In the south, around October, we have fall festivals once the crops are harvested. It isn’t uncommon to find a corn maze at a nearby farm. It’s so fun to walk through it with my family and laugh and see who can find their way out the fastest. However…if you are going through the maze alone, at night, it can be kinda scary. It’s easy to get lost and snakes like to hang out in the corn fields. You wonder “how in the world am I going to get out of here?!” Isn’t it a relief when you see someone waving a flashlight and hear them say “it’s this way!” The happiness you feel as you step out exclaimed with a great big sigh of relief!
Imagine with me for a second, that the maze is sin. Now, whether you were in it or on the outside of it…what would be your response? I think we can all relate to being lost at some point in our lives, but that isn’t what we will talk about today. In this story, you are on the outside, holding the flashlight.
The bible talks about the “lost maze runners” if you will, but let’s take a closer look at the “flashlight holders.” We have Moses, for instance. I’m sure we can easily see Him as holding the flashlight, leading God’s people out of Egypt and out of bondage. What about Ester? Ester stood in the gap for her people and saved them from death. She positioned herself to shine God’s light on the heart of the matter and it saved them! Of course, we can’t talk about light without referring to Jesus. John referred to Jesus as The Light again and again…but did you know that YOU are called to be a light in the darkness? The Holy Spirit equips us to do so. When we accept Jesus, who is The Light, that illumination is within us. So, with that in mind, let’s get to the heart of the story…
All around us, there is sin. We turn on the news, we see it. We scroll through facebook, we see it. We go to the local football game, we see it. We hear about so and so doing such and such and we shake our heads. However, let’s take a closer, more intimate look it. Imagine someone you love dearly living in sin. Not only are they living in sin, you watch them as they inch closer and closer to rock bottom. Maybe from your perspective, it looks like they’ve hit rock bottom multiple times! This person is acting out of character…They are doing things that you never imagined they’d do! When you love them, what do you do? Do you pray for them? Do you stand in the gap?
It’s so hard to walk through that when it’s someone you love but it’s also easier to fall on your knees for a loved one… but what about for your neighbor? And what about the girl at the grocery store that you have gossiped about? Who will stand in the gap for her? How about instead of texting your best friend that you saw miss so and so at work talking to so and so, how about praying for her? Ask God to show you how to pray for her. Ask God to give you His eyes to see her. When God shows you what they look like in His eyes, you have no choice but to stand in the gap and believe in the very best version of that person. If God sees them that way, who are WE to see them or speak of them otherwise?!?
GET THIS: IF GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A PICTURE OF HOW HE SEES SOMEONE ELSE, CONTINUE TO STAND IN AGREEMENT WITH HIM UNTIL HIS WILL MANIFESTS!!!
Go back and read that one more time.
We do this, not because of that person or even ourselves, but because of WHO GOD IS WITHIN US! Were you reconciled with God for your own benefit? Does the Holy Spirit live in you to benefit only you? Maybe just your family or closest friends? No! We are to let His light shine in the darkness…not to only illuminate our path but to illuminate the path set before others who have found themselves in the dark with no way out. Pray.
Pray for them and then choose to see them and speak words over them with Philippians 4:8 in mind…
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things!
What is true about this person? What is noble, pure, and lovely about them? What do you admire about them? What is excellent or praiseworthy about them? Think about them in this way and you’ll begin to see them the way God sees them. You can stand in agreement with HIM that they are what God says they were designed to be. See, while we love to speak Jeremiah 1:5 over ourselves, guess what? It’s true about THEM!
He says of her…
“Before I formed her in the womb I knew her, before she was born I set her apart”
When we choose to see them in His light, we see their value. We no longer strive to cast them back into the shadow of sin. We want them reconciled with God because that glorifies HIM. God is faithful to keep His promises. Sometimes, when “she” gets off track and can’t see the light, we are positioned to call out to her “this way” as we hold the flashlight and motion “it’s this way!”
So, are you positioning yourself to represent the light by standing in agreement with God for them and speaking life over them? Or are you standing in agreement with Satan and speaking death over them?
What is God saying?
His word to me: “PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. ASK ME HOW TO PRAY FOR THEM AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP RESTORE THEM UNTO ME. DO NOT POUR OUT WRATH AND JUDGEMENT. MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT TO DO THE REST.”
DONT GIVE UP ON ONE ANOTHER! Because He is faithful, because He is mighty to save, because of the cross…we have HOPE. Why? Because God has kept and continues to keep His promises, even if we/they go astray! Let’s stand against the enemy and stand up for God by speaking LIFE over one another. Amen?
And finally, Jesus said it perfectly,
“ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
Lord, please forgive me if I have spoken death over anyone and not aligned my tongue with your will. Because you have commanded me to love my neighbor, I ask that you show me how to love them. Give me eyes to see them the way you see them. Thank you for never giving up on me, Father. Thank you for your grace, your mercy, and your patience with me as I learn to be more like Jesus and less like the world. Position me as a light, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Halcyondale Cottage 