I am a mother of two boys, and they keep me on my toes with their fiery and passionate personalities. Recently, I had an incident with my oldest son where he cried not because he was convicted of his wrong actions, but because he couldn't have something he desired. This reminded me of the situation in Jeremiah 9, where the people were more concerned about their losses and possessions than the state of their hearts.
Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, starts off with a lament because of the state of his nation. He longs to produce more tears, but the people are more concerned about their losses and material possessions than the state of their hearts towards the Lord. Thus, Jeremiah laments that the people are not genuinely repentant and mournful over their sins, but rather they weep over their material possessions or what they stand to lose.
Two Groups of Women
In Jeremiah 9:17, God declares, "Consider and call forth the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skillful women, that they may come." God is calling forth two groups of women in this passage.
The first are women who were professional mourners that were hired to weep and wail at funerals. They would deceive every onlooker with their loud cries and displays of grief. They were skilled at turning on the tears and turning off the tears, depending on the situation. These women were not genuinely grieving or repentant; they were paid actors who could fake their emotions for personal gain. Nevertheless, God allowed this false lament as an indictment on the nation of Israel because they lacked genuine repentance and mourning. These professional mourners actually collected their tears into bottles, and many times whoever produced the most tears, was paid the most money.
Unfortunately, we see professional mourners producing false laments in our society today, and whoever produces the most tears regarding their cultural issue, gets paid the most money and attention. This of course doesn’t delegitimize justice issues today, but we must remember God's justice goes far beyond any human movement; it is rooted in His redemptive plan for all of humanity.
The Church's Response and Responsibility
As believers, we cannot buy into these false laments or allow ourselves to be swayed by societal pressures. God is calling us to be a different kind of women —those who belong to the second group mentioned in Jeremiah 9:20, the praying mothers, daughters and sisters who were touched by the condition of the nation. This group is different from Jeremiah 9:17. Wordly sorrow leads to death, but godly sorrow is redemptive and leads to life and peace. These are women who have suffered loss and pain and have been touched by grief and crisis in the nation. Their hearts are tender and receptive to God's voice and are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They feel what God feels for the nation.
We often underestimate the power of a praying mother. They are the ones who cry out to God on behalf of their children, interceding and standing in the gap for their loved ones. These women, led by the Holy Spirit, teach their daughters and neighbors the ways of the Lord. They pass down a legacy of righteousness and intercession to the next generation. God sees their tears and stores them as precious moments of intercession.
Praying mothers have a unique role in shaping the destiny of their children and the course of history. Their prayers lay a foundation for revival, as seen throughout history in movements like the Jesus People movement. Their faithfulness and perseverance in prayer often go unnoticed or unappreciated, but their impact is undeniable.
It is time for men and women alike to embrace their calling as praying warriors. Men, do not buy into the lie that prayer and intercession are reserved for women alone. God is calling you to rise up as leaders and spiritual fathers who will pray fervently for your families, communities, and nations. Your prayers carry weight and authority in the spiritual realm. Embrace your role as spiritual warriors and intercessors, fighting for righteousness and justice.
Mothers, do not underestimate the power of your prayers and the impact they have on your children. Your intercession can shape their lives and guide them towards God's purposes. Teach them the ways of the Lord, impart a heart of repentance, and instill a passion for righteousness. Your faithfulness in prayer can ignite a fire within them that will impact generations to come.
Prayer is not limited to a specific gender or role. It is a powerful weapon in the hands of every believer. As we stand together in prayer, we can overthrow strongholds, bring down the works of darkness, and usher in revival and transformation. Let us heed God's call to be a praying generation, to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, God is calling us to move from weeping to reaping. The false laments and
professional mourners of this world do not reflect God's heart. Instead, He is looking for a generation of women and men who will embrace their role as praying mothers and fathers. It is time to rise up and intercede for our families, communities, and nations. Our tears and prayers are not in vain. God will use them as a touchpoint for revival and transformation.
Let us reject the false comfort and superficial emotions of the world and embrace the genuine repentance and mourning that comes from a heart surrendered to God. Let us prioritize our relationship with Him and teach the next generation the ways of the Lord. May we be known as a generation that prays fervently, lives righteously, and seeks God's will above all else.
Dear sisters and brothers, let us answer the call to be the weepers who become the reapers. God is ready to pour out His blessings and bring about restoration and revival, but He needs a people who will cry out to Him in genuine repentance and intercession. Will you join me in this journey? May we become a generation that moves from weeping to reaping, bringing forth a harvest of righteousness and transformation in our families, communities, and nations. May our prayers shake the foundations of the earth and release the power of God's kingdom. The time is now. Let us rise up and fulfill our calling as praying mothers and fathers, turning the tide and ushering in God's purposes on the earth. With God by our side, we can move from weeping to reaping, impacting lives and shaping history for His glory.
Let us pray:
Father, we thank you for the privilege of prayer and intercession. We repent for the times when we have settled for false comforts and superficial emotions. Today, we surrender ourselves to be the weepers who become the reapers. We ask for your grace and empowerment to embrace our role as praying mothers and fathers. Teach us to pray, to seek your face, and to intercede for our families, communities, and nations. Help us to pass down a legacy of righteousness and intercession to the next generation. Use our tears, our prayers, and our lives as touchpoints for revival and transformation. Empower us to live righteous lives and to bring forth a harvest of righteousness in the world around us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Dehavilland Ford
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