First and foremost, let me say… Happy New Year!!!! How are you?
So much has happened since the last time we were together. I’ve gone through so many emotions since the clock struck midnight on 1/1/2021, and I had to experience them without you. Long story short, I was locked out of my website as of 1/2/2021, so I couldn’t post for two weeks. (This has been the longest two weeks for me, by the way!) I’ve missed our time together on Tuesdays. While I’ve been able to spend this time soul searching with our Father, I’ve been praying for you and the state of our country.
As you know, 12/29, 2020 was my last blog, and I was led to discuss the election results. At the time, my stomach was in knots over the last second “hail Mary” that I sensed was in the playbook for January 6th, and I have to admit that the “oh, so familiar” knot tightened as I watched our present and future brothers and sisters in Christ, wreak havoc at the Capitol. (Yes! I know it’s trending around the world to refer to them as thugs, rioters, domestic terrorists, etc., and I would be lying if I said I didn’t fall into that name calling trap or play that tit-for-tat, “they said it about “us” during the 2020 protests, so I am going to say it about them,” game, but this is not a game! Nicole! This is not a game. Ephesians 6:12-15 NIV states, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, [we must] put on every piece of God’s armor so [we] will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle [we] will still stand firm. We will be able to stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around [our] waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with [our] feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
When I saw a video of our present and future brothers and sisters in Christ, storming the Capitol building, carrying Jesus Saves signs and wearing Christian apparel, my heart broke in what seemed like a million pieces. It broke because I realized that Satan had his hands on them, but he’d convinced them that they were committing crimes in the name of Jesus. So much so, that there’s video footage of unauthorized citizens in the Senate Chambers, praying to God and thanking Him for His “role” in letting them get into the building to send a message. To echo the words said by Jesus, as he was being crucified on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). You are not the author of confusion! We know who wrote and published that book. And the sad part is: the media says it isn’t over; there are claims of riots in all fifty states on Inauguration Day, which is tomorrow.
Help us, Lord! (When I say that, I am including myself in that statement.) Help me to stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around my waist. Oh, Father! The truth is, you are still on the throne and Jesus is seated at your right hand. You call leaders forward, and you remove them for various reasons. We must trust the fact that everything works out for the good of those who love you because you love us. John 3:16-17 NIV states: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” So, yes! Jesus saves, so we don’t have to put our hope and trust in mankind. We put our hope and trust in the Lord! Oh, Father! Please! Adjust my breastplate of righteousness while helping me to leave self righteousness tucked away in the closet. To be honest, I pulled self righteousness out of the closet last week and I walked in front of the mirror to see how it looked on me. To be honest, it still fits, but it didn’t look good on me anymore. (To be honest, it never did.) I can’t condemn people for their actions, just because they would condemn me for mine. You told me to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. Father, help me rid myself from distractions, so I can receive the peace that only you can give in a time such as this.
We are living in dangerous times. People are motivated by hate and fear. Many people are troubled by the events that took place on January 6th, and many are troubled by the events that could take place again on Inauguration Day. Well, I have good news for you! Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world. Okay, that isn’t good news, but he advised us to take heart because he’s overcome the world.(Now that’s the good news!) Okay, don’t take my word for it. Read John 16! It will give us the strength to watch disturbing events on the news and pray for our present and future brothers and sisters in Christ at the same time.
Just think about it. Then go to the Father and pray about it.
#Soul Searching with Our Father#
#Watch and pray#
#Happy New Year#
#I’m back#
