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When I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:6-8 NASB95).
If you awaken often in the middle of the night, it’s not going to get better if…
the Lord is calling you to learn intercession.
Some sleep difficulties arrive from apnea, too much screen time, guilt, or too many Fritos© as a TV snack. However, God is calling His church to pray. In these current last days, God’s enlisting us to intercede.
God will work with the church in the end times.
I have categorized three types of intercession or areas for which God wakes me up to pray.
Gaining Ground
When I first learned to pray at night, my prayers were the result of anxiety, fear, demonic attack, or frustration at not being able to sleep.
As I kept praying, I began receiving dreams and visions of God’s purposes. A thorough reading of Daniel and the book of Revelation will show that God’s revelation in the middle of the night can be glorious or frightful.
God’s purpose for both is for us to pray.
My favorite prayer in the Bible for gaining ground is based on the story of Jacob’s ladder. At the end of Jacob’s dream, God said to him…
I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants (Genesis 28:13).
Defending Ground
God’s focus in the Old Testament was the land and His people. Their obedience brought blessing to their country and their disobedience, conquest by other countries.
In the New Testament “ground” becomes “calling.” Each of us has a unique path upon which to walk. This narrow path reveals spiritual gifts, opens doors for ministry, gives us a job, along with family – all of which must be defended.
Prayer is our weapon.
When my night is interrupted by an evil attack, I’m not surprised, as Peter writes that the devil prowls about seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). I find praying in the Spirit as the best prayer for defending ground (Romans 8:26).
Sherlock Homes woke up Watson once and said, “Come, Watson, come. The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!”
I’m not saying Jesus is quoting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when He wakes me up. But I know to start praying in the Spirit.
Higher Ground
God’s purposes for the entire history of mankind are coming into focus now.
Peter spoke in the first sermon of the church about the end-times, “sons and daughters prophesying, young men seeing visions, and old men dreaming dreams” (Acts 2:17).
The church will not creep defeated to the rapture (or the second coming). Jesus also tells the first preacher of the gospel that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.
I have traveled the world, and in every location, someone will tell me about a famous person who prophesied that an end-time revival would start in their city, region, or country.
HHHHMMMHHM.
Peter quotes God’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-29 in Acts 2, “This is what I will do in the last days – I will pour out my Spirit on everyone” (v.17).
Conclusion
Pray! Learn to pray in the middle of the night. It’s not the time to sleep but to watch and pray.
We pray for revival in the entire world.