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" It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

Tuesday 17 March 2020

"For Such a Time as This?" Est. 4:14b

Well, ‘twas in prayer that this subject came to me, praying for our nation, leaders, dear ones everywhere!
How much prayer is needed!
We in Oz had drought, many prayed, the rains came, drought not in all places broken, but many have been so blessed.
Then we had the dreadful fires so we all prayed some more and God in His mercy put out those fires with this rain, which is still falling here.
God is faithful!
So again a need arises.
The call to earnest, fervent, fasting prayer once again goes forth. 
This verse came to mind, as I pondered and prayed! 
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
.. come for such a time as this?
Why are we here, dear ones?
 Some of you like me I know have been at death’s door, at different times yet we are still here?
Why?
Our work is not yet done, the call has gone forth - to PRAY!
What if we altogether hold our peace...? 
Yes, we need to comfort or "to speak a word in season  to him that is weary"(see link Isaiah 50:4)
However it struck me that our lack of prayer in such things might be holding our peace. 
We need to pray much, each and every day, and very, very often.
Without ceasing.. for our nations, for our leaders, for medical staff, for all men everywhere to repent, for Satan’s power to be bound in Jesus’ name, that the LORD Jesus Christ might be lifted up and glorified in our lives in the lives of dear lost ones. We are in a battle that souls might be won for eternity.
Our time might be limited for quiet, secluded prayer, but we can pray instead of relaxing at night over some choice activity, or in the car, in transit, wherever we are going in our day!
Or as did Susanna Wesley, (John & Charles Wesley's mother) a home schooling mother of 19, she simply bowed her head, placing her apron over her head. Her children knew not interrupt, mother was in her tabernacle of prayer.
Esther was a woman in special place for a special time.
As a result of her courage a nation was spared, for the nation of Israel was under threat. 
Read the very short ten chapter book, it’s a quick read and will cheer your heart (Link here). 
This was a lady willing to be used of God, she listened to the wise counsel of her uncle Mordacai, she stood firm behind the onslaught of possible death through a jealous man, Haman.
But what was key behind this action of Esther?
See these verses HERE, especially note v17.  
Gather together to fast... and although it’s not added, the Jews fasted and prayed together.
The key 🔑 to Esther’s success and blessing of God was the prayers of faith - of herself and of others.
As dear Bro Mac. now in glory said: 
“Prayer is power, 
it brings about the mighty action of the Almighty.”
We are here for such a time as this.
This is not simply a physical battle we see around us with the current virus or Covid-19. It’s a spiritual battle for souls too.
More enter eternity in any given day through abortions, or diseases like heart attacks, strokes or cancer, than CV, yet we scarcely blink an eye about them!? 
Do we run around in fear panicking, stocking up our cupboards, lest it come our way? 
No, of course we don’t, they’re known conditions!
Familiarity does breed contempt. 
Let us pray earnestly for souls to be awakened in this time, and PRAY for grace to be given to all medical staff suffering under acute shortages, unimaginable ones ..
Oh, may we awaken out of our slumber, and do as Esther did.. to pray earnestly for our nations, our leaders, our people, who are lost blind leading the blind. 
It’s prayer that will make the difference. 
I’m praying over world maps, I'm acutely aware, as are many others, that it’s the third world nations that will suffer. 
A dear 70 y.o sister, an "Esther" midwife in Suriname (near equator in Sth America), her village hasn't even clean drinking water! Suriname has one CV case.  Also our church has another dear Esther in the front line in a hospital in Liberia, Nth Africa ... they’ve just one case also of Covid-19 in Liberia (acc to Aljizeera, can't find that now. However is Here and here)
That’s all it takes.
You know what the Liberian hospital has for breathing apparatus? a box with few hoses, etc which have been used multiple times  and will be again. 
This hospital was at the forefront of the Ebola epidemic. God brought them through it! 
I say God because they’re are believers there. 
So let us awake to pray and pray and pray believing!
This leapt out at me afresh yest. as I prayed:
… "or if I send pestilence among my people; 
If my people, which are called by my name, 
shall humble themselves, and pray, 
and seek my face, 
and turn from their wicked ways; 
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, 
and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 - 15
For as we pray then the LORD will bless. 
We are here.. to work - but most of all to pray.
So let us pray.. yes! there are meals to prepare, homes to clean, etc. but let us be like Esther, and fulfil our call to be women of prayer as well as action of obedience in doing, be a Mary and a Martha in one. 
"Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit,  saith the Lord." 
Zech. 4:6b
And as you pray, I will agree with you by faith in your prayers, meeting at the throne of grace, where we find grace to help in time of need.
 A few weak women can become a mighty powerhouse of prayer.
May the Lord bless you dear ones.
I pray for all who come here, that the Lord will bless, and keep you and that all those for whom you’re burdened safe, 
and bring each of them through to a saving knowledge in Christ.

“Fear looks back,
Worry look around, 
Faith looks UP!”

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻 🤗  
Shaz in Oz.x

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5 comments:

Conniecrafter said...

We need to continue to pray that God will get us through this, and guide us in all we do, may more be brought to him through this happening.

Mehrll said...

Wonderful post and very appropriate for the world today. People have forgotten God. They are looking everywhere for solutions to their problems. God is the only answer! So thankful that I serve a God who is living and has the answer to every problem (drought, fire, sickness, etc) and who willingly sent His Son to provide a way of escape for us. Love you Shaz. Hugs

Sunshine Country said...

Thank you so much for this post - will be joining you in prayer in this time. May the Lord use this to awaken the hearts of lost ones, and also His children, to seek Him in sincerity. Your quote is very true and thought-provoking: "More enter eternity in any given day through abortions, or diseases like heart attacks, strokes or cancer, than CV, yet we scarcely blink an eye about them!?" Just thinking of all the millions of babies that are being wickedly killed - yet we think so little on it, but a virus like this creates such panic. Truly our world deserves much worse at the Lord's hand against all of the wickedness...may He in His mercy cause sinners to repent before far worse does come upon them!

Anne said...

Great post, an absolute reminder that we need to get out of our spiritual slumber. In fact I have been praying this for the last week or so but I am so busy being busy that I am now finding ways to ensure I step up spiritually. I love the look back, look all around and look up quote!

Betsy said...

My dear Shaz, I had not seen this post until this evening. But... I woke up this morning with the words "For such a time as this" in my mind. I had fallen asleep praying as I do most nights. I woke up many times during the night, praying exactly where I had left off. This happened over and over because I'm not sleeping very well. I often fall asleep praying, that isn't unusual, but to remember what I was praying about when I fell asleep is not normal. And to think that I also woke up thinking the words in your post today. I do believe that God is using His people in a mighty way during this crisis. If all of the saints rise up and lift the world in prayer I believe wonderful things happen.
I'm thinking of you often my dear Shaz. May you be well and full of strength from Him.
Blessings,
Betsy