Need light?
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Psalm 36:9
Have you ever had one of those stressful stretches of time? One that lasts over several weeks? I’ve been going through one of those myself, lately, and as pressure and stress levels seemed to be crescendoing out of earth’s orbit last night, I decided to apply a simple “talk-through” technique to my emotions as I plugged away at an impossibly long “to do” list.
Here’s what I did: With every little thing I worked on—mundane as each one was—I talked to God about how glad I was about that little part of my life. Putting away the dishes? Thank You, Lord for these dishes and the ability to clean them! Sorting clothes for laundry? Father, thank You for giving me these clothes and a great washer and dryer! Paying bills? Thanks, God, that I can do math and that there’s some money left over after paying these! It may not be much, but I’m not broke, glory to God!
And as I continued in this vein, it wasn’t long until the stress started ebbing away and peace seeped back in, quietly reigning once again.
This morning however, I remembered a scheduling detail I became aware of yesterday that played a huge contributing factor in my spiraling stress the day before. It still bothered me, and it was something that was pretty much out of my control—unless I made a great big scene and pushed several levels of people around. I started feeling the stress creep back in.
I prayed. I prayed in the Spirit. And then I verbally committed the scheduling to God—to accept it as is or let Him rearrange it if He saw fit—without my personal interference.
And do you know what He spoke to me? It was eye-opening! He said, “There’s a difference between being a prima donna and being led by My Spirit.” Burn!
How many times have you and I demanded our own way, insisting we were being led of the Spirit, when in actuality, we were being led by our flesh—our preferences, our fears, or our biases—absolutely clueless about our own motives?
As I repented and prayed in the Spirit—a gusher this time—God’s great comfort came upon me. An old praise song rose up in my heart, and as I sang it, once again it was well with my soul:
“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. With You is the fountain of life; in Your light, we see light.” (From Psalm 36:9)
When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, then you have given Him the right to have His say-so in every aspect. And that is very good.
Dorothy
Due to my very busy schedule, I will be sporadically adding to this blog in the next few weeks—sometimes on, sometimes off. Just check back periodically to see any new entries. Blessings! 🙂
Read MorePray that they may know—a summary
Believers around the world joined with Australia in prayer and fasting for America this past week. Today, Thursday, May 7 is the National Day of Prayer. Prayer is all the more critical now than ever.
Because of that, I’ve been recycling a series of blog entries I wrote last year. Back then, God prompted me to shift my focus as I prayed for the nation. In short, I believe God showed me these four things for which to pray:
- Pray for people to know what to do.
- Pray for people to receive wisdom along with their knowledge.
- Pray for those people to receive the boldness to step out in what they know to do.
- Pray for those people to be filled with boldness to carry out their tasks to completion.
Originally posted last year (last in series):
And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14b
To know what to do. Men and women desperately need to know what to do in this hour—no one is exempt from that need. You and I are equipped to pray for those who are facing huge, impactful decisions—for secular leaders and for those who have leadership roles in the body of Christ, for the people of God, and for everyone else living in this nation and around the world. It is time to pray for men and women to know what to do.
To receive wisdom. It’s time to pray for them to receive clear wisdom to direct and uphold them as they gain knowledge concerning what to do. You are I are equipped to pray for them to receive that wisdom from God; we are also equipped to pray that they will desire truth in their innermost being, for that is where He will deposit wisdom (see Psalm 51:6).
To step out in boldness. It’s time to pray for men and women, boys and girls who have been granted knowledge and wisdom in accordance with God’s purposes to step out in boldness to do what they know to do. There is knowledge and wisdom from God ready to be deposited across the board, upon all flesh, upon His people and upon those who do not yet know Him—and each one will need the boldness of Peter to “step out of the boat” (knowing full well that as they step, the boat will rock). You and I have access to the throne of grace to request boldness for them to take appropriate steps as they receive the knowledge of what to do.
To be enveloped and empowered by boldness. It’s time to pray for boldness and great courage to envelop and empower those who do boldly step out to do what they know to do. There are many adversaries; those who have been blinded by the manipulations of the deluding spirit of this age don’t want anyone—secular or Christian—to take a stand for true justice, righteousness, truth, or freedom. Instead, the spirit of this age seeks control and to enforce conformity to its agenda—lawlessness and godlessness and ways that spit in the face of God. The spirit of this age inspires a ruthless, reckless fervor in those it saddles to intimidate anyone who acts or speaks off-script—especially when they defy or denounce the godless status quo of our age. That’s why you and I must pray for a saturation of boldness to come upon the men and women called of God to stand—both those who are visible and the ones who are behind the scenes—in arenas of power and impact. They need to know what to do, they need wisdom in it, they need the boldness to step out, and they need the all-encompassing boldness and power of God to carry them throughout their entire assignment.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “…but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2). Like Paul—who rocked the boat over and over again as he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ—in our day those for whom we pray will also be rocking boats and swimming against the current. And unfortunately, like Paul, those for whom we pray to know what to do will encounter suffering and mistreatment and much opposition as they boldly defy the godless, lawless, spit-in-the-face-of-God status quo. However, covered by prayer, God’s power, wisdom, and ability will envelop, protect, and lead them, and no weapon formed against them will prosper (see Isaiah 54:17). But we must pray for them for this to take place.
You and I, as well—just by praying bold prayers on the behalf of those called of God to take bold stands—are boat-rockers in defiance of the status quo of our age. Because of that, don’t be surprised, as the apostle Peter wrote, “at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (see 1 Peter 4:12). You see, as we engage in prayer for people to know what to do with wisdom and supernatural boldness, the devil doesn’t like it one bit. He doesn’t want his deviously-organized strategies and schemes to be hindered, restrained, or undone. He wants to be in control, and as you and I pray, we actually block and thwart his plans. So if you get attacked, mistreated, or face opposition, consider the source. It’s from the adversary, and it simply means you are making an impact in exposing, restraining, and incapacitating his agenda.
Stand your ground as you pray according to the leading of the Lord, and remember—you are on the overcoming team. Because of your prayers, people will know what to do.
Dorothy
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16b
Read MoreEmpowered by boldness
Australian believers called for a week of worldwide fasting and prayer for the US. It began on April 30 and is wrapping up on Wednesday, May 6.
Because of that, I’ve been recycling a series of blog entries I wrote last year. At that time, God prompted me to shift my focus as I prayed for the nation. In short, I believe God showed me these four things for which to pray:
- Pray for people to know what to do.
- Pray for people to receive wisdom along with their knowledge.
- Pray for those people to receive the boldness to step out in what they know to do.
- Pray for those people to be filled with boldness to carry out their tasks to completion.
Originally posted last year (eighth in series):
…but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 1 Thessalonians 2:2, emphasis added
Yesterday’s blog was about the need to pray for people to receive the boldness to step out into what they know to do. Today, I am going to ask you to pray for them to be enveloped and empowered by God’s boldness, as well.
Let me explain with an example from my own life. Years ago, in my twenties, I felt led to speak to a scruffy young man about Jesus. I knew what to do—to tell him about Jesus—and yet I had a choice to make. Would I value my comfort-zone and dignity more than the clear prompting of God? I needed boldness. After a quick prayer, I made the decision to obey God, and I mustered up enough boldness to step out in what I knew to do. I received boldness to take the “leap of faith”, so to speak.
I introduced myself to him and began sharing the gospel with fear and trembling. The young man stopped me after a bit and said, “Hey! You’re shaking! What are you afraid of? I want to hear what you have to say! Calm down! Relax!”
I had received boldness to step out—a good thing—but I was neither enveloped nor empowered by boldness. As a result of that experience, I recognize the need to pray for people to not only step out in boldness to do what they know to do, but also for them to be empowered in that boldness as they accomplish the good pleasure of God.
When you and I pray for people to know what to do and for the wisdom of God to attend their “knowing” and their “doing”; when we pray that God will grant them confidence, courage, and boldness to step out into the course He is leading them, we also need to recognize that they will likely face obstacles despite our prayers on their behalf—obstacles which will require a magnitude of boldness to empower them beyond their initial step. This is true for the secular folks God is using and, actually, even more imperative for all believers and godly leadership.
The Apostle Paul wrote this about the obstacles he confronted in his ministry: “…for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9). He also wrote, “…but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…” (Romans 5:20b). We live in an hour in which sin is increasing by leaps and bounds; we live in an age in which there are many adversaries to true justice, righteousness, and the message of the gospel.
But take a closer look at those two verses. First Corinthians 16:9 speaks of open doors. In this dark hour, doors are open for effective service for the church and her leadership, and I believe the doors are also open in the secular world for upright and honest men and women to choose, act, speak, and/or rule wisely as they help to turn our nation around. Every one of them needs prayer.
Romans 5:20 reminds us that although darkness blankets the land, God’s grace increases and expands even more. Do we have sin on every hand here in our nation? Undeniably. That means one thing: The grace of God will increase all the more as those of us who are lights in Christ refuse to quit shining. That truth does not cease to exist just because we’re precariously close to the end of time. Absolutely not!
So there exist many doors of opportunity to further the will of God in multiple arenas, and His grace currently abounds. And there are many adversaries; and sin abounds. Boldness empowers those for whom we pray to walk through open doors of opportunity saturated with grace in realms where sin abounds.
Because of the adversaries, people need boldness. Adversaries intimidate, threaten, conjure up and spread lies; adversaries stand as bullies to scare men and women, boys and girls from doing what God is leading them to do. Adversaries can wear flesh and blood; such adversaries are merely pawns in the hand of the devil, the real adversary. Our warfare is not against those flesh and blood adversaries; in reality, when we pray, we are contending against the devil on their behalf, whether they would agree with that perspective or not.
Therefore, we must have boldness in our prayers; we must request the Lord to envelop and empower those for whom we pray with His boldness.
Be bold as you pray for people to know what to do; be bold in your prayers for them to walk in the boldness that is from God. They need your prayers; you need the results of their wise knowing and bold doing.
Dorothy
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel… Ephesians 6:19, NIV
Read MoreThat they may step out in boldness
We are in the middle of a week of fasting and prayer for America called for by Australian believers. Because of that, I am recycling a blog series that I wrote last year. At that time, God prompted me to shift my focus as I prayed for the US. In short, He showed me these four things about which to pray:
- Pray for people to know what to do.
- Pray for people to receive wisdom along with their knowledge.
- Pray for those people to receive the boldness to step out in what they know to do.
- Pray for those people to be filled with boldness to carry out their tasks to completion.
Originally posted last year (seventh in series):
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:19-20
When I heard the Lord direct me to pray for people to know what to do, I understood that He was referring to everyone with a role to play in this hour. However, I also knew that He was speaking in particular of leaders, both in the secular world and in the church.
He let me know that vast amounts of insight, information, revelation, and truth had been made known—and would continue to be revealed—to people in all realms of the nation; but they needed to know what to do with it. They needed prayer to be able to effectively navigate the data and respond with wisdom and all discernment so that the Lord’s will could be fully accomplished.
I believe the body of Christ is equipped to engage in such a prayer task.
However, there is something else that the people for whom we pray will need as well. They will need boldness.
Think about your own experience. Have you ever been in a situation in which you knew the right thing to do, but you didn’t do it? That’s something all of us have grappled with.
It’s my opinion that when Paul wrote to the Ephesians to pray for him that he “may speak boldly, as [he] ought to speak”, he had likely experienced the difference between his “ought to” and his “do” at some point. Most of us have experienced that, and this is one reason why I believe Paul so urgently requested prayer from his friends for boldness. He knew his own human frailties.
The people for whom you and I will pray in the days, weeks, and months to come will have an ongoing need to know what to do; they will need wisdom to envelope their “knowing”; and they will need boldness in order to step out in what they are directed to do. After all, they are human, just like you and me, and some of the things God will lead them to do will require courage beyond their human capacity. And you and I get to pray for that boldness to rise up within them so they can do what they know to do.
Listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit; those for whom you pray will need to be girded up in His knowledge and wisdom, and they will also need boldness in order to step out. And as you pray for them, you can trust God to work it all out in them and for them.
Dorothy
Only be strong and very courageous. Joshua 1:7a
Read MoreBoldness
A week of worldwide fasting and prayer for the US began on April 30th and will continue through May 6th. Interestingly enough, this fast was not requested by Americans. Australian believers have sent out this call.
Because of that, I am recycling several blog entries I wrote last year. At that time, God prompted me to shift my focus as I prayed for the nation. In short, I believe God showed me four things about which to pray:
- Pray for people to know what to do.
- Pray for people to receive wisdom along with their knowledge.
- Pray for those people to receive the boldness to step out in what they know to do.
- Pray for those people to be filled with boldness to carry out their tasks to completion.
Originally posted last year (sixth in series):
…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:19-20, emphasis added
Back in April, I heard this in my spirit: Pray for people to know what to do, so I wrote about it. I also wrote about for whom to pray (basically everyone needs to know what to do right now, and our prayer on their behalf will help to facilitate the distribution of God’s knowledge to each one). In the last blog entry, I addressed the need to pray for wisdom for the people who are receiving the knowledge of what to do.
Another ingredient needs to accompany knowledge and wisdom—especially for God’s people. In particular, godly leaders must obtain this special ingredient: Boldness.
The apostle Paul requested prayer along these lines. First, he wanted the Ephesians to pray that he would be given utterance in the opening of his mouth—to know what to say by the leading of the Holy Spirit—and secondly, he asked his friends in Ephesus to pray that he would make known the mystery of the gospel with boldness, to proclaim it boldly as he spoke it forth.
It’s my opinion that Paul was probably a fairly bold man naturally. Before his salvation, he was a go-getter—a mover-and-shaker type—who was rising in the ranks of Judaism. He had been zealous for his faith and was persistent in pursuing, capturing, and imprisoning members of the early church. Then after his conversion, he constantly found himself in the eye of the storm as he proclaimed the good tidings of Jesus Christ. When he acknowledged that his ministry would eventually lead to his death, he faced it with the same characteristic bold confidence—to live is Christ; to die is gain (see Philippians 1:21).
And yet this apostle—the author of the bulk of the New Testament and the man responsible for hundreds and thousands of true conversions during his time—requested that his fellow believers ask God to grant him boldness in both utterance and in making known the mystery of the gospel.
Human boldness is typically a very positive characteristic for Christians to possess. However, human boldness can only go so far before it encounters supernatural obstacles for which it is no match. Paul knew that, and I believe, experienced the eventual ineffectiveness of his own personal boldness at some point in his ministry. That is why he so adamantly urged his friends to pray that he move over into the God-kind of boldness—a confidence instigated and sustained by the living God Himself for the task of proclaiming the gospel. When God emboldens a human, the mystery of the gospel is made known in the hearers supernaturally, and the speech coming forth from that person is bold, bold, bold, as it ought to be.
Paul asked for prayer that he may open his mouth with boldness (Ephesians 6:19). “Boldness” is the Greek word parrēsia and means something that was rather shocking to me when I first landed upon the definition. It means “freedom in speaking; unreservedness in speech” (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G3954&t=KJV). To operate in the boldness of God, you speak freely and unreservedly. It also means “openly, frankly, i.e. without concealment” (ibid). No beating around the bush for someone who speaks boldly as they ought to speak. “Without ambiguity” and “without the use of figures and comparisons” (ibid) are also involved in the God-kind of boldness. Such a speaker will not express their concerns, thoughts, or convictions covertly or “round-aboutly”; this speaker will let their “yes be yes and their no be no” (see Matthew 5:37 and James 5:12). To top it off, the boldness which Paul sought was “free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance” (ibid). Paul desired the kind of confidence which supernaturally wells up within any available child of God by the Holy Spirit Himself—not merely that which emanates from a strong or charismatic personality.
“Freedom in speaking” and “unreservedness in speech” were understood to be vital, not only by the apostles in the early days of the church, but also—in my opinion—by the founding fathers in the early days of this nation. The boldness earnestly desired by Paul was of a supernatural quality, and yet it was simple, unpretentious, and free. I believe it is no coincidence that the very first amendment to the Constitution of the United States so conspicuously links freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech together. It says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (Bill of Rights, US Constitution). In this nation, freedom of and in speaking is inextricably linked to the free exercise of one’s religious convictions. I believe that the essence of boldness and confidence in the Lord is most clearly demonstrated when there is freedom and unreservedness in speaking.
Sure, “there is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword” (Proverbs 12:18a), but brash, impulsive, thoughtless speech is nothing more than a cheap counterfeit of the wonderful gift of free, confident, Spirit-led communication so highly-prized by the apostle Paul and defended “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence” by our Founders (Declaration of Independence).
What is so strongly under attack in our nation at this hour? Our freedom of speech! And what seems to be under such strong attack across the nation as far as believers are concerned? Our confident, bold witness as our freedom to express the truth of the Word of God comes under ever-increasing scrutiny.
Should we throw our hands up in dismay and lament the encroaching darkness as the “will of God”? Or should we pray for our fellow citizens, our secular leaders, our church leadership, and our brothers and sisters in Christ to know what to do, to do it in wisdom, and to be empowered to do it in the boldness and freedom of speaking that comes from on High?
I believe that we must pray, pray boldly, and pray confidently. And then, let God be God in this hour.
Dorothy
… nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You. 2 Chronicles 20:12b
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word… Acts 4:29, KJV
Read More
Knowing what to do…with wisdom
A week of worldwide fasting and prayer for the US began April 30th and will continue through May 6th. This fast was not called by Americans. Australian believers have sent out this alarm.
Because of that, I am recycling several blog entries I wrote last year. At that time, God prompted me to shift my focus as I prayed for the nation. In short, I believe God showed me these four things for which to pray:
- Pray for people to know what to do.
- Pray for people to receive wisdom along with their knowledge.
- Pray for those people to receive the boldness to step out in what they know to do.
- Pray for those people to be filled with boldness to carry out their tasks to completion.
Originally posted last year (fifth in series):
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7, KJV
Pray for people to know what to do. This is what I sensed in my heart in early April. The Lord showed me that He had been revealing insight, truth, and all kinds of information—damning stuff which had been purposely hidden by various individuals—and now was the time for people to know what to do with all of it.
Since we live in times in which knowledge is increasing exponentially (see Daniel 12:4), what the Lord told me—Pray for people to know what to do—makes sense with all the information coming at all of us from every direction. An overabundance of disclosures, revelations, and information can be overwhelming; if individuals aren’t careful, the very glut of data coming in can have two opposite but equally disastrous results: On one hand, the sheer excess of information can actually squeeze those who are supposed to do something about it into inaction. On the other hand, the flood of information can trigger other individuals into impulsive, rash, and ill-advised decisions and behaviors, creating a wake of calamity.
Pray for people to know what to do. History is a wonderful tutor; common sense is worth its weight in gold; but none of us have passed this way before, and we—as a nation and as a world—are finding ourselves in uncharted territory and shark-infested waters. People—those in authority and everyone else—flat-out need to know what to do. Therefore, as you pray for people to know what to do, also cry out for an additional ingredient—wisdom.
Wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7, KJV). There is no one in authority, no one in the news, no one who makes key decisions who does not desperately need wisdom in this hour. Some may think they have it all together, but such thinking is not the mindset of wisdom, and therefore, they need wisdom all the more.
As you pray for those in authority, those who are making headlines, those whose decisions affect hundreds, thousands, millions, and billions of lives, ask for God to show them what to do in accordance with true wisdom. Ask boldly, confident that your God watches over His Word to perform it (see Jeremiah 1:12), and stand your ground on behalf of these leaders, movers, and shakers to receive His wisdom and to act on it.
“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7, NASB). Although the men and women in seats of decision-making across the nation and around the globe possess certain attributes, talents, and capacities that helped them to attain those positions, unfortunately, God’s wisdom is not something that many of them consciously hunger for. Therefore, it is imperative that you and I go to bat on their behalf to cry out for wisdom to overtake them—and for them to act accordingly.
Just as it is God’s will for none to perish (see 2 Peter 3:9), it is also His will for leaders and decision-makers to seek Him for wisdom. However, whether or not they do so, it is the job of believing people to pray to that end—that the wisdom of God would operate upon and through those who are in authority.
Does your leader appear to be deficient in wisdom? Pray for him to receive it, even if it seems that he is defiant to godly wisdom. Remember, it is written, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD (Proverbs 21:1a); not “The Lord is manipulated by the hand and the whim of the king.” God knows how to bring wisdom to even the most reluctant leader. But first, He requires believing humans to ask for it.
God’s wisdom will bring with it good fruit. First of all, He will show people what to do in their areas of authority and expertise. He will lead them step by step, and as they yield, His purposes shall be accomplished. Also, as those for whom you pray yield to wisdom from God, He will bring them to a clearer knowledge of right and wrong in general, and more specifically, the need to deal with their own areas of sin and wrongdoing, prompting a turning to God. This is the stuff of revival.
What if a decision-maker refuses to yield to wisdom from God after much prayer on his or her behalf? The Bible is full of examples of such leaders and rulers; God suffered long with many of them, but in the end, those who persisted in resistance were—after all—held accountable and overturned, deposed, or met with an unpleasant end. When you pray for leaders, remember that they will ultimately answer to the King of kings for their decisions; therefore, persist in prayer on their behalf for wisdom, for the will of God to be performed, and for their eyes to open to the truth so they can be saved.
Pray for people to know what to do; and ask God to grant them wisdom in their knowing.
Dorothy
Proverbs 4:7 in several translations:
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. NIV
Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding. International Standard Version
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Message Bible
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. World English Bible
Read More