In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

Someone asked me to pray the other day and I told them “you might want to ask someone else”. Needless to say, they looked at me like I lost my mind. Not disturbed or bothered by their response I bowed my head and closed my eyes and waited for the prayer to begin. After a few seconds they asked someone else and they obliged. We prayed and proceeded with the agenda, dismissed and went home. 

This same person called me, obviously still irradiated by my response and asked “what minister denies a request of prayer”? My answer shocked and startled us both…in the most gracious tone I could muster (a soft answer turns away wrath) I gently said “one that looks for, listens to and then prays the heart of God”. Mockingly they said “so God didn’t want you to pray?” Sure not to respond true to my flesh (rise to the occasion…by being sweet, short, smart, sharp and a stickler for putting people in their place when needed ) I answered without condemning, condoning or being condescending to the truth that would set us both free ” of course God wanted me to pray and that I did…I prayed God’s word and not my or your agenda”. The phone went silent momentarily and then they proceeded to try to convince me I got them all wrong and that as leaders we need to present a united front irregardless of differing opinions.  After minutes of my just listening, I asked them to read Jeremiah 11:9-17 and to call me back so we could discuss moving forward. It’s been a little while now and I still have yet to receive that call.

There are times when we have to force ourselves to accept, agree and acclimate to the heart of God.  Times when life and love calls for taking a stand…times when we must chose to go against status quo and risk the threat of losing relationships that we treasure.  We can’t allow human relationships to interfere with our obedience unto God. As ministers of the Gospel we must be careful in our representation sure not to call wrong right and right wrong. God told Jeremiah not to pray, that He wasn’t going to honor Judah’s (Jerusalem’s) request…basically that He was exacting justice.  In my case, God told me He wasn’t going to bless, prosper or allow the agenda to proceed.  I heard clearly this is not me, I’m not in this…felt strongly that I shouldn’t cosign or correct wrong motives and behaviors.

We pray for a many things. I almost always ask “God to help the people”. Most of my prayers and intercessions are seated in mercy and reinforced by grace’s reality.  It breaks my human heart to even think that we would continue to choose opposite God…that our heart’s choice has an eternal consequence more time, my or your prayers and words will not change. If God’s word, way and works don’t bring us to repentance why are we so trusting of our efforts? When God says no…I’m not in this or I’m done with this it is in our best interest to take Him at His word. His word says He will not always chide with man. God knows the heart of a man or a woman…it’s motives and movements…what it feels and does not feel interms of obedience. He has been merciful towards us given us chance after chance and still we live and we love in and of our own understanding and doing. Contrary to popular opinion, we can’t do the right thing for the wrong reason and expect God’s blessings. 

Our choices betray our confessions of faith. How exactly does one pray for that? How do you not address rebellion and disobedience…underlining unconfessed sin as we attempt to serve God and His people. What constellation does no bring to good ideas, mean well intentions…I’m trying and doing the best I can? When God says No prayers and words of comfort are silenced lest we lie on God and misrepresent love. Somethings are between man and His maker. Somethings just have to play out and fulfill God’s purposes without our intervention. 

In Judah’s case God’s no was to preserve the remnant. It was Him loving them so much that He did what it took to purge their hearts back to Him. God used disaster, him turning a deaf ear to their cries to get and hold their attention. Could God be using disaster to bring us back to consecrated prayer? Has He gotten our attention? Are we distracted? Are we praying from our emotions or are we looking for and listening to the heart of God on these CURRENT matters?

We could continue to pray a miss or offer up petitions God will not answer or honor to save face, appear loyal, righteous and holy while practicing blatant disobedience. Or we can surrender our right to opinion, feelings and how we’d like it to be or play out and be uncomfortable in our humanity and honor the heart of God.

I’ve probably loss the respect, consideration and even welcome of my fellow co-laborers. It is very likely they’ll never ask me to pray publicly again. My yes to God cost me and so does yours. There is always a price and reward for obedience. We live and we love through some tight, taunting and teachable places but God in his infinite wisdom gets us where we need to be. Obedience is better than sacrifice.  When God says no we trust that his Word, way and works are perfect. He does all things well and works in conjunction to His will. When God says no…we agree God you’re right my feelings concerning the matter are wrong, insignificant and wayward.  We choose God’s purpose and not that of our own or that of another. I could not pray opposite God’s heart on the matter.

This however was my prayer of agreement…

Lord you are God the author and finisher of our faith. Help us to trust your decisions and remember your Word concerning us…grant us mercy and grace we don’t deserve and the will to endure the consequences of our choices opposite you. May we learn and grow from the things you allow to grow us up in you. Make us better not bitter…do for and in us what we cannot do for ourselves. May your strength be made perfect in our weakness. Make us over in you and help us see things cleary may we correct things swiftly (mindsets, motives and mannerisms). Thank you for loving us enough to say no when yes would hurt us more…for not allowing us to continue in the error of our ways. Thank you for forgiveness, reconcilation and restoration…for the covering of your blood…the promise of your unfailing love.

Help us admittedly repent of the sin that seperates us and willingly confess you are always right and we choose to be wrong. Give us the fortitude we need to disconnect from wrong allegiances, alliances and associations that help, hinder and hurt our attempts to please you. We surrender our words, ways and works to your authority. With your help we will not only survive this season but we will soar to new levels of accountability once life and live parallels God’s heart toward us.  We know you decide when we go in and come out of training, testing and being tried. We believe in the end we will, as well as our life and love will line up to your desire, design and designation. We will continue to hope in you. You are our expectation. Turn our hearts back to you. Continue to work the will in us to do what pleases and pleasures you…present our surrendered hearts righteous and faultless. 

 In your strength we will live and love in your likeness through an enlightened perception of who you are and who you desire us to be. Teach us your principles and train us to remain loyal to your purpose. Thank you for life and love after this, for forward movement and for turning and tuning our ears and hearts to the counsel of your will. Thy will be done. Thank you HolySpirit for leading and guiding us in truth…the truth is setting us free. We’re free to love you, ourselves and others correctly because the two edge sword has cut what needs to be discarded while fine tuning what needed to be strengthened in us…the good you pronounced remains. Thank you for reassurance that there is life and love after this. God make life and love what you said it would be allow your purpose to previal in Jesus name amen~AntTBri