Every one of us has the opportunity to affect the course of history in his or her lifetime. Every time an intercessor prays effectively for a nation, God's hand is moved. When this happens, the greatest forces of power in the universe are mobilized, and history is made. Intercessors praying regularly and effectively for the nations become some of the greatest history-shapers of all time.

As we pray for the nations of the world, it is important to understand that our main focus needs to be on the body of Christ in those nations. God has shaped history around His people, and He expects us—not governments—to shape the history of the nations (see 2 Chron. 7:14). read more

1:12PM EDT 5/12/2009

By now I'm sure you've read about it or heard the news. Miss California USA Carrie Prejean will keep her crown despite "racy" photos that appeared on a Web site weeks after the 21-year-old defended traditional marriage during the televised Miss USA pageant.

She told the panel of celebrity judges, a live audience and millions of viewers, she didn't believe in "opposite marriage." "I don't mean to offend anybody," she said, "but that's the way I was raised." She went on to say marriage is between a man and a woman. read more

3:53PM EDT 5/12/2009

The true meaning of family has been lost both in our society and in the body of Christ. But with the proper perspective, we can make a difference. read more

2:04PM EDT 5/11/2009

Do your problems get in the way of your relationship with God? Sometimes we let hindrances such as disappointment, pride or the cares of life block the flow of the Holy Spirit in us and we become ineffective for Him. read more

11:48AM EDT 5/4/2009

Finally I could slow down long enough to have a cup of coffee with a new friend. I had taken a week's vacation from work and had been looking forward to this time of relaxation and unhurried conversation with a sister in Christ I had met a few weeks earlier.

We found we had much in common. We talked and laughed, and as the morning turned into afternoon, we grew excited about how God seemed to be orchestrating our lives in similar ways. We prayed and encouraged one another and shared our plans for the future.

Just then, the phone rang. I picked it up and heard my husband's voice on the other end. In a faltering tone, he told me that a friend of ours, Doris, had died, succumbing to a 19-year battle with cancer. read more

3:03PM EDT 5/4/2009

I used to believe God never used physical affliction to do a spiritual work in the hearts of His people. I was taught that God has many means at His disposal to deepen our love and purify our faith, and sickness and infirmity were not among those tools.

Affliction always comes from the hand of the enemy, I was told, and Christ would never send such a thing our way because He died to deliver us from all the works of the enemy. So sickness is never God's will for the saint, and if it lingers then there's something wrong. These were things I believed and preached—until infirmity hit me. read more

2:35PM EDT 5/4/2009