The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
I read Proverbs 16:14 this morning: “A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it.”
Right then, the Holy Spirit touched my heart to pray for a sister’s believer husband who is weak and helpless in his spiritual life. I noticed that my prayer proclaimed all the work Jesus Christ has done on the cross for him and plead God’s mercy for him.
Through praying with other saints in Moms In Prayer, God invites me to know Him more intimately. Therefore I know that God is just and hates sin, but I also learn from the Scriptures and my experience that He is loving and appointed the saints to appease God for me when I was helpless.
I am studying the book of Joshua in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) this year. In Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua encountered the man before his battle with Jericho city and asked him which side he was. The man said that neither side he was ,but sent by God as commander of the army. I cannot agree with the BSF notes more: “This battle was God’s, and God called Israel to be on His side. God is unreservedly committed to His people but God is never our servant. In that sense, He takes no sides. Instead, through faith, God takes hold of each believer’s life and calls us to His side, lifting us into His almighty and eternal purposes.”
When Joshua asked a good question with face down in submission to this man: “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”
Whatever the enemy we are facing today, God calls us to be on His side and He will fight for us. In reality, we may have conflict with our spouses or children; but in the spiritual realm, our family member may not be our real enemy, but the devil behind that person is.
Therefore, like Joshua, what we ought to do is worshiping God and knowing Him more intimately, better than having a self-righteous attitude to accusing or abandoning others as a condemned sinner.
Consequently, we can expect that God will show His glorious victory in the battle of our lives because God is committed Himself to accomplish His initial work of our faith.
Don’t dwell on our own sins or others. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Meanwhile, claim His promises for yourself. If we have conflict with our family member, when guided by Holy Spirit, we can ask God for mercy on that person and proclaim God’s promises on behalf of him/her. If we cleanse ourselves from what is dishonorable, we can be God’s holy and useful instrument, ready for His good work of saving the unworthy sinners.
“Are you living by faith in our sovereign, victorious God? If so, like Joshua, God will enable you to faithfully obey and fulfill your unique purpose in God’s grand story of redemption.” (BSF notes)
I used to live in a reverse way: Try hard in flesh to obey God’s law but feel defeated all the time. Then God finally restored me by His truth: I am justified by faith. When I cling to the truth, I am empowered to fear , love and obey God. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. How amazing is His truth to set us free!
The prayer I appease God for ____:
Lord, I appease You for ___ and ask Your mercy for him. In Jesus Christ’s name, I proclaim Jesus Christ has died on the cross for ___’s sins and shed His blood for ___ to redeem ___ from the dominion of darkness into light, from death into life. Jesus Christ has come and destroyed devil’s work in ___ and He has overcome ___’s sins. So ___ is more than a conqueror in Christ. ___ has received the faith in God and been justified by the Righteous God.
Lord, may You be merciful to humble ___ and open his eyes to see that he needs your help of breaking from the devil’s bondage and lies. Lord, may Your Holy Spirit speak the truth and Scripture into ___’s heart and convict him. Please turn ___ around and give him a repentant heart and set him free. Please give ___ a new heart and a new spirit. Please remove his heart of stone and give him a heart of flesh so that ___ can sense Your great love abundantly lavished on him through Jesus Christ.
I give all the glory and thanks to You. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray. Amen.
