 |
 |
Devotions Archive
Archive:
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
War storyWednesday, December 12, 2012
Revelation 12:1-10 But her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan. He was hurled to the earth.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.
Mary made haste to visit her Aunt Elizabeth. Carrying her son John, Elizabeth recognized God. Or rather, the baby within her recognized God: "How does this happen, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed." Mary replied quietly to Elizabeth as they shared their joy: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior." And there was a great battle in heaven, and the dragon fought, and was thrown down. Jesus is about to be born, and neither the earth nor heaven will ever be the same. Not a flood, but fire next time. The devil and his angels all burned to a crisp, nevermore to reign in death, never again to rain sorrow on God's children - this is your promise and your clarion call, O Lord. Let me swallow hard, and open my eyes, and watch the war. Exult in your goodness. Trust you with all that I am. |
In This Present Darkness, Frank Peretti developed parallel tales of heaven and earth. The actions of humans, especially their prayers, influenced the activity in heaven. I remember being riveted by the story. I took my prayers very seriously. They were moving heaven.