Throughout Scripture we are told to bless Israel and the Jewish people. Simultaneously Israel has long been at the center of wars and rumors of war. It is disheartening to see the threats of violence and bloodshed that have become a part of everyday life for those living in the city of Christ's return. We must continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem as the news media highlights war brewing between Israel and Iran.

God never has and never will need our wealth. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is Spirit and needs none of the things we need. Giving to the Lord has never been about His needs, but ours. We need to honor the Lord with our wealth. Giving back to God is about restoring our understanding of God as our provider. It places us firmly under His care and lordship.

When the church in a nation tithes to God and recognizes His provision, that nation is blessed. God is honored, and we find ourselves in a place where God can begin to trust us with more because we are correctly using what He already has given us. Could much of our nation's economic turbulence be caused by the failure of God's people to honor Him with their wealth? The average Christian gives 2.7 percent to his or her church! What might happen in our nation as we offer ourselves and our wealth back to the Lord?

In the verse above Jesus speaks of peace and trouble in the same phrase. We will assuredly encounter trouble, whether on an individual basis (illness, finances, etc.) or a national scale (war, economic crisis, etc.). Yet our peace can be found not by avoiding trouble, but in embracing the Prince of Peace. The peace Jesus spoke of is literally a commodity given to those who follow Him. It is intended to mark His followers. His disciples will be those who have experienced His peace in their own lives and who seek to bring it to the nation in which they live.

We live in a day of terrible weaponry. A push of a button from far away can destroy whole cities. No longer is war confined to the combatants, but to entire populations. Years ago, President Ronald Reagan directed our military scientists to develop a shield to protect us, especially from nuclear attack. The "Star Wars" shield certainly could provide some protection, but it couldn't keep us from all attacks.

What if there was something (Someone) who could shield us from all attack? The promise of God to His people is astonishing.

No one would suggest that the Scripture above from Isaiah gives a nation some kind of divine protection from physical weaponry or attack. On the other hand, men and women of God through the years have stood upon this verse to handle the attacks of Satan and have experienced the astonishing protection of God.

What if the unified church began to pray prayers of spiritual protection over our nation? Could we as believers, in prayer, blunt the attempt of the enemy of our souls to sideline our nation and remove us from our place in God's plan?

According to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The Pilgrims escaped from England in the early 1600s for that very reason, but it wasn't until the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791 that the ideal would come to fruition. Our Founding Fathers considered freedom of religion to be a fundamental human right, but it has come under fire in recent years by those who cite the concept of separation of church and state.

Many things can strike fear into the heart of a nation. In the years following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we have feared off-course planes, envelopes with white powder and threats from extremists around the world. We take precautions, all the while fearing that something, sometime, will slip through and cause harm. Fear is tough to live with and causes a nation to react in man-made ways that aren't always godly.

The Bible often warns us not to be afraid. The reason given is that God is our salvation. Salvation doesn't always refer to eternal life or heaven. It often means deliverance from the enemy. Isaiah 12:2 reminds us that when a nation (or person) trusts in the Lord, He steps in and brings salvation. When we experience the Lord's deliverance, fear is replaced by songs of joy. Has the Lord become your song?

The enemy's attack on the family unit is anything but subtle these days. From legalized abortion to redefining marriage to high divorce rates to Internet porn addiction, Satan has successfully assaulted the family from all angles with an overt agenda to pull it apart and even negate its value.

To combat these attacks, families must put Christ above all things and make Him a solid foundation. And no weapon is stronger in this war than prayer.

If there was ever a nation that understood what it means to be a refuge for the oppressed, it ought to be the U.S. As a nation comprised of immigrants and their descendants, we have been a land of refuge; yet we still struggle with what it means to open our national doors to others. But the Lord is a perfect refuge, a perfect stronghold in times of trouble. When a nation turns to God, He will be a refuge for them. Amid the chaos of current events—whether financial collapse, terrorism or war—how comforting it is to know that God wants to be a stronghold for our nation.

It's been said that combining church denominations is comparable to mixing oil and water; they simply don't mix. God's will, however, is that His people be of one accord. Jesus prayed that we would "be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You" (John 17:21). First Peter 3:8 says, "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." Think of what a mighty weapon a body of people united in Christ would be against the enemy!