Tag Archives: angels

March 15, 2015

21 Day Watch

By marilynnchadwick

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with fear.  Seems like everywhere we turn, there’s another shocking news story.   Many around the world watched in horror as 21 Coptic Christians were recently beheaded for their faith.  In the aftermath of such terrifying events, a couple of young moms confided to me they’ve had to get counseling because of extreme anxiety.  Another woman struggling with fear commented on my age and stage and remarked that I was “lucky” I didn’t have to wait so long to go to heaven.

Dear friends, is that the best we can hope for? Biding our time until we get to heaven?  How can we calm our anxious hearts and experience the peace God promises in His Word?   It’s not like Jesus didn’t warn us about trying times.  “In this world, you will have trouble,” He told His followers.  “But take heart,” He assured them.  “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Surely there’s a way to reflect the presence of Christ to a world so desperate for peace. But we can’t we can’t give away what we don’t have.

That’s why I’ve decided to do a 21 Day Watch, starting tomorrow, March 16.th  I hope you’ll join me!  I’m asking God specifically to Open My Eyes to the promises in His Word and to signs of His work all around me.  I’ll post daily encouragement from the Bible, along with testimonies of answered  prayer.

Instead of simply asking God to take away our anxieties, let’s pray for Him to help us become more aware of His power.  I’ve learned that enlarging my view of God is the best way to calm a fearful heart.  I believe your faith will be strengthened as we keep watch together.  And let’s remember, faith is the best antidote to fear.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to Your powerful Word and Your mighty works. Let us see the world from Your perspective.  Calm our fears as we gaze upon your Majesty!

 

 

 

 

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Agree with Others in Prayer, Arm Yourself with Spiritual Strength, Be Specific when You Ask, Pray with Authority, Wake Up and Pray! Be Alert

March 12, 2015

Open My Eyes

By marilynnchadwick

We live in troubling times. Many today wrestle with anxiety.  It’s no wonder. From the swift rise of ISIS to the Ebola outbreak. Terror attacks in Paris to the violence in Ferguson. Our struggling economy to the breakdown of the nuclear family. There’s no shortage in the world of things to worry about. The temptation to be anxious looms large.

That’s why I’m doing a 21 Day Watch, starting Monday, March 16th.  I want to overcome fear with faith.  John Wesley believed it was important to remain on the lookout for God’s work all around him and encouraged his early followers to practice the “discipline of watching.”  I’m devoting the next 21 days to keeping watch.  Daily, I’ll be on the lookout for encouragement from signs of God at work.  I hope you’ll join me.

Here are three ways I’m asking for God to Open My Eyes:  

  1. Open my eyes to God’s WORD.  I find it helps to take my fears and get alone with God. Before I read, I ask Him to reveal promises in His Word that relate to my concerns.  As one friend says, “I glance at the problem, but gaze on God’s promise.” God’s Word ignites faith, and faith is the antidote to fear. My simple prayer:  Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18.
  1. Open my eyes to God’s WORK.  When traveling through a Syrian refugee camp recently, I saw God’s work, up close and personal. You won’t see this story in the news, but God is doing amazing things in dangerous places. Several refugees even shared they had seen Jesus in dreams and visions! Though many had lost everything, their faces were alive with new hope. Their joyous faith put my fears to rest.  If God can work in a war zone, surely He can deal with our daily problems.
  1. Open my eyes to the BIG PICTURE.  God is not caught off guard by recent world events.  Nor is He sitting on the sidelines wringing His hands.  Check out this example from the Bible of God’s heavenly power:  When an enemy army surrounded the prophet Elisha in battle,  the prophet calmed his terrified young assistant with these words. “Don’t be afraid,” he told him. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed, O LORD, open his eyes and let him see! The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:8-17 NIV). Let’s pray for angel armies to assist God’s servants in dangerous places.  Be encouraged as you reflect on the countless invisible warriors doing God’s work throughout the world.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Answer God’s Call, Arm Yourself with Spiritual Strength, Be Specific when You Ask, Pray with Authority, Wake Up and Pray! Be Alert