28 January 2010

Just woke up this morning with a need to pray for someone… for Pastor P, I think …. I don’t know the details, all I can pray is that the enemy’s efforts to block God’s work downtown will be overcome…. and that God will give Pastor P godly wisdom and truth in what he says, and the end result of the downtown association meeting this morning will be in fulfillment of God’s purposes alone, and in God’s way and timing, and all and only for God’s – Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit’s – glory alone. (Where did all that come from? I didn’t even know who to pray for… but started anyway… and then the person’s name came… and then details! That is how the Spirit works!).

I still feel urged to keep on praying…

Dear God, whatever this urgent situation is, whether it is what I think it might be about, or something else altogether (maybe even other people, too… maybe You are calling me to go on to pray for others… my children and grandchildren and families perhaps; or people in Haiti or elsewhere in trouble; or maybe D&L (haven’t seen them for awhile; please take care of them, Papa); or whatever, whoever You have in mind for me to pray for… oh Father, there are so many needs everywhere! But oh dear God, whatever it is You are calling me to pray for (and I do think it is especially about Pastor P and his outreach…) please – Your will be done, and You be glorified! Victory in Jesus!!!

I just tried to start my Bible reading – but You are saying, “Keep praying!” This is a BATTLE, isn’t it? Dear God, please be victorious! Father, with one word from Your lips, all evil could be banished… and yet You choose to let Your children battle through prayer, and even have Your angels battle the fallen ones (like in the story of Daniel)… and it can take a long time (and it does seem like the enemy often surges forward and wins many skirmishes and battles along the way…)

(And yet… we know the final outcome – we know You win the great war, and that good prevails and evil is destroyed – we know that Jesus brought the victory, the life eternal, the restored relationship between You and Your children, once and for all, on the cross – 2 thousand years ago!)

(I just re-read The Last Battle of Narnia (by C S Lewis) again, recently – and the children and the good Narnians are broken-hearted, for it appears that the good and true Narnia has been defeated once and for all time, and is no more – but then the dark stable door is opened, and they step through, thinking it is the end – only to discover that it is truly only the beginning, and that the real, true Narnia is alive and growing and wonderful and will last forever, and that Aslan will never again be far away from them!)

Well, then, satan: Persevering prayer is necessary! (Since you were sitting on my shoulder this morning, suggesting that one little prayer should be enough, and reminding me of times when I prayed perseveringly in the past, and yet it seemed like nothing good happened, and sometimes it even seemed like things got worse… but as I reminded you, the one thing I prayed most perseveringly about (and am still praying about), and which seemed for a long, long time to become only darker and more hopeless, has finally, years later, begun to break out gloriously into God’s light and life – and I KNOW the darkness can never overtake it again!

You simply don’t want us to pray perseveringly, enemy! Because you know that persevering prayer is “mighty to save!” You know God uses the persevering prayers of His children to fulfill His purposes and draw His children into ever-closer relationship with Him! Persevering prayer destroys your own plans and purposes, satan, and you can’t stand it! You fear it! You know that the war is already won, and that any little apparent wins for your side in the ongoing battles and skirmishes you launch, are only temporary, and that your time is growing shorter every day.

(Papa! I asked You just a few days ago about “persevering prayer” and now You have answered – in a mighty, hands-on way! Not just “words,” but yes, in the thick of the battle! Thank You! Amen! ? Praise the Lord! ? )

Psalm 24:8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle! … 10… The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory!

1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing

Jude 20 praying in the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:14 devoting themselves to prayer

Philippians 4:6 in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving… and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God [truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God], so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm!

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