As we enter this new year, it’s certainly appropriate to reflect upon what has transpired and its impact on our lives.
For most, this past year was quite challenging, and I for one gladly enter this new period with great optimism and expectations.
That does not mean we can just relax and simply anticipate all is well. If we want to experience a sweeter existence, we must participate wholeheartedly in God’s plan and His process.
It does no good to place blame on any party. Instead, we must seize the opportunity before us.
It’s time to leave failed ideologies behind and seek God’s desire for His people moving forward!
We’ve weathered the storms of the past few years and it’s time to rebuild and fortify our defenses against a formidable Enemy. Satan wants to devour those who trust in the Lord of the Universe.
Nearly 2,500 years ago, in the waning years of the Babylonian exile and subsequent captivity of God’s chosen people, Nehemiah courageously came before the King of Persia and passionately presented his concern for his homeland.
For months he had been praying for Jerusalem and the rebuilding of its wall.
Miraculously, Artaxerxes questioned his cupbearer why he was so sad. Upon articulately presenting his concern for his homeland, the king agreed to send Nehemiah to Jerusalem with his blessing and all the supplies required to rebuild the Temple wall.
Amazingly, the task was completed in just 52 days after Nehemiah formally took leadership of the immense project God had given him! The full story can be found in the Book of Nehemiah.
We now have our own wall to complete here in America. We also have much work to regain control of an out-of-control bureaucracy.
There has already been much prayer and fasting and certainly much more will be required in the coming months and years. With God’s help, we can succeed!
We must take the words of the Apostle Paul found in 1 Corinthians 1:20 to heart: “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
That pretty well sums up where we’ve been the first quarter of this century. This world sadly in turn considers His Word to be foolishness.
Let’s turn to Psalm 14:1-3 and listen to the words of King David: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the son of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
There’s much wisdom found in Scripture and we would be wise to turn back to the ways of our forefathers here in America.
May we allow God back into our classrooms, into government, and especially into our hearts!