Bonnie and I spent most of the day yesterday, arriving home after midnight, traveling back from the Western Leaders Gathering where we had a wonderful time with the senior elders and leaders there. One of the highlights for me was being able to talk with a number of individuals from the West Coast concerning their vision to plant churches and expand the Kingdom. I love talking vision with people who are intentional about planting churches.
While we certainly appreciate the simplicity of air travel today compared to years ago, it still takes a lot of time to travel across the country. While I enjoy travel, I do not always enjoy the lines, crowed airports and packed flights that are the norm now days. Especially with everyone trying to avoid baggage charges by carrying on as much as they can.
I was approaching the boarding desk for my flight out of Denver, and realized that I was boarding too soon. They were boarding “Premier Executive” which is one class above my frequent flying status. I mistakenly thought they were boarding “Premier” flyers and I needed to wait until my class was called. Embarrassing!
I am so glad that things are different in the spirit realm. Paul tells us in Heb 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (NLT)Come boldly. No waiting in lines, no waiting till your class is called, no preferred status, nor distinction, all just come boldly before the throne of grace and we shall receive all that we are looking for. Thank you Jesus for making that possible.
The other thing I am thankful for is that there is no distance in the spirit. I can be on this side of the nation and immediately and effectively be praying for something or someone on the other side of the nation, or around the globe for that matter. We don’t have to travel there but through prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit is released right there in that location when we pray.
I was reminded of my responsibility and opportunity to pray for situations a few days ago through a devotional I use written by A.J. Russell entitled “God Calling.” These devotionals are some of the best I have ever read and were written by two elderly women as they waited on the Lord daily in the 1930’s. Listen to what the Holy Spirit spoke to them.
Remember, no prayer goes unanswered. Remember that the moment a thing seems wrong to you, or a person’s actions to be not what you think they should be, at that moment begins your obligation and responsibility to pray for those wrongs to be righted, or that person to be different.
Face your responsibilities. What is wrong in your country, its statesmen, it laws, its people? Think out quietly and make these matters your prayer matters. You will see lives you never touched altered, laws made at your request, evils banished. Yes, live in a large sense. Live to serve and to save. You may never go beyond one room, and yet you may become one of the most powerful forces for good in your country, in the world….
Isn’t that a good reminder that we can and are expected to come boldly before the throne and while we may never leave the confines of our home, we can impact situations around the globe. So, go ahead, exercise your opportunity today and every day to bring about change on the earth. And you don’t have to wait in line to do it!
Declaring Our Victory Emanuel