Silk: Relentless Faith

The name of your silk is Relentless Faith. The colors in it are:

  • Dark red representing power in the Blood
  • Dark teal representing increase
  • Sky representing spiritual realm
  • Chartreuse representing flourishing
  • Turquoise representing warfare
  • Lavender representing intercession
  • Midnight sea representing washed in His promises
  • Gray representing humility
  • Silver shimmer representing strengthened faith

The scriptures that go with it are:

  • Luke 18:1 (AMP) Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart,
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (AMP) Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation no matter what the circumstances be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

An article from Theology of Work Project called “Persistence: The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)” is connected to this silk.

In the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8), a poor, powerless person (the widow) persists in nagging a corrupt, powerful person (the judge) to do justice for her. The parable assumes John the Baptist’s teaching that holding a position of power and leadership obligates you to work justly, especially on behalf of the poor and weak. But Jesus focuses the parable on a different point, that we are “to pray always and to not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). He identifies the hearers — us — with the woman, and the prayed-to person — God — with the corrupt judge, a strange combination. Assuming that Jesus doesn’t mean that God is corrupt, the point must be that if persistence pays off with a corrupt human of limited power, how much more will it pay off with a just God of infinite power.

The purpose of the parable is to encourage Christians to persevere in their faith against all odds. But it also has two applications for those who work in positions of leadership. First, the juxtaposition of a corrupt judge with a just God implies that God’s will is at work even in a corrupt world. The judge’s job is to do justice, and by God, he will do justice by the time the widow is finished with him. Elsewhere, the Bible teaches that the civil authorities serve by God’s authorization, whether they acknowledge it or not (John 19:11; Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13). So there is hope that even in the midst of systemic injustice, justice may be done. A Christian leader’s job is to work toward that hope at all times. We cannot right every wrong in the world in our lifetimes. But we must never give up hope, and never stop working for the greater good in the midst of the imperfect systems where our work occurs. Legislators, for example, seldom have a choice of voting for a good bill versus a bad bill. Usually the best they can do is to vote for bills that do more good than bad. But they must continually look for opportunities to bring bills to a vote that do even less harm and even more good.

The second point is that only God can bring about justice in a corrupt world. That is why we must pray and not give up in our work. God can bring miraculous justice in a corrupt world, just as God can bring miraculous healing in a sick world. Suddenly, the Berlin wall opens, the apartheid regime crumbles, peace breaks out. In the parable of the persistent widow, God does not intervene. The widow’s persistence alone leads the judge to act justly. But Jesus indicates that God is the unseen actor. “Will not God grant justice for his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7).

A portion of an article from Darris McNeely from Beyond Today called “Lessons from the Parables… Stay With Me: The Parable of the Persistent Widow” is connected to this silk.

Faith is in the prayer we utter with our faint voice in the darkest moment of our lives. When our voice is weakest is when we hear God’s—the still small voice of hope. …

The day came when the judge issued his ruling in favor of the widow. The case was over, and the woman returned to her home. She had learned a valuable lesson about human justice. Above all she had learned to stay with a cause—to not give up—to be persistent. In the end, right will prevail. …

Not to exclude His prerogative to answer anyone’s prayers at any time or place, but this statement has a message for those called by the Father to be part of His Church. There are moments when even the elect of God will question whether He hears their prayers and understands that they need immediate answers. They make their daily requests before the throne of God, pleading for justice, for healing, for peace of mind or for forgiveness and a clean heart.

When sleep escapes them and they wake in the middle of night unable to sleep, they pray, seeking understanding and comfort. They yearn for the soft touch of God’s loving hand bringing them to a wide place or a green pasture where still water may be found.

God hears it all. Christ said, “He bears long with them” (Luke 18:7). He knows instantly, before we appear in His presence, what we need. He hears every word of our prayer. His ear is not deaf.

Faith is what the persistent widow had. Faith that her cause was just and she was in the right. Faith that the law was on her side and the law was good and would ultimately serve those who are victims of injustice. Faith that even the hardest-hearted old judge could be reached with the plight of a widow like her and could, from the recesses of his heart, be induced to act as he ought to.

Through this example of faith Christ is showing us to be persistent in our walk with God. Don’t give up. Don’t stop believing. Don’t ever begin to think He is not there, or He’s distracted, or He’s uncaring.

God is there, and He hears. What we may think is a “delay” is not so with God. Time with God is not the same as with us. Remember, Christ said God “will avenge them speedily.” God is always right on time— His time.

In intercession much warfare occurs and there great personal cost. Rees Howells referred to this as “the gained position of intercession” which gains the “grace of faith”.

The price is paid, the obedience is fulfilled, the inner wrestlings and groanings take their full course, and then ‘the word of the Lord comes.’ The weak channel is clothed with authority by the Holy Ghost and can speak out a word of deliverance. ‘Greater works’ are done. Not only this, but a new position in grace is gained and maintained, although even then that grace can only be appropriated and applied in each instance under the guidance of the Spirit. …

A prayer warrior can pray for a thing to be done without necessarily being willing for the answer to come through himself; and he is not even bound to continue in the prayer until it is answered. But an intercessor is responsible to gain his objective, and he can never be free till he has gained it. He will go to any lengths for the prayer to be answered through himself (from “Rees Howells, Intercessor” by Norman Grubb).

This is not a contest of how much we’re willing to sacrifice, this is about calling, mantling, and heart burdens. So whether Father has called you to step into the gap as an intercessor – contending long and fiercely at much personal cost – or whether He nudges your heart over a situation (or many) and has you press in to cover what is on His heart that He’s put on yours, the key is obedience.

It’s not about needlessly repetitive prayer, and yet we should persist. Praying without ceasing – constant, ongoing dialogue with our Father all day, every day. Most people who don’t consider themselves strong in the area of prayer believe that people who are strong in prayer walk that out by spending countless hours each day on their face in intercession and travail. This isn’t necessarily so.

In Revelation 5:8, John refers to “…golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” This is a beautiful visual! Picture the marathon prayer warriors and intercessors on their faces for hours each day, that is like a bowl under a faucet that is turned on full blast. It’s flooooowing. Those bowl will fill quickly.

But the fact is there is more than one way to fill a bowl. If you put a bowl under a dripping faucet, It will fill up at some point. Some may not be called to or able to sustain lengthy prayer times, but they make up for it in persistence. In other words, they do a lot of dripping.  Both ways the bowls get filled. Neither is right or wrong, they’re just two ways to complete the task. Which are you called to? Many are called to a combination of both. Regardless beloved, fill your bowls of incense! Whether it be through intercession or as a prayer warrior, whether it be lots of little prayers over a longer duration or intense prayer over a shorter duration or both; fill your bowls.

This is your call. Your mantle. He’s called you to prayer. And though people will refer to it as a “prayer burden,” don’t let the name fool you – it is a JOY to be invited to partner with God on the things on His heart! In Isaiah 56:7 (VOICE) we’re reminded His house will be called a house of prayer. He’s invited you into HIS home, to join with Him on something that is essential to HIS heart. This is an exceedingly high honor.

This is not a glory-seeking position. Most times people may not even know you’ve been called to pray for them. This isn’t about MAN knowing. This is about GOD. This is about aligning with God’s heartbeat. And yes, obedience in this largely unseen call does bring rewards in heaven (not that that should be your motivation for entering into this, but it is fact regardless), but even that shouldn’t be your motivator. Be motivated by the pleasure of knowing His heart. This sweet intimacy is beautiful.

Do not be surprised if He starts sharing things with you about others as well. Be mindful to hold this private information close – He’s shared it for you to pray, not to repeat to others (unless He tells you to). Don’t be surprised if you start picking things up on your emotional frequencies. If you’re going about your day and you’re suddenly feeling a wave of anxiety, fear or anger (or whatever); don’t assume you’re feeling that emotion for you. Pause and ask Father who to pray for. He may or may not tell you who, but you can pray for the person regardless until the nudging shifts.

He uses the way He has created you to alert you. So know that your emotions are fair game. Your imagination is fair game. Your physical body is fair game. Push beyond the desire to have your first thoughts be for yourself. Take note of when things begin randomly, be it pain or an idea or whatever – take note and press in. Let Holy Spirit teach you. Don’t be afraid to ask Him what’s happening. Again, this is your call. This is your mantle. Wear it with joy as He shares His heart with you and invites you to partner with Him.

A portion of a word from June Reinke of Prophetic Light is connected to this silk.

Your harvest is coming. Your seed given to you to sow is the vital WORD of GOD that will not return void or empty and unproductive. You will see a LIVING WORD that will be penetrating, life-giving, powerful, healing, and delivering. The WORD of GOD will come in demonstration and power this year, and not be a dead letter that produces nothing. For those of you who will ride, faith will take on feet and come alive. God will honor your faithfulness in plowing, planting, watering, cultivating and WAITING on HIM for the harvest. It will surely come.

{hearing} Mysteries being unveiled. The blood that leads us back to the garden. The marriage of the masculine and feminine. The spirit hovering over the deep – creative potential. A return to first creation. “Everlasting to everlasting” is as far as my love is for you. Boundless Love. Calling you! Deep calls to deep. A clearing – breakthrough! The blood of Jesus flowing from heaven…

It has been prayed over and anointed with the Scent of Heaven’s Paga II (Intercession II), which is used for intercession or for praying a mantle of intercession.  The scripture that goes with this oil is Revelation 5:8, “…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

The deeper meaning of this oil reads, “Paga is the Hebrew word for intercession (H6293), literally meaning to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession. The scent of this oil is reminiscent of incense, a good reminder that our intercession is a sweet fragrance before His throne.”

We pray it blesses you!

NOTE: If you’re wondering why I’ve shared this silk letter, check out my post God Speaking Through Silk where I explain why I began sharing these on my blog. 

This silk includes excepts or concepts shared in a couple of previous blog posts: Prayer Warrior vs. Intercessor and How-To Pray without Ceasing. If this word blessed you, you’d likely also enjoy taking a peek at them 🙂

Also, I share my testimony and a video about why one might use a tallit (using this tallit) on the Dyed4you blog, if you’re interested 😉

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