Hebrews 4:3a – For we who have believed enter that rest. (ESV)

Recently, I have been updating regular PresbyCan Prayerline requests with the aspiration of raising awareness of the suffering of the people of Ukraine since February 24, 2022. I do not know how many have engaged with God on behalf of my comments. All I can do is to pray, because it is my belief that God's presence makes a difference, for one or for all.

Currently, I have endeavoured to build a bridge between our readers and the latest news of calamity from Ukraine to urge everyone to stand with me and lift into the presence of Jesus those who are suffering in ways that are beyond most of our ken.

Over the decades that I have been writing, I have attempted to illustrate what God has shown me when I have remembered Him and have been provoked to put time aside to write.

Today was one such occasion where, in the presence of the Holy Spirit at church, I sensed that God spoke to me again. He acknowledged my lifting up of those who are agents of His care and my crying out to Him in despair and annoyance about this latest awful war: killing, maiming, and traumatizing of the innocent by those working for the ungodly.

He asked me if I was aware that my crying out to Him was in some manner distancing me from Him. He, my loving Saviour, did not need to be cried out to from afar in some forlorn manner, but rather, because He loves us all, I could walk into His heavenly realms in my mind's consciousness and lay down my petition and know that it was heard. There was no need to metaphorically beat my chest in exhortation of Him, because He knows and reads my true heart's desire to intercede and to be a bridge-builder between heavenly realms and the desperate needs on earth that I sense need His care.

Those who read this can let go of their angst, too; they can be bridge-builders, ones who rejoice in our Saviour's desire to walk with us in prayer and action wherever we may be, because God is already there ahead of us. He listens, waits, and stays ministering long after we have moved on, because of His great love.

One day, He will say "Welcome!" as we enter heaven, but until that time, we can continue interceding for His world and for people, to bring the authority and power of the kingdom of God into a world in need of prayer and action.

Prayer: Lord, Your will be done, Your name be praised forevermore. May Your kingdom come. Bring peace in our time. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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