FROM THE HEART OF A CHILD
Just over a year ago, my 4-year-old granddaughter and I were on FaceTime together. All of a sudden, she leaned in and said in a tender, yet bold tone, "Mammy, REMEMBER Jesus is our ONLY HOPE." Needless to say, tears immediately emerged. Then she squeezed her fists together and placed them on her heart and said, "Oh, Mammy, I have so many Jesus' in my heart." By this time tears were literally streaming down my face as she went on to describe her "Jesus Party" she wanted to have for all her friends so she can tell them all about Him. Even now, in my prayer chair, as I write these words tears well up and praise ignites for how God has captured her heart.
I'm quickly reminded of Deuteronomy 11:18-21
“You shall, therefore, lay up these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth."
After hanging up the phone, these thoughts flooded my mind: Do I trust that Jesus is my ONLY HOPE when our nation seems to be crumbling? Do I have a hunger and urgency, like my granddaughter, to tell others about Jesus? Do I praise God to the point of so much excitement that I can't keep it to myself?
Immediately, I began to pray...
"Lord, thank you for using the heart of my granddaughter to remind me that Jesus is our ONLY HOPE. Lord, draw me even closer to You so that I truly hunger to share Jesus with others. Forgive me for focusing on the world around me and taking my eyes off of Jesus. I pray for children across this nation to have a heart for You. May parents follow You so closely that they are a vivid reflection of Jesus to their children. May parents teach their children at home about Your Word, Your precepts, Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy. I pray that moms and dads would instill in their children a healthy fear of the Lord, meaning a true deep down respect for Him and Hi Word. In Jesus Holy Name. Amen."
CHALLENGE: Today, may each of us examine our hearts. Is God calling you to be a voice for His Kingdom and share the love of Christ with others? How can you make a difference for the Kingdom of God in our nation now? Right, where you live, walk, travel, even in your home?
For me, God is calling me to PRAYER and ACTION. He is stirring something deep within my heart and soul. I'm finding the Lord waking me up around 3:00am every morning to pray. This morning, I experienced a "fresh wind" as I was praying for our nation and this next generation. All of a sudden, I could hear my granddaughter's voice say, "Mammy, remember Jesus is our ONLY HOPE." Passion filled my heart, mind, and soul as I jumped out of bed and got on my knees, "Lord, here I am. Forgive me for falling prey to the idea that America is TOO far gone. You are our ONLY HOPE! Turn us from our wicked ways and awaken our souls to the biblical truths in Your Word. We ask for repentance to ignite across this country for the ways we have sat back and allowed laws to be passed that don't protect the biblical foundation America was built upon. Humbly, I thank You for Your mercy that we don't deserve, yet you promise when we pray and turn from our sinful ways you forgive us. In the name above all names, Jesus. Amen."