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.

The Mercy Seat, by Cheryl Lutz

 

“And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat…” Exodus 25:22

I was gasping for breath as I felt the current pulling me under.  I struggled hard against the waves, which only made matters worse.  I frantically pushed forward, only to be sucked further out.  I was fighting a force stronger than myself.  Undertow.  Scenes of my life truly played out in my mind.  Finally, I began to cry out to the one who has the power over the wind and the waves. He heard my cries and the next thing I remember was moving in closer and closer to shore.  I was in middle school swimming in the surf in Corpus Christi, Texas, when this terrifying event occurred. 

 

If you are a Christian, prayer is one of your greatest privileges.  So why don't we spend more time at the mercy seat?  Prayer is one of our greatest weapons against the attacks of the evil one, so why do we spend so little time on our knees?  I say, because prayer is WORK!  I love this quote by E.M. Bounds, regarding this essential discipline.

"To say prayers in a decent, delicate way is not heavy work.  But to pray till the iron gates of difficulty are opened, till the mountains of obstacles are removed, till the mists are exhaled and the clouds are lifted, and the sunshine of a cloudless day brightens---this is hard work, but it is God's work and man's best labor."

Friends, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords invites us into His presence through the precious blood of Jesus.  Will we come? 

We must first find out what the mystery hidden in the mercy seat is. "Once a year, the High Priest took the blood of a sacrificial offering and entered into the Most Holy. He then sprinkled this blood of the sacrificial offering on the mercy seat for exactly seven times. God said that He would meet the Israelites on this mercy seat then. God meets whoever has the same faith as that of the High Priest, that is, the faith in His remission of sin revealed in the sacrificial system." Rev. Paul C. Jong

Do you have "iron gates of difficulty" in your life?  How about "mountains of obstacles?"  

Do you believe that the One who parted the Red Sea can do the same in your circumstances?

I close with a stanza of another of my favorite hymns:

“Ah! whither could we flee for aid, When tempted, desolate, dismayed;

Or how the hosts of hell defeat, Had suffering saints no mercy seat?”

Through Every Stormy Wind that Blows, William Cooper

So what are you waiting for?  You don’t have to wait until you are drowning in your circumstances! Enter now into the throne room of heaven.  Access is ours through the blood of Jesus. 

Hallelujah, what a Savior! 

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker. You may contact Cheryl through her blog at:www.securelyheld.com Twitter: @clutz40

Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

When All Else Fails… ~ A Guest Post by Terence Allen

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

For some reason, the Allen men were born directionally challenged. Whatever else we may be good at, finding our way from Point A to Point B is not one of them. Praise God for GPS systems, on-line mapping programs, and the humility to ask for directions (no matter how much it wounds our pride and self-esteem).

I can’t say that it’s because of plain faulty wiring in my brain, some genetic predisposition (curse would be more accurate), or we are just a family of men who can’t find our way out of a paper bag without our wives’ gracious, generous, gentle help (did I lay that on thick enough?)

Regardless of the reason, I am constantly consulting some help or aid to find my way to my destination. Just as I am often clueless in finding my way across town, I can be even more clueless navigating life. It is much too complex, challenging, difficult, and evil for me to think that I can figure it out on my own.

Just as I sometimes need to ask for guidance in finding physical direction, I need to do the same to find my way spiritually. There is no need for false pride or posturing, no reason to hesitate or delay, and no reason to expect anything but the right answer. I might not like the answer. I might not like where I end up or how I get there, but that doesn’t change the need to ask. We must pray – consistently, continually, passionately, and resolutely. We must trust God for the right answers at the right time.

When all else fails, pray. And next time, don’t wait until you’ve tried everything else.

 

Terence Allen is a writer, pastoral counselor and founder of Gideon's Sword Christian Counseling. He is preparing for ordination as a Pastor of Counseling. He works at and attends Cumberland Community Church in Smyrna, Georgia.

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.