I know that my position here may not be popular on it's face at first, but I think it could be most revealing of where some hearts are - even my own, by the response that it evokes...
I think it's possible that we're all partly responsible for the chaos and darkness that is constantly swirling around in the digital tornado that is the constantly hammering news these days. While we may not have contributed to it directly by our own actions, it's a good bet that we may have contributed to it by our own inaction.
Where does the true power to change things come from? And who is our best example to follow in this life?
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." Mark 1:35 (NKJ)
"Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12 (NKJ)"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,.."
Luke 18:1 (NKJ)
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” Matthew 26:36 (NKJ)
"About eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray." Luke 9:28 (NKJ)
Of course the answer is that the true power to change things comes from our God and that Jesus gave us the best example of how to connect to it ... So how much time to we actually devote to following His example?
Does anyone know what a prayer closet is these days?
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:5-8 (NKJ)
I find myself thinking about how things seemingly have changed for the worse in my lifetime and what has changed to allow the presence of darkness to become more prevalent. What changed to allow evil to gain a stronger stance in the world and in the minds of seemingly shameless mankind? What kept evil seemingly further at bay earlier in my life? I know that evil existed even before mankind when Lucifer dared to rebel against God and disbelieve Him and that it entered the world of mankind when Adam and Eve rebelled similarly. So darkness has been around a long time, but God has victory and dominion over the darkness. And if you've actually taken the time to search out His word and His heart, you know how he feels about those who love Him and what He's promised them. So how much time in reality do we spend connecting to our Father to affect the people and things around us? How much time do we spend in fervent request to Him to roll back the darkness? How much time do we spend in living out the position and responsibility that He's given us?
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:9-17 (NKJ)
Is this me in reality as my life actually proves out? Is it you? Are we actually fulfilling the commissions and positions that God through Christ has given us? Are we actually allowing the light that is Christ in us to roll back the darkness? Are we spending the time, so crucial to our journey and quest, to walking in the actual communion and relationship with our God that He's shown us such great privilege to allow? Are we using what God has given us to represent His Kingdom as it's citizens, bringing the light of Christ with us as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit through this temporary place?
None of us are perfect of course and satan has provoked so much chaos and confusion in an attempt to keep us busy and distracted these days, but the key to changing the world around us is in us. We need to be continually reminding one another of our creed, our inheritance through Christ and all things related to our God and to selflessly exercise our connection to the power of the throne of God to change things. We have that privilege and that power through Christ Jesus.
The answer that I've come to in my quest to explain the rise of darkness in the culture and people around us these days, more so than in the past, is simple. Praying Grandmothers. Not only grandmothers, but mothers, fathers, children, grandfathers, sons and daughters - People connecting to God on His throne through prayer to affect the world around them. People remembering to live in obedience to God to allow their prayers to reach His ear unimpeded by their sin and disobedience. Real people, not fakers or pretenders, but those sincerely seeking and loving the God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them including mankind, were using the tools that God gave them to keep the darkness at bay in greater numbers. They were making the difference.
It's our time and our turn. How are we doing?
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:12-18 (NKJ)
Comments
Post a Comment