Prayer Results...

A couple of things I was reminded of as I prayed and interceded tonight -

The Power of ONE...
We are all "our brother's keeper" whether we want to be or not... what we do matters. What we do makes a difference for eternity... Do not doubt that you are being seen, watched --overtly or subtly. Do not doubt that your words have impact -- directly or indirectly.

When you do good, people notice...When you do bad, people notice and tell everyone about it.

Someone is always "measuring you up" by what you say...no matter what it is. If you always give a "bad report" they will hear it, shake their heads and beware of you. They will discount what you say when they are tired of hearing the negative.

The Charging

It was like watching a Sci-Fi flick.  It was challenging and it was somewhat suspenseful.  Not immediately scary, but the implications of what could happen in the end left me feeling "sobered" and "resigned" to keep doing what I'm doing in terms of WORSHIPING HIM. Actually, I'm moved to intensify my worship and to be unashamed of it.  I'm not going to be concerned of who sees me or what someone is going to think, because it's my "source", my "sacrifice", my "weapon" against the stronghold of the enemy. 

As I type now, I am reminded of what I told someone who recently commented on the way I "worship" at church, on stage, as part of the praise team.  I don't hold back!  My response to him was that it was "my battle-cry" my best weapon against the enemy...it is  what keeps me alive!  I remember saying that I need to be in God's presence all the time and His words says "He inhabits the praises of His people", I NEED to be inhabited by HIM.

Trusting As My Savior Leads

I thought this was a detour, but now I see THIS route was planned. I guess to prove that I trust you , since -I CLAIM - my life - is in - YOUR hands... I suppose I hoped you would consult me as we went along "our" way, but now I know  that if you had, THIS route - I - would have - delayed. I can hardly see ahead now as we curve around this bend, and as I hesitate I hear you whisper..."as I was with you in the beginning,  I will be with you to the end."

image from oneyearbibleblog.com

Reflections of my soul III

Oh, my anguish, my anguish!


I writhe in pain.

Oh, the agony of my heart!

My heart pounds within me,

I cannot keep silent.

For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;

I have heard the battle cry.

Jeremiah 4: 19
 
 
The one word to describe how I feel today - to describe the type of intercession I feel is ANGUISH!  I didn't realize it until late, meaning, I didn't have the word until late tonight,,,but it's anguish.  I searched the scripture using this word, and this portion of Jeremiah pierced me deeply and put into words what I am feeling.
 
This was one of those intense days, where the heaviness was so thick I could cut it with a knife.  I sensed such urgency to go to battle in prayer half way through my work day - and during my drive to find a client, God met me in my car and allowed me the wherewithall to deeply interecede while making my way across the county. 
 
This was one of those days when HIS CALLING on my life seemed so clear - when my desire to DO HIS WILL mattered more than anything - when it was most important to HEAR HIM and be ready to follow HIS lead, no matter the cost, consequences, etc.
 
I've got something to say...rather, HE's got something to say - and if He wants to use me to say it...then I am choosing to be obedient and let HIM do it.  He will make a way - in HIS way and in HIS time.
 
But at present...my soul is in anguish - so I pray, believe and watch to see HIM do his thing...to work it out.

To Say I Love You

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12


I thinks it's cool how God gives us just the words to say at the right time.  There have been times when I am working with one of my clients that I hear myself saying something and I think, "wow, that's pretty good, God".  I have to give Him the glory because I think it's part of being filled with His Holy Spirit when that happens and I get "words of wisdom".  I think that's what happened when I shared the following with a client whose family does not practice telling each other that they love each other, although deep inside they long to hear those words.  I pondered why they might not say it, and out of the blue, so to speak began to say to her...

To say, "I love you" to someone isn't a promise that you won't ever make a mistake, say or do something that might hurt them. 

Intercession - Not an Exercise of Pity but Compassion

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2 Corinthians 10:4

Spiritual Warfare - yep, that's what we are in the middle of, a major spiritual battle!  It's time to pray!


I find that sometimes we listen to prayer needs and pray emotionally because we feel bad for someone, and hate that they are hurting.  We genuinely care, but we oftentimes are just moved by pity.

I suggest that when we move beyond pity, to the compassion of JESUS, we shall be able to break strongholds because we are praying with the attitude to beat the devil.



Compassion does not equal Pity! Pity only allows us to feel sorry for someone...Compassion moves us to act on their behalf, to partner with them to make a change.

I've been thinking of this quite a bit lately as I go to "war" on behalf of others - and as I seek others to stand with me, in my own personal war.

Over and over again, as I pray, I realize that it is not PITY that makes a difference, but compassion.  Compassion and a desperation for God make a difference in intercession.   Not emotion triggered by PITY. 

Let's ask ourselves - let's explore how often we pray for those hurting, or struggling more out of pity than compassion.   Do we realize that our compassion for others, turns our prayers into passionate powerful prayers to war against the enemy of our souls?  Do we realize that when we go to war, we go to win...we go to defeat the enemy - not to present pity and a WOE IS WE attitude to God?

WDJD - What did Jesus Do...?

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  Matthew 14:14

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”  Matthew 15:32

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:34

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.  Mark 6:34

When I am in a struggle, when I have a great need, I don't want someone who will pray for me with emotional pity...but someone who will take on my battle as if it were their own.  When I pray for others, my focus is to fight and not just "feel" bad for them.  I become indignant against the enemy.  I am not standing for his lies; I am believing for victory.  My prayers become violent - I plan to make the devil bleed profusely.  It is not pretty -- it is not politically correct -- it is reminding the devil who is boss - and by whose authority I come.

Spiritual Warfare!  Yep, that's what we are in the middle of....

Are you ready?  By the way, I've heard it said that intercession is not for the fainthearted. 

Always Be Ready – Don’t Be Caught Off Guard

The purpose of having the power of the Holy Spirit according to 1 Corinthians 12 & 13: When, compelled by love to act in response to a need, God manifests HIS power in me because my own is inadequate for the task - and HE is glorified! Ever wonder why we don't see the "Gifts" moving in the "body" as they should?  Why would God give us something we won't use (for His glory)? Are not the gifts to be used to advance HIS kingdom? If we have no real desire to do that, then what is the need? Have I truly come to understand that I can do nothing in and of myself – that any good that comes from me is because of HIM?
I have been thinking about God’s manifested power.  My desperation for HIM has increased exponentially.   Daily I desire to be used by HIM in a mighty way.  I seek to be so in tune with HIS Spirit that I am ready (in season and out) to act on HIS every command.  I don’t want to be caught off guard and ill prepared to make a difference for HIS KINGDOM.  I want always to be “prayed up”.  I don’t ever want to be in a situation where I feel like I have to get re-connected in order to be used by HIM.  And…it’s not so that people would know ME, but that they would KNOW HIM.

Leaps of Faith…Being Stretched…Dying to Self…Consuming Fire

Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

It’s all about TRUST

I can’t do this alone without YOU

You are taking me to an unknown place

I have not been here before

But still, I TRUST YOU!

I know I hear you

You confirm it in so many ways

YET, in the things that you take away

That I try to hold on to

I must have grown deaf -

As YOU take them SILENTLY

without even a WHISPER

and when I ask
all I HEAR
is TRUST.

It’s true that adversity

draws me nearer still to you
and HOW I LOVE BEING NEAR YOU
that I’d risk saying  give me more
if it means that YOU will stay with me
JUST LIKE YOU ARE
but, I know you don’t leave me
when all is good
I leave you…
My trust returns to me and
what I think I know about you
until
circumstances allow me to remember
when I think I know you
have you figured out
your thoughts and my thoughts
your ways and my ways
are not the same.
YOU never change.
My love for YOU has grown stronger
Deeper than what I’ve imagined
I’m consumed by your presence
A Fire burns greatly within
CONSUMED I am

with YOU

with being like YOU
with being used by YOU
that I’d risk saying give me more

if it means that YOU will stay with me

JUST LIKE YOU ARE
if it means that YOUR power will be
great and greater in me
and others will truly come to know YOU
because of what you are allowing
in ME.
and this little bit of discomfort
is only the beginning of the bigger
flame
that will consume me
Job said it best

I know that YOU can do everything.  And that no purpose of YOURS can be withheld from You…I have heard of YOU by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. – Job 42:2,5-6

(Note: after writing, and adding the scripture of 2Cor, I must admit that I feel foolish and embarrassed to think that my “suffering” in any way stacks up to the suffering that  Paul was writing here.  When I compare my “losses” to the potential loss of life that he spoke of, I really know that my affliction is light.  I almost decided not to post at all…yet at the writing, that is where  I was…and in those moments of writing and studying…I grew…a teeeeeeny bit.  God’s got this! What I wrote above, still applies.  I know that God’s “grows us” in amazing ways, and this “small trial”, will indeed appear small when I think back on it from the one that will be greater!  Being able to look back and see the great things HE has done for us in the past encourage us in the Present…so I am already looking ahead, with joy, for the day that I am “worthy” to truly count the cost of serving Christ – even if it means death  .)