To
me, Monday mornings are a time for sleeping in, lazing around, and easing into a
new week. Not so today, as evidenced by
the following entry I just penned. Enter
the world of my waking thoughts turned to prayer.
Horrible,
horrible dream! Lions gone mad. Lions everywhere. In our neighborhood. On our walking paths. In our yards.
In our own homes! Hunting. Stalking.
Attacking … us! Screams everywhere. Corpses of dear ones dragged away where they
are suffocated, ripped apart, eaten.
I
awoke, glad for my safety, my bed, my blankets, my wife breathing deeply next
to me, my dog doing the same next to out bed.
Poor
Trinity (the name of our three-legged boxer).
She would be an early victim in the lion apocalypse. Heart and disposition to defend herself and
her people, yet unable to do so long or effectively because of her
disadvantage. Strange how frequently I am
moved to melancholy, almost mourning, thinking of her dying – but that’s
another tale. She would tragically be
such easy prey.
Easy
prey the weak and defenseless. Like children. Children.
Grandchildren.
O
dear God!
8 Be serious! Be alert!
Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking
for anyone he can devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Lions! Lions everywhere!
“5:22
AM. Relax. Pull the covers up. Adjust the pillow. Get comfortable. Go back to sleep,” he purred.
The
foe purrs, and my heart shakes. Fool! Lazy, self-centered, reckless, feckless fool!
She
was right. I used to rise early and
often to plead for strength and wisdom. Why
do I no longer rise to my knees and fight so for my family? Years now wasted away in a few more hours of
slumber!
9 Resist him and be firm in the
faith, … (1 Peter 5:9a).
Father,
forgive me! Jesus, what a poor clanging
noise bucket I have been. My own children
have been hunted. My son. My daughter.
They are dragged off while I opine oh so reverently!
Who
will resist him? Who will pray? Who will battle? Who will protect Evangeline and Judah? Who will be engaged for our children and our grandchildren’s
sakes?
This
is our call! This is our place! This is our post, beloved!
Lions
everywhere! Where are the warriors? Where are the guardians? the protectors armed
and armored in battle attire and arrayed on their knees?
9 Resist him and be firm in the
faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow
believers throughout the world (1 Peter 5:9).
In
the Lake Moraine subdivision. In Brighton
and Hartland and Howell and Highland and Holly.
In Detroit and Ann Arbor. In Windsor
and Washington. In Canada and Mexico. In Europe and Asia. In Myanmar – Yangon, Theinzeik, Thaton, Mawlamyine.
Late
and weak and ashamed I come, Lord. Forgive
my ignorance and insolence. Protect and
preserve Your people. We are too
frail. So easily distracted and divided. Such easy prey.
Spirit
of God, open the eyes of my heart – of our hearts – and grant that we may hear
the lions’ roars. Then, rather than quake
or panic or pull the covers over our heads, move us to mercy and to resolve to
pray for our children, for one another and with one another.
10 Now the God of all grace, who called
you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish,
strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. 11 The dominion belongs to Him
forever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11).
Father,
restore in me a right spirit, a clear vision, a soldier’s integrity and purpose
and resolve, a servant’s heart and constitution – like that of my Lord.
Establish,
strengthen, and support us, Spirit of the living God. Grant that we – Donna and I, our family, our
faith family – would see again what really matters and what is truly at stake.
What
did Jesus do when Satan sought to sift Simon Peter like wheat? Jesus prayed for His man. Can we do any less for one another and
especially for the most vulnerable among us when we perceive the dragon lurking
at the gates? Dear God, move us to march
out and on together on our knees! (I’m
looking at you HCC).
If
it must be, stir us from our sleep even with the terrible howl of the predator
and the desperate screams of his victims.
Lord
Jesus, save and keep safe our children our grandchildren, our brothers and
sisters, our neighbors, and the nations!
Thank
You! Thank You for sounding alarms in my
spirit while I yet have breath to do something about it.
Thank
You for Your personal commitment and investment to accomplish Your purpose in,
through, and for us.
Make
Your church, Lord Jesus, a window to the world, a station where we are
increasingly more bound together by Your heart than by our whims, and an
instrument made ever more useful in Your work to populate Heaven with our
family and friends, with our neighbors and the nations.
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Soli
Deo Gloria!
