Presentation vs. Perspective

We have had a pretty challenging last couple years.

It doesn’t seem like it should be so difficult, living in the United States, loving God, trying to do the right thing.

Yet, when I don’t look at the “presentation” of others–in person or through media–and I do look at the Word, life comes into “perspective.” Everyone who wants to live a godly life will encounter challenges. Whether they are talking about the facts of their hardship or not, apart from their social media presentation, the challenges are happening.

In the last couple years, every time there was a day that flowed better, I discovered that it was not my own breaking through the clouds, but someone had been praying for me and my family.

Prayer works. We all need it. We all can GIVE it!

What the Father Wants

That brings me to a concept of the Father’s heart I find in Scripture. When He came to the moment of discipline, He looked for a person on earth who would speak up for His beloved Israel.

As a parent, we have to drop the gavel at times. Since we are human, we don’t always catch every drop of the action, so the gavel is not always dropped with complete justice. We love our sons and do not want to spend our time with them in that kind of discipline.

So I hear the heartbreak in the Father’s voice as He speaks:

“There is no one to plead your cause.” Jeremiah 30:13

“The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, and he was appalled that there was no one to intervene.” Isaiah 59:15-16

I have had the absolute joy–and surprise–of one son speaking up for his brother in that moment, right before the gavel drops. I had such joy that one son would care enough about his brother to boldly speak to me at the moment everyone would prefer to “flee the wrath of the mama” and head to safer ground.

EVERY time one son has spoken for a brother, the “sentence” has been reduced. EVERY. Time.

Friends

I believe one reason Abraham is called God’s friend is because he had the boldness to have a two-way conversation with God over the destiny of two cities at the moment of the gavel dropping–and all the people they represented.

Let’s then look away from the news. Look away from the leaders’ decisions. Look away from worrying over (more) attacks.

Let’s look here, so together, we can respond in a way that will please the Father, be heard, and change events in our nations, and for our “brothers”:

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-5

Let’s BE Friends of God,
praying for our brothers, Israel, and our nations:

“Father, thank You for our Lead Intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ, who chose to take the full measure of justice in order to release Your mercy. Thank You for the opportunity to be alive at this critical juncture of history and to be chosen by You for partnership in changing the world. Thank You for the opportunity to be Your friend.

Father, I’m thanking You for all believers everywhere, and asking You to strengthen their hearts and minds with Your love through Your Holy Spirit. Sustain them so that their faith does not fail. Give them grace to be who You have created them to be, and who they want to be.
Father, grant greater grace to all those who have stood on the frontlines for You, holding the line of righteousness. Strengthen them, grant them hope, and the sure reward that they are contending for.

Father, grant wisdom to our presidents, our prime ministers, our cabinets, our parliaments, our houses and senates, our judicial systems, our kings, and to all of Israel from the top to the bottom. Grant them grace to access the will of God through Your seven-fold Spirit and courage to implement Your will. Give them grace to be who You have created them to be, and who they want to be.

Strengthen and position Your governing leaders, in Your Body. Prepare them to be ready to speak the wisdom of God, and spark the peace of God that is in their hearts to the leaders, in a seasoned, humble way. Grant them all they need to be ready to speak to national leaders. Renew the holy life flow of cooperation between the kingship, priesthood, and prophetic ministry as You designed it, and modeled to us through King David.

We call for mercy, grace, revival on this earth as it is in Heaven. Father, we are asking for Your holy intervention to Your Body to enthrone You as King, preparing our hearts to give You room. We want to work with Your plans and not against them–because Your plans are good, for our hope and our future. This is what we want. We thank You in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

copyright by Crystal Wade, 2015