“… the god of this world …” That would be Satan, the enemy of all who profess Christ. He has blinded the minds of so many politicians and so many others, calling our nation – our WORLD – into socialism and anarchy. PRAY, Christians, pray!!
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NASB1995
Lying politicians. Blatant discrimination. Pornography on primetime TV. Government consumed with elitism. Families divided, fatherless children, abused children. Attack after attack on Christian values, in person, on the radio, on social media, on television talk shows and sitcoms and ‘regular’ programming; everywhere, anywhere, you look. Even from the pulpit.
Is there any common sense left in our country, or in the world?
I attempted to open an online conversation with a professing Christian, who is in fact a church leader, after he came out in favor of abortion. I say attempted, because he, and several other people, refused to hear anything against their beliefs that it should be legal and completely up to the woman. But, what about the baby, I asked? Apparently, there is no “baby” until it can survive on it’s own, so at least 6 to 7 months after conception. It’s a “foetus”. Instead of arguing, I bowed out of the conversation. There is ample evidence available about babies in the womb, but there is no point in arguing with people who are entrenched in their beliefs. That said, I admit that I’m pretty entrenched in my beliefs…. but I try really hard to base them in the Scriptures, without picking and choosing. Am I always right? Not at all!
I’ve come to realize this: people believe what they want to believe, and most will take the most comfortable view. I found this prayer in the devotional Good Morning Easter Devotional, by Compassion. It really touched my heart.
Lord, thank You we can have hope in every situation because You are always faithful. I bring You all the situations in my life that are challenging and the prayers that are yet to be answered. I ask that You renew my hope. Please help me to keep bringing good news, to carry your peace and declare that You reign in every season of my life. Amen.
“How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7 NASB1995
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB1995
Read the whole chapter. When King Asa relied on his own judgement and looked for help from another king first, before asking the LORD, he lost the war. When Asa relied on and trusted in the LORD, he won the war. This is an incredibly important passage for us today. Look around you!
Whatever we are facing, we can do this …. because we don’t have to do it in our own strength. This is such an important verse for Christians today! Not my strength, but the LORD’S strength. God KNOWS. He sees us. He hears us. He knows. “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts….. these are the Eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.” Zechariah 4:6-7, 10 NASB1995 He is omnipotent; He is looking so “that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” RELY ON THE LORD. It always comes down to that. Rely on, TRUST in the LORD; first seek God, then ask others.
“LORD [YAHWEH], there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” “…. the Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 14:11, 15:2 NASB1995
The Founding Fathers were believers. To know this, all you have to do is read their writings. Were they perfect? No, far from it! They were men, flawed and fallible, just like we are today. But they knew that the God of the Ages, our God, Yahweh, was with them, fighting the forces against them. We are in a battle today! Look around! The forces of evil, the enemy, have the tactics to take over. They are insidious. They lie; they know how to appeal and coerce in order to capture people’s – even Christian’s – minds, and the people don’t even recognize what is happening! God rides the heavens, looking for us, waiting for us to turn to Him, to come down to help us. I can’t untangle my life, but God can. Ask Him. Turn to Him. We need His guidance and His Grace today!
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;”
Hebrews 12:3-5 NASB1995
We have only just begun this battle for our lives and our beliefs. The enemy is alive and well in our nation’s capital, and we must stand against him! Rise up, Christians! Armor yourself with prayer and with Scripture, and with the fellowship of other believers. HOLD ON, for we will prevail in the end!
(I know, because I read the back of the Book!)
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:11-13, 16 NASB1995
Hallelujah! Christ is KING!
Pick up your swords!
I confess I have borrowed this prayer from Daniel 9:4-19, and adapted it to my beloved America. I do not mean to mock Daniel’s prayer; it is entirely sincere and heartfelt. The prophet Daniel is much more eloquent than I (not that God cares). We need to all pray for our country and her leaders.
O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our presidents, our legislators, our leaders in all areas and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day – to all the people of this country, the citizens of these United States, those who are nearby and those who are far away, because of our unfaithful deeds which we have committed against You. Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our presidents, our legislators, our leaders in all areas and all the people of the land, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against You; nor have we obeyed Your voice, the Lord our God, to walk in Your teachings which You set before us through Your Word, the Bible. Indeed all the world has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; for we have sinned against You. Thus You has confirmed Your words which You had spoken against us and against our leaders who led us, to bring on us great calamity; for there has not been done anything like what has and is happening in our cities. As it is written in Your Word, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of You, the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your Truth. Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all Your deeds which You has done, but we have not obeyed Your voice. And now, O Lord our God, Who created this mighty nation, under GOD, and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from our country; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, we, your people have become a reproach to all those around us. So now, our Lord our God, listen to the prayer of Your servants and to our supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the Republic which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your country and Your people are called by Your name. AMEN.
GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 ESV
What have we done, fellow Christians? In just a few days, our country will be headed by people who approve of, and support, killing our children. Abortion is exactly that. This is no time to be squeamish or to waver in our beliefs. Whether it is 2 weeks after conception or the day of birth, killing babies is wrong. These new “leaders” also approve of marriage between other than a man and a woman, they want to legalize paedophilia, and take away our right to free speech (yes, Facebook and Twitter really are deleting and banning conservatives). That’s the First Amendment that we are losing! These so-called leaders want to eliminate the Second Amendment as well, and they are determined to drastically change the America we know and love.
Currently, across our country, many churches have been banned from holding services. This is America! We are being inundated with False Prophets. God and the Bible have been banned from schools….. but the Koran is okay to be there. Our Police are being denied the ability to do their job of keeping our citizens and property safe. Our history is being rewritten, historic names and statues are removed and replaced with….. with what? Foriegn nations have our politicians in their pockets. Christians are being persecuted, right here in these United States. What else can you call it when we aren’t allowed to worship as we see fit any longer?
I am blessed to live in the middle of the country, in the “Bible Belt”, because we aren’t as regulated and oppressed as parts of the country….. yet. What are we to do?
What can we do? There is only one answer. Turn to GOD. We have to be in constant prayer. Even so, I don’t see these circumstances changing for the better. We have to be prepared for them to get worse. Are your convictions strong enough to stand against evil? I can’t judge you. If I am told that in order to get basic food and medical care for me and my family I am required to have certain vaccinations, would I do it?
It’s sounding a lot like parts of the Revelations of John, doesn’t it?
I don’t have the answers. Only God knows. I will do my best to stand on the principles that I have, and be very careful not to judge anyone else for what they do. That is God’s job. I pray for our country, the outgoing leaders in Washington and in our states, and I pray that those coming into power will not abuse it. God bless America, because the enemy is here.
As Christians, and as Americans, we have been through many trials over this past year. If President Trump isn’t confirmed as president for the next term, we will be facing even more trials. Here’s the question from my devotional this morning that really stood out to me.
“Can [GOD] trust that when your life doesn’t go as planned you’re still going to honor Him and trust Him and live for Him? Don’t make the mistake of thinking your trials are wasted seasons. When you’re living a life to honor God, nothing is wasted. Every trial you go through has significance when the Savior is involved.”
My life hasn’t gone as I had it planned for years. I haven’t honored Him, or trusted Him as I know I should. It’s time I trust in the LORD. If we stand our ground, and defend our rights that are being trampled left and right, we will face even greater trials over the next 4 years. In WWII there was a saying “Praise the LORD and pass the ammunition.”
It may come to that again in order to preserve our freedom to worship as we believe. Are you ready?
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope…..” Romans 5:3-4 NASB1995
“Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family.” Proverbs 6:16-19 MSG
Haughty eyes,
A lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers. (NASB1995)
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NASB1995
Jesus’s new, all-encompassing, inescapably simple command is this: We are to do unto others as our heavenly Father, through Christ, has done unto us. When we submit ourselves to God, when we open our eyes and our hearts to Him, the enemy can’t stay. When we fill our hearts with the Love of Jesus, there isn’t room for hate. All those things that God hates are overcome by His Love; real love. It’s not emotional or sexual, it’s knowledge and choice.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 NASB1995
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 1 Corinthians 13:8 NASB1995
There’s a whole lot of hate being spewed by a lot of people in our country. My country. I don’t like how this presidential election is being handled. Politicians and “celebrities” are publicly lying and hating on the American people. My job, commanded to me by God, is to love these people, and to pray for these people. If the media is correct in calling the election (and I’m not at all convinced that they are correct), the we, the people of these United States, are in deep trouble. All of the things that God hates are embodied in the Democratic party’s candidates….. and yet, as Christians, we are to love them and pray for them.
God help us.
Dear President Trump,
In this unsettled and unprecedented time, I have to thank you for your strong leadership and your continued persistence in working for our great and beautiful country. You and your family have sacrificed much personally in order to take on this tremendous, thankless task of the presidency of these United States.
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
As I read these words this morning, I believe God put you in my mind for a reason. Unlike you, I struggle financially just to meet my basic needs, but I can’t imagine how much worse it will be for me and others like me, if the socialists and far-left take over Washington. God is with you. I believe that. Just as King David if Israel was pursued by his enemies, so are you being pursued by yours. Take comfort in David’s words.
“Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth. My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows And their tongue a sharp sword. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.” Psalms 57:1-11 NASB1995
Our God is in in control! May He continue to bless you and keep you safe; you and all of your family. Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Nancy K. Henry
findingmyvoiceweb 