Praying for Courage in Our Trials – Day 17
Focus
Shift the Nation: 24/7 Prayer 12–22 May 2023
Intention
To encourage us to be aligned with God’s heart in prayer.
Scripture
“He presented another parable to them: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared.’”
– Matthew 13:24–26
Reflection
Jesus explained the symbolism, but He never really explained why the weeds were to remain, except to say that it may damage the wheat if they were removed. A gardener knows to remove weeds as quickly and carefully as possible, lest the good plants be choked or deprived of nutrients or water. I wondered why the Lord thought it was a good idea to leave them there. If that is a picture of the world now, why do we spend so much prayer energy on trying to remove the “weeds” (ungodly politicians, mandates, etc.)? The trials and hardships, be they personal or societal, are ever-present. What good, if any, comes from them? Trials draw us closer to God, build resilience, build determination, endurance, and ultimately faith, as we see God’s hand and faithfulness. God uses those situations to train and equip us for His kingdom work.
Is it possible that the weeds are a pool we can evangelise into, witness to, and increase the kingdom? Are we meant, not only to pray for the ungodly, but to “contend” for them? The battle for water in the garden causes plants to put down deeper roots and more extensive root systems. Our own troubles, and the challenges we face from ungodly government, etc., help us to settle deeper into the Rock, Christ Jesus. If the Lord wants the “weeds” to stay, then maybe the focus of prayer needs to be on the “wheat”, to strengthen, support, love and encourage one another.
I looked into who and what Jesus prayed for. There is not one prayer that He prayed for the Romans or the Jewish hierarchy to be removed. He challenged them, yes, but He never prayed for them to be gone. Peter, in Acts, released from prison by the prayers of the saints, didn’t pray against his accusers. He did not pray against the problem, but that he would have more courage, more boldness and more power. In other words, He didn’t pray for the problem to be gone, but that he would be bigger than the problem. He went out again to preach with enthusiasm (“en theos” – Greek for ‘with God’).
So how do we pray and where should we put our prayer energy? The spiritual battle in the heavens needs us to be strategic. Binding and loosing are powerful tools against evil and satanic structures and powers, but not to be used against the people through whom the enemy manifests these powers. These people are loved by God and paid for by the blood of Christ.
So let us continue to wait on Him, not for Him to do something, but for Him to help us align our hearts, for Him to put His desires in our hearts. We are to ‘wait” on Him in the sense of serving, listening, appreciating and loving Him and each other. This includes the “enemies”, who after all Jesus asked us to love.
Video
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to see as you see, give us pure hearts to discern Your priorities, not contaminated by our good ideas or desires for an easy life. Sanctify us by the washing of Your Word, so that You can use us for Your kingdom purposes.
May we learn, from every trial and difficulty, what You intend by taking us through them, and to view our “enemies” as Your beloved creation, purchased by Your blood, as indeed we are. Amen.
Author Bio
Kate started her career as a scientist working on pathology, went on to teach in a Christian school, and then went to Bible College. She changed from ministry to Christian Counselling. After some years she moved into prayer ministry and now works in the area of Emmanuel healing. She is an active member of Global Watch and other prayer groups.
Prayer Points and Purpose for GO 2023 in May
- To worship Jesus and give extravagant praise to God. Heb 12:28–29
- Pray that the Lamb who was slain might receive the reward for His suffering. Rev 5:6–14
- Pray for revival for Australia and for millions to find Christ. Isa 64:1–2
- Pray for revival for Israel and millions to find Christ. Rom 10:1
- Pray for five friends to find Christ and share the gospel with those five in May. Matt 28:18–20
We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for Family, Faith, Freedom, Life, and the Good News of God’s love through Jesus Christ His Son.
Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:
DATES: Every night for the month of May
TIME: 8pm AEST
ZOOM URL LINK: https://zoom.us/j/776881184
ZOOM MEETING ID: 776881184
ZOOM TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFhAEoCF7jg
May Daily Devotionals: https://dailydeclaration.org.au/tag/go-2023-prayer
Daily devotions are brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.
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This is such an encouragement, Kate, to pray with understanding. I love your insight into this scripture.
What a wonderful and powerful word Kate. Thank you for this perspective shift!