...I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. II Tim 1:12b
My Sisters in the Lord,
Deep in my heart I desire to reflect my Lord; that my brief life here might be 'not I, but Christ'. I long for the Holy Spirit’s 'much' fruit (Gal 2:20, John 15:8) that I might bring Him glory. Have you not also prayed for patience and love to flow through you? (I Cor 13) Then do not fear whatever trial you now face. Embrace it in faith and reap a rich fruitage 'afterward.' (Heb 12:11) Trust Him. Trust means to 'lean hard into God'. (When reading your Bible try this phrase where it says 'trust'.)
Those who know your name will trust (lean hard into) in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
Is there anyone who having set their heart to live a crucified life, exalting our beloved Lord, who has not instantly become a target of the enemy? Discouragement is one of satan's most effective tools especially when it comes to intercession. How easily we can slip into discouragement when our fervent loving prayer for another has not seen it's hopes fulfilled. Days and months pass, even years may have gone by and we ‘see’ nothing...
Matthew 15:21-28 tells of a woman who refused to be discouraged even in the face of being ignored and criticized. Interceding from a mother's heart of love her pain was geat! She believed who Jesus was though it does not tell us how she heard about Him or if she had previously witnessed His power to heal. We do know she had faith. Knowing who He was revealed to her the truth of who she was and she cried out "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." These words divulge that she knew more than the average non-Jew about Messiah and she knew she did not deserve Him to even acknowledge her presence. She also knew satan possessed her daughter! Put yourself in her place.... You know to Him to be Messiah and you know He has miraculously healed others. You are hopeless and you know no one can help your daughter. A ragged cry erupts from the depths of your mother-heart and you look up to catch His eye only to see His back and a deafening divine silence! The words you do not hear and the words you do hear strike with fear... "Send her away, she is extremely annoying!" ... but you stay and choose to keep believing. Kneeling, the jagged rocks digging into your knees, you humble yourself before this very average-looking man and cry, "Lord, help me!" ("Lord" infers she worshiped Him v25). Hear Jesus final words with your heart, "O woman, your faith is great..." She believed, she endured, she worshiped, she received,!
Do you relate to this woman? I do. I have a daughter who is cruelly deceived and held captive by the enemy. Rebellious for more than two decades and in crisis almost monthly as she embraces lies making self-destructive choices and continues on stubbornly. God is greater than her lies, greater than her wrong choices, greater than the enemy who comes to kill steal and destroy. She is His who loves her more than I.
With my eyes on circumstances it is hard to keep believing and keep praying, but I endure moment by moment or I should say crisis to crisis, as I choose to focus on Him "knowing whom I have believed." It is He who began a good work in her will continue it. I praise Him for His love and faithfulness daily and He has provided prayer partners to stand with me.. Praise Him! I give thanks for each one.
"I am learning never to be disappointed, but to praise," wrote Arnot of Central Africa."
"I think it must hurt the tender love of our Father when we press for reasons for His dealings with us, as though He were not Love, as though not He but another chose our inheritance for us, and as though what He chose to allow could be less than the very best and dearest that Love Eternal had to give. AC"
Keep praying my sisters, keep believing for the ones astray from the fold until Christ be formed in them! One of life's lessons is learning to endure. God hears and answers in all wisdom. Our faith is in a great God who puts our tears in a bottle.
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24
Abba, You who love us immeasurably. It is You we are in awe of Namer of the Stars! It is You who knows the names of those for whom we pray. We praise You for working in their lives, even now, to give them one heart to reverence You. Stir up the Living Word in their lives for it will not return void but accomplishes Your will! Bring a need into their life which causes them to humble themselves before You and let Your loving kindness has led them to repentance. There is nothing too hard for You Father. I stop right now to say "I love You" and I am overwhelmed with who You are, with Your goodness. Thank You for being so good. I pray as always in the name of the Lamb of God, who reigns forever. amen
Enduring because He is good!
az
