Rut? Or, Revival.
Most of us have a routine. Bedtime routines and morning routines. If we have some OCD tendencies we REALLY stick with our routines. Maybe not as drastic as Jack Nicholson was in the movie, "As Good As It Gets", but you get my drift.
We often fall into patterns in our life. Eating at the same restaurant, more for convenience and routine, rather than delectable choices; driving the same route to our favorite destinations; sitting in the same row—same seat at church, etc. Habits. The list can go on and on. I bet now you are examining your morning patterns.
You know what happens in a rut? Rot. We get so accustomed to doing the same things over and over—we rarely—if ever, think outside the box.
There is no part of being in a rut that feels good. Ruts hold water when it rains. It becomes a slick-slimy mess on a rainy day; think old country red clay-dirt-road after a hard-three-day rain.
If you lived on a dirt road in the country—your best neighbor was the one with the tractor—not the swimming pool. There are some places only someone with skills can pull you out of.
January 5 of this year (2024), I had been praying and preparing for a ladies small-group class we were about to begin. It was based on Anna from Luke 2:36-38, and how she was a prayer warrior widow who had been widowed after being married for only seven years. She had moved into the temple and served daily with fasting and prayers—since her husband's passing, and she was about 84.
She was a woman who stood in the gap (so-to-speak) for the children of Israel. They were waiting for the prophesied Messiah. She was also waiting, but she layered her waiting with prayers. The day came her prayers were answered and she was about to see the Deliverer in person.
As I studied the life of Anna from the few sentences in the Bible. It amazed me at her perseverance. Night and day. Praying. Serving-with fasting.
Anna didn't consider herself in a rut. It was not just a routine. This was more—this was a service to God, and it was the mission of her heart—pray until He comes. Stand in the gap for her people.
I doubt very seriously if she lived in our time she would have given the public all the details her misery of loss on Facebook or Instagram. She didn't succumb to a life of widowhood, drenched in black. She picked up her prayer mantel and continued doing what I feel in my heart that she was accustomed to doing as a daily pattern: pray.
Storms of life? Pray. Allow that storm to carry you straight into the arms of our Savior. When we pray—we are taking our needs to our Father, who can and will take care of every-single-situation.
Wednesday night, I shared about the times I had prayed about something beyond my control. I prayed about this one thing for years. I could not, for the life of me, make the individual see things from the wide-angle lens. What I realized I could do—was continue to take that need to God. I was learning more about my Heavenly Father, and I learned that while circumstances did not change—my view of things did. He changed “me”. And at the end of the day—that is who I am responsible for. Not any other individual. Just me.
I will stand before God one day and answer for MY attitude and actions, my prayer life and love for people. I won’t answer for you. And thankfully, you won’t have to answer for me.
Anna felt that she could make a difference for her people by praying—and God heard her faithful persistent prayers. Her standing in the gap for the children of Israel took her out of the possibility of falling into a rut, and turned it into bringing about revival of her own heart that kept her going to God in prayer—in service—and in fasting. For over 60 years.
So, little friend, what’s going on with you today? A storm? A life loss? A circumstance beyond your control? Teetering on the edge of falling into a rut? Well, I would like to encourage you today, pray. Stand in the gap for the circumstance. For the people involved. For our nation. For Jerusalem. Even if you don’t see God moving—Climb OUT.....And keep praying. Revival is coming!
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