"ALL CHOKED UP"

There are times in my life when I wonder, “what in the world God is thinking?” Problems, frustrations, delayed dreams and unfulfilled desires play cat and mouse with my mind. I question my purpose and often have to look long and hard to find the things that once affected me so passionately. Uninterrupted time to seek the face of God seems a lost cause, and time in the Word is reduced to fragments of stolen time. I feel so distanced from God that I wonder if He remembers me at all. Were it not for times of collective worship during church services, I would sometimes feel complete alienation. There is no draw toward sin or unseemly desires, just a gnawing, empty loneliness to feel the Lord close at hand ̶ the prompting of the Spirit; the whisper of His unexpected presence in the midst of my predictable day.

“And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke 8:14 KJV). 

It’s not the giant storms that sweep in and knock me off my feet. It’s not the extreme emergencies that require all my time, effort, and energy for a season. It’s the everyday call of responsibility that makes me feel like the seed that fell among thorns. My earnest desire to be close God is choked by the cares of life.

We all have responsibilities, godly responsibilities to our church, families, jobs and communities. With the prevalence of cell phones, “on call” is no longer a shift, but a lifestyle. We lead busy lives with ever increasing demands. Success requires achievement, more training, more money, more education, and more time. Our hearts, our hands and our minds become full and we learn to juggle.

When our spirit cries out, longing for relief, we may try to quiet it. We don’t easily admit that our walk with God is not what it should be or what it once was. As that desperation grows, we decide that we just don’t understand God. We wonder why the rescue team has not arrived. We have left our place of peace. I know that there are times when God allows us to experience a “desert place” that is not of our making, but there are other times when we seem to lose Him in the crowd of our lives. He is there, somewhere, but we can no longer communicate as we once did. Our understanding of His ways seems vanquished to the dimmer side of our memories.

The answer to the confusion, anxiety and choking cares we face is often found in understanding and admitting that we have made gods of our commitments and responsibilities and the cares of life. As I was looking into what the Word says about the cares of life, I was taken aback to find a reference in a message Jesus delivered concerning the end times. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (burdened) with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares” (Luke 21:34). Jesus warned us that allowing the cares of life to become a burden to us can put our souls in jeopardy. We don’t have to live under this burden.   

Jesus came to save us. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (See John 10:10). He came to make peace a part of our lives, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you … Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:27). “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace” (John 16:33). How do we get to this place of peace? One of Isaiah’s prophecies concerning Jesus stated, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Our faith, confidence, and trust in the Lord are made strong through time spent in His presence and in His Word. When He is first on our list, He will be foremost on our minds. Finally, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (I Peter 5:6-7).

Darla Cooper

Guest Writer

"SEEDS TO TREES"

Scripture teaches us about the principle of sowing and reaping. From seed, comes plant, a tree, or a field big enough to harvest. What you sow grows. The seed of a tree becomes buried where you cannot see it. Little by little, it is nourished in the ground and sprouts into view, growing into a large tree with deep root systems and wide-reaching branches.

The principle of sowing and reaping doesn't change. If a seed can live, it will grow. In scripture, seeds were often an analogy for the Word of God. As we read His Word it grows in our life bringing forth faith and works of His Spirit. But a seed can also represent things like bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, and vengeance. These are all big issues in someone's life, but they all started as a seed.

It's not easy to cut down a tree when it's grown. Instead, if we get rid of the seed when it's small then we don't have to wrestle with it when it becomes a forest. It's your choice to leave a seed buried.

Pray:

• that God would reveal to you any "seeds" in your life that lay buried and need to be removed. These may be things like bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, revenge, hate, envy, gossip, jealousy, discontent, or doubt.
• for forgiveness, for allowing any seed to grow, contrary to His Word.
• that God would help you to remove those that have grown up into large obstacles to your faith, and your walk with God and others.
• that God would help you find someone to be accountable to during your recovery.
• that God would make you aware when you are burying a seed in the future.
• that you would replace every sinful seed with a seed from His Word.

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:15).

Colleen Clabaugh

Guest Writer

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression, prayer is an exceptional tool. Jesus loves when we come to Him with our sorrows! However, don't hesitate to reach out to a professional, in addition to the spiritual leaders in your life. We have each other for a reason! For those battling suicidal thoughts an additional resource includes:

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255

The World Network of Prayer Presents 

24/7 WATCH: A Year-Round Initiative for 24/7 Prayer

As of January 1, 2023, WNOP has continued the 24/7 prayer and fasting chain worldwide. It has been such a great success in 2022 that it was requested again. Each week WNOP is posting a prayer focus as daily prayer for the entire week. Also, weekly a video is posted on the WNOP Facebook Page of a prayer leader and/or minister leading in periodic prayer.

Many people throughout the world have signed up by committing in their hearts unto God that they will consistently join together in united prayer and fasting. WNOP also has partnered with those in local churches who are already a part of a current 24-hour prayer chain. All of these hours of consecration are culminating to help provide a complete mass prayer covering over the entire Church body and to help bring greater success in all that we do in Christ! Together, let’s “watch and pray” and behold great and mighty things in the kingdom of God! Let’s prevail over the enemy with victory and declare, “Not on My Watch!”



Flo Shaw

WNOP Director

April 24/7 Families (WEEK 1)

Children & Youth: Children & Youth



Following is the “24/7 Watch” daily prayer focus for this week. Join us in consistent prayer & fasting.

National Day of Prayer: Thursday, May 2, 2024

"For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him" (II Samuel 22:29-31).

Join us in praying for our nation!

National Prayer:

Jesus, we profess our faith in You. You are the Light of the world, and in You there is no darkness. For You are our lamp, O LORD, and our God who lights our darkness. Forgive us for fearing and focusing on the darkness around us instead of being filled with faith and shining like the city on a hill You have called us to be. Forgive us for the times when we have been the absence of light, allowing darkness to dwell in America. Lead us forward to dispel the darkness and bring light throughout the Church, Family, Education, Business, Military, Government, and Arts, Entertainment, and Media. We are saved by grace through faith, released from the darkness that once held us captive and now free to walk in the newness of life in You. Light dispels darkness and exposes what is hidden and wicked, so we commit to rise and shine! For by You, Lord, we can take courage to run against the enemy, and by our God we can fight the good fight and keep the faith as living lampstands in our communities and country. We fear no evil for You are with us. Lord, Your way is perfect, You lead us on paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Your Word is Truth, instructing and inspiring us to live in the abundant life You gave when You saved us from the death and destruction of the enemy. Fill us with Truth as we read, study, and live Your Word. God, You are a shield for all those who take refuge in You. As we abide in You and Your Word abides in us, we take up our shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and run boldly into the darkness to Lift Up the Word and Light Up the World! In the Mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen!

For more information go to: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/

POA's HOPE Prodigals Prayer Ministry

HELPING OUR PRODIGALS ETERNALLY & HELPING OVERWHELMED PARENTS ENDURE

We will be praying one massive 90 Days of Prayer beginning July 4 and ending on October 1, the UPCI National Day of Prayer for Prodigals. We anticipate the celebration of a great harvest of many of our beloved prodigals returning home to Jesus.

We are asking for all who can to join with 43 States and 38 Countries in prayer and fasting. We are believing for the power of god to free His beloved covenant people from the deception of the enemy. Like David at Ziglag, we intend to recover ALL (I Samuel 30:1-19).

Please begin to prepare your prayer teams. Beginning July 4, we will launch HOPE's 20th season of 90 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Because of family celebrations for the holiday, we will fast on Day 2, July 5. We will loosely follow the book, "Prayers For Prodigals, 90 Days of Prayer" by Dr. James Banks.

If you have any questions or need information, please PM Don or Dy Anne Long:

Facebook: Hope2HOPE15

Email: hopejer3117@aol.com

Phone: 318-442-5541 (USA)

https://www.hopeprodigalministry.com/

"And there is HOPE in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to thine own border"

(Jeremiah 31:17).

Access Challenged Nations

Join the World Network of Prayer and Global Missions in praying for these nations which need a stronger missionary presence. We will focus on one nation each week.

WNOP Events

• 24/7 WATCH (January 1 – December 31)
• 30 Days of Prayer (January 2-31)
• **SoCal District Summons (January 4-6)
• **Hawaii District Prayer Conference: INOP (January 17-20)
• **ENA Regional Prayer Conference, Amman, Jordan (January 25-27)
• **New York Metro District Summons (January 25-27)
• **North Central Jersey District Prayer Conference (February 9-10)
• Fivefold Ministry Discovery Conference (UPCI) (March 21-23)
• UPCI Ministers International Day of Prayer & Fasting: Purim (March 23-24)
• National Day of Prayer (May 2)
• **Rocky Mountain District Prayer Conference (May 17-18)
• Global Day of Prayer/Pentecost Sunday (May 19)
• 2024 WNOP International Summons, St. Charles, MO (June 13-15)
• AYC (YM) Washington DC Trip (June 17-24)
• AYC (YM) New York City, NY Trip (July 8-15)
• AYC (YM) Alaska Trip (July 15-July 22)
• AYC (YM) Long Beach, California Trip (July 22-29)
• **Maine District Prayer Conference (August 2-3)
• Virginia District Prayer Conference (August 8-10)
• New England Territory Summons: RI (Host), MA, CT, NH, VT, & ME (August 15-17)
• *Operation Turkey (August 20-28)
• UPCI Day of Prayer (September 25)
• UPCI Prodigals Day of Prayer (October 6)
• San Diego “TNT” Prayer Conference (October 17-20)
• MAP Conference: ABI/ABC, St. Paul, MN (October 25-27)
• Day of Prayer: Persecuted Church (November 3)
• **Georgia District Prayer Conference (November 7-9)
• Southeast Fivefold Ministry Discovery Conference (November 14-16)
• **South Carolina District Prayer Conference (TBD)
• **Arkansas District Prayer Conference (TBD)
• **Oklahoma District Prayer Conference (TBD)
• **South Texas District Prayer Conference (TBD)
• New Orleans Regional Prayer Conference (TBD)
• Ontario Sectional Prayer Summons (Various Dates)
• **Florida District Prayer Conference (TBD)
• **Wisconsin District Prayer Conference (TBD)
• **Detroit Metro District Prayer Summons (TBD)
• Operation Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia (TBD)
• YM + WNOP Summons (Rescheduled Dates TBD)
• Northwest Fivefold Ministry Discovery Conference (March 13-15, 2025)
• *Northwest Regional Summons: RMD, AK/YT, BC, OR, WA, ID (April 10-12, 2025)
• Canada Fivefold Ministry Discovery Conference (November 13-15, 2025)

Note: *Pending Executive Board approval. **Some events are International/District Board approved, but promoted by WNOP. Also, more 2024 event dates will be added to the WNOP Calendar later as approved by the Executive Board or submitted (District). For more info, please contact WNOP at 636-229-7986.