England
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Hebrews 12 v 1
One of the scriptures that has often been used in the past at Lydia conferences and gatherings is from Esther 4 v 14 - ‘for such a time as this.’ When I first joined the National Team in 2009, the conference theme was from 1 Chronicles 12 v 32 - ‘men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.’ These two verses, taken together, help to map out for us the particular race that we in Lydia are called to run with perseverance.
Since Lydia began, in 1970, there have been many faithful and godly women who have run the race and have now passed the baton to us. They are now part of the great cloud of witnesses who are cheering us on.
Our race has many characteristics of previous ‘laps around the track’ but it is also distinctly
defined by the current state of our nation. Proverbs 14 v 34 reminds us that ‘Righteousness
exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.’ The Mother Barbara Prophecy foretells that ‘Britain will lose her empire and all her colonies and will come to almost total ruin but will be saved by praying women.’ Each one of us is numbered amongst the ‘praying women’ if we remain steadfast and persevere in the many battles which are raging over our nation.
To persevere means to ‘continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no indication of success.’ To persist means to ‘press on, not take no for an answer, be tenacious, be patient, stand firm and stay the course.’
What does it take to stand firm and endure in the midst of a gruelling battle? I receive daily emails from UCB Word for Today and was particularly impacted by the one sent on 8th April 2019.
The life of Moses can be summed up in two words: ‘He endured.’ He endured despite the
contempt of Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch on earth. He endured despite the stubbornness of the Hebrews, who grumbled, blamed, and rebelled. He endured despite the criticism of Miriam and Aaron, his own family. He endured despite the negative report of the ten spies who came back from the Land of Promise saying, ‘The giants are too big, and we are too small’ (see Numbers 13:33). How did Moses do it? Answer: ‘By faith…he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.’ He kept his eyes on God – not people! Paul gives us the secret to victory in the battles of life: ‘Having done everything…stand firm’ (Ephesians 6:13). Stand firm when your enemies seem to prosper. Stand firm when the wicked seem to be winning. Stand firm when big people act small and little people demand authority they don’t deserve. Stand firm when no one would ever know you compromised. Spiritually speaking, where are you today? Are you feeling shaky in areas where you once stood strong? Are you giving in to temptation, fear, mood-swings, or the opinions of others because you’re tired of their disapproval? Stand firm! Moses endured even when he was in his eighties ‘because he saw him who is invisible.’ He kept his eyes on the Lord. He continually reminded himself that his sole purpose in life was to please the Lord, obey Him, glorify Him, and gain His approval. So the word for you today is: stand firm!
The call to run with perseverance requires obedience and commitment. The heart of our call as praying women comes out of our relationship with God, and is characterised by a deep and pure love for God. In John 14 v 15, Jesus spoke to His disciples saying, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” So let us press on and ‘throw of everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance’ the very personal race which is marked out for each one of us.
Kath Charles, England National Coordinator
One of the scriptures that has often been used in the past at Lydia conferences and gatherings is from Esther 4 v 14 - ‘for such a time as this.’ When I first joined the National Team in 2009, the conference theme was from 1 Chronicles 12 v 32 - ‘men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.’ These two verses, taken together, help to map out for us the particular race that we in Lydia are called to run with perseverance.
Since Lydia began, in 1970, there have been many faithful and godly women who have run the race and have now passed the baton to us. They are now part of the great cloud of witnesses who are cheering us on.
Our race has many characteristics of previous ‘laps around the track’ but it is also distinctly
defined by the current state of our nation. Proverbs 14 v 34 reminds us that ‘Righteousness
exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.’ The Mother Barbara Prophecy foretells that ‘Britain will lose her empire and all her colonies and will come to almost total ruin but will be saved by praying women.’ Each one of us is numbered amongst the ‘praying women’ if we remain steadfast and persevere in the many battles which are raging over our nation.
To persevere means to ‘continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no indication of success.’ To persist means to ‘press on, not take no for an answer, be tenacious, be patient, stand firm and stay the course.’
What does it take to stand firm and endure in the midst of a gruelling battle? I receive daily emails from UCB Word for Today and was particularly impacted by the one sent on 8th April 2019.
The life of Moses can be summed up in two words: ‘He endured.’ He endured despite the
contempt of Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch on earth. He endured despite the stubbornness of the Hebrews, who grumbled, blamed, and rebelled. He endured despite the criticism of Miriam and Aaron, his own family. He endured despite the negative report of the ten spies who came back from the Land of Promise saying, ‘The giants are too big, and we are too small’ (see Numbers 13:33). How did Moses do it? Answer: ‘By faith…he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.’ He kept his eyes on God – not people! Paul gives us the secret to victory in the battles of life: ‘Having done everything…stand firm’ (Ephesians 6:13). Stand firm when your enemies seem to prosper. Stand firm when the wicked seem to be winning. Stand firm when big people act small and little people demand authority they don’t deserve. Stand firm when no one would ever know you compromised. Spiritually speaking, where are you today? Are you feeling shaky in areas where you once stood strong? Are you giving in to temptation, fear, mood-swings, or the opinions of others because you’re tired of their disapproval? Stand firm! Moses endured even when he was in his eighties ‘because he saw him who is invisible.’ He kept his eyes on the Lord. He continually reminded himself that his sole purpose in life was to please the Lord, obey Him, glorify Him, and gain His approval. So the word for you today is: stand firm!
The call to run with perseverance requires obedience and commitment. The heart of our call as praying women comes out of our relationship with God, and is characterised by a deep and pure love for God. In John 14 v 15, Jesus spoke to His disciples saying, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” So let us press on and ‘throw of everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance’ the very personal race which is marked out for each one of us.
Kath Charles, England National Coordinator
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Pathfinders and Pioneers
Foreign powers attempting to impose their laws and authority … Big businesses desperate to keep trade links open within and across borders … Governments seeking their own interests and to retain power at all costs … Religious leaders unable or unwilling to challenge authority and speak out God’s Word … |
What turbulent times! And into the mix comes a faithful, older woman, who has been steadfastly worshipping, fasting and praying for decades: Anna, who, when she sees Jesus in the temple, immediately recognises Him, gives thanks to God and speaks of Him to all who will listen (Luke 2:36-40). What an encouragement Anna must have been to Mary, the new, young mother trying to understand and come to terms with all that was going on in her life – I’m sure she never forgot their meeting! And I’m sure that for the rest of her days Anna never stopped praising God and praying for that young woman entrusted with His Son.
Although Anna is not named as a ‘Mother in Israel’ I feel that is what she is, for she shares many characteristics with those we read of in the Old Testament: Deborah (Judges 4 and 5) and the un-named wise woman of Abel (1 Samuel 2:15-20). All three sought God, all three listened, all three received wisdom; they recognised when God was at work and exhorted others around them to believe and act.
Here in Lydia Fellowship, we are blessed to have many faithful and Godly women who have persevered in the place of prayer, and who are an example and encouragement to us all. Ladies, you are the pathfinders and pioneers for a generation of praying women. Without you, many of us would not be here, and we want to honour you for your commitment in intercession.
In 2015 we celebrated 45 years of Lydia Fellowship: during those decades we witnessed Glasnost, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of apartheid, a ceasefire and peace process in Northern Ireland … Lydia Fellowship has become a global network yet remains centred around small groups of women whose eyes are fixed on Jesus, who seek to do ‘whatever He tells us’ and who are sterling examples of steadfastness in the place of prayer.
Ladies, you were truly called for such a time as this! We honour all our faithful Lydias: you are like trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither (Psalm 1). We bless you, pathfinders and pioneers and we thank God for you: Colossians 1:3-4.
Vivien Mackrell, Lydia England Prayer & Planning Team
Although Anna is not named as a ‘Mother in Israel’ I feel that is what she is, for she shares many characteristics with those we read of in the Old Testament: Deborah (Judges 4 and 5) and the un-named wise woman of Abel (1 Samuel 2:15-20). All three sought God, all three listened, all three received wisdom; they recognised when God was at work and exhorted others around them to believe and act.
Here in Lydia Fellowship, we are blessed to have many faithful and Godly women who have persevered in the place of prayer, and who are an example and encouragement to us all. Ladies, you are the pathfinders and pioneers for a generation of praying women. Without you, many of us would not be here, and we want to honour you for your commitment in intercession.
In 2015 we celebrated 45 years of Lydia Fellowship: during those decades we witnessed Glasnost, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of apartheid, a ceasefire and peace process in Northern Ireland … Lydia Fellowship has become a global network yet remains centred around small groups of women whose eyes are fixed on Jesus, who seek to do ‘whatever He tells us’ and who are sterling examples of steadfastness in the place of prayer.
Ladies, you were truly called for such a time as this! We honour all our faithful Lydias: you are like trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither (Psalm 1). We bless you, pathfinders and pioneers and we thank God for you: Colossians 1:3-4.
Vivien Mackrell, Lydia England Prayer & Planning Team