Lord’s Resistance Army

A Ugandan website has posted an analysis of the military campaign against the LRA. Although Joseph Kony is still free, many of our prayers have been answered. One hundred fifty rebels have been killed, five LRA commanders captured, and 300 abductees rescued. Last week, the troops captured LRA leader number four.
The LRA use diversionary tactics to draw attention away from its leader. The capture and death of some of his commanders and fighters is poised to be a serious setback for Kony, as it deprives him of diversionary troops.
Dominic Ongwen is close to the Central African Republic (CAR) border, and Okeny Opwa is close to southern Sudan-DR Congo border. Kony is criss-crossing between these places. It was also reported that Odhiambo is in a critical condition, suffering from gout and probably injured during December 14 raids.
Kony is reported to have lost important means of communication by radio and satellite phones. Arms, hi-tech communication gadgets and laptops have reportedly been recovered. Air strikes razed down large gardens of food.
Moved by the cries of our African brothers and sisters, Lent & Beyond has posted 31 prayers for the defeat of the LRA, most of them in 2009. Operation Lightning Thunder, a joint military operation of Uganda, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo that began in December 2008, has so far been the most effective offensive against the LRA. I thank God for the many answered prayers.
We are currently praying through Psalms 17 and 18. As we progress through these psalms, it is occasionally uncanny how the current news report coincides with the next verses. On January 31, the rescue of 90 Congolese abductees tied to each other on ropes was reported. This was the corresponding scripture passage:

The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalm 18:4-6

Indeed, today’s analysis of the progress made by the military operation correlates with the next verses:

Psalm 18:28-29 (New Living Translation)
You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall.

O Lord our God,
We thank You for stirring us to pray for the defeat of the Lord’s Resistance Army and for teaching us how to pray. In Your strength, this army can be crushed! With You, this stronghold can be overcome! You are a mighty God and an awesome God. We praise Your holy name. Amen.