This is the only way I can write this post… from a personal experience that happened to me.  I tried writing it metaphorically… or writing it without writing it because I didn’t really want to share it, but couldn’t find the words.  But, to me, it’s very important.

Pray for your friends.

“BEHOLD, WE COUNT THEM HAPPY WHICH ENDURE. YE HAVE HEARD OF THE PATIENCE OF JOB, AND HAVE SEEN THE END OF THE LORD; THAT THE LORD IS VERY PITIFUL, AND OF TENDER MERCY.” – JAMES 5:11

This seems like a common sense thing to do, right?

There is a very close family friend who is going through a very difficult time right now.  This person has been such an amazing witness in my life for Christ.  I’ve never met anyone with such faith or zeal or passion.  He literally cannot speak about anything other than Jesus for what else is there to talk about?  Every single thing that comes from his mouth refers back to his Father and his relationship to Him.

So, knowing how he is with and about God and that he is really in the midst of a horrendous battle that nobody I know could endure… the other night as I was going to sleep had the thought “He’ll be alright” and I pulled the covers up and was going to sleep.

I WAS GOING TO SLEEP.

I took him for granted.  I took all of his faith and all the things I’ve ever heard him say and his relationship with God as a grain of salt knowing that he will be ok because I’ve never seen anyone with faith like him.  I figured God would cover him anyway, so what difference would it make?

“Will you not tarry an hour?”

I’m not sure if that thought crossed my mind when I pulled the covers up over my head in the comfort of my current life, but immediately was convicted and thought, “OMG! Are you insane??”.

This person is in the fight of his life.  He’s fighting for his life.  He’s in the midst of a severe trial and it doesn’t matter what it is or how close to Jesus he is.  My brother… the greatest witness in my life… a person who has seen miracles and has more God stories than all the people I know combined… is struggling and I WAS GOING TO SLEEP.

I immediately started praying for him.  I immediately started asking God for His will to be done and to protect his heart and mind in the midst of this.  I immediately started covering my brother.

You know why?  When someone is getting beaten you don’t just stand there.  When someone is getting mocked and ridiculed and torn to pieces would you just walk away?  If your brother was on the battle field and his armor/weapon fell off would you turn the other way?  You would run and cover him … you would defend him.  You would fight FOR THEM.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” – Ephesians 6:10-20

This is personal.  This is your brother.  You fight for them when they don’t have the energy to stand and fight anymore.  You cover them and ask the angels to surround them and protect them.  You pray for God’s will to be done because only He knows the end from the beginning.  Only HE knows the reasons for this trial and why he chose his son to go through this.  Only HE knows why He has let this last for so long.

I don’t know.  Nobody knows.  While this is between him and His Father we are to cover our family.  We are to pray without ceasing.  The enemy seeks whom he may devour and can you imagine at the worst time of your life when you were beaten down with nothing left someone thought, “They’ll be alright” when you didn’t have the energy to crawl.

It’s not about fancy words or coming up with a long speech… it’s sharing and speaking God’s words and promises for He is the faithful One.  He is the one whose thoughts and ways are higher.  He is the one full of wisdom.  We speak what HE said.

You have no idea how you made it through that worst moment of your life, but you also don’t know who was praying for you at that time.  You don’t know the power of that single prayer that saved you and started turning your life around.  You don’t know who was praying for your salvation or who was praying for you to be delivered from your depression.  You don’t know who was staying up at night interceding on your behalf.  You don’t know who was begging God to send angels to protect you or that the enemy should flee at the mention of His Holy Name.  You don’t know who was crying out for Jesus to run to you and wrap His arms around you and bring you peace and comfort in the time of this trial.  You don’t know who was crying out that while you were weak His strength was made perfect in weakness.  You know that His grace is sufficient for you.  You don’t know someone’s silent prayer that got you through another day.

You don’t know, but you know that He heard it.

“TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE; BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD REWARD FOR THEIR LABOUR.  FOR IF THEY FALL, THE ONE WILL LIFT UP HIS FELLOW: BUT WOE TO HIM THAT IS ALONE WHEN HE FALLETH; FOR HE HATH NOT ANOTHER TO HELP HIM UP.

AGAIN, IF TWO LIE TOGETHER, THEN THEY HAVE HEAT: BUT HOW CAN ONE BE WARM ALONE?  AND IF ONE PREVAIL AGAINST HIM, TWO SHALL WITHSTAND HIM; AND A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.” – ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12

“THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THE TWELVE, WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY?

THEN SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.  AND WE BELIEVE AND ARE SURE THAT THOU ART THAT CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.” – JOHN 6:67-69

“IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? LET HIM PRAY. IS ANY MERRY? LET HIM SING PSALMS.  IS ANY SICK AMONG YOU? LET HIM CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH; AND LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM, ANOINTING HIM WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD:  AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD SHALL RAISE HIM UP; AND IF HE HAVE COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM.

CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO ANOTHER, AND PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.” – JAMES 5:13-16

“BUT THOU, ISRAEL, ART MY SERVANT, JACOB WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, THE SEED OF ABRAHAM MY FRIEND.  THOU WHOM I HAVE TAKEN FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, AND CALLED THEE FROM THE CHIEF MEN THEREOF, AND SAID UNTO THEE, THOU ART MY SERVANT; I HAVE CHOSEN THEE, AND NOT CAST THEE AWAY.  FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE: BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS.

BEHOLD, ALL THEY THAT WERE INCENSED AGAINST THEE SHALL BE ASHAMED AND CONFOUNDED: THEY SHALL BE AS NOTHING; AND THEY THAT STRIVE WITH THEE SHALL PERISH.  THOU SHALT SEEK THEM, AND SHALT NOT FIND THEM, EVEN THEM THAT CONTENDED WITH THEE: THEY THAT WAR AGAINST THEE SHALL BE AS NOTHING, AND AS A THING OF NOUGHT.

FOR I THE LORD THY GOD WILL HOLD THY RIGHT HAND, SAYING UNTO THEE, FEAR NOT; I WILL HELP THEE.  FEAR NOT, THOU WORM JACOB, AND YE MEN OF ISRAEL; I WILL HELP THEE, SAITH THE LORD, AND THY REDEEMER, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE THEE A NEW SHARP THRESHING INSTRUMENT HAVING TEETH: THOU SHALT THRESH THE MOUNTAINS, AND BEAT THEM SMALL, AND SHALT MAKE THE HILLS AS CHAFF.  THOU SHALT FAN THEM, AND THE WIND SHALL CARRY THEM AWAY, AND THE WHIRLWIND SHALL SCATTER THEM: AND THOU SHALT REJOICE IN THE LORD, AND SHALT GLORY IN THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

WHEN THE POOR AND NEEDY SEEK WATER, AND THERE IS NONE, AND THEIR TONGUE FAILETH FOR THIRST, I THE LORD WILL HEAR THEM, I THE GOD OF ISRAEL WILL NOT FORSAKE THEM.  I WILL OPEN RIVERS IN HIGH PLACES, AND FOUNTAINS IN THE MIDST OF THE VALLEYS: I WILL MAKE THE WILDERNESS A POOL OF WATER, AND THE DRY LAND SPRINGS OF WATER.” – ISAIAH 41:8-18

“FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH: (FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS;)

CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST; AND HAVING IN A READINESS TO REVENGE ALL DISOBEDIENCE, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED.” – 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-6

“WHEREIN YE GREATLY REJOICE, THOUGH NOW FOR A SEASON, IF NEED BE, YE ARE IN HEAVINESS THROUGH MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS: THAT THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, BEING MUCH MORE PRECIOUS THAN OF GOLD THAT PERISHETH, THOUGH IT BE TRIED WITH FIRE, MIGHT BE FOUND UNTO PRAISE AND HONOUR AND GLORY AT THE APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST: WHOM HAVING NOT SEEN, YE LOVE; IN WHOM, THOUGH NOW YE SEE HIM NOT, YET BELIEVING, YE REJOICE WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY:

RECEIVING THE END OF YOUR FAITH, EVEN THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS. OF WHICH SALVATION THE PROPHETS HAVE ENQUIRED AND SEARCHED DILIGENTLY, WHO PROPHESIED OF THE GRACE THAT SHOULD COME UNTO YOU:  SEARCHING WHAT, OR WHAT MANNER OF TIME THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHICH WAS IN THEM DID SIGNIFY, WHEN IT TESTIFIED BEFOREHAND THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, AND THE GLORY THAT SHOULD FOLLOW.” – 1 PETER 1:6-11