Freaky Friday ~ Prayer Vigil

The five women gathered in a circle on the floor in front of the altar. Heads bent together, they fervently prayed. This was no tea party prayer. They prayed from a deep reservoir of sorrow and purpose.

"Oh, Lord, please save my dad from this cancer! I call on the healing power of the blood of Jesus." The singer prayed. "We speak life into him."

The other sisters agreed with her until they felt a release.

"Father, my family member is tormented. Please protect him, surround him." The warrior moaned in sorrow and doubled over under the great weight of the prayer need.

The sisters enclosed her with arms and prayers of agreement, binding and losing. She sat up suddenly. "I just saw something!" Her eyes were round with surprise. "I saw my family member surrounded by hornets. As we prayed it just agitated the hornets and they started swarming all over him."

The sisters stared at each other, not knowing how to respond. They looked through concerned and tear stained eyes.

"Let's bind the enemy." The wise one said. They joined hands and bowed their heads. "Lord we just call on you to bind the evil one. Don't let him have any more victories over this friend. We plead the blood of Jesus..."

Suddenly, a loud popping noise hit the east wall of the sanctuary. The prayer sisters were startled and turned to see what was the commotion. There was nothing there. Another pop, louder, sounded six feet up the wall. The banging continued all the way around the sanctuary.

The oldest sister looked through the open door, past the large front window. Across the street stood a figure, staring into the church. Three dogs were on leashes, straining, barking, trying to break free of the person who held the leash. The figure did not even struggle with the pull of the massive dogs. Just stood, staring across the road through the window, into the foyer and sanctuary. The oldest sister thought it was really weird and turned to look at her daughter's frightened eyes. When she looked back, the figure was gone.

"Let's pray." She insisted, her heart pounding in her chest.

They began to each pray prayers of protection. They raised a shield around the building. The daughter asked for protection over the toddler asleep in the corner. The prayers rose in intensity and volume. An invisible dome of supernatural protection encircled them.

Still they prayed.

Bangs and pops and wild wind noises surged all around them.

Still they prayed.

Their prayers began to shift. Instead of fearful prayers of protection, they began to pray words of exaltation to the One who was their protector.

"Oh Holy are You, Lord!" The wise one prayed.

"You are our sure Rock! Our strong tower. We run to You and are safe." The daugther prayed.

"Worthy, worthy, You alone are Worthy!" The singer rejoiced.

"A mighty Fortress! You are the Strong and Mighty Warrior!" The warrior cried out.

"You are the First and the Last, You are the Creator, the Finisher, You are Righteous and Holy! The battle is Yours, oh Lord!" The oldest wailed.

No longer stooped and bent in fear, they threw their hands high into the air and rejoiced in the Deliverer. Praise poured through them and power deluged down into the sanctuary, driving out all foes.

The worship continued for an unimagineable amount of time, until the cries of joy quieted into reverant whimpers and sighs.

Quiet. Peace.

They rocked back in forth in the blissful aftermath of the Lord's battle.

The singer finally broke the quiet with a whisper. "I keep hearing this tune, over and over in my head."

The circle tightened to hear her soft voice. She began to sing a measure. Just a few notes, a beautifully haunting refrain, it hung in the air around them as the singer became quiet. They all looked at each other in peace.

Then a voice took up the song in the clearest, purest soprano. The oldest turned around to see who had joined them, but realized the voice was coming from somewhere near the 13 foot ceiling. She turned around to see if anyone else had heard.

"Did you hear that?" The wise one asked as she crawled into the center of the circle.

"Yes!"
"It was over there!"

"No, it was over there!" They all pointed in opposite directions, but each sister had heard the voice.

Touched by the supernatural, they began to cry again and offer up thanks.

Years later, the experience still stands out in their minds as wonderful and mysterious.