The Roar of Many
Why do lions roar?
To proclaim and protect their territory, to declare that harassment will not be tolerated, to declare allegiance to other lions and to say, "I am awake, alert, powerful and present!" The roar reveals character, strength, size and age.
The roar of the lioness is for completely different reasons. Dominance is not the motive. They roar primarily for their cubs: to protect them and to let them know where home is ("Oh, how I'll roar! My frightened children will come running from the west." Hosea 11:10 MSG). Also, they don't roar alone, but in groups of 3 or more ("where two or more are gathered in my name") in order to make sure they are protected from rogue lions. This reminds me of Ecclesiastes 4:12 (MSG): "By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three- stranded rope is not easily snapped."
I look at their reasons for roaring, and I become very excited about our Sandy Hook Prayer beginning on Sunday, January 27th. Every day, we will roar together! Every day, we will proclaim our territory to the enemy, declare that harassment will no longer be tolerated in our territory and proclaim that we are awake, alert, powerful and fully aware his plans, tricks and purposes! Every day, for 27 days, we will roar together to call home the cubs who have wondered away from the pride. Our prayers (roar) will declare to the atmosphere that we are great in number , tight in our ranks, mature in our walk and without room for any rogue lions to come in and take the place of our Lion, Jesus Christ.
How do they roar?
Both lions and lionesses roar the same way. They rise up to their feet (requires a change of posture), drop their head to open the rib cage so that it expands to take in the most air, they breath in to capacity, lift their head and release a sound that is heard and FELT for five miles. Imagine the range of our roar as 35 of us get to our feet, humble ourselves in the posture of prayer (drop our head), breathe in the instructions of God during our prayer, lift our head and release everything He has revealed to us (John 5:19)! Our range would not only touch the grieving families and the town of Newtown, but our roar would be heard and felt throughout the state, this region and around this nation!
It's important to note that the roar does not last a long time. The steps must be repeated. What the Lord breathes on us in that position of humility is only enough for one roar; we must go back for more! I believe these 27 days of roaring and repeating the steps to roar, over and over again, will foster a life style of humility, receiving from God and giving out what we receive. Winston Churchill summed it up well: "I was not the Lion but it fell to me to give the lions roar." We are not Jesus, but He wants to speak to us and through us!
What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Matthew 10:27 NLT
We cannot be lazy, prayerless and silent when so many have no voice.
“It is not enough just to be angry.”
If we roar, those who are His will hear us and come running! They must hear the roar in order to respond!
*This was written I response to the mass shooting that happened in Newtown, CT at Sandy Hook Elementary School.