Feeling haggard? Attacked? Pressed in? Oppressed? Suppressed? Me too. well at least some of those anyway. I don't have cable TV, so I have to rely on the internet for what's happening locally and around the world, and frankly I am really glad I don't watch TV news. What a mess our world is in. What a mess! What is going on? Well, the Bible is pretty clear about our last days.
"But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient of parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power." II Timothy 3:1-5.
The times have changed so quickly just in our lifetimes, and it is NOT going to get better is it? Seriously, what or whom do we have any kind of hope in? Personally, I have been under more attack in the last month than I can ever remember. Standing for God, and for what is right is just hard. It's like there is a target on my life. But listen to these words of encouragement.
"What shall we say about such things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword." Romans 8:35
At the church I serve in Southbrook Church, we started "40 Days of Prayer", which includes praying on our knees at 7:14 (a.m./p.m.) reading Mark Batterson's book; "Draw the Circle", along with a study booklet. We are doing this from September 18-October 27, culminating with a Prayer Walk around our campus, and then challenging our people to circle their neighborhoods, schools, businesses and wherever they believe God's grace and love should penetrate.
This has cost me much!!! Doing God's will nearly always does. If you are a Christ follower and your faith is boring, it may be because you are not doing anything about it. It's going to cost you something. God ultimately is the victor but you and I must press into Him for His power and presence. If you are feeling overwhelmed, discouraged and pretty hopeless, press into God. Make time in your schedule to be with Him. I sensed Him calling me to spend an hour in prayer everyday during these 40 days, and even that has been quite difficult for me. Press in, He is there waiting and ready to meet you, to pour into you and give you what you need to thrive not just survive. How? Not by your strength or power but by His Spirit. Zechariah 4:6.
This has cost me much!!! Doing God's will nearly always does. If you are a Christ follower and your faith is boring, it may be because you are not doing anything about it. It's going to cost you something. God ultimately is the victor but you and I must press into Him for His power and presence. If you are feeling overwhelmed, discouraged and pretty hopeless, press into God. Make time in your schedule to be with Him. I sensed Him calling me to spend an hour in prayer everyday during these 40 days, and even that has been quite difficult for me. Press in, He is there waiting and ready to meet you, to pour into you and give you what you need to thrive not just survive. How? Not by your strength or power but by His Spirit. Zechariah 4:6.
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