Have you noticed what I have noticed? Are you seeing a disturbing upward trend in premature deaths? I’m not talking about deaths due to the virus. I’m noticing lots of other kinds of deaths: peculiar illnesses and accidental deaths taking children, teens, and young mothers and fathers. I checked with some of my friends living in other areas of the States and they reported noticing the same thing. Hmm.
I was troubled; it felt off, even demonic, in some way. So, I asked my prayer team if they would approach the Lord with me, asking this question:
What is making us vulnerable to the spirit of premature death?
We presented our question in a heavenly appeal. A heavenly appeal is a formal petition presented to the Lord, asking for His advice and intervention in an earthly matter.
The Lord showed us this:
This is a mercy season. Yet, the expression of the pure and wise mercy of God is extremely lacking. Why? Believers are the vessels of His mercy, but the sudden and threatening shifts in the culture hasn’t brought mercy forth. It has brought forth the hidden fear and unbelief in our hearts which is being expressed in angry condemnation. This condemnation is being directed toward people in positions of power and influence: politicians, educators, media, big tech, healthcare providers, and the unbelieving world as well as those believers who do not agree with us.
During our appeal, we were convicted to repent for our wrong responses to the confusion and division all around us. I encourage you to read through this article prayerfully, asking the Lord if you need to repent for responding with condemning judgement instead of mercy.
What to repent for (if convicted by Holy Spirit):
√ The wrong response to pain: Refusing to embrace suffering as an opportunity to mature. Tribulations offer an opportunity to choose God in suffering.
We celebrate in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5
√ The wrong response to pain:
Praying for death (personal and that of your perceived enemies); the rapture, and the second coming from the wrong motive, which is only to escape pain. Turning to death as savior from suffering. Christ is our Savior.
Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact. Isaiah 28:15
√ The wrong response to pain:
Rather than responding by intentionally seeking to enter into His rest and then responding under His direction, we attempted to escape discomfort by ramping up our anxious performance. We prayed more; fasted more; met more; decreed and declared more. We hoped that somehow through our own efforts we could convince God to do what we wanted. The motive for this fear-based striving is fear and unbelief.
“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:7-8
√ The wrong response to pain:
Fear and unbelief were hidden in the heart. The change in circumstances caused the beliefs held in the heart to surface. Instead of repenting for harboring fear and unbelief; instead of asking the Lord to help our fear and unbelief, we turned to complaining and blaming (those in positions of influence and leadership; unbelievers; other believers, etc.) for making us feel the pain of these previously hidden beliefs.
The fear of death — any kind of natural death, including the death of lifestyle, comfort zone and status quo — surfaced, enslaving our hearts and minds, so that we forgot who we are in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Hebrews 2:14-15
√ The wrong response to pain:
Responded to others we viewed as our enemies or the cause of our suffering with blame, bitter judgement, criticism and condemnation. We did not pray that the Lord would touch them with His mercy, which has the power to turn them away from darkness toward His glorious light.
Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13
What to pray:
Release mercy!
Lord, please touch those in positions of influence and power (government; healthcare; education; media; big tech, etc.) with Your mercy, so that they know that it is safe to turn to You. No matter the depth of their sin, may Your mercy turn their hearts to You so that none is lost.
Touch the people who don’t know You, who have rejected You, with Your mercy. Touch those believers who are weak and confused. Touch the believer who has rejected the truth of your Word, embracing cultural and worldly perspectives that are contrary to life and godliness. Release mercy into the earth, Lord. I ask in Jesus’ name.
Lord, help me reject blame and condemnation; anger and bitterness. Help me to trust in You and Your love for me, that I may follow where you lead, day after day. Teach me to walk in Your mercy. Your mercy does not deny truth and does not fear speaking truth, yet offers hope to the fearful and lost. You have given us the ministry of reconciliation. Help us live as ambassadors for Christ. For you have reconciled the world to Yourself through Christ.
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement. James 2:13
I pray you will join my me and my team in releasing mercy into the earth.
God Bless,
Susan
