God Speaks in the Midst of National Turmoil – Journaling by Tom P.

 July 7, 2020 – Two-Way Journaling from Tom P.

Oh Lord, I come to you with worship and praise.  To you be all glory this day.  Lord, I come with great sadness and anger this day, I see the great divide in our nation.  Truly it seems like the foundations of our nation are being shaken.  Are being broken down.  The epidemic is a plague.  The racial unrest is pointing out the great divisions in our nation.  Broken families.  Rejection of you, oh Lord.  The number of people with a biblical worldview continues to diminish.  Economic fragility is evident everywhere.  Things are in recovery, but the debt explodes.  The rise of a radical left.  Socialists, Marxists, and anarchists.  I truly feel like the Psalmist who wrote, when the foundations are crumbling what are the righteous to do?  There is no easy answer or political solution.   Oh Lord, the darkness grows in our land.  Pornography, drugs, gambling, drugs, greed, materialism, hatred, bigotry all multiply in our midst.  Lawlessness, reigning in our cities.  The poor suffer while the wealthy and extreme rich explode. 

Lord, I come with sadness, anger, and a bit scared.  A good bit scared when I peer into what I think may be coming our way.  America, founded on biblical principles, however imperfectly, is growing in division and is at risk of division and even the breaking off of states.  Like Israel in the Old Testament.

Lord, what are your thoughts on this?  What should I think and do about what is happening?

Tom, lift up your eyes and look to me.  Turn your eyes to me.  Come into my temple, my heavenly throne room and look at me.  Realize this is where I am, and I am totally in control.  I reign and rule.  I am sovereign over all the nations of the earth.  They are as dust, a drop in the bucket.  They rise and fall.  Not one nation has survived from the beginning of time.  Do not place your hope or confidence in the things of this world.  Wealth, safety, or security.  Even people or man.  No, place your hope and confidence in me, my Word, my Spirit, my Son.  These are the things which will keep you and encourage you.  They are where your hope, peace, and joy will be found.  Yes, fix your attention on my love, have faith in me and hope in my unshakeable, eternal Kingdom. 

Yes, Kingdoms will rise and fall but my Kingdom, my City will not be lost.  Look to me.  Keep your eyes on me.  Continue to grow in the things of my Spirit.  The times will require you to hear my voice and walk in it.  To draw the strength you will need for the days ahead, you must continue to grow in hearing my voice, walking by faith and by trusting in me.  Yes Tom, I am and will continue to shake all things.  Be wise and understanding.  Do not fear what people in the world fear.  Do not fear what people in this life fear.  Fear me.  Reverence me.  Know that I am a holy and just God but also know and dwell in my mercy, gentleness, kindness, goodness, love, and compassion for you.  Yes, dwell in me.  Know me.  Be conformed to my image.  Turn to me and seek my face.  Yes, draw near to me.  Allow me to guide and direct you.  Know that in the midst of chaos and brokenness, I am there in your midst.  Whether in judgment or good times or bad times, I am there in your midst.  I will never leave you nor forsake you.  I will guard and protect you in the shelter of my wing.  In the midst of the storm, I will be your shelter.  Your refuge and strength. 

When I shake all things, be sure you are focused and dwelling in my Word and ways.  Yes, that is how you will prepare for the times ahead.  Trust and abide in me.  Yes, if joy, peace, and love are abiding in your heart then you are abiding in me.  That is why it is important to grow in hearing my voice.  Abide in me and my ways.  And I will guide and direct you. 

Yes, gaze upon me.  Look to me and abide in me.  Yes, in the world you will have tribulation but in me you will have righteousness, peace, and joy.  Yes, in the midst of insecurity and cultural, economic, political, and cultural confusion know that I am building my Kingdom.  Be not afraid for that is the work of the evil one.  Draw your strength and hope from me.  In the world you will have tribulation, but I have overcome the world.  My kingdom is advancing, and more and more people are coming into it.

Tom, learn to enter into, dive deeper into my Word.  Know that it is living and active.  Enter into it with faith and the guidance of my Spirit.  There you will find and understand the way forward, my Spirit will quicken it and make it alive.  It will speak to and guide you in your heart.