July 2022

Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

Happy Fourth of July! We celebrate the birth of America this month. The American colonists escaped the bondage of their British oppressors to form a new homeland, a greater nation. Likewise, we celebrate our freedom from all that would subdue the purposes of God in the earth through our Lord Jesus Christ. We, too, enjoy the liberty that is ours in the Kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul instructed the believers in 1 Timothy 1:1-4, to pray for all people, including those that God has put in authority over us:

“…. I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercession (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This [kind of praying] is good and acceptable and pleasing the sight of God of Savior, who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth.”

We therefore pray in this tumultuous time for our country, that peace and goodwill will flow through the land. We pray for the fulfillment of God’s will for all the people of the United States. We pray for those in our government, that God will govern those who govern us. We pray that He will make them instruments of His righteousness. We pray for an all-encompassing revival throughout this country that will move all men’s hearts so that they will be saved and come into the knowledge and recognition of the truth: that “…there is only one God, and one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus.”(1 Timothy 1:5 AMPC) We dedicate the United States to the Lord and lay all the nations at Jesus’ feet. We acknowledge that it is Jesus who will ultimately rule and reign over this country and over all the nations of the world. It is Jesus who is, “…in all things preeminent” (Colossians 1:19 AMPC)

“He is the head, the life source and leader of the Body of Christ, the church, and He is the beginning…He Himself will occupy the first place, stand supreme and be preeminent in everything.” (Col 1:19-20 AMPC)

In His Great Name Worship Center servant leaders also recognize July as our month of corporate ‘rest.’ We pause midway of the year 2022 to intentionally take time to call unto God for reflection, renewal and refreshing.

Miriam-Webster defines rest as “…a period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity.” It speaks of vacation, relaxation, respite, taking a time out. In sum, a cessation of activity. This is one component of our July hiatus. However, there is a greater component to our rest. It is a time to pause and remember we co-labor under the leadership of Christ. We participate in His mission, which is to do the work and the will of the Father. We rest in His finished work--that elevating work that has transformed our lives. It is the ultimate fulfillment of all the glorious promises of God.

The Apostle Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:4 (AMPC) that Jesus has “…bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them [we] escape the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire and become sharers of the divine nature.”

We treasure this precious time of rest, contemplation and refreshing each year. We hope you will join us in making this midyear passage a time of meditation on what magnificent blessings God has bestowed upon you and your family.

Amazed by His grace,

Apostle Danita H. Jones