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Prayer points for France (November-December 2014)
One of Western Europe’s largest countries is France. The people are quite creative and jovial. Though you might hear a lot of jokes about the French they are not dumb but in fact are innovative. For instance they invented canned food, the Braille script for the blind, the pasteurization, parachutes and even Aspirin etc. Despite their great traditions, wisdom and art the French are still beset with low faith in God and increase in immorality of all sorts of evil. The French Revolution brought out both the best and the worst for them in areas of politics, religion, economy etc which manifest even to this day. Nevertheless, we are to pray for their well-being and safety in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh (Jude 1:22-23)
Some people need a rescue from going into the fires of hell because their on their own they are bound to fail. We can at times pull them from getting into the fire in many ways. To this effect we can preach the Gospel to them, encourage them to live a holy life unto Christ and pray for them. Even when you can reach to someone in need of a rescue from spiritual deception, you can still at least pray for them.
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:20-22)
Remember that it’s better to never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from it. This can apply to France too. Indeed a nation that once confessed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is in moral shambles. With people shying away from speaking about their faith in Christ and some declaring themselves at atheists and non religious it’s proving to be an ungodly mix. The rise in migrants from non-christian lands adds more unbelievers to the French demographic. Though looking at this from another angle, I see this as a chance to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people who otherwise would be difficult to reach out to their native regions which might be hostile towards the Christian faith.
Here are the prayer points that you can pray for France though you can also add in whatever the Holy Spirit brings to your mind when praying:
- Pray that prostitution in France is curtailed and eliminated as this results in the subjugation and oppression of women and children. The illegal manipulation of women needs to stop by stopping prostitution.
- Pray that all forms of human trafficking are strongly stopped by the government and police at all levels.
- That illegal immigrants are not a threat to France in any way or form such as economic, terrorism etc.
- That non-christian immigrants are given a free and clear choice to listen to the Gospel of Jesus and accept the Christian faith.
- Pray that the preachers go on to reach out to people of other religion and offer them salvation which only comes from Jesus Christ.
- Pray that the French Christians experience fullness of the joy of the Lord in their private and public life.
- That the dipping church attendance is put to a hold and more people start liking to participate in the church.
- That the French arts such as paintings, statues, fashion houses, music and literature are used to promote peace, harmony, truth and courage instead of vulgarity and vanity.
- Pray for unity and peace among Christians of various denominations in France.
- Pray that all cults and hate movements are a failure. That the works of the Evil One through them are exposed and brought low.
- That the people of God in France prevail against every form of deception that is used to tempt them and weaken them in their personal walk with Christ.
- That all of France’s infrastructure is kept safe and secure including their nuclear installations.
- Pray that there is no misuse of the nation’s resources by any form of corruption in the government, military etc in France
- Pray for good, moral and effective leaders for France.
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Beware of foolishness in worldly books
It’s common knowledge that there are lots of books printed so far. Some books are very useful such as cook books, car manuals, grooming books etc. These are quite objective in their approach and to the point. However not everything is worth reading as there are other books that are filled with foolishness that you must avoid.
There are certain books that are superficially considered as works of artistic grandeur. On closer inspection you’d realize that they contain moral or spiritual gibberish at best. You must do you best to discern what is really good for you to glean on when reading such things.
Some people love poems while some love novels. There are people who relish classic literary works, while some revel in the contemporary. No problem in such hobbies as long they are not harmful. For instance gardening is no sin unless you are growing poisonous plants to harm others or yourself. Likewise, when reading various books they induce thoughts in the garden of your mind. You need to remove weeds of impure thoughts lest they choke the beautiful thoughts of piety, respect, gracefulness etc. The garden of your mind must be well watered with the word of God and never any substitute.
The wisdom of the world in some books can be shaky. They teach you that you are not took keep whining about your sorry situation but do something positive about it. You are encouraged to help yourself. While a worldly book teaches self-reliance it might also teach you to not help people in trouble as they are expected to help themselves. Such teaching on self-reliance is out of balance. I’d say that avoid such books that teach you not to help others. While its true that some people are way too lazy to help themselves, there are some who are too depressed to figure out how to get out of trouble. Not every self-help book is bad but that which teaches foolishness like not helping others is surely a bad one.
Take care what emotions are prominent in worldly books. As certain authors put in their own bitterness in their writings. Some are obsessed with suicide in their works and receive critical acclaim for that. However, the same critics get horrified when the author whom they praised actually committed suicide maybe due to divorce or loss of a fortune. What a tragedy at many levels? Three levels that immediately came to my mind. First, for the author’s life that got lost in gloom forever. Secondly, that the audience and critics celebrated suicide that people usually commit out of hopelessness. Thirdly, that such works that promote despair and suicide are still in vogue even after people came to know that the author wrote them not in the objective sense but out of their own grief which they tried to hide behind.
There are certain books that encourage you to feel helpless just because you are of a particular country, race or gender. Such things only promote you to believe in falsehood that you cannot breakout of worldly stereotypes. Keep away from such books.
Some authors are highly obsessed with sexual immorality. They portray love what is vulgar and hypocritical. They are more concerned with sinful please rather than right living. Nowadays in works of art even a bank robber is glorified if he has a relationship with an adulterous woman as long as he robs the rich and gives to the poor. The Bible doesn’t teach us to rob the rich and give to the poor.
There are certain books what promote unbelief. They will try to make you doubt if God exists. They will say lots of evil things about Jesus Christ. These are to be shunned outright. Because atheism and blasphemy are not in line with the Christian faith.
If you call yourself a believer in Christ then remember that is pointless to keep reading such books. Read what is wise and good and keep away what is sinful and vain. Moreover, read the Bible because it contains God’s message to us which leads us on to the right path.
A few scripture verses to reflect on:
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.(1 Timothy 6:20-21)
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.(2 Timothy 2:22)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.(1 John 2:15-16)
Disciples of hope 