God ALONE!
Prayer Focus Week 45 (Sunday-Shabbat)
Today, it is fashionable for some believers to recite the first part of the Shema ("Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deut 6:4-5). Is this merely a statement that Jews need to recognize that the Lord is one? Or is there deeper application?
Let us analyze the Shema. The word Hear is not merely the physical act of listening but encompasses obedience. When a parent tells his children to hear his words, he expects action to follow, so does God. "O Israel" includes all believers because gentile believers are grafted into Israel, "Hear, O Israel" is an announcement that not only Jews but also all believers, Jew and gentile, are to hear and obey His message.
The second half of the verse is powerful. According to the 1984 edition of the NIV, footnotes for Deut 6:4b, the translation can be "The LORD our God is one LORD; or The LORD is our God, the LORD is one; or The LORD is our God, the LORD alone." Because Hebrew, in the present tense, does not have the verb "to be" (is), the most accurate translation is The LORD our God, the LORD alone.
Yeshua explained how His followers are to acknowledge LORD alone when He quoted the second sentence of the Shema: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matt 22:37; Deut 6:5, NIV). We know this is vitally important to Yeshua, because He added that: "This is the first and greatest commandment. And ," Matt 27:38. We are to love God with our hearts, souls, and minds.
What is our LORD's message in the Shema for us today, as 21st century gentile and Jewish believers? We are to hear and obey that the LORD is our God and that we are to have Him alone as our God. We are not to allow the pressures of life to take precedence and become our gods. We are to love Him with all our being — with all of our thoughts — because He alone is our God.
I encourage you to reaffirm your commitment to Him each time you say the Shema:
"4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one alone. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
"6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you liedown and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." — Deut 6:4-9, NIV
God alone is our God!
Prayer: we blessed to be allowed to intercede for the needs. Some answers come within a few days, others may take weeks or months. Regardless of what we see with our natural eyes, HE is working. We need to continue to be faithful inintercession!
“Precious, mighty God – we acknowledge You as our God – and You alone! Help us to keep You before all distractions that so easily become gods in our lives. We Praise Your Holy Name. We ask that You heal Joe, Nicole, Ruben, Jeanette, Bonnie all of those who are hurting physically and emotionally. We pray Your peace over J’lem. We ask that Godly men and women will be elected to office in November. Turn the hearts of Americans and Israelis to You. Be with and protect our soldiers – bring them home spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally whole and stronger than when they left. In Your Holy Name, we ask these things.”
Hallelujah: lots are great action THIS week!
o Nicole (Rhonda and Norm): did not have a stroke!
o Danielle (Phyllis): God opened the door for her to move into a townhouse!
o Rudy (Les’a’s customer’s friend, who, months ago, cracked his entire skull from a fall): is doing much better. After months of hospitalization, he is going home! His mother asked that everyone be thanked for their prayers!!
o Donna (Les’a’s associate’s daughter, who mysteriously became ill (for over a week, she was listed as the most critical patient at St. Joseph’s): she no longer needs leg braces – and this week she became engaged to a wonderful man. She is once again able to bicycle. (Not as far as before, but she is able to resume her normal activities within moderation.) Huge miracles!!!
o God is moving in finances and is getting people out of debt!
o God has given very, very special times with family members: Debbie (Maxine), Keith (Dawn), Yonah & Chantell (Les’a & Don), Rohit (Lori & Jim), and Lisa (Bev & Ruben)
o Rhonda’s 2nd week at work was very good!
o Jeannette’s pain dramatically reduced – almost totally gone!
o Our miracle baby (Josiah) said: Abba!!!
o Alan (Tracy’s brother): issue resolved!
o Pamela: doctored is amazed at the healing of her shoulder – it is 1 month ahead of schedule!
o Art: completely moved out of his apt
o Marita: has been in Israel for 4 weeks. Where it appeared there was no door, God opened one!
o Paul: knee replacement surgery went amazingly well. Last week, he didn’t have a walker at service Oxana meeting: fantastic! Anointed!
o Ophelia Armenta, one of Beth Sar Shalom's longest members, shot last week during the robbery of her home. Ophelia is in intensive care and in stable condition. Bullet was surgically removed.
o Families are drawing together!!
o Bob (Chantell’s grandfather): thumb is much better, which was caught in a tractor engine.
o (Yvonne’s friend): breast cancer surgery: much less invasion than expected. Prayer no malignant cells in lymph nodes. She becomes a believer.
o FINANCIAL MIRACLE: Danielle (Phyllis’ daughter): DEBT MIRACLE! She received back-pay, finally!, and was able to get a working car!!
o FINANCIAL MIRACLE: Joan (Les’a’s mother): huge financial blessing – totally unexpected. (Each homeowner was to be assessed $1200 for termite treatment. The company was so impressed with homeowners’ integrity by homeowners reminding company of not being billed. Company reduced the price to $535 and extended warranty almost an extra full year!!)
o FINANCIAL MIRACLE: Tere received unexpected financial blessing.
o Jon (Phyllis’ son): reading his Bible, praying, going to church and AA. He also said he plans on doing everything he can to better himself while he is in prison!
o Lori: Miracles have happened at work!
o Brother (Phyllis): continues going to a Messianic congregation!
o Don: shingles gone! No pain!
o Joan’s steadiness: better every week!!
o Aunt (Paul’s wife): at peace with her Messiah!!
o Natan’s unit: God’s protection continues!
Requests: (please email updates on these situations)… we blessed to be allowed to intercede for these!Some answers to prayer come within a few days, others may take weeks or months. Regardless of what we see with our natural eyes, HE is working. We need to continue to be faithful in our intercession!Reminder: Don’t forget to email answers – even baby steps are answers!
o Nicole (Rhonda and Norm): pain and symptoms of Bells Palsy to leave!
o Joe: infection in leg – total healing
o Ruben: PSA count to come back down
o Bonnie: healing with oxygen levels
o Betty and Harold: traveling mercies & healing of Betty’s foot.
o Joan (Les’a): she is not wobbly as a result of medicine.
o Christopher & Liz (Maxine): she has ovarian cancer, resulting in financial problems. Pray for encouragement
o Bob & Pat (Maxine & Joe): healing
o Brother (Frank): back surgery 3 wks ago & unable to walk
o Pamela: left leg and ankle swollen. This is not normal for her.
o Phyllis, John, and Rhonda, total healing.
o Yvonne: that the Lord’s spirit will continually cleanse her work place.
o Jeannette: Pray for complete recovery from surgery and total eye & pituitary gland healing.
o David (Bev & Ruben): his mom’s request “he quickly come to the end of himself and look up. Protection for him and all of his family.” Warfare is intense.
o Leonard (Phyllis’ brother): chemo 24/7; radiation M-F: healing and peace
o Marita: easy transition back into Israeli society – hand-picked room-mate and apartment
o Natan: activity is escalating: please pray for sound mind, safety, protection, and calm
o Prayer for our soldiers safety and for the hearts of morale for these soldiers who have lost fellow soldiers
o Call to Prayer intercessors: Debt-free by the end of 2012!
o Pamela and Norman: jobs
o Betty & Harold’s friend: brain tumor stage 4. Cancer.
o Paul: knee continued healing.
o Christine’s mom (Bev and Ruben’s friend): very ill. Prayer for total healing.
o Prayer for intercessors who are hurting because of the challenges their loved ones are facing
o Unspoken various family matters – that God will bring families into a tight bond in Him.
o Tina (Phyllis’ daughter-in-law): turn heart and life to the LORD; peace and direction
o Joan (Joan’s friend): collapsed lung.
o Phyllis: son (in jail).
o Tracy & others: healing from intense migraines.
o Diane (Jeannette’s friend): shingles on face and in eyes – very painful!!!
o Natan: please pray he can enter green-to-gold program.
o Paul: upcoming total knee replacement.surgery and pre-surgery complications.
o Les’a: swelling in foot to continue lessening and flexibility in toe to continue increasing.
o Hurting hearts & bodies would be healed.
o Carol (Maxine’s friend): lump in rib.
o 2012: wisdom and self-control that we can all achieve financial freedom.
o Jeanne (Bonnie’s friend): stage 4 ovarian cancer. Salvation and healing with the understanding it was God Who healed her.
o Phyllis & Dawn: continued prayer for total healing of their knees.
o John: continued health and financial challenges.
o Jobs (Betty, Deb, and all those who not listed): those who need work. That God will give them fulfilling and rewarding employment where they will have great favor!
o Keith (Dawn’s grandson): come to the God of his parents and grandmother.
o Debbie and family (Maxine’s daughter and grandkids): prayer for their healing as they transition to life without Matt. Also, for Frank and family during their transition without Judy. And for Karen and kids with their loss of Fred.
o Rudy (Les’a’s friend): cracked skull resulting in major mental complications.
o Financial needs.
o God to continue strengthening and building family relationships!
o God will protect our soldiers – that He will give them wisdom.
o Natan (Les’a and Don’s son and his family): Pray for wisdom, accuracy, and knowledge. God will bring them home whole: spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. And God will be with their families.
o The hearts of Americans: turn to God!
o Marita: plans to return to Israel.
o Families(all of our families): to be whole and walk in the ways of the Lord!
o Grandson: pray that his mom and her boyfriend treat him with love.
o Marriages to be healed.
o Jon: That God intervenes and places him where he will be encouraged to make good decisions, impacting his family for good.
o God’s protection over Israel
o David: return to the God of his youth — that his family will be encouraged.
o Healing of family relationships.
o Intercessors for The Call To Prayer: wisdom and tenacity to continue on to see victory!
o God’spower, anointing, and favor on pastors.
o Sheri: migraines would permanently leave.
o Peace of Jerusalem!
o Debt-free in 2012!
o Pima County Sheriff's department.
o Those who need jobs will get jobs — God-chosen jobs.
o Deb: migraines and onslaught of the enemy.
o Need total & complete healing for hearts of my family that are wounded; forgiveness for offenses; & new found understanding & commitment to family, restoration & unity
o Need for increased income with wisdom & self-control, in order to pay off credit card/legal fees.
o Josiah D.: favor, protection & a heart like King David.
o Favor & wisdomin the work force: We would be excellent in the work place – even as Joseph, Daniel, etc. were – blessings to the companies because we are there!
o Bob: special prayer for physical healing.
o God will healour land
o Three sisters to meet godly men.
o Children will stop runningand will turn to God.
o Corbin (Jim’s acquaintance): God will open his eyes to accept Jesus as his Lord and that he will accept the word of God.
o God will supplythe needs of those in ministry.
o A’s daughter in law: her heart, drawn to her husband; she will receive info from her father-in-law,that the Lord would place believers in her path.
o A’s relationship with his daughter: healing and mending of hearts.
o A’s Medicare situation to be straightened out – to his financial benefit. And for doctors to find the right solution to his health issues.
o T (Les’a & Don’s friend & a man of God): the Lord would bring him the perfect helpmate – to share his life and to be a partner in ministry.
Assignments:
o Email me: results & challenges,we want to hear – we love you and are here for YOU!
o Visit:www.ifmypeople.info!
o Assignments:
1. Speakthe Word to these situations.
2. Fast: Wed-Thurs(you choose whether liquid/water/juice fast or no pleasant bread fast (giving up a food or drink that you love) for these two days. Several are fasting longer to break the chains that are ensnaring.
Pray earnestly for the rest of our Watchmen. We lift up each other’s arms as Moses were lifted by Aaron and Hur.
