Day Forty Five: Crying for Help in The Midst of A Storm
Yesterday I did what I have done for the past four weeks or so, I walked around the churches, stopped either across the street or in front of the building and read scripture. I've haven't been allowed inside for almost three weeks now, as many churches have closed. Some kept open longer than others, and some have opened only for the few they know. This week's scripture was Daniel 9. As I was reading the passage about the wickedness of the Israelites, I noticed the parallel between the situation I was reading about in Daniel 9 and today. I spoke too loudly for the pastor of the church across the street who was getting ready to live stream their services. I also think I may have hit a nerve.
The one thing I noticed that was sorely lacking from the current response to the response people had in 1917-1918 was that there seems to be no repentance this time. I tried to understand why the response was different by analyzing what churches did back then. I came up with the harsh but true fact that people of that time period didn't have the resources we have today. Radios weren't a common entity, many relied on print media and their church leaders for information. It wasn't nearly as easy to distort and manipulate information as it is today. People had a more strict upbringing then. It wasn't "everything goes" as it is now. Back then people didn't have social security or welfare. The churches and other organizations were the main sources of substance and hope.
Because we've become so complacent and expectant of what government can do for us, we turned our collective backs on God. We allowed the wickedness to flourish to the point that we've lost our moral compass. Then we wonder why God brought this virus on us or why the radicals are wanting to push us all back to the Stone Age, so we become dependent them for substance. When I read Daniel 9, I realize that we need to pray this passage now more than ever. One verse sticks out, and I'll state it here: "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth." Daniel 9:13(KJV).
I truly believe that before he answers our cries, we must be willing to repent of our wickedness. I'd like to see this next National Day of Prayer as a day of mourning and repentance for allowing crooked and truly evil government officials to promote filth and degradation. We've all seen the evidence of this. Some of us have fought the good fight to keep it from overwhelming us. We've been blinded though through soft, deceitful words. Yet, God is still here. I read in Psalms 121:1(KJV) "I will lift up mine eyes upon the hills, from whence cometh my help." It is further emphasized in Psalms 46:1(KJV) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." It is a comfort to know that I can cry for help in the midst of this storm.
Right now I'll admit that it does look pretty bleak. I have no assurance that I'll ever get sustainable work. My funds are running out, but I know that God will provide. He has done it, and will continue to do it. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) offers these words: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." The overwhelming deluge of information that we've been receiving has caused stress and anxiety to flourish. I only have to go back to the word of God, however, to put things in perspective. God knows me. He knows what's going on. He was there with Asa when he cried out to God with this: "And Asa cried unto the Lord his God and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee." (2 Chronicles 14:11 (KJV) Yes, we are in a war right now. We need God's help to prevail against the wicked schemes of man. As we cry out to God in the midst of this storm, may we cry that God will intervene and show his power and glory.
Once we have repented and turn to God, then we can be assured that "if ye abide in me(Jesus), and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it will be done unto you." You do have to understand that first section because if you don't then it won't make sense. You wouldn't be able to take the promise that's stated in Phillippians 4:13(KJV) which states: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
Jesus Christ is the key. It is because of his sacrifice on the cross that we can come to God. God is merciful to those he loves. It says in Hebrews 4:16(KJV) "let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
I do believe that God is extending mercy to his children right now. As we cry for help in the midst of this storm, we are seeing showers of mercy and love flowing out.
The one thing I noticed that was sorely lacking from the current response to the response people had in 1917-1918 was that there seems to be no repentance this time. I tried to understand why the response was different by analyzing what churches did back then. I came up with the harsh but true fact that people of that time period didn't have the resources we have today. Radios weren't a common entity, many relied on print media and their church leaders for information. It wasn't nearly as easy to distort and manipulate information as it is today. People had a more strict upbringing then. It wasn't "everything goes" as it is now. Back then people didn't have social security or welfare. The churches and other organizations were the main sources of substance and hope.
Because we've become so complacent and expectant of what government can do for us, we turned our collective backs on God. We allowed the wickedness to flourish to the point that we've lost our moral compass. Then we wonder why God brought this virus on us or why the radicals are wanting to push us all back to the Stone Age, so we become dependent them for substance. When I read Daniel 9, I realize that we need to pray this passage now more than ever. One verse sticks out, and I'll state it here: "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth." Daniel 9:13(KJV).
I truly believe that before he answers our cries, we must be willing to repent of our wickedness. I'd like to see this next National Day of Prayer as a day of mourning and repentance for allowing crooked and truly evil government officials to promote filth and degradation. We've all seen the evidence of this. Some of us have fought the good fight to keep it from overwhelming us. We've been blinded though through soft, deceitful words. Yet, God is still here. I read in Psalms 121:1(KJV) "I will lift up mine eyes upon the hills, from whence cometh my help." It is further emphasized in Psalms 46:1(KJV) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." It is a comfort to know that I can cry for help in the midst of this storm.
Right now I'll admit that it does look pretty bleak. I have no assurance that I'll ever get sustainable work. My funds are running out, but I know that God will provide. He has done it, and will continue to do it. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) offers these words: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." The overwhelming deluge of information that we've been receiving has caused stress and anxiety to flourish. I only have to go back to the word of God, however, to put things in perspective. God knows me. He knows what's going on. He was there with Asa when he cried out to God with this: "And Asa cried unto the Lord his God and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee." (2 Chronicles 14:11 (KJV) Yes, we are in a war right now. We need God's help to prevail against the wicked schemes of man. As we cry out to God in the midst of this storm, may we cry that God will intervene and show his power and glory.
Once we have repented and turn to God, then we can be assured that "if ye abide in me(Jesus), and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it will be done unto you." You do have to understand that first section because if you don't then it won't make sense. You wouldn't be able to take the promise that's stated in Phillippians 4:13(KJV) which states: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
Jesus Christ is the key. It is because of his sacrifice on the cross that we can come to God. God is merciful to those he loves. It says in Hebrews 4:16(KJV) "let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
I do believe that God is extending mercy to his children right now. As we cry for help in the midst of this storm, we are seeing showers of mercy and love flowing out.
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