Stand Close

His grace won’t run off on me. His mercy won’t desert. His strength is enough for me. His love is how I know, all these things are true. He is faithful, forever.

This week I’ve been asked to pray. By many people. Seems like a flood of hands reaching for something to grab hold of in the middle of their storms. I have strong compassion, because I remember when I was there.

So today I want to share the truths that pulled me up from the floor and kept my head above the waves.

“…and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart),” Ephesians 6:13-14(AMP)

Having done all to stand- stand firm.

Once you’ve said all the right things, prayed all the right prayers, and joined up together with those of like minds in the faith, shouldn’t it be working? Shouldn’t things get better?

When my daughter was in the hospital, I remember doing all the things. Going through the list of what the Bible says to do in crisis. And yet, it seemed like she got worse. Nothing was getting better. And that was the verse God gave me.

I know you’ve done all the things, said all the prayers, worshipped through it, spoke life, rebuked the enemy. But now, and this may be the hardest part, just keep doing it. Even when it looks like your praise is producing nothing- God is worthy of it. Even when it feels like your prayers are slamming the ceiling- God hears you, and He’s working on your behalf. Even when everything doesn’t make sense, God is faithful. Just keep standing.

I don’t know how long you’ll have stand. I can’t tell you when it will end. But I can say with all confidence, that God is good. He is faithful. He is fighting for you. He is our Champion, our Victory. There is no power of darkness that can stop Him. Nothing has caught Him off guard. He is aware of your pain and He is using it for your good- even if you can’t see it yet.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;” Isaiah 61:3(KJV)

Beauty for ashes. Joy for mourning. Praise for heaviness.

So I will pray. I will link up with those who have reached out to me. I will speak life over their situations. But I will also pray for their endurance. I will proclaim strength over their faith. I will encourage them to keep standing- victory is coming on the other side of tenacity.

Hell hates it when we stand. Because it knows it’s time is short.

The enemy can only come so close, before the presence of the Lord that we abide in, melts them like wax.

“Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries on all sides.
His lightnings have illuminated the world;
The earth has seen and trembled.
The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” Psalm 97:3-5(AMP)

So you just keep on standing- standing close to the Almighty. His presence disintegrates problems. His power intimidates opposition. He is bigger, still. He is greater, still. He is faithful, still.

Keep standing close.

Be Blessed!