Tag: war

Pray

Our world is unstable. There are forces hell bent on destroying people and the chosen ones of God, Israel. This has been the case since the beginning of time. The spiritual warfare has become obvious as we look at the events in Israel.

In Psalm 83, war against Gods’ chosen was described. Time has not changed things, however the words expressed remind us that the Lord will have the last word.

Psalm 83:1-4,12-18 NLT
O God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God. [2] Don’t you hear the uproar of your enemies? Don’t you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up? [3] They devise crafty schemes against your people; they conspire against your precious ones. [4] “Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence.” [12] for they said, “Let us seize for our own use these pasturelands of God!” [13] O my God, scatter them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind! [14] As a fire burns a forest and as a flame sets mountains ablaze, [15] chase them with your fierce storm; terrify them with your tempest. [16] Utterly disgrace them until they submit to your name, O LORD. [17] Let them be ashamed and terrified forever. Let them die in disgrace. [18] Then they will learn that you alone are called the LORD, that you alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth.

God created each person to make a difference, to love and be loved. Sometimes it can feel as if there is only evil in this world. The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy God’s children.

John 10:6-16 NLT
Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, [7] so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. [8] All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. [9] Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. [10] The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. [11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. [12] A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. [13] The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. [14] “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, [15] just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

So what can we do in action at this time? We can love others as God loves us. We can pray for Israel and all people who are persecuted for loving their Creator God and His promises.

1 John 4:7-19 MSG
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love-so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about-not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. [11-12] My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us-perfect love! [13-16] This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. [17-18] God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day-our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life-fear of death, fear of judgment-is one not yet fully formed in love. [19] We, though, are going to love-love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

God loves His people, first the People of Israel, then the rest of us, Gentiles, were blessed with His love and inheritance.

Jeremiah 31:7 AMP
For thus says the LORD, “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout for the first and foremost of the nations [the chosen people, Israel]; Proclaim, give praise and say, ‘O LORD save Your people, The remnant of Israel!’

The Lord alone is the Most High, supreme over all the earth!

God is love and when we love like Him the world will be at peace.

Isaiah 40:1 ASV
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

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The Battle for Peace

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We pray for our brothers and sisters across the world especially those in harm’s way. The Shepherd knows His sheep. It is heart-wrenching to see people on their knees, praying for their country as the bombs were coming. What inspiration to see people return to fight and mothers praying on media proclaiming their faith in Jesus. Or to see Russians protesting the war and praying for a cease-fire, we are all sheep of His pasture.

Genesis, the first book of the Bible talks about Adam and Eve and their first offspring. Ever since the first family, Cain and Abel there have been clashing sin relationships. Ishmael the first son of Abraham was born by Hagar, his maidservant who was told by God, Ishmael would be a man in conflict. However, God also said he would bless Ishmael, as the sins of Abram and Sarah were not his fault. Ishmael reaped the consequence of Abraham and Sarah’s impatience to go ahead of God’s plan for a child. Hagar was a servant and slept with Abram with the result, Ishmael.

What happens when we forge ahead of the Lord’s plan? When we must have our way, we choose disobedience instead of being still and awaiting better plans. We are seeing the battle of pride, getting its own way regardless of the human lives destroyed, lost, and changed forever. It is a selfish, deadly, evil position. When we consider human life as meaningless. When we choose to bomb as refugees are attempting to flee, we are evil.

The Lord sees all of this, however, we wonder if He hears the cries of His people. We pray for continued endurance and safety as the people continue to seek Jesus. Lord strengthen Your people.

We do sense many are considering the end of the world now. The time seems to be shortening, where do you stand? Is it with the Creator of heaven and earth, the Lord God Almighty, or with the enemy of your soul, the evil one? The time is now, choose whom you will serve.

Joshua 24:15,17 NLT
[15] But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." [17] For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors ... He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.


Meditating on what we see in the world and how it aligns with battles written in scripture is eye-opening. It has made me ponder my own walk of faith over fear and considering from where the battles come. Who can predict tomorrow? Only the Lord knows the number of our days. Fear is addressed in many places in the Bible and meditating on the truth, He is with us in the battles can strengthen our faith.

Isaiah 43:5-13 NLT
[5] "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. [6] I will say to the north and south, 'Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. [7] Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.'" [8] Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. [9] Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth? [10] "But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the LORD. "You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God- there never has been, and there never will be. [11] I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. [12] First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God," says the LORD. [13] "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done."


When I watch the Ukrainian people and their willingness to bear arms, women, and men willing to die for their country. Russian people are willing to protest, go to jail, and maybe be persecuted for their stance for a cease-fire and no war, we see fearlessness and strength. We can click on a newsreel or personal accounts at the moment our fellow humans; brothers and sisters, trying to survive the chaos and feel deep in our souls the heart of mothers as they comfort children, care for their parents, or see fathers leaving their family at transportation stations. We see strangers join the fight for humanity.

Those in the war zone are like Daniel and the guys in the fiery furnace. They are warriors for peace, amid potential death. They are strengthened by the Lord how else can the war of David against Goliath continue unless the Lord and His angels are engaged in this battle.

Daniel 3:17-18 NLT
[17] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. [18] But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."

People from multiple countries are choosing to serve the people in crisis, neighboring countries are being the hands and feet of Jesus. Serving others is serving His people.

Psalm 46:1-11 NLT
[1] God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. [2] So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. [3] Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude [4] A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. [5] God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. [6] The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God's voice thunders, and the earth melts! [7] The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude [8] Come, see the glorious works of the LORD: See how he brings destruction upon the world. [9] He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. [10] "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." [11] The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.


Who can know the mind of God? No one! His ways are above our ways. These times have brought me, and I am sure many, to their knees. I heard a podcast from Pastor Tony Evans, his insight has stayed with me. “Faith is the key. God has enough for each of us. It isn’t material it is eternal. “

We only see or hear what the media wants to represent. What is true or what is not? God is enough for us. We see evil on all sides, yet we also see the strength of people who proclaim their faith in Jesus. Warriors for their families and nation. Both sides are children of God. Both sides need prayer.

Our Creator God sees and hears, He waits for all His children to repent and come to the Father, how it must grieve Him to see the destruction. Human understanding is not the wisdom of God.

2 Peter 3:8-10   But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

He waits for all His sheep to return to the fold. Will they return? Will justice be done on earth as it is in heaven? Even the disciples asked Jesus during his time on earth, how they should pray? Jesus responded in Matthew 6: 7 – 13.

Matthew 6:7-13 NLT
[7] "When you pray, don't babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. [8] Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

[9] Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. [10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us today the food we need, [12] and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. [13] And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Action step: Who are we to give an opinion? We are called to pray for our family, the brothers and sisters in Christ to stand firm and not give up. They are not alone, the Heavenly armies fight for them. We are called to a deeper prayer of the supernatural calling the angel of heavens armies to come to save His people, in the Name of Jesus?

The battle is not flesh and blood but against the evil ones, the Battle is the Lord's. What can we do as His people, we can battle by prayer for all people in crisis, may His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in the Name of Jesus!