“Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” – Nehemiah 4:17-18
The trumpet is important:
“The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” – Nehemiah 4:19-20
Ladies, know this. We still need to sound the trumpet. And when you hear the trumpet calling, run to it! Join your sisters in prayer, interceding for those who are under attack.
In Kelly Minter's study on Nehemiah she says this in regards to Intercessory Prayer:
You see, once you open your heart and allow yourself to see the hurt around you, you will hurt too. You will get dirty in the trenches. It will be dark in the cave. You will be hit by the shrapnel from those you love. But you will also grow in ways you never even knew you could grow. You will grow closer to God as you rely on Him and His provision, and your relationships will go deeper than you could ever imagine. Once you stop viewing intercessory prayer as an obligation and start understanding that it is an "exquisite honor," you will begin to see the beauty that is hidden in the gift of standing in the gap and lifting up those who are no longer strong enough to lift themselves up.
One of my favorite images of standing in the gap is found in Exodus when Joshua is fighting the army of Amalek. As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Joshua was winning, but if Moses put his arms down, the Israelites would begin to lose. Inevitably, Moses' arms grew tired. And this is what we see...
In Kelly Minter's study on Nehemiah she says this in regards to Intercessory Prayer:
"...this is not only our responsibility, but also our exquisite honor...it builds community as it divinely attaches you to those for whom you are praying."
You see, once you open your heart and allow yourself to see the hurt around you, you will hurt too. You will get dirty in the trenches. It will be dark in the cave. You will be hit by the shrapnel from those you love. But you will also grow in ways you never even knew you could grow. You will grow closer to God as you rely on Him and His provision, and your relationships will go deeper than you could ever imagine. Once you stop viewing intercessory prayer as an obligation and start understanding that it is an "exquisite honor," you will begin to see the beauty that is hidden in the gift of standing in the gap and lifting up those who are no longer strong enough to lift themselves up.
One of my favorite images of standing in the gap is found in Exodus when Joshua is fighting the army of Amalek. As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Joshua was winning, but if Moses put his arms down, the Israelites would begin to lose. Inevitably, Moses' arms grew tired. And this is what we see...
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| Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. - Exodus 17:12 |
Who do you know that needs you? Open your eyes and your heart to someone who is hurting. Become vulnerable, because when you are weak, then He is able to make you strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)!
I can't find an image that captures this vision that my sweet friend Amy was given when we were interceding for our sweet Natalie, a four year old fighter who is battling her second bout with brain cancer and another friend of ours who had a breast cancer scare. God showed her our amazing group of friends, all linking arms, with arrows being shot directly at us. Each arrow had a word on it, specific for the woman it was aiming for. Words like "CANCER", "DEPRESSION", "UNWORTHY", "WEAK", "SICKNESS". Each arrow was a direct attack from the enemy, and was something that we were battling. But as the arrow got closer to the one it was intended for, the group tightened its grip. One woman's head would drop in weakness and fear as her arrow got closer, but the group around her grew stronger and more empowered. And the arrow, instead of penetrating its target, would bounce right off of her! It's such an amazing vision and I am looking for a real artist to capture this vision for us.
See, there is beauty in the muck and yuck of hurt and pain. It's the beauty of love, real love.
I can't find an image that captures this vision that my sweet friend Amy was given when we were interceding for our sweet Natalie, a four year old fighter who is battling her second bout with brain cancer and another friend of ours who had a breast cancer scare. God showed her our amazing group of friends, all linking arms, with arrows being shot directly at us. Each arrow had a word on it, specific for the woman it was aiming for. Words like "CANCER", "DEPRESSION", "UNWORTHY", "WEAK", "SICKNESS". Each arrow was a direct attack from the enemy, and was something that we were battling. But as the arrow got closer to the one it was intended for, the group tightened its grip. One woman's head would drop in weakness and fear as her arrow got closer, but the group around her grew stronger and more empowered. And the arrow, instead of penetrating its target, would bounce right off of her! It's such an amazing vision and I am looking for a real artist to capture this vision for us.
See, there is beauty in the muck and yuck of hurt and pain. It's the beauty of love, real love.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20
I will be praying for you that you will find at least one other woman to pray with. There is not only power in prayer, but power in joining someone in prayer.
Together we will ask, seek, and knock.
Together we will ask, seek, and knock.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6: 33
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