I woke up this morning and went to Facebook to see an update
on how Nick was feeling. He has been very ill, in fact much more ill than I
realized. However what to my wondering eyes should appear, but something that would affect me greatly.
When I see something on FB
that requires prayer, I try to stop right then and there and pray. But I learned something today. Sometimes, it is not enough to just pray “for”,
I need to pray “with”.
Nick was a gift to me from God when I married his dad 26
years ago. Of all our kids, he has one of the sweetest natures and a heart that
is simply pure. Matter
of fact, Don’s kids (who are also my kids now) are a whole lot easier to get
along with than the ones I birthed. I
guess when I think about it, it only makes sense. Don’s a whole lot easier to get
along with than I am! I love all of our kids deeply and passionately, and each is uniquely gifted and blessed, but Nick
has always held a very tender spot. Nick also loves Jesus.
So, imagine my surprise when I got there and what I saw was a
chastisement that suggested "I" do some rearranging of my life and get some rest.
It also challenged my walk with Christ.
My first reaction was confusion, the next huffy offense … but instantly I knew in a deeper
sense that this son was trying to tell me something and finding it hard
to find the right words to use. I also realized it was time to get off Facebook
and get on the phone.
When I got on the phone with Nick, I did indeed realize that
he’d been battered by assault after assault in the past few weeks. Primarily
his health, sick with Influenza A to the point that he was concerned he’d lost
some short-term memory. As ill as he was, his employer insisted he come to
work. Things had been said that wounded
his heart. He'd had a "physical, emotional whopping" over too many days. Nick didn’t need me to pray “for” him, he needed me to pray “with”
him. And the truth is that I had failed this son I loved.
We all have those days. Those places where we deeply need a
touch from Christ through the heart, hands and voice of someone with a like
spirit. Days when we need someone to go
boldly into the Throne Room of God and declare the Word of the Lord over a
situation or maybe many situations WITH US. It
is our battle room, the place where the General hears our petitions and sets forth
strategy for victory. The place where
the armies of the Lord are engaged. The place where we can rest, knowing He has
it …. All of it!!
What the enemy would have used for harm for Nick, for me,
and who knows with whom else, was quickly put under the blood of Christ when we
joined together to pray. A door to the Word of God was opened in that place of prayer. The declaration of that Word which cannot
return void was made before the One who waits to set it in place!
My friends, the days are not going to get easier. They are going
to get harder because the time is so very short, and the attack of the enemy is
aimed at every front. You can expect assault
against your most vulnerable tender places. But know this…
Through Him we also have access by faith
into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and
securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the
glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. And not only this,
but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress,
pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and
endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal
salvation]. Such hope [in God’s promises] never
disappoints us, because God’s
love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit
who was given to us. Romans 5:2-5 (AMP)
Let us pray …
Father God, in Jesus name I pray…How grateful I am for the
confidence I have in knowing that You are faithful in all things! Throughout my life, you have consistently
rewritten “my story” into a testimony of your loving kindness and faithfulness. My story has really always been "History", the story of Christ in me. In the darkest of valleys, you have brought
me through. It is not in the suffering that I rejoice, but I rejoice in You who
brings me through the suffering…always stronger, always elevated in
understanding, always with a testimony of what good You have produced in the suffering, always prepared for what is ahead of me
in my journey with you.
Lord, I want to thank you for the knowledge that no matter what
I see with earthly eyes, you are at work for my benefit and the benefit of my
children and my grandchildren. Thank you for Nick. Thank you for your faithfulness over Nick. Bless him. Let his healing be full and complete. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens outside your sovereign hands. You hold
me and all my loved ones, and I can rest in you.
Help me, Father, to weed out the distractions in my life
that keep me from prompt obedience. Help
me recognize those times when praying "for" is not enough and praying "with" is critical.
Help me with consistency in prayer. Help
me blessed Father to be in prompt obedience in all things.
In the name of Yeshua, my Messiah, I pray.
