Rise Up & Pray by Rev. Grace Reyes

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Mark 1:35 NIV

 

Hello Brave Hearted Steppers,

When I think of rising up, for me it can mean many different things but, I will address two.  Rise up can mean to get up from your bed in the morning and begin your day bathed in the light of God, by going to Him as you begin your day.

 

The other can be to rise-up from adversity, when the winds from the storms of life have knocked you down, as you pray, prayer will begin to lift you out of the situation, be it sickness, or other life challenges, to the rock higher than your circumstances.

 

The Bible verse "soar like an eagle" appears in Isaiah 40:31, which says, "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary". The verse also says, "they shall mount up with wings like eagles" and "they shall walk and not faint".  This verse gives me the assurance that no matter what trails I face, I can rise up from them and live a victorious life.

 

There is the desperate faith filled prayer times that seek God from a longing place, it produces in the Lord's mercy and compassion.  That kind of prayer is so humble and pure that it causes God to get off His throne to listen to you.  I have experienced this in my journey with God, I highly recommend it because it will take you to a different level of intimacy with Him that can only be experienced from a place of complete surrender.  It is the place that tells God, “I have reached a place of trust and humility because I am convinced that only you Lord can act on my behalf and in my favor in all circumstances.

 

There is one enemy to our prayers and that is Satan, he hates our communication with God and will stop at nothing to prevent it.  The story of Daniel praying to receive an answer from God regarding Israel's 70-year captivity in Babylon is found in the book of Daniel, particularly in Daniel 9.  Especially his efforts at preventing our prayers from being answered so we become discouraged and give up on the promises of God.

 

Praying is the center of my life, I have learned that if I want to know what the plan of God is for my life and that of my family and ministry, I have to be close enough to Him to hear His voice. This requires intention and discipline, it does not happen by chance.  I want to be the most effective person in my own story, this means that I RISE-UP early in the morning and seek His face, like Psalm 5:3 states: “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”

 

What better way to start the spiritual battles of the day ahead than with the whole armor of God, as well as having heard from the Lord directly regarding what you would like to see happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones.  This is a comforting place when you are hurting and being rocked to and fro from one challenge to the next.  Seeking His face will give you the strength to endure and the confidence to declare the victory.

 

A desperate faith goes forth and will pray persistently until you have seen your answer manifest in the present. Are you sick? Pray. Are your children lost? Pray. Do you need to hear from the Lord regarding your finances? Pray.

 

The persistence of the widow, (Luke 18:1-8), and the determination of the woman with the issue of blood, (Mark 5:25-34), teach us that faith is a powerful mindset that will yield miraculous results from God.

 

So, I will summarize with this poem I found, and I pray that my words have given you a fresh determination to seek God in the mornings as well as when you are going through storms, He is faithful and will be there to help you rise up!

 

At Dawn’s First Light

 

In the quiet hush of morning,
Before the day’s first breath,
I rise to seek Your presence,
To find peace where shadows rest.

 

The world still sleeps in silence,
But my heart begins to wake,
As I lift my eyes to heaven,
For Your guidance, I partake.

 

In the stillness of this hour,
Where night and day entwine,
I pour my soul before You,
In a sacred, tender time.

 

The sun begins its journey,
Yet my prayers have touched Your throne,
For in these early moments,
I know I’m not alone.

 

You meet me in the whisper,
In the breeze that gently stirs,
And as I speak, You listen,
To each of my whispered words.

 

Your peace descends upon me,
Like dew on morning grass,
And in Your holy presence,
All fears and worries pass.

 

So, I rise before the dawning,
To talk with You, my King,
For in the early hours,
I find strength in everything.

- Anonymous

Blessings,

Rev. Grace Reyes

Founder of Blessed Keys Ministry

(blessedkeys.com)

*We hope you enjoy your weekend! Just a quick heads-up: we’ll be back with fresh, exciting content on Monday, August 26, 2024. Make sure to mark your calendars and check back in for the latest Brave Quotes, Life Applications, Blog Posts, etc. You won’t want to miss it! Many Blessings!*