“Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11, NLT)
Over-exposure ruins a photo as does overdevelopment. I took photography my senior year of high school when developing film was taught in the class. There was a simple wooden, four-walled structure to step inside to develop the film I shot for class assignments. I learned quickly, that this was not a gifting I had, leaving my images overdeveloped. I soaked them too long in the developer and the photos I took would never be revealed as darkness plagued the photo paper. You see, if you overdevelop, the crispness and clarity become blurred and darkened.
Like God calling me to pray over the City my family once lived in, I came up wordless due to the daily tragedies from crime that were reported. Inviting others to pray with me, cleared the picture of what to pray about and how to communicate the prayer.
Fast forward to modern America and the view became blurry again as confusion hit the streets, anger bursting forth in public gatherings and dinner tables. Again, I had blurred vision for prayer.
God gave me one prayer this time and I have prayed it ever since. It is simple, basic, and profound.
Pray for the truth to come out.
No clarifiers. No favorites. No affiliations. Across the board and across the nation, let the truth come to light.
You are to walk free from blurred confusion, it is time to come out of the developer and walk on what truth brings:
Peace within – Alignment with God’s ways always strengthens peace in the inner man.
Peace without – Truth brings sure-footedness in our interactions with others.
Peace Shared – When you practice this prayer at every angle, every affront, every thought, you can encourage others to pray in that same manner. Just as I hope I have encouraged you.
Will you pray with me?
God, I pray that truth be exposed in my City and Nation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your turn:
What area of your life or community will you pray for the truth to be exposed?
News:
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Keep Walking on Mustard Seeds,
Michele Marie Weisman
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Good old Ephesians! What a reservoir of wisdom! Your prayer is PURITY. As you say, it needs no explaining, modifying, altering, qualifying, affiliating, or anything else that would suck the lifeblood from it.
Sally, thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate your thoughtful response, oh how true it rings. Some things don’t need a lot of explaining, like the knowing between good friends.