Joining Forces

I was dancing around the kitchen shouting, "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus!" I must have looked a bit like Miss Clara in the movie, War Room, when she got the phone call from Elizabeth reporting her praise. If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend checking it out. One of my “sweet sheep” (prayer group friends that I get to pray for daily) called just two days after making her personal prayer request to say that God answered directly and clearly with “yeses” to her prayers! She wanted to say thanks for praying which set me to my praising.

Prayer is a sweet gift of fellowship with our Almighty God. He allows us to come before Him any day, any time, with any concern. Jesus made all that possible with His work on the cross. We have 24-7 direct access to God. Not only is it an opportunity, it is a calling and a duty.

In our next verse of thanks, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth addressing their very important supporting role in his work spreading the gospel and growing the early church.

“On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:11 (v. 10 included to complete the statement)

He also lets them know that they play a part in the celebration of thanks by joining forces with him in prayers for his protection from the deadly peril he faces regularly on the front lines spreading the gospel.

It is not only our privilege, but our duty to aid our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ by praying for them. When we dedicate our time by connecting with Jesus in prayer on behalf of another, supernatural things take place in our hearts. A love shows up that we can’t explain. A connection of care and concern is there that links us together like family.

We are especially urged to pray for pastors, teachers, missionaries, and others who are on the “front lines” of spreading the gospel. The deliverance that Paul referred to or “the gracious favor granted” is God’s hand of protection from opposers to the Christian faith. This continues today. Persecution of Christians has never stopped. The forces of evil led by Satan work day and night to “steal, kill and destroy” the “abundant life” that faith in Christ promises us. (See John 10:10)

It is the absolute joy of my heart to be a prayer warrior for my friends, loved ones and folks I don’t even know. If you want to join forces with God through Christ in prayer, here’s an amazing clip from the War Room movie. https://youtu.be/_WpfkFyG5qQ Take the 3 minutes and be ready to get fired up to fight your fights on your knees and let God do the work. Your great reward will be the thanks you then get to shout to the heavens! …or around your kitchen.

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b