forty-seven

[this is a joint effort by me, katie, paula and nate... we're all in this together]

our annual concentrated time of prayer is typically known as "the 30 days". that time has now been stretched to 43 days, to include january 1 through february 12. this year, it was extended to 47 days, as we held our first family meeting on february 16. 47 days of prayer, of spiritual craziness and watching God trump the enemy again and again and again.

what we want to record here is a list of lessons learned this year, so as not to go into next year unprepared. some are obvious, some are not. this list is a way to remember - a place to come back to reflect and, hopefully, allow the Lord to continue to teach us over time.

1. don't go into this expecting to get your ass kicked - because you will
2. drama is self-inflicted - it is a choice
3. not everyone intercedes in the same way - some petition, some have divine insight, some wrestle with demons, some declare His glory, some just pray it down - but the whole combines into a beautiful canopy of prayer
4. when battling demons - the Word is NOT NEGOTIABLE
5. when you have nothing nice to say - SHUT UP (note to self)
6. the enemy is not very creative - the same tactics work again, and again, and again, and...
7. the enemy apparently does not like it when a Body comes together to read Neil T. Anderson's WHO I AM IN CHRIST
8. be prepared to come up for "grace filled air" and spur one another on... sometimes that's the only way to get to the finish line
9. load your mp3 player with worship music and let it play as you sleep - all night long
10. love covers all transgressions (proverbs 10:12)
11. when your wife has a 200 pound demon sitting on her while she sleeps, and wakes up swinging and screaming the name of Jesus, don't commit her to the nearest psych ward for a thorazine drip - pray with her instead
12. the enemy is targeting us because we are in the center of God's will - the more ferocious the battle, the greater the victory for the Kingdom
13. know when to "just" pray, and when to intervene in a situation - sometimes the Lord really does want to show off
14. discernment is a beautiful thing - USE IT
15. wisdom is a wonderful thing - ASK FOR IT... and apply it
16. if the Lord wakes you up in the middle of the night to write an email - get up and write it - immediately
17. fast when He tells you to, stop when He releases you
18. be intentional about staying away from situations or people that will cause you to lose focus on Him
19. give the pastor guy some grace - he really needs it - he is the one really on the front lines
20. the enemy is all about causing division and strife... and a little air-headedness (oh, wait - can i blame that on him?)
21. unfortunately, being a friend or family member of a crazy intercessor chick during 47 days of spiritual craziness is not as easy as one would like - just a head's up
22. rage should only ever be directed at the one deserving of such malice - the enemy of our souls
23. the enemy knows our buttons, and will push them mercilessly
24. if you really, really, really don't feel like doing something - drag your butt there, even if someone else has to do the dragging
25. accountability is an absolute necessity
26. be deliberate about praying for yourself FIRST - it's not selfish, it's essential
27. if your first thought is to react - DON'T
28. recognition brings on opposition - be ready for it
29. when you do mess something up, own up to it, apologize and move on
30. it's not your job to cover everyone and everything - that's why we are called a BODY
31. the Lord will send people your way to help you, teach you, encourage you and love you
32. the dots WILL connect
33. "worship is the highest form of warfare"
34. declare His magnificence in the face of evil AND in His presence
35. demonic assault does not just manifest spiritually - he is not beyond physical affliction
36. if you can't actually see to read the words on the page in front of you... the book is an absolute must-read... in this case, Anderson's Victory Over the Darkness
37. just because it's almost over doesn't mean lightning won't strike again - in the same place
38. put others' needs in front of your own - His timing is perfect - you can count on it
39. be deliberate in circling the wagons when part of your community is in need of help - even if they don't know it
40. when your world goes beyond crazy - hang on - He's about to rock your face
41. the Body is what it is because you are who you are (HIS) - don't forget that
42. life emerges victorious even in the face of opposition - praise you, Lord!
43. hearing, and listening to, the voice of your Shepherd is CRITICAL
44. fight against distraction and diminishment with everything you have - you're here for a reason
45. just because something HURTS does not mean it's causing HARM
46. STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER... before you throw a couple of punches at the monitor
47. keep things in perspective - HE will not fail US (joshua 1:5)