(This post was written during the unrest protests in South Africa July 2021)
Like many South Africans, I woke up this morning to news of looting and burning in many parts of our precious country and I just felt that the Lord wanted to give us a positive message of hope and encouragement today.
Throughout history, the members of the body of Christ have been called to pray for their countries and the people that live in them. The body of Christ was born when Jesus gave birth to His bride while dying on the cross, sacrificing Himself for those who would accept the freedom He offered. Never in History have the gates of Hell prevailed against this special body of people, and not in our future will the gates of Hell prevail against them. Persecution has always been the hallmark of Jesus’s Bride and it will continue to be so, until He takes them home.
As I look around myself today, I see the dead of winter. Everything is dry and dusty. The weather is very cold. Some would say it’s a very depressing time. Let me say this, if we continue to look through our physical eyes at what we see around us, we may well start to experience negative feelings…..”will summer ever come?” – “when will things start to improve?”. When really, what we need to understand is that as desperate as this winter scene looks, it is part of God’s government – perfectly planned and structured for the specific purpose of ensuring the future of nature and therefore, our world.
So…. we have a choice in this scenario. We can look with our physical eyes at the negativity around and allow fearful thoughts to affect us – or – we can look through our spiritual eyes and trust that God is in control and that He has planned the outcome. An outcome perfect for all His Bride.
Today in our country we’re seeing terrible acts of violence. Few would have believed it could have happened so quickly. As a body of believers, what would the Lord say to us right now.
He would say….
“…My precious Bride – hold on to that which I have told you. In these dark times, keep your spiritual eyes on Me…and My blessings will follow.”
How do we keep our spiritual eyes on Him?
- We share Him with those around us. We have said before; it’s not necessary to be Evangelists or Pastors in order to share God’s hope with others. We simply share our own experience of Him wherever we feel led to do so – nothing more, nothing less. Many in our country have now lost hope – it’s an ideal time for us to be used to guide them to the source of all Hope.
- We stay in His word as much as we can. In His word we find God’s character and learn how He does things, this will help us to have peace in times of turmoil.
- We pray. By ourselves and with others. This is one way we hear God speaking to us and the way we can ask God to help our country and all the people in it. Pray for the salvation of those perpetrating the violence, so their spiritual eyes may be opened and they will come to know the author of peace.
- We fellowship with other believers, where possible. Perhaps we’re used to going to a Church gathering, which now are temporarily closed, but this doesn’t prevent us meeting together within the confines of the law. It is here that we find encouragement through one another, and are able to meet the physical needs of others.
The more we DO these things (and the accent here is on ‘DO’), then the more we stay focussed on Him.
We’ve heard much talk of revival in our land. It’s no use us waiting for the revival to come and then joining it.
The revival is within us now and we all need to be sharing it with those around us. Jesus tells us that it is those who DO the will of the Father that will inherit the Kingdom. Remember – DOING His will – that means around YOU and I – as WE are led.
In this current wave of violence, It’s no good us being angry and negative because then, in God’s eyes we are no different to those inflicting the carnage, in fact we contribute to the negativity.
Lastly, speak positive words over the situation currently in our country, but more so – BE the positive words – so that others may see that positivity in our lives and have an example to follow, as we follow Jesus.
Let’s not let this current situation drag us into fear as we witness the media coverage. Let’s be aware… but not fearful. Let’s Look through eyes of Faith and trust the Lord for HIS outcome. If we continue to believe with our physical eyes, we will continue to be fearful. There is so much uncertainty around today, but one thing is certain…Jesus is on His way!!
Be blessed as you go out today and BE the hope that our country so desperately needs.
Time with the Master…