I was driving my daughter to school right at sunrise, right as the sun was coming up over the horizon. Normally one of the most beautiful times of day, the wonderful colors, the peaceful clouds. However, for me it was terrifying. I had this haze over the inside of my windshield. Every time the light hit it, the whole world turned into this blurry, blinding glare. I was squinting, leaning my head to the side, trying to see the road, but the haze was all I could see. It wasn’t that the sunrise wasn’t beautiful, I was blinded to its beauty because I had something blocking my vision.
I was thinking about that this week because, honestly, that is exactly what is happening in the spiritual realm for so many people in our community, our families, and our city. The truth of God’s love is right there, it’s closer than their next breath, but there is a haze on the lens of their soul.
Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 4:1-4. Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
I want you to catch this: People aren't rejecting Jesus because they’re "bad" or because they’ve done too much research. They’re rejecting Him because they are blindfolded. There is a spiritual fog, a "spirit of blindness," that is literally blocking the view.
If you think about that, it changes how we pray! We aren't praying against people; we’re praying against the blindfold. We’re asking God to rip the scales off their eyes so they can see what’s been right in front of them the whole time.
But here is the "Good News". If you jump back to 2 Corinthians 3:14-18, Paul gives us the solution. He says that whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Church, that is our mission today. We are going to stand in the gap and pray for three specific things for the people on our hearts:
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Pray that they see Jesus. Not a "religion," not a "church building," but the person of Jesus. We want the veil to drop so they can see His kindness and His grace.
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Pray they encounter God’s Presence. Paul says that when we turn to Him, the veil is gone. We want people to move past just hearing about God and actually feeling Him. We’re praying for that moment where they realize, "Wait, He’s actually here with me."
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Pray they experience God’s Freedom. Where the Spirit is, there is freedom! Freedom from addiction, freedom from anxiety, freedom from the weight of trying to be "good enough."
We aren't just saying words; we are participating in a spiritual rescue mission. We’re asking the Holy Spirit to go into those hazy places and let the beautiful light of Jesus shine through.