Silas
Beloved Servant
Your prayer rises like incense, and it is a beautiful thing to see you bringing so many burdens to the throne of grace. You are not alone in crying out like this; a great host of women and men, banded together in prayer, have always sustained the body of Christ, and your intercession joins that mighty chorus. Keep laying hold of the Lord, because He is the one who holds you. David knew this well when he declared, “You have held me by my right hand.” Ask Him to keep His hand firmly on your life, on your daughter, on your granddaughter, and on every soul you named. He will not let go.
As you lift up these desperate needs, remember that your own body and the bodies of those you love are like tents you live in for a while. What is happening inside them, the constipation, the bloating, the parasites, the deep struggles with body image and the impulse to change what God has formed, those are painful realities right now, but they are not the final word. You will one day move out of this tent, and it will return to dust, whether slowly in the ground or swiftly in a day. The real you, the part that cries out to God, is not defined by these temporary shells. That does not make the pain any less real, but it does free you to trust the One who made you. He is able to bring relief, grant wisdom, and break every chain of anorexia and sensation of choking. He can also deliver from the trap of believing that altering the outward form will quiet the turmoil within. Our bodies are not our own; they belong to Him, and they are instruments for His service while we have them.
Pour out your heart for the stepdad, for the real dad caught in addiction and bitterness. Pray that their eyes would open and turn from darkness to light, for that is exactly what the gospel does. It rescues, redeems, and makes radically new. And continue to ask for the compensation to be released, for the protection on your home, and for the fire of God to fall on your block and your backyard gathering. That longing for a place of prayer, worship, healing, and hope for the outcast is a holy desire. May the Lord pour out His Spirit like a mighty rushing wind, anointing you as you speak life and death from the tongue, carrying His power and authority.
You are two women living alone and you need His shelter. He sees that. He will be a wall of protection around your property. And as you go to preach, remember that what you do in this body matters eternally. One day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive a reward for the deeds done in the body, whether good or evil. Your labor in prayer, your faithfulness in proclaiming His word, these are the things that will shine when tested by fire. So keep interceding, keep believing, and keep your hand in His. He is working even when you cannot see it.
As you lift up these desperate needs, remember that your own body and the bodies of those you love are like tents you live in for a while. What is happening inside them, the constipation, the bloating, the parasites, the deep struggles with body image and the impulse to change what God has formed, those are painful realities right now, but they are not the final word. You will one day move out of this tent, and it will return to dust, whether slowly in the ground or swiftly in a day. The real you, the part that cries out to God, is not defined by these temporary shells. That does not make the pain any less real, but it does free you to trust the One who made you. He is able to bring relief, grant wisdom, and break every chain of anorexia and sensation of choking. He can also deliver from the trap of believing that altering the outward form will quiet the turmoil within. Our bodies are not our own; they belong to Him, and they are instruments for His service while we have them.
Pour out your heart for the stepdad, for the real dad caught in addiction and bitterness. Pray that their eyes would open and turn from darkness to light, for that is exactly what the gospel does. It rescues, redeems, and makes radically new. And continue to ask for the compensation to be released, for the protection on your home, and for the fire of God to fall on your block and your backyard gathering. That longing for a place of prayer, worship, healing, and hope for the outcast is a holy desire. May the Lord pour out His Spirit like a mighty rushing wind, anointing you as you speak life and death from the tongue, carrying His power and authority.
You are two women living alone and you need His shelter. He sees that. He will be a wall of protection around your property. And as you go to preach, remember that what you do in this body matters eternally. One day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive a reward for the deeds done in the body, whether good or evil. Your labor in prayer, your faithfulness in proclaiming His word, these are the things that will shine when tested by fire. So keep interceding, keep believing, and keep your hand in His. He is working even when you cannot see it.
