Warriors Arise: May 27th, 2020
"Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where eYou have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said dot Him, Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher)" John 20:14-16
EVERYTHING has the possibility of changing when Jesus calls our name.
I say possibility because we have a choice. As a parent, there are times when I hold my thoughts. I want to share with my kids, "You need to consider..." or "That probably isn't the best response for..." or "How about we look at this from a different perspective to see if you have the best solution." or "Have you asked God? He always knows what will bring the best outcome?" But I have to step back and let them make their decisions...in most cases. But the younger they are the more I am in the training of their mind, their choices and the results of their choices, and how to effectively and excellently complete a task.
We read in the Bible, over and over again, Jesus teaching His disciples. When they didn't understand He would explain what He was trying to teach the multitudes. A number of times He would say, let those who have ears hear. There is a difference in hearing and listening. Hearing means you heard what was said but it didn't compel you to do anything or engage in thinking about what was said. Listening means your mind is engaged in what is being said and you are wanting to understand, be a part of, or take action based on what was said.
When I was in college I had a saying up on my wall: "Change isn't change until something changes." When we do not make a change, then we will continue doing what we have always done, the way we have always done it, and getting the same results we have always gotten. However, when we make a change because we have listened as Jesus speaks our name, then we are ready for what needs to change and get different results.
When Jesus calls your name, you have a decision to stay in the old or to embrace the new, the reality before you. The chaos in our lives, controlling our thoughts, imprisoning us from being able to think outside of our situation, prevents us from see what God has right in front of us. Jesus tries to prompt her by asking, "Whom are you seeking?" The one she was seeking was right in front of her; standing, breathing, talking to her. Even though Mary could not see Jesus, He didn't give up on her. Jesus has a mission for her. He needs her to see Him, to listen to what He has to tell her. When we are not listening to Jesus we miss out on the directions He gives us, the wisdom He is speaking, the insight to the situation, the instructions for getting out of the chaos.
"She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me for I have not et ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God." (John 20:16b-17)
Jesus needed to send her again. The disciples did not receive the message the first time when Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome said and angel had told them Jesus is alive! Go meet Him in Galilee. This time it is Jesus sending the message. It is not a messenger angel; it is Jesus sending a message. But before Mary could be sent on a mission, the storm within her had to stop. It is difficult to hear God when we are feeding the storm. When we allow our minds to be filled and swirl with thoughts that do not resolve the problems. We need Jesus to speak our name. When He does, will you be listening?
Father, I ask for You to come into the middle of the storm that is whirling in our thoughts. I pray for You to come and speak my name. I need a change. I do not want to be stuck in the past, in what happened yesterday or in the past couple of months. I want to move out of the mire of the pandemic and political battle that rages on the television. I only want to know what the truth is, as I step back, turn off the television and listen as You call my name and direct my path. I trust You to lead me. How can I make an educated decision when the information being given is twisted? I need the Holy Spirit to guide me in the truth. I need the Holy Spirit to show me the mission God has for me. I ask for You to come and speak to the storms in the minds of the people around the world. I ask for the whirling of lies to be exposed and the truth to be made known. I ask for those who are so entrenched in the lies to be set free by the power of the truth through Holy Spirit. I ask for You to come, stand before us, and speak our names. I ask that each one be ready for You to meet with them and call their name. I ask for each one to desire freedom from their own thoughts and what they thought was reality. I ask for each one to embrace You, standing in front of the, speaking their name. I ask for each one to wake up from the stupor of deceit. Mary only knew what she saw but she needed to know reality. Jesus is alive and He had a mission for her. There are so many people who see the reality of what the television tells them but they need reality. Jesus is alive and He has a mission for each one. Jesus wants us to live in His righteousness, protecting those who cannot protect themselves and share the good news of His love with people. I pray each one will hear You call their name and regardless of what we think we know to be true, that we embrace what You are telling us right now. It is time for each one of us to live in the truth. That will help us come out from under the control of the enemy and be responsible for what God has given us to do in Jesus' name amen!
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power against the coronavirus. The prayers will be listed each day in the blog for Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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