The Lord’s Resistance Army

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. And now what do I have here?” declares the LORD. “For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,” declares the LORD. “And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed. Therefore my people will know my name.” Isaiah 52:4-6a

Dear Heavenly Father,
I know these words were spoken to the children of Israel, but You have adopted children in Uganda, Sudan, and the Congo as well. The Lord’s Resistance Army has taken away the Ugandan, Sudanese, and Congolese children for nothing. The Lord’s Resistance Army has ruled these lands in a spirit of mockery. All day long, Your name is constantly blasphemed as long as the Lord’s Resistance Army exists, for they claim Your very name. Lay bare Your holy arm and cast down the stronghold of the Lord’s Resistance Army!
Lord, this is a region beset with a long history of slavery. As a descendent of a slave-owner, I confess the sins of slavery of our ancestors, and I confess my own sin of indifference to the needs of our African brothers and sisters. I leave those individuals involved in the slave trade of the past, whether European, American, or African, to Your judgment. I forgive them, and I ask You to forgive me for my lack of compassion for those entrapped in poverty.
The Lord’s Resistance Army also enslaves its captives. So many members of the army are captives themselves. All have been entrapped by poverty. I leave the individuals in the LRA to Your judgment. I forgive them. I speak the name of Your precious Son Jesus, our Redeemer, against the spirit of slavery in this region.
Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come to Uganda, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Come to Bishop Justin and the diocese of Maridi. Come and drive out the darkness of slavery. Redeem the slaves!
May the Light of Christ, the Blessing of the Almighty Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit shine brightly where once darkness reigned. May the curse of slavery be overcome by freedom in Christ and the curse of death overcome by the blessings of Your life. Amen.

Isaiah 5:3-7

“And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between me and my vineyard.” (Isaiah 5:3)
      Jesus, we are your vineyard and we have produced little fruit for you.

“What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” (Isaiah 5:4)
      Father, we in the Episcopal Church have called the bad grapes good and the good grapes bad; have mercy on us.

“And now, please let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.” (Isaiah 5:5)
      Holy Spirit, this is already happening now to the Episcopal Church; please guide your faithful people through this time.

“I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. i will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.” (Isaiah 5:6)
      Holy Father, help us return to our first love for Jesus.

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help. (Isaiah 5:7)
      Jesus, thank you for hearing our cries; guide this diocese and its people during this time of oppression in the Episcopal Church. Thank you.

Words Received for a Sunday School lesson on Daniel 6 later in January:

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. (Daniel 6:10)
      A word received: Remember what it says (2 Chronicles 6:21): “And may you hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” That was Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple. Daniel continues to pray to me “toward this place.” He was faithful. I want your hearts to be inclined toward me as his was.

Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. (Daniel 6:11)
      A word received: I want you to be willing do what Daniel did: he publicly confessed me before others by his prayers.

Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. (Daniel 6:17)
      A word received: They did the same thing with my tomb (Matthew 27:66) — they made it as fast and secure as they knew how but I rose from the dead and overcame their plans. I did the same with Daniel: I brought him forth alive from what was intended to be his tomb.

Jan. 7: 103; Isaiah 52:3-6; Revelation 2:1-7; John 2:1-11
Jan. 8: 117, 118; Isaiah 59:15-21; Revelation 2:8-17; John 4:46-54

Albany Intercessor