I don’t know about you, but January slipped by way too fast. I was shocked when I looked at the calendar and saw I only had a few more days to write my January newsletter and get it sent off to you! I don’t think I’m the only one experiencing this acceleration of time. I received an email from a friend several weeks ago, bemoaning that February was almost here!
As many of us observe current world events, we wonder and speculate if the time is near for Jesus to return. My husband and I were just discussing how our childhood seemed so much easier and kinder than the world our children and grandchildren are experiencing. Even though there was the Cold War and I remember drills of hiding under our desks, there was a sense of morality and biblical values that most people honored and tried to live by, especially in the church. Today I worry that many in the church are becoming numb to the travesties not only happening in our world, but also often governing what we say and do.
We must stand firm in our faith that even though the culture has gone woke, God hasn’t! He’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow so our actions, thoughts, beliefs, and speech should never change to adapt to something we don’t believe. God is our bench line. Our solid rock. Our firm foundation. Only God governs the soul of a believer. How freeing!
Girls are girls and boys are boys and pity the person who is deceived into thinking differently. Babies are created at conception and have a right to life, a scientific fact. We should never let a small minority of confused and wayward people influence us. They will one day be accountable to God and so will we.
A question I often ask myself is: If Jesus did return this very moment, am I where I would want Him to find me? Doing what He would want me to do? Saying what He wants me to say? Believing and speaking truth and not lies? Is my loyalty to the world or to God? Am I ready?
The Bible tells us that God knows what we’re thinking and doing; we’re not fooling Him. O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. (Psalm 139:1 NLT)
There are many voices bombarding us these days and many will ridicule us, call us names, and denounce our beliefs, but sincere believers only care about one opinion: God’s! I heard a distinguished officer fighter pilot being interviewed on a news program as to why he was taking legal action against the military who are denying religious exemptions to the vaccines. I was impressed to hear him say he was a Christian, he had prayed about it, and was listening to the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t ashamed to claim and say Christian, prayer, and Holy Spirit publically! And neither should we be afraid or ashamed.
The more we listen to God in prayer and reading our Bibles, the more we will recognize God’s voice and the Holy Spirit speaking to our heart and mind telling us the way we should go. With time, we begin to recognize His voice out of all the other noise competing for our attention. He will train our ears to hear Him clearly. I know it’s true; it’s happened to me! Listening to God is the only way I know what He wants me to write, speak, say, and do. If you’re not hearing God, you will if you put in the time, energy, and effort to practice listening when He speaks through His Word and the Holy Spirit living in your heart.
Let’s make 2022 the year we’re spiritually ready for Christ’s return. Whenever He determines the time is right, we’re going with Him!
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
(Isaiah 55:6 NLT)
About His Work with You,
Janet
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