ARE YOU BATTLE WEARY?
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ARE YOU BATTLE WEARY?
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Have you heard of “Compassion Fatigue”?
As an intercessor you place yourself by God’s grace in the gap between the forces of wickedness and our nation. Today intercessors are praying in the midst of a rapid and nearly complete reversal in policies impacting our nation that can potentially leave us shocked, discouraged, and overwhelmed.
Intercessors respond in prayer to governmental actions that are putting our nation’s economic and moral foundation at risk. Only a few months ago our nation’s future seemed aligned with godly values. Yet, in a matter of weeks we have witnessed a near complete reversal in policies that respect the unborn, our borders, our economy, our relationship with Israel, and laws that threaten our ability to worship freely. These stark and rapid changes can result in discouragement and compassion fatigue for those engaged in intercession.
Troubles arise when you run short of time to recover between stressors, when you feel as though you cannot respond effectively to the many demands you face, when you are part of a disaster-affected community, or have family members who are isolated and at risk of Covid. Compassion fatigue includes two elements: burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Burnout is physical and mental exhaustion leading to reduced ability to cope with your environment. Burnout involves fatigue, frustration, a sense of helplessness, and reduced pleasure in work or other responsibilities. Secondary traumatic stress is the stress you may experience due to empathy with others you see going through challenging situations or trauma, including physical trauma such as serious injury, illness, or death.
Stress can introduce physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral symptoms. Physical symptoms include headaches, trouble falling asleep, trouble relaxing, or changes in eating habits. Cognitive symptoms may include increased worry, trouble making decisions, or concentrating. Emotional symptoms may include increased anxiety, overwhelming sadness, or anger. Behavioral symptoms may include reduced stamina, angry outbursts, desire to be alone most of the time and increased isolation.
Have you experienced these symptoms lately?
As an intercessor you understand the importance of spiritual self-care to maintain your ability to pray effectively. Self-care starts with being self-aware, taking care of yourself spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Connect with community—family, friends, your church, community of intercessors, and neighbors. This allows others to care for you and in turn to be able to do your best work in caring for others.
Here are some strategies for self-care, stress management, and relaxation.
- Give yourself credit for all you manage to do in the current, challenging environment.
- Do your best to attend to your physical health.
- Try to be physically active, ideally several times each week, taking part in activities you enjoy. Try walking or swimming. Many workouts are available online or on television—and many do not require payment or equipment.
- Strive to sleep well. If possible, get enough sleep or at least rest. Aim for 7 to 9 hours a night.
- Do your best to eat healthy food. Drink enough fluids to stay hydrated.
- When experiencing stress and strong emotions, people often constrain their breathing, and breathing exercises can be an effective way to relax. You can try deep breathing or breathing into and out of your abdominal area instead of from your chest. Imagine your breath going into and out of your belly as you breathe. Progressive Muscle Relaxation—Instructions: 1. Get into a comfortable position. 2. Choose a muscle group (e.g., muscles in your feet or lower legs). 3. Breathe in and tighten the muscles in the group for 5 to 10 seconds. 4. Breathe out and release the muscles suddenly. Relax for at least 10 seconds. 5. Repeat the process with another muscle group. It often helps to progress from head to toe or vice versa.
- Also key to health and resilience is maintenance of your support networks.
- Stay in contact with loved ones, including family and friends. Although social distancing orders mean that many of us cannot be together in person, several online meeting platforms allow you to talk remotely with loved ones. Phone calls are helpful as well.
- Take advantage of the 24/7 prayer line at Intercessors for America—(712) 775-7431, code 2452#.
- You can also send letters and postcards to family members and friends.
- Turn to colleagues for contact and support at work. Even brief interactions are important. Take opportunities to recognize colleagues who have done impressive work during this season of stress—informal recognition in conversation or by email can have a positive effect too.
- The Bible reminds us that laughter is like medicine. Humor and laughter can help relieve stress and, if shared, build bonds between people. Seek out sources of humor that have made you laugh in the past, such as specific cartoonists and authors, satirical publications and news shows, stand-up comedians, and television and movie comedies. One of my favorite sources of humor comes from a show called the Carbonaro Effect. You can find these shows online via YouTube or other content streaming services for free.
- Journal writing or drawing. Write or draw in a journal. This can be on paper, on a computer, or in an app. Writing down what you are grateful for, answered prayer that you are seeing, or cast your cares on the Lord. Journaling before bed has been proven to improve sleep.
- Attending church is especially important as often as the church is open. Hebrews reminds us that we are not to forsake the assembly of others especially as we see the day approaching. Many powerful ministers offer 24/7 online streaming services with teaching, worship, and inspirational messages that feed our souls.
Remember that you are part of a national network of intercessors; you do not have to do it alone. IFA’s Headline Prayer is not just news, but also offers spiritual teachings of encouragement. Look for these articles and videos.
God cares for you, intercessor. Here is what He has to say in His Word about the cares you are experiencing:
So, humble yourselves under God’s strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up. You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern. (1 Pt 5:7 PHILIPS)
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Ps 55:22)
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mt 11:28)
How can we pray for you? Share in the comments . . .
John Solberg is IFA Director of Operations. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)
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I’m waiting and watching for the next move of God! I’m weary in the fight but I know God is going to move mightily in such a way that He will get all the glory! I think with this Q movement too many folks put all their trust in President Trump and the military and human institutions rather than trusting in Almighty God. I love President Trump and what he stood for as much as the next person but I saw folks that took that to the next level. The Q movement had folks believing they were going to be getting some kind of monetary payout from supposedly stolen moneys from our taxes, which makes me think that a lot of folks were deceived by their love of money. Also much of what I read of this movement was new age philosophy that was not of God. I’m afraid a lot of Christian people got sucked into this movement as I almost did. But I dug until I knew it was not of God and got out quickly. Regardless too many Christians were swayed by their lies and put all their hope in human institutions so I think God is showing us how they all failed us and that we need to stay focused on Him. God will not share His glory with anyone so He will wait until all is exposed and then do something miraculous! I also have struggled with a lack of faith and exhaustion but I know God will move when the time is right.
I noted the first comment.
I too was required to shut down completely much like we think of a drug addict going”cold Turkey ” it is the Only way to preserve self and survive.
Bless All who choose to walk in obedience to the Lord in this matter. May your marriage feast be beyond your greatest dreams…
So thankful for this article. I am feeling exhausted overwhelmed weary wrung out. I want to run far far away and I realize for today I need to shut off this tablet, stay off the phone and work Matthew 11:28. His burden is light. I can’t carry this great reset and this globalist agenda but my Father can. It’s like I’m sitting in a horror movie day after day. All I have to do is get up and walk out of the theater. I have struggled with mental health issues in the past. I never want to end up where I once was, suicidal, in the psych ward for months. It was awful!!!
I phoned a friend this morning to see how she and her family are. I prayed for her with anguish and a broken heart. Her son just committed suicide in her garage. I want to be there for her but I need emotional boundaries in order to do that. Being a highly sensitive empathetic person has its challenges for sure.
So grateful for you all. Love Sharron from Canada a nation being destroyed
Thank you for this. I felt like I was failing God by feeling this way. The stress has been a lot. I already have depression and anxiety and the spiritual warfare is so intense I’m exhausted. Because of this exhaustion I haven’t been praying as much because I can’t fully concentrate. I get very irritable as well and that upsets me because I don’t want to be like that. 🙁 All I can do is ask Jesus to help me and thank Him for all His blessings. I also don’t have a support group. While I check on how others are doing, I don’t receive the same care and concern. It’s disheartening. Thank God for my pets because they love me always. And thank God for you guys at IFA. Your articles and prayer sessions help me. ♥ God bless you all.
Vicki, I will pray with also. We can connect here as a support for each other. I also find comfort in my dogs, cats, and chickens. I pronounce healing over your anxiety and depression in the name of Jesus. Lisa
Thank you Lisa. I’d like that and I always appreciate prayers. Thank you ♥ I have a dog and some cats. No chickens though.
Yes, Pray for me if God leads you. I feel so overwhelmed at work as a registered nurse working in a large psychiatric hospital. We are so understaffed, and moved from one unit to another daily, just like being filled into a crossword puzzle. One day with abused children, next day with Alzheimer’s patients with severe behavioral problems, the next on an alcohol and drug abuse detox or rehab unit. 4 or 5 twelve hour shifts in a row. I am in my 47th year of nursing. Then I come home to my own family issues I am praying for, and interceding for our nation and state leadership. Sometimes I want to cry but the tears won’t come. It wasn’t till I read this article that I realize I may be experiencing some type of emotional burnout. Thank you so listening. Lisa
Goodness Elisa. That’s a lot 🙁 I can only imagine how stressful that job must be. I pray that God gives you the strength you need everyday and that you can find some time to rest from the stress of not only your own personal trials, but when dealing with others as well. I pray that you feel His love for you and the comfort only He can give. God bless you.
Father please help Elisa and all of us tend to our first responsibility which is to parent our exhausted overwhelmed sad burnt out inner child who needs us desperately. As the steward says in the airplane when the plane is going down put the mask on yourself first then your child. If we go down Elisa we can’t help anyone. Love from Canada Sharron
Please keep me in prayer..yes im very weary..ive been under
attack in my body veins/
circulationsurgery is needed effecting my legs & feet..toes & feet became numb & lack of pluse..rotary cuff tear right shoulder from fall off my deck.. cause instability to catch myself
Please stand with me in agreement for healing
Thank you
Blessings
Deborah Priebe
I’m so sorry Deborah that you’re going through all of this. I’m praying for God’s healing and comfort as you face these struggles. Praying the surgery goes well too. ♥ God bless you and keep you.
Praying for you!
Thank you for the encouragement.
I agree completely with your statement, “instead wonder with anticipation at how our Heavenly Father will deal with this. I suspect it will be something exciting and TOTALLY unexpected!”
Amen and amen !!!
I am so glad to see this article. I am a retired registered nurse and there were many times that I reached the point of compassion fatigue, and recently that is exactly the way I have been feeling. Between the pandemic, the political mess, and trying to keep my prayer life intact, I have struggled with just plain not caring any more. I know I do care, BUT the FEELING of caring is not there. We prayed in our Bible study this morning for the Holy Spirit to renew us and feed us afresh so that we can FEEL love and compassion again. I am going to take it one day at a time and stay in touch with Jesus more intentionally because he has been faithful to do just that. Again thank you for this very timely article of encouragement!!
Living in a Senior Community with 180 neighbors, many of them without automobiles & some without close families, being forced to isolate since 2/29/20 I sorrow for us. Even after receiving the Vaccine the Community Hall where church services and other activities took place is STILL CLOSED! Lord, please move upon the hearts of the National Management of all these facilities. Thank You for the intercessors here! The help an encouragement given to us and helping us continue even after we become totally discouraged by the seeming success of the evil agenda spreading across our nation! We become so cast down with sorrow but we still Worship YOU LORD!
Oh how my heart and prayers go out to you!!!!
God is our fortress and our strength.
Thank YOU! Yes, I have transportation and family near so I am not as affected as many others are. My heart hurts for them that their last years are in such an isolated condition! But, Our Lord is ALWAYS near and available for all who cry out to HIM!
An amazing time for this article to appear! Yesterday I completely lost it when my wife told me about $300. per child per month. That alone would destroy America and it’s economy. Coupled with myriad of illegals and 1.9 trillion to bail out irresponsible governments and all this on top of our regular debt. I became enraged, finally given in to the hopelessness of it all. A stolen election, judges that have turned their backs on their oaths and our Constitution had left me deciding to not pray for America anymore, that our LORD had cast us adrift. Later, thinking about it once again, it can’t ever get to the point that our LORD can’t fix it. HIS infinite omnipotence versus satan’s finite evil, what more needs to be said. After a blessed nights sleep, healthy breakfast and reading this article I feel refreshed and ready for more prayer time:) Sorry to personalize this so much.
ditto, Jerry. It seems I live in a bucket of anger over the evil being dumped on us. I struggle anymore to believe God is going to save our country. But I must believe.So I do.
To remember that our LORD is all that matters but I do wonder about Joseph heading to that prison and the three Hebrews heading toward the furnace, their thoughts and fears, if any
Dear Mcn.
Thank you for your integrity in sharing your heart. I will pray for you and others. Counting on others praying for me too. We are in this together, and
we have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.
Great is His faithfulness!!!
I love IFA and it’s intercessors.
We need each other for such a time as this.
I go up and down emotionally, as I “battle” on, standing in the gap for America, for the unborn and children, for the body of Christ, and for the enemies of the Cross that I pray for too.
When I grow weary, & I do, I cry out to Jesus for His encouragement. He never fails to answer that prayer.
Today it came through IFA and this article. Thank you for being there for so many! Keep on. I need you!! We need you.
Let us pray one for another, as we “fight” on with Hope in our hearts, that our Jesus, will save our country, and the millions of people He loves all around the world.
We must march on, following our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ our Lord! He loves us, and is making intercesstion for us and with us. Bless His Holy Name!!!
Amen
Yes, we get worry
Do as David comfort ourselves in the Lord. Give Him,the burdens. Rest in Him. Join Him on the table,in the wilderness.in the valley HE RESTORESthe soul.Ps.23..the battle His.
Thank you so much for this article- I read most of them but this one really hit home with me. The amount of prayer against the wickedness doesn’t go away & ive grown weary because it’s growing more intense daily- so thank you for this
It seems the more we pray against all the evil going on, the more evil just keeps coming. Where is the Revival we prayed and fasted for, and how could people not see through the lies of Biden Harris.
4 years maybe too late to correct this mess, especially if HR 1 gets passed bc people failed to vote Republican in GA and the 2 far left people were elected. It just keeps getting worse.
God must be so angry at this country. I’m trying to get through this but I really need to see a move of God.
Our job isn’t to win the war-we are just called to be faithful. That takes the big burden off of us. Praying along with many of you. May you feel refreshed!
Thank you for this very important and practical advice. For those of us in ministry, it is vital that we experience self care; because we carry people’s hurts in our hearts as we minister. It is ok, and necessary to take time out just for you. One of my lady pastor’s suggest to us, take a deep breath and say, “Abba Father”, and as you exhale say, “I belong to You”. It sure feels good, calming, peaceful, and getting centered again. God bless each of you fellow intercessors. God is listening and answering our prayers. Revival is here!
I, like many, still feel shell shocked after the last few months. Sometimes I don’t even feel like the same person. It’s getting better but I still don’t enjoy some of the things I used to. It’s even made my marriage difficult and unenjoyable at times. Slowly, I’m starting to come around but this is no quick fix. I have to really try to make conscious decisions to do things in order to resume normal life.
One area it has caused me to reevaluate – who or what was I really trusting in. That has challenged me in ways I haven’t known before. It’s a slow process but it’s good. I’m understanding more of where my “reliance” must be.
I would ask those of you reading this to offer your prayers for me and I will do the same for you. I still have a bit to go on the this road to healing and understanding.
Dear Mcn.
Thank you for your integrity in sharing your heart. I will pray for you and others. Counting on others praying for me too. We are in this together, and
we have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.
Great is His faithfulness!!!
Thank you for this article. This is me. I recently lost my son and my niece two days apart, and can’t seem to get my brain to work properly. I’m still praying but not enthusiastically. ❤️🙏
I’m praying for you,Grace. Now is the time for you to rest in the everlasting arms of Abba God, receive His Love, the peace of Jesus and dwell in the fellowship of Holy Spirit.
Dear Grace.
Do not expect too much of yourself right now. God understands your losses, and He is holding you. Rest in His unchanging love for you. Allow His comfort to sustain you, as you mourn.
I sorrow with you in your incredible losses. You will be in my prayers.
So, I think as intercessors it’s really hard to ask for prayer for ourselves, as we battle, we know the enemy is still out there and is trying to force his way in, like an intruder trying to force his way into our home. I feel like that has happened to our country. Like with the last administration, our prayers were like deadbolts, fixed to the doors of morality and sin, and the gospel, and marriage, and on and on… but he made his way in. I hear people say, we are in judgment, then I read my bible that says, we aren’t in judgment, we are in the last days. There is so much interpretation about everything. I am gonna be honest, I have lost my spiritual footing since the last election. It feels like just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. So, we pray, and it gets worse. So then, I think, maybe our prayers shouldn’t be to fix the world around us, but to prepare us for the world that is to come. ( Thy kingdom come….. ) I think the enemy has us stuck in a state of shock, that we aren’t even looking at His kingdom. We have become so focused on what the government is doing and the world’s crisis becomes our crisis. I guess I am just trying to make sense of it all because I don’t know how to pray. I used to watch the news, so I would know how to pray, but, truly, the only thing I come up with, is, it’s gonna get worse, and those who want to save their life will lose it. But for those who lose their life for My sake, will find it. I guess my prayer is that everyone will find Him.
When you said “ I have lost my spiritual footing since the last election. It feels like just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does,” you said something that really resonated with me, and I have experienced these kinds of feelings too. However, I have come to realize that this IS in God’s hands and He’s got this. We were failed by all the human institutions we put so much trust in. So many should have stepped up after the great deception of November, but they did not. Congress failed us. The Department of Justice failed us. The Supreme Court failed us. Our law enforcement and intelligence agencies failed us. Our military failed us. All these institutions and more failed us and worse yet, some people in all these institutions not only failed us, they betrayed us. Who does that leave for us, but God? We must remember the motto on our own currency, “in God we trust!” When you stop to think about it, the wicked people who have stolen power did it entirely through lies, theft, and deceptions. What they have built is nothing but a house of cards and all it will take is for one card to fall to bring the whole thing down. How easy it will be for God to topple this! I have shifted my focus from worrying about what wicked thing the enemy will do next, and instead wonder with anticipation at how our Heavenly Father will deal with this. I suspect it will be something exciting and TOTALLY unexpected! I believe God is asking us to watch and wait, but not lose faith. Hang in there and keep on praying!
I agree completely with your statement, “instead wonder with anticipation at how our Heavenly Father will deal with this. I suspect it will be something exciting and TOTALLY unexpected!”
Amen and amen !!!
Prayers for my husband, particularly. All of the cheating and unfairness, lack of common sense in our government, with the election, use of COVID to control our country and world have gotten him close to the point of no hope for correction.
Yes these are dark days indeed… we must strive to remember that God IS still on His Throne and in complete control! He will never leave us or forsake us! Keep the faith. Trust and believe! “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:11-12, we MUST take a stand and “armor up” pray The Word against all this! In the name of Jesus!
A timely and encouraging word.
God has comforted me with His Word…
Paul says, “….we are perplexed, but not in despair”….
I will not despair when I see all that is happening. The Lord Jesus warned us about these days. We have to keep our eyes on Him. Even He “looked to Heaven” for grace for miracle working power. So shall we!
PS I take breaks from the battle too!
Dear God, I lift up all our Intersessors and prayer warriors who have been warring in prayer for Your Kingdom. Father, You know how weak we are because our own strength is nothing. We need You, we cling to You, we claim Your victory in every battle because of what Jesus has done for us.
Strengthen us, embolden us, guide us with Your perfect power that we may reap a harvest for Your eternal Kingdom.
Thank You, that You are more than able.
We love You, worship You, and pray that Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen!
Yes, thank you Lord that Your everlasting arms are there to hold us up when we become weary in the battle! Thank you for giving us words to pray, when the evil of this world overwhelms us, and we are rendered speechless with the weariness of it all… You, Lord, never tire of our weaknesses. You are always at hand to carry us through the many battles we encounter in this sin sick world! Thank you Lord for Your Mercy, Grace, Love and Compassion on us! You truly are Great and greatly to be praised. Thank You for allowing us to lay our burdens on Your shoulders, exchanging yokes with you, Your love for us is everlasting! In the name of Your son Jesus I pray, Amen! 🙇🏼♀️🙇🏼♀️🙇🏼♀️