My heart breaks for all the disunity, chaos, and hatred that is displayed in our world today! We see firsthand how good and evil are wrestling with each another. Painful conflicts arise which are hurting relationships and causing deep divisions. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) instructs, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking around for someone to devour.” The enemy hates humanity: he is the ruler of this earth.
As believers, we must remember “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The battle we are currently facing is not ours alone to fight. It’s actually God’s battle to fight on our behalf. Paul tells us in Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
How are we supposed to react to all this turmoil around us? First, we are called to seek our Heavenly Father in prayer. Philippians 4:6 instructs us, “don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done [and will do].”
I admit it is hard not to worry when the world teaches us to worry. I often say “this is just not right!” when I hear and see wrong done to someone. We are living in difficult times, but as Christians, we must continually remind ourselves that God sees and hears it all. God is SOVEREIGN over all the chaos around us.
When you hear about someone’s conflict or loss, you might become angry and frustrated towards those who are to blame, right? That’s our natural reaction. But as Christians, we are called to live out our faith and to represent Christ’s light to the world around us. Jesus prayed continually to our Heavenly Father, seeking His guidance and strength to continue fulfilling His mission. I believe we too are called to seek God in fervent prayer.
What would happen if we lift up everything we see to our Heavenly Father and ask Him to redeem the turmoil, so that we could see the very hand of God moving on our behalf? What would our communities and our circumstances look like if we prayed for everything? I believe God desires to answer our prayers and reveal more of Himself to us today.
Remember our Bible is full of miracle stories where God made Himself known to His people and brought them out of bad situations into better ones. The Spirit of God is moving, and we must believe He is at work today.
Next time you get frustrated or angry, I encourage you to channel those thoughts into prayers, asking God to go before you to bring change to that situation and glory to His name. Thank Him in advance for the marvelous outcome and watch with great expectation!
Living for Him,