Filled

Outside my office window stands a maple tree. It was a seedling, a gift from another tree in the neighborhood, that grew in our backyard for a few years and then was moved to the side yard. When autumn comes, the leaves change from green to golden and red.

 

But, there is a stage, a process if you pay attention, when some of the green leaves are edged in red. Then, that red slowly fills in completely, sometimes while the leaf is green and other times while it is turning gold.

 

This is not unlike the process that happens to followers of Jesus. There is a process, sanctification, which happens from that first step of faith to the time when we are completely filled with Jesus Christ. It’s a process the Apostle Paul called of faith to faith, glory to glory. (Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJ)

 

This is important to remember as we pray for our children. They are being grown “up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.”

 

But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.

Ephesians 4:15 (NET)

 

So, praying moms, keep praying the Word of Life over your children’s lives. And multiply your prayers by gathering with other moms to carry your children together to Jesus. Your faith and His Word will bring His work into your children’s lives. (Mark 2:1-12)

 

Moms in Prayer International impact children and schools worldwide

for Christ by gathering mothers to pray.

 

It’s easy to join or start a Moms in Prayer group. Just go to the website, https://momsinprayer.org/, and click on “Get Involved.”

 

Houses of Prayer

It’s pretty clear that it didn’t take long for our enemy to realize what deception he the deceiver fell under when he orchestrated the crucifixion, especially thinking it was “his” plan. When Christ rose from the dead, the gift of redemption became a reality to all who follow Him. And that means that no longer was the Temple the one “house of prayer.” Instead, spreading all over the world are individual temples, houses of prayer—in homes, in businesses, in parks, in cars, in schools, in shopping centers—nowhere that the people of the Lord walk is immune. It also means that the enemy has to fight harder and go after individuals who take the Lord’s command seriously—of whom you are among.

 

Take this most seriously:

A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven.

What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this.

When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it,

my Father in heaven goes into action.

And when two or three of you are together because of me,

you can be sure that I’ll be there.

Matthew 18:18-20The Message (MSG)

 

Yes! Lincoln Brewster’s song, “There is Power,” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=8&v=UoOJwel1CQU] echoes Christ's words that speak to why we take it seriously to gather together and not go it alone. More power!! Just like Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” But, it’s also another reason why the enemy fights one accord prayer. It's a battle.

 

Remember, so you are not in despair or disheartened, that because you take being a “house of prayer” seriously, to abide in your strength of life—your Forza di Vita—and keep yourself under His good hand. It will make all the difference and help you fend off the enemy’s darts with your shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16). You’ll be able to keep on keeping on as Ezra and Nehemiah.

 

My prayer, Father, for us is that we will follow the example of these two men, Ezra and Nehemiah. I ask that Your good hand be over us all as we study Your Words and then seek to do them and teach them as Ezra modeled. May we have courage through Your steadfast love amidst difficulty to take it seriously to gather to pray, remembering who You are. May we build up the wall of prayer around the next generation and know that "the hand of our God is for good on all who seek Him" (Ezra 8:22 ESV). In the Name above all names, Jesus, amen. So be it.

My house shall be a house of prayer

Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46 (ESV)

The Fingers of Your Mind

In high school, it was required to take a foreign language. So I took Spanish and did very well. In fact, after the two required years, I was a class aide for a third year.

 

Also, in high school, the church I attended gave campers a chance to earn half of their camp fee by memorizing verses and repeating them to a sponsor. So I did. I actually needed to in order to offset the cost of camp.

 

I was pretty much an A student in Spanish and I always had half my camp fee paid for, but…what you don’t use, you lose. Or, in other words, what you don’t use, you don’t really “own.” It slips from the fingers of your mind.

 

Today, I can understand verbally some Spanish (if a person speaks slowly) and I can get the gist of something written in Spanish, sometimes. Many of the verses I memorized I can recall, but more often than not, especially with all of the modern day translations, I have to admit there are few that I can actually recite if asked (being put on the spot nerves play into that, too).

 

However, since being in Moms in Prayer and praising the Lord using His own words as well as praying scripturally for my children, I am more and more able to bring to mind certain scriptures. I can’t always say I remember the passage address exactly, but I can usually find it in my Bible.  I “owned” them in prayer. In fact, I find myself more and more not just praying an asked request but working that request into praying Scripture.

 

I think, in some way, this ownership makes us more like Jeremiah who said (20:9) that he could not help but speak God’s powerful word, which was like a fire burning in his heart. Owned Scripture is something hidden in our hearts that the Holy Spirit brings to our minds and lips at the appropriate time so we can speak it or pray as He desires. As Henry M. Morris wrote, “The word of fire in the burning heart cannot be contained, but must be proclaimed.”

 

I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.

I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:15-16 (NKJ)

 

Father, I pray for your daughters that we will meditate on Your precepts and contemplate Your ways.  May we delight ourselves in Your statutes and not forget Your Word—may it not slip from the fingers of our minds. Father, may each of us “own” Your Word so that Your Spirit bring Your “fire” to our minds and to our lips so we can speak it in prayer as You desire. In the Name above all names, Jesus, so be it.

Talking to nobody

My husband is an amateur radio operator. The sound of voices or Morse code coming from his radios is often and easily heard throughout our small home. A while back, he came out of his “Ham” room to tell me, “This guy’s still talking. I’m timing him. It’s been 12 minutes. I wonder if he’s talking to nobody.” Well, obviously, my husband had been sort of listening, but also it was apparent that no one could get a word into the “conversation.” Certainly, it didn’t seem to be that this man was carrying on a dialogue. It really was entirely possible that those who had been chatting with him had literally tuned out his monologue.

 

Has that ever happened to you? Someone monopolizes the conversation and the others tune out?

 

What about when gathered to pray with others? Has one person prayed on and on and on putting all their thoughts into words until you are no longer “in the room” but off thinking about, for example, whether or not you remembered to put the flag up on the mailbox?

 

One thing Moms in Prayer has taught me and thousands of other women is the ability to pray short simple prayers so we can pray conversationally with others. It’s that acronym, KISS—keep it short and simple. This allows for real conversation and passion in prayer on one subject at a time and allows, more importantly, for the Holy Spirit to be a part of our conversation. He who indwells believers desires the opportunity to prompt us to speak His thoughts into the subject of our prayers, which He often does through our different voices.

 

But we are seldom discipled in this type of prayer. Most often, we do like the man on the radio, say all we can say till someone jumps in when we take a breath. We’ve not learned how to bathe one subject at a time together passionately with the Lord in prayer.

 

Again, notice I said “together” and “with.” By keeping our prayers simple and short, we pray not only together but with the Holy Spirit. This is praying in one accord, which is “agreeing together as directed and energized by the Holy Spirit.” (Moms in Prayer International Booklet)

 

One accord in Hebrew, yachad, reveals oneness of striving together, not going alone. It carries the same meaning in the Greek word homothymadon. It’s being of one mind, with one accord, or with one passion. Interestingly, Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon in defining yachad refers to Job 38:7, “When all the morning stars sang together.” Can’t you just imagine the beauty and passion behind those words?

 

This is the powerful and passionate way of prayer exemplified by the early church. This is what Acts 4:24 (NASB) speaks to:

 

…they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them…

 

It also reminds me of the Beveres’ words in “Girls with Swords.” In 1 Samuel 14:6-7, when Jonathan and his armorbearer boldly take on the enemy, the armorbearer tells Jonathon, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart” (NKJ). The Beveres wrote:

 

Suddenly there is light in their eyes and vigor in their stance. Something powerful happens when two warriors agree and boldly declare God’s faithfulness and their commitment to a cause.”

 

This is the same amazing thing that happens when we moms come together to passionately pray—talk together—in one accord on a particular subject matter, like a child, before the Throne. Something powerful happens!

 

 

 

Out Loud

This whole group devoted themselves to constant prayer with one accord: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), Judas (son of James), a number of women including Mary (Jesus’ mother), and some of Jesus’ brothers.

Acts 1:13-14 (The Voice)

 

 

When the early church prayed in one accord, as the New Testament records, it was necessary to pray out loud so they could pray in conversational agreement, which is only possible when one knows what another is praying. It’s sort of like sitting at the dinner table with family and friends. In order to have a conversation with each other, you have to voice your words. Only then can you have a conversation or a discussion on a certain topic.

 

Importantly, when our prayers are voiced, the Holy Spirit speaks out loud through us. Have you ever thought about that?

 

Because the Holy Spirit indwells believers, when we come together to pray and speak our prayers out loud, we give Him an opportunity to use us to encourage and strengthen each other. His voice, so to speak, is heard from one to another's ears as He prays through us, through our own personalities, our own box of thinking.

 

Another important thing about praying out loud is not only are you thinking your prayers, your own ears are hearing your prayers. That’s a powerful thing, especially if you are praying out loud the Word of God.

 

But, I think one of the most important things about praying out loud is our enemy is hearing our prayers that we are sending over his head as prince of this world to the King and Ruler of the universe. This is one thing I love about the ministry of Moms in Prayer International. The Lord God uses this ministry to teach us to pray out loud scripturally and specifically in one accord conversational prayer. And He uses this ministry to multiply prayer across the face of this earth by gathering women to pray together.

 

Think about that. You are one person praying for your child in your personal prayer time. You are putting your prayers before the Throne. But, when you gather with other women who join you in praying for your child (and you for theirs), you have just increased the prayers for your child by at least double. And not only are those prayers before the Throne, they are in the ears of your child’s enemy who has no choice but to bow to the will of the King of the universe concerning your requests.

 

 

Alone or Together

On my drive home from a prayer meeting, I noticed a huge hawk sitting atop a light pole. Fluttering in front of it was a small bird who all of a sudden, with all the fierceness it could gather, dived at the hawk. The larger bird flinched and lifted up its wing to protect itself, but didn’t give up its position. The little bird repeated itself, but to no avail. The hawk really wasn’t fazed.

 

It made me think, one little bird is just a pest. But if there were several birds attacking this enemy together, I don’t think a lifted wing would do it. The hawk would most likely take flight.

 

That, praying moms, is the different between your alone prayers and your prayers done together with other moms. Alone we grow tired and often give up. But together we find strength to persist until the enemy takes flight.

 

That is also why I am thankful for the ministry of Moms in Prayer International. I’m not just one little momma bird fighting alone. I’ve got other momma birds fighting the enemy of my children with me AND me with them for theirs. We help each other be strong warriors for our children and not give up.

Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (GNT)

Headlines

It is hard to look at all that is happening by the enemy's hand in this world, especially in our own more intimate world, and not be angry or disheartened. But, we strive to do as Jeremiah (Lamentations 3) and keep the knowing of who our God is at the forefront of our thinking. We remember His mercy, lovingkindness, goodness, compassion, and, encompassing those, His faithfulness to His Word. We call these things to mind so we have hope. He does have all things in His hand. No matter what it looks like, He is at work. His purpose will be accomplished. These things have been going on since Adam and Eve walked out of the Garden, but God is still God. And history is moving to the culmination He has planned. It may not look like it, but the victory IS His.

 

Paul's words of Philippians 4:8 also help me--they hang where I see them at my desk. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." One of my friends said, that's Jesus. I think she is right. We are to keep Jesus at the forefront of our thinking. We are to focus on Jesus. We are to filter everything, every circumstance, through Jesus.

 

I also think it helps us to remember Paul's words of Ephesians 6. The fight isn't against "them" but against the real enemy, the prince of this world. That's why we pray. But it's also why the enemy uses the headlines, social media, etc. to sidetrack us—to keep our thoughts from our Excellent One and from prayer.

 

I pray for you and me that we can keep our eyes fixed on Him so courage and kindness rule our lives amidst this darkness. Those are what will help us be bright shining lights to hold out the Word of Life, live in hope AND keep praying.

 

“But I am Prayer”

David wrote Psalm 109 as a plea to the Lord for help. But, early in the Psalm, verse 4b, he writes, “…but I give myself to prayer.” The Hebrew here, according to the ESV translators, literally means, “…but I am prayer.”

 

It struck me—can I say this?

 

Can I say that in every circumstance, every life situation that I face or that my children face, “I am prayer”?

 

Or, do my hands and feet get ahead of my mouth? Do I try to be the fixer before I gain the mind of Christ through prayer?

 

If “I am prayer,” then I will be already in the correct place to receive help from the Fixer who isn’t just about repairs but is the Restorer and Redeemer. In fact, I think I prefer to be restored and redeemed and definitely prefer that for my children.

 

May we each be able to say, “…but I am prayer.”

 

 

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit,

Who leads you in the way that you should go.

Isaiah 48:17 (AMP)

Tuned Ears

The main road from town to our home, which is near the city limits, is four lanes, two in each direction. I usually stay in the far right lane knowing that I will have to turn right on our road. But, often when a car or cars are in front of me, I sense the need to change lanes. I can’t always say I listen, but either way, I quickly find out that the car in front of me all of sudden slows down to turn right. Recently, I sensed that, so I moved my car into the left lane, and watched as both of the cars in front of me slowed down, one right after the other to turn right into different driveways.

 

Have you ever sensed something familiar?

 

I thought, this really isn’t a big thing. But it reminds me that the Living God who indwells me through His Spirit knows where I am and knows about every detail of my life…and He cares. Changing lanes to avoid being slowed down really is only a very small thing in the scheme of life. But it is certainly a huge reminder that this is true of the big things. I just need to keep my ear tuned to hear and my heart ready to obey.

 

And that makes me think of how mightily the Spirit works in this world, even in the lives of those He does not indwell. Scripture tells us—

 

He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment

John 16:8 (AMP)

 

But we who have Him indwelling us have a part to play—prayer.

 

That is why we must never give up praying for our children no matter their age or their circumstances. It is the Spirit of God that works to move them from one path to another—just as He moves us.

 

Lord God, we come before You with hands held out to plead for our children. May Your Holy Spirit speak into their lives. May their ears be tuned to hear sweet words behind them: “Go this way. There is your path; this is how you should go” whenever they must decide whether to turn to the right or the left. (from Isaiah 30:21 VOICE). In the Name of our Living Savior, Jesus, amen.

 

Tirelessness in Prayer

The warm spring days we’ve had recently are good times to watch the critters outside our living room window as they enjoy their changing environment. Birds, mostly starlings, one afternoon were rummaging in the grass while a squirrel was traversing the high wire up above. He was heading back from probably our oak tree to the huge maples in the neighbor’s yard. Suddenly, not far from the first tree, he was almost knocked off the wire by a starling’s attack! I’d never seen a starling do this before. The squirrel quickly recovered and had continued on his way when the starling repeated the attack. This time, the squirrel jumped from the wire to the center of the maple tree only to have the starling, again on the attack, follow him right onto the tree! It was like the bird took on squirrel attributes as it “ran” over the tree limb. Both disappeared from my sight.

 

This whole interaction made me think of how even when we are traveling on a good path, the enemy is still after us. Persistently, he tries to knock us off the path. And when we get off, his attack intensifies to make it difficult for us to get back on.

 

The enemy is tireless. So, praying moms, we must be tireless in prayer. Because even when we think our kids are on the safe path, more prayer is needed. Their enemy will, without a doubt, try to knock them off with repeated attacks. And, if he succeeds, he will make even more effort to keep them from getting back on.

 

We need to follow Jesus’ example when Satan was after Peter. In fact, the Amplified Bible takes this deeper to say that Satan was after all the disciples, not just Peter—

 

Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain,

Luke 22:31 (AMP)

 

We see Jesus’ example of intercession as Luke goes on to write one of those “but God” verses—

 

But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren.

Luke 22:32 (AMP)

 

May we follow the example of Jesus. Peter was on the path, following Jesus, yet the enemy was on attack. Similarly, it is often when we think our children are “safe” that they really are most vulnerable. Our children need the backup of our prayers to not only keep them on the path but also to restore them when they are knocked off.

 

May we keep praying until Jesus comes. May we “be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMP)

 

Servants of VICTORY

Victory does not happen to us while we passively wait …

a victorious Christian is deliberately and personally involved

in a process that leads to victory.

If you are to achieve your goals, you must be involved to the maximum extent.

Charles Swindoll

Proverbs 21:31 tells us that "the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." And Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:57 in agreement that it is "God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

Yet, John wrote in 1 John 5:4 that "everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."

 

So, how does what Charles Swindoll wrote reconcile with these and other scriptures?

 

What it all boils down to is this—

 

If you want victory, you have to surrender.

War Room (the movie)

 

Because faith—the victory that has overcome—equals surrender. Thus, it is our active involved choice of surrender in faith—believing, trusting, and relying upon the Lord, not ourselves—that allows our God, then, to do the work in and through us that leads to victory.

 

In that choice of faith, we surrender our own desires and will to those of our Father God, just as Christ did. (Philippians 2:5-8, Luke 22:42) Jesus, our example, humbly surrendered His will to His Father’s will. He chose to be His Father’s servant and was involved to the maximum extent in the process of accomplishing His Father’s goal—even to death. And the result? Victory!

 

If victory is really our desire, we, too, must humbly surrender our will and be involved to the maximum extent. That will mean death to ourselves.

 

The reality is, then, praying moms, surrender is what has to happen if we are to be prayer warriors for our children. Because, honestly, what keeps us from prayer? Isn’t it ourselves?

 

We may place the blame on this or that, but the truth is we choose what we do with our time. Even if the demands of others are involved, we still choose.

 

It’s a peculiarity of the Christian life—surrender brings victory. So, my prayer for us is that we will each make the choice of surrendered faith to be involved to the maximum extent and be servants of victory.

How we thank God for all of this! It is he who makes us victorious

through Jesus Christ our Lord!

1 Corinthians 15:57 (TLB

Hope Gives Peace

I was reading 1 Samuel 1 recently, and this passage about Hannah made me think about what it means when another comes alongside you to agree with you in prayer before the Lord. It means hope. Hannah's response to Eli's words, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to Him.” (1 Samuel 1:17, ESV) was, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." And then she "went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad." 1 Samuel 1:18 (ESV)

 

Think about it. Someone, though, not at first, agreed with her sorrowful pleas before the Lord.

 

Her husband's other wife didn't. Instead, she “provoked her grievously to irritate her.”

 

Even her husband didn’t. He said, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” Logical and reasonable questions, but just not coming alongside.

 

Although Eli at first questioned her, thinking she was drunk, after hearing her heart, he came alongside her.

 

That’s what I love about praying with other moms. They hear my heart as I pray for my child. AND then they come alongside me in prayer.

Heaven

Lots of stories are being told about heaven these days. One popular story was recently admitted to be false by its adolescent storyteller. But, the truth about heaven is available to every person in Bible.

In fact, Jesus told one story that gives us just a glimpse of what is in store for people when they pass from this land of the living into eternity albeit this story was told by Jesus prior to His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

Take a moment to read His story out loud to yourself from Luke 16:19-31 in the Voice—

There was this rich man who had everything—purple clothing of fine quality and high fashion, gourmet meals every day, and a large house.  Just outside his front gate lay this poor homeless fellow named Lazarus. Lazarus was covered in ugly skin lesions.  He was so hungry he wished he could scavenge scraps from the rich man’s trash. Dogs would come and lick the sores on his skin.  The poor fellow died and was carried on the arms of the heavenly messengers to the embrace of Abraham. Then the rich fellow died and was buried and found himself in the place of the dead. In his torment, he looked up, and off in the distance he saw Abraham, with Lazarus in his embrace. He shouted out, “Father Abraham! Please show me mercy! Would you send that beggar Lazarus to dip his fingertip in water and cool my tongue? These flames are hot, and I’m in agony!” But Abraham said, “Son, you seem to be forgetting something: your life was full to overflowing with comforts and pleasures, and the life of Lazarus was just as full with suffering and pain. So now is his time of comfort, and now is your time of agony. Besides, a great canyon separates you and us. Nobody can cross over from our side to yours, or from your side to ours.” ”Please, Father Abraham, I beg you,” the formerly rich man continued, “send Lazarus to my father’s house.  I have five brothers there, and they’re on the same path I was on. If Lazarus warns them, they’ll choose another path and won’t end up here in torment.” But Abraham said, “Why send Lazarus? They already have the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets to instruct them. Let your brothers hear them.” “No, Father Abraham,” he said, “they’re already ignoring the law and the prophets. But if someone came back from the dead, then they’d listen for sure; then they’d change their way of life.” Abraham answered, “If they’re not listening to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone comes back from the dead.”

Though not stated outright, the implication is clear that Lazarus listened to Moses and the prophets and believed and that the rich man did not.

Jesus tells us clearly that when we die, we either go to a place of agony or to a place of comforts and pleasures. The writer of Hebrews echoes this finality, "…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (9:27, NKJ) Between the two places is an impassable canyon of separation. "Nobody can cross over from…"

The decisions we make here, today, will ultimately on our final breath determine our eternal future. Just like the rich man in Jesus' story, there comes a day when we die and all opportunity is ended. As Paul reminds us repeatedly in the book of Hebrews, "Today is the day of salvation." Every day we have is an opportunity to listen and believe. At the end of his life, the thief at the cross chose to do so and was told by Jesus, "Today you will be with Me in paradise." (Luke 23:43, NKJ)

Praying moms, that is why we fight in prayer for our children. That is why we wrestle against the "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" with our prayers "using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (from Ephesians 6)

That is why we don't give up. That is why we put aside our wants for how to spend our time to join our voices together with other moms for our children and for theirs. The most important thing in a child's life is the decision where he/she will spend eternity. Will that be heaven in the Presence? Prayer is that which makes the difference in the battle.

We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his might we may overcome.

Wherefore we must stir up ourselves.

Matthew Henry

 

 

Change Just Is

An email from a Christian radio station this morning made me think about change. The writer used telephones as an example. Referring to Star Trek and Captain Kirk, he wrote—

Let’s take a trip in the way back machine for a moment, to 1996. Did you have a flip phone?

Matt Stockman

Yes, we did have flip phones. But in 1966, the year Star Trek debuted, no, we didn't. And going back further—remember Dick Tracy?—we didn't have watch phones either. But, now we do. And as Matt pointed out, flip phones can be bought "by the shoebox full at Goodwill."

Change is. It just is.

Change happens all around us every day. It is especially apparent this time of year as the trees go from bare branches to flourishing with leaves.

Change happens in us as well. We grow; then stop growing—well, except our hair and nails. But we are still changing, our bodies getting older. Wrinkles and gray hair become more visible and other things which don't need to be named.

And change happens in us in other ways. As believers we grow from faith to faith as we walk in step with the Spirit in this land of the living.

We can't help, then, to recognize that change is reality. But how often go we overlook that change is necessary in our children, too. Oh, I know we notice their physical changes and their intellectual changes. But do we consider and pray about the changes they will have in life and need to go through to develop into the disciples of Christ that He wants of them?

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

It is often our mom-sense in life to protect our children in such a way that we hinder the change that the Spirit wants to bring about. We want them like our old land line phones, receiver attached to the telephone base with a cord. Or it might be that we want them too soon to become a smart phone and push them into places they are not ready for. Either way, we get in the way of the Spirit whose work is to create the change He desires.

…so we are being transformed, metamorphosed, into His same image

from one radiance of glory to another,

just as the Spirit of the Lord accomplishes it.

2 Corinthians 3:18b

My prayer for us is that we will participate well in the change the Spirit desires to produce in our children.

So Others May Live

This morning while having coffee with a friend, I noticed a truck in the parking lot with these words across its tailgate, "So Others May Live."

At the same time, my friend was telling me about a testimony she'd heard on a Jim Cymbala teaching video. It was the testimony of a woman in her early 20s who had grown up in New York, the daughter of an alcoholic mother who practiced voodoo. This young woman was involved in gangs, violence and drugs. At the invitation of a friend, she had come reluctantly to a Brooklyn Tabernacle Church prayer service bringing with her the demons—literally—who possessed her. And, just prior to going, she had downed a bunch of pills. When she entered the church, she walked toward the front and stopped a few feet from Pastor Cymbala. A few church members stepped forward to join him in praying for her. When someone began to pray, "Oh, Jesus," right away the demons reacted. She attacked him violently and had to be forcibly held to the ground by several people. The demons screamed and yelled at everyone, claiming her as theirs. But when Pastor Cymbala continued to pray, "Come out of her in the Name of Jesus Christ," she was freed immediately. She knew that Jesus Christ had delivered her and became a believer. The demons were ousted and the Holy Spirit took their place.

In short, the people around this young woman had battled spiritual forces in prayer in the Name of Jesus. As a result, she was given new life—free of the demons and also of the effect of the pills.

Do you comprehend, praying moms, that this—this—is the power of our prayers?

There's a life and death battle going on. Our prayers made in faith in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ, are powerful for deliverance. Sometimes the results are immediate, as in the case of the woman. Other times, there is a long wait. The drama may not often be this strikingly visible to us, but it is still there. You can be sure of it.

Christ left us on this earth with the responsibility and even obligation to engage in this battle through our prayers. We are to do that with the strength of His power and might. May we never give up but resolve to fight until we reach victory! "So Others May Live!"

This young woman is now a member of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church and is a prayer warrior herself.

…God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death

fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels…

God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way,

prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long.

Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open.

Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Ephesians 6:10-12, 17-18 (MSG)

Life is hard, but God is good--ALL the time!

I was reading in Deuteronomy 8 this morning and verses 2, 3b, 5, and 16b stood out and reminded me of the words of Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:5 and Philippians 1:27-30. Our trials, and those of our children, are meant to humble and test us to reveal what is in our hearts, to help us know that our life is in Him and in heeding His Word, and to do us good in the end. It is the loving discipline/instruction of our Abba Father.

May we have the mind to exalt Christ and rejoice as Paul. His and Silas' praise-filled singing in their jailhouse chains and pain brought others to salvation and strengthened their own faith. (See Acts 16:12-40) Life is hard, but God is good--ALL the time!

So, praying moms, fill your hearts with praise and thanksgiving. It will strengthen you and will strengthen those around you!

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable.

If he said it, he’ll do it!

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (Message)

Evil Rising, But…

We can't look at a media today and not recognize that evil is rising. What to do? Tremble in anxiety?

Jesus taught the disciples "that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up)." But several verses later, He asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1, AMP)

I thank the Lord for the ministry of Moms in Prayer which disciples women in being like the woman in Jesus' story of Luke 18. Our Lord desires us to be faithful, patient and persistent prayer warriors seeking His help for our children and for their schools.

One praying mom recently wrote to me, "Our prayers are essential to our schools! No locks, rules, or safety measures are going to stop the "Satan who prowls the earth like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour". But we serve the One who holds all power and we have a direct line of prayer to his throne." Profoundly true!

This is similar to the encouragement Jesus spoke to His disciples just prior to the cross—

In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

John 16:33 (AMP)

Keep praying. The One we serve is the Name above every name who has the power to subdue and subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:21)

 

Fighting What God is Doing?

Have you seen this commercial: http://youtu.be/enzh7v8d1AU? Now, I am not promoting its product but was reminded of something insightful when I saw it.

Sometimes—when things are going opposite the way we think they should—don't we in our human nature "fight" what God is doing?

I think as moms, we often believe we know what is best for our children. And, instead of trusting God to be working through our prayers, we start interfering.

Interference didn't work out well for the people in the video. Interference didn't work out well for Abraham and Sarah. Interference caused Rebekah and Jacob heartache. We can probably think of plentiful examples from our own lives. We are slow learners sometimes.

Praying mom, as you take your child to the Throne of mercy and grace in prayer, remember, it is just that—a Throne of mercy and grace. But it also the Throne of the all wise God who, unlike us, does know what is best. He knows exactly the path He wants our child to walk and how best to get his or her feet placed on that path.

So, pray for the best as you see it—and don't give up, even if your "church" collapses in the waiting. Instead, keep trusting when you see the worst. God may be up to something that He means to use to bring eternal salvation and glory in your child's life.

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].

1 Corinthians 13:12 (AMP)

Or—

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG)

Tightly Bound

The teaching at a recent Christian women's area retreat was from Beth Moore's "The Making of a More Honest Me." As Beth Moore took us deeper into chapters 32 and 33 of Genesis, she drew our attention to Jacob's distress as he prepared to meet his brother, Esau, and the 400 men with him. I think anyone of us would be distressed if the brother who'd vowed to kill us was coming fast to meet us face to face with an army of men!

Beth said the Hebrew word for distressed is tsarar, which means to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound, etc. I couldn't write all the synonyms fast enough, so I looked it up in Strong's when I got home. Over all, this word used for distressed makes it clear that Jacob was extremely uncomfortable, to say the least!

But Beth didn't leave it at that. She noted that there's a positive use to this word in 1 Samuel 25:29. Abigail used this word when she told the future King David "the life of my lord shall be bound up in the bundle of the living with God." Beth said that the tighter we feel in God's care, the looser we will be among people, secure on all sides. I think that was opposite Jacob's initial reaction when he heard of his brother's impending arrival to his camp.

When you read these two passages, though, there's an interesting thing to note in Genesis 32:1. As the narrative begins in 32 there is a mere mention of angels meeting Jacob. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp." It made me think, as it did Beth, that this experience may be similar to what Elisha's servant saw.

I sense that the Lord God was reminding Jacob that He was keeping His word just as promised in Genesis 28:15 (AMP), "I am with you and will keep (watch over you with care, take notice of) you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done all of which I have told you."

I also believe that it is a reminder that our God's Presence is with us, and His Presence—even though we just like Jacob often struggle in faith, His very powerful Presence is greater still than any Esau, angry enemy army, or even perilous times. Though we can't see what Jacob or Elisha's servant saw with their eyes, we can see with faith knowing that our God camps with us.

I am so thankful!! Because, there really is no better place to be!

My prayer for us is that as we grow closer to the Lord through His Word and prayer that we will feel tightly bound up in His bundle, camped with Him, enabled to live through securely any distress this life brings.

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP)

Distractions

A commercial for the United States Army declares, "And when they're asked what they did to make a difference, they will say, "I became a soldier."

Whether or not it is "kosher" today to call Christians "soldiers," the truth is that's what we are. We live in a world that is a battlefield between light and darkness, between truth and deception, between life and death. Paul even called those who worked with him to spread the Gospel soldiers of Christ Jesus. (See 2 Timothy 2:3 AMP)

That means, praying moms, just like the US Army soldier, we have a purpose that will make a difference. In fact, it is a work that was planned for our lives by our Soldier God, who uses His right hand in glorious power to shatter the enemy.

The Lord is a great soldier.

The Lord is his name.

Exodus 15:3 (ERV)

And consider these words penned by the prophet Isaiah—

He saw that there was no man,

And wondered that there was no intercessor;

Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;

And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

And a helmet of salvation on His head;

He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,

And was clad with zeal as a cloak.

According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay,

Fury to His adversaries,

Recompense to His enemies;

The coastlands He will fully repay

Isaiah 59:16-18 (NKJV)

"We are at war," as Christine Caine said. And when we pick up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, in prayer, the enemy is slashed! Those words our mouths speak in prayer echoing God's own are something the enemy hates—not just because he hears them, but also because we hear them!

Be sure and convinced—"of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

Be excited!! We—you—are doing Kingdom work that makes a difference for eternity. And don't let the world or the enemy or even you distract you. As Beth Moore wrote, if Satan can't get to us with destruction, he will try distraction. So, speak over distractions as Nehemiah did:

I am doing a GREAT work and cannot come down.

Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to you?

Nehemiah 6:3 (AMP)

 

My prayer, my benediction, for us echoes Paul's—

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Romans 16:20 (NKJV)