Jesus intercedes for us – Meghan E White

The Prayer Shawl

July 9, 2022 meghanewhite

The memories of my mom came flooding back when I found this blanket in a closet. I was looking for something, I don’t remember what, when I saw what I thought was a blanket folded up. Then I remembered, Mom’s friend had knit this prayer shawl for her during her chemo treatments for lung cancer.

While I was at my mom’s house right after her death I spent maybe an hour or two going through a small amount of her stuff. This prayer shawl was handed to me by her husband, and I just added it to my little pile of keepsakes. I had not given it a second thought until the other day when I took it off the shelf.

Mom’s precious friend knit the prayer shawl and prayed over it while she was creating this sweet gesture of love. The three stitch pattern represents Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each time mom wrapped the prayer shawl around herself she was reminded that God’s love covered her.

The prayer shawl has no magic or special powers. It is just a beautiful symbolic picture of God’s love and the power of prayer. When I look at the prayer shawl I see kindness and compassion from a dear woman who cared about my mom. To make something with your hands for the sole purpose of encouraging a suffering human is an act of love.

I am grateful to have this lovely prayer shawl as a reminder of my mom’s suffering and the love of our Heavenly Father holding her in His mighty hands. She was covered in the best way possible, by the power of God. Mom still had pain and cancer never left her body, but God, carried her through all the way home.

The prayer shawl reminds me to pray for the hurting. To lift others up, and be an encouragement when surrounded by discouragement. To pray for God’s covering over the sick and suffering.

Christians are to be people of prayer, all the time. Now, more than ever we must be fervent in our prayers. Don’t stop praying. Pray all those big prayers that are absolutely impossible in our strength. Pray and ask God to heal, to save, comfort, convict, to seek and save the lost. Pray, and pray, and pray.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24, NIV

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

We praise and thank You for Your goodness, faithfulness, and love. There is none like You. We lift up all those who are sick. Heal them, comfort them, and draw them close to You. Cover them in Your love. Encourage all the sick and suffering. You are close to the brokenhearted. May they feel You closer than ever.

In Jesus precious name,

Amen

Prayer

Pray Like Elijah

July 24, 2021 meghanewhite

Prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do as Christians. Sometimes we make it our last resort, which I’ve been guilty of. Prayer can be treated like a task on a to do list. We sigh and pray because all of our other efforts have failed.

Prayer should not be the last hopeless act for the Christian. Prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon. We are not praying to the air, or the clouds, or a mysterious god. We are coming to the Throne of Grace of Almighty God. He answers His children when we call.

Pray like Elijah.

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17-18, NIV

Elijah was a prophet during a turbulent time in Israel’s history. God used him in an exceptional way. When he was sent into hiding by God the ravens fed him (1 Kings 17:2-6). God sent Elijah to stay with a widow, and her flour and oil miraculously never ran out. When the widow’s son was deathly ill, Elijah pleaded with God for the boy’s life, and God healed the child (1 Kings 17:7-24).

One of Elijah’s most famous moments is with the prophets of Baal. He called down fire from heaven which burned up the sacrifice and everything around it. All the people fell to the ground and cried, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!” (1 Kings 18:39). Then Elijah slaughtered the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40).

When Elijah prayed earnestly for rain. He climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. Elijah sent his servant six times to look toward the sea for signs of rain. On the seventh time the servant reported “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea” (1 Kings 18:44).

But Elijah was just a regular person like you and me. He got tired and discouraged, just like we all do at times. When Elijah fled in fear of Jezebel he begged God to take his life. That did not stop God from encouraging Elijah, and still using him greatly.

Elijah was a superstar prayer warrior who got to experience many miracles. Clearly he was gifted by God, but still just a human like us. Elijah was obedient and did what God asked of him time and time again.

Elijah prayed according to God’s will.

Elijah prayed for rain and it did not rain for three and a half years. He asked God to change the weather and God did. This was all according to God’s plan.

Elijah had to completely rely on God.

God sent Elijah to hide in a ravine with no food or water. He had to trust that God would do exactly as He told him by providing water from the brook and ravens to bring food.

Elijah asked God for miracles.

God healed the widow’s son after Elijah pleaded for the boy’s life. He called fire down from heaven. These are no small feats. Only God could perform such miracles.

Elijah prayed earnestly.

He continued to pray and sent his servant seven times to look for rain. Elijah kept praying until there was rain.

Elijah’s prayers resulted in God being glorified.

During the sacrifice he prayed to God. Elijah asked the Lord to answer him so the people will know that the Lord is God, and that they would turn their hearts back to Him.

Our prayers can be as powerful as Elijah’s.

What if we prayed bigger bolder prayers?

Not just prayers for our personal needs, which we should do. Prayers for salvation. Prayers for our country to turn to God. Prayers for the salvation of our unsaved friends and family. Prayers for healing, forgiveness, peace, miracles. Prayers for the impossible. What if?

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b, NIV

When we pray we are calling on God Almighty. Our righteousness is from our faith in Jesus Christ. This means our prayers are powerful. This is an amazing gift from God. When we pray, God moves. We can pray just like Elijah did, and watch God do marvelous works that bring glory and honor to His name.

Help us Lord, to want what You want.

Let’s pray like Elijah.

Love you all,

Meghan

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the amazing gift of prayer. We can come to you at any time, any place. You will never turn us away. Teach us to pray big faith-filled prayers. May we ask according to Your will. Help us to clearly hear the Holy Spirit as we pray. All glory, honor, and praise to You!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Spiritual Warfare, Trials

My Battle Plan

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 meghanewhite

ancient antique armor armour

When life begins to unravel, as it is guaranteed to do from time to time, what is your response? We have options. We can panic. We can get angry. We can feel sorry for ourselves. We can worry. These are all normal human reactions. We have another choice. We can fight back.

The hard days and tough warfare will come to each of us. What do you do when you are in the trenches, deep in spiritual battle? Our instinct is to give up. Or, fight the wrong battle. Don’t let the physical stuff distract you from the actual battle. Our battles are ultimately spiritual. That’s the real battle.

For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. Ephesians 6:12,

Many years ago, I learned how to fight spiritually. The weapons of this type of warfare are not physical, yet they are more powerful than a nuclear bomb. Here is a basic breakdown of what I do when I’m fighting back.

My Battle Plan

The best way to utilize this strategy is to silence your phone. Stay off social media, t.v., and the internet. Shut everything off. Put all your energy into God. You must press in to Him. There are four weapons that I apply simultaneously in the fight.

Worship

It’s time to put on your favorite worship music. If you don’t have any, it’s easy to look some up online and let it play. You may not feel like worshipping God, but in no time you will be uplifted. You will begin to focus on God, and not on your problem.

Sing a new song to the Lord;

sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to Yahweh, praise His name;

proclaim His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonderful works among all peoples. Psalm 96:1-3

Prayer

Pour out your heart to God. No half hearted prayers. Tell Him everything. He already knows anyway. Just be honest and respectful. We can come to God freely because of Jesus. So come. Pray like you have never prayed before. If you can’t find the words then write out a simple prayer. Ask at least one person to intercede for you if possible. Also, be quiet before the Lord in your prayer time, and ask Him what He wants to tell you.

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6-7

The Word

God’s Word is a lamp, a treasure, the truth, and it’s alive. The word of God is a sword. It’s our ultimate weapon. The Word is how you are going to cut through the lies. Keep your Bible open, and bookmark verses that speak to your situation. If you’re lacking faith, then look up every verse on faith. If you need healing, look up verses on healing. If you’re worrying, look up those verses. You get the idea. Say those verses out loud. Read them 100 times if necessary. You can also write them on note cards and place them all around your home.

Take the helmet of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is God’s word.

Ephesians 6:17

Fast

I know it is difficult to go without food. Only fast if you are healthy, and please ask your doctor if you have any concerns. Fasting is throughout the Old and New Testament.

There are all kinds of views on what to fast. Some will just skip one meal a day, others will go without food the entire day or a few days. Some “fast” from social media, or other non-food types of enjoyment. I go without food. I still drink coffee in the morning and then just water the rest of the day. That may not work for everyone. I’m not an expert on fasting.

What’s the point of a fast? It focuses our minds and bodies on Jesus. Fasting and praying go together. When I feel hungry I use that as a reminder to pray. I can honestly say that the spiritual results from fasting are incredible. I hear God’s voice much more clear. I get a new, Godly perspective. I feel closer to Him.

So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and He granted our request.

Ezra 8:23

That’s the very basic breakdown of how I fight my battles. God is the thread through all four components. Worship, prayer, the word, and fasting point to God. It takes the focus off of our trial, and on to God. When we place our problems into God’s mighty hands, He can do what we cannot. That is powerful. My battle plan is not to just get what I want. It changes my heart, and my mind. It strengthens my faith. I begin to ask God what He wants, and I plead for His will not my own.

If you are battling today, please leave me your prayer request. We are to bear one another’s burdens.

Love you all,

Meghan

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