Friday's Committed Thoughts

From Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN

While the enemy has the free world arguing over whose life matter’s more, God is saying, “Children, draw near to Me.  Seek Me first.  Love your neighbors as yourselves.   Treat others the way you want to be treated.  Forgive.”

I feel compelled to bring this up because it is so important, though it is nothing new.   Not everyone claiming to be a Christian is, in fact, saved.  False teachers are always popping up, and they are well-followed.  If what you are hearing causes even small red flags to wave, compare what you are hearing with what is in the Bible.   And if it doesn’t line up…no matter how “good” is sounds, shake the dust off your feet quickly, and shun the very appearance of evil.   Not every Bible-quoter is of a pure heart, and often they twist the words just enough to make it sound enticing.  Know the Word well enough to not be drawn in.

Conversely, Christians make mistakes, say the wrong things, take the wrong action…sin.  Yep.  We sin.  And it normally doesn’t go unnoticed.   Forgive others, forgive yourselves, and get in your closet for alone time with God…wherever your closet may be…and we may find ourselves making fewer mistakes and bad choices, and choosing the right way over the sinful way.  

You will not convince anyone else that you are right any more than they will convince you that they are right.   We are living in a world where people are confused and deceived, and they do not care about truth or facts.  We can’t fight that…and the battle isn’t ours, anyway.  Don’t allow yourselves to be drawn into arguments over whether or not black vs blue vs all lives matter…or any other current social debate.  Don’t allow the stench of the world to envelop you.  Just don’t go there…no matter how hard it is (and keeping our mouth closed can be quite hard at times).   You have to remember that when people aren’t seeking truth, truth will make them mad.  It must matter to us, though, and the one who can pour out Truth is the one we need to be talking to…not the one who is convinced you are a bigot.

We have an election coming up.  It’s going to be a very volatile time in our country, even more so than it is right now.   We need to start covering the election in prayer, and I cannot stress the importance of it enough, my Christian brothers and sisters!  This may very well be our last chance for our country to remain free.  The devil really is seeking to steal kill and destroy us; and in our mortal bodies, we are useless to fight him, and the greater masses of our population are standing with the devil, not with God.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12

I am not telling you who to vote for…a Godly person already knows who NOT to vote for.   So while we are praying for an honest and fair election, let’s cover Donald Trump in prayer, as well.   And why stop with him?   Pray for all the candidates…from the local ones all the way up.   This mission isn’t a minute or two a day project.   It requires a real commitment.   Are you ready to commit to prayer for a better, safer, great-again country?  

Wait.   Did I just suggest that a Godly person wouldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton?   Yes, actually, I did.  Someone needs to say it. 

Friends, don’t be distracted by the very things that are put in place by the enemy to divide!   America is in peril, and there is no need to point fingers and place blame on any one person or entity.   We must start doing damage control, and we start by getting on our knees and asking forgiveness.   And then we do those things He told us to do:  Seek Him first.  Draw near to Him.  Do good.  Love others.  Forgive.   It has to start somewhere, and it may as well be you and me.   We cannot change others, but we know the One who can.   Pray, Friends, pray. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:10-18

Huntsville Botanical Garden...I think!