Dear Ones,
Boot camp continues here in Omaha – many very difficult circumstances, many opportunities to choose a Hebrews 11 depth of trust. That chapter begins with a definition: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Soak in that for a minute…sure and certain of what we don’t see and what has not been made manifest here in space and time. Often when we find ourselves in such a place, when things seem so out of control and evil seems to have the upper hand in life as we know it, we can find ourselves feeling somewhat adrift. And in those times, our greatest defense and sure foundation is to remind ourselves of the absolute, airtight faithfulness and sovereignty of our God.
One of the treasures in my arsenal comes from a sister in the Lord whom I’ve never met personally but whose gift to the Body of Christ has ministered to me repeatedly through the years. Her name is Sylvia Gunter and she’s published much of her journey of faith through Prayer Portions and on her website www.thefathersbusiness.com. I’d like to share one of her gems with you this month. It’s been a great reminder and comfort to me while my son was so ill and to Brenda whose missing sister’s death has just been confirmed as I write this. I pray it also brings comfort and encouragement to the rest of the FMM family in the midst of whatever your current boot camp contains. (Note: I’ve slightly modified this meditation, spelling out the references and using “Yeshua” instead of “Jesus” when referring to our Messiah. Otherwise, it’s exactly as originally written.)
What To Pray When You Don’t Know What To Pray – Pray God’s Character
God is sovereign. All authority and all power is His. Matthew 28:18. Nothing takes Him by surprise. All circumstances are His servants. He knows the end from the beginning. Psalm 119:91, Isaiah 46:9-10. His word is forever settled in heaven. Ps 119:89.
Romans 8:28-29 is still in our Bible. He does all things for our good and His glory, to conform us to be like Yeshua. There is no circumstance, person, place, or time that the blood of Yeshua does not cover. The One who did not spare His own Son will freely give us all His best. Romans 8:31-32. He promises that He is for us and nothing can separate us from His love. That was settled on the cross. Romans 8:35-39.
God’s lovingkindness never ceases. His compassions and great faithfulness never fail. They are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23. He supplies all our needs by His riches in Yeshua HaMashiach (Christ Jesus). Philippians 4:19. He knows and cares. The very hairs of our head are numbered. Matthew 10:30.
He promises that He is God of all comfort, Father of mercies. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. He is able to supply His abundant grace to us in every situation, so that in all things, at all times, we have all of His sufficient grace we need for strength, encouragement, and hope. 2 Corinthians 9:8. He is able to show His perfect power in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
We can know with certainty that He is able to guard what we have entrusted to Him. 2 Tim 1:12. He promises that He is our strength, our shield, our strong tower, our refuge, our hope, our joy, our peace, our everything, our all. Psalm 18:1-3, Colossians 3:11b.
He promises to renew our strength as we wait on Him. Isaiah 40:31. He promises that He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He is with us, a very present help. Hebrews 13:5-6, Psalm 46:1. He never goes back on a promise. Joshua 21:45.
He has a heart that tears can touch and invites us to climb up in the Father’s lap and cry. Hebrews 4:15, Psalm 56:8. He gives gladness instead of mourning and praise instead of fainting. Weeping endures for a night, but He gives the joy that comes in the morning. Isaiah 61:3, Psalm 30:5.
He is enthroned on the praises of His children. Psalm 22:3. When we lift Him up continually in a sacrifice of praise, we glorify Him in this situation in the here-and now. John 12:28a.
Father, glorify Yourself this hour. John 12:28
Isn’t that a beautiful devotional? So full of Truth… so full of Reality… so needful when those storms of life knock us off our feet. And that Truth is our sure foundation which allows us to then get back up and stand again. It’s never by might and or by power. Our victory is always and only in our sovereign God. The thing that often can derail us as disciples is a belief that we won’t stumble and we won’t fall. The truth is that we do. We do stumble, we do inadvertently (or on purpose) have moments where we step off Father’s perfect path, and there are times we fall flat on our faces because of those circumstances. Father’s promise is what enables us to get back up, dust ourselves off, remind ourselves of His eternal Blood Covenant faithfulness, replace whatever lies got us all tangled up by installing and/or remembering His never failing Truth, and then get back up. And the beauty of His Perfect Provision is that we do all that not from our own strength or willpower… we do it by relying on and resting in the finished work of Yeshua.
We must remember that disciples stand their ground. They are not overcome by evil, they overcome evil with good. That is our job description. As disciples, we are here to usher the Glory of the Living God into everyday situations and circumstances, no matter how “impossible” they may seem. We know that nothing is impossible to our God and so even in a maelstrom, we can be at peace. Even in tragedy, even in inconceivable loss… no matter what.
Before closing this month’s letter, I want to give glory to our Father once again for the amazing and unexplainable way in which He’s been ministering that “peace that passes all understanding” to our precious sister, Brenda, as she’s processing all the emotions and details and family needs in light of her sister’s unexpected death. And I want to again ask the entire FMM family to continue praying for her and her extended family through their grieving process.
I’m so grateful for each and every one of you who has said, “Yes!” when the Holy Spirit called you into discipleship and for the way in which He is knitting us together into a beautiful part of His end times work here on earth! Whether we ever meet in time and space, or not until eternity, I count it a privilege to call you my covenant brothers and sisters, and precious friends!
Nancy