"Ma'am, do you know this woman?" the EMT Driver asked me. I was waiting to see one of the ladies of Anna's Gate who was having surgery when they brought this sweet elderly lady in on a gurney. I heard her moaning in pain and had started to pray for her silently from where I was standing. When the EMT team had moved away I stepped up to this precious one who I knew in my spirit was a widow and one to whom the Lord wanted me to reach out. I patted her arm and said, "Honey, I am praying for you". Her face lit up as she asked, "You are praying for me?" "Yes, Sweetheart, I am!" "Well, keep praying! Don't stop!" was her reply. As I assured her that I would, I began to release Isaiah 53 over her that "Surely Jesus has carried ALL your sorrows and pain! We receive your provision NOW in Jesus name!" At that time the pretty red-headed EMT inquired to see if I was over-stepping my boundaries. "I am a Chaplain and was just praying for her." With that, she smiled adding a nod, as she stepped back for me to finish. Within moments it was time for the gurney to be wheeled into another room. The little face of this precious widow turned to me and said, "Thank you!" as she left!
Sunday, June 23rd, is the National Widows Day!
It's a time to honor the widows across our nation! Widowhood by just death of our spouse is the fastest growing demographic in the world!
(That is not counting those without a mate by divorce or abandonment!
The Hebrew and Greek meaning of a "widow" is "one lacking a husband" by whatever means.)
James 1:27 calls it pure religion when you care for the widows and the fatherless in their distress.
It's what the Father desires and accepts!
Exodus 22:22-24 declares by God that He certainly hears the cry of the fatherless and the widow!
The Hebrew word for "certainly" and "hears" is the same word!
He hears, He hears!
Why, because He is Father to the fatherless and Husband to the widow! In
fact,
in this verse there is a warning
to which
we
all
need to pay attention.
"Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If thou afflict him in any way, if he cry at all unto me, I will certainly hear his cry; and my anger shall burn, and I will slay you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless."
God takes this seriously!
(And as widows, if someone does take advantage of us, we need to cry out for mercy and for their eyes to be opened to their wrong! Don't pick up offense but instead pray for them! I have done
this
many times
and have seen God work in their hearts!)
What else does His Word say about the widow?
*
He is our Defender and calls us to do the same (Ex 22:22-24;
Deut
10:18; Ps 68:4,5; Isa 1:17)
*
He is our Husband!
(Isa 54:5)
*
He sustains and fortifies us!
(Ps 146:9)
*
He will establish our boundaries and territory physically and spiritually! (Pro 15:25)
*
He has great blessing for those that bless the widow!
"All the works of their hands are blessed! (
Deut
14:29)
*
The corners or borders are reserved for the poor including the fatherless and the widow!
There is provision and a harvest of souls to call in!
(Lev 23:22)
Girls, we have amazing purpose!
God hears our prayers and will establish our territory when we pray!
He is closer than a whisper and wants to use us in gathering the end time harvest!
We have amazing purpose!
Let's all show honor to widows not just June 23rd but all the time....it brings great blessing!
