Answered Prayers!

Friends,

Thank you for fasting, praying and giving over the past month.  Here are a two specific answers for financial support:

Financial Support

1.       In April we received an unexpected, and very generous gift from a local church to help carry us through the month.

2.      Scarlett was driving alone one evening and felt prompted to pull over and check her purse.  She found four $20 bills folded nicely inside…supernaturally!  She knows without a shadow of a doubt that they were not there before.

3.      Your praying and fasting were used in April to help provide for our ministry and family.  Thank you.

To join our support team, click on Field Staff Support at IFA Royce Team.

The Journey to Transformation Discovery Weekend – Leesburg, VA

We launched our first Discovery Weekend in April.  About 120 friends from the greater DC area as well as Pennsylvania, New York and even Arkansas gathered to learn how to help prepare their own neighborhoods for transforming revival.  Fifty people from that meeting met here again last night to say, “Yes.  We will humble ourselves and intercede for the Lord to touch our community in a powerful way.”   Click here to learn about The Journey to Transformation.

National Day of Prayer – DC

I enjoyed meeting in different venues like the Cannon House Office Building, the Family Research Council offices and the Capitol Building to discuss and pray with leaders from around the country about spiritual awakening and revival.  IFA hosed a luncheon with George Otis, Jr. to talk about The Journey to Transformation here in America and also to share stories of heaven sent revival around the globe. 

George shared about a small, shriveling community in Brazil hidden among the dry riverbeds.  They had not seen rain in 25 years.  One small, poor church 3 hours away received a dream with the name of this village.  They eventually located it, started visiting the residents, and crying out for a miracle with one Christian home in the community.  After several visits it started raining.  Rivers started bursting forth from underground and started a new lake!  Many folks have since come into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and their community is now exporting honey and other delectable goods.  It is literally being transformed from a decaying desert to a lush garden oasis. 

IFA hosting a luncheon with George Otis at the United States Capitol Visitors Center.

    
  

For Royce family fun pics and happenings, follow Scarlett’s blog, The Scarlett Thread.

Thanks so much.

Bob

Bob Royce

Mobilization Coordinator

Intercessors for America

PO Box 915

Purcellville, VA 20134

800-USA-PRAY

540-317-2097 Direct

GetAmericaPraying.com

Today is the National Day of Prayer

The 62nd annual National Observance of the National Day of Prayer (Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill) will be broadcast LIVE on this page Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET. Speakers include Pastor Greg Laurie, Dr. James and Shirley Dobson, Congressman Robert Aderholt, Mrs. Vonette Bright, Mr. Pat Boone, Congressman Frank Wolf, Wintley Phipps, Chaplain Barry Black, The Annie Moses Band, Dr. Dick Eastman, Mr. David Butts, Mr. John Bornschein, and more. A full speaker schedule will be available later this morning.

Bob is there with the IFA team and is excited about the meetings he's been in and the conversations he's had with these leaders in D. C. this week. You can follow the broadcast on this page starting at 9:00 am ET. If you are not in a place where you can watch the live stream, you can follow along on Twitter.




The theme verse chosen for 2013 is Matthew 12:21 “In His name the nations will put their hope.”

Fasting appeal

Good morning, friends,

Well, our deadline of March 27 came and went yesterday and we are still needing breakthrough. Thank you for those of you who responded! We are very grateful.

Would any of you be willing to join with our family today in fasting for us . . . from whatever you feel led to fast from, whether a meal, all meals, television, computer, etc.?

We need a financial breakthrough.

We also need clarity about our housing situation. Due to the sequestration, our landlords have asked us to consider breaking our lease in order for them to put this house on the market. We need a clear word from the Lord on how to proceed and where to live.

Thank you for your prayers, your love and your support!

We are deeply grateful,

Bob for all the family

Go here to donate (click on Field Staff and Bob Royce)

Bob Royce

Mobilization Coordinator

Intercessors for America

PO Box 915

Purcellville, VA 20134

800-USA-PRAY

540-317-2097 Direct

GetAmericaPraying.com

Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation and Beyond

After being back in the States for a little over a year now, I have been stunned by how the culture has changed. I think the elections have made the differences more clear. After the Democratic National Convention when God and Jerusalem were taken out of their platform, then put back in, and then God was booed, frankly, it has put me in a place of grief. Is there no fear of the Lord anymore? 

I don't know about you, but after this week with all the events that are happening in the political arena, in our relationship with Israel and with the recent attacks at our embassies in the Middle East and the murders of four American diplomats including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, not to mention our economic situation, I am feeling the weight more and more. 

Don't misunderstand. My hope is in Jesus. My hope will always be in Jesus. 

There were many prayer initiatives in place before this week, but I feel that the need for intercession (and repentance) has grown this week by leaps and bounds. If you are sensing the need to cry out to God and fast for our nation in these unstable days for or the world, please check out the following pages for encouragement and direction in your efforts.


Aglow International - America Arising

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners

Chavda Ministries - 40 Days to Save America

50 Days of Decision - Video

Intercessors For America - Saving America Through Prayer

International House of Prayer - 24/7 Prayer Room

National Prayer Committee - 40 Days of Prayer 
     (And these guys have a whole page of prayer ministries on their site.)

This is another excellent resource:

Derek Prince Ministries - Prayer Worldwide 

Let's get on our faces and cry out for mercy!

^{2 Chronicles 7:14...} if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Jude 1:20-21... But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Revelation 5:8... And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

And I'm sure there are other ministries and organizations encouraging prayer during this time. Feel free to share additional resources in the comments.

Fresh Bread From Heaven, part 2

Photo Credit

I had recently been fasting for a couple of reasons and knew when I woke up yesterday morning that I could break my fast and that I also needed to spend time just sitting in God’s presence with the children when we started our school time. After breakfast, we finished our morning routines and read our Bible passage for the day. Then I told the children that I wanted to help them learn how to sit in God’s presence and just soak Him in and to hear from Him.

It took several minutes for everyone to settle down and for the giggling to subside. I instructed them to just sit still before the Father, not to pray as they normally would (‘please give us a good day’, ‘please help me with my math’, ‘please give Rebecca [our friend on the other side of the globe] a special sense of Your Presence today’, etc.) but to just rest and listen for His voice or to watch for pictures from His heart.

Almost immediately the Father started speaking His Peace over me…Peace, Peace, and more Glorious Peace.

I waited a little while and just let the Father’s Presence invade our living room.

Then I asked if anyone had anything to share. Emma shared that God had shown her a web where she was the centre and it was connected to other people who had their own webs and it just continued. He told her that she was connected to many other people and that she has influence on not only her younger siblings but also on a younger group of children she is volunteering with now and even others. He told her that she has a choice to be a positive influence or a negative influence.

Next, Austin shared that he had seen God on His throne, smiling across at him. The throne was not exactly gold, but it was hard to put a colour label on it. The Father was big, at least 7 feet tall. Austin was not sure if he was sitting or standing before the throne, but he was just about four or five feet in front of the Father. And the Father was smiling on Austin! You should have seen his beaming face as he was telling us!

Ben saw himself, tiny on the earth, ‘as tiny as a germ’. He looked up to the sky and then saw past the sky into space and then past space into heaven. The Father was looking down at him from a huge table, on which was set an incredible, delectable feast. He was just looking down and waiting for Ben to come and eat with him. Later he told us more details about the actual food…piles of chicken and pies and nuts and all kinds of amazing foods. Whoa!

Of course, as they are relaying all of these incredible pictures, I am just overwhelmed. I tell them about my own experience and then just pray and cry and thank the Father for His love and mercy and Presence.

Part 3 next...

Fasting

This particular update on fasting has really been replaying in my mind...

I had known that this trip would be more about watching and listening than about doing. I got more of that last night at the evening meal at Onesmus and Esther's house. Both Onesmus and James told us that they would be in overnight prayers that night. They would start at 9:30pm and finish at 6am. They both do this once per week. When asked why, they told us that this was their way of taking authority over the strongholds in this area and drawing closer to God. Onesmus told us that before he goes to the next open air meeting he will pray and fast 3-5 days for the power and authority to confront successfully the witchcraft in the area. I then began to contemplate my own life and the powerlessness that I feel many times over here in confronting obvious powers of darkness. Onesmus told us that he knows after periods of prayer and fasting that the enemy will obey what he says...no doubting. I then began to realize that if we in the USA want to bring this kind of authority back to the Church, then the answer is in our overcoming with both prayer and fasting. We all have been so comfortable and have not been willing to labor in prayer either for ourselves or the Body of Christ or the lost. There were many nights that Jesus prayed to His Father all night. I remembered His Garden praying and His asking His disciples to pray with Him and to watch that they might not enter into trial. They failed but He succeeded and even had an angel come to Him to strengthen Him. He still had to face the cross but overcame. In Paul's description of spiritual warfare in Eph 6, we often say that the only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit but that is not true. He ends by instructing us to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. This is also an offensive weapon. Jesus instructs us in Matt 17 when confronted with a stronghold that doesn't move to pray and fast. Many modern translations have left this out, but I think it is essential. There can be no substitute. Paul tells us in 1 Cor 9 that he buffets his body to keep it in subjection. How often do we follow that example? I am speaking to myself on all these points and my flesh absolutely rebels at the thought of this. The Africans are seeing the results of this kind of prayer and fasting. They are seeing the witchdoctors either repent or die. This kind of authority is true NT authority that we are to walk in. How many of us are willing to pay the price? I must admit that it has given me much pause and even angst as my flesh does not want to do this. However, I am feeling increasingly compelled to conform to what I see in the Word and to follow the examples of Scripture. I hope that some of you will be able to track with me on this so that more and more of His power can be manifested in the US. -Peb


Wow. There is so much to contemplate in this message. Bob has been involved in several long periods of fasting, as well as shorter times of giving up food to spend time with God and hear from Him. I have fasted several times in my life for certain situations or certain people. I know that God does special things during these times. Prayer is a big part of my life, but I don't include fasting often enough or on a regular basis. I am asking the Father to show me when and how I should fast in the next week.

Are you one who has made fasting a part of your life? What direct results have you seen God do in you or bring about because you were obedient in fasting and prayer? I would love to hear your stories.

Blessings in Jesus!