Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
5/17/2021

Investing in Eternity – Prayer is a Gift

I am heavy of heart today as I continue to read about how the riots have given way to rockets that are plummeting Israel by the continued bombardment of their homes and cities by Hamas Terrorists. Hundreds of rockets, even in Jerusalem, are falling daily. And there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight. Islamic terrorists are calling it the “Sword of Jerusalem” operation.

I saw pictures today of a school building that was completely destroyed. Thank God there were no children in it at the time. You may have seen some snapshots on the news, although they don’t go into very much detail, but the ones on the ground were devastating. Heart wrenching. Especially if you are a parent. Lives and families are being destroyed.

I saw a picture of a Dad in the ICU after a missile hit right in his child’s bedroom, totally destroying that part of the house. He had just scooped his son up and ran when the bomb exploded. He was able to shield his child with his own body.

The sirens go off and parents rush their screaming and crying children to their safe places. The elderly are completely alone. They cannot move quickly and like many, live in fear they will be forgotten.

I read a quote from a Holocaust survivor, Polina, who said: “When I hear explosions, it brings back memories from my childhood – dramatic flashbacks of the suffering that we experienced during the Holocaust.” I cannot imagine.

Matt 6:19-21 Do things that matter eternally. It is not wealth. Invest in eternity, invest in people and share the gospel.

This scripture pricked my heart today as I prayed over Israel. As I prayed for these families living in the fear of death for their families…their children. I cannot even imagine what that is like. I can only turn back to my roots…Gods holy word. I turn back for the hope of the scripture during times of trouble. I fall to my knees, grateful that my family is safe but I am horrified of any parent living this kind of life. And what must the scars look like inside the tender dwelling of the children.

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

How do you Keep Your Faith Up—Especially When Life Is Difficult?

Jesus instructs us to pray. Ask God! Fall on your knees to Christ himself our intercessor according to his word. Jesus Christ is able to be our go-between who can speak to God on our behalf. We can then “draw near to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25). … Only Jesus and the Holy Spirit are qualified to be our intercessors. (Romans 8:26,34).

Pray for Jerusalem. Pray for Israel this week. Intercede on their behalf. Prayer does matter. God calls all of us to intercede. All of us to pray for others. And that cannot be for just our family. The apostle Paul believed as I do that prayer transforms the person doing the praying, as much as the one being prayed for.

Prayer is a gift that we can give each other,
when we can give nothing else… As we read the book of Acts,
we see the early church formed in the spirit of prayer.
Jesus’ disciples and the many followers, both men and women,
devoted themselves to conversation with God.
The church was founded on this holy communion.

If there ever was a season for prayer, both 2020 and 2021 have been it. The pandemic changed us but are our prayers changing the world? Have we fallen yet into another cycle of normalcy that excludes God. Have we waxed over again and gotten used to the new norms or are we battling in the spirit!

PRAY I beg of you Pray.

You know to whom you are calling out to. Thank him… Ask for God’s will…
Say what you need or are praying and interceding for…Ask for forgiveness…Pray the word of God into your situation.

Your prayer will joins ours and others creating a sweet incense to the Father who knows even when a sparrow falls from a tree.

Prayer is a gift we give each other, when we can give nothing else. What better gift might there be than praying fervently for another one.

Would you pray with your family and me this week for one hour for Israel. Would you teach your household to bend a knee to God’s special people.

Darlene Zschech Hillsong And that my soul knows very well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2dzy4qRJUU