Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches!
Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord!
Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.

Lamentations 2:19 ESV


Thursday, March 30, 2017

Unshaken

Unshaken—isn’t that what we all want to be in this land of the living?
 
This past February, I was given an advance copy of the book, Unshaken, written by Sally Burke and Cyndie Claypool de Neve, and read it during flight delays—long delays—at airports, of course. My copy has much text underlined and starred and has notes written in it here and there. I am actually now looking back with thankfulness for the extra time to just sit and read. How often does that happen? And, just perhaps, I had this book in my hand to keep me unshaken during those hours of wondering when I’d ever make it back home to my family. I love winter snow, but planes do not.
 
I’ve been involved in Moms in Prayer International, formerly Moms In Touch International, since the fall of 1992. Praying with other moms has seen me through raising my kids and has also strengthened me in my faith. This ministry really, truly has been a gift to me from the Lord.
 
Unshaken, written by Sally Burke, the current president of Moms in Prayer International and a former Space Shuttle engineer, speaks to the influence this strategic prayer ministry has had on her life and the lives of others whose testimonies are written throughout its pages. In the introduction to Unshaken, Fern Nichols, the ministry Founder, refers to her realization that united prayer was the answer to her fears for her children as they attended public school. She wrote, “We needed a strategic prayer plan to counteract the influence of the world, the flesh, and the devil that would rush like a tidal wave against them, intent on destroying them.”
 
That was over 3 decades ago. Women in over 140 countries now impact their children and schools for Christ as they gather to implement this strategic prayer plan.
 
What I love about participating in Moms in Prayer is that we always begin with the Lord Himself and then throughout the rest of our hour, He is not only present but He is our focus as we pray for our children and schools. And that has the effect of His Spirit imparting in us moms courageous faith, the kind of faith that comes from a heart that knows the Lord her God.
 
But there’s another thing I love about this ministry. It’s the “we.” It’s not just me praying for my children, but it’s me with others praying over them together. This is a powerful thing. It’s why I’m still involved even though my children are adults. Well, and also it’s because now I have a grandson that needs prayer.
 
Sally Burke wrote, “Shaken women become unshaken when they remember the Christ who lives in them is eager to answer their prayers—but they need to ask Him.” That’s the key—we need to take the time to stop and ask the Lord. Moms in Prayer added to our weekly schedule helps us do that in this crazy, busy world.
 
 
Unshaken will help you embrace the invitation the Lord has given you as a mom to stand firm and wield that sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, in prayer to counteract the enemy unshaken and with courageous faith. I recommend this book to everyone. You can purchase a copy of Unshaken through the Moms in Prayer International’s website Shop. Just go to www.MomsInPrayer.org and click on Shop.

 
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8 (NIV)

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