Don’t Be Caught With Your Hands Down
It has been so incredible to gather in person on Sunday mornings again. I know some of you may be saying, “What? When did that happen?” Well, it happened four weeks ago. As our main teaching and worship service continues online, we have also opened the sanctuary for worship and prayer at 8, 9:30, and 11am. We are adhering to guidelines to keep everyone safe, but we are also really enjoying the corporate worship and the power of prayer.
We have been calling the Sunday morning gathering our “worship and prayer attack service”. We have used as an example the story of Moses, Aaron, and Hur on the mountainside, lifting their hands to help turn the tide of the battle (Exodus 17). It seems clear that there is a battle raging in our society—and the divisions, anger, and guilt driving that battle are trying to seep their way into the Church. This prayer and worship service is our statement that we do not want to be caught with our hands down.
Jay and his team have been leading us so well as we engage in spiritual warfare. We have been interceding on behalf of our families, our church, our city, our nation, our world, and our children. We have put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Each Sunday I have entered these worship times with a real sense of heaviness and weakness, but each Sunday Jesus has faithfully met me there. By the time the services have ended, I have received words from Jesus to guide me into green pastures and still waters.
Here are some of the words the Lord gave me last Sunday:
As Christians, we are spiritual beings trying to become more attuned to the spiritual world. Because of this, the turmoil or physical distress we are experiencing in life right now may be a result of that connection. Since the spiritual world is in battle mode, we need to get into battle mode. Right now our prayers should not be for us to get relief, but for God’s kingdom to advance. Take heart, the battle belongs to the Lord. In your weakness He is strong. Your prayers in this time of weakness make such a difference in our world. Only heaven will be able to reveal it, but Jesus sees it all right now.
Your dad is gone and you feel weak and exposed, but Your Father in heaven has already secured a perimeter around you. His shield and sword are at the ready and no weapon formed against you shall prosper. But that also means what hardship does reach you may be the discipline of a Father who knows how to make you into who you really long to be. And though you feel like you are being torn apart, you will not be overcome, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and His joy over you will never run out.
I hope these words can encourage you as you seek to endure well and even advance in this time of disruption. I also hope these words encourage you to join us for our prayer and worship attack on Sunday mornings.
Peace to you and yours,
David
p.s. Click here to pre-register for the Worship & Prayer Service