A Prayer to Start the Day:

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20: 1, 5, 7 NASB

     There are days my cell phone seems to ding steady with every breath I inhale and prayer I exhale. Winter’s glistening countenance offers warmth, and bird’s happily empty our feeder. However, my heart is heavy with the burdens I carry for others. 

     This had been one of those days. 

     From the early morning check-in call to the devotional interruption, mid morning texts on my elliptical, and noontime updates, the message “God is able” was steadfast. We are not alone. COVID has not stolen our sisterhood. We are stretcher-bearers who must break through the roof, hardened clay, dirt, and dust, and lower our family and friends at the feet of Jesus. We face the ugly in ourselves, the reality of sin, fears, doubts, insecurities, jealousies, addictions, and habits that pollute our day. We confess and repent to each other and ask the Lord’s forgiveness.  

     We cry out and the Lord hears. He is by our side; and He sets us on high.
     The Lord grants us fresh perspective.
    What a jubilant sound we make when we sing together!

     Some battles we enter midway, and so, we break the roof open. We dig and chip away ‘til light breaks through. In faith, we persevere and encourage and strengthen the stretcher-bearers. We do not trust in ourselves, and we do not trust in horses or chariots, muscle power or spinning wheels. However, we will trust and boast in the name of the Lord our God. 

     Jesus, have mercy, rescue and heal your sons and daughters.  

We begin again, singing and raising our banners in victory!

Blessings,

Lily Mae

Being unable to get to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.
Mark 2:4 NASB