Morning Chapel Prayer Playlist
Sister Jeannie…
Welcome to Morning Prayer. Thanks for coming.
A lot of times when we lead prayer, I’ll see what we’re going to do ahead of time. And I didn’t see that today. Isn’t that fun? When you’re leading and He’s not telling. But I also have to say, on the way here, traffic was nuttier than usual and there was a big old like trailer in front of us and I couldn’t see. And I was getting anxious about it, and Holy Spirit said, “Yeah, but do you know you’re headed in the right direction?” And I said, “yes.” He said, “So really that’s for all of us all the time.” If you know you’re headed in the right direction, but maybe you can’t see what you wish you could see, or maybe you can’t, you know, you’re just kind of feeling like this. But we’re headed in the right direction. And you know He always leads us to victory every time. There’s not one time He doesn’t lead us to a win. Even when He led the Israelites into the wilderness, He didn’t leave them there. He didn’t lead them there to stay there. He didn’t lead them there to leave them there. He led them there to go through and to take the Promised Land.
When you’re in the wilderness, God is still taking care of you…
And do you remember, it was His will that it took a whole lot less time to get through that wilderness. But it took them 40 years and He had only meant them to be there, I think it was, 40 days. And the entire time in the wilderness, they were never sick, they were never hungry, and none of their possessions ever wore out. So remember that even when it seems like we’re in a wilderness time, we’re always being provided for, and we’re always being led out and led toward victory.
So, Father, we just thank you for that today. We’re so thankful that you’re not just a good God. You’re an all powerful God.
God is not a distant father…
So think about that. Your God is your Father, and He’s not a distant Father. He’s a Father that gave it all for you. He’s a Father that finished it all for you. He’s a Father, really, that made it all about you. He created the earth for you. He brought Jesus for you. And now all we do, even today in prayer, is we respond to what He’s already done. We enforce the finished work. We enforce what He’s already done.
So Father, today we just enforce what you’ve already done.
Danger, Emergency…
My husband brought it up in a prayer group this week. Some friends of ours have a grandson. He’s seven years old. And he’s a massive evangelist. So he always wants to tell people about Jesus everywhere they go. Because he knows that without Jesus, they will spend eternity in the lake of fire. And he has a strong conviction about that. His name is Jay. And so one day he was at DSW with his mom. And his mom’s name is Jen. And Jen was trying on shoes. And Jay wandered off and asked a woman, “Do you have Jesus in your heart?” And she said, “no.” And Jay from across the store yelled, “Mom, danger, danger, emergency, emergency! She doesn’t have Jesus in her heart.”
I love that.
So even today with a Holy Ghost urgency, anytime we hear “danger, danger, emergency, emergency,” it is just an indicator we need to change course a little bit. And if you don’t have Jesus in your heart, “Danger, danger. Emergency. Emergency.” Just let Him love you. Let Him minister to you and receive Him.
So, Father, I thank you that you speak through us this morning. You make my words articulate that I stay with the point and that we go where it is that you want to go this morning.
The extravagance of His goodness…
When I think about the extravagance of His goodness, and His extravagance can seem unreasonable at times or not in moderation. And by the way, it’s not! So think about how unreasonable it is that you would be winning during a time like this. Think about how unreasonable it is that even though the doctor said this and this and this, that He says you’re already healed. Think about how unreasonable it is that whatever’s going on in this relationship or that relationship that God means you to be fully at peace with it. And to move towards restoration. We approach these things by what He said. We approach these things by faith knowing His ridiculous, massive love for us and His plan. And we expect to see His manifested goodness today.
Jehosaphat…
Let’s go to Chronicles and read about Jehosaphat. Do we know we are in some unreasonable times right now? Do we know that? I think we know that. We don’t even have to look far; we are in a continual flow of Jehosaphat moments. So I’m going to read this. And there are different dimensions of Jehosaphat moments.
Second Chronicles 20…
“After this the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them, came against Jehosaphat to battle.” So think about that. Three different tribes or entities came against one country. One purpose. “It was told Jehosaphat, a great multitude has come against you from beyond the Dead Sea, from Edom and behold, they are in Hazazontamar. Then Jehosaphat feared and set himself determinately as his vital need to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a fast in all Judah. And Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord. Even out of the cities of Judah, they came to seek the Lord yearning for him with all their desire.”
So Father, thank you for that. That in the middle of Jehosaphat moments that we not lose our desire for you, that we keep that yearning, we keep that fire stoked for you. In the middle of this is going on, this is going on. All of this is coming at us. We keep our desire for Him.
“And Jehosaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court and said, oh Lord God of our Fathers, are you not God in heaven?”
How often have we said that? Do you see what’s happening, God? Are you not the all-powerful God in heaven?
“And do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might so that none is able to withstand you. Did not you our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend.”
You know, I think it’s poignant here that the people of God were being threatened and attacked by several different tribes. So if you are dealing with one thing after another, after another, after another, do not allow the enemy to lie to you and tell you that you’re not on your way to winning.
“If evil comes upon us, the sort of judgment or pestilence or famine, we will stand before this house and before you for your name. And the symbol of your presence is in this house and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save. And now behold, the men of Amman, Moab, and Mt. Seir whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt and whom they turned from and did not destroy. Behold they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.”
They came to God out of relationship…
What I love about this passage, these verses, is that they’re coming to Him out of relationship. They’re coming to Him and they’re saying, “Okay, God, here’s what’s going on. But we know you’re God. But it’s happening right now. And oh, by the way, we resisted going after them because you told us not to out of obedience, and now this is happening.” They’re laying their hearts out before God, and they’re reminding Him and telling Him about their history with Him. It’s a real conversation.
When you have a relationship with someone and there’s conflict, a real conversation to say, “Okay, well this happened and then this happened. Let’s talk about it. Let’s get to the right conclusion together.” That’s what they’re doing with God. So all these things come after them. They decide. They’re afraid. Then they decide to go to God. And then when they go to God, they say, “Okay, here’s our history. Here’s who we know you are. Here’s what we’re dealing with in our hearts. Here’s what’s really happening to us right now.”
I love that so much.
“Oh our God, will you not exercise judgment upon them for we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us.”
I love that realization.
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
God, I’ve got nothing left. I’m fresh out, but my eyes are on you. But here’s what’s ironic about it. They did know what to do. They sought God. So if you’re seeking God, you know what you’re doing.
“And all Judah stood before the Lord with their children and their wives.”
They didn’t hold anything back in going to God.
“Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zacharia, … And he said, harken all Judah you inhabitants of Jerusalem. And you king Jehosaphat. The Lord says this to you. Do not be afraid or dismayed at this great multitude for the battle is not yours but God’s.”
God will never gaslight you…
Here’s what I love about God too. He did not gaslight them. He did not say, “What are you talking about? This isn’t happening to you.” That’s not what He said. You know, the Word says that we have a Savior that’s intimately acquainted with everything we’re going through. Intimately. He knows what you’re dealing with. He knows what the Twin Cities are dealing with. He knows what Minnesota is enduring. He knows what’s going on in America and the world. He knows what’s happening. And in the middle of all that, He’s saying to you, “I’ve got this. Stay with me. You know what you’re doing. Just seek Me and you will get clarity. Just keep going in that right direction even though you can’t see right now. You know you’re moving forward. You know you’re heading there. I’m getting you there.”
I just marvel at not only His ability to care about the details, but His heart for us that cares about the details. He is not a God that doesn’t care. He’s a God that’s intimately acquainted with you, more acquainted with you than you are with you. He knows you. He knew you when you were being formed in your mother’s womb. He was happy about it. And it was in your mother’s womb. She’s a girl. So He knew you when you were being formed. He had a plan and a purpose for you. And it’s being carried out even if this challenge is coming against you. Oh, and this one too. And oh, and this one too. And there seems to be a pile up. It’s the same for Minnesota. I don’t care what pile up is going on in our state right now, His plan is being carried out.
The word about revival coming out of this area is being carried out. But we have a huge opportunity right now to witness and to be a part of. The battle is not ours. It’s His. To be in the middle of this whole thing and to see what God is doing.
And so, Father, I thank you that you show us the vision, the plans, the purposes. Holy Spirit, you minister who you are to us in every situation and everything that’s going on in our lives and everything that’s going on in our city, in our state, in our country, in the world. From the smallest cellular minute detail to the entire planet. You have a plan and a purpose, and we have the opportunity to participate.
As I read this, imagine God coming to you right now to say this to you. “Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude for the battle is not yours but God’s.” And by the way, these multitudes that were coming after them were peoples that they had known for a long time. So if things are surprising you, you’re kind of surprised by what’s happening. God’s not. Victory! We don’t have to be afraid or dismayed because the battle is His and He’s never one time lost. He always wins.
“Tomorrow, go down to them.” Okay? Isn’t God hilarious? Oh, by the way, now that you’re terrified, now I want you to go face them. We get to face the enemy knowing that God is with us.