Pick Up Your Sword

I believe the greatest sin of our nation is that we have abandoned the most vulnerable among us – our children. From abortion, to trafficking to allowing them to be educated and indoctrinated by people who are anti-God, we are failing to protect our young. Added to this, the decades long plan to normalize sexual depravity has led to expected consequences with pedophilia now being floated into the marketplace of cultural ideas as a new “norm” that is gaining acceptance.

We live in a country where women march in the street for the “right” to kill their own children and then ask why our children are killing themselves and others. I have read that as many as one in five children and adolescents may have an identifiable mental disorder that requires treatment and at least 1 in 10 has a serious emotional disturbance. Why is that? What type of environment have we created for them?

We live in a culture whose music, movies and literature glorify domestic abuse, and all forms of violence against women and then ask why we fear for our daughters.

We live in a culture where men are ridiculed for being “too masculine,” describing masculinity as “toxic.” We won’t let men be men and then wonder why we feel unprotected.

We live in a nation that has been divided along the lines of political party, religion, race, ethnicity, age, gender, class and just about anything else that can be used to drive people away from one another.

We live in a nation where 1 in 6 people are medicated, drugged and sedated, either by an M.D. or themselves, and then ask why we can’t think clearly any more…or even think at all …

We, as a nation, have forsaken God and ignored His Word. We have trusted in our own abilities and our own intellect and look where that has gotten us. The Lord has placed men and women in positions of leadership in our nation, but they can only influence – they cannot lift us up out of the mess we are in. Only as we ask God’s forgiveness can we experience the freedom and shalom that His presence offers us.

Will you continue to fight for those you love?

Jesus said “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) We, HIS CHURCH, must stand against evil. We must pray, we must speak out, we must move with His Spirit. If we don't do it, who will?

Jesus “ disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col 2:15) It is always time for us to battle in prayer, but now much more than ever as we see how brazenly the enemy is operating. If we believe what God’s Word says, we know we are fighting an enemy that has been disarmed! We should be pressing in … full scorched earth mode! If victory has already been assured, then the only reason we would give up ground is if we are not even attempting to advance.

When the armies of Israel faced Goliath and the Philistine army, they cowered in fear. It took a young man, full of faith and zealous for the reputation of HIS GOD to defeat them. David ran toward the battle while seasoned, hardened soldiers hid.

The battle is raging all around us. Will you be like David and run to defeat the enemies of the Lord, or will you compromise and shrink back while the enemy taunts and defames the Name of Jesus? Each of us has a choice as to how we will respond to these conflicts we face.

David was a man of war. God anointed him king over Israel and his life was one battle after another – against the enemies of his nation and within his own household! When his son Solomon succeeded him on the throne, his life was marked by “peace on all sides.” ( 1 Kings 5:4)

Solomon enjoyed this peace because of the battles fought and won by his father. I think a battle weary King David looked into the future as he waged war, knowing that everything he gained would be to the benefit of generations to come.

Will we fight for our future generations? Will we fight so our children, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren are able to live “ quiet and peaceful lives?” (1 Tim 2:2) Will we sacrifice to ensure that our offspring are not offered up to the gods of this culture? Will we fight for their right to live? For their right to be safe from predators? For their right to an education free of indoctrination? For their right to freely assemble and worship?

There is no shortage of battles, but there is definitely a shortage of soldiers. I am thankful to be a part of a group of praying women who will boldly defend the Lord’s honor, who will boldly fight for their families and who will boldly run toward the Throne of Grace to find help in time of need! (Heb 4:16)

If you are feeling weary, this day we break off all passivity. We break off all heaviness. We break off compromise. We break off everything that is holding you back – everything that is slowing you down spiritually. We put the sword back in your hand!

Every generation, at some point, will face a war that must be won. We are not exempt.

Regardless of the battle before us, no matter how dark the spiritual atmosphere becomes, we must fight for the purpose and will of God in the earth, knowing we fight an enemy that was already defeated at the cross.

We do not relax our intercession. We do not surrender our vision. We know there will come a time when the world enters into a day of irreparable darkness, but NOT this day. Today we fight!

“The people who know their God will be strong and take action.” (Daniel 11:32)