Two weeks. Countless executive orders signed. A new administration seeking to erase every trace of the former administration. How did we get here? Where will we go from here?

My heart is heavy. My greatest concern is for my children, for our children. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I want to walk the walk and talk the talk…and yet, the year is 2021. And in the last few months we have seen censorship and silencing of the conservative voice. Platforms have been canceled and closed. In the Christian community, the divide has been growing, fear has mounted and shame has been used as a weapon.

How do we shine as the light of a city on a hill?

How do we stay present, vigilant, and invested in today? How do we move from grieving to “doing” for the day at hand?

I’m on the edge of my seat. I’m unsettled, frustrated, and discouraged. I continue to ask the Lord to reveal to my heart what is true, what I have believed because I wanted to, and what He has asked me to stand in the gap for.

I don’t pretend to have any of the answers. And yet I know we have a choice today in how we move forward. Or maybe it is less that, than it is to stay present in the now.

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Keep Your Eyes on HIM

What is God asking of me today? I don’t need to figure out what He’s doing or whether a miracle is still in play. What I do know, is that He has asked us to keep our eyes on him! And Church, I wonder if this is not the message of the hour. Keep your eyes on Him. We might feel squarely in the midst of a storm, because in all honesty we are. And yet, HE is the only one who can speak PEACE to our weary, troubled hearts. Do you hear His still small voice?

Everything is getting overturned that once brought us peace and security. And yet we need to go back to the central point, keep your eyes on Him. Remember when Peter asked Jesus to call him out onto the water? It was not a calm sea; the boat was “tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them” (Mt 14:24). As Jesus called to him, Peter’s feet were “firm” on the path before him as long as his eyes were on the Lord. He was given the ability to walk confidently in the midst of the wind and the tumultuous sea. And yet, the moment his eyes averted and focused on the waves around him, he began to sink.

Many of us may feel in a similar situation, our eyes have been focused on the chaos and uncertainty surrounding us. We have averted our eyes from the only One who can give us assurance.

(W)hen he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”  (Mt 14:30-33 AMP)

Will you get into the boat with Him? With Him, we can stay in the eye of the storm; in that place of supernatural calm and stillness. We can lay aside our fears and find the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Church, we have an opportunity in the now. Where does our hope come from? Our hope comes from Jesus. Our hope was never in a man, or it should never have been. Our hope is in the God of the ages Who wants to set apart His church to be an “ark”; so when the last days truly do hit, the ark will be our refuge. It will be the place of safe passage for all who want to draw near.

There was only one way into the salvation that the ark provided. God instructed Noah to put a single door on the side of the ark. If you wanted to enter, you had to enter through the door. In like manner, God has given only one door to enter into the salvation He now provides. Jesus knew this well stating:

‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.‘ (John 10:7-9)

-Iain Gordon, Genesis Chapter 6-8 Bible Study: The Mystery of the 17^th!, Jesus Plus Nothing

No matter where you stand, may I ask you to unify in that singular focus? None of us will get through this with our heads held high if our eyes are on anything other than Jesus. He is our help, He is our strong tower, He is our place of shelter and refuge.

Prayer Opportunities

What are the opportunities that present themselves in the now? Many of us may have never chosen to pray for our current administration. But now, no matter what your thoughts are on the legitimacy of it, our mandate is to pray. We are called to pray for those who are in leadership.

• I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (2 Tm 2:1-2)

• Seek peace and well-being for the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its peace (well-being) you will have peace.’ (Jer 29:7 AMP)
• …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 Chr 7:14)

We can pray for the government to be upon HIS shoulders. And this will direct our hearts to intercede on behalf of this nation and our current sitting administration. Turn the following scriptures into prayers to pray over our leaders.

• Listen to me, all you rebel-kings and all you upstart judges of the earth. Learn your lesson while there’s still time. Serve and worship the awe-inspiring God. Recognize his greatness and bow before him, trembling with reverence in his presence. (Ps 2:10-11 TPT)

• It’s as easy for God to steer a king’s heart for his purposes as it is for him to direct the course of a stream. (Pr 21:1 TPT)

• Pray Proverbs 2:1-15.

• Pray for the fear of the Lord (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7)

• Pray for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Pray that God would speak to them in dreams and visions. Pray that they each would have a life-altering encounter with the Living God! Pray for a Damascus encounter, just like the one Paul had in Acts 9 (He was persecuting the Lord and His people. A supernatural encounter blinded him so that he might truly see!)

• And if your heart is hard, consider this: You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Mt 5:44-45)

Unity

Unity does not mean we need to agree on everything. But we do need to agree on the ONE THING. The focus is Jesus. As believers in Jesus Christ who are called to be salt and light, our influence should permeate. We should pray for the establishment, realignment, and cornerstone of this nation to be the things that uphold kingdom values. We have the privilege and opportunity to pray in this hour for hearts to be turned, for lives to be transformed and for salvation to come into many homes. Part of our focus should be for those that in our minds would be nothing short of miraculous (there are many). I have seen miracles beyond my own understanding this side of heaven. Have you? Go back to that place of remembrance, strengthen your faith, and come back to the table and ask the Lord to lead your prayers for the man and the woman that presently lead our nation and for all our leaders in public office – pray for them by name.

The church thrives on a united community, and it doesn’t matter who occupies the Oval Office, because Jesus is forever seated on the throne!

-Caleb Parke, Fox News, A Millennial’s regret: I wish I’d prayed more for President Obama

Pray the following passage over the Church: 

So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy. Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation. (Phil 2:2-5 TPT) 

Think back to three months ago. The vision we had in our hearts for this nation gave us eyes to see our strength and not our weakness or smallness. Now we are on the other side of January 20, and how many of you are suddenly feeling small like grasshoppers? Our strength hasn’t changed, the power of our prayers and the heart of the Father for us to partner with Him haven’t changed. So why would we change? We do not see the results for which we prayed. We see closed doors. But what does the Lord say?

Moving Forward

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (Jn 16:33)

As we move towards tomorrow, let’s remember that His plan involved a death before there was a resurrection!

Live with the reality of the HOPE that we as Christ followers carry. Others will see and they will ask why you are unafraid and where your joy comes from.  Be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have. We serve an unchanging, unfailing God!  His Word does not return void and He takes what is meant for our harm and turns it around and uses it for His glory!

We have an opportunity to show the world that our faith is not in man but in the Living God! Carry that light forth and seek Him each and every day, each and every hour!

…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Mt 6:33-34)

Lord, we trust You while we walk out what you have asked of us. And we trust that you will bring justice and truth to prevail in the United States of America. We are reminded of this nation’s foundation and as we look back, we say “do it again Lord!”