Therefore, He says, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise, sensible, intelligent people. Making the very most of the time, buying up each opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore, don’t be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:14-17 AMP)
While praying about the current events in our nation and crying out on behalf of the suffering, God begin to speak to my heart. In essence it is this:
God is calling His people back to Himself.
It is time for the church to return to fervent prayer – to seeking God’s face and calling on His name like never before.
If we are going to truly know God and feel His heartbeat, intimacy with God must be a vital part of our daily lives in this hour.
To know God’s heartbeat is to know and understand His will and what He wants to accomplish in these last days before Jesus returns.
As we discover God’s will we should be about the business of accomplishing it.
We have reached the point where it is no longer our will and desires, but God’s will must be done. It must be our first priority.
Yes, God gives us the desire of our hearts as we delight in Him. But He places His desire within our hearts. And this for a specific purpose.
Some are wondering where God is, and why He allows disaster and destruction to come upon the earth. Particularly to one of the largest cities in America – the city of Houston.
I don’t believe these recent events are by accident. But they are strategic. It is not a coincidence that Houston is the home of one of the largest churches in America – Lakewood Church, Pastored by Joel Osteen. Let’s keep him and other church leaders in our prayers.
God is a good God. However, there are times when He uses natural means to wake us up and get our attention.
Why? Because many of God’s children have become lethargic and slack concerning our relationship with Him and walking in obedience to His word and His will.
Sometimes God allows us to suffer loss and face difficulty so that we may rise to the occasion, stand strong in our faith, and be an instrument of hope and healing to the lost and hurting.
The church - the entire body of Christ, must be prepared through prayer and intimacy with God, for our finest hour.
America continues to be a nation divided against itself. If Satan can divide, he can conquer.
It is divided spiritually, morally, politically, socially, economically, racially, and more. Yet our pledge of allegiance states that we are “one nation under God.”
As Americans we remain divided when we fight for what we feel is right, and stand firm in our beliefs, even if when they are wrong. We do this until tragedy strikes our nation and we are reminded of what’s most important.
If we can come together in a crisis, surely we can come together when there is no crisis. This is a matter of choice, and our human will.
Let’s ask the people of Houston who have been affected by hurricane Harvey, especially those who have lost all just short of their lives, how important race, religion, or economics is to them right now. Do you think they stopped to ask their rescuers what church they belong to, or what community they are from, or cared about the color of the skin of someone who reached out to save them from the flood? I’m sure they did not. All they cared about was being safe.
Crisis situations have a way of leveling the playing field – and we are all the same.
Our differences should not divide us. They should make us strong as we come together to help one another.
What’s most important now and always is the preservation of human life, and that people come to know God’s love and invite Him into their hearts.
Let’s wake up church!
Let’s prepare our hearts to serve humanity.
Let’s do with will of God while there is time.
We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One Who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. (John 9:4 NLT)
What are you doing to make a difference in the world around you?
Are you using your gifts and resources to help others?
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (Matthew 5:13 NLT)
Are you ready to be salt and light in the earth? God is calling you.
Kathy R. Green