A few of Jesus words that really resonated in my heart this morning from John 12:27. I offer this as an exhortation and encouragement for those in need.
Jesus said, “Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.'” John 12:27
Pray for our country, pray for our leaders, pray that the tides would turn, pray darkness is exposed and light prevails…pray all of these things and more but pray them not from a place that simply fears what could be in our future. No, we pray from a higher place and a higher perspective where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places…therefore, PRAY FOREMOST that the Father would be lifted up and be supremely and majestically glorified.
Take time today, in the midst of all the chaos, to lift your eyes, lift your gaze, lift your hearts in focused worship of Him. Time simply to love on Him, appreciate Him and adore Him. No agendas. No requests. Time spent at His feet like Mary, pouring ourselves out before Him. A moment dedicated solely to the worship He so perfectly deserves even if we feel we are in the presence of our enemies. For He anoints our heads with oil and has the choicest foods to dine upon in times like these.
The God of all creation stands confidently on His throne…unshaken, unmoved and at complete peace. Peace that is the foundation of our prayers. He knew how to glorify himself in the days of Pharaoh, he knew how to lift himself up among His beloved Israel for their salvation, he knew how to glorify himself in the trying times of Daniel and He knows how He’s going to glorify Himself in our day and time.
Whether your heart be in a place of fear or a place of abundant faith, be like the wise virgins, be like Daniel, and be like others we hold dear in the Word of God. Stand in the gap like Daniel. Pray for our nation, repent for where our nation has gone wrong and then stand to raise up a standard that glorifies our God.
Buy the oil God is pouring out. Oils of gladness and preparation. Put on garments of praise in exchange for the spirit of despair. Lift Him up, let worship fill our mouths and let Him fill you up for such a time as this. For, “worship opens doors to all his goodness.” Psalm 34:9b.
Gaze upon the beauty of our King. Soak up His presence and His peace. Pray from the same confidence and unmovable calm He infectiously exudes.
Lift up your heads, you gates, you ancients doors. YOU’RE the door right now. THAT is your role. A gate we open by making greater space in our hearts, minds, prayers and daily lives for Him and Him alone. Doors who shine a light because, “As you have the light (aka Jesus), believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.” John 12:36
Shine so bright you wont need to argue a political posture. Instead, the light in you will exude the truth and change hearts…possibly without a word being spoken. That’s what we carry. Presence. His presence. His gracious and powerful presence.
Lift up your heads because the King of Glory yearns to enter in. He is NOT here right now to condemn the world, rather, He came to save it in ways He has planned and determined since before the earth was formed. Not just to save US, but to save all who have yet to see just how beautiful and magnificent He really is. The ones we may be tempted to view as political enemies right now. The ones who need Him most.
Though things may not look the way we expect, His promises of protection and His covenant of peace over His people are still in full force and effect. Therefore, stand in peace and entrust into His hand the earthly salvation we seek from the very real modern-day fears and place those fears into His confident hands. That will free you up to seek HIM first (Matthew 6:33) to see Him lifted up and exalted before all the earth.
Pray without ceasing for our nation as we have been doing but remember we pray from faith and not fear. We raise a standard that intercedes to see the Father lifted up in our days, just as He was in days of old.
Selah