Recently my daughter cried out for help in a tone that every parent recognizes. We have all heard that certain tone in our child’s voice that calls us to immediate action. The tone that alerts us to the urgency of our child’s need for our help spurs us into quick action. How many parents can attest to the fact of nearly hurting themselves trying to get to their child? I, for one, am certain I have come close to seriously hurting myself or breaking something as I rushed to my child’s side after hearing them cry out my name in that tone that is a call to action.
When my child cries out my name in that tone that alerts me to her immediate need for my help, I will drop all to get to her side. I don’t ask her to wait; I rush to her aide. I can’t help myself; when my child is in danger, I must come to her aide. I believe that most parents would respond the same way. Any good parent can’t help but respond when their child needs them, especially when their need is urgent. We can’t help ourselves; we must respond to their cry for help. It truly is as if it’s a call to battle and we rush in to defend them or save them from whatever danger they have found themselves in.
In the last few days, I have spoken to two beautiful and precious women who have shared their tears and their struggles with me. These two women were fighting different battles but both of them were hurting. I was honored that they would share their tears with me. I believe tears are precious and if someone opens their heart enough to share them with me, I do not take that lightly. I have prayed for both of these women often since speaking with them. I think that I sympathized so strongly with them for two reasons. First of all, I love them both dearly and secondly, I understand pain.
You see, I have been fighting some pretty intense battles of my own for the last couple years. At times, I have wondered if I would survive the intensity of the fires I have faced. I would like to think that the people that are hurting and struggling are few and far between. I would love to believe that tears are a rarity among the children of God but that would be a lie. Friends, I know far too many people right now that are struggling. I know far too many people that are fighting battles so intense they fear they may break before the burden they bear is lifted.
Far too many people right now are shedding tears of pain, tears of struggle, tears of frustration, or tears of loneliness. So many people that I know are shedding tears over the choices that their precious loved ones are making. I know that perhaps you may be wondering where the hope is. You may be asking yourself where is the encouragement that I usually try to offer. My precious friend, today I felt led to speak to you about the urgency of the situation we are in. Beloved, we are in a battle and many of us seem to be losing ground that we can’t afford to lose.
I believe with all my heart that it is time for us to sound the alarm. It is time for us, the children of God to sound the call to battle. It is time for us, as beloved children of the Most High God, to cry out for His help. We need to do like my young daughter and call out His name with an urgency that will let Him know how much we need His help. Dear friends, we need to be on our knees crying out to God on behalf of those we love. We need to be on our knees crying out to God asking Him to come fight for us. The only way we are going to see victory in our lives is to cry out to God.
Our greatest weapon is prayer. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” James 5:16. If we as mortal men respond to our own children’s cry with such haste, how much more will God, our heavenly Father, respond to our cry! If you want to make a difference in the lives of your children and grandchildren, you must do it by prayer. Nothing else on earth can change people like praying for them can. When my words can’t change people, I can attest to the fact that I have seen God answer prayers I have prayed for them.
I believe that the key to victory in the battles we are facing is prayer. We must learn to seek God’s face like we never have before. We must ask ourselves, “Do we want to be victorious? Do we want to see God moving in the lives of our loved ones?” If the answer is yes, we must learn to be men and women of prayer. We must learn to be prayer warriors. I would love to tell you that I am a great prayer warrior; I would love to tell you about the beautiful and eloquent prayers I offer on behalf of those I love but I can’t lie to you my beloved friends.
The truth is that I write a lot better than I speak. If you gave me enough time I could probably write you a decent prayer but when I try to speak, my words don’t come out nearly as beautiful as when I am in my element writing. But you know what? God doesn’t care! God doesn’t care about the way we pray; He cares that we pray. You see it isn’t the beauty of my child’s words that calls me to action; it is the urgency of her cry that I respond to. I react to her fear; I react to her pain. Her words don’t call me to her side; her need for me does! I respond to the cry of her heart.
God is such a better parent than I could ever hope to be so I know that He feels the same way about His children. So if you have refrained from praying like you need to due to fear, doubt, or insecurity I urge you to let that all go and just talk to your Father. Just go to your Father and honestly pour out your heart to Him. I promise you that He will be right there beside you so happy to hear from you. I also believe that if we make a greater effort to intercede on behalf of those we love we will begin to see God move in their lives. We must go to battle on their behalf!
“Although the Christian life is warfare, it is warfare in which victory is always possible” –John MacArthur. We can be victorious because Jesus has already defeated the enemy and we are fighting on the winning side. I know that sometimes we get so used to hearing 2 Chronicles 7:14 that perhaps we forget the promise God is truly offering us. Please read it slowly and carefully! “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
God promises that if we will humbly repent and seek His face, He will hear and He will answer! Friends, I urge you to let God stir your heart and place in you the desire to do battle in prayer. Ask God to put in you the desire to pray for yourself and for your loved ones. If you ask Him to, He will help you learn how to battle in prayer. I know it may sound intimidating when you think of it that way but trust me; it’s not. Precious friend, you are simply talking to your Father that loves you more than you can imagine about the cares that are weighing down your heart.
I hope that you will take some time in the days ahead to get alone with God and give Him the burdens of your heart. I hope you will spend time praying for the people you hold dear. Is there someone you know that needs prayer? Then pray for them! Have you ever thought about the fact that you might be the only one praying for that person? My dear friends, this is your call to battle. I pray with all my heart that you have been encouraged to understand the urgent need to pray for the problems in your lives and in the lives of your loved ones. It’s time to go to battle!
Pray and let God worry. – Martin Luther
Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:7-8
I urge you, first of all to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them and give thanks. 1 Timothy 2:1
See also: Matthew 18:19-20; James 5:14-16; & Psalm 122:6
Grace and peace,
Katrina Douglas
