This afternoon I was sitting in my "war room" for a time with the Lord It's really only a comfy chair next to a little side table piled high with journals, Bibles in several translations, prayer schedules from Master media for praying for a specific media person each day of the year, notes and reminders to pray for so and so, Jesus Calling and other devotionals, my old IPOD being charged to play my favorite worship songs, pencils, glasses and lots more.
On the left side is the side panel of my tall dresser, with a beautiful portrayal of Jesus painted when Akiane was 8 or 9 (so real, I can see His eyes on me in a grin, or the stern look of a sergeant, or just the most passionate love for me). Along with the picture taped at my eye level, there are also three pieces of scrap paper taped next to the picture with special verses hand written as I work on memorizing them along with claiming them in my prayers.
Anyway, I was sitting there.... and I felt... heard...sensed such QUIET. It was full of power and majesty. Even the birds were silent, the traffic a few streets over, the constant roar of lawn care machines in the neighborhood were silent. Not just for a minute, or five minutes. It seemed as though time stood still.
And then I began to see in my thoughts America, with all the traffic, electronic noise, loud exploding music and dancing in an almost demonic nightmare, sex crazed ads for movies, horror filled television shows, clothing, and everything else. These were all things that really bother me as I see our culture wildly looking for something to satisfy and not finding it.
Following that scene was this phrase that popped into my mind. Stopped dead in our tracks. We have been stopped dead in our tracks as most of us are staying home to stop the onslaught of the Corona Virus. No classes, no meetings, no shopping (except for necessities), no meeting at a restaurant for lunch, not even church services.
And then the realization. The enemy (who had his own plans to destroy the world with this pandemic) has also been stopped dead in his tracks. He can't lead the thirsty to bars and hangouts. They're closed; college housing has been closed up; there are many fewer people in the streets to be victimized, as are thousands of other lairs for his activity.
Families are home together, getting to know one another again. Classes like my watercolor classes are canceled, gyms and libraries are closed, restaurants are closed. It reminds me of Sundays back in the 1950's (now you know how old I am if you hadn't already guessed).
So what should I be doing as a Christian. My age prohibits me from getting involved in much outside my townhouse. BUT I can pray! So can you!
The Lord has gotten the show started, by stopping us all in our tracks, slowing us down, refocusing our physical and spiritual eyes. He's saying to us, "Be My intercessory warriors!"
"Because he loves me" says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. Ps 91:15
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Mt 21:22
This is the time to find your own little "war room". Go there often. Fill it with devotional, Bibles, notes, worship music, pencil, and anything else that you think of. Be quiet and listen to the quiet... listen for Him. He has been waiting for you to come. He promises to listen and answer.
Make a list of things to pray for.
Of course we need to pray for protection, health and healing for family and those close to us.
But even more so we need to pray for God to send in an army of angel warriors to defeat this virus and the plans of the devil.
We need to pray that the quiet, powerful Spirit of the Lord keeps falling on us all. We need His comfort and peace.
We need to pray for those who don't know Him, who need to feel the comfort, peace and grace of God.
We need to pray for workers to go out into the world to harvest the fields "white with harvest".
We also need to be one of those workers who prays first and then tells someone else about this powerful victorious God, who can take what the enemy meant for bad and turn it into good.
I am believing that this harvest of ripe fruit will be the beginnings of a great "awakening", of multitudes of people hungry for something to save them, something more, because the things of this world just don't satisfy. Holy Spirit, prepare their hearts to hear the good news. We can pray for that!
Even if things are really tough for awhile. I can trust God in that because I dwell in His abiding place, in the shelter of the Most High God". I can be an intercessor.
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