Help! She’s Buried Alive by @JenniferOWhite

There it is again. A sacred echo from God directing my attention to something I need to understand. Lately, I’ve thought of people who are in great need of prayer as being buried alive. And I realize that I have been buried alive by the oppressive nature of sin and my freedom is a direct result of the power of prayer.

In the movie Double Jeopardy, Ashley Judd’s character becomes the victim of an evil scheme to keep her quiet. She meets her estranged husband at a cemetery in hopes of getting her son back and later wakes up inside a coffin. The scene is so intense. You can see her desperately searching for a way out.  Finally she remembers she has a gun. So she courageously shoots the hinges off the coffin, throws back the lid and escapes. Whew!

I’ve seen this movie and her great escape at least five times. But this time, I saw a woman find freedom from evil forces with a powerful weapon. I saw myself breaking free from a very real death trap because through prayer, God was invited to rescue me.

Jesus has been praying for me. Long before a counselor taught me how to apply God’s Word to my wounded heart, Jesus was asking God to help me live in His light. As my soul cried out with pain, the Holy Spirit of Jesus was interpreting my groans to God.

Spiritual forces of darkness have schemed for generations in hopes of keeping me quiet and destroying my good life. People have been used as pawns to open the door of my life to the destructive and smothering effects of sin. And at times, I have chosen to open the door. I was so ignorant of the consequences.

But there has always been a rescue mission with my name at the top of the file. The Good Shepherd of my soul is a promise keeper. He has moved heaven and earth to bring me home to Himself.


My Creator put the coffin destroying, death-defying weapon in my hand. He appointed Jesus to intercede for me. Miraculously, this Jesus and His Word are alive in me and in so many others. And when I haven’t known how to escape the heaviness, the hopelessness, He has prayed for me. He placed Himself in the lives of those around me to love me and pull the trigger of prayer for me.

I know prayer is this amazing life saving act that brings the triumphant power of God against the forces of evil. Today I am more aware that there are people who are truly buried alive by their sin as I have been. So why do I fail to pray? Why do I forget to pray? Why do I let twenty other tasks trump praying for people in need?

Lord, forgive me. You sent out the alert – pray at all times with purpose and perseverance (Ephesians 6:18). And I have talked about showing up to help more than I have actually assisted in your appointed rescue mission. Only you understand what keeps me from the work of prayer.

People all around me are buried alive in the coffin of sin. I want to become the warrior who does not give up until they are free. Fortify me with the resilience I need to persevere.

In Jesus, I pray.

Amen

Jennifer O. White is the author of Prayers for New Brides: Putting on God’s Armor After the Wedding Dress. With fierce honesty, she shares her own experience of one failed marriage and one rescued by the Wonderful Counselor. Praying God’s Word is her passion and she’s inviting all brides to guard their marriage with the Sword of His Spirit. You’ll find her blogging about prayer at jenniferowhite.com.

Slay Your Sorrow by Praying for Someone Else by: Jennifer O White

I have discovered that one of the VERY best ways to lift my despairing soul is to pray for others. When I first started serving in our church’s prayer room, the enormous stack of prayer cards scared me. My brain whispered to my heart, “This is going to be so depressing.” But as I finished the hour praying for other’s needs, I felt lighter. After a month of weekly visits to our prayer room, my heart and mind agreed: Praying for others brings healing to my soul.

The Bible gives us evidence that this practice of praying (serving others) brings great reward.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

… in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

Did you know that about Job? Seriously, that guy had plenty to despair over. Yet he served his friends (the ones who told him to curse God and die). And his fortunes were restored.

Now, I’m not suggesting that we launch out praying for others for the purpose of blessing or having our fortunes doubled. I’m preaching to myself and inviting you to experience the gift that comes from ignoring the voice within us that is screaming for justice, attention, and relief long enough to serve other despairing ones. We can trust that it will be used for their good, God’s glory and in our lives for more good than it cost us in time and attention.

You may have a church prayer ministry that you can join today. I hope you will prayerfully consider doing that. Create your own prayer ministry using the opportunities you have to pray for others as you sit, walk, drive, watch the news, visit other cities and countries.

When our hearts are heavy it is hard to think of what to pray for others. Here are simple prayers based on Scripture that you can pray in the name of Jesus Christ over your own home, neighborhood, church, and other countries.

Your Home –

We desire to do nothing out of ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility we choose to value others above ourselves. Guide us, teach us, empower us Lord. Philippians 2:3

We are filled with the fruit of salvation – the righteous character produced in our lives by Jesus Christ – we live to bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:11

Your Streets, Neighborhood, City

Lord, grant those who dwell in ________ the overwhelming desire to think about You and Your promises, even through the night. Psalm 119:148

Lord, give the people of  ________ eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch _____ out of Your hand. John 10:28

Your Church/ Any Church

Fill ________ minds Lord with a real knowledge and experience of Your love for them as Father. Grant them the joy of being Your children. 1 John 3:1

Lord, help _______ to agree wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:2

Hospitals

Almighty God, grant the employees the irresistible desire to praise You for Your great love and the wonderful things You have done in their hospital. Psalm 107:8-9

Father, let the patients and their families’ souls be at rest again, as they think on Your goodness to them. Psalm 116:7

Your Country / Other Countries

Lord, turn _________’s eyes from worthless things, and give them life through Your Word. Ps 119:37

Lord, overwhelm ________’s leaders with an eagerness for Your laws rather than a love for money. Psalm 119:36

You can offer these prayers within mere moments of your day knowing that your time in God’s presence brings joy and serving others brings blessing into your own life.

How can you intentionally work these or other life-giving, Kingdom-building, joy-restoring prayers into your day?

Jennifer O. White is the author of the forthcoming book, Prayers for New Brides: Putting on the Armor After the Wedding Dress. She is prayerfully speaking HOPE from the truth of God’s Word at jenniferowhite.com. You can download her free ebook – Prayers Spoken, Lives Changed here.