fight well

I went to Dollar Tree, which is now $1.25 Tree, to pick up a few things early Friday afternoon. (This is my free PSA so you are not surprised like I was.) As I got out of the car I noticed that the precipitation was trying to decide if it was going to continue as rain or turn over to snow. I thought about how nice it would be if that was the most threatening thing our world was facing today. My heart is heavy. My prayers are numerous. There are so many battles raging all around us. Not only wars with nation rising up against nation, but attacks are being waged against our health-mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. 

What can we do to make a difference? We can practice living and loving like Jesus. We can be kind. We can refrain from judging. We can extend grace and mercy and forgiveness. We can lend a hand to help or a shoulder to cry on when the situation presents itself. We can refrain from saying "I would never..." or "If that was me, I would..." because until we are experiencing that situation firsthand and are in the thick of things, can we honestly know what we would actually do? 

Join me in praying. Near, far and places in between, someone you love needs an intercessor. You don't have to have the right words, as a matter of fact, Romans 8:26-27 says we don't know what to pray for, but God has provided the Spirit to take care of that for us. 

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27 ESV

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

"Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18 CSB