March 24, 2013 – Allen and Diane Lake
The definition of marriage in the United States hangs in the balance. On March 26th and 27th the Supreme Court will convene to rule on the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which protect the definition of marriage as solely between a man and a woman. If they are struck down then homosexual marriage would most likely be legalized on a federal level.
The Reformation Prayer Network has developed a prayer guide for these few days leading up to the hearings. We encourage you to read them, and pray with us as we battle in prayer for biblical marriage in our nation.
Supreme Court Prayer Guide – Day 4 | A Line in the Sand
by Diane Lake
Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up… Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. (Hosea 6:1, 3)
Several days after the Sandy Hook incident, I heard several things spoken in the night. I heard, “If the nation cannot get over her guilt [re: the shooting], there are consequences… because you [the nation] did not let it happen, I let it happen, says the Lord.” I don’t think I went back to sleep after that. If this was a true word, it meant a line in the sand had been crossed and a measure of judgment released upon our nation.
God does not want innocent people to suffer or die – and certainly not children. Yet even a casual understanding of the Old Testament history of Israel shows that God allowed suffering when necessary to turn a nation back to Him – so that the good things He had in mind for them could come to pass. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (written to those taken captive to Babylon) say:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
We cannot afford to underestimate the gravity of the cases about to come before the Supreme Court. The President first stepped out to publicly endorse gay marriage last May, and his stance has become more aggressive since. The sooner we “call, go and pray, seek and find, and search,” the better off our nation will be. Encourage as many believers as you can to pray; the seriousness of the hour demands it.
Prayer Points
1. Pray Hosea 6:1-3 over the nation – that even if He has torn, He would heal; that where He has stricken, He will bind up, and that as a nation we would pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
2. Pray that all believers would realize the enormity of these cases, and that “now it is high time to awake out of sleep” and pray. (Rom. 13:11-12)
3. Pray the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon the Supreme Court justices, and that they would receive divine direction and instruction in the night. (Joel 2:28a; Job 33:14-18)
Action Points
1. Consider doing your own personal Bible study on the nature of God’s judgments.
2. If you’re a pastor, ministry leader or small group leader, spend some time teaching those under you about Biblical marriage.
Diane is a writer, speaker and minister ordained with both Christian International and Generals International. Her articles are regularly featured on The Elijah List, as well as platforms like Charisma Magazine, Charisma News, Intercessors For America and others. She and her husband, Allen, co-founded Starfire Ministries with a vision to see the kingdom established beyond the four walls of the traditional church. They host a podcast with Charisma Podcast Network, and serve as Church Mountain, Regional, and Montana Coordinators for the Reformation Prayer Network, and as Media Mountain Leader/Facilitators for C.I.’s Culture Influencers.
