Tonight at church, the Lord convicted me. We were reading Revelations 2:
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Revelations 2:2-5, NIV)
Long story short, my heart has grown cold toward following the Lord with all of myself. Much of this has been seen in how I write this blog; I do it dutifully more than not, without the original love I had for the Chibok girls. It’s gone away.
But I know that there is hope. I want to renew my love for these women and prayers for their freedom and healing. I want to break out of religious duty and write this blog with passion. Please pray for me as I turn away from my coldness and toward loving these people with all my heart.
Thank you.
In Christ,
Annalee Hoover, ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY
Do you know Jesus?
A famous theologian once said that Jesus Loves us all as if there was only one of us. Learn more about His Great Love here.
This picture was a part of a tweet, tweeted by Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo. They have, for approximately five years now, been working to lift up those in poverty and violence all over Nigeria, with the goal to “lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years.”
Lately, there has been a lot in the news regarding Nigeria about defeat, frustration, and loss. But I found something today– something that we can all celebrate, even if it’s a “small” thing to celebrate.
It grieves my heart to say this. On the night of Friday, December 11th, 2020, 333 young boys were kidnapped from their school in Katsina state, Northwestern Nigeria. Boko Haram took responsibility for the crime today, Tuesday, December 15th. This is “signaling that Shekau’s reach has shifted nearly 500 miles west” from his original place of action, something that sends the message that he is seemingly growing in power (source).
I read this post over again and felt that while this news is old, the message in it is very relevant to the craziness happening in this world, today. I wanted to reblog it to remind us of these truths, and to come back, in a way, to the original focus of this blog.
Do you ever ask God, “Please show me what you’re doing in all of this?”
Yeah. That has been me, lately.
It’s not been without cause. Recently, Ahmed Salkida reported that more of the Chibok schoolgirls are alive than what was first thought; yet, little to no news has been shown about their whereabouts. And I’m not the only one craving more information on the girls; the president of the Nigerian senate, Mr. Bukola Saraki, wants regular updates on the rescue efforts of the Chibok girls, simply so that speculations like the ones journalist Ahmed Salkida is making.1
It’s hard to be in the dark about things that you care so much about.
But, that is precisely where one needs to trust Jesus.
“Everything in this world requires patience and prayer,” said Bashir Wasai, a leader in Northern Nigeria, when speaking about the remaining Chibok girls in this video (at 2:07). He is exactly right.
I have no idea what Jesus is doing, here. I’m starving to see, to understand, and to know.
And while I do that, I pray knowing who Jesus is; knowing that He knows, cares, and is actively involved in this situation, though no one outside of it may see it, yet. I know that He hears my cry, and cares for my request.
Jesus will make all things clear; but, for now, we must wait—and trust Him in all of the details. It is in this place where we will learn to love and trust Him, more.
When we pray for Christ to move, it is a prayer that opens our eyes and keeps us sensitive to where Christ has already been leading.
“When You come in the room When You do what only You can do It changes us, it changes What we see and what we seek You’re changing everything.” (Spirit of the Living God, Meredith Andrews)
Please pray with me that Christ would make what is happening in the Chibok girls’ situation, clear. He is faithful, a Promise-Maker and Promise-Keeper! ❤
This post is in tribute to the countless mothers and fathers of those kidnapped by Boko Haram. May Jesus save and comfort their souls.
Do you know Jesus?
3,000 years ago, a man stepped on the scene who was, and is, like no other. He gathered good friends, disciples, and went around healing the sick and preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God. His name is Jesus.
At the time, the people who saw and knew Jesus thought He would set up His kingdom on earth in their presence; they thought He came to give freedom from the oppression of Rome. But He didn’t.
Instead, He died on the cross for the people’s sins—yours and mine. This didn’t make sense to anyone; yet, it was what God, Jesus, had planned to do, all along.
Jesus once told His disciples, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7, NIV). Later on, after His death and resurrection, they finally did understand. Jesus is not a God who can be fit into our boxes of presuppositions and our own logic; He is beyond our reasoning (though to believe in Him is not unreasonable!). Learn more about Him, and who He is, here.
Please pray for (you can find the prayer sheet for this post, here)…
Jesus to show the public what is truly going on in the Chibok girls’ situation.
That the remaining Chibok girls are not hurt/harmed in any way, and that they come home soon. You can find their names and pictures, here.
That Leah Sharibu, part of the “Dapchi Girls,” would also be freed, soon.
That the family members of these girls would not lose Hope, but would be renewed in Hope.
Today, please pray with me for the 112 young women who are still held captive by Boko Haram. The public does not know their whereabouts; all we can do is pray for their safety, healing, and freedom. Please pray alongside me as I write this poem:
The email’s subject line said, “YOU SHOULD BE OUTRAGED.” 1200 Christians have been killed in Nigeria. But to be honest, I wasn’t outraged. Anger did not fill me. Tears did not start streaming down my face. Even writing a post about it seemed more laborious than anything.
This is my fault, though. Jesus doesn’t kill our joy with religious tasks. He doesn’t demand works—“or else.” It’s me. Being legalistic. Again.
So now, I write to you: Please pray for those this blog is about and dedicated for. The families of the 1200 innocent Christians in Nigeria who were slaughtered, and the countless more that are in terrorist captivity.
And please pray for me, too, that I would be filled anew and afresh with love and passion for these people. That it wouldn’t be a chore, but an honor; A crime that makes me outraged.
On August 2nd, 2020, over 200 refugees coming back to their homes were snatched up by Boko Haram and now are held hostage by the terrorist group (source). Some are even feared to be dead.
They were excited and relieved to be home… but that was taken away from them, again.
Many thoughts flood my mind, but one important one is this: Jesus is fighting for His People. Anyone in this group of hostages is not only in a physical war wrought with bombs and guns, but even more so in a spiritual war.
Jesus Loves us and is fighting for those who love Him.
“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9, NLT)
Why is He allowing this awful thing? We can’t try to find a reason… all we can do is rest on the promises of Jesus, that He will continue to fight for His kids in this horrific situation.
Please pray with me:
“Dear Jesus, You see and know every single person in captivity right now, and You know the terrorists too. We pray in Your Holy and Mighty Name that You would free these people soon and restore all they have lost. Please bring members of Boko Haram to know You as well. Thank You dear Jesus. In Your Name we pray, Amen.”
Do you know Jesus?
Jesus won the final victory on the cross at calvary, beating sin and death forever. Learn more about Him and what He has done for us, here.
