I keep thinking about the wickedness upon the earth. I can’t stop seeing it all around as I observe the many different ways we are being assaulted. It’s hard to know how to pray. It’s hard to stay soft. It’s hard to be diligent and not overbearing. It’s hard to stay gentle.
I remember the fruit of the spirit…
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…against which things there is no law.
No law can rob us of this fruit. No one can give this fruit but God. Apart from God these things don’t exist. Consider that when you watch behavior of unbelievers. They have not, because they have not God…yet.
When you listen to unbelievers “preach” about how we should love, remember that they have no concept of what real love looks like. It’s up to God to reveal that to them…and for us to display it.
We are not to be taught by the world and the unbelievers. We are to receive our teaching from God.
So how are we to interact with them? What do we pray over the wicked? This feels more and more complicated. Then I asked God…
“Pray for their eyes to be opened and their hearts to be softened.”
Then, like a flood, I saw that instead of praying against all they are doing, I am to pray that they have a revelation of God. A face to Face encounter with Him. Pray for their salvation. Stop being distracted by their wickedness and realize that they will be in hell if their hearts don’t change before death. How horrible is that?!
I had been praying against all the evil being done in our own government a lot lately, but every time I would feel defeated and like it was all too much and impossible. No matter how much I prayed, I kept feeling overwhelmed…until this moment. When He shifted my perspective to His.
Hearts are His priority. Heaven is what He wants to fill.
How short-sighted of me to be endlessly burdened with our current world, neglecting eternity.
I pray that today God shifts your perspective as well. Let’s join with heaven and pray for the great harvest of souls. Women wouldn’t want to have abortions if they knew God. People wouldn’t choose socialism if they knew God, and truly understood where all authentic generosity comes from. Men wouldn’t desire to become women and women wouldn’t desire to become men, if they knew their true identities. Much violence would end if homes had fathers who were present and active in their role. And here we land where we always seem to land…the revolution is family.
Oh God, rend heaven and come down. Pour out Your Spirit on all mankind. Let us know You. Save our souls. Fill our homes with joy and peace. Let prosperity come to the righteous. Let Your power rest on the righteous. Come Lord and explode upon us today and forevermore. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within. I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors- even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way. I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot. I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life. But I am trusting You, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in Your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let Your favor shine on Your servant. In Your unfailing love, rescue me. Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to You for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave. Silence their lying lips- those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly. Psalm 31:9-18
365 Days in the Presence 