We see that on the one side, people are in the midst of a great movement to overturn our government at any cost. “Do you want Vice President Biden in the White House at any cost? Does it matter if there is cheating and stealing - just so long as he gets in there?”
and on the other hand…
We see the church. Many simply do not want to go to battle. They don’t see the battle! They aren’t convinced there is one! This is a double whammy! Father - please do not count this against them! They only know the lies that the media has put before them! They do not have the truth about the election - so why would they want to enter the turmoil?
There are those who know there is more to this situation. They seem indifferent, unwilling to go to battle. Are they tired? Exhausted? Weak? It is too much bother? Forgive them. Yet Truth is Truth is Christ.
The intimidation in Wayne County, MI is a remarkable example. This is public information. The voting officials there were harassed, bullied, called names, threatened, facing a MOB on zoom - until they caved. Your people are without excuse...
…as bullying and harassment is being use to force the election…
Many in Your church say…”I just think he should concede and let’s get a smooth transition in place.”
Father, I come before You on this matter…with my comrades in arms.
We are crushed as we watch what is happening. We take heart because You are a God of Justice. I am so disappointed when I hear Your Church - (mine too!), wanting to roll over and just have it nice. When did You ask us to roll over?
They don’t need any armor because they have no intention of going to battle! Not for justice, not for righteousness, not for the murder of babies, nor the definition of marriage, nor for the youngsters who will face gender reassignment therapy, not for the right to worship and live our faith… so many want to acquiesce …to roll over and go back to bed. I am so sorry. I come to You carrying this burden of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Pastors are hiding. Many are silent.
Raise the voices of those who are willing to stand. Amplify those willing to give the battle cry! Wake up Your Army. O Jehovah Sabaoth! Rise up, raise up Your army! Awaken the armor bearers - Your pastors, and the armor wearers! Your church. Prepare for battle! Sound the alarm. The battle rages in our back yards, it permeates our homes through our televisions, our phones…every place where the media pour out their vile and disgusting lies. …and some of us are sidestepping so we don’t get our shoes dirty! Forgive us! O merciful God, forgive us. I cry out to You to align our thinking with Your Word!
Where in Your Word are we to stand down? Are we to stand for that which is right? Did You not give us the breastplate of righteousness…hard won by the blood of Christ? …do we put the armor under our beds, or in our closets? … packed away in the attic?... because this is hard? Because the battle is messy? Because family members might reject us? Because if we speak truth we will be hated? Are we cowards? Father, have mercy…I am as guilty as the next person. You have told us:
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”How do we do this?!? I am outraged? …and I don’t know how to speak to those who are deranged. I don’t know how to encourage those who want to sit and watch the battle with their armor strewn on the ground next to their chaise lounge. Call us O God.
Did You not pursue Jonah? You did! Your love for him and Your care for the people of Nineveh - caused You to pursue and pursue and pursue - unrelentingly until he needed three days in the dark stench where he could think. Pursue us O God! Pursue this nation that has run from You. Have mercy that we not need to go into the dark stench caused by our running from the work that You have laid before us.
Pour out Your compassion on us…Your love for these people - both the intimidators and those who want to avoid the battle. Please raise up Your army! The embarrassment is beyond what I can bear. We can come before You in prayer. Surely we can do that much! The enemy hates us when we do. It bring his attacks - which is why our armor can extinguish ALL the fiery darts of the enemy.
Engage us! Entice us! Encourage us! May we LOVE the sound of the enemies darts as they fizzle before us without harming us. Encourage us to rise us up. Give those of us words that do not criticize, do not put down, but raise up. Place us before Your throne to petition You to win this battle. May we be prayer warriors! That’s how we can be harmless as doves! - before Your throne! Adamant! Unrelentingly petitioning You on behalf of our wayward brothers and sisters, and on behalf of the lost in this nation. Have mercy on them. Bring Your light to the darkness.
Does the battle really belong to the Lord? Are You there? Will You take this battle? I ask it! We can be wise as serpents by petitioning You day and night to rise up. Who defeated the Amalekites? You did! Who brought salvation to Nineveh? YOU did! Who defeated the enemy for all time on the cross? YOU did! Oh thank You God of heaven.
In the words of Jonah, I praise You and give thanks.
(From Jonah 2: 2-9) I cry to You, O God, by reason of mine affliction, and You hear my cry; Out of the belly of hell I cry ...and thou heardest my voice. You have cast us into the deep, in the midst of the seas of sin and darkness; And the floods compass us about…all thy billows and thy waves pass over us.
I say, we are cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. Though the waters compass me about, even to the soul: though the depth closes round about us, though the weeds wrapped about our head. though we go down to the bottoms of the mountains; though the earth with her bars was about us for ever:
Yet hast thou brought up our lives from corruption, O LORD my God. though our souls faint within us, we remember the LORD: Our prayers came unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But we will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;
We will pay that that which we have vowed - be obedient to You and show our love for you through obedience. Truly salvation is of the LORD.
I come, I bring this nation and Your church here. The battle belongs to You O God. You are our salvation.
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