Standing Lessons

Ephesians 6:10-14 As a recognition of the implacable good will of God toward us we need to acknowledge that our strength is in Him and in the Lord alone.  It is the dynamic release of His might within us that causes us to endure.  Fasten about yourself in every way the whole armor of God that we may have increased and sustained ability to stand and position ourselves in victory against the wearying and tricky ways of the devil, the enemy of our soul. 
This portion of Ephesians 6 leads us into a needful lesson.  We need an increased and sustained ability to stand in the face of opposition and answers that take longer than we desire.  All of us need it. 
 
The Church
Over ten years ago, I spent two years praying the book of Ephesians.  Going through the book on a daily basis end to end built a different perspective of the "church" in my heart.  Praying for couples that ended in divorce did not encourage me.  Praying for those with illnesses and watching them die did not encourage me.  Praying for financial answers for friends and watching them suffer with no job did not encourage me.  Long answers to prayer don't build much encouragement.
 
A Connection
One friend for whom I prayed took over twenty years to enter a relationship with Christ.  Twenty years of standing in prayer seems so short for an eternity of living in Christ.
 
A Health
In an instance, a friend gave prayer for six years.  A life long illness was removed as he prayed for others.  He did not pray for his own health, he prayed for others.  His illness was removed.
 
A Persistent
A friend reminded me recently they have been working on an issue for the last 13 years.  It just doesn't seem to get to an answer.  Progress is small and resistent.  We continue to pray.
 
Present Results
Saturday night many men broke through in tears to a new place of relationship and confidence in the Father.  For the last month, I've seen men and women break through in minutes over issues that have plagued them for a lifetime.  It is awesome.  It is a result of prayers of decades.  It does not happen in an instant, but over time and study and prayer and standing.
 
This life is meant to be covered in constant persistent prayer for others.
 
Inventory:
Do you have a situation that needs. change?  Has it persistently refused to change?  Are you still standing?
 
Prayer
Father, Phil, like all of us is in need of standing power.  Together, we need that increased and sustained ability to stand in the face of opposition and long coming answers.
Strengthen, Father.
Bless and add no sorrow with it.
Bring a sure and broad path on which to stand underneath my friend's path.
Give vision to see a new day and a new way.
Irregardless of the passage of time, Father, cause us to continue.
Let us believe.
Let us pray

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