My daily reading
lately has nestled me into the book of Daniel. While I did an in depth
study on this book in high school Bible class and Beth Moore study on
it only last year, I still gleaned so much from it! It was as if I’d
never read it before. God shows up time and time again through these men
who sought wisdom from Him for His glory and He granted it to them!
These were men devoted to prayer. Daniel prayed three times each
day…publicly. Boldly. Even when a decree was made that no man should
worship a god other than the king.
lately has nestled me into the book of Daniel. While I did an in depth
study on this book in high school Bible class and Beth Moore study on
it only last year, I still gleaned so much from it! It was as if I’d
never read it before. God shows up time and time again through these men
who sought wisdom from Him for His glory and He granted it to them!
These were men devoted to prayer. Daniel prayed three times each
day…publicly. Boldly. Even when a decree was made that no man should
worship a god other than the king.
He was unwavering in this. And
because of that, “As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the
earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice.
He explained to me, ‘Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and
understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given.
(Hannah’s input: WHAAAT??) And now I’m here to tell you what it was, for
you are very precious to God.” (Daniel 9:21-23)
because of that, “As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the
earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice.
He explained to me, ‘Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and
understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given.
(Hannah’s input: WHAAAT??) And now I’m here to tell you what it was, for
you are very precious to God.” (Daniel 9:21-23)
One’s
not proof enough for ya? Daniel 10:12-13 (and read through 18 for
yourself!!) “Then he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day
you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your
God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to
your prayer. But for twenty-one days, the spirit prince of the kingdom
of Persia blocked my way…” Ephesians 6:12, anyone?!! “For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and
powers in the heavenly realms.”
not proof enough for ya? Daniel 10:12-13 (and read through 18 for
yourself!!) “Then he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day
you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your
God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to
your prayer. But for twenty-one days, the spirit prince of the kingdom
of Persia blocked my way…” Ephesians 6:12, anyone?!! “For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and
powers in the heavenly realms.”
So
with all of this being poured into me, you would think I would be like,
“OK! Let’s go do some serious praying!” But when my team set out today
with the objective of praying over the local city, I didn’t feel like a
mighty warrior wielding a ridiculously powerful spiritual weapon. I
thought about others on my squad who are out ministering to women stuck
in prostitution and I felt like a glorified mall walker. Oh, me of
little faith!
with all of this being poured into me, you would think I would be like,
“OK! Let’s go do some serious praying!” But when my team set out today
with the objective of praying over the local city, I didn’t feel like a
mighty warrior wielding a ridiculously powerful spiritual weapon. I
thought about others on my squad who are out ministering to women stuck
in prostitution and I felt like a glorified mall walker. Oh, me of
little faith!
We
went to a museum in the city and I read all about the Buddhist roots
that run so deep in this ancient kingdom. “To be Thai is to be
Buddhist”, goes one common saying. I read thing after thing about what
it means to be Buddhist. They seek “dharma” or wisdom and they are very
pious and denying of physical pleasures. They meditate in nature to
achieve this state. The Thai also blend some Animism or “spirit worship”
into their beliefs. They have a very real awareness of this spiritual
realm, but not to any saving end. As I saw these things and witnessed
the heart of one of my fellow teammates break for these people who are
so lost, the scales fell off of my eyes, too. Each lie that I
encountered, a truth from scripture just came springing to my memory!
went to a museum in the city and I read all about the Buddhist roots
that run so deep in this ancient kingdom. “To be Thai is to be
Buddhist”, goes one common saying. I read thing after thing about what
it means to be Buddhist. They seek “dharma” or wisdom and they are very
pious and denying of physical pleasures. They meditate in nature to
achieve this state. The Thai also blend some Animism or “spirit worship”
into their beliefs. They have a very real awareness of this spiritual
realm, but not to any saving end. As I saw these things and witnessed
the heart of one of my fellow teammates break for these people who are
so lost, the scales fell off of my eyes, too. Each lie that I
encountered, a truth from scripture just came springing to my memory!
These
monks devote their lives to self-denial. To religious stringency in
order to achieve inner peace. But as with Christians or any other who
make it about rules…”You have died with Christ and He has set your free
from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following
the rules of this world such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t
touch!’? Such rules may seem wise because they require pious self denial
and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a
person’s evil desires.” (Colossians 2: 20-23)
monks devote their lives to self-denial. To religious stringency in
order to achieve inner peace. But as with Christians or any other who
make it about rules…”You have died with Christ and He has set your free
from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following
the rules of this world such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t
touch!’? Such rules may seem wise because they require pious self denial
and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a
person’s evil desires.” (Colossians 2: 20-23)
The
Buddhist culture is very much about being at peace and finding wisdom
in yourself. But Colossians 2:3 says that “in Him (Christ) lie hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” and that we have to die to
ourselves to find our new life.
Buddhist culture is very much about being at peace and finding wisdom
in yourself. But Colossians 2:3 says that “in Him (Christ) lie hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” and that we have to die to
ourselves to find our new life.
Then
I pictured these monks sitting in the middle of God’s glorious creation
and meditating…searching for wisdom and the end of suffering. “They
know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For
ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.
Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible
qualities- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse
for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him
as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas
of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and
confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And
instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped
idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals.” (Romans
1:19-24) What’s crazy about this verse is that today alone I saw statues
of bird-like creatures, alligators, dragons and weird spirit people!
I pictured these monks sitting in the middle of God’s glorious creation
and meditating…searching for wisdom and the end of suffering. “They
know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For
ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.
Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible
qualities- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse
for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him
as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas
of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and
confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And
instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped
idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals.” (Romans
1:19-24) What’s crazy about this verse is that today alone I saw statues
of bird-like creatures, alligators, dragons and weird spirit people!
The
last place that we prayed was a temple. It was surrounded by ornate
gold statues of lions. Two standing guard at each of the four entrances.
They believe these lions are the protectors of their city and it’s bad
luck if any harm comes to them. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out
for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion,
looking for someone to devour.” I got chills! The very thing they revere
as keeping their city safe is actually closing them in in bondage and
wants nothing more than to destroy them!!
last place that we prayed was a temple. It was surrounded by ornate
gold statues of lions. Two standing guard at each of the four entrances.
They believe these lions are the protectors of their city and it’s bad
luck if any harm comes to them. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out
for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion,
looking for someone to devour.” I got chills! The very thing they revere
as keeping their city safe is actually closing them in in bondage and
wants nothing more than to destroy them!!
So
what can you do, you at home in America reading this? SO MUCH! Don’t be
like me this morning and doubt the effectiveness of your prayer!
what can you do, you at home in America reading this? SO MUCH! Don’t be
like me this morning and doubt the effectiveness of your prayer!
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16)
Pray
that the darkness and confusion that has clouded the minds of these
people will be pierced with the light of Christ so they can experience
true wisdom and eternal peace!
that the darkness and confusion that has clouded the minds of these
people will be pierced with the light of Christ so they can experience
true wisdom and eternal peace!
Pray
that the scales will fall off of their eyes and instead of fearing the
lion who wants to devour them, they will come to the One who has
infinitely greater power and wishes to save them.
that the scales will fall off of their eyes and instead of fearing the
lion who wants to devour them, they will come to the One who has
infinitely greater power and wishes to save them.
Pray
that the strongholds of tradition, shame and fear will be crushed (it
is a common belief that if you become a Christian, your parents will be
reborn as worms)!
that the strongholds of tradition, shame and fear will be crushed (it
is a common belief that if you become a Christian, your parents will be
reborn as worms)!
My
team chose the name “Wrecking Ball” at training camp back in October.
We chose this because of a song by Jonathan David Helser (which isn’t
recorded yet) that says “let heaven fall // like a wrecking ball”. It
talks about crushing our fear and other things that are not of God.
Prophetic? I’d like to think so.
team chose the name “Wrecking Ball” at training camp back in October.
We chose this because of a song by Jonathan David Helser (which isn’t
recorded yet) that says “let heaven fall // like a wrecking ball”. It
talks about crushing our fear and other things that are not of God.
Prophetic? I’d like to think so.
Partner
with us in bringing down some serious spiritual walls. Not just in
Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Swaziland, South
Africa, Mozambique, Romania and Moldova. Not just for the next 11
months.
with us in bringing down some serious spiritual walls. Not just in
Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Swaziland, South
Africa, Mozambique, Romania and Moldova. Not just for the next 11
months.
Until heaven meets earth like and unforeseen kiss.
Thank you for your prayers. They move mountains.
