Archive for January, 2017
How to Pray for America in This Historic Moment
We are living history. The election of a new president and the transition of power in this nation are always historic. Both the House and the Senate have proven veterans and newly elected leaders. This is historic.
At this time in history, how do we pray for America? Last week, I spent two days in Washington, DC. I attended meaningful meetings and heard convictional, dynamic, elected leaders speak and converse with us about the future of America. Again, we are living history.
Beyond the political pundits and talk show hosts, beyond the rising challenges of violence and danger in our nation, we have God. Yes, we are one nation under God!
I want to tell you how I am praying for America daily. In fact, not only am I praying daily, but thousands of members in the church I pastor are praying with me each week in their time of prayer with our church.
Call out to God for the United States of America
The Scripture Text We Are Praying Daily:
Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
With confidence in the authority of Scripture and a deep belief in the power of prayer, we stand on the words of Jeremiah 33:3.
7 Things We Are Praying for America
1. Father, we cry out to You alone: Give America a nationwide spiritual awakening, resulting in millions coming to Christ.
2. Father, we cry out to You alone: Wake up and revive Your Church in America, beginning with waking up and reviving our church.
3. Our God, we cry out to You for a safe and orderly transition of power between the administrations of President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump. Lord, please protect President Obama and his family, Vice President Biden and his family, President-elect Trump and his family, and Vice President-elect Pence and his family in these days of transition and in the future.
4. Lord, as we have prayed for you to raise up the leader You desire for us to have over the next four years, we thank you and pray today for our future President, Donald Trump, beginning with his inauguration on January 20.
5. Father, give President-elect Trump wisdom in his choices for America’s leadership and grant Vice-President elect Mike Pence and both houses of Congress the wisdom to assist the President-elect in these decisions.
6. Lord, grant our nation unity. We must come together. In Jesus’ name, we pray against division and disorder, asking for unity in America.
7. Father, grant mercy upon the United States of America.
These are my thoughts and prayers. If these will serve as a guide for you, use or share them. If not, come up with your own ways to pray for America.
In this historic moment, there has never been a greater need for prayer. Join me. Join us. Let’s see a great spiritual movement of prayer emerge in our nation in an unprecedented manner.
Now is the Time to Lead and to Pray,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, immediate past President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church | Celebrating
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Doug Sarver
This Sunday in our Springdale worship services, we will honor Doug and Karen Sarver. Doug has been with us twenty-five years. As our Global Missions Pastor, Doug has led Cross Church to become one of the most missional churches in America, demonstrating the unique, balanced perspective of Acts 1:8. Thank you Doug, for helping us reach Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Jesus Christ. We love you and Karen dearly, along with all of your family.
Jeana and I Celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary on December 31
Last Saturday, December 31, Jeana and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary. Yesterday, we released an article together entitled, 5 Keys to 40 Years of Marriage Together. You can read it here. We hope as you read it, you will be encouraged and pass it on to others.
A New Series Begins This Sunday: BARRIERS: It’s Time to Move Forward
I look forward to being back in the pulpit this weekend, sharing the powerful Word of God with you. In this series, we will be challenged to overcome the barriers we face in living for God and living out our faith. This Sunday morning, we will be speaking on how to overcome the barrier of living an undisciplined life. Our message is titled, “Taking Back Control.” Invite someone to join you.
Welcome Bradley and Caitlin Noblitt
On January 1, we welcomed Bradley and Caitlin Noblitt to our Pinnacle Hills campus as our new worship pastor. I look forward to being here this Sunday to worship alongside Brad. I am so thankful for this young family with four little girls. Brad served at Cross Church Springdale in the Worship Ministry during the time his father, Kim, was the Worship Pastor. His mother, Suzanne, also served faithfully in the Worship Ministry. Caitlin’s parents, Chris and Cathy Emert, served Cross Church for many years in the Worship Ministry. Pray for them as they adjust to their move from Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida.
Dirt is Moving at Our New Fayetteville Campus
We are thankful that dirt is now moving and things are being put into action for the construction of our Fayetteville Campus on the southeast side of Interstate 49 at Wedington Drive. Drive by and see what is happening. Pray over the property. The miracle will continue in this dynamic location. Until then, we continue to move forward at all five of our locations with a renewed commitment in 2017 of reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Christ.
Call to Faithfulness to Each of Us
In humility, I extend the call to each of us to be faithful to God. Determine now: I will walk with Jesus daily. I will be faithful to God in worship weekly. I will serve the Lord through my church regularly. I will give to the Lord the first tenth and more of all God entrusts to me weekly. Yes, now is the time to re-engage in the blessedness of faithfulness to God.
21 Days of Prayer
A great way to kick off the new year is joining us in 21 Days of Prayer. We want to call out to God together for 21 consecutive days for our families, our church, and our nation. Join us beginning this Sunday, January 8, all the way through January 28. We will provide daily devotionals during this time, and you can find out more information here.
See You Sunday at Cross Church!
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.