I saw an explosion and the people all around had several different responses to it. Some started screaming and running around in panic and anger. They knocked down others and contributed to more chaos. Others began to immediately flee. They turned and ran away from the area affected as fast as possible, even knocking down or shoving others who were in their way. Finally, there was a group that hit their knees immediately after the explosion occurred. They went to their knees and bowed their heads and waited a minute, then they stood up and made their way quietly, calmly and purposefully. This group seemed to have stopped to focus their hearts and minds before moving at all.
I keep thinking about our lives lately, and how it’s been one media created explosion after another. We are under attack.
It’s so important to make conscious decisions now, before anything else happens, about what you will do when blowups occur. Years ago, I decided that God alone would direct my steps, so now when something happens, I take a step back and listen to Him first, no matter how “obvious” the answer may seem. When I begin to see a narrative explode across all the screens in my life, I refuse to immediately jump into agreement with it, because guess what, it’s often untrue or misconstrued.
A lot of the situations in 2020 should serve as a good example. All the panic and all the chaos brought our world to a screeching halt, and for what?
What if instead of panicking like they wanted us to, we had taken a minute and hit our knees and asked God what He had to say about it? These are the times we are living in, and the church (universal) should be serving as an example of what faith looks like. Sadly, what I’ve seen is many in the church falling in line with whatever scheme is occurring and living paralyzed by the same fear as everyone else.
We are the church.
We ARE the church.
If the church can’t or won’t listen to God, then how can we ever expect to be disciples to the nations?
And there you have it, that’s what is really at stake. The world needs Jesus and we are called to be the light of the world. Now is the time. The time is now.
Prayer Moment: God, You are the light of the world. I am so grateful that in You there is no darkness. I pray that You would always keep me so in tune with Your heart that I can weather all the storms of our times. Give me wisdom and discernment to know what to do and how to do it. Lord, You are the only One Who can guide me through this time. I pray that You would also give me grace to love those around me. Let my heart remain soft towards humankind.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34
365 Days in the Presence 