A Confession

3/31/2020

1 John 5:16 “If any man sees his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.”

I am going to confess something: I have been disappointed lately. I feel such a powerful call to prayer, that it is a time for us timid Christians to rise up. As believers, we are always fighting an unseen evil being who wants our total destruction, so we should be battle-ready for this new challenge.

I have been looking for someone, anyone, to sound the battle cry, for we are at war with an unseen evil. Alas, no leader has risen up that I have seen. I was thinking of the Reverend Billy Graham and how he may have been during this time of crisis in our world. I reflected on how, during other times of unrest or disaster, he was our collective national minister, guiding us and calling us to prayer. He would have been welcome on every news station regardless of political bend, and he would speak of the power of prayer and the saving grace of Jesus.

Last night, after being yet again jarred by the evening network news, I felt called to act, so I posted my own call to arms on Facebook. I have also done that here as you all know, but I wanted to try a broader platform. I asked people to pick a time to pray twice a day, trying to get a 24 hour prayer going. (Yes, I do know that millions of people are praying at every minute of the day for our world.) So, here goes my confession; when people did not respond in overwhelming numbers, I got very emotional. I called it frustration, but my wise husband saw anger. He read to me in 1 Kings about how Elijah was tired of being the only voice yelling into the wind. Then he gently told me I was not frustrated, but angry (which, if you know me, is not my go-to emotion.) I was duly rebuked, and grateful for a husband who is willing to lead, and a son who was in prayer for me during that time. It turns out I was feeling such a powerful pull of the Holy Spirit, that I could not understand why everyone was not feeling the same way.  Regrettably, I have definitely gone here in my thinking before. Oh my sinful nature. Dear Jesus, please forgive me.

Chambers says, “If we are not heedful of the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites.  We see where other folks are failing, and we turn discernment into the gibe of criticism instead of into intercession on their behalf.” These words further confirmed how I was not in line with what the Holy Spirit truly wanted from me. Was I moved to share a call to arms? Yes. Did I then wait on God? No, I let my emotions get in the way. Right now is a hyperemotional time for a lot of people. But for me and my shelter-in-place house, we will serve the Lord.

For such a time as this.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.”

May God have mercy on us all.