what can we do?

A worship leader in my church recently described the world as being "on fire", and not in a fire of The Holy Spirit way.  She described herself and us as feeling helpless.  Amen, sister!  This reminded me of David, who noted that the wicked in his day were shooting at the upright in heart.  He threw up his hands, saying, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3).  Indeed, many of us feel as if the proverbial sky is falling.  

But then our worship leader reminded us that God is still in charge and in control, as David did in his age of anxiety: "The Lord is in His Holy Temple; The Lord is on His Heavenly Throne...The Lord is righteous, He loves Justice; the upright will see His Face (Psalm 11:4,7).  Indeed, it's a good thing to remind ourselves of God's Sovereignty in these wild days, but I believe God invites us to do more than just look passively to Him.

Jesus is seated at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for us and for all that is going with us personally and globally (Romans 8:34).  He sends The Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness so that we can pray along with Him, sometimes in wordless groans (Romans 8:26).  People tend to think of prayer as pathetic, a last resort, a "Hail Mary" pass.  Perhaps you and I have come to agree with them.  But in fact, prayer is the strongest response we believers have to our circumstances, as we join with Jesus in His Powerful Intercession, and with all the saints around the world and in glory who are praying with Him.  Indeed, the prayer of a righteous person - clothed in the righteousness of Christ The Intercessor - is powerful and effective.  

Let's use that Power in prayer as a first resort, and then act with confidence in The One Who intercedes and saves.