton represents the status quo—more scandals and more Barack Obama. I believe we have had enough of both.

But more importantly, I believe this election may be the last chance we have to stop Obama’s fundamental transformation of America, and restore our nation and the values we cherish.

In the choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, some Republicans say they may stay home or vote for third party candidates. Some say Trump really is not conservative. But I believe Donald Trump is, on a number of issues, better than what passes for conservatism today.

For example:

• Trump has directly confronted the smothering, debate-ending left-wing dogma, euphemistically called “political correctness.”
• He has said he supports a litmus test on judges. His Supreme Court appointments will be pro-life.
• He has made corruption in Washington, D.C. a major theme of his campaign.
• He rejects nation building in the Middle East—a utopian, not a conservative, adventure that ignores Islam’s incompatibility with the basic tenets of freedom, including religious liberty and the equality of women.
• He exhibits Ronald Reagan’s caution on the use of military force, coupled with Reagan’s firm belief that when we do use force, we fight to win.
• Trump is confronting the putrid globalism that believes secure borders are passe and that all cultures are equal. He believes in American exceptionalism and the rule of law.
• Lastly, but certainly not least, Donald Trump’s selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence to be his running mate was a grand slam home run. Mike Pence is a Ronald Reagan conservative who describes himself as “Christian, a conservative and a Republican—and in that order!”

I will not guarantee that conservatives will applaud everything Donald Trump does. But I can guarantee that Hillary Clinton will do nothing conservatives might applaud.

Conservative voters who doubt Donald Trump can trust Hillary Clinton to do everything she promises, such as:

• Impose a massive amnesty far beyond what Obama has done.
• Appoint pro-abortion, left-wing judicial activists who will gut the First Amendment and effectively repeal the Second Amendment.
• Put a lot of coal miners and other energy industry employees out of work.
• Increase the flow of refugees from Muslim nations by 500%.
• Raise taxes by $100 billion a year.
• Continue Obama’s foreign policy of appeasement, allowing nations like China, Iran and Russia to expand their influence while America retreats.
• Empower extremists on the left, such as the radicals in the Black Lives Matter movement and the anti-Israel fanatics on America’s college campuses.

What on that agenda appeals to any conservative?

This November, voters who cherish faith, family and freedom have a very clear choice: Voting for Donald Trump gives us a chance to restore America. Not voting or dividing the conservative vote by supporting a third party candidate only empowers the left, and likely means the end of conservatism in America.

Gary Bauer is the founder of the Campaign for Working Families, a political action committee dedicated to electing to federal and state offices “pro-family, pro-life and pro-free enterprise” candidates. He is also the president of American Values, a non-profit organization “committed to defending life, traditional marriage, and equipping our children with” conservative values. An alumni of the Reagan administration he served as President Reagan’s Deputy Under Secretary for Planning and Budget in the United States Department of Education, from 1982 to 1987, and as an adviser on domestic policy from 1987 to 1988. Author’s titles and affiliations are for identification purposes only.

As believers, we are to discern truth from error, light from darkness and right from wrong, but how? Jeremiah 23:17 offers one answer, “They still say to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace”‘; and they say to everyone who walks after the imagination of his own heart, ‘No evil will come upon you.'” False teachers often don’t warn, confront or convict. They offer comfortable messages and a false sense of peace, or they encourage very odd behavior. Many mislead with rules and regulations as found in 1 Timothy 4:2-3—”speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their consciences seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 that “false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Deception comes in many forms but centers on false hope or legalism. Not all leaders in experience-oriented movements are false and misleading. Many are sincere and open to the work of the Holy Spirit, but when they “toke the Holy Ghost,” kick people in the stomach for healing and act very bizarre, it should raise a huge red flag.

What is true revival then? Simply stated: a genuine revival is God reviving His people—”Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Ps. 85:6). Repentance is often a mark of true revival as what was reflected in the life of Griffith Jones, who preached during the Welsh revivals of the 18th century: “The tears [of the congregation] began to flow in streams down their cheeks. Soon, they wept openly and cried out, ‘What shall we do to be saved?'”

Further, it was not uncommon for people to tremble and weep or shout for joy under the anointed preaching of George Whitefield. Whitefield was the primary evangelist during the Great Awakening that occurred in the mid-1700s. During this time, old grudges and debts were forgiven, morality improved, many were added to the church, and there was a greater sense of the fear of the Lord.

Those who use past revivals to in an attempt to validate odd events today perhaps have not truly researched revivals. In reading charismatics and Calvinists, Pentecostals and Puritans, Acts and Azusa, as well as countless biographies of leaders such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Charles Spurgeon and D.L. Moody, and Puritans such as Thomas Goodwin, John Bunyan, John Owen and Richard Baxter, nowhere do these leaders encourage the hysteria or the outright weirdness that we sometimes see today. God’s Word is the foundation on which all truth stands (1 Tim. 3:15).

Granted, there were times of strong conviction such as when people held on to trees thinking that they were falling into the abyss of hell during the famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards. And people did cry out to God and/or fall on the ground under the strong conviction of sin during the Revivals of George Whitefield, John Wesley and Evan Roberts, but this is because sin, righteousness and holiness were preached—”falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you” (1 Cor. 14:25). This is true revival.

Perhaps a balanced end to this is found in an excerpt from Duncan Campbell’s book, The Price and Power of Revival: “How is it that while we make such great claims for the power of the gospel, we see so little of the supernatural in operation? Is there any reason why the church today cannot everywhere equal the church at Pentecost? I feel this is a question we ought to face with open minds and honest hearts. What did the early church have that we do not possess today? Nothing but the Holy Spirit; nothing but the power of God. Here I would suggest that one of the main secrets of success in the early church lay in the fact that the early believers believed in unction from on high and not entertainment from men. … How did the early church get the people? By publicity projects, by bills, by posters, by parades, by pictures? No! The people were arrested and drawn together and brought into vital relationship with God, not by sounds from men, but by sounds from heaven. … The early church cried for unction and not for entertainment. Unction is the dire and desperate need of the ministry today.”

There is a desperate need to preach and proclaim God’s Word with genuine power if we are to experience true revival. Without God’s authority and power, words are lifeless. Where are those with uncompromising power and authority in the pulpits today? The one thing that all of the great revivals in church history had is the one thing that we often lack—the genuine power of the Holy Spirit. The very thing that we need is the very thing that we are afraid of. Many do not truly want revival because of fear of what it may involve.

A few years ago, I prayed, “Lord, bring revival to the churches”—I was not ready for the response that followed. I felt impressed with these words: “You don’t want revival—it will ruin your schedule, your dignity, your image and your reputation as a person who is ‘well-balanced.’ Men will weep throughout the congregation. Women will wail because of the travail of their own souls. Young adults will cry like children at the magnitude of their sin. With the strength of My presence, the worship team will cease playing. Time will seem to stand still. You won’t be able to preach because of the emotions flooding your own soul. You’ll struggle to find words, but only find tears. Even the most dignified and reserved among you will be broken and humbled as little children. The proud and self-righteous will not be able to stand in My presence. The doubter and unbeliever will either run for fear or fall on their knees and worship Me—there can be no middle ground. The church will never be the same again.”

Do you really want revival?

Billionaire George Soros generally does not hide the fact that he uses the considerable funds at his disposal to support his extremist, leftist ideals.

So when he does hide something, it should raise some serious questions. A series of leaked documents recently revealed that Soros’ philanthropy network, the Open Society Foundations, has been giving money to a number of anti-Israel organizations with the goal of smearing the Israeli government and undercutting its relationship with the United States.

The list of organizations is a veritable who’s who of hostile, anti-Israel actors. One of the leaked documents shows that between 2001 and 2015, Soros funneled over $9.5 million into a range of groups including Adalah, the Al-Tufula Center, the Arab Association for Human Rights, Baladna, The Galilee Society, Molad, the New Israel Fund and others. 

Even worse, these documents showed that while the Soros network was systematically and methodically doling out its funds to these controversial groups, it was also working extremely hard to keep its donations and advocacy work quiet.

I can’t imagine why.

According to the private documents, which have now been published online, Soros and his network are engaging in these subversive tactics in an effort to “hold Israel accountable” for its supposed violations of international law. In truth, it seems more fitting that Soros be held accountable for his inscrutable policies. His so-called Open Society Foundations certainly don’t appear to be so open after all.

By secretly dispersing his money to influence politicians and the media, Soros hopes to drive a wedge between America and Israel without anyone noticing. This approach is wrongheaded and shameful. And it’s not new.

A similar strategy was employed by some of those same liberal groups to help the Obama administration sell the catastrophic Iran nuclear deal. Top Obama adviser Ben Rhodes bragged openly to the media how the administration created an “echo chamber” by coordinating with front groups lined up to praise and support the Iran deal despite its devastating drawbacks. 

And here’s a piece of information that should surprise no one: One such organization that was working closely with the White House to champion the Iran deal asked the Open Society Foundations for some cash to help them spread their misinformation. 

The American people on the whole were not fooled, but it ended up not mattering since Obama and his allies used parliamentary tricks to jam the Iran deal through Congress without it even receiving a vote.  

Now, having played America for the fool, an emboldened Iran is growing more dangerous and menacing by the day, with no signs of slowing down its nuclear program or moderating its aggressive behavior. The deal was not negotiated for the benefit of the American people or our national security, but for Obama’s desire for a foreign policy legacy.

A similar pattern is emerging with regards to this smear campaign against the Jewish state. By attempting to undermine the government of the only democracy in the Middle East, Soros is also undermining American national security. It’s simple. Pro-Israel policies are pro-American policies and a strong Israel makes for a stronger America. But Soros misses that point entirely.

Unlike its undemocratic, authoritarian neighbors, Israel has a free press. It’s a bit ironic to consider this point, given that Soros is now spending an inordinate amount of time, money and effort trying to influence our own free press.

If you want to hold a government between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean accountable for violating human rights, then you certainly don’t have to look far. The leaders of the terror group Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, that controls Palestinian areas in the West Bank, aren’t exactly known for respecting the sanctity of life or promoting democratic ideals.

The implications of exposing Soros’ dirty little secret are huge, but you wouldn’t know it from the remarkable lack of attention it has received so far in the mainstream media. Where’s the indignation? Where are the Bernie Sanders supporters who decried use of dark money during the primaries, but are nowhere to be seen now? 

Americans should be outraged. People need to wake up and counter this campaign to attack Israel. The American-Israel relationship has been harmed enough by Obama’s policies. Our citizens should not allow radical billionaires to have a further detrimental effect upon this crucial alliance.

Israel is our strongest ally and closest friend. We must make that clear, and we must stand strong together. As Israel’s enemies skulk around in the dark and attempt to cloak their insidious campaigns attacking the Jewish state, those of us who love America and value our vital relationship with Israel should be proclaiming the many ways it makes us safer and declaring our ongoing support for Israel openly with pride.  {eoa}

Armstrong Williams, author Reawakening Virtues, can be heard on his radio talk show on Sirius/XM UrbanView 126.

When the enemy says you can’t, profess that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. When your mind thinks this is impossible, verbalize the truth that with God all things are possible. And if the medical report reveals death, with faith insist that you will not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord (Phil. 4:13; Matt. 19:26; Ps. 118:17).

You see, our enemy, Satan, and even human knowledge and reasoning is bent toward the negative and against the wisdom and promise of God. When I hear the enemy whisper negative thoughts filled with fear and failure, I know he’s the one who is afraid of the success of my God in my life. And even negative human knowledge and reasoning goes against the grain of my spirit. When I hear it, it’s like someone scratching their fingernails down a chalkboard. It makes me cringe, and from deep within me faith arises, rejects the negative lies and declares the truth of God’s Word that produces positive changes in every situation.

What you may not understand is that, as child of the King, you possess supernatural power to change the negative report or situation into a positive witness that glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.

What’s the first step to change the devil’s negative into God’s positive? Use the power of the spoken word! Speak life into death and bold success in place of fearful failure. Instead of confessing that the situation is impossible, broadcast with words of faith, “With God, everything is possible.”

This is the first step to transform Satan’s negative lie into Jesus’ positive promise.

Becky Dvorak is a prophetic healing evangelist and the Destiny Image author of DARE to Believe, Greater Than Magic and, soon to be released, The Healing Creed. Visit her at .

When it comes to the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish movement’s financial resources, it might seem that they have it all: expensive media campaigns to boycott Israel products; bullying of artists who announce their tours to Israel; purchasing Israeli products in supermarkets abroad in order to destroy them as well as other means of aggression.

And when it comes to pro-Israeli and pro-Jewish activism, sometimes it looks pale comparing to Israel’s enemies. For the many thousands of millions in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds invested by BDS, it seems that pro-Israel activism is still many steps behind.

But an Israeli company is changing that, radiantly.

Radiant Group, a young and thriving company based in the Galilee region, is bringing tour groups to Israel, connecting them directly to Israeli ministries and thus investing and sowing in the land of the promise. Radiant Group created also a new movement in order to fight boycotts against Israel: UBIS, which stands for Unite, Bless, Invest and Support.

“Radiant Group was founded in January 2016 in response to the pressing need for real and intimate relationships between the body of Messiah in the nations and the body here in the land of Israel,” says Gilad Rosinger, founder and CEO of Radiant. “On the macro level, Radiant Group was founded to counter the growing BDS movement and the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide. Specifically to the insane statistic of NGO’s spending a total of over 100 million euros per year to delegitimize the state of Israel.”

Here is a question-and-answer with Rosinger about Radiant’s mission and efforts:

RS: Tell us about the vision for the tour groups. How is that different from other tour companies?

GR: Radiant Tours has launched “Bless Israel Tours.” This vision has come to life to help supporters of Israel connect with the Land and the people in a way that has never been offered before. Our focus is on relationships. We understand that supporters of Israel around the World are tired of the “cookie cutter” tours that operate like a factory and are somewhat mechanic in their nature. The typical tour lands at the airport and is then rushed from hotel to hotel and site to site without truly connecting with the land or the people. “Bless Israel Tours” are custom designed, focused on connecting with believers and ministries in Israel. We organize prayer meetings, worship gatherings, volunteer opportunities, meetings in the Knesset, Shabbat dinners in a believing Jewish home and many other activities that are designed to truly impact all people involved. The main goal is to establish lifelong relationships and introduce the kingdom family from the nations to Israel.

RS: Do you work only with local believers, such as tour guides, bus drivers, guest houses and hotels? Or do you work also with unbelievers you reach out to?

GR: We are open to blessing Israel in any way that the Holy Spirit leads us. Our focus, however, is the believers in Israel, and helping them grow in stability so that they can walk into their true calling. Our vision for Radiant Group is not only to bless the tourists, but to bless many ministries, believers and businesses here in the land. We work with guest houses and hotels that are run by believers and also nice hotels that are part of the economy of Israel. We specifically get to know the hearts desires of the group and then we match them up with their wishes.

RS: How does this is going to change the actual picture of tourism to Israel?

GR: This completely changes the game as far as tourism in Israel. Because of our unique connections here, and over 30 years of developing friendships and relationships, we have been blessed with some of the best connections and insight into the real needs in the promised land. We are able to make connections for tour groups that they have been longing for a very long time, but were unable to make. The reason they were unable to do so, is that the conventional tour companies don’t deal with relationship connections. The response has been incredible, and we believe that this is the time for action. We live in a time where there is a pressing need to go deeper in our understanding of God’s Word and the true spiritual principle of blessing Israel. Radiant Group provides just that.

RS: That is encouraging! Please tell us about UBIS.

GR: UBIS is the global movement we are launching to counter the BDS movement. BDS stands for Boycott, Divest and Sanction. UBIS stands for Unite, Bless, Invest and Support. We have a large network of ministries, businesses and organizations that are doing big things in Israel to bless the Land and the people. Through UBIS we are providing a trustworthy and transparent platform for people to bless Israel and stand with Israel in this critical time.

RS: How can pro-Israel Christians join the UBIS movement?

GR: Pro-Israel Christians and supporters of Israel can take a few actions to support the UBIS movement.

• They can book a “Bless Israel Tour” through Radiant Tours.
• They can use a Radiant Group business expert to handle their business needs (website development, video production, project management, marketing services and so forth).
  They can visit our website  and click on the UBIS tab and make a donation toward the UBIS movement. This will help us create social media campaigns, bless various ministries and organizations in the land and much more.

RS: How can Israel-based ministries be a part of what Radiant Group is doing?

GR: We are here to serve. Israeli ministries can simply contact us for any other needs or ideas on how you would like to bless Israel. We can add them to our network and, depending on a group’s wishes, we can make the connection between them.

RS: Here is a tough question, but it needs to be asked: Do you direct the groups toward certain ministries more than others?

GR: That’s a great question. Yes we do. We take our mission seriously and want to make sure that only organizations and ministries which are trustworthy and righteous are being blessed. Currently, we have many partners and we know them personally. This is why people can count on with Radiant Group, that the seeds they sow here, will be sown in fertile soil. We are also open to working with any ministry or organization that is walking in truth and blessing people.

RS: What would you like the Israeli believers both Jews and Arabs would know about Pro Israel Christians around the world?

GR: Israel and the people of Israel are not alone! First of all, the Holy One of Israel has their back! And He is raising awareness—about the local believers and their struggles to minister in Israel—through Christians who truly and wholeheartedly love the God of Israel, His Word, His people and His Land, and they wish to be connected to them—directly. The words of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah 60:1-5 are very much a part of these pro-Israel Christians’ lives:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord shall rise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you. The nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather themselves together; they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried at your side. Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and rejoice because the abundance of the sea shall be converted to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.” 

So it is time for the body of Messiah in the nations and in Israel to unite and be radiant. {eoa}

Rachel Scapa studied journalism at the Open University TLV under Yedioth Aharonoth’s journalist Dudi Goldman. She served as news correspondent for various radio stations abroad, including BBC 3 Counties and Voice of America, both in English and Portuguese, giving the best reports from Israel. Currently she has two radio shows–one in Portuguese, which she has had for more than 13 years, presenting News from Israel and the ME. In the other, in Hebrew, she presents Brazilian music, on an Israeli secular radio station. Rachel is also a columnist for a Christian newspaper in Brazil, distributed over the triple border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Presently she writes for the Israeli Messianic Jewish magazine Kehila News, published in Englsih, Hebrew and Spanish.

A growing number of Christian intercessory prayer groups are joining forces—and joining voices—to call for a day of prayer to combat Islamic terrorism on Oct. 2, 2016

“This crisis can’t be stopped by natural means. It’s simply not humanly possible,” says Cindy Jacobs, co-founder of Generals International. “This day of prayer is a Global Prayer Shield. It’s a world-wide appeal to heaven to cry out to God to protect our countries from the violence of terrorism. We also want to see those who are currently deceived that this terroristic killing honors their god, to have a visitation from the one, true God. So let’s join together and put our shields up!”

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The following is the prayer guide. Please follow along day by day, starting Oct. 2:

 Jeremiah 29:7 (MEV)

“Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.”

Psalm 91:9-11

“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling, there shall be no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your tent; for He shall give His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways.”

Romans 13:1-2

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

Terrorism is now a worldwide concern. Primarily carried out by radical Islamists, this is a type of warfare that comes right into neighborhoods and group events right where we live. Our governmental authorities, intelligence agencies and local law enforcement agencies are working together diligently to root out plots and plans and stop them before they can be carried out, but we believe divine intervention is needed to help them. Please join with us in prayer to this end.

Thank the Lord that He is the one who ultimately protects our cities and nations from harm. Tell Him that we acknowledge Him first above any other source of protection.

Pray for the peace of the city you live in and ask God to provide protection against terrorism. Say that the blood of Jesus protects your city from all harm and that no disaster can befall it.

Pray for wisdom and direction from the Holy Spirit for authorities as they seek out all of those who may be planning harm and that every plot would be found out.

Decree that acts of terrorism being planned in darkness in your state or nation will come into the light and be stopped!

Psalm 127:1b

“Except the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

1 Peter 4:11

“If anyone serves, let him serve with the strength that God supplies, so that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” 

When tragedy strikes, we all look for help. Those who are trained to provide that help, whether it is medical, protective or rescue, are appreciated and honored by the vast majority of those whom they serve. In a day of global terrorism when authorities are under attack, as well as those who misunderstand and distrust even first responders, it is important that we pray for our police, fire and medical response teams worldwide.

Give thanks to the Lord for those who so often put their lives on the line for others. In so many ways, they reflect the giving nature of Jesus who gave Himself for us.

Pray for physical protection for these first responders since there are many situations in which their lives and bodies are placed in danger.

Pray for peace for their families who are aware of the dangers their loved ones often face.

Pray for emotional protection, especially in the United States in light of criticism and attacks due to conflict between some African-Americans and the police. Help them to not be easily offended or hurt by criticism. Protect them from cynicism.

Pray for increased skill and effectiveness in their daily tasks of coming to the aid of others. Ask the Lord to give them confidence in the abilities He has given them and in those they have developed through training.

We must always remember that God is ultimately our shield against the enemy’s actions. He is the one we look to first to protect us and save us. Worship Him and thank Him that we can rely on Him 100 percent of the time!

Friday, just hours before the deadline, President Obama vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over its involvement in the nation’s worst terrorist attack.

Republicans in the House and Senate had promised to vote on an override if that happened. Both chambers passed the measure unanimously by voice vote, all but ensuring the votes exist for an override—potentially a first for Obama’s presidency.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had weighed in on the matter over the weekend. In an official statement distributed by his campaign, he said:

“President Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act is shameful and will go down as one of the low points of his presidency. This bipartisan legislation was passed unanimously by both houses of Congress and would have allowed the families of the nearly 3,000 people slaughtered by radical Islamic terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, the opportunity to seek justice in an American court of law.

“That President Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace. These are wonderful people, and as a lifelong New Yorker, I am saddened that they will, for now, not have that opportunity. If elected president, I would sign such legislation should it reach my desk.”

Monday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced there will be an override vote scheduled for Wednesday. It must pass with a two-thirds majority—67 votes—to force the bill into law.

The stumbling block could be in the House, however. There, a two-thirds majority would be 290 votes. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has dragged his feet a bit more than McConnell, though.

Asked last week if he would bring up an override vote before Congress goes on its pre-election recess, Ryan more or less left it up to the Senate. The override vote could provide an additional motivator for voters in the general election—any Democrat who votes against it faces almost immediate electoral peril.

Republicans need Democratic votes to override the veto. In the Senate, Republicans need the help of just six Democrats, while in the House, if just 43 Democrats vote for the measure, it will pass.