Warriors Arise: April 17th, 2020
Have you ever done something that hurt someone so deeply that shame and guilt paralyzed you from living life? Maybe you didn't know what to do after you had said what you said or did what you did. Maybe you didn't want to acknowledge how the 'ugly' of what was revealed through what you said or done. So you just hope it will all pass in time. You believe, "time will heal all wounds." You continue life, going through the motions, doing what you need to do, but you know something is holding you back. You hope that this whatever-it-is will lift so you can get back to being joyful, excited, and hopeful. This paralyzed living is an awful place to be. How can you embrace all God has to offer and live life again?
In Mark 16:7, the angel is going to deliver a message to the women and they need to remember exactly what he is going to tell them. They must remember exactly, one man's calling is dependent upon what they say. 1 Corinthians 7:17, "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk..." God has distributed to each one of us and the Lord has called us to a specific service in the advancement of His kingdom. We are going to do things in our lifetime where the enemy is going to try and convince us that we are disqualified because of what we have done or the things we have said.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together and made us sit together win the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)
Your decision is whether you will believe God or are you going to believe the lies that cause you to be less than who the Lord has called you to be and do? The message the angel had to tell the women needed to be heard and given exactly as he said it. Mark 16:7 "But go, tell His disciples -and Peter- that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."
Why did the message have to specifically point out Peter? Peter is a disciple and he had been with Jesus from the beginning. So why did the angel specifically say, "His disciples - and Peter"? My guess, Peter is paralyzed with guilt and shame from when he denied Jesus three times the night Jesus was taken. Peter, who said he would fight for and die for Jesus, denied even knowing Jesus and tried to convince people by swearing. Maybe this part of history hurts so deeply because I have been in Peter's place before. I should have stood beside people, supported them, accepted what they offered instead of expecting more than what they could give (perfection), instead I abandoned them in their time of need. When they needed love instead of the cold truth, mercy instead of judgement, and hope instead of reality without God. I am thankful the angel was told to specifically call Peter's name. Jesus wanted to meet with His disciples and specifically, Peter.
Warriors, we are praying today for those who do not feel worthy to receive God's love, mercy and hope. Those the enemy has convinced that they have screwed up too much. Those God is calling by name to return to visit with Jesus so they can be restored. "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11:27
God, You are amazing! I stand in awe of all of Your ways! I am so thankful for all You are; Your mercy, Your love, Your peace, Your power, Your protection, and Your hope, bring life to me. Just like Peter, I have screwed up. I have said I would walk in Your ways and in my heart I truly wanted to do all You put into my hands to do. But I have failed, not just once, but more times than I can count. I have hurt people with my words and with my actions and when I hurt people, I hurt You. I ask to be forgiven for each time I hurt You, when I did not represent Your love, mercy, and hope to others. Thank you for restoring me to the calling to which You have called me. I stand before You in prayer asking to receive the fullness of Your forgiveness. Thank you for casting my sins as far as the east is from the west and I ask to receive the fullness of Your love. I stand before You in prayer asking to receive the fullness of Your peace. Thank You for giving me the truth to put the lies of the enemy under my feet. I stand before You in prayer asking to receive the fullness of Your hope. Thank You for giving me the faith to empower me to receive Your work in my life.
Because You have redeemed my soul and restored my life, I ask for healing for myself and protecting from the coronavirus. I petition You for the lives of those who have known You but have turned their back on You, who decided to live life without You, who have cursed You because life didn't go as they wanted. God, reach out to them right now and call their names just like You instructed the angel to specifically call Peter's name. I ask for each one who has rejected You to hear You call them. I ask they respond to Your call and take the time to meet with Jesus, to be fully restored to You and their calling. Jesus came to redeem the lost and these people are lost; they have believed a lie and judged You. I ask for You to pardon them and to draw them close to You. In the name of Jesus, I break the power of guilt and shame over their lives from the paths of sin and denial they have chosen. I loose the power of Your amazing love; Your love breaks all chains and restores the broken. I bind the lies the enemy has told that keep Your people in bondage, afraid to turn to You. I loose the power of Your forgiveness to redeem what what lost. I bind the deaf ears and the hardness of heart. I loose their ears to be open to hear, their hearts to be tender, soft, and full of life to answer You. Father, Jesus redeemed Your people, I ask for Your Holy Spirit to go and summon Your people to meet with You in the nighty name of Jesus' amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.