Be Strong In The Lord

This is the March 20, 2003. The news is breaking every 15 min. on the War that began this morning with Iraq. I am sure many are in deep turmoil in their hearts at every breaking moment when something is shot at. I prayed hard when I heard that an Apache helicopter had went down. Two were on board and hit by oncoming fire. Within 15 min. the report came they had a rough landing and then were able to fly back to safety. I thanked God in my heart and praised Him for some mothers sons were aboard with near escape. I thanked Him for answering my prayer. We should all pray without ceasing as the Lord tells us. You might say that was only incidental. I still give God the praise for I feel He heard my cry for Him to intercede. I have faith that He did just that. He deserves our praise. This brought me joy. Joy unspeakable in my heart with thanks to the Father. Nothing is too hard for God. We can ask the Father anything if we are in His will.

We must put on the whole armor of God. Pray and stand still when we have done all that we know to do. The Lords arm is not shortened. God will intervene for His children. I saw some little children huddled under a makeshift tent of plastic in a place of refuge they had fled to. They were cold and hungry. They reported two elderly people had died from the cold and exposure. They had enough food for 1 week where they had fled to. I saw a middle age woman as they zeroed in on her shoes. She was slightly over weight with ankles that looked swollen as she traipsed through the mud covering her shoes almost completely. I felt a shiver go down my spine.

I saw sweet little childrens faces that never hurt anyone and much suffering was in store for them. I thought of the scripture when Jesus said, Let the Little Children Come Unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the Kingdom of heaven. They are at the mercy of the sins of the world. They totally have to depend up on our Savior for their safety. I can not even begin to comprehend what it would be like to be in flight for my life with my five children and their children. I would have to depend solely upon the Lord to bring us through to safety as He did His children when they crossed the Red Sea and at other times when He walked with them. I believe that His banner over them and us today would be of complete love and protection.

It is a totally dependency upon the Lord that will make us strong. I prayed for them and for American as well. I laid my head down and went to sleep knowing that the Master was watching over all of those in danger of dying. I would fall completely apart at the seams if I was unsure of this. I am as sure as I am of my Salvation that we are under His banner of Love. Under the cross that His blood fell from to sustain me even though we may die, we have life everlasting in Him. This wipes away all fear of the unknown.

I took a walk out in the beautiful sunshine today. I sat on my front porch and basked in the warm sunshine and prayed and communed with my Father. I strolled around the edge of our little patch of woods. I looked for wild lettuce which I saw some the size of the top of a cup. I received hope in looking at these plants so tender and growing in the bright sunlight. I thought of the peace and quiet of the birds singing in the trees. The wind blowing ever so briskly against my face. I had to stop and look up. Thank you God for lifting my face toward you in reverence. Thank you for the peace I find in you. Thank you for making me strong in you from moment to moment. Thank You as you cause your face to shine upon me today.

We never know from moment to moment what will be on the horizon. We may not have another day to win our loved ones to the Lord. We may not have another day like this that I have experienced in my quiet time with the Lord. We are not promised tomorrow. It is what we do with today that counts. Work for the Lord and be strong in reaching the lost. Work as if it were your last day on the earth to do His will. I believe a great revival is coming in our land. I believe when people become worried they begin to look up for their Lord is drawing near. He tells me when we are weak, then we will be strong in Him. Lord I will admit I feel venerable and weak off and on all day to day. I know that even though what I may feel I am becoming stronger in my faith from moment to moment in You. I look to You for my Help. I lift my eyes to the Hills from whence come my help. My hope is only in You. I therefore am becoming stronger than I was before I prayed. My mind is stayed on you. You will keep me in perfect peace. How true, Your promises, for You are Truth.

Let us constantly be in fervent prayer for those protecting us over seas. God, may they feel your presence all around them. I could have been born in that country, but Lord you let me be born here. You have been with us all along. America is blessed. Let America be a blessing as they fight for freedom for their country as well. Let us thank you and humble ourselves in prayer as we keep our eyes set on the Eastern Skies. Someday they will split and You will come to take Your children home. Let us have our lamps trimmed and burning as we go to you for our every need in prayer and the needs of others. Let us pray for our enemies, pray that they would have a change of heart and surrender to save lives of the innocent on both sides. Let us be strong in prayer as we have never been before. Our strength will come from being on our knees as we seek, knock, and ask for your mercy on so many lives at risk.

Then we will go forth Strong in the Lord. We can change history by our prayers to You Father. Let us all repent and turn back to God.

Written By: Karen Armstrong March 20, 2003

Written By: Karen Armstrong