ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY

“O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” Interlude
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude
I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people.”
(Psalm 3, NLT)

Dear Readers,

April 14th, 2016, was a sad, sad day.

Approaching April 14th, 2016, the Chibok girls’ situation has been disappointing, and completely frustrating, at times. But, through it all, Christ has been working. Through it all, He has been present, working in and through the prayers, and the Christ-led actions, of His people.

So many times, in the middle of our heartbreak, we look defeated. From the outside world, it’s easy to say, “God will never rescue them,” just like David’s enemies– but while this may be true in that it might not happen in our way or timing, we can trust that Jesus, just as in times past, sees us and knows us– and hears every prayer, just like He did David’s, in Psalm 3.

As much as it hurts, I pray we would all turn our eyes to Jesus Christ, as our Helper, Provider, and Protector– the One “who lifts our heads high” (Psalm 3:3).

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

Father God,

“I praise You, Father God, and I thank You, that You hear every single prayer that comes from Your people. Even when our prayers are ignorant, angry, or unChristlike, I praise You for hearing us, anyways, and in Your Grace and Mercy, saying “no” or “wait”to requests that could hurt us. Father God, thank You for saying “yes” to all that you have, as well!

Father God, You have heard EVERY PRAYER that has been spoken about the 219 Chibok school girls that have been missing… and yet, 2 years later, the Chibok girls’ freedom seems to be nowhere in sight.
You have seen the tears, Father God. You have seen the struggling, and at times, the frustration and apathy towards this situation.

But, Father God, we thank you for the amazing news that at least 15 of the 219 remaining Chibok girls were video taped in December of 2015, found to be alive and well (!!), though still under Boko Haram’s captivity. Father God, thank You for showing us new details, and encouraging us, in that nothing You have called us to do is done in vain!

Father God, I thank You and I praise You for Your Servant Warriors in Christ, Christians in the Nigerian military. Father God, please continue to give them strength, encouragement, and favor in battle, so that they can be apart of the Hands and Feet that bring these girls back home. Father God, please protect Nigeria’s soldiers and vigilante groups; draw all of them to know You personally, Lord Jesus– not in a religious way AT ALL, but in a saving-relationship way. Please show us all what that means.

Father God, please continue to keep the parents and Loved Ones of the Chibok girls encouraged. Watching the video of those three mothers, looking for their children in the video tape, is horrible, Father God… I pray that You would draw women and men like these close to You. I pray they would receive You into their hearts and lives, Lord Jesus, so that they might have the Comfort of Your continual, near Presence as they await the return of their daughters. Please give their Loved Ones Hope.

We thank You for all this, Father God. In the Mighty, Righteous Name of Jesus, I pray that these young women would be freed, soon. I pray all of this in Your Name, Jesus.

In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

Do you know Jesus?

Paul, in Galatians 6:9, spoke to the Church of Galatia during a time of confusion and danger: “Jewish-Christian missionaries had arrived and were trying to persuade the Galatians to be circumcised” (source). These people stated that it was not enough to only have faith in Christ; to be saved, one had to do things, or perform “works,” to be accepted by God for Salvation (Galatians 2:3-5).

 Though they claimed to have “a gospel,” or “good news,” they did not, at all (Galatians 1:6-9). In saying one had to “follow the rules” to be accepted by God, they made those who believed them slaves to the law, again (Galatians 5:1-2).

But Christ came, and died, so that we might be free from religious works, and brought into a Saving, Love-relationship with Christ. 

Meet the God who freely accepts you, just as you are– not by works, but by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)– here.