Redeeming June.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Colossians 4:5

Heavy topic warning.

I gotta be honest...I have come to dread the month of June. Yesterday alone, as I began writing this entry, my computer calendar pinged no less than a dozen times reminding me that tomorrow was a "holiday"- The first day of "Pride" month. Apparently we all need to recognize a month where darkness is celebrated and a beautiful symbol of my Lord has been hijacked for the promotion of sin.

I am actually sorry for those who celebrate birthdays in June. Trust me, my name is Karen....I know the unpleasant feeling of the world assigning negative connotation, seizing hold of something personal to you for it's own purposes!

Allow me to continue a moment before I get to the good news. Things are getting increasing dark. A few days ago I saw a video of a man dressed like a women, pole dancing provocatively on a cross that held another man pretending to be Jesus. It grieved my heart. It angered me.

And yet, I know that God will not be mocked. As a person sows, they shall also reap. (Galatians 6:7-8) Sadly, people like this are storing up wrath for themselves; yet, so long as there is breath in their lungs, redemption remains a possibility. God is abundantly patient and long-suffering. He doesn't want anyone to perish, but rather desires everyone to come to repentance and be reconciled back to Him. (2 Peter 3:9)

So what is the Christian response to "Pride" month? Should we stay silent, hide our heads in the sand or post memes snarky memes social media? Although I do have the spiritual gift of snarky memes (joking!) I am done just complaining and shaking my head in astonishment as I watch the never-ending downslide and destruction of the moral fiber of our nation from the sidelines.

I am ready to take action against the ever encroaching darkness pervading into our culture, our minds, and upon our children. It's time to light it up!

I believe it is time to intercede in the spirit with intention and expectation for our God to move! Scripture says we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the principalities, authorities, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

Think about that for a moment.

There is an invisible battle being waged every moment of every single day for influence... and ultimately, the souls of men.

Did you know that human beings are the prize to be won? You are highly valued! And so are the souls of those deceived into the LGBTQ movement.

Although it may look bleak right now; June is not lost. Even in the darkest of times, God is always at work. Don't let the enemy convince you that the fight is futile! It's never too late when we look to God, rather than relying on our own strength.

Just last year...in the midst of "Pride" month, God granted us the overturning of Roe v. Wade. While much of the nation was taking pride in perversion, God was reminding us all that He is the author of life and defender of the innocent.

And God is even using this increasing darkness to wake up the sleepy, stagnant church.

This is a war, and it is time to put on the armor of God and take our place on the battlefield.

I'm issuing a 3 part challenge for the month of June to anyone who is willing to join me in stepping up to the call of our current day:

We need to confess our own sins and extend forgiveness to others. God says that our unconfessed sins and unforgiveness toward others can hinder our relationship with Him to the point that He neither hears us nor forgives our sins. Yikes! (Isaiah 59:2, Mark 11:25-26)
We need to pray like never before. We need to pray scripture and ask God to release the power that resurrected Jesus from the dead on his church! We need to ask God to demolish strongholds in the heavenly places! We need to ask for wisdom and boldness to make the most of every opportunity!
Lastly, we need to stop compromising and coming into agreement with the agendas of this fallen world. (Romans 2:12) Rather, we need to show God's love to the LGBTQ community by telling them (and those affirming them) the truth. (Romans 1, Jude 1:7, Mark 8:36)

Here are some ideas of scriptures to pray everyday this month:

Praise God for His dominion and authority over all the earth.

Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours,Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

Praise God for keeping His promises. Praise Him for revealing a glimpse of His beauty, radiance and glory through His creation of the rainbow.

Genesis 9:13-15 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
Ezekial 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Ask God for divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Pray for the fear of God to come upon this nation.

Psalm 36:1 I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

Ask God to wake up believers who have fallen asleep or become lukewarm.

Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of the 10 Virgins “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be liketen virgins who took their lampsand went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Pray for confidence and boldness to proclaim the good news to this broken and hurting world.

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lordand in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:19-20 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Pray for God to give sight and a heart of repentance to the spiritually blind and hard hearted.

1 Timothy 2:25-26 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6 The god of this age has blindedthe minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

I pray this stirs your heart and encourages you into action. When we war in the Spirit through proclaiming the Word of God, we remind Satan that he is no match for Yahweh!

Until Next Time,

For anyone wanting to go deeper, I'll be leading a discussion group this month from the book titled, The Deborah Mantle: A Woman's Call to Arise and Slay the Giants of Her Generation. The book is broader than the topic of this post. You do not have to be local to join. If interested, message me for more information!