God is Always in Control

I must begin by encouraging you with what you already know but sometimes we forget when things get all crazy. God is Always in Control, always and forever! No exceptions!However, I do have a question or rather an observation. Have you noticed that as a whole, when times are good it’s easy to go about our daily lives and not give God or our eternal destination much thought? Its almost like we give God a day off because everything is good.

Likewise, when life is smooth sailing, our prayers are what I call canned off the shelf prayers. Consequently, these are prayers that are dry and without much substance. Furthermore, they are prayers from our mouths and not our hearts. We are just putting a checkmark next to the box of our to-do list and off we go on our merry way.

Canned prayers like: 

• Now I lay me down to sleep…  
• God is good God is great and we thank you for our food…
• Lord in heaven, hear my prayer, Keep me in your loving care…
• God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…

Do not misunderstand me. Any prayer is excellent if it comes from the heart. But we can get in a rut (a grave with both ends knocked out) and rattle off meaningless words. How God’s heart must hurt when we fail to have a real heartfelt conversation with Him.

Hey, I’m telling on myself here. I have been guilty of praying “bless me” prayers and prayers where my heart isn’t in it. Let me share what once was a heartfelt prayer which I allowed to become a “canned prayer” without realizing it. It happens to everyone!

Sharing My Own Canned Prayer

Before I retired I drove I-65 between Elizabethtown KY and Louisville KY to work. It allowed me the unfortunate opportunity to see many ambulances on the interstate responding to accidents. In the beginning, I would pray and ask my Father to give the EMTs wisdom in helping whoever was in the ambulance. I then would ask that God would work in the patient’s lives and their families. It was a simple prayer from the heart. However, it eventually became “Lord be with whoever is in need in this ambulance and those who are caring for them”. A simple abbreviated prayer that God still honors as long as it was coming from my heart.

“But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.” – Matthew 6:7

Then one day as I passed an ambulance I just rattled off the abbreviated prayer without thinking about it. I meant what I was saying but my heart was no longer in the equation. Now you may think God still honors those types of prayers and I believe He does. He knows our hearts better than we do, But for me, it was a wakeup call when my Abba brought that to MY attention. When I talk to my Father He deserves my whole heart to participate.

When Adversity Strikes

However, it’s when adversity strikes that we’re more prone to seek and turn to the Lord and actually have a conversation where we pour our hearts out to Him! Why is that? Because we know He hears us and we are depending on Him. We have nowhere else to turn and God knows that.

When current events or the future looks bleak there’s a greater likelihood that people will turn to the Lord in their fear and uncertainty. Remember the churches were full after the 9/11 attack. At least for a couple of weeks.

God knows what it will take to get His creation looking to Him as we should always be doing. Unfortunately, some of us can be very defiant and hard-headed. They are easily deceived by the god of this world. Don’t forget that God is in control!

“… the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Cor 4:4 (AMP)

“I looked when He (the Lamb) broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth …the whole moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth… The sky was split [separated from the land] and rolled up like a scroll, and every mountain and island were dislodged and moved out of their places.“

^“Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the military commanders and the wealthy and the strong and everyone, [whether] slave or free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the [righteous] wrath and indignation of the Lamb” – Revelation 6:12- 17 AMP

God Always has Satan on a Leash

God loves each one of us. Even the most diabolical person you can think of. Therefore, as we see the day of His return approaching as described in Matthew 24 and 2 Timothy 3, we need not be afraid. That is, if we truly have a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. Never fear, while the evil one is bringing chaos around the world, he is still on God’s leash. I believe the Lord is allowing the panic over world events, especially the Coronavirus hysteria as a wake-up call to the lost, but more so to the Body of Christ!

“For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened.” – Mat 24:21-22 (AMP)

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]“ – John 16:33 (AMP)

As the signs described in Matthew 24 and 2 Timothy 3, increase in intensity, like a pregnant woman’s birth pains, even believers will experience the increasing turbulence and chaos of the times.

We must be settled in our hearts and not give in to the fear and paranoia that will surround us. In a recent post, I shared two terrifying incidents that happened within a 3-year span as a young woman. I understand the debilitating emotion of fear!

God Will do Whatever it Takes

However, God will do whatever it takes to wake up the world. He means business! There is not much “time left”. God is determined to get the world’s attention.

“First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming [what has become of it]? For ever since the fathers fell asleep [in death], all things have continued [exactly] as they did from the beginning of creation.”

“Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:3-4; 8-9 (AMP)

ll this hysteria about the coronavirus is being hyped up by the media and Satanic forces to bring people to the point of accepting the one world global leader known as the Antichrist. More on this topic in a future article. Do you remember this quote?

“You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”

Rahm Emanuel

Wake Up Body of Christ

However, we know the truth and are aware of Satan’s diabolical shenanigans. Moreover, what Satan plans for evil God uses for His own purposes. God is allowing the shaking and turbulence to wake up many people who hardly ever give Him the time of day. And to wake up His sleeping Body of Believers.

We may never know this side of heaven the positive impact of what is happening due to the chaotic events around us. However, all that’s taking place in the world today is having I believe the much-needed effect of turning people to the Lord.

“…no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” – 1 Cor 2:11

^“For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” – 1 Cor 2:16

” Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or has taught Him as His counselor? ” – Is 40:13

Amplified Bible

Praise the Lord. Our lost loved ones that we have been praying for, may now turn and except the offer of eternal life through Christ as events draw closer to His return. Don’t you think the inconvenience it may cause believers is worth it?

Meanwhile, we need to be there for each other and for others who we can share our Savior with. There is hope!

Standing Firm in the Midst of Chaos

I am dedicated to standing firm on God’s word no matter what develops. Moreover, I am determined to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to hold on and stand firm themselves.

That’s why I set up this ministry site. This is why I put together encouraging booklets for you to download for free. Please understand, I am available to mentor, answer questions, or pray with anyone that has a need. I covenant to rejoice when you rejoice or cry when you cry.

Will you make the decision to be determined not to fall for the enemy’s fear and deception tactics! I need your encouragement in my life also because there are many moments where I struggle with different issues of life.

If you are a true believer in Christ, there is no reason for fear because we know God is in control. If the rapture does not occur sooner than later we may have to endure these increasing birth pains leading up to the 7-year tribulation.

How should we as Believers respond to all the chaos? What are some of your ideas? Do you have scriptures that help you in times of adversity? Please share them in the comment section below.

If you are not a believer of Christ there is no better time than now to give your life to the One who loves you.

Be Encouraged!

• Feed on God’s Word and not on the News hype.
• Be aware but never despair!
• Onward Christian Soldier!
• The King is Coming!

Maranatha

You may like to read the following:

• Pastor David Jeremiah Blog: What Is the Tribulation?
• article from The Guardian.com: How a global health crisis turns into a state-run surveillance opportunity
• article from Got Questions.org:  What is the Tribulation?

“Rahm Emanuel Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2020. 10 March 2020. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/rahm_emanuel_409199