Now What? - 3 Ways to Persevere

Water of Life

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse.” Revelation 22:1-3

I’ve heard much despair from folks over the last week about America’s moral, economic, and spiritual condition. What do we do in the face of such despair? Give up?

Certainly not! This country was founded on the premise of perseverance.

So what does perseverance mean to Christians as we move forward?

“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22

Keep building. Noah built the ark while warning those around him of their impending doom. Much like today, folks didn’t want to hear about society’s moral decline. No one listened to Noah, but it didn’t deter him from fulfilling the directive God gave him. Whatever your ministry is, keep working. God has a plan for its success and those touched by your work.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Keep praying. In order to bring spiritual revival to this nation, believers must stay on their knees. Lift up the President, Congress, and local leaders, whether on city or county councils or school boards. Ask God to soften their hearts toward His message as it relates to both their professional and personal lives. Pray for your fellow citizens that all may “come to a knowledge of the truth.”

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:1-2

Keep speaking. Whether your ministry is written or verbal, continue to spread the message God has given you. Our country needs spiritual awakening and not just among the lost. Christians should seek to discern God’s message through prayer and His written word. For those who think the Christian’s character should morph with societal changes, God’s character hasn’t changed from day one. That’s our model. As you read through the Bible, God’s nature is consistent from Genesis to Revelation.

America has been blessed abundantly by God’s mercy and grace. We mustn’t be lulled into complacency and believe there’s no end to His patience for moral and spiritual decline while evil flourishes around us. The great city of Nineveh is a good example that this isn’t so. They repented after Jonah preached to them. God forgave their sin and continued to bless them. Less than two hundred years later, Nineveh returned to its sinful ways, and God destroyed them.

The LORD has given a command concerning you, Nineveh: “You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.” Nahum 1:14

God kept his word. He always does. And I praise Him that we can count on His consistency.

According to the NIV Student Bible, “The greatest city in the world became a pile of rubble overgrown with grass. Both Alexander the Great and Napoleon camped near it but had no idea a city had ever been there.” (p. 966)

God is a fair and just God, but every nation and individual has a finite number of chances to repent and change their ways.

If you’re one of those in despair, I encourage you to have hope. As believers, we’ve read to the end of The Book. The Story starts and ends the same—in a beautiful garden. What lies in between is the path that leads to God’s mercy and grace.

Regardless of what happens in the immediate or long-range future of this country, God is on His throne. Now, more than ever, perseverance is imperative.

I still believe in your faithfulness

I still believe in your truth

I still believe in your Holy Word

Even when I don’t see

I still believe

A permanent prayer list is above along with updates on Sgt. Jesse McCart, the American soldier we are praying for. If you haven’t done so, would you consider sending him or another soldier a postcard encouraging them? Addresses are listed on the page, also. If you have a prayer need, please list in the comment section below so others can pray, or email me confidential requests. I'd love to hear from you!

Update/New Request:

Courtney, a young mother who has battled a cancerous brain tumor, will have her two-month repeat MRI this month. Her last two MRIs have been clear. She will continue chemo and MRIs for a year.

Pastor Benarji Kumar of True Light Ministry – There has been flooding in his region of India. He’s working to get clean water and supplies to people in great need. His own health hasn’t been good. Pray that God’s hand will be upon him as he ministers to others.

Would you take a moment to offer a word of prayer for these needs?

****************************************************************************

I will be launching a new blog in addition to this one on November 26. I will post more information soon about the content and mission of “Count The Costs.”

Shalom,

Laura

© Laura Hodges Poole

Photo courtesy of Microsoft.com free clip art.

The Morning After

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

I woke up on Election Day in the United States praying as I do every morning. I prayed for God’s will to be done and that it would include electing the candidate most likely to bring our country out of its moral and economic abyss.

Then God spoke in His quiet way to my soul, as He sometimes does. Yes, prayer is conversation. It should be a two-way street. The problem is—we often don’t hang around long enough to listen after we’ve talked. J

This is the message I received while meditating with Him.

What we need more than economic healing is spiritual healing. Often life has to get even tougher before this happens. Revival comes when people are at their lowest spiritually and economically. Sometimes hearts are stubborn. When everything is stripped away, then people seek God’s face. It is through brokenness healing comes.

There’s no guarantee, no matter who our President is, that we (individually or nationally) will enjoy great prosperity.

I’m not a prophet, nor am I saying God gave me a great revelation. I’m sure He has spoken this to many folks over time. If you live long enough, you experience hardships that drive you to your knees.

As I wrote this, I didn’t know the outcome of the election, but you know what? God did. He also knows the future of this nation. As believers, we should continually seek His will for our lives.

I’m generally optimistic about the future—mine and the United States. But not because my candidate won or lost. Because God is still on His throne. Because only God has the power to heal. Because God will restore in His time—when His people and those who thumb their nose at His sovereignty bend their knees and yield their hearts to His will.

Only then will this nation’s greatness—and broken lives—be restored.

Please take a moment to pray for those on the prayer list and soldier Jesse McCart. If you have a prayer need, feel free to share so I and others can pray for you. I’d love to hear from you.

Now is the season for healing

Deeply we need to see, God's mercy revealing

Where we have fallen from his ways

For we know he gives hope to the humble.

Shalom,

Laura

© Laura Hodges Poole

Life's Dark Hallways

Life's Hallways

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Mark Twain 

Have you ever been really afraid? I mean heart-pounding, palm-sweating, knee-shaking, throat-choking terror that engulfs you?

My parents live in a block ranch-style house in Florida. Like most homes built in the 1950s, it has a long hallway with bedrooms on one end and the living room and kitchen on the opposite end with the bathroom situated at the halfway point. 

At night, and especially during stormy weather if the power went out, that hallway loomed dark and sinister when I was a child. When I came out of the bathroom, I’d peek around the corner to make sure nothing was there to “get me.” Rarely did I feel confident there wasn’t, so I’d summon the courage to outrun “it.” As I streaked down the long hallway, my little feet barely made contact with the linoleum. My siblings made similar sprints. It didn’t help that my dad would casually remark, as a storm approached, he’d heard a news report about escaped convicts in the area. 

Funny, as an adult, that hallway doesn’t seem quite so long or foreboding to me. 

If we’re completely honest, we all have dark hallways and monsters we try to outrun. If we can reach a certain level of security, whether financial, physical, or emotional, we’ll cease to be afraid. Meanwhile, we sprint down the hallway before “it” gets us, and we survive until our next encounter with a dark hallway.

The United States is in the midst of a Presidential election. Some folks are scared of what will happen to our country if the incumbent is reelected. Others are equally scared of what will happen if his opponent is elected. 

Fear is everywhere. It’s consuming and debilitating. And yet, nothing is gained from it.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 KJV

The fallacy of applying our own strength to situations beyond our control is that we don’t leave room for God’s security. Before King David became king, perhaps he slept with one eye open and always looked over his shoulder. After all, a madman, King Saul, had a vested interest in David not becoming king. Ultimately, God’s strength and wisdom provided physical and spiritual protection for Israel’s future king.

What fear is paralyzing you today? Impending results from a medical test? Stepping into the unknown to walk a path God designed for you? Maybe something less life threatening like setting boundaries in an unhealthy relationship or standing up for yourself? Perhaps your fear stems from bitterness and chaos in which your soul resides. 

Whatever your dark hallway, I encourage you to reach for God’s comforting hand to guide you. Residing inside His will and leaning on His strength is the best security you’ll ever experience. 

***************************************************************************

If you have a prayer request, I’d love to hear from you. Please email me or share in the comments section so others can pray. Do you have a praise report? Share those, as well. The prayer list which normally appears here each week can be accessed now through its own individual page, as well as information on the soldier we’re praying for, at the top of this blog. Please take a moment to scroll through and lift each name up in prayer. 

Our worship song this week is “In Christ Alone” performed by Natalie Grant.

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song

God bless,

Laura

 © Laura Hodges Poole