God's Secret Agents

As Soon As You Begin to Pray
James 5:16 Daniel 9:23

Prayer sets spiritual forces in motion, although the effect is often invisible, perhaps for a long time.

In the first year of the reign of Darius, Daniel was reading and reflecting about the seventy years of Jerusalem's Iying in ruins. He turned to God in "earnest prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes," confessing Israel's sins and beseeching God for forgiveness and restoration. The angel Gabriel came close to him in the hour of evening sacrifice, "flying swiftly."

"As you were beginning your supplications a word went forth" (Dn 9:23 NEB), he said. The answer was already beginning to be processed when the prayer was offered. It took a very long time. Periods of weeks and years for the nation, and times of mourning, solitude, weakness, and fear on Daniel's part were required before the answer could come to pass.

We should take heart from Gabriel's message. Though our prayers seem feeble and sometimes appear to have gone unheard, a word has gone forth. Spiritual agents from the throne room of the King of kings are mobilized against spiritual forces from the headquarters of evil, and there will be ultimate victory.

"Tremendous power is made available through a good man's earnest prayer" James 5:16 JBP

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

The Reluctant Warrior - a review

The Reluctant Warrior by Mary Connealy takes place in the High Sierra Mountains during the late 1800. The former army officer, Cameron Scott, barks out orders to his family and friends, as if he were still in the army. With his own daughter frightened of him, as well as his nephew, he finds they always run to Gwen Harkness, a woman with a tender heart.

Life during pioneer days was hard and dangerous, and this story lines up in the telling of it. Overcoming danger, and the adventure of it, sums up this novel. Making the westward journey, men and women had to become more courageous, facing the adventure of tragedy along the way. With a touch of faith and romance, Cam and Gwen learn to get along, caring for the children, building trust along  the way.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.