The Time is Now

 

"We must warn the nations of the world

that they must repent and turn to

God while there is yet time."

~Billy Graham

As a mom of three kids, I remember the challenge of chores, mealtime, then later homework.  My son gave me little resistance because he just wanted to get everything done so he could go out and play.  He used to say he didn't want to get older because he would have to work and couldn't play.  He knew how good kids have it.  Adulting - sometimes it's hard.

Then, in a fleeting moment, all my kids were adults.  

And "adult" things happened-major ones like the Columbine tragedy, Sept. 11, Hurricane Katrina, the Covid pandemic.  

And more recently, wars, rumors of wars, more natural disasters, more killings.  This week we said 'no more' to a heinous, cruel, anti-Christ, anti-American and anti-Israel regime.  There is the possibility they may strike back.  How do we process it all?

When things happening on the other side of the world are so out of our control, many preachers are guiding us to pray right now- 

    🞧 for the people of Iran and Israel- that all these events cause them to seek after Christ

    🞧 for the children of the middle east regions who are being ushered into bomb shelters as part of an all too familiar daily life

    🞧 for courage of the growing underground church of believers in Iran who risk everything to follow Jesus and read His Word 

    🞧 for the leaders of all nations to revere and seek God for wisdom 

    🞧 that God would use all of this for His church to be bold and share His Word.

As we navigate how to think and respond to our world that has changing events almost daily, anxiety and panic are not part of a believer's response.  The one and only God, creator of the universe tells us to delight, be firmly planted, & bear fruit- 

"But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night,

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season." Ps 1:2-3

He reminds us He is in control and nothing surprises Him-

"Remember the things I have done in the past.  For I alone am God!

I am God, and there is none like me.  Only I can tell you the future before 

it happens.  Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do

whatever I wish." Isaiah 46:9-10

Pray.  Read His Word & delight in the love that is conveyed in it.  Then share it.

The time is now to do these things, because we don't know what tomorrow will bring (Prov 27:1, James 4:13-14).

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, we know You are the one and only God, who does what You please with the powers of heaven and the people of the earth.  You remove kings and set up kings.  You wish that no one should perish and You are patient and slow to anger.  We trust in Your timing and power.  Holy Spirit, move throughout the world to bring people to Yourself.  Use us.  Amen.