War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left…The Accuser of our brothers and sisters [was] thrown out, who accused them day and night before God. They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness. They weren’t in love with themselves; they were willing to die for Christ. (Revelation 12:7-12 MSG)
Once upon a time there was a beautiful, perfect garden where two beautiful and perfect people lived. Unfortunately, so did an “Accuser” who came to them in the form of a serpent, asked them questions that made them doubt the beauty and perfection of their God, and led to them being expelled from the beautiful place God had intended them to live in perfect union with him.
Today we, too, live in a world separated from the perfect beauty in which it was created. We, too, live with the taunting, devious voice of the Accuser trying to convince us that God and his plans for us are not perfect or beautiful. Daily – in overt or more subtle ways – we fight this war. We are not alone; the companies in heaven – the saints gone before us – are cheering us on. The Holy Spirit is empowering us to run the races of our lives, and to fight the good fight so we may have victory in this life and in the life to come. We defeat the enemy in the seemingly tiny choices we make every day when we stay focused on God and his goodness, his plans, and his purposes for us.
This weekend our church is hosting a women’s conference where 350 women from various churches and backgrounds will come together for praise & worship, teaching, prayer, and encouragement. The theme of the conference is “Testify,” specifically, that we would TESTIFY to the faithfulness of God in our lives. Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) tells us that the enemy of our souls is defeated “..by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Our hope and prayer for this conference is that the women that attend (and the men that help!) will testify to God’s work in their life and be bold in their witness. We pray that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit because of what Jesus did for us at the Cross. And we pray that they would be willing to die for – and fully live for – Christ.
Would you please join with me in covering this conference in prayer?
Word of God,
Thank you for the calling and invitation to be your children and to boldly tell your story to those around us. Thank you for the Word and Spirit you place within us that we can use to battle the enemy of our souls, and for the victory we have over sin and death. This weekend as we testify to your faithfulness, goodness, grace, mercy, and love, we pray that each women would be encouraged in their faith. Where they need healing, be their Jehovah Raphe. Where they need empowerment, be their El Shaddai. Where they need strength and courage, be their Rock, Shield, and Fortress. Move each person in the ways that they need so that your Church is built up. May this weekend testify to the fullness of your beauty, perfection, and goodness, we pray in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11 NKJV)