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How can this be happening is the redundant thought that is making me get acquainted with nerves I didn’t know existed.  My heart is being tugged in so many ways.  I don’t know if I have the capacity to realize the suffering this evil COVID-19 will leave in its wake.  It actually brings me to tears to imagine the destruction already at play.  Life and death have each taken a giant step forward in my mental space and the things that seemed important three weeks ago are now nonexistent.

If I said it once, I must have said it 1000 times “we are living in end times.”  I had immense passion when I spoke those words.  I  believed it was true.  It seemed easy to recognize the signs of the times from afar, but now the words speak another narrative.  Perhaps one of great sacrifice or suffering.

The world has been called forward and it’s time to remind ourselves that God saw fit that we would be here for such a time as this. What’s in us is about to be stretched beyond what we may think we are capable of.

Many have gone before us across the globe and stepped on the path of not being in control in ways we can’t even imagine…they have been at it for a very long time.  Many of them have chosen to become unseen heroes because they have refused to run from the evil surrounding them.  They have chosen to look to God for His miraculous provision in the middle of brutal storms of great loss and pain.

Carl mentioned the term National Repentance yesterday in his sermon.  I want to own my part of that responsibility.  I am bowing my knees and asking God to forgive me for taking Him for granted.  How easy it was for us to count on our stores to be fully stocked each time we visited, for our jobs to be secured since it’s part of the American dream, for cash to be able to fix most of life’s problems, or for God’s hand of mercy to always be there to protect us despite the lack of reliance on Him.

I don’t know if anyone can say with certainty that this is God’s judgment for the outrageous sin we have committed throughout our world or a calculated attack of the enemy, but one thing is certain —God is in control of every moment of every day.  He is a merciful and loving God and there is nothing that will erase that reality.  He has a plan for us even when our world is being turned upside down or perhaps right-side up.

Our God is worthy beyond words can express—I know we have not scratched the surface of how He desires to be known and loved by us.  Speak Lord, your servants are listening.

I have some unfinished business with my Lord.  Perhaps you do too!   Let’s pray.

Lord, may your church become a worshipful force throughout the world as we, your children, get acquainted with you all over again.  Thank you for your provision of grace, love, and mercy as this awakening takes place.  Illuminate the things in our lives that have caused leanness in our souls—remind us that they are breaking your heart.

God shows us how unaware we are of the ramifications of our complacency.  We ask you for the fire of revival to be shut up within our bones… and may it start with each of us asking for personal forgiveness for not honoring you as you deserve and for worshiping at the altars of false gods in this world’s system.

Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins and for allowing us entrance into the holy of holies to worship you without constraint.

Holy Spirit reveal Truth – we ask you to lead us, protect us, and minister to us as we rely on you in the days to come.

Thank you for MERCY WHEN WE DON’T DESERVE IT.  Help us realize we are not playing church, WE ARE THE CHURCH.

…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