Praying the Headlines

The above title was that of an article I wrote for Charisma Magazine (October/1991.) Recent pre and post election rhetoric visited upon us via the modern day media, including internet sites, has brought the article – and it’s potent message – back to mind.

Back then, not only I but, many of my friends and colleagues were bemoaning the cultural disarray and decline of morals spreading throughout the US and (in many cases) exported to other nations. “Common “ sense and “moral” standards were becoming anything but. It seemed Satan was having a heyday and the ever –increasing 24/7 news coverage was only too happy to spread the news. I can’t tell you how many people told me they couldn’t bear to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television. Sound familiar?

One day, in a fit of righteous anger, I reacted to a telecast about Satanism by storming to the set intending to rid my “holy ground” of the intruder. Instead, I was arrested by the Holy Spirit!

With a sharp, “Stop!,” the Holy Spirit changed both my intent and my life around. I heard myself declare: “Satan, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I declare war on you!” That day I decided to quit all my self-righteous “holy huffing” and determined to make media a tool for intercession. I would PRAY THE HEADLINES!

I think you can see where I am going with this. Let’s pull our heads out of the sand, take our positions on the wall and give the enemy a black eye!

Ours is the most information saturated generation in history. Mass media technology outlets of every “flavor” were designed and executed BY GOD’S HANDS to be tools IN OUR HANDS for an important purpose: to receive information and convert it to intercession. Look at it this way:

Information + Intercession = Supernatural Intervention!

Karl Barth, a great Swiss theologian of the 20th century, once said that Christians with God’s heart for the world pray with the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. I think he might just be jealous of how much information we have available today with which to do harm to the enemy!

So, instead of wringing our hands and commiserating with the (ungodly) pundits, let’s declare what God says about our world, His plans and the power of prayer.

Pray in front of the TV. Pray in your car with the radio on. Get the most recent news magazines. Make it a family affair. Gather the troops- DECLARE WAR…

for such a (critical) time as this!

Esther