Today, across the globe, in every nation, big or small, in every major metropolis and in every shantytown village in-between, men, women and children of every race and religion, from the ages of “almost born” to “almost done” are fighting for something. Here in America, millions are fighting to simply make ends meet another month.
I’ve discovered that it’s the PRACTICE OF PRAYER and NOT THE PERFECTION OF IT that God wants us to pursue. And that’s great news, because practice is achievable; perfection is not.
Here’s a great verse to know and believe in. It’s short enough to memorize and of great comfort when you’re feeling down, lonely or discouraged. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” [James 4:8] Now that sounds like a great deal to me! Perseverance is the bridge to proving our character. We’ve all heard the phrase, “If it were easy, anyone could do it.” It may be more accurate to say, “ If it were easy, no one would value it.” If everything that came to us was delivered on a silver platter, I doubt we would appreciate the effort that was required to provide it.
“Prepare a war rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near; let them come up! Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am a mighty man! “ [Joel 3:9-10] The word “rouse” means encourage, inspire, and motivate. In the verse above it means to stir up, revive, and awaken via remembrance what God has done for us; to galvanize and renew afresh what He has called us to do in this world...
None of us know what tomorrow may bring. We make plans, book appointments, keep schedules, and move forward towards our goals and objectives. But when our plans change and our dreams are dashed away through no fault of our own, we need to remind ourselves that God is still in control. Maybe the detour you are on is not a detour or a setback at all.
Maybe it’s the exact path God wants you on at this particular time. Before David came on the scene as a mighty man of valor and history’s best-known Giant-Slayer, he was simply a kid with a back-pack full of cheese on his back, an errand boy sent by his father to check up on the welfare of his three elder siblings, who were serving in King Saul’s army and in a standoff with the Philistines in the valley of Elah...
And he took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag... In the movie Braveheart, Sir William Wallace was right. “Men don’t follow titles – they follow COURAGE!” As believers, the faithful messengers of Hope – it’s time to rise up and LEAD with COURAGE!
A national treasure — dare I say a global treasure — is in danger of being overrun, lost and forgotten if we don’t rise up and take a stand for God, His people and this nation. That treasure is America, under God. For way too long, we have allowed the founding principles of our nation — God’s principles, instructions and wisdom — to suffer abuse, so-called correction and even abandonment.
Father God, Creator of the universe and Architect of all things, both above and beneath the Heavens, hear the prayers of the Faithful in Christ, as we ask for forgiveness for falling asleep on our watch. Our nation, as well as, many nations of the world, have lost our way and desperately need Your guidance and wisdom to correct our course...
Character defines who we are, what we value in life, and how we prioritize and manage our affairs.
While many may yearn for simpler times, life for the early pioneers was hard, fraught with danger, struggle, and adversity. There was no shortage of ways to test one’s resolve. Opportunities to refine one’s character abounded. |
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