“A true prayer life begins at the place of anguish.” David Wilkerson
As we look around our world today we see so much in upheaval. Where is the church? Where are the men and women who love Jesus and pray?!
Politically we see self-preservation. Economically we see uncertainty. Socially we see chaos. Sadly, when we look to the
Church, we see division, lethargy and man centered doctrines. We see pastors losing their focus. We see a Western form of religious Christianity overtake a simple, powerful, intimate relationship with Jesus Himself. Among His precious bride, we see so much tearing down, backbiting and the wasting of precious time on gossip, slander, and all sorts of sinful attacks. Jesus forgive us! Give us Your passion. Pour into us an anguish. Paul warned the Galatians:
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! Gal 5:14-15 (NKJV)
Where’s the anguish of Spirit in God’s people? Where are the tears over the lost? Where is the passion? Where is the zeal of the Lord in His church today?
“Anguish, means extreme pain or distress. Your emotions so stirred that it causes pain. It’s an acute deeply felt inner pain because of the conditions about you, in you, or around you. All true passion is born out of anguish.” Wilkerson
We need to pray. We need to be in anguish. We need Jesus to light a fire in our hearts.
When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from bringing in merchandise. He taught them, “The Scriptures declare, `My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves. When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus’ teaching. That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. Mark 11:15-19 (NLT)
I have to agree, I didn’t know what anguish meant. I’m having a hard time with words because of the brain cancer. But when the Lord wakes me early to read his word, I begin to cry and pray for our Country, our church, believers that are just mean. So many other things, I pray for leaders to truly know what mercy and Grace is
This causes me to look into my temple (life) and wonder what tables Jesus would over turn in me. It easy to just try and hang on in these last days, and become complacent. But, that would be sin to watch others die around us with out Jesus. Ed, thanks for the encouragement to fight the good fight on our knees. “These are the times that try men’s souls” -(Thomas Paine). I have some deep soul searching to do with Jesus and go into battle in my prayers – (A Call to Arms). Thanks again!
Hi Janet God Bless