Keep Fighting the Good Fight

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Pray Big 31 Days

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Every morning, I wake up and lift my heart to God in prayer.

I praise Him for His glory and goodness.

I surrender my agenda and expectations to His greater kingdom purposes.

I yield my desires to do His will.

And, then I ask for Him to move a mountain.

I cry out to Him for that mountain to crumble.

I believe that God is bigger than any obstacle or stronghold.

Yet, my mountain remains — immovable and unyielding.

Do you have a mountain?Β Β  I bet you do.

Like me, you may be discouraged by the darkness that looms large in your view.

You aren’t alone.

If we sat down today in my kitchen and shared our stories, I bet we would see similarities.

That’s exactly what happened to my husband and I just a few weeks ago.Β  Our friend Mikey and his bride Sherree invited themselves over and stepped into our valley.Β  They sat down and listened to the nitty-gritty, and they didn’t try to fix us.Β  They didn’t pretend that they had it all together, either.Β  They shared their own messy mountain tale, and then we decided to invite someone else into the conversation.

Four hearts bowed together in front of an altar aflame.

Together, we asked God to move two mountains.

With worshipful hearts, we cried out to Him for those mountains to crumble.

We prayed big.

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In the Old Testament when David faced defeat and discouragement, he continually lifted up empty hands to heaven and cried out for mercy.

Why do we think that we can’t do the same?Β  God delights when we confess our need for Him.Β Β  He sees your trembling heart full of love that is holding fast to His promises.

He sees you.

Your prayers are a sweet aroma of sacrifice that rises straight to the heart of the King of Kings.

One glorious day, He will thunder down and crumble your mountain.

Join me as we #PrayBig for the next 31 days.

May my prayer be set before You like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Β Psalms 141:2

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Day One: Β Keep Fighting the Good Fight

Keep Fighting the Good FightPhoto Credit

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The left lane was blocked off due to construction.

Time was ticking away, and all I could see in front of me was congestion. Β I needed to move faster.

Lord, it’s Monday, and I am late. Β Could you please make this a little easier. Β 

I decided to take another route — in hopes of making up time.

Two turns later, I smacked right into a snarl-up. Β Obviously, my plans for the day had just gone up in smoke.

The vehicle inched along at an infuriatingly slow pace. Β Move forward two feet. Β Stop. Β Crawl ahead a pace. Β Slow down. Β Push ahead a piece. Β Slam on the brakes.

At the light, I reached for my phone to make the me culpa “I am going to be late” call and realized my fancy dancy cell phone had Β lunged forward off the passenger’s seat and landed on the farthest corner of the floor mat.

I unhooked my seat belt and extended my body across the length of the car. Β No matter how much a strained ahead, my fingertips could not reach that phone.

Oh well, I’ll grab it when I get there. Β 

I drove on disconnected and discontent.

I flipped on the radio, and soon the terrible traffic lulled me into a stupor. Β  Β I am not sure how long I drove on lost in my thoughts until it hit.

A loud wailing sound emanated from the floor.

Waank. Β Waank. Β Waank. Β Waank.

My cell phone alarm was mocking me. Β The noise was loud enough to wake the dead.

Waank. Β Waank.

I drove on in desperation. Β Lord, make the blaring buzz stop. Β 

Waank. Β Waank.

Should I turn off the radio? Β  I left it on to help take the edge off the pain.

The next song started, and I heard a familiar melody thatΒ made me smile.

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be.
I give up.
I’m not strong enough.
Hands of mercy won’t you cover me.
Lord, right now I’m asking you to be
Strong enough,
Strong enough
For the both of us.

Ain’t that the truth? I thought. Β I am not strong enough to do Mondays without God. Β I am not strong enough to face these mountains without His hands of mercy covering me.

Right there in my car with the iphone alarm waanking away, I surrendered my Mondays and my mountains to my God.

That’s when the radio DJ decided to play the next song.

Even in the road blocks,
Even through the rough spots,
When you’re feeling you’ve given all that you’ve got,
I’m with you in the next step
Giving you in the next breath.
I’ll be the voice saying: “You’re gonna make it.”
When you’re out there on your own,
You are never alone.

Keep fighting the good fight.
Keep letting your light shine
‘Cause I’m never gonna leave you,
Always gonna see you through to the other side.
Keep fighting the good fight.

I started singing along. Β My soul woke up, and I remembered the One who fights my battles for me.

You see, the enemy of my soul is sounding a loud alarm that says I am defeated. Β He seeks to discourage me and deplete me of faith. Β He wails and waanks and makes plenty of noise. Β He throws roadblocks in my plans and strives to disconnect me from my supernatural Source of strength.

To pray big, I must let go of my time-table and my well-laid plans. Β  I must surrender the steering wheel to the Omnipotent One. Β  I must inch forward joyfully through the congestion and believe that despite all the noise in my life He is going to make a way. Β He must lead, and I must continue to fight the good fight even if the way seems unclear. Β My job is to stay faithful to the course.

Lord, help me to keep fighting the good fight.

Something to think about…

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This year, my desire is to lift up holy hands and “Pray Big.” Β  Want to join me?Β  I’ve created a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for like-minded sisters to share their stories and surrender each one to our mountain-moving God in prayer.Β  Let’s cry out to God together.

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Pray Big for 31 Days Button

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12 Comments

  1. I have an enormous mountain in front of me, and even though it isn’t crumbling, I’m praying big, too. Thank you for the words of encouragement. I love this quote by Adrian Rogers: “Worry looks at God through circumstances. Peace looks at circumstances through God.” If I can keep God in front of my mountain, it doesn’t look big at all.

  2. Oh Lyli, I was so encouraged by your words tonight. It seems like life is winning lately, and I keep praying and holding on. Yup, got some mountains, but I think I am afraid to *pray big* sometimes because I either don’t want to tell God what to do or I’m afraid to be disappointed when He chooses not to move the mountain. Does that make sense? But, you have challenged me in the very best way to pray big!

    I was reminded of something Priscilla Shirer said in a Bible study that I did a couple years ago (my paraphrase): We only need to believe that God is able, that’s our part of the equation. Whether God does or does not, that is His will, and His part of the equation.

    So, I do believe God CAN – so I’m going to start praying that way!

    GOD BLESS!

  3. Lyli, this is going to be such a good series. I love the contrast of the two stories. The second one made me realize how God will allow us to feel “stuck” so that we come to Him and pray. Much like you were stuck in traffic, cell phone on the floor πŸ™‚ & only Him to go to. It is often when we have nothing left in our hands that we finally raise our hands to Him. I’ll be here all month for the daily reminder to Pray Big! May He bless you as you write! XO

  4. (((Lyli))) <3 Prayers for you. Mountain seasons are rough. Thankfully, in time, He always seems to turn them into mountain-top seasons. Will keep you in prayer. So thankful that He is strong enough. Love that we are His. ((Hug))

  5. I love your reminder to pray big- “God is going to come and crush down your mountains.’ Boy do I have some mountains needing moved!

    I loved your Monday morning story. I remember heading into work one Monday (running late of course)- Ten rounds of Jose quervo played on the radio while I followed a truck with a license plate that read “GO BOB”. True story. I think I made the switch to Christian radio shortly after that.

  6. Yes! Lyli, there are some huge mountains in our lives to be moving of late. It seems the more we step out in obedience, the more the mountains block our way. But, GLORY! He is greater and a mover of mountains. Holding fast to the “I will be with you always” promise and know He will power through the roadblocks in His time. May I be ready to increase speed when He does.
    Joy!
    Kathy

  7. SO glad God is always there on ‘those’ Mondays. It’s always cool to read about God’s sense of humor, He sent the right songs at the right time. He didn’t make the alarm stop or the traffic move quicker, but He made sure you knew He was right there in the car with you! Love that!!

  8. Looking forward to this series, Lyli! Your story is encouraging because we can all relate, Amen? God delights when we confess our needs to Him, indeed He does! Joining you in prayer, my friend.

  9. I love your heart and your courage to share, Lyli. Roadblocks have been a common theme – the enemy is definitely on the prowl. May we all continue to fight the good fight and keep seeking The Almighty. Blessings!

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