A lot transpires in a week. (since last week's post). Emptier shelves, Longer lines and minute by minute updates interrupt our stream of conscious causing us to reassess life.
Cancelled, postponed, shut down, off limits, unavailable. The anticipated events in our lives are deleted from the calendar.
Major and minor league sports, high school sports, concerts, conventions, meet-ups, church meetings, assemblies, public amusement parks and historical sites...even school!
The list goes on.
We are told to communicate virtually, isolate, hunker down, socially detach, board up the house...well, not quite that.
When we are told to shut it down, God reminds us to sanctify.
John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth."
When we are told to forget about doing this or that, God tells us to have faith.
Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whooever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
When we are told things are without precedent, unpredictable and the pressure is on, God gives us peace.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God's is for us; His will and sovereign plan remain steadfast. He, the Lord is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. We can go about our daily walk with Him in the midst of our side-lined days, our self-quarantine and cancellations.
God shows up. Always.
Will we?
Maybe you have abandoned plans to know God more. Maybe you have postponed, set aside that talk you needed to have with Him. Maybe your hurt and pride have become like a virus, a venom allowed to keep surging through your veins. It hardens the heart.
But God! He is our refuge! He remedies, redeems, revives us from ourselves, our sin, our apathy, our fear. For God is Love for our condition, our very critical condition if we do not recognize His sacrifice, accept His perscription for Hope.
Lord, A national and world-wide pandemic is a scary and very serious thing. This virus continues to mutate and move in ways we do not yet understand. Lord, I pray for those gifted to find ways to halt it, cure it, sequester it, be given grace and wisdom in the process. I pray for Your protection and for our patience during this outbreak. I pray for those most vulnerable. Encourage us Lord and guide us to encourage one another, serve one another and be creative in the ways we can do, be good to one another and continue to be about Your plan. May understanding and compassion, fellowship and furthering Your Gospel be foremost on our minds and hearts as we approach Passion Week and Easter morning. Lord change us, mutate us to transcend all that this world wants to destroy, All for Your Glory, Amen.
