ESTHER’S WARRIORS MINISTRY

If you had a chance to watch the Vice Presidential debate this past week you would have observed VP Joe Biden’s demeanor as disruptive, condescending, dismissive, and downright rude. Romans 16:17 tells us, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”  At no other time in our history as a Nation have we had such divisive rhetoric as we have with this administration.  Attempts to divide us across racial, economic and class lines have fractured our country internally and our strength as a world leader. If we seek to avoid such behavior in those around us how much more must we be diligent to avoid this same behavior in those we choose to govern us?
How can we as Christians help our country in this season?  First and foremost we must continue to pray and fast for the upcoming election.  As the next Presidential debate is scheduled for this week, pray that all listening will have ears to hear what the real issues are and not to be swayed by false innuendos spoken to mislead. Pray for an overall turning back to the Lord and a shift in perception that will enlighten all going to the polls.  Pray for godly leadership to guide us through the next season in our history.  Pray for revival and lasting reformation that will rebuild our country at the very foundation.

What Are You Paying Forward?

The next important thing we can do as individuals is to clear divisiveness from each one of our hearts (it really is always a heart issue).  This cannot be stressed enough.  What goes on in your heart affects all around you.  What affects all around you affects all around them and so on and so on.  We are either paying forward unity or division.  There is no in between.  If we hold division in our heart we will create division in relationships with those around us.  It cannot be avoided.  Division multiplies division.  If left unchecked it will morph into a life filled with offense and separation from the very people we purpose to love.

The Choice is to Flow or Be Stagnant 

If we live consistently offended by the actions and words of others we fracture our own ability to move forward with a clear heart.  The key to being a victorious Christian is the ability to flow.  In John 7:37b-38, Jesus tells us clearly, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

If we thirst for spiritual victory and to walk in all Jesus died to give us, we must first go to Him.  We cannot really do anything in our own strength.  Once in His presence, we allow Him to wash over us and fill us with His peace and with His power to go forth.  Next, we must believe in Him without any doubt.  We must believe He is Who He says He is and He can do all He says He can do in our life.  If we have done these things then our heart will be filled with His grace.  Literally His grace will flow as rivers of life giving water from our heart to those we meet.  Re-read this paragraph.  He gave us a clear pattern.  If we follow it we will have rivers [abundant ability to move forward] of life giving waters flowing from our hearts.

Think of a river.   It is moving and changing.  It is not a stagnant pool.  A river will wind around rocks and shift direction to bypass potential barriers.  The river continues to flow.  It does not get stopped by seemingly overwhelming obstacles in the natural.  On the other hand, if water stops flowing and becomes stagnant it becomes a cesspool of potential viral, bacterial and fungal overgrowth.  Now relate that to a heart that becomes stuck by life issues.  It becomes a breeding ground for every evil work.

Picture water and then picture a rock.  The water slips easily through your fingers whereas the rock is solid and heavy.  Yet that same water can flow around, over or under the rock and move forward while the rock remains stationary.   In similar fashion we will be able to flow past potential barriers and strongholds if we stay closely connected to the Source of living water and maintain our belief in Him.  We will flow past offense whether real or imagined and move forward in Him.  We will not become stuck-stagnant-toxic at the heart level.

The Heartbeat of Unity

To see God move in our Nation we have to allow Him to move mightily in each one of our hearts.  Unity begins in the individual heart and beats outward sending a unifying rhythm throughout the land.  I pray that we will each closely embrace the unifying love of the Lord, clear our hearts of all division and go forward unencumbered in Jesus’ name.

‘Pray the States’

Join us this week as we ‘pray the states’ toward the 2012 Presidential election.  We are praying for each state in the order of admission to the Union.  Please cover South Dakota admitted to the Union November 2, 1889, in prayer.  Pray for wisdom and discernment for the political leaders, pastors and church leaders, the people residing in South Dakota and for all in our Nation.  Each state is important in forming our United States of America.  We commit to pray for a different state each week so we not only provide prayer cover but also to make us aware that our country is bigger than the space we personally occupy in it. These are our United States.  Let us pray that we will arise united ‘for such a time as this!’  Please repost and share.

“…rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessing no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace.”  President Abraham Lincoln, March 30, 1863.  Taken from In God We Still Trust, A 365-Day Devotional by Dr. Richard G. Lee

A Prayer Request and Personal Blessing

Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray.  Please keep all who serve our country on foreign soil,  our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety.  They are our frontline on the battlefield, let us be their frontline in the spirit.  Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.  God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families.   May God richly bless the United States of America and keep her safe.

May God richly bless you. May you, with His help, bring unity to your heart (and it is always a heart issue) and to your home.   May rivers of living water flow out to all you encounter. May we may arise united in this auspicious season in our country’s history.