This morning, as I read Judges 3, I was struck by how the Israelites repeatedly did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and turned to idols (vv. 7, 12). Yet, each time they cried out to Him, He was merciful and raised up a deliverer (vv. 9, 15). Again and again, we see this pattern—and how familiar it feels in our own lives.
Like the Israelites, we often find ourselves in seasons of spiritual wandering. But God, in His boundless mercy, has given us Jesus—our Deliverer—who saves us every time we call on His name.
So often, we are tempted to give up on prayers we've been lifting to God for what feels like forever. Whether it's for the healing of a broken marriage, the return of a prodigal child, the salvation of loved ones, healing for the sick, or revival in a nation in turmoil—God’s mercy compels us to pray again and again.
Judges 3:2 reveals another layer of God’s purpose:
He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience.
God was preparing His people for battle—and today, we, too, are in a spiritual war. The enemy of our souls prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). But we are not defenseless. God is training us and equipping us to resist the enemy through faith, vigilance, and prayer.
I’m reminded of the Proverbs 31 woman—diligent and devoted, whose faith shapes every decision and action. She rises early, her arms lifted in prayer, standing firm despite the battles around her. She is not swayed by fear or doubt; she perseveres. This is the kind of woman God is calling us to be.
King David declared in Psalm 144:1,
Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.
God is teaching us to fight—not with swords, but with uplifted hands in prayer. Let’s not lay down our armor. Let’s rise, be bold, and cry out in the mighty name of Jesus—again.
This is our call—to cry out.
Let us, especially as women of God, stand in the gap for our families, our children, our churches, our nation, and the lost. Let us keep our hands lifted in prayer, just as Moses did during the battle against the Amalekites. When his hands grew weary, Aaron and Hur held them up, and Israel prevailed (Exodus 17:12).
This reminds us that we are not alone. We do not fight in our own strength. God is our strength, and He has placed others around us to lift us up when we grow weary.
Prayer:
Merciful Father, thank You for Your relentless love that pursues us, even when we stray. Thank You for Jesus, our Deliverer, who intercedes for us, and for the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to become more like Him. We come before You with hands lifted in surrender. You alone are our strength, the One who fights our battles. Teach us to persevere in prayer. Strengthen us as we stand in the gap for our families, our children, our churches, the sick, the lost, our nation—and may we never tire of crying out to You. Thank You for hearing us. In Jesus’ most precious name, Amen.