beheadings

It’s a quiet Sunday morning, and I woke up earlier than my family to fix my egg, have quiet time with God, and get some things done before Leah and I go to small group (a Bible study where we pray, worship, and fellowship each week. This is our church for now.) The sky is overcast, white-grey. It looks like rain.

I drink my hot green tea in my sunflower cup that my mother-in-law Judy gave me last week when Ray and I went to Texas, and read the end of the Book of Revelation and tears fall down my cheeks simply from the sweet presence of the Lord. I pray.

I pray for myself, for my husband Ray, for our children and grandchildren and those to come. I pray for God to protect my legacy, for our children and grandchildren to hear God’s still, small voice and obey, repenting of any sins. I ask God to enlighten my own darkness: worry, anxiety, fear, stress, anger, discouragement.

I pray for the people in Nepal hit by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, the worst in over 80 years and in which 2,300 people have died so far. I pray for the rescuers, for medical personnel treating the injured as supplies are running low.

I pray for the people who are now without food and water and who are staying out in the open in wet and cold weather, fearful of homes or buildings collapsing from more aftershocks.

I pray for people possibly still buried alive under the rubble and that there will be no more aftershocks.

I pray for a world gone mad and that Jesus will come quickly and for my heart and my loved ones’ hearts to be prepared when He comes. I pray I will be faithful to the end, even if I have to face persecution or torture or see my loved ones tortured or beheaded for Christ.

I pray we will stay strong to the end and never take the mark of the beast, no matter what we might be threatened with or have to face. I pray for those in ISIS, other terrorism groups, atheists, agnostics, to receive revelation about Jesus Christ and to be saved.

Lord Jesus, come quickly.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6;18, NLT