This place of prayer, this place of being before a living God at the altar of His affections, His righteousness, His light... is a training ground. I was reminded of a Marine Corps. boot camp, a grueling day-in-day-out routine of dedication and discipline and pain... as the weaknesses we've held inside so long come up to the surface. We can either whine, complain and quit as we are overcome by our weaknesses, OR those men (and women) of valor rise above those weaknesses and, while being honest with them, let them fall before a higher cause.
It is much the same for the watchmen on the wall, interceding in prayer and fasting before God for a city, or the body of Christ, or a nation... The burden often seems very great, and often is, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and those who have voluntarily chosen to be before Him, to "waste their life" day-in-day-out in the temple, the place of loving Him, they experience that discipline more than most. They also experience the fiery darts of Satan more frequently and more intensely. They are often questioned, morally and practically, asked why they aren't doing something "productive" with their time. They are often ridiculed because they are taking their faith far too seriously, and using this as an excuse not to work or to take responsibility for their life.
There's a song that Misty Edwards sings, a kind of anthem of the International House of Prayer (IHOP), that goes, "I will waste my life. I'll be tested and tried. With no regrets inside of me...just to find I'm at Your feet." This statement embodies the life of those men and women of valor who have dedicated their life to serving the Lord Jesus Christ, in whatever capacity that may be. Whether that is serving overseas as a missionary to India or a nation in Africa, building houses, digging wells and caring for children, or if that means serving as an intercessor for an entire city or nation of people, dedicating their life to learning who Jesus is so that they can love Him more...it is all Good in the eyes of God. It all serves to build His kingdom.
Out of a place of prayer and beholding His beauty, that is where the "fruit" should come from, that many people look for in a Christian's walk.
The place of prayer is a training ground... where you are tested, where your weaknesses are brought to the surface, where a person is forced to make a decision, about whether or not they will "waste their life" before a living God, being obedient to Him and His word, or whether their life still belongs to them, and they feel they have the right to live how they wish to live.
That is simply not the gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. The death and resurrection is symbolic, that we die (the old self is put to death, along with sin and darkness), and are resurrected with Christ (born-again into life and light).
That is simply not the gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. The death and resurrection is symbolic, that we die (the old self is put to death, along with sin and darkness), and are resurrected with Christ (born-again into life and light).
The prayer room is a training ground of grueling pressing and breaking and testing through fire, but it is also a place of refreshment and receiving revelation from the Lord. There is a balance. God is not a god only of justice, but also of mercy. He knows what we need when we need it. As the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, it is by the beholding of the glory of the Lord that we are being transformed into the same image that we behold, from one degree of glory to another degree of glory, by the Spirit of the Lord.
His eyes are always on us, because He cares for us... and as we return His gaze, knowing we are dark, but that He sees us as lovely (Song of Solomon 1:5-6), we are transformed into His likeness, because darkness cannot exist where there is great light. Death cannot exist where there is great life. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The life that is in Him (Jesus) is the light of men, and this light the darkness has not overcome. (John 1:1-5 and John 14:6)
This is sanctification. It happens as we serve in the place of prayer. It happens more rapidly for those who choose to "waste their lives," throwing their lives away as if they don't matter, because our lives don't matter. It is His life within us that truly matters.
Who wants to be trained by the Lord in the place of prayer? If you think you have what it takes, I challenge you to speak to Him, to come before His altar of refining fire, and be changed by the love that He has for you.
Many are called, but not many are chosen. These really are the few and the proud. What will you do when the flaming arrows start flying? Will you run behind your fort of dirt and wood, or will you run into the strong tower of the Lord God Almighty?
Many are called, but not many are chosen. These really are the few and the proud. What will you do when the flaming arrows start flying? Will you run behind your fort of dirt and wood, or will you run into the strong tower of the Lord God Almighty?
Are you in?
1 Corinthians 9:24-26
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI knew when you kept coming into the office, for as much as you did, you did so because you loved the ministry of the Lord, and it was difficult to just walk away. In fact, it's quite difficult to walk away from a life we were called to live (take it from me..i assure you - I know).
ReplyDeleteI encourage you to continue to press in, regardless of what people may say or think because when it's all said & done, it's going to be between you & Jesus anyway & nothing else will matter.
Funny you mentioned that Misty song, as yesterday I had a guest over & I mentioned that very same song to her as well. Her facial expression proved to me what you've already observed for yourself: not everyone is built for this particular way of life...this prayer movement, as it is often referred to. With that said: continue to seek the face of God & let everything else remain in a distant shadow. It's just you & God now. And believe me, if they haven't already...things are about to get VERY interesting.