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

Confident Prayer

I shared last week my plans to attend a writer’s conference over the weekend. Though the experience was physically exhausting, I left Asheville rejuvenated in my spirit and my writing.

The faculty gave us much to ponder. The co-founder of Christian Devotions, who hosted the conference, encouraged and empowered us by reminding us of God’s sovereignty and availability.

My interpretation of his message is one reason we don’t get God’s help is because—perhaps—deep inside, we don’t believe we will.

There’s no magic formula or “good enough” mountaintop achievement to access God. You don’t have to be Moses or Elijah. Jesus changed everything by his appearance in the world.

So why don’t Christians have more courage in their expectations? Why don’t we approach the throne room of God (Hebrews 4:16) with confidence?

“The reason some of us are such poor examples of Christianity is that we have failed to recognize that Christ is almighty. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment or surrender to Jesus Christ.”~Oswald Chambers

God asked Solomon in 1 Kings 3:5, what He could do for him. We all know the answer. Solomon wanted wisdom. He received it and so much more. Jesus posed the same question to Bartimacus, a blind man, in Mark 10:51, “What do you want me to do for you?” Read the passage. Bartimacus cried out and surrendered to the sovereignty of God. Jesus couldn’t ignore his pleas.

Perhaps our expectations are low due to failure to acknowledge that Christ is almighty. We haven’t completely surrendered to God’s authority for total control over the issues we pray about. We want our answers—not His.

Regardless of your goals or problems you’re praying about, God wants to help you. Embrace His sovereignty in every aspect of your life. This might be a scary concept, one that in our human condition leaves us quaking, but remember this passage from Joshua 1:9:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”