Practiced Up

I love the song, "Yours Will Be," by Big Daddy Weave. I'm so looking forward to that day when we all gather together before the Throne to join together in praise to the One Name that is worthy.

What I love in this world now, though, are the times of praise with my fellow Moms in Prayer women.

This year alone we have praised Him as—

The God Who Hears—1 John 4:6; Exodus 16:7-8; Psalm 69:3

The Lord of all—Acts 10:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 17:14; Philippians 2:9-10; Romans 10:12; Colossians 1:16-17

Always Ready—Psalm 46:1 (NLT); Jonah 4:2 (VOICE); Joel 2:13-14 (TM); Nehemiah 9:17 (TLB); Psalm 10:14 (GNT); Psalm 145:8 (NOG)

Our Purpose—Proverbs 19:21; Ephesians 1:11-12; Philippians 2:13

The King of Glory—Psalm 24:7-10; Luke 19:38; I Timothy 1:17

El Olam—Eternal (Everlasting)—Exodus 3:14-15; 15:18; Deuteronomy 33:27; Nehemiah 9:5b; Psalm 45:6, 90:1-2; 93:2; Isaiah 26:4; Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 1:20; 1Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:8, 18

Wise—1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 92:5; 147:5; Proverbs 2:6; 3:19-20; Isaiah 28:29; 55:8-9; Daniel 2:20-22; Romans 11:33-34; 16:27; Colossians 2:2-3; James 3:17

Just—Psalm 9:7-8; Romans 3:23-26; Revelation 15:3

Jehovah Jireh—Provider—Genesis 22:13-14; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 13:20-21

Faithful—Deuteronomy 7:9; Lamentations 3:21-24; Revelation 19:11

Perfect—Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 25:1; Hebrews 5:9

Defender—Deuteronomy 10:17-18; Psalm 68:5; Psalm 72:4

Understanding—I Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 147:5; Ephesians 1:7-8

Patient—Galatians 5:22-23; I Timothy 1:16; II Peter 3:9

Overcomer—John 16:33; Revelation 5:5; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Revelation 3:21

Refuge—Psalm 62:7; Psalm 73:28; Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 25:4

Victorious—Deuteronomy 20:1-4, Psalm 20: 5-8, Psalm 118:15-16

El Elyon—Most High, Possessor of Heaven & Earth— Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 32:8; Psalm 47:2; Psalm 78:35; Lamentations 3:38

Counselor—Psalm 119:24; John 14:16-17; John 14:25-26

Wonderful—Isaiah 9:6

The Always Person—Psalm 2

Abba—Father—I Corinthians 8:6; II Corinthians 6:18; I John 3:1; Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; Malachi 2:10; Isaiah 9:6

The God with Everlasting Arms—Deuteronomy 33:26-28; Isaiah 40:11; Exodus 6:6

Jehovah Sabbaoth—Lord of Hosts—2 Kings 6:17; Luke 2:13; Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 12:22; Joshua 5:14

Warrior—Zephaniah 3:17; Jeremiah 20:11; Isaiah 42:13; Exodus 15:3

Fortress—Psalm 18:1-3; Psalm 59:16-17; Psalm 62:6; Psalm 91:1-2

The Word—John 1:1-18

Leader—Psalm 25:5; Psalm 143:10; Isaiah 48:17; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 2:14

Savior—II Samuel 22:3; Psalm 68:19; I John 4:14

Worthy—I Chronicles 16:25; Psalm 18:3; Revelation 4:11

We began the year by praising Jehovah Shammah—our God who is present with us—Lamentations 2:19; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 31:20; Psalm 139:7; Psalm 68:8; Exodus 33:14

All these speak to His Name, Who He is in character. And every one speaks a reminder to those who proclaim His Name that this is our God. He is who He says He is yesterday, today, and tomorrow, forever the same.

I love how the author of The Living Bible, Kenneth N. Taylor, paraphrased this truth for his children to understand—

And the one sitting on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true:  It is finished! I am the A and the Z—the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty the springs of the Water of Life—as a gift!  Everyone who conquers will inherit all these blessings, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Revelation 21:5-7 (TLB)

How is your praise going? Are you freely offering it? Or does it depend upon your circumstances of the day?

 

Stormie Omartian wrote, "When you get to the point where you can't keep from praising Him, then you are at the place you're supposed to be."

 

Let's not save our praise for heaven but speak His praises today amidst the struggles of life in this land of the living so we will be practiced up for the time of praise before the Throne!

A Simple Matter

This is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord.

2 Kings 3:18

Has it ever looked like the enemy is winning? You've done what you think is what's needed, but you don't seem to be making headway?

That's just how it looked to the Israelites in 2 Kings 3.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah had gone north to help King Jehoram of Israel defeat the Moabites. But, the prospects for a victory just didn't look favorable, even with the king of Edom and his forces joining them. King Jehoram's reaction was a fearful panic—something that easily happens when you are not walking with the Lord God.

So, King Jehoshaphat—who did walk with God—had a great idea. Get the word of the Lord. Hear what He has to say. So they went to meet with the prophet Elisha.

Elisha's inquiry of the Lord brought good news. Unlike King Jehoram's belief that the Lord planned to deliver the three kings into the hand of Moab, Elisha told them that the Lord planned to do just the opposite.

In fact, Elisha said, "this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord." It was simple for the Lord to make a place lacking in water overflowing with it without wind or rain. And it was that water when it came that not only supplied the three kings and their entourage with all the water they needed but also turn the tide of the battle. The water caused the enemy to put themselves in a weakened position and the three kings came out victors over Moab.

While Jehoram lived in fear of man, Jehoshaphat chose faith in the Lord. Michael Youssef wrote, "When we live by faith [placing our "fear" in God], we know that even when the storm is at its worst, we can trust that God is working out His purposes for us." Jehoshaphat put his faith in God into practice. His first thought at Jehoram's voice of fear was to seek the Lord.

What about us, moms? What is our first thought when our children are panicking in fear? I pray we emulate King Jehoshaphat—let's take it to the Lord.

And, in the middle of the storm, remember, "I am" is holding on to you." (From "I Am" by David Crowder Band, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH_LLGiE0f0)

 

Bus Stop Kids

My house is on a corner. Weekday mornings, the sound of school buses surround us as the buses come and go with three stopping within yards, sometimes feet, of our grass.

But before the buses arrive, children from grade school to high school wait at the side of the road for them. Pretty much all of these children live a distance from our house, some almost two blocks away. I don't know their names. I don't know their families. I just see them morning after morning waiting.

At our last meeting, my Moms in Prayer group prayed Romans 10:9 (VOICE) for our children: May ________ believe deep in his/her heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and voice his/her allegiance by confessing the truth that "Jesus is Lord," and be saved!

Yesterday morning, one lone high school boy stood at the bus stop, headphones over his Mohawk haircut with a heavy backpack over his shoulders, digging his hightop tennis shoes into the asphalt, I prayed that he would believe that Jesus loves Him and turn to him.

As I sat down at my desk, it occurred to me, perhaps, even in this country, he knows little about Jesus other that a baby in a manger and a man on a cross. But even that little is enough for a start. In our group, we also prayed for our high school that those who do confess "Jesus is Lord" would be a "light brigade" of Jesus' love and life to awaken the spiritually dead. I know that this prayer and the ones I pray for this young man will not go unheard. The Holy Spirit will—He will—give this young man the opportunity to believe deep in his/her heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and voice his/her allegiance by confessing the truth that "Jesus is Lord," and be saved!

Sometimes, praying moms, we are so focused on our own children that we look past those sitting next to them on the school bus or in the classroom. But God hasn't given us a task of minimal praying. He wants us to maximize every opportunity to thwart the plans of the enemy for any child, not just our own.

That verse you prayed for your child, speak it over his/her classmates (remember the Valentine's Day list of names the teacher handed out?). Speak it over the children you see on the playground, walking to school, playing on the soccer field, or waiting at the bus stops near your house.

Your prayers enter the throne room of the King. You may not see the results here on earth, but you can be assured each spoken prayer is before the face of the Lord who has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the same Lord over all and is rich towards all who call upon Him. (Matthew 28:18, Romans 10:12)

…pray without ceasing…

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJ)