Effective Faith – The Presidential Prayer Team

For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord. – Jeremiah 39:18

Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely of places. Be aware that the Lord does not miss seeing one who performs good deeds in faithfulness to Him.

The prophet Jeremiah was the bearer of God’s messages to Judah. Because of Judah’s wickedness and disobedience, the prophet often carried words of judgment that were rarely well-received. Jeremiah came to King Zedekiah with such a prophecy. Jerusalem had been besieged on one side by the Chaldeans, but they pulled back with word that the Egyptian army was on its way. The Lord gave instructions to the king through Jeremiah, instructions that would preserve lives. However, instead of following them, the king did the opposite of God’s directives. Additionally, he allowed his men to lower Jeremiah into a cistern, empty of water but wet with mud… a place where Jeremiah would be left to die.

Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian servant of the king and one unlikely to offer help, then privately told the king of Jeremiah’s situation and asked if he could save God’s prophet. He was given permission, and carefully rescued Jeremiah before the armies came and carried the people of Israel off into captivity and destroyed Jerusalem. God’s promised Ebed-Melech, “you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me” (Jeremiah 39:18).

There are those who serve in government leadership today whose names are not commonplace, but whose faith in God will be effective for Him and the country if they stand strong. Intercede for them, and for those who will join them in the future, that they rely on the wisdom and guidance of the Lord in all their decisions and actions.

Today’s Verse: Jeremiah 39:18

For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’”

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 3 John 2-8

²Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. ³For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. ⁴I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

⁵Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, ⁶who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. ⁷For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.