Seeking Passionate Prayer in Spiritual Warfare

As I said yesterday, I awoke to the news that a friend died of covid-related pneumonia. This post is NOT political, so don’t go there. This morning I awoke to see many posts about how horrific people’s comments were on his FB page, literally spewing vitriol on his grave. Our sinful human nature is to spew back, but that’s not what God’s Word tells us.

I cried out in prayer asking the Lord how to deal with this hate, and through a song He brought me to Colossians. “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col 3:8-10).

God’s Word says we are to put on the characteristics of the new creation we are in Christ Jesus: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col 3:12-17)

Dealing with the hate-filled isn’t our place. We are to put ourselves aside and humbly allow the light of Christ to shine through us and stand in stark contrast to their darkness. And there is a purpose of those who choose hate over love: “The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Prov 16:4) But as for Christ followers, when we don’t know what to do with the hate, He hears us when we cry out. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Pet 3:12)

Here are the lyrics to the song the Lord placed before me this morning. I’m so grateful.