From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take (1 Chronicles 12:32, NLT).
My wife and I were in the Philippines when we heard reports of the attacks in Israel originating from terrorists out of Gaza. Listening to the news, we thought and prayed . . .
- God help those who are suffering right now.
- Are these events of the end times?
- What should be our response?
I’m not a political commentator. I’ve studied end-times prophecy, but there are more astute scholars than I. I have no earthly positional influence to affect the events that will play out in the next months and years.
How should I respond? I want to do something. How can we respond? We all want to do something.
We can pray.
Studying the history of praying, we find that during every crisis, God raises up intercessors who discern His will and pray accordingly. Prayer warriors of this ilk are called Sons and Daughters of Issachar.
As described in 1 Chronicles 12:32 – they understood the times and knew what to do.
I’ve developed the following prayer list; would you join me in praying?
- That God’s presence would be with those affected by violence.
But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done (Psalm 73:28, NET).
- Since Jesus gives his job description in Luke 4, and He sets captives free, I began praying for supernatural deliverance for those held hostage.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released (Luke 4:18, NLT).
- I prayed for the Palestinians, who were not involved with violence, to have protection.
Under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark (Psalm 91:4, NASB1995).
- That Israeli leaders would have Godly wisdom (whether they want it or not) in their responding decisions. I also prayed that God would confound the decision-making processes of those opposing Israel (Micah 7:3-4).
The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken (Psalm 33:10-11, NLT).
- Christians would wake up to the fact that we are in the end times, prepare for the soon return of Jesus, and learn to pray accordingly.
Understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come (2 Timothy 3:1, NET).
Romans 8 teaches that a primary role of both the Spirit and Jesus is latter-day praying for God’s Kingdom.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26, NLT).
For Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us (Romans 8:34, NLT).
With both the Spirit and Jesus as our examples and teachers, will you accept the challenge of being an Issachar Prayer Warrior in the last days?
Latter-day Issachar Prayer Warriors – we can do this!