Emergencies, catastrophes and tragedies tend to drive us to our knees. My knees have hit the floor for intercession when loved ones are in dire straits. A war on the floor may ensue when lives hang in the balance.

In Luke 11:1, Jesus’ disciples came saying, “Teach us to pray.” In his book, “Designed for Discipleship,” J. Dwight Pentecost notes that the word “pray” comes from a word denoting, “near, or by the side of, like a sheepdog awaiting instructions from his shepherd. Likewise, we’re to remain attentive, waiting like that sheepdog at our Master’s side, alert to His instructions.

Much of the work of tending sheep was done by the sheepdog. The sheepdog didn’t chase rabbits, run ahead, or lag behind his master. He had no clue of what to do or where to go, until he got the orders from his master. The same applies to us living near and communing often with the Good Shepherd of the church, Jesus Christ (John 10:11). Prayer is what keeps our relationship with God up close and personal. It keeps us living a life that will count for eternity, instead of chasing rabbits we’ll never catch or keep anyway.

Here is where the war part comes in for our church. In Matthew 6:10 Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” That’s a declaration of war on enemy forces encroaching upon us, as well as our mission outreaches. It’s one thing to plant foreign churches, but it is also imperative that we protect them with intercessory prayer. Our Good Shepherd’s will is, that they flourish and grow strong. This should be considered our honor.

Let’s be praying as the Holy Spirit leads us for these pastors and their flocks: Pastors Jairo of Puerta de Golpe, Miguel of Alto Pino, Medardo of Choluteca, Santiago of Guinope, Eddie of Comayagua, and Ordonez of Los Castanos.

Fighting the Good Fight
Pastor Huck