October 10, 2025
I couldn’t sleep last night. Now that’s odd. Maybe I finally reached the age where I can’t drink a caffeinated coffee right before bed? Oh Lord Jesus, please tell me I’m not too old for coffee.
Caffeine could have been a contributing factor or the amazing Tiramisu we shared with the coffee. But no, it was something beyond these physical factors.
The Lion of Judah roars against His enemy, and at the same time lovingly beckons us by name to run under the rescue plan He has already completed on our behalf.
As I learn more and more to take my thoughts captive through scripture memorization and worship-filled music, I tend to sleep peacefully and soundly while dreaming full length movies. I’m grateful to God that He has given me the gift of rest. He is my peace.
So, if I randomly, find myself awake at odd hours, I consider it an opportunity to pray. There’s always so much and so many to bring before God’s Throne of Grace. Once I settled in with a cup of hot ginger tea, non-caffeinated, I recognized some fearful and anxious thoughts running around my mind. I hadn’t paid close attention until I got quiet in the Lord’s presence, but Holy Spirit was nudging.
Our families are facing all kinds of challenges. (Yours, too, I’m guessing) And the angst I identified in my heart, mind and belly resulted from my inability to change any of their circumstances. I realized fairly quickly that this call to prayer was for me as much as it is for them. Shalom was broken within me. And so there was a conversation that needed to take place between me and my Maker.
Lord, I hear You. I confess, yes, I am anxious over the big and little things that I fear are hindering and bothering our family members. I know Your word says that I shall not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I shall present my requests before You.
Your word promises that as I make my confession before You, naming out loud the burdens that are heavy and hurting me, You will exchange those burdens for Your peace. This is Your word of truth.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
So, I participated fully in this conversation. In prayer, I saw myself choosing to enter into the Tent of Meeting where the doorway is covered by the blood of the perfect Lamb. And I confessed my fears to Jesus. I named my loved ones and His peace filled me up from head to toe. I forget, but He reminds me often that He loves them better than I do.
As I continued in prayer, I found in my memory a very old-fashioned prayer, which I heard my grandparents pray in times of need, “Lord Jesus, I plead Your blood over my family and over our homes.” I didn’t know then, but I understand now, they were leaning hard into the finished work of Jesus on the cross, and His resurrection. Additionally, some old hymns (The Old Rugged Cross and Jesus at the Center) came to mind, and a smile made its way across my lips remembering those who cut a faith path before me.
The Lion of Judah roars against His enemy, and at the same time lovingly beckons us by name to run under the rescue plan He has already completed on our behalf.
And then I saw Him, the Lion standing upon the mountains and roaring. I’ve dreamed about Him on occasion for a few years now. I recognize Him. He is the Lion of Judah.
“And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of they tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.””
Revelation 5:5 ESV
The sight of Him, the Lion, causes me to tremble because He is ferocious and mighty to save. But I’m not afraid of Him; I’m in awe of Him, and humbled by His goodness.
My middle-of-the-night conversation broke open with a settled peace that passes understanding for my loved ones. It was then I began to call out the names of neighbors, people we’ve met at church, at Trader Joe’s, in discipleship, and their families, who we know are seeking for God. I called upon the Lord as an Advocate pleading His righteous blood over those who have not yet trusted His will for their lives.
I see Him, the Lion of Judah, roaring over the Earth and everything in it, which He created and for which His love burns with zeal. He is roaring a warning against His enemy. Time for us on Earth is short. We are not promised tomorrow. And eternity looms large.
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14 ESV
I’m not being arrogant or haughty in my declaration. I gratefully proclaim that I am safely tucked under God’s provision of salvation through the righteous blood of Christ.
So, I’m asking, “Are you safely tucked under God’s provision of salvation?”
If not, I beg of you, heed His call to exchange your will for His will. Do not harden your heart. Run to Him and worship Jesus Christ as Savior and King. He is the Lion of Judah, and one day He will, in all His authority, break the seals and open the scrolls. Amen.
You might wonder, “What on earth?” What does this mean? Is this true? Who is God’s enemy anyway? Who or what is the lion roaring against?
Just to add a bit of clarification, who is God’s enemy? We could spend hours and days researching this topic, and if you’re interested, see my list of resources at the bottom. Ephesians 6:11-12 tells us this about God’s enemy:
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:11-12 ESV
My hope and prayer is that the Holy Spirit of God, through these scriptures and my prayers, has stirred a curiosity in your heart and mind. I do hope so…
Don’t take my word. Take God’s own words to heart. Read the Bible. Begin a conversation with God. Ask Him to open your eyes and soften your heart. We all could use some softening in our hearts because we live in a hard world.
I want to pray for you (or with you for someone you care about) right now.
Lord God, You desire for all people to receive your gift of rescue from the evil one. And so, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to live among mankind. Jesus, is God who took on flesh. As the God-man, Jesus suffered, and submitted to Your will. Thus He was willingly crucified, dead and buried in a tomb. But on the third day, the power of the Holy Spirit resurrected Jesus from death to life. Jesus, alive again, showed Himself to many people. Through His obedience to the Father, Jesus Christ defeated death once for all time.
God, You have given Your creation free will. I pray all who read this will trust Your will and Your plan, submitting themselves under Your authority. I pray each one will be saved. For Your glory and for the building of Your Kingdom, I submit my advocacy for whoever will believe and be saved, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
If you just now received God’s free gift of salvation, welcome to His family!!! Here are your next steps:
- Read His words in the Bible.
- Go to a “gospel-centered”, Bible teaching church this weekend.
- Let a Christian know that you have begun to follow Jesus.
I am so excited for you, and all that God has in mind for you as you follow Him.
Eyes on Jesus and Shine,
Lisa
Listen: Lauren Daigle: Rescue
I’m linking up with Joanne
Resources:
If you’re curious about what God says about anything, including the topics above, I recommend reading Genesis to Revelation in the Bible (an ESV study Bible). I encourage you to pray before opening the scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. I recommend the teaching resources from my friends at The Bible Project to add more instruction to particular aspects of reading the Bible.
I encourage you most of all to ask, seek and knock at God’s door. He says we can, and He will open the door. He wants communion with you. He’s delighted to walk with you, and help you get to know Him. He wants you to have life abundant.
I love that you are curious, and getting started. I’m praying for you. We might be neighbors in Heaven for eternity.
Below are scripture references I used in writing my post:
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-2, 14 ESV
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all…
Isaiah 53:3-12 ESV
“…but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…”
2 Timothy 1:8-12 ESV
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me,
“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:1-14 ESV
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-11 ESV
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV
““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:7-11 ESV
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20 ESV
““Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Jeremiah 33:2-3 ESV
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