El Crucero
One of the most difficult things to process in life is knowing how much God has for people, but to see those same people walking in darkness, broken-ness and pain. Sometimes it is seen so physically, in cities all over the world (Managua or Pittsburgh), by seeing neighborhoods that are physically destitute; abandoned homes, broken walls, etc. If God has a different world for them where is it?
The LORD tells us clearly that there is a spiritual battle raging and God’s people must engage in the battle, praying over the broken places, and working to build up spiritual walls:
“You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house ofIsrael, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord.” – Ezekiel 13:5
Yesterday, among other things, we took a significant time to pray at a high-place in Nicaragua working to do what is set before us as one of the callings of God’s people; to spiritually intercede, stand in the gaps for people, and build up a spiritual wall. In Scripture, we see the wall as a wall of salvation:
“Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation and destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.” – Isaiah 60:18
We were praying for such a spiritual wall in Nicaragua at place called El Crucero. (It is actually the same village where the girl’s home is that D/J run). The Lord has spoken to them that El Crucero is an enemy stronghold and so they are to be coming to this place to pray the Lord’s Kingdom, setting a foundation of its presence there. El Crucero means “the crossing” and D/J believes it is a places where God’s Kingdom is working to cross into this land and restore it; they have been called to pray that crossing into reality and we had the privilege to join them in this.
It’s one of these spots in the world that is just simply majestic. From one location we could see all the way West over the mountains to the Pacific, seeing the sun dance off the water there. We could see all the way North to the volcano Moumbotumbo, which is a Nicaraguan landmark. And we could see all the way East to both Lake Managua & Lake Nicaragua.
It’s difficult to recount the prayers and what happened in that place, but it is not difficult to know this: God’s people are called to such places and such prayers, and when we lose this calling, we are not operating in the fullness of our Kingdom responsibilities. This is why in Ezekiel above, God clearly commands us that we are to be engaged in the battle in the unseen world by standing in strategic places.
As our team begins to turn towards our homes (we leave 24 hours from now), we are all wrestling with what types of change and transformation the Lord is leading us toward. Surely this type of prayer is one of them; others are still being worked out. Join us as work today to debrief our trip experiences, offering our hearts and minds to the Lord, that we may have eyes to see and ears to hear what he has been teaching us.
