I had a great weekend. Took the kids out to my parents house. Its a good 3.5 hour car ride. I was not looking forward to the drive. I was expecting the kids to fight and my anxiety to run high. I was pleasantly surprised by the drive. The kids were quiet for the most part and they didn’t fight, AMEN!!! I got to meet my GREAT nephew for the first time. It was a rush let me tell you. He couldn’t be more perfect. My niece is a first time mom. I remember when that was me. In talking about all things baby; I bit my tongue when it came to offering tips or parenting advice. I believe sometimes silence is golden! When I was a first time mom I wish I hadn’t listened to ALL the advice and had just went with my gut. God gave you that child and is empowering you to be his/her mother. This brings me to my main point today. In a world that is SO utterly chaotic today. Where people are talking when they should be listening (myself included) lets remember that some seasons REQUIRE silence. God moves in the silence. See James 1:19.
“In the Silence of the heart God Speaks. If you face God in Prayer and Silence, God will speak to you.. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.” Mother Theresa
I was not silent last night. I had a very weak moment in my humanity. I’m defiantly not proud of engaging in the back and forth. Its not an excuse but I was completely exhausted. I had my kids the entire weekend and I believe the heat made me feel even more exhausted. A friend posted (on FB) what I deem to be a controversial statement and I took the bait. Oh man how I wish I hadn’t fallen into that trap. Don’t get me wrong there is a time and a place to SPEAK up. I just know in truth; Facebook isn’t the place for politics and arguments. It will accomplish no good thing. I seen a news clip that shared a story of some faith and prayer walks taking place. Where black, white, and brown- ALL ethnic groups come together to pray, talk/find resolutions, heal and promote unity. Those are the things I’d love to see more of. Less social media posts and more actions of love and unity.
The Israelites were oppressed for hundreds of years. As soon as God would do something great to free them or meet their needs the Israelites would find themselves sinning against God again. So many times I read these scriptures and would get SO mad. BUT if I really examine myself- that’s me. I tell God I trust him but my actions don’t follow. In 2 Chronicles 7 Solomon had finished rebuilding the temple of the Lord and the Lord appeared to him and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among MY people, 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 forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Trouble WILL come. We need each other now more then ever. The coronavirus alone is enough to damage us all emotional and psychologically. The virus doesn’t care what our race, age, sex is. Its had a negative affect on us all. What is the first call to action in 2 Chronicles 7? HUMILITY. God calls us to lay down our pride. Ask for forgiveness. Seek restoration. Romans 12:16-18 says: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be PROUD, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” I was choosing pride over peace yesterday and I want to sincerely apologize. “Do whats right in the eyes of everyone”. That seems hard doesn’t it? How can we please everyone? How about by praying for them? How about we have coffee and listen to their grievances? Doesn’t mean we have to agree. I believe there is nothing the enemy loves more then to see us all fight and bicker. If he can divide us he can conquer us.
Next we are called to PRAY and SEEK God. Have you spent time in prayer? Have you spent time in Gods word? “I am the bread of life. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever.” -John 6:35 I have heard it said “bread is biblical”. I love that because I love bread. Its filling. Its extremely satisfying. Point here is- HE is all we need! He is the bread. He is the nourishment we need. Nothing will ever satisfy like Jesus will. Spend time with him. You want to make a difference? You want real change in our world. Start and end here. He is the answer to EVERY question and every problem.
Lastly if we want God to hear us and heal our land we also need to TURN from our wicked ways. This is true repentance. We can say we’re sorry until we are blue in the face but without change/action we stay stagnate. God demands change. Change in our heart, change in our attitude, change in our actions. I am writing this blog to myself as much as I am to anyone else. I feel immense conviction this morning and today I am on my knees. Asking, seeking, and humbling myself before my Lord and Savior. Today I seek to understand before I seek to be understood. Today I choose to allow God to fight my battles. That all said by the end of the day I am going to deactivate my Facebook account. I need to practice what I preach. I need to turn the distractions off so I can be more attentive to the Holy Spirit. I do manage 2 Facebook pages and 2 Facebook groups. The pages will be updated using other admin accounts and my groups have facilitators that I’m sure will step up! I will be back eventually but in this season I must step away. I will continue to blog (less frequently through the summer however) so keep checking those through the facebook page OR subscribe to my newsletter (found on my web page) so that you will be notified via email when a new post goes up. I leave you with this blessing “May God Bless You and KEEP you, May his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.” I love and appreciate each one of you who pray and support our ministry and family. Your prayers are SO SO important. Thank You!!!
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