Would You Take a Second Look?

Warriors Arise: May 5th, 2020

Let's finish verse 11 in John chapter 20. "But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb." Mary Magdalene had already looked into the tomb earlier that morning when she, Mary and Salome were prepared to anoint Jesus' died body for a proper burial. After delivering the angelic message, she follows Peter and John back to the tomb. Now they have gone away without saying anything. Mary did not hear anything, when Peter and John went into the tomb.

Most of us would want to be validated. Mary Magdalene had been through a lot. She had been possessed by seven demons. Jesus delivered her from those demons. Now she had a new experience. She had witnessed an angel, a messenger from God. She had delivered the message. But now, she heard nothing from inside the tomb, the angel hadn't spoken to Peter or John. Mary had many reasons to weep. She expected to honor Jesus with a proper burial and His body was not there, only the linen clothes lying by themselves. An angel heralds, "He is Risen! He is not here. Go tell His disciples and tell them to meet Him in Galilee."

Sometimes we can be taught:

You shouldn't test God.

If He said it then He will do it.

Don't you know when you have heard from God?

Why do you need confirmation?

And those are proper responses in their place. God doesn't want us asking and asking and asking for confirmation over and over and over again. However, when we have our first supernatural God experience it is ok to check yourself, to know if you really heard what you heard and if you really saw what you saw. Check out Gideon in Judges 6-8. God met Him in the wine press during threshing season. God called him a mighty man of valor. Gideon had questions for God and some of those questions had a little sting to them. "Where is the God who was with our forefathers?" You might remember Gideon as the one who placed the fleece on the ground and twice asked God for a miracle. I don't believe Gideon was coward; I believe He wanted to know that it was truly God who was sending him. When you read Judges chapter 8, Gideon catches up with the two Mideonite Kings and you find out that they killed Gideon's brothers in an earlier battle. Gideon probably would have died in that battle as well but he was too young to go fight. Gideon had good reason to make sure it was God sending him and not his own vigor, ambition, or hatred for the Midianites.

Mary was grieving because her Savior was gone and it was a cruel death. Jesus brought her amazing freedom, a freedom she had not known in years, maybe ever. Jesus did not shun her but welcomed her to learn of God, His ways, and His everlasting love. Sometimes when something cannot be explained, beyond what we were expecting, we want to hear it again, see it again, experience it again. We want to know, "Did that really happen?"

"But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb." (John 20:11)

Warriors, we are going to pray for people to look again at what God has done for them. God doesn't always do the we expect but He is always there walking with us, holding us, comforting, and giving courage.

Father, I ask for people to take a second look at where You have been through our battle with the coronavirus causing quarantine, loss, fear, and separation. God, You were there. You offered salvation, healing, comfort, strength, courage, and companionship. I pray for You to visit each person, all over the world. I ask You to show Yourself strong on their behalf. I ask now for You to cause them to look back and for them to see how You were with them every second of every day. I ask for You to give them the desire to look to You. I ask for You show them exactly how You ministered to them and their loved ones. Some may be grieving just like Mary but that is not the end. Show them who You are and how You have been active in their lives. I ask for You to confirm Your love for them and their loved ones. I ask for You to strengthen them and give them courage. I ask for You to bring healing to their bodies, hearts, and minds. I ask for You to hold them and bring them comfort. I ask for each one to know You were there with them and You are with them now in Jesus' name 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.