GOD’s Hand in the 2016 Election Cycle?

A great deal of chatter has been going down lately concerning Hillary Clinton’s physical condition. Is she really sick? Is she really suffering through some condition that should cause her to be removed from the presidential race? The situation that occurred on 9/11 where she was rushed away from the 9/11 service she had been attending indicates a serious issue exists but her campaign crew speaks otherwise.

GOD spoke these words to His prophet Daniel: “He (GOD) removes kings and establishes kings” (Daniel 2:21 HCSB). The Apostle Paul wrote: “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). Jesus told Pilate: “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it hadn’t been given you from above” (John 19:11). From all Scriptural indicators, GOD retains the ultimate responsibility for raising up and putting down those who will serve in leadership positions.

Now, I certainly believe GOD allows man to make choices and GOD honors those choices for a season—often so we will learn a lesson from the evil greediness and actions of many of these leaders. However, the time comes when GOD must intervene and take control of the situation so His ultimate plan falls into place. So, are we seeing this played out before our eyes today? Are we witnessing the intervention of GOD in this election cycle?

Consider, for a moment, Hillary Clinton’s view on abortion. Please read on, this is important, don’t throw stones yet! I really don’t care about anything else she stands for or against because to the heart of GOD, this is the single most important aspect of this election—the mass murder of innocent unborn lives! America stands on the cusp of GOD’s judgment for what we have allowed to be done to these innocent lives.

Hillary has declared herself in full alignment with Planned Parenthood who we know, and the evidence proves, is the nation’s largest abortion provider. She has declared her stand for abortion and she will see that America murders even more babies through the Supreme Court justices she would have the power to appoint. Just maybe—GOD is moving in a special way in this election and has determined it is time to put a stop to this grievous crime against humanity. Maybe He has determined to put down her rise in order to save the lives of babies?

Hillary can quote all the Scripture she wants. She can talk about her Sunday school experiences all she wants. BUT, her heart is bent towards evil and judgment from GOD will fall and it will be harsh.

Now, I know there will be many of you, if you made it this far, who stand against and even speak out against what I have written, declaring your reasons not to choose TRUMP. Certainly, there are a great deal of them, but his actions reflected in choosing a GOD-fearing man as a running mate who is a strong pro-life candidate indicate to me that he will most probably take the high road when it comes to securing the lives of the innocent.

I really have to admit that I am not nearly as concerned about who is in the Whitehouse as I am about who that person puts on the bench of the Supreme Court. I am not nearly as concerned with whether the president is a strong military individual as I am in his choices for justices—as Abraham Lincoln said: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

This election cycle has the power to make or break America—from the inside out! Christians across America need to wake-up and hear from GOD before our last religious freedom is stolen from us by an out-of-control government!

I pray Hillary’s heart changes before she meets her Maker. I pray she realizes the preciousness of life and changes her stance. I pray especially for America today that the Spirit of GOD will open the eyes of all Americans to the seriousness of our situation and we will align ourselves with the principles of GOD’s Word in all our choices and decisions! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Overcoming Fear by an Overwhelming Trust

Fear of the unknown is perhaps one of the most destructive devices utilized by the enemy to prevent GOD’s people from fulfilling His purpose and plan within them. Fear of failure, fear of losing out, fear of being overwhelmed, fear of simply being unable to keep pushing forward in the face of difficulty—these and so many other fears have gripped the hearts of GOD’s people preventing them from discovering victory in their life, in their pursuits and in their destiny.

How do you break free from the bondage of fear? How do you overcome fear’s grip that seems to strangle the life out of you? You know what I am talking about today. You have confronted fear and failure in your own life and possibly found yourself overpowered by it at times? It has probably prevented you from moving into things you knew GOD was leading you to? It has probably held you back from moving into times of victory and overwhelming excitement that victory would bring? The enemy has utilized fear from the very beginning to hinder man’s progress forward in spiritual victory.

Caleb’s life reveals some important keys to overcoming your fears and living in victory. In Numbers 14, we find Caleb standing strong before the nation of Israel. The nation is on the cusp of victory as they stand on the border of the Promised Land. The spies, having been sent in to check out the land, returned excited about the beauty and bounty of the land but fear grips their hearts as they allow the size of the inhabitants to remove their trust in a bigger, more powerful GOD. They soon find themselves declaring their absolute inability to take the land GOD had already given them.

Caleb stood up and declared: “He will bring us into this land…and give it to us…don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:8-9 HCSB). Caleb’s faith and trust in a great big GOD prevented him from being fearful in the face of what would appear to be overwhelming odds.

Caleb saw GOD’s ability to bring them through to victory. He refused to allow the enemy’s great size and might to cloud his vision of the all-powerful GOD that he served. He didn’t look at victory as something yet to be attained rather he saw it as something that was already done!

Your victory has already been won. Consider the two ways you have to look at every situation—either from a standpoint of defeat or of victory. Satan would have you to stand in fear as you look up at the giant of a mountain standing in your path. But, GOD would have you to trust in Him to tear that mountain down before you by His overwhelming might and power. It’s your choice to decide who you will listen to. You can submit to defeat by listening to the lies of the enemy or you can live in victory by placing your complete trust in the all-powerful GOD.

We discover quickly that the Israelites chose to listen to the deceit of the spies. GOD responded by declaring: “as surely as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these 10 times and did not obey Me, will ever see the land I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have despised Me will see it” (vv. 21-23). GOD declared that all who failed to trust Him to take them in would die in the wilderness without ever enjoying His promised land.

Caleb reaped an abundance of rewards from GOD for his faithfulness and trust. The Bible records these words of Caleb: “As you see, the Lord has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised…Here I am today, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out…Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day… Joshua blessed Caleb…and gave him Hebron as an inheritance” (Joshua 14:10-14).

You may be facing a mountain of fear today? You may be at the end of your rope…HANG ON, TRUST GOD and He will come through for you in great abundance in His way and in His time. Do not let your fear of the unknown cloud your vision of what is known about our great big powerful GOD. As you learn to place more and more trust in GOD, you will find yourself become stronger and more powerful in His strength and might.

Scripture Reading: “I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering stone fence? They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly. Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Men are only a vapor; exalted men, an illusion. On a balance scale, they go up; together they weigh less than a vapor. Place no trust in oppression, or false hope in robbery. If wealth increases, pay no attention to it. God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God, and faithful love belongs to You, Lord. For You repay each according to his works” (Psalm 62 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father, I feel as though life is swallowing me whole. The mountains that the enemy has raised up in my path are overwhelming me. I am at the point of throwing up my arms and running but I know that is not the right thing to do. I know that You are there for me. I know You hear me. I know You love me. I know You care about me. I realize that out of this mess I am in victory will arise. I must trust in You today. Father, I place all my trust in You and I am believing You for relief from this pressure and stress. I know the promise of deliverance is on Your lips and I shall soon see it before my eyes. Until then, give me Your strength to continue…I pray these things, in Jesus’ name…AMEN!  

Return to the GOD Who Loves You!

How often do you find yourself drifting in and out of church? Drifting in your commitment to GOD? Drifting in your commitment to the things of GOD? How often have you just walked away for a while and returned to your old way of doing things? Your old lifestyle? Maybe you’ve dug up your past and started living in it once again?

I don’t know where you are in your walk with Jesus today; but, I do know that if you aren’t where you should be it’s time to get back there! It’s time for you to turn your life around and return to GOD!

I have discovered, and witnessed it first hand, that when a believer “falls-away” from living for GOD, the despair and chaos that begins to enter in is of a destructive nature—left to itself, total destruction will eventually befall the individual. Only you can change that in your life, if that is where you are at today!

The nation of Israel once again found themselves far from GOD. They often drifted away from Him and in His constant love for them, He would gently nudge them back. GOD’s Spirit came upon the priest, Azariah, and sent him to King Asa with a word from GOD for His wondering people: “The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you” (2 Chronicles 15:2 HCSB).

That same word is for you today. Whatever your spiritual condition may be, GOD promises to be with you when your heart is set on Him. He promises you will find Him even in your distress. He promises He will never abandon you regardless of the steps you choose to take. GOD loves you today no matter where you may be in life and He desires to have you in close, intimate fellowship with Himself.

Azariah then confronts Asa with the truth of the situation: “For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law, but when they turned to the Lord God of Israel in their distress and sought Him, He was found by them” (vv. 3-4).

Israel had been wondering along through life without GOD—the GOD that called them out of the darkness, the GOD that had delivered them from the penalty of their sin, the GOD that had freed them from the bondage of their oppressors. They had forsaken Him and turned away from Him to their own way of living.

Maybe that’s you today? GOD cares about you. He is working constantly trying to draw you back, to change your heart and mind—how will you respond today?

The Bible tells us: Asa “took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land…then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their ancestors with all their mind and all their heart” (vv. 8,12). Notice that it took an action on their part to initiate the change that GOD was desiring to bring about in them. They removed the things that were leading them astray, got their lives in order and committed to seeking after GOD with all their hearts and minds.

The story draws to a close by telling us: “They had sought Him (GOD) with all their heart, and He was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side” (v. 15). When they truly sought GOD out, He was found and His peace that they had so longed for returned to them and flooded over them granting them an inner peace and tranquility as never before.

In the midst of your problems, GOD is speaking to you today. His love for you is unfailing. His desire to be close to you is never-ending. Walk away from the things of this world today and place your confidence in Jesus Christ. Trust Him to once again re-establish the relationship with the Father that your innermost being is so longing for today. What will you do? How will you respond?

Scripture Reading: “I love You, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies. The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me. The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. I called to the Lord in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears. Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because He burned with anger. Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; coals were set ablaze by it. He parted the heavens and came down, a dark cloud beneath His feet. He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His hiding place, dark storm clouds His canopy around Him. From the radiance of His presence, His clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals. The Lord thundered from heaven; the Most High projected His voice. He shot His arrows and scattered them; He hurled lightning bolts and routed them. The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my distress, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out to a wide-open place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not turned from my God to wickedness” (Psalm 18:1-21 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I have drifted away from You. I have allowed my selfish desires to command my steps and lead me to places I wish I had never gone and to do things I wish I had never done. Please forgive my failures and my sinful ways. Please cleanse me and purify me so I may stand boldly in Your presence once again. I love You and desire to once again be dwelling in Your midst, hearing Your voice and following Your lead. Thank You, Father, for never giving up on me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!