This is such a different time for everyone. We haven’t seen events as they are in our lives. Myself, I wake up early morning by morning, praying, seeking, listening, longing to hear all He is telling me. One day I woke up early and I had so much on my heart. I decided to write it down and share it with you. What I am sharing is my heart, my thoughts and very likely not to be like yours. That’s okay. The part I share about me you are welcome to disagree with. The part I share about Him, take time to ponder and search out yourself.
I was raised by a very strong, opinionated Dad. He was intelligent, he read and studied hours a day. He was very conservative and studied the Constitution, our rights and standing firm on what God gave us in this country of freedom. He was prophetic and many things he spoke about from the 1960’s until he went to be with the Lord in 2001, we have seen come to pass. He stood on his constitutional rights and was even involved in politics wanting to keep the freedom of this country strong for his grandkids and great-grandchildren. So being raised like this I naturally lean towards keeping freedom that is constitutionally ours and standing firm on every right that is ours in this country founded by God. I don’t believe in compromising anything that is against the Word of God. I believe Proverbs 3:4-5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.” The Word says He will lead me when I am trusting and acknowledging Him and I believe that! I am “old fashioned” on the ways of the Lord and living by the Word. The Word says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12. Our family is very strong and believe our constitutional rights. Our children believe in America and are proud Americans and our grandchildren have been raised the same.
I say all this all this to say, when something like we’ve seen for the last few weeks happens my first thought is to protect our freedom. Now I do respect keeping people from dying from this evil attack of the enemy. I have been in enough foreign countries and was in the hospital daily for 3 months with Tim that I have learned to be careful what I touch, what I put in my mouth and I’m all about washing my hands. Actually, our last team to Kenya got Girardi from washing our hands with soap. The 2 that didn’t wash their hands didn’t get sick. It was contaminated water. So it’s about using His wisdom, listening to Him, not leaning on my own understanding and letting Him guide in all my ways. I definitely respect cleanliness and the Bible tells us to.
However, in my heart I don’t believe that everything that has transpired in the last few weeks was about keeping people well and alive. This has been a battle in many ways. Since this virus or any virus is from the enemy PERIOD there has been a spiritual battle. We can’t just use man’s understanding of washing hands and social distancing. Those are good, common sense things to do. But we need to take our authority! We can’t beg God to heal our land. He sent Jesus Who paid that price over 2000 years ago! Our land is healed, it is blessed. We already have the victory in Jesus and the cross. This virus and any sickness is an attack and lie of the enemy. Jesus gave us authority over this earth when He ascended into heaven. WE have the authority and power in Him to stop the spread of this evil thing. It’s not our strength it is His in us. We need to call the virus dead in the name of Jesus and believe it is dead! “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 The Bible says that Believers lay hands on the sick and they recover not have to be 6 feet away. We are covered by His blood and no plaque can come our dwelling (Psalm 91). The blood of the Lamb is on our doorposts and nothing can come in, in fact it dies. There is power in 2 or 3 praying together. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 The Word tells us to not forsake coming together especially in the last days. “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 This virus has NO power over anyone but we must believe in our identity in Him and all He gave us at the cross. When we don’t know what truly happened through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection we don’t know what our rights as His children are.
Now I will share my feelings on the rest of the story. This is where it sounds political but I am just sharing more of the Word and how He is guiding us. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10 No matter how you believe politically doesn’t matter, we all watched the leaders have issues with money and control at the cost of people’s lives and livelihood. I understand that Godless people, there are still many people that need the Lord, are blind to what Believers believe. We need to be praying for the leaders that are leading us from the President to our county officials as much as we need to pray for the virus. Those that don’t believe don’t see it the same that’s why we can’t let them lead our country into dark places. We are to be the light. We need to pray and break all the lies and control. Remember the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. Fear is also from the enemy. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 1 Timothy 1:7
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 The perfect love is Jesus. We need to cast off that fear so we can walk in His power, love and sound mind.
A few truths to remember and put in our hearts. When we pray we pray usually say “In the Name of Jesus” or we may say, “In Jesus Name” . What is His name?
Savior Healer
The Way, the Truth and the Life Lamb of God
Redeemer Good Shepherd
Prince of Peace Provider
Protector Refuge
Strong Tower Deliverer
Faithful and True Friend
Name above all names – This is Truth
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13
We must stand against the wiles of the devil. We aren’t fighting the people – even the ones we don’t like. The enemy will use anything to destroy what we believe, to get us into fear, to not believe who we are in Christ Jesus. We can’t lie down- we must stand. You can read the rest of Ephesians 6 about the full armor of God.
The Lord gave me a prophesy about this time of being shut up. I don’t know what I think about the shelter in place but He gave me a word. He will use what the enemy meant for evil and turn it into good. I don’t believe I have to submit to anything the leaders of this country say if it’s against the Word but I will abide by the guidelines that the Lord says to abide by. These few weeks of shelter in place can be used to rest in Him and get our hearts grounded firm in Him. I believe through all this that the Lord is working some mighty things and we will come forth in triumph. We can take a couple three weeks to abide in Him. Read John 15. It’s a great place to be. But let’s use this time wisely and be prepared for the outpouring that will come from this tragedy. You don’t have to agree with the leaders that are making decisions right now. Actually, there are times I get pretty frustrated because there’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes. But I know my part is to pray for the leaders, to pray salvation for those who don’t know Jesus, pray they will seek God’s wisdom and direction in every decision they make. That sounds impossible but I am also calling things that aren’t as though they are! The media slogan is we are together in this. They are talking about the hard times, the tough times.
We can be together in this as Believers to be a light in the darkness. We are the light of Life.