Standing firm on my knees
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 18, 19, 20
Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (NIV)
2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say, “Hear O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. 4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Good morning!
Once upon a time, not so long ago, a precious little girl muffled her sad and fearful sobs in the pillow she clung to underneath her bed. Night time was a frightening time for little Emma. She much preferred playing in the bright sunlight, where she could see her enemy clearly and run away, if need be. Night time was different, when the darkness dripped like melting wax from the burned-out candle on the fireplace hearth. Little Emma shivered in fear. The only safe hiding place she could find was underneath her bed. If she cuddled up in the far corner next to the wall, maybe no one would be able to reach her there. On that cold, hard floor, Emma wrapped her favorite blankie around her shoulders, burying her little face in the soft, wet pillow. She listened intently for the sounds she did not want to hear. Little Emma kept watch every night in the dark. “Are you there, God?” Emma whispered into the night air. “Here I am, God, under my bed again. Can you hear me? I’m so scared, dear God. Please come and stay with me tonight.”
Our world is full of hurting and frightened children, crying out to the Lord in the dark every night. There are many children who went to bed last night on an empty stomach. They hunger and thirst for a little food to eat and clean water to drink. Other children are hiding under the beds because they hear the gunfire and explosions of war surrounding their community. They try to sleep amid the noise of gunfire, as the smell of death and destruction seeps through the walls and into their bedroom. Some children are sleeping underneath the stars, on a dirt floor with a makeshift tin and cardboard roof. They have no bed to hide under, because they have no bed at all.
There are children who live in the lap of luxury. They have plenty of food and water, toy boxes full of toys and games to play with, and their very own bed to sleep in. Yet, many of these children cry out to God, begging Him to come and protect them from the terrors of the night. Have you ever looked into the eyes of a child whose innocence has been taken from them? Have you ever seen their bruises, touched their broken bones, or dried their tear-stained cheeks?
All of God’s children face incredible battles every day. Some of them are battling just to survive. They do not have the necessities that sustain life. There are other children fighting the forces of evil around them. The people who they love and trust may not be trustworthy, and they find themselves in imminent danger day after day. When children grow up in communities where violence prevails, whether it be in a war-torn country or a war-torn family, they carry the scars of their pain with them. It weighs them down like bricks wrapped around their neck. Many children will not survive the terror of the night.
We can make a difference for the children who suffer. It begins when we stand firm on our knees, putting on the full armor of God. He equips to us to fight not only the physical wars we face in our world today, but the even greater spiritual wars brought forth by the evil one in our midst. Behind every abused child is a lost and hurting caregiver. We can seek God’s heavenly protection as we pray for those who desperately need safety and shelter today. We can reach out together with our hands and hearts as we find new ways to help support our brothers and sisters who do not have what they need to survive. We can encourage hurting adults to seek the help they need to overcome the demons they face every night. We can pray like we’ve never prayed before.
That child underneath the bed may be someone you know. Will you put on the full armor of God this morning and pray with me? Will you intercede for the safety of all the little Emmas who are hiding under their beds in fear?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: courage to take on the powers of evil and darkness in your life. We are standing firm on our knees today, praying prayers of intercession for all of God’s children who are suffering. Who will stand in the gap for the innocent ones today? Will you be Jesus to them?
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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