Regarding Battle

Based on Jeremiah 23:1-4:31, Psalm 116:15-19, and Philippians 4:1-23.

We stand fast in You, LORD, we who are Your beloveds; we whose names are written in the Book of Life. We make our requests known before You, GOD, encouraged to know (through evidence from our pasts) that our faithful prayers are, to You, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to You because we live in Your Son, our Savior and LORD, who is LORD indeed of our lives. In Him and by Your Holy Spirit, we can do all things, including battle in prayer through which we stand fast in Your Word. 

We see that human help is hopeless, that men have not turned to You with their whole hearts, but in pretense. Forgive them LORD for You know they do not know what they are doing. You know this, as You saw it abounding in us, and yet You came and retrieved us by Your gracious mercy and Your lavish love.

You know that humans everywhere have perverted their way, especially in the United States of America. They have forgotten You. They cannot hear You saying, "My people are foolish. They have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to good they have no knowledge."

LORD! Circumcise our hearts! Help us blow Your trumpet that many hearts on earth may be washed from wickedness. Have mercy as You had on us, who also did not know that our ways were wicked, that our human wisdom would only lead us into bitter pain in our very hearts,. We also did not so much as consider Your warnings about consequences that are eternal.We even questioned that there was such a thing as "after life."

Yet You came to us and straightened out our wayward thinking. You allowed us to ask all out questions, and You not only addressed but also answered them in ways so convincing that we cannot deny You are the Truth, a Person, Tree in One. You are who You say You are, and we are blessed to know You Personally.

Therefore we stand fast in You, LORD Christ, lifting up our fervent prayers, knowing in our "knowers" that You hear our prayers for rebirth and salvation and sanctification. We know You will rescue and save those for whom we pray, lest they perish in corruption. You have atoned for them! You have justified them! Regenerate them, we pray, those many we love who wander, lost and led astray by the wisdom and wits of men. Bring them in, with Your rod and Your staff! Bring them into Your comfort and Your calm! Console them with Your consolations, LORD Christ. 

We stand on knowing it is Your desire that none should perish but have eternal life -- Life with a capital L, not loss -- Life, indeed, Fullness of Life even now. Thank You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for assuring us that the death of Your saints is precious in Your sight. We stand fast in offering You our sacrifice of thanksgiving, calling upon You, who alone can can impart the gift of Christ to any human heart.

This photograph is by Liz Burnell.