“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” – Psalm 33:12
Question for the day: Is God the Lord of our nation?
I am so thankful to live in this country – the best in the world. A place where, I believe, that opportunities await for those willing to work diligently and honestly. I thank God for the opportunities that He gives me each week to express my faith openly, without fear of retribution or imprisonment. I thank God that I live in a place where my daughter, as well as my son, is valued and has every opportunity for education and advancement available to her. I thank God that I live in a place where I see compassion in the hearts of others, and a willingness to help their neighbors in times of need.
Yes, I love this country. However, I can’t really say that this is a nation whose Lord is God. And that has grieved my heart for many years. I look around and see that church attendance is declining. a biblical worldview is something to be criticized in the media, and generations of young people are coming to think of the church as “irrelevant.” This hurts my heart.
But what hurts my heart even worse, is when I see that many churches have given up the fight. It seems as if we have become complacent in our acceptance of of these issues, as if there is nothing we can do about them.
In His famous statement from Ceasarea Philippi, Jesus said, “You are Peter. And on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
If you read the context of that statement closely, you will see one important element. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church. In Jesus’ time, gates were a defensive measure. They were built into city walls to keep marauders out.
By reading this scripture, it is clear that the church was to be on the offensive. We were being called to storm the gates of hell. We were being called to share the gospel with the lost and hurting. And Jesus said we would win.
What has happened to the American church? Why aren’t we breaking down those gates to rescue those held captive inside?
My friends, we live in a free country. We can invite, pray, speak aloud, – do anything we want in the name of Christ. How much longer will those freedoms last if we do not take seriously our call to exercise them?
What is God calling us to do in order to bring revival to this nation?
Almighty Jehovah,
You are a powerful God, full of strength as well as mercy. Create in me a boldness to share Your gospel at every opportunity. Create in me a desire to be a strong witness for You in all circumstances, regardless of the cost. Help me, Lord, to overcome my fear and ambivalence, that I might look at every person as one more for the kingdom.
Give me a warrior’s heart and a shepherd’s touch. May I live every day in bringing the fight to the gates instead of hiding from it.
May the name of the Lord be Praised,
Amen
This is my last post for this week as I will be vacationing with my family. I pray that you each have a blessed and safe holiday week.
mysaviorspeaks 
well said, lana! it is hard sometimes to keep up the good fight and not feel defeated by our worldly environment…and i thank you for the reminder to be vigilant … i needed that! may we, as believers, never give up and sing His praises and share with others til our last breath! (ok, now i can already hear in the background somebody singing “onward, christian soldier…!!!”)