Walk Toward the Light

I have enjoyed watching the 2010 Winter Olympics these past two weeks.
From figure skating to downhill skiing, from the bobsled to snow boarding, from hockey to curling, the eyes of the world have been focused on those who were “going for the gold.”

These young men and women have trained for years. They have disciplined their bodies, minds and spirits. They have overcome injuries, setbacks, and dream-shattering losses, and used them instead to thrust forward toward their quest for the gold. It is their unwavering determination and sacrifice that ultimately positions them for the competition of their lifetime.

We, too, are challenged to “go for the gold.” Even though we are grieved by various trials, setbacks, and losses, through it all we are told to be exceedingly glad because the journey is about the genuineness of our faith being tested; our faith is infinitely more precious than the gold which is tested and purified by fire yet ultimately perishes.

Our trials are not meant for our destruction, but for our advancement.
As Abraham waited for the fulfillment of his promised son, things couldn’t have looked bleaker. Yet, the more Abraham was pressed, the more he rejoiced.
Being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body. He staggered not through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, that what God had promised He was able to perform. The more there was no hope, the more Abraham believed in hope! (Romans 4:16)

Do you remember when God spoke to Jehoshaphat in the middle of what looked like a hopeless situation? “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:22). Jehoshaphat was not being told that God would fight the battle while he stayed home. Jehoshaphat had to show up on the battlefield!

Faith is acted upon and tested on the battlefield. The spoils are awarded on the battlefield. The victory is won on the battlefield.

Everything depends upon our believing God.
Everything depends on a tested, trusted faith in God.

By faith, the elders obtained a good testimony… and it is by faith that we, too, obtain a good testimony.

Position yourselves! Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you.

Grab hold of your promise today. God, and God alone is able to perform what He has promised.

Advance across your battlefield and keep your eye on the goal. Go for the gold!

The invitation I received simply said,

Members of the Congress

Of the United States of America

Request the pleasure of your company at the

58^th Annual National Prayer Breakfast with

The President of the United States

And other national leaders in the Executive,

Judicial and Legislative Branches of our government

Thursday, February 4, 2010

At eight o’clock

Hilton Washington International Ballroom

Washington, D.C.

What an honor to be a part of this bi-partisan annual event which brought together not only the President of the United States, but the Vice President, the Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and numerous members of Congress from both the Democratic and Republican parties.

My heart was deeply touched as I listened to their individual expressions of faith in God as the basis of their lives.  My heart resonated with theirs as I heard of their early days in Sunday school, learning scripture, and their deep appreciation for our prayers on their behalf.

At the same time I was acutely aware of the powerful political undertow that pulls on the lives,  thoughts, and speech of these public servants. Washington, DC is the high profile beachhead where these opposing tides meet head-on, where the biblical strength of personal faith is tested against the human urge to believe that the honest cultural beliefs of all others deserve an equal place: The ground is level at the feet of good intentions, whether from the Bible or the Bhagavad Gita.

Yet Jesus said, How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? (John 15:44). The biblical standard shares no level ground. It is a singular Truth that sets all men free.

These clashing currents are not new, they are why God urges us to pray for those in authority, to help set them free from those forces that are all too human.

Even as I received a personal invitation to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, every one of us has also received a personal invitation to “stand” in the place of prayer on behalf of “all those in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence… for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”
1 Timothy 2:2

We are living in critical times and our voices need to be heard in heaven on behalf of all those serving in governmental leadership. Every day they face the cultural undertow. Our nation desperately needs a moral and spiritual awakening.

Aglow’s Targeted Prayer for Governments

When I asked the Lord about the purpose and significance of my being there I felt He said, “You are representing the collective prayers, anointing and authority of the Aglow ministry to the seat of the United States government. Your presence represents a higher authority, the authority of heaven.”

This year, each U.S. Regional Director will be taking a group from their respective regions into Washington DC to spend several days praying for this nation and for the government of the United States.  We must cry out for a move of God amongst the leadership of this nation on both sides of the aisle.

Our leaders and prayer warriors in other nations are fully engaged with the U.S. effort in praying for their national leaders, and have received miraculous favor with governmental officials in the past.

How the National Prayer Breakfast Began

It will interest you to know that the National Prayer Breakfast traces its roots back to 1935 in Seattle, Washington, with a local vision similar to that of the Aglow ministry which started in 1967.

Twenty-two years earlier, 19 business executives met together in Seattle to face a critical situation in the life of their city.

These businessmen turned to the 2,000 year old story of Jesus of Nazareth when Jesus invited a few of His friends to join him on the shore of the sea of Tiberius. There He demonstrated the generosity of God with an abundant catch of fish, the love of God in his reconciliation with Peter who had denied him; and the importance of sustaining relationships by gathering together around a meal to fellowship and pray.

Even after the critical situation that brought these Seattle executives together was over, they continued to meet regularly over breakfast. As with Aglow’s beginnings, like-minded individuals from other cities heard the news from Seattle soon other groups began to spring up.

Ultimately, breakfast groups were founded within the United States Senate and House of Representatives and have since become recognized internationally.  This year, 140 nations were represented at this Washington, DC prayer event.

This is a time for Aglow to bring our collective prayers, anointing and authority to bear for those who are in authority over us if we wish to reap the benefits of good government, which is a prized gift from God for the church’s welfare and advancement of the gospel.

Thank you for your faithfulness.

Recently, I was reading in The Book of Mark, about the healing of the paralytic.  One particular line stood out to me at the very end of this great testimony of Jesus’ touch on this man’s life and the amazement it stirred amongst the people.  It states simply that the people glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

The word amaze means “to fill with wonder.” Those gathered in the house where this miracle took place stood amazed at what Jesus was able to do and their amazement caused them to glorify God.

Yet, some of the scribes sitting there were reasoning in their minds. Have you ever thought about the difference between reasoning and pondering?  Zacharias also reasoned with his natural mind which made him question the word of the Lord that the angel brought to him in announcing Elizabeth’s pregnancy.  “How shall I know this?  For I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years.”

Because of his unwillingness to cling to his faith and believe, he became mute and did not speak until the day the word was fulfilled and his wife, Elizabeth, brought forth their son who became John the Baptist.  (Luke 1).

Mary, the mother of Jesus, received similar news from a position of simple faith. She was filled with amazement and awe at the word of the angel when he spoke about Jesus’ miraculous birth. Instead of reasoning in her mind, she chose to believe in a miraculous God as she pondered the word in her heart, then responded, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Believing God brings light.

This year, as we walk toward the light, let us keep walking until all we can see is light…His fabulous light.  His light crowds out all darkness, doubt, and despair and fills us with faith.  The light of God causes us to see His majesty in expanded ways.

I believe, as we walk in the light, we, too, will be amazed at what Jesus does in our lives this coming year. We, too, will say, “We never saw anything like this!”  We will see Him heal diseases, make provision where provision is needed, restore relationships that have been strained or broken, bring in the lost, speak life over areas of our lives that have seemed paralyzed and immoveable.

Blessed is he or she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told them from the Lord.

Be amazed.  Glorify God.  Believe.

A New Year, a new decade, a new season is upon us.

A New Year always seems to bring a sense of freshness and expectancy. Perhaps that is why resolutions for the New Year usually accompany the dawning of the new day.

However, after some days, weeks and perhaps even months go by, and the expected results have not surfaced, discouragement comes and soon our great resolutions are set aside with a sense of failure and disappointment accompanying the defeat.

As believers, we are to live with a vastly different mindset. When God set His plan in place it wasn’t with the “hope” that things might work out, like a New Year’s resolution. God’s plan was a done deal from the beginning.

Take for example; the promise God gave the children of Israel, through Moses, concerning the land of Canaan. The spies were to go into the land with the proclamation, “WHICH I AM GIVING TO THEM.” It was part of God’s plan.

However, it would require seeing beyond what the natural eye could see. Most of the spies sent to Canaan saw the mighty Canaanites only with their natural eyes and returned to Moses quaking in their sandals. Their report was bathed in doubt: “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight.” That is what looking at yourselves will get you, fear and uncertainty… even in what you believe you have heard from God for your future.

Looking at yourself and seeing your own inability will also tend towards wanting to blame someone or something else for your failure just as the Israelites did. God said of them, “I have heard the complaints which they made against Me!” Not only did they complain individually, they spread their doubt and bitterness to all who would listen. Their doubt caused all the congregation to complain because of their bad report about the land.

God’s plan and His reply to this sad situation was, ”But, your little ones, whom you said would be victims… I will bring in and they shall know the land which you have despised!” The steadfastness and surety of His plan would take place, though they would miss the blessing due to their lack of faith.

When God is in a thing – we need NEVER fear the results. The fear of man is without foundation. God is greater than ALL obstacles, interferences, human reason or weaknesses. What He has spoken He WILL fulfill.

As we enter this New Year, New Decade and New Season, there may appear to be some giants in your pathway. You may feel that you don’t have all the answers you desire. Do not make the mistake the Israelites did by seeing themselves only as grasshoppers.

We are contending for a new — a greater level of faith.
We are moving beyond measure into fullness.
We are walking an exciting journey in this adventure of faith.

Believe!