I was in my early twenties when I read the book ‘Piercing the Darkeness’ by Frank Peretti.
It had me absolutely captivated! I knew about the power of God. I knew about angels and I knew about demons but the idea that there was a spiritual war raging in tandem to the very life that we are living, was an entirely new concept to me.
Although Frank Peretti has written a fictional novel, there is so much truth in the picture that he paints.
If we could view our lives like that, from God’s perspective, we would be constantly aware of the impact that we can have in our battle worn world.
With the breath of a prayer and an ember of faith in our hearts, we can change the course of history. That may sound dramatic, but it’s spot on the truth.
Calling on God with a sincere heart, sets His angels in motion and they will work in a situation to bring about the perfect will of God.
And we can have the incredible privilege of watching Gods hand move.
It most often doesn’t move in the way that we expect it to move. But there is always a shift and a victory for Gods team.
We need to be aware that there is an enemy out there, wanting to work things out to his own end and if we do not call out for God’s intervention, the enemy can triumph.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) we do not see the battle raging, but it is going on in another realm and as believers we need to be aware of it and we need to PRAY. Even if that is all that we get to do.
(sometimes it may seem as if the enemy is …) I recently had an experience where it seemed as if the enemy was thwarting my every plan but I trust that even though it is not evident right now, God’s hand is moving, hearts are changing and celebrations shall be held in heaven.
It all began with a simple request for prayer.
There was a man who was walking down a very dark path. A man who knew God but who continually chose to behave in a way that took him further and further from the will of God and further and further into very dark places.
I was asked to pray for someone who wanted to talk to this man. To bring him into full awareness of this dark road that he was walking.
That was an easy part for me to play. I was safe in my space and I could pray for her to step out in boldness and confront the situation. Together we trusted that God would set the scene and prepare his heart so that the conversation would be well received.
It was however all turned on it’s head when one morning, while I was praying, I had a strong sense that I needed to be the one confronting this man. I was left shaking from both the power of the spirit and the fear the outcome of such a conversation. I could stand to loose that relationship, but if God said move, then I must move. And trust that He will govern the outcome.
So, I prayed and I fasted and I invited the man over for dinner after which I intended to have ‘the chat’.
The scene was set, the prayers had been prayed. I felt ready! But He didn’t arrive. He had totally forgotten and the opportunity was missed.
I remember feeling great relief but also incredible disappointment. I must confess that some of that disappointment came out of pride. I had wanted to enjoy that feeling of knowing that I had changed the course of his life. That I had been integral in the change. But in reality, God didn’t really need me – he just needed my prayers.
Soon after that and before I had a chance to reschedule our dinner, the man fell terribly ill and was scheduled to go and see a specialist that week. I had been biding my time in getting together to talk to him but again I felt a strong compulsion to make an arrangement to meet. So we set up a time to get together for a chat and prayer the very next day.
That morning while I prayed, I sensed the Lord tell me that I needed to fast as well. I also got a really powerful scripture which would help me share this message from God. I remember feeling more excited than scared this time. In my heart I felt ‘if I could just pray with him, and he could turn away from his wicked ways, he would be saved’ – not only in terms of God’s kingdom but also from the health crises that he was be facing. Again, I knew that there was an element of pride in my heart. I could be the one that could help change everything. I casually dismissed this thought but I did not debunk it or pray against it.
Our meeting was set for 3pm but at 10am I received a call saying that he had taken a terrible turn for the worst and was off to the specialist right them. My meeting with him was again cancelled.
I thought to myself ‘wow the enemy must really not want this talk to happen’. Twice, circumstances had not enabled it to take place.
The man was on a roller coaster of emotion as he fought of fears that his cancer had returned. He was feeling scared and beaten.
In the midst of all this, he was definitely not in a place to hear this message. So instead, I cooked him a pot of healthy chicken soup and spend some time with him, chatting and praying for Gods peace and healing. It was a good time that we had together.
And as I drove back home it suddenly dawned on me that God didn’t really need me to have that ‘chat’ with him. Maybe, the quiet prayers and fasting was all that was needed to for the angels to overcome the demons that had been blinding him and tempting him and in the spiritual, the battle had already been won. Without the talk. Without me actually getting involved and feeling good about what I had done!
Maybe all that God needed was my prayer.
God knows all things. He knows the secret thoughts in our hearts. He knows our responses before we have them.
And He uses us – if we are willing and available – to help win the battle against the enemy.
What we need to do is to trust that God will work things out. We need to change our perspective from our view to Gods view.
And to pray and to wait until He tells us to move.