First of All, Pray: Blog
Bringing Biblical Truths to Daily Life
Checking in
I wanted to touch base and cialis canadian pharmacy let you know that I will be taking one more week away from the blog here at www.firstofallpray.com to spend a bit more time seeking God with fewer distractions.
It’s obvious that the world out there is in desperate need of prayer—whether any of them realize it or not! You and I are the ones called to that assignment—we are watchmen. As we seek God for those in our lives, those in the news, and folks all around the world—in short, for ALL men, for kings, and for all who are in authority (see 1 Timothy 2)—we can trust that He will hear from Heaven and act on behalf of those for whom we pray.
While you pray, be sensitive to any adjustments, corrections, or leadings from the Holy Spirit He may reveal for your own life—and then trust Him to help you as you yield to these things. You see, Habakkuk 2:1 states, “I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved.” In other words, as you seek God on behalf of others—doing the job of the watchman—quite often He will also speak to your heart about you and your ways. This is not a cause for fear but for increase and growth as you receive intimate, personalized discipleship and mentoring from the Holy Spirit Himself.
Like the groundhog, I plan to emerge from underground and buy cialis uk be back online February second. That’s when I intend to resume with the study of the Book of James. But will I see my shadow?
Enjoy God,
Dorothy
Pressing on to know the Lord
So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth. Hosea 6:3
People all over the church world are taking time now at the beginning of the year to seek God for direction and wisdom, correction and clearer vision for their lives.
We are called to spend time with the Lord on a daily basis, but there are also seasons in which God draws His children into a more targeted, prolonged, and concentrated time of pressing in know Him on a deeper level.
When you press on something, you are focusing your energy, attention, and strength on that particular object. When you press on to know the Lord, you are focusing your energy, attention, and strength on Him and what He has said in His Word.
The fact that God will go forth is established. First, He will go forth in drawing near to you as you draw near to Him (see James 4:8). And then, He will watch over His Word as you place yourself in agreement with it to perform it (see Jeremiah 1:12). But in all of it, your primary focus as you press in is to know Him and to cooperate with His will in your life. The blessings and the promises that result from your concentrated time of seeking Him are gravy—good and glorious stuff, but the best part of pressing in is getting to know Him better.
In the dead of winter, what better endeavor can you pursue than to press in to know your God more intimately? Winter, as long as it seems to be, will be over soon enough. The ground will start teeming with life and the days will grow longer as the chill starts to fade away. And the rains will start falling—the warm spring rains which saturate the thirsty earth and sale uk pills cialis online pour out promise of new life, blessings, and more active days. As you press on to know the Lord now, in a concentrated way, He promises to send the rain in due season to your life—the rain of promise, blessing, and renewal. So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.
I will be spending the next few weeks in a more focused way with the Lord, so I have decided to suspend my First of All Pray blog for this time period. As it stands now, I will return to the blog on Monday, January 26, 2015.
Be blessed, and take some time in your schedule to press on to know the Lord.
Dorothy
Stand, look, and ask
Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk in it.” Jeremiah 6:16
This was the Scripture that I opened to today as I continued a personal study in the book of Jeremiah. It seemed to me that God was downloading some important counsel for me at the beginning of the New Year, and I believe it’s worth sharing.
Jeremiah was originally called during the reign of Josiah, a good king who enacted major reforms in Judah. The problem with those reforms was this: Although the people of the land went along with them externally, they had allowed the imported ways of the nations surrounding them to capture their hearts and lure them into behaviors which dishonored God. Frankly, they resented being told to let go of those enticing trappings; they felt that God would understand as they continued to experiment with all of it. If He doesn’t get it, they figured, that’s His loss—they wanted what they wanted.
Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet”. He spoke to the people of God about their need to turn from the folly of idolatry and adultery and to embrace once again the God of Israel. He warned them again and again concerning the destruction they could avoid if they would but admit their sins and turn to God from their hearts; they, on the other hand, counted Jeremiah to be a false prophet, an egotist, a pessimist, and a nuisance. No matter how he would plead with them, they ignored or rejected what God was saying to them through him. No wonder he wept so much!
It was still during the reign of Josiah that Jeremiah prophesied, “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”
Unfortunately, when times are comfy, cozy, and carefree, people tend to think that everything will always go smoothly. They fall under the illusion that their cushy lifestyle is the norm and they have no need for a “check up from the neck up.” And as Jeremiah warned them again and again, this thinking would become a deadly—but very avoidable—snare for them.
Stand by the roads, and look…
Are you at a crossroad in your life? The New Year provides a natural crossroad for all of us. Jeremiah prophesied, Stand. Look. Take your time. Reflect on the paths before you. Don’t rush down one because it’s the easiest, the most traveled, the most glamorous-looking, or even the most adrenaline-packed route. Take your time. Paths are important—they can hold either destiny or destruction—or slow decline.
… ask for the ancient paths…
The ancient paths are the paths prepared for you by the Ancient of Days Himself. He has an interest in you and a plan for your well-being. He knows you intimately and loves you with an everlasting love. Although the paths are ancient—as revealed in the Word of God—they are ever new, ever fresh, ever life-giving. As you stand and look, ask.
… where the good way is…
God’s way is always good. It may not tantalize the flesh or desires, but it is very good, healthy, and life-affirming.
… and walk in it…
After reflection, observation, and asking, you will see that good way. Now walk in it. It may not be popular, edgy, or well-received, but if you take a step, and then another step, and then another, you will be walking on the path God has prepared for you—and He will walk with you there.
… and [you will] find rest for your souls…
There’s something about letting go of our own ways and entering the path God reveals that brings peace and rest to our souls. Chaos may surround, agitating words or thoughts may pile up, disappointments may abound, but with every step of obedience, all of that loses its power to bind or to break you. Stepping down the ancient way, the good way, will bring rest to your soul.
But they said, “We will not walk in it.”
As much as God values the obedience of His people, He also guards their right to choose for themselves. Although He refuses to violate our will, He clearly pleads His case to each one of us again and again, replete with counsel, instruction, and promise of reward. And He plainly explains the consequences that can happen when we repeatedly refuse to listen.
You are at a crossroad now in your life at the start of this New Year. Stand, look, and ask. Don’t rush headlong down the best-looking path and then ask questions later. Let the ancient wisdom of the Lord and His Word speak to your heart, and as He reveals that best course for you, walk in it. You will find rest for your soul.
Happy New Year!
Dorothy
The new year
A newborn infant, newly fallen snow, a new day, a new creation, a new year: all speak of purity and freshness and endless possibilities.
And here we are, on the first day of the New Year. Many are making resolutions; some may even keep them! Others are looking ahead with cautious hope—maybe this year will be different; maybe this year I’ll find what I’ve been searching for; maybe…
The Lord understands times and seasons and change and newness. He speaks of newness often in His Word, and He also speaks of change. Of His children, He declares “… if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). To His people Israel, He declared, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
Jeremiah prophesied, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).
If you’re anything like me, you crave hearing from the Lord. And if you’re anything like me, you long to grow and change and make a difference in the lives around you. You and I feel this way because of God’s presence in our lives. And He says to us what He said through Jeremiah so many centuries ago, “Call to Me…” The way to hear from God is to call out to Him.
He said that if you will call out, He will answer you. God is a God of His Word. You call and He answers. I can think of no better way to start the year.
Not only did God say He would answer you when you call, but He also declared that He would tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
These great and mighty things are unknown to you, but He will make them known. That means that these things will be new to you.
Are you and I prepared for the new which God has prepared for us? Are we really?
New means that the old is gone. New means that you let go of what was to step into what God has prepared. Now, don’t get me wrong—I believe in being a student of the past and learning from its wisdom. I believe in overcoming the devil with the word of my testimony. I believe in peering at memorial stones and receiving encouragement from their mighty witness. When Isaiah spoke of not bringing to mind or even pondering the things of the past, he did not intend for God’s people to forsake their rich history; no, he was instructing them to expect God to do a fresh thing, a miraculous thing now, in their time—just like He did a fresh and miraculous thing in the past. In other words, sometimes God’s people can get so tied to past ways of doing things that they are too rigid to receive what He wants to do now—it’s either the way we did it before or it’s no way. And here’s God, ready to move, but He is blocked by human insistence as to how it should be done.
However, there are other things hiding in the past that were never from God. These old things, if allowed, have a way of slithering their way into the present, bringing with them the poison of the past. Perhaps God is seeking to bring you into a new thing, but you insist on nurturing past wounds, hurts, or misperceptions. Quite frankly, only you can prevent God from doing a new thing in your life. If you’re on board with Him—if you let go of the past—then no one can stop God from moving in your life.
Listen to what Paul said. “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7). He was speaking of all the honors and prestige he had acquired in his life—those things he cast aside without a qualm to follow Christ. By the same token, others cling tenaciously to the opposite—a “victim” mentality—considering it gain. Perhaps you, yourself, have felt justified in holding on to bitterness or resentment. Perhaps, in your mind, “they” deserve your disdain. Even if clinging to those things has “comforted” you by making you feel validated in your pain, it’s time to count old wounds as loss for the sake of Christ.
Whether it’s prestige or poison, Paul said to “count them but rubbish” so that you “may gain Christ” (see Philippians 3:8). Here is the goal: that you may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of [your] own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (verse 9).
My guess is that the new thing that God wants to accomplish in your life and mine has something to do with this: “that [we] may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that [we] may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (verse 10). We can’t proceed in any of this, however, if we insist upon clinging to either end of the spectrum—past honors or past hurts.
So what do you do? Paul said it this way: “...one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (verses 13b-14).
Indeed, there’s a time to look back and a time to stop looking back. Anything that hinders you from reaching forward to what lies ahead of you in Christ is something you must lay aside; and anything that overshadows the goal for the prize in your life of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus is something that you must forget.
Let nothing stop you from calling out to God; let nothing muffle the sweet sound of His response. Let nothing hinder that new thing which He has prepared for you; let neither prestige nor poison block you from the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
May God’s grace empower you to press on in Christ for all you’re worth this year. Happy New Year!
Dorothy
Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19
Looking back
All over America and around the world, people are taking time today to look back on this past year. After all, today is the last day on the calendar, and tomorrow begins a new year.
The Bible has two things to say about looking back:
1.) Do it, and
2.) Don’t do it.
This can seem like a huge contradiction until you consider what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” Just like there is a time to give birth and a time to die, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing (see Ecclesiastes 3:2-5), so, too, is there a time to look back and a time to stop looking back. Let’s take a look at some biblical reasons to look back.
Why look back?
1.) The word of your testimony. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11). The word of your testimony can involve two things. First, the Word of God itself is your testimony, and you have the right to speak it in faith to overcome your enemy, the devil. Second, your personal story of salvation and how God has manifested His care for you throughout your life is also included in the word of your testimony. You have the right to overcome the devil by reminding yourself and him of all the astonishing ways God has come through for you in the past.
2.) Memorial stones. God stopped the Jordan River from running, causing the waters which flowed down from upstream to pile up in a big heap (see Joshua 3:13) so that the tribes of Israel could cross on dry ground. Joshua, their leader, then commanded men to remove twelve stones from the supernaturally dried up river bottom and to set them up on the other side as a memorial to this miracle from God. Joshua directed “…when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’” (see Joshua 4:6), then the adults could tell them how God held back the Jordan’s waters in a big heap while they passed through on dry ground. Memorial stones are very similar to the word of our testimony. We use both not only to overcome the devil and pull ourselves out of unbelief or despair, but also to train up young believers in God’s miraculous ways.
3.) For our instruction. “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). If in your looking back you are not instructed, encouraged, or made hopeful, then you’re not looking back in the way God has prescribed. If this describes you, then stop looking and ask God to help you to adjust your vision.
4.) As examples. “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12). George Santayana wrote in 1905, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Looking back upon failures—those recorded in the Bible, in history, and in our own lives—can be a beneficial discipline when it is done as a study in what not to do. Be instructed, and then pressing on in faith, put what you’ve learned into practice.
The Bible also instructs concerning not looking back, as in Isaiah 43:18: “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.” From what I can determine, the privilege to look or not to look is all in the “hows” and “whys” involved in the looking. Are you looking back to give glory to God, to encourage yourself or others, or to overcome attacks or negativity battering your mind? You are looking back in accordance to the will of God. Are you looking back to receive instruction in proper decision making? You are looking back according to the purpose of God—but leave room for the Holy Spirit. Are you looking back to determine how to avoid repeating certain failures of the past? You are looking back in line with the plan of God as long as you take the information you need and then return, girded and armed for an overcoming lifestyle.
Don’t be afraid to assess this past year. A good look back is beneficial on so many levels. You can receive instruction and wisdom for your future as you prayerfully consider the last 365 days.
But most importantly, as you look back, be sure to give God the glory for all that He has done for you. Because of Him, you have arrived here, on the last day of the year, to think about all that has transpired this year. He has granted you life, health, a sound mind, and the strength to finish out the year. And it is by His grace and eternal purpose that you will enter the new year tomorrow.
To God be the glory!
Dorothy
Thankfulness: A Gift for the King
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
Many years ago around this time of year, I noticed that I had drifted into negativity again. With Christmas around the corner, I decided that I would guard my mouth, mind, and attitude throughout the days and weeks before Christmas as a birthday present to Jesus. He was worthy of my praise and honor—I knew that; I also knew that He deserved all the thanks I could give Him; I just didn’t realize just how profoundly my attitude-adjustment would affect me. The dull gloom of negativity started to evaporate; genuine joy, peace, and a sense of purpose flooded my heart once again.
Throughout December, take note of the flow of your heart, your mind, and your mouth. And despite the circumstances, the stress, the conflict, the disappointment, or any general sense of heaviness or oppression you may encounter, I challenge you to make it your cause to give thanks to God. Give thanks for all that is good in your life—make it your daily holiday habit—and give thanks in spite of all the “stuff” that may be piling up and weighing you down. Give thanks for the good; give thanks despite the bad.
As a former eighth grade teacher, I taught the scientific method to science-fair weary students. As I instructed them, I myself learned the value of testing hypotheses against variables. And I discovered that just as the natural world can be investigated using this method, so can the principles of the Bible.
And since I am a teacher, I will give you some homework. Here is your two-fold assignment from now until the New Year:
- Perform a scientific experiment. Enforce the flow of your mind and your mouth. When pressure or bad news arises, bring your mind and your mouth back to the good report, i.e., what does the Bible say? Where is the miracle in this madness? God will provide it, and I will give Him thanks before I see it—now—even though I don’t feel like it. Remember, you won’t be able to control the circumstances that come your way, but you can control the thermostat of your mind and heart with gratefulness—and you can curb what you say. Stick with it throughout the holidays, and then, on New Year’s Eve or Day, look at the outcome. You will find that the scientific method and the Bible go hand in hand.
- Give thanks consistently to the Lord as your birthday present to Jesus. Not only will you be performing a scientific investigation of meritorious value, but you will also be delighting the heart of your Savior. Honor Him with your thoughts and words this holiday season; make it your ambition and daily aim to please Him with your hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute inner and outward conversation. I believe He will show you just how much it thrills His heart when you minister to Him this way!
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas season—and may it be more than you can ask or imagine!
Dorothy
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17
First of all, give thanks—Part 3
For the last two days I have posted excerpts from my book, First of All, Pray. Today I’ll conclude the portion on this one powerful way to pray—the giving of thanks.
Excerpt from Chapter 1:
A Warning Concerning Thanklessness
“It is absolutely essential that you maintain an attitude of thankfulness. Romans 1:21-23 delivers a clear warning: ‘For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures’ (emphasis added).
“What is the outcome if you believe in God yet neglect to give thanks to Him? You gravitate toward anything except Him! You become futile in your speculations and your heart becomes darkened. Without realizing it, you start worshiping material things and slide into folly. The Word says you become good for nothing, self-serving, and ignorant of your own dangerous stupidity. On the other hand, when you cultivate a thankful heart, you protect yourself from falling into the foolishness of self-absorption and delusion. Indeed, gratefulness surrounds you with a deception-resistant shield.
“The challenge in 1 Timothy 2:1 is to offer thanksgiving to God even when you are praying for someone with whom you have fundamental disagreement. If you incorporate thanksgiving into all of your prayers, then the grace of God will meet and overtake you in your endeavors. Thanksgiving: don’t let yourself pray without it!” (Excerpt taken from pages 23-24; First of All, Pray: Prescription for a Nation in Crisis; © 2013–Dorothy Frick)
Hope you had a happy Turkey Day, and may your thanksgiving to the Lord be glorious!
Dorothy
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Psalm 105:1
First of all, give thanks—Part 2
For Thanksgiving week, I am posting excerpts from my book, First of All, Pray. Paul urged in 1 Timothy 2 that the people of God top their to-do list with praying for others. Thanksgiving is included in that list of “first of all” ways to pray.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Excerpt from Chapter 1:
The Direction You Gaze Determines Your Destination
“A second truth in this verse empowers you to pray about the chaos around you without being weighed down by the sheer awfulness of the situation. You see, as a human, your natural tendency is to gravitate toward the object you are observing. I learned this from my drivers’ ed teacher when I was fifteen. He warned the four of us crammed into the well-dented ‘beginner drivers’ car that if we watched cows and horses grazing in the field, that’s where we would end up—in the pasture and not on the highway! That’s why God included thanksgiving in His list of prayer methods—so that you gravitate toward Him and not the problem!
“Have you ever been frightened about situations in your life and asked God for help? If you prayed without thanking or praising Him, you probably continued to feel very afraid, trying to battle anxiety on your own because your eyes remained glued to the problem. Giving thanks to God pulls your attention off of the enormity of the problem and onto the greatness of God. As you gaze at God, giving Him thanks for His willingness to do wonderful things for you, the anxiety you feel drains away. If you find it creeping back in, you just ramp up your thanksgiving to God again! Thanksgiving is a powerful antidote for the anxiety you feel.
“Do you try to ignore fearful situations in your life in an attempt to resist fear? Do you think about Job when he said, ‘For what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me’ (Job 3:25) and try to avoid Job’s outcome by pretending there is no problem? Is denial your strategy for dealing with fear? Is that the way you walk by faith?
“Think of the boy David, one of the greatest worshipers in the Bible, watching sheep out in the pasture. When he spied the lion and the bear stalking his sheep, did he conquer his fear by ignoring the situation? Of course not! He rose up, likely with a mixture of adrenaline, fear, and a strong protective instinct and killed the carnivores! His faith empowered him to confront those hungry varmints despite the very real danger! He didn’t seek to protect his faith by looking away from the predators or by denying their existence. Dead sheep would have been the outcome of that kind of faith walk. Even worse, without the experience of subduing the vicious beasts, David may never have been equipped to take down Goliath!
“Ignoring evil, by definition, is ignorance! Thanking God, however, in the face of evil acknowledges His greatness despite the growing darkness. This powerfully applies to facing the destructive forces at work in our nation. Faith confronts the frightening events with the Word of God. Ignoring such forces in our country in an attempt to stay in faith actually prevents you from becoming a part of God’s solution to change the course of events. The sense of fear is not always the spirit of fear spoken of by Paul (see 2 Timothy 1:7); at times Holy Spirit-initiated warnings are alarming—even frightening—yet they are sent by God to reveal that danger is looming. In response you pray and dig into the Word to prepare for battle—and victory.
“When fear does rise up—and it will—ask God how to deal with it and the fearful situation instead of hiding under the covers, hoping the boogeyman will go away! Declare like David, ‘When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You’ (Psalm 56:3). Then in prayer confront the giants both in your life and our nation, giving thanks to God for His Goliath-defeating power!” (Excerpt taken from pages 20-23; First of All, Pray: Prescription for a Nation in Crisis; © 2013–Dorothy Frick)
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.
4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Psalm 27:1-6
Thank You, Lord, for the wonder of Your abiding and protective presence in our lives!
Dorothy
First of all, give thanks—Part 1
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
The rest of this week I will be posting excerpts from my book, First of All, Pray. Paul urged in 1 Timothy 2 that the people of God place prayer for others as a top priority in their lives. The giving of thanks is included in that list of “first of all” ways to pray.
Excerpt from Chapter 1:
Thanksgivings
“You may not think of thanksgiving in and of itself as a type of prayer, but it is. In fact, if you look at all the scriptures using this word, you can clearly see that thanksgiving is to be involved in everything you do. And because the plural for thanksgiving is used in 1 Timothy 2:1, you are to present unlimited thanksgivings to God.
“Philippians 4:6 states, ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God’ (emphasis added). As you pray and supplicate about the stressful situations in your life, the Bible commands you to thank God as you pray. This addresses two very important truths about living life. The first truth has to do with life’s anxieties—no one is guaranteed a charmed, easy-going life. Your life will have its share of stress and conflict. If this were not the case, you wouldn’t find so many verses in the Bible about praying when difficult times arise. If you look at the condition of our nation and your stomach starts to churn with worry, the only healthy recourse is to pray. Pretending that nothing is wrong in order to protect yourself from anxiety will not bring the power of God on the scene. God made prayer available to you during your time here on earth in great part because of the prevalence of anxiety-causing conditions.” (Excerpt taken from pages 19-20; First of All, Pray: Prescription for a Nation in Crisis; © 2013–Dorothy Frick)
In American history, the first Thanksgiving followed a time of extreme hardships for those who celebrated it. The Pilgrims left their homeland in England, and then Holland, primarily to escape religious persecution. Of the 120 passengers who set sail in 1620, only 53 were still alive for the first Thanksgiving, November, 1621.
You would think that the exposure to the elements, disease, and death which stalked the group, wiping out half of their number, would shroud the rest of them with hopelessness and despair, but despite the harsh trials, these believers chose to thank God instead. They knew how to lift up their eyes from the daunting circumstances surrounding them to fix their gaze and adoration on the Lord and Savior who had never left them without comfort. Such was the caliber of the men and women who left their homes to secure for themselves a new homeland where they could be free to worship God as they saw fit. These dear souls, by their heartfelt love of God and perseverance, blazed a trail that the rest of us privileged to live here could follow.
You, also, may be facing extreme difficulty in your life. The region where I live is being battered by rage and an unnerving level of chaos and destruction. The nation itself is suffering under escalating levels of discord, disillusionment, and despair. Despite all that is going on around us, though, the witness of that little band of Pilgrims and their native guests has stood firm throughout the centuries ever since. Here is their message to you, alive in 2014:
Give thanks to the Lord. Give thanks, and do not cease to give thanks. Do not ask your circumstances, your body, your bank account, or the daily news if you should give thanks to God; give thanks, and when you are finished—give thanks!
Dorothy
Praying for the peace of Ferguson
The Grand Jury has made their decision about Darren Wilson, the officer in the shooting death of Michael Brown. He will not be indicted. As I type this, however, emotions are flaring and some folks present in Ferguson (I’m betting not representative of the residents) have started looting and causing other dangerous disturbances.
In contrast to the violence, other more peaceful protesters are on the scene attempting to prevent the chaos. We need God to intervene.
In light of this, I want to take you back to the second week after Brown was killed. Tensions were high then, too. At the time, I sensed the leading of God to take a few excursions into the community to find random strangers who would be willing to pray with me for the peace of Ferguson. The following is the result.
[Originally posted on August 25, 2014.]
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV
I knew about the Watts riots of 1965. I had heard about the riots breaking out in 1967 in places like Newark, Detroit, and Milwaukee. I watched the horror of the violence of 1992 in Los Angeles following the Rodney King assault trial. But I never imagined that my neighboring town of Ferguson would rank right up there among the others—an infamous distinction, indeed.
What do you do when civil unrest and bedlam breaks out in your own backyard? You pray, first of all; and you pray with others, too.
As I sat glued to my TV during the first week of agitation, I prayed. All of my other prayer concerns fell aside as I set my face like flint to defy the darkness descending upon my neighbors. This warfare was not with flesh and blood, but against the enemy of all men’s souls, and I knew that my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had outfitted me with His authority and equipped me to stand in His name. I also knew that I was far from alone in my stand. Multitudes from my region, throughout America, and around the world were taking their stand as well, interceding for the city where I had lunch with my sister just four days before.
Violence continued into the second week. As I took a walk Monday morning after another night of chaos, I felt led of the Lord to walk into a primarily minority apartment complex just off of my normal route. I saw a young woman sitting on her porch as she watched roofers repair old storm damage.
Ask her if she needs prayer, I heard the Lord whisper. I hesitated; but then I picked my way through the roofing supplies to her porch. She didn’t need prayer.
Hmmm… I thought. And then it hit me—was she was concerned about Ferguson? When she responded that she sure was, I asked if I could pray with her about it and she agreed. She gripped my hand firmly as we asked God for the peace and safety of the people in our neighboring town. When I said Amen, she—a twenty-something, tattooed black lady—opened up to me—a nearly sixty year-old conservative white woman.
“These people are just lootin’ and makin’ a mess and don’t care about no one! I’m sick of all of this—it’s the only thing on TV these days! It’s gotta come to an end!”
And thus week two began, and the Lord revealed a new job for me to do—I would start finding strangers with whom to pray for the peace of Ferguson.
I started in my own town.
- Robert and John, two young black men, prayed with me on the Starbucks patio. We formed a small circle and bowed our heads as the two of them held my hands. I peeked and saw that one had put his arm around his buddy’s neck. The intensity of their reverence was striking.
- Darlene, a nearly blind woman, prayed with me—also at Starbucks—while waiting for her bus. After we finished, she told me, “I dreamed last night that I was leaving church to catch my bus when a stranger stopped me to pray with them.”
- Alicia, an older black lady at the Ferguson Wal-Mart, told me after we prayed, “Two families are torn apart—Michael Brown’s and that young officer’s family. I’ve been praying for both of them.”
- Sharon, a woman from St. Louis city, stood with a group of protesters when I showed up across from the fire station in Ferguson. It didn’t take long before we recognized one another as fellow intercessors, and we entered into prayer for our region in the name of Jesus. She told me that none of her friends had wanted to join her, but God told her to go to Ferguson, anyway—He would provide a prayer partner for her. You guessed it—that prayer partner was me.
- At that same location, an ice cream truck pulled up. The driver and his friend (both black) jumped out and shouted, “Free ice cream for everyone!” Smiling ear-to-ear, they handed out the treats to everyone—black and white alike—and then crossed the street to an older white man with a walker, saying, “Sir—this is for you, free of charge!” before racing over to hand a free bar to the lone journalist manning the CNN command site. I felt tears stinging in my eyes. [Note from November 24, 2014: This type of display was far more common in August than the media showed. When more and more out of town “organizers” showed up, however, this sort of behavior became more and more scarce.]
- At the command center on West Florissant (past the burnt-out Quik Trip), Brian, a dreadlocked young man in his Target uniform, gripped my hand as we prayed. When we finished, he said, “Ma’am, I want to grow old and have kids. I don’t want to ruin my life messing around doing crazy stuff.” I agreed with him, and laying my hand on his shoulder, decreed that God would fulfill all His purposes in Brian’s life and use him as a peacemaker.
- Clarissa, a young black woman, was sitting in a motorized shopping cart when we prayed. After the Amen, she confided that she had been terrified and needed someone to pray with. I zeroed back in on her in prayer and loosed the protection and peace of God to surround her for the duration of the unrest and for the rest of her life.
- Floretta, another young woman—who, like Clarissa had been dealing with overwhelming fear—welcomed my prayers for her protection, wisdom, and direction. This granddaughter of a pastor was smiling ear-to-ear as we parted ways.
- Darryl was the only non-black person with whom I had prayed up to that point. This tattoed, young Asian man was on a smoking break in front of the hair shop he owned. I told him I was praying for the peace of Ferguson’s people and businesses and then asked him if he believed in God. “No—I’m an atheist,” he replied. I asked if I could pray for him and his store anyway. He agreed, and there we stood, heads bowed, as he puffed on his cigarette and I prayed for God to reveal Himself to Darryl. I prayed just as vigorously for the protection, wisdom, and guidance of this young atheist as I did for all the rest. As I finished, he thanked me.
What do you do when civil unrest and bedlam breaks out in your own backyard? You stand in the gap; and you pray for the ones caught on the front lines of the warfare. And you refuse to let up until your backyard becomes a praise in the earth.
Stand strong,
Dorothy