“I wasn’t political at all – well, until now.  I was busy in life…  But God has let me know that our nation is literally at the brink of a cliff.  The only thing holding back this evil is the people of God and the Church.  But a lot of the Church I am afraid is impotent and they’re asleep; they are not awake, they are not engaged in this battle.  But I think a lot of the Church is waking up, even through Intercessors for America – there is an army of warriors praying and interceding for our nation and it just excites me so much!  And I know that is what is needed to bring through the victory.”

Have you ever thought “God can’t use me” or asked the Lord “Why am I still here?”  This week I had the privilege of speaking with IFA intercessor Sherli Allen and hearing her story of how God lifted her up out of this place of doubt and gave her purpose “for such a time as this”!

Sherli has had more than her share of disappointments and hard life circumstances.  With her children now grown and health circumstances taking a toll of her body, Sherli has experienced many personal moments of sickness, isolation, and overwhelming despair.

Through all her hardship, struggle, and loss, Sherli has become a very passionate intercessor.  She was tested beyond imagination with “no weapons” to fight her battle.  Her mind struggled to figure out what she had done wrong – ‘Was God angry? Did He stop loving me?’  But, God!  He has carried her every single step, even when she felt in a fog, unable to perceive His presence.

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.  Is 59:19b KJV

“He is bigger and more than faithful.  God will hide you under His wings.  He will put you in the secret place.  He will come and minister to you – when there is no hope, when there is no way out, literally no place of safety – God is still enough and He is greater yet.  He has never left me, never forsaken me.  I am still standing!”

PRAYER POINT: Pray for believers who have not yet answered the call to intercession. Pray that they, like Sherli, would become passionate intercessors through hardship, struggle, and loss. 

“IFA has literally changed my life.”

And before you think Sherli has had a longstanding relationship with IFA – think again.  In December, she was gifted a phone which allowed her to finally send and receive text messages (something she had vehemently opposed).  And in January, her daughter, by text, invited her to join an Intercessors for America call with David Kubal.  THAT was her beginning.  This is the year she has realized God’s call on her life for this season!

“God has called me to this time and made me feel the urgency of this hour in our nation.”

Sherli KNOWS the call the Lord has on her life – the call of intercession.  As she reads through each issue of The Informer, Sherli gathers knowledge and strategy to know how to pray for this nation.   She finds a connection not only with each author, but also with each intercessor who leave comments.  She prays through most of the prayers in the comments as well, often finding that hours have gone by since she first opened her email.  She has a strong connection to IFA AND to the intercessors!

PRAYER POINT: Thank God for IFA intercessors! Pray for effective intercession through The Informer and for connection and community through IFA.

She also makes sure she is on every prayer call with IFA.  Her life circumstances have allowed her space in this chaotic world to answer “this call”!

“Through everything I have gone through, He has made me understand the power of the intercessor that is completely devoted to Him.  So, I know that even though I am nothing in this world, God has called me to this time and to this purpose.  And I know that my prayers are powerful and effective for the Kingdom of God and for our nation.  And that just gives me great excitement!”

Sherli’s daughter wrote a beautiful tribute to her mother on FB – that through her mom she has learned that Jesus is the only One you can go to fill the empty places in your life.  Her other daughter wrote a similar message in a card.  THIS is the legacy we can leave – to pass on our love and passion for Jesus to the next generation!  At the end of days, THIS will be the ONE thing that matters, as we are called to give account to our King, the Alpha and Omega, the name above all other names…  At His name and in His presence will we bow.  It will not matter what education we’ve had, how much money we’ve made or what contribution we have made to this world – it will matter what we have done with THE SON.  Sherli’s greatest desire is to bring Him Glory!  May that be ours as well.

PRAYER POINT: Pray that our lives, and our intercession, would bring glory to God and spread the love and truth of Christ in our families, communities, and nation.

“I literally thought ‘I am no one…’  I’ve always wanted to be valuable to the Kingdom of God, to bring glory to God with my life!  I’ve just been in the ‘trapped’ situation where I am not able to bring glory to God.  But now I know that I can.   I thank HIM that He sustained me.  It has brought me to this time where I can fight for our nation, where I can pray and intercede and know that my heart is pure before God.  And because of that, my prayers are powerful and effective.”

“To be an intercessor is the highest calling.  Man will not see you, but heaven is rejoicing!”  -Derek Prince

“I did not know why I was still here, for a few years.  I had said “’Lord, why am I still here?  I am not able to serve you physically in the way that I want to.  My family doesn’t really need me at this point…’  But now I know!  Now I know so clearly… I was an intercessor but didn’t know what the big calling of intercession was.  The big calling for me is this time in our nation right now, and probably until God takes me home.  I am going to be praying for our nation, for we are in the crucible of fire and someone has got to fight this through.”

Many of you have probably struggled with the same questions Sherli has asked of the Lord.  Many are probably isolated right now with health concerns and this pandemic.  “I know there are many out there that don’t know their purpose any longer and just feel sidelined.  They have been knocked down…”  God has a purpose for you in the now!   Press in and find it.

PRAYER POINTS:

Sherli has asked two things of the Lord in prayer and I believe they are something each one of us should come before the Lord with:

• That we would bring the Lord glory and that He would use what we have gone through to help someone else
• That He would make the enemy sorry he ever messed with us

May God use each one of us for His Kingdom and for His renown!

I will leave you with these last words from Sherli:  “The Lord has taught me spiritual warfare and intercession, even in a time of great isolation…  You have to fight this in the Spirit.  You need people that can do that!”

Have you ever wondered what purpose the Lord has for you?    Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see where He placed you and that your heart would beat in rhythm with His purposes and plans for your life.

Do you have a story?  We would love to hear it!  Leave a comment.