Thank You, Father, for answers to prayer yesterday when one of our buses got hit! Though the bus was damaged and the car was totaled, no one was seriously injured. Praise Your name for Your watchcare over us!
Mark 9:14-18 (<<click to read the passage)
When I open up the internet on my computer, I have three tabs that open up on for local news, one for regional news and one nationally syndicated news station. None of them are faith-based (I’m not even sure if there is such a thing) but they all give a pretty good overview of what’s happening across the globe.
One thing I have to be wary of is becoming desensitized to the violence, death, and evil in the world. Some stories reflect intentional evil, other stories highlight unfortunate incidents of happenstance. And on occasion, there might be one or two “feel good” stories thrown in for good measure. Regardless, it becomes very easy to just peruse over it all and not be impacted in any way.
In today’s passage, Peter, James, and John are coming off a mountain-top experience (literally and figuratively!) They had the awesome privilege of experiencing something genuinely pure and beautiful from the hand of God Himself!
And when they come down to the reality of life here on earth, they are thrust right into the horror and ugliness of evil in the flesh!
My Life Application Study Bible has this to say,
“The beauty they had just seen must have made the ugliness seem even uglier. As our spiritual vision improves and allows us to see and understand God better, we will also be able to see and understand evil better. We would be overcome by its horror if we did not have Jesus with us to take us through it safely. Don’t be afraid to confront evil and suffering, no matter how ugly or horrible. Jesus goes with you.”
There is no way we can avoid evil in this world. We have fed it and encouraged its growth since the beginning of time and we are reaping the fruit of our labors. But here is the main point, it is not always the wisest choice to run and hide from the evil that is so prevalent. We must take it on! And the best way is not necessarily head on but heart on!
I cannot be everywhere nor do I have the strength or wisdom to provide any substantial aid…but I know Someone can foot the bill! I must do what I can but of utmost importance in my area of responsibility is to pray and pray and pray some more!
I must take action when possible and wise but absolutely nothing can stop me from taking it all to the Lord in prayer
Lord Jesus, may I be a mighty warrior in prayer! Use me! Spur me on to praying down Your victory over the powers of this dark world!
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Ephesians 6:12 (AMP)
May 15th, 2019, Wed, 9:21 am
