Why Your Prayers for Jerusalem Are Vital in These Last Days - KELLY MCDONALD JR. CHARISMA NEWS

We are called to pray for Israel's prosperity. (Pixabay)

Why Your Prayers for Jerusalem Are Vital in These Last Days

7/18/2017 KELLY MCDONALD JR.  CHARISMA NEWS

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!' For my brothers and companions' sake, I will now say, 'Peace be within you.' Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good" (Ps. 122:6-9).

In our last article, we looked at the dangers that the Jewish people and Jerusalem face nearly every day. There are terrorist threats and national threats, both near and far, against the very existence of God's people.

How do we pray for the peace of Jerusalem? The Hebrew word translated as "peace" is shalom. We tend to think of the English word "peace" as referring to the absence of war, but the meaning is much deeper. It literally means "wholeness," referring to prosperity, health and happiness. It can mean "to mend broken things."

When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we still want to pray for the absence of war. However, we are also praying for the broken things to be mended. Not only do we want the absence of war, but we also want to see love between different people groups in the city. While God is always capable of preventing war, we also want Him to heal the underlying hatred that causes these radicals to want to hurt God's people.

We should pray for Jerusalem to see booming prosperity as it pertains to the city's infrastructure, economy and innovation. We want the Jewish people to dwell in wholeness so that every aspect of their lives has wholeness. However, there is an even deeper reason to pray for these items, and it involves our Savior.

Many people from all over the world visit Jerusalem. If the city is prosperous and safe, then more people will be encouraged to visit. We want to pray for people to experience Jesus when they visit the city, no matter their background. He was crucified just outside the city gates (Heb. 13:12).

There are also archeological digs in and around Jerusalem. Every year, these digs yield archeological evidence that affirm the truth of God's Word. There are also digs revealing more about the specific details surrounding Jesus' arrest, death, burial and resurrection. These discoveries will help us reach a dying and lost world as the Lord's return draws near.

Today, I encourage you to take the time to pray for shalom or peace for Jerusalem. When we see the city in greater distress, let our prayers be offered in greater intensity. Pray for the city to be whole and the world to be reached for Jesus through it. 

Kelly McDonald Jr. is an ordained evangelist at Hungry Hearts Ministries in Jackson, Tennessee. He has written over 40 books and booklets on pursing Christ, Hebrew roots and end-times prophecy. He is currently president of the Bible Sabbath Association (BSA). You can follow him at kellymcdonaldjr.com.

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"The Year of Restoration: Recover, Uncover and Restore" - Victoria Boyson THE ELIJAH LIST

"The Year of Restoration: Recover, Uncover and Restore"

Victoria Boyson, Montgomery, TX  The Elijah List

Why God is Saying, "I Will Convince You of My Power and My Love for You!"

2016 has been and will continue to be a year when God shows off!

It will be a year He begins to wipe away the stain and strain of the trials and tribulations of the season you've just come through. He wants to make a deep impression on your heart and convince you of the power and care He is capable of.

So often when you come through a tough season of trials, you can tend to pick up fear and unbelief that you are not even aware of. You may enter a situation and the old feelings of doubt seem to pull at your faith, and your feelings toward the future become clouded and limited.

Our Father says, "This will be a season in which I will convince you of My power and My love for you!" 

He will wipe away the strain and make things easier. His hand on your life will be made very apparent, because He wants you to look to Him, turn to Him, and walk more closely with Him. He's building your faith – the faith that moves mountains.

Why? So you can move mountains!

The Year God Recovers, Uncovers, and Restores – for You!

This is not a year to fear; it is a year to TRUST Him and watch Him RECOVER, UNCOVER, and RESTORE. 

Things you had forgotten you'd lost will suddenly be recovered and returned to you. Things stolen will be returned. 

Ancestral promises that you didn't even know existed will begin to be fulfilled in your life. Not just for you, but to convince you that God is for you and with you – to restore your faith in Him.

God spoke this to me before 2016, and starting January 1st, it seemed every day something was restored to me. And, I want it ALL back!

Do you agree with me?

Do you want your peace back, your joy, your faith, love, and health ALL BACK?! Do you want your hopes and dreams ALL BACK?! Your finances? Property? Everything the devil stole from you, declare its restoration to you – ten-fold!

And in return, make sure you give the enemy a bit of what he's tried to throw at you. I know I want to hear him say, "I sure wish I hadn't messed with her."

The Father tells me we can trust completely that He is in control. No matter how things look, how shaky things can appear, no matter what things look like...understand that God is in it. God has assured me that He will not be content with business as usual. He wants a revolution.

God is Uncovering What Has Been Hidden, But Do Not Despair – He is In it to Win it!

Watch as He uncovers evil and brings it to the attention of the world.

He's uncovering things that have been hidden for some time. They've planned to undermine Him, and plan our destruction...BUT GOD! God has known about it all along, so do not despair, because HE IS THE ONE UNCOVERING IT.

He wants to start a revolution. It takes a lot to do that, so rejoice when it appears that the enemy has won and the Church has been abandoned. God loves us, and HE WILL NOT abandon us. Determine in your heart that no matter what you see, you will not fear, but you will stand with Him and TRUST in His plan for restoration to come to us.

God says, "I am in it! And when I am in it, I am in it to win it!"

No matter how things look, He will not stop until our enemy is completely uncovered and uprooted. He will not let things lay half done. He will complete the work He began in this world. He will shake it, and the enemy will not even see it coming.

The Father has baited our enemy. He's made it seem to them that He does not see what they are doing. They are convinced they will get away with what they're trying to do, but it's all a trap. He wants to uncover the good in men's hearts. He wants justice – full, complete, and reliable justice. And He wants vindication for the innocent. Justice is not complete without vindication, is it?

He is invading every area of life: Church, government, and our hearts. He desires that we see and learn that even the impossible is possible with Him. He says, "You are Mine, and I take care of My own."

He will uncover, recover, and restore – and it starts now. Anticipate the evidence of His hand on your life. Give Him your whole heart. Declare that He alone is your Lord, and you take orders only from Him.

Fear Nothing; Your Heritage Will be the Spoils of the Wars

Walk boldly in increased vision, and trust in Him. He is truly worthy of your trust.

You are bold, unstoppable, Kingdom warriors!

You will take territory for Him, and your heritage will be the spoils of the wars. You will climb mountains and destroy wickedness in high places, because your God is who He's said He is, and He can be trusted to work miracles through you!

Fear nothing – trust God!

This is only the beginning for you!

Victoria Boyson
Speaking Life Ministries

Email: victoria@boyson.org
Website: www.boyson.org

Victoria Boyson met Jesus at the age of seven. At thirteen, she started ministering using music as a platform to tell others about Jesus. She and her husband, Steve, ministered as pastors in the mid-west, but in 1999, the Lord told them to move to work for Francis Frangipane, who was extremely influential in their development as Christians and as ministers.

Victoria is a powerful prophetic voice to this generation and cofounder of Speaking Life Ministries. Based out of the Houston, Texas area, she is called to awaken and prepare the Bride of Christ for the end-time harvest and compel His Church to embrace a passionate relationship with their Heavenly Father. 

She is the author of The Birth of Your Destiny and His Passionate Pursuit,Awakening: The Deep Sleep, and her latest book God's Magnum Opus: The Value of a Woman.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

6 Reasons Why You May Be Waking Up Tired - CHRIS PRITCHARD/NEWSMAX HEALTH CHARISMA MAGAZINE

There are many reasons why you may be waking up tired. (iStock photo )

6 Reasons Why You May Be Waking Up Tired

12/15/2015 CHRIS PRITCHARD/NEWSMAX HEALTH  charisma magazine

Do you find yourself waking up tired because you're not sleeping well? You're not alone. Almost 70 million others—slightly more women than men—are sleepless in America for a variety of reasons.

But the good news is that for most sufferers it's a problem that can be easily solved without resorting to expensive sleeping pills or other costly treatments. A half-dozen simple lifestyle changes can improve your sleep quality, experts say.

The first thing to do: Don't allow yourself to be overly concerned about sleeplessness, which can exacerbate the problem, says one of the world's leading sleep experts.  

"Tossing and turning while being anxious makes things worse," notes Christopher Magee, an internationally known sleep specialist and psychologist.  "It's a good idea to take a break from trying to sleep. Get up and read or to have a drink of water." 

Magee's own research—which has been published in major scientific publications including the Journal of Sleep Research, Preventive Medicine, and Sleep Medicine—has found that most people experience sleep problems from time to time. 

"Occasional poor sleep is quite normal and not a cause for concern," notes Magee, deputy director of the Center for Health Initiatives at Australia's Wollongong University.

But if sleep problems persist for more than a few weeks and adversely affect daily functioning, he says "it's a good idea to seek advice from a health professional."

It's not just the quantity of sleep that matters, but the quality, he adds. 

Low-grade sleep, from which you wake tired and exhausted, isn't good for you. Your body and mind need deep sleep for it to be restorative. Poor sleep has been linked to a range of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, stroke, and diabetes.

"We should wake feeling rested—not necessarily energetic and full of vigor immediately after waking, but feeling we've had a good sleep," Magee explains.

"Even if people think they've had 'enough' sleep, quality may be poor. If sleep is fragmented, with waking through the night, it reduces time spent in deep, restful sleep. This can contribute to daytime lethargy and fatigue."

What's more, "one size fits all" sleep recommendations don't apply to everyone. Experts divide sleeping patterns into two types: "short" and "long." A tiny minority of people function well on "short" sleeps, defined by doctors as less than six hours nightly, while the vast majority need "long" periods of slumber—seven to nine hours (with eight generally cited as typical). 

Magee has identified the following six most common causes of sleeplessness and simple no-cost methods to beat it, based on his own research and the findings of many sleep studies:

● Stress:  "It's a major cause of problems falling asleep and getting good-quality sleep," Magee notes. "Maintaining healthy lifestyles with stress reduction techniques—even just winding down after work—can be beneficial."

● Alcohol: "Though alcohol initially has sleep-inducing effects, research shows it adversely impacts sleep quality, particularly in the latter half of sleep," he explains. "Avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol within a few hours of bedtime is important in promoting good sleep."

● Caffeine: People who drink large amounts of the stimulant caffeine in coffee, energy drinks, or soda are more likely to have problems getting to sleep. "Avoiding caffeine after the early afternoon helps promote good sleep," Magee says.

● Exercise: It's generally good for sleep and overall health but "vigorous bouts just prior to bed increase physiological arousal, making it harder to fall asleep." Magee notes.

● TV and mobile devices: "Cellular devices and electronic media in the bedroom are linked by researchers to poorer sleep. Furthermore, watching excessive TV or prolonged computer use prior to bed can make it harder to fall asleep," he says.

● Poor sleep habits: Studies confirm individuals with irregular bedtimes and wake-up times are likely to have poorer sleep. "Maintaining regular sleep and wake-up times ... benefits physiological regulation of sleep," Magee points out.

He adds that some sleep problems can be caused by more serious health disorders that may require the attention of a medical professional, including chronic insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome. 

"There are often measures [available] to minimize the adverse influence of these disorders," Magee notes.

But for most people, occasional insomnia is nothing to lose sleep over, and can be resolved with simple lifestyle adjustments. 

For the original article, visit newsmaxhealth.com.

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Imprisoned Pastor Saeed Needs Surgery from Injuries - CBNNews.com

Imprisoned Pastor Saeed Needs Surgery from Injuries

CBNNews.com

Monday, January 27, 2014

Pastor Saeed Abedini

American Pastor Saeed Abedini has been transferred from the murderer ward to a political prisoner ward in Iran's deadliest prison Rajai Shahr.

Concerns about his deteriorating health condition are growing. Saeed's Iranian family, who was able to visit him recently for the first time in six weeks, said he is getting better meals but is experiencing severe abdominal pain.

Saeed sustained internal injuries from the beatings he received early on in his imprisonment. He was denied medication until recently.

The prison doctor said he is concerned about his internal injuries and recommended surgery, according to the American Center for Law and Justice. However, since meeting with the doctor, Saeed has still not received the surgery.

"There is a glimmer of comfort to know that my husband has been transferred out of the murderers' ward, but my heart aches to know the pain he continually suffers and that his injuries necessitate surgery," his wife, Naghmeh, said..

"As a family, it is difficult to be so far away and unable to comfort him in his pain. Though we are encouraged by the transfer to the new ward, such a small step is far from an unconditional release where Saeed is reunited with our family. While this development is welcomed, we desperately await his return home," she said.

The ACLJ is urging the U.S. government to make Pastor Saeed's freedom a priority.

"When the Obama Administration refused to even ask for Pastor Saeed's release during negotiations with Iran, we not only lost a critical opportunity for his freedom but effectively insulated Iran from ever feeling the need to free this U.S. citizen," the ACLJ said.

Sign the American Center for Law and Justice's petition to free Saeed Abedini here.

Watch here: CBN News video on Pastor Saeed