Dear Jesus,
Will those of us who have strayed from Your Word ever be able to return to You? And is there a time limit on when we can turn from our sins and back to You?
My thirties were a blur of blissful joy, warp-speed life changes and some painful life lessons. You blessed me with a wonderful wedding and the gift of motherhood. These two new roles brought immediate struggles, an exhausting diagnosis, and falling head-over-heals in love with my son. Lord, it is so strange how the most turbulent times in life can offer BOTH abundant blessings and unimaginable difficulties (Romans 5:1-5, Matthew 5:1-16, 2 Corinthians 6:3-10). With these opposites sitting side-by-side. I remember, as a young mom, thinking, “how can so many good things happen concurrent with really awful things?” It didn’t seem fair; and maybe it wasn’t. But most people with any age-notches on their belt can testify to life not being fair, at least from our limited viewpoint. I’m sure You see things from an entirely different perspective, being God and all.
Swept away in adulthood, I became busy being the best mom that had ever walked the earth. I learned what PTA meant, managed schedules, made healthy dinners, and so much more. Unfortunately, in the process, I took off my “Angie” shoes and put on the shoes of someone from a fantasy that lived in my head. Perfect wife. Perfect mom. Perfect woman. As You’re completely aware, I became none of those things, despite my best efforts. And instead of becoming a better version of someone else, I became a miserable version of myself. Like a diamond being mistaken for quartz crystal, my effort went into being someone that I wasn’t, until finally, I wasn’t any version of anyone, imagined OR real.
Staring out over the wilderness of childhood was the closest, most pure version of myself. Self-confident, endless enjoyment in just about anything, and memories of mud pies, climbing trees and honeysuckle nectar, marked those youngest of days. Untarnished by trying to impress my peers, boys, professors, or colleagues, I was simply Angie. Spending countless hours on some piece of artwork or some craft project felt normal to me. So did spending time with my best friend, walking the pot-holed country roads. We spent hours jumping on the trampoline and roaming the countryside, which was basically the woods behind our house, making pine needle houses in our front yards, and gathering up the neighborhood kids for some sort of adventure.
My cousins and I ran up and down the hill at the lake, counted rolly pollies, and fished (a short career for me as I refused to bait my own hook—sorry dad). My cousins on the other side of the family and I shot off fireworks, built sheet forts, played monopoly, sang songs, and ate oatmeal cookies with icing on top. It was a time when I didn’t need to pretend I was someone that I wasn’t. I was just me. And that was good enough for those who loved me.
What changed, Lord? I thought I was doing everything right; I worked at being a responsible, loving, and kind wife and mother. It was so hard juggling everything; in this unnecessarily busy, knowledge-overloaded, instantaneous culture, staying true to oneself seems nearly impossible. And during those years, I lost that little girl. The real me. She disappeared, with paying the bills, doing the laundry, and changing dirty diapers.
Who knew those little things I loved so much could become so delicate, so elusive, when threatened with responsibility? Like an expensive delicacy, I treated those parts of myself as if they were something that could only be indulged when the house was clean, dinner was cooked, and all the loose ends of the day had been tied in a bow. Of course, Lord, that never happened.
Looking back, I wish I had been confident enough in who I was and stood my ground, protecting those things that brought ME joy. Holding onto those pieces that belonged only to me, instead of relinquishing them without a thought. I wish I had recognized my worth, and fought for it, that I had seen the parts of me that You created to be uniquely different. That You created to be good. I wish I had valued who You made me to be and nurtured it, allowing my inner Lucille Ball to emerge, rather than the June Cleaver.
So often, we get caught up in being someone we’re not. Someone that others’ want us to be. Someone that we grew up promising never to become. Someone that we think we should be.
Lord, why is it so hard to just be ourselves? We search for meaning in the clothes we wear, the hairstyle we can’t afford, the number on the scale. We find meaning in such meaningless things, like how our front yard looks, or what job we can boast about. We want to look important with all “the things” so we search for ways to make more money. We want a spouse that will make us look good instead of someone that will help us grow into the people You have created us to be. We look in all the wrong places for worth. When our worth has always been there.
You created us. That’s our worth. You brought each of us into this world. THAT is what makes us valuable. Period. I wonder what would happen if we all valued ourselves the way You do? If we acknowledged our differences and protected who You made us to be, AS a responsibility of being Your children? After all, why would You have gone to all the trouble of making us each so beautifully individual and giving us free will? And why would we then allow ourselves to be swept up into an unnatural circumstance like following someone else’s example of how to live “their” best life? When You’ve given us everything we need to live “OUR” best life?
If we had a stronger sense of who You made us to be (since You are our Creator), maybe, just maybe, we could avoid being so easily led away from You. If we could embrace who we REALLY are, in Your eyes, would our feet be planted on a strong foundation, able to withstand peer pressure, bullying, and condescension from those who oppose You (Luke 8:1-18)? Would we be so mesmerized by all the beautiful lies in this world? Or would we stand proudly, with our favorite pair of ratty old shorts, our uncombed hair, and our out-of-bounds, uncontrollable love for You, claiming our place in Your kingdom?
As a nation, we have pulled so far away from You and so close to the things of this world, that we are giving away the best of ourselves, the best of You, for cheap imitations. The most valuable jewel that we possess is our inheritance into Your kingdom. We’re going to be eternal beings, whether we acknowledge it or not. Why would we give up our home with You for a passing glance at riches, or success, or fame, and forfeit our forever home for our temporary one? We cannot take any of those things into our immortal future. We cannot take our sexual “preference”, as if we were ever given a choice in the matter. We can not take our political party with us, or our opinions on life (especially since we are not the ones that create it), or anything else. So why are so many of us just wasting time, following things that are unworthy of Your kingdom?
Like precious diamonds carelessly guarded, we are willingly allowing our hearts to be stolen out of the vault of eternity, and entrusting them to a liar, a murderer, and a deceiver (John 8:44). We allow our judgmental nature drive us to belittle others, AND ourselves. This always leads to deep sadness, loss, and mourning. In my own life, as You are well aware, my own judgmental attitude was a likely co-conspirator, in the demise of my second marriage. We focus on things like status, and we obsess about our appearance. We battle peer pressure to conform to others’ views. We get caught up in what’s unimportant because its popular, and we lose sight of what IS important, like You, and Your ways. We become prideful and believe we “deserve” everything; when, in fact, we are ALL sinners and really “deserve” nothing.
For SO many years, I put others’ opinions about my life above Yours, Lord. Please forgive me. I was foolish and blind. I wanted to be accepted by everyone. . . except You. The sad thing is that pleasing everyone else means we are definitely NOT pleasing You. I suppose, most of us don’t think about when we will meet our God, until death is knocking. Or we’ve reached a certain age, or have been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, or know someone who has experienced these things. But we avoid all that. Focusing on this life and this life alone, we run towards all that can soothe the pain of the moment, and choose to ignore the only thing that can soothe our souls. . . You.
And suddenly, in this up-is-down and down-is-up kinda world, fierce anger and resentment floats to the surface. Lord, have we really come so far as to elicit this unrelenting, raging fire of disgust from those who do not believe in Your Word? Have we really come to the place where Your Word is so vile to some that many have turned away from it because they simply do not like what it has to say? Has the time come when those who love and honor You are being shunned for that allegiance?
“On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” Zechariah 14:4
A split is brewing beneath the surface, isn’t it? A divide, like a giant, prehistoric crack left by an unyielding earthquake. The enemy’s lies look shiny; his vices “good”, but they are leading so many to death. . . and quickly. It seems as if the separation of those who believe in You and those who don’t is literally becoming a sinkhole of division. As I write, Lord, many people have died from a building collapse in Florida, where a portion of the building stands while the rest is rubble. My heart aches for those who are waiting to hear whether their loved ones are alive or not. My heart hurts for those who are, as I write this, experiencing more pain than they ever knew possible. And like that building, made of concrete and rebar, so visibly strong and powerfully soaring into the skies, we too, imagine ourselves as unshakable, immovable. Yet, it’s a facade. Like a truly remarkable illusionist, the enemy makes us THINK we’re strong, that our defenses are impenetrable and solid, but we are all weak, though we abhor the thought. We have no control over tomorrow. None at all.
This great divide has begun; and we are being separated from one another. Like two kids on opposite sides of the playground, pushed away from one another by opposing friend groups. One calls to the other, but they are too far away from one another to hear each others’ plea for unity. The devil is taking all that we think we know and believe to be true, and hiding the reality that these so-called “truths” are actually deceptions. Passionate opposition of Your Word, led by Lucifer, is creating a separation with such magnitude, that the divide seems to grow wider by the day.
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’” Malachi 1: 2a
“But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty.
“’When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.” Malachi 1:12-14
We question Your goodness, if Your love for us is even real. Instead of digging into what Your Word actually says, revealing Your TRUE LOVE for us, we bore of the work involved and accept someone else’s lie about who You are. Embracing a half-hearted reluctance to Your ways is not acceptable to You, is it? Expecting holes in Your Word and taking the viewpoint that the Bible is only partially correct, is a selfish kind of love that is repugnant to You. You do not want to share Your majesty with anyone or anything else. And You won’t share it. You demand a respectful fear that asks our hearts for real love towards You. Our best. Our best time devoted to You. Our best talents shared for Your kingdom. And our best treasures, joyfully returned back to You. Not because we have to, but because we want to please You. We MUST acknowledge that Your Word is not only the best truth, but the ONLY truth. And it must be respected and followed, not pridefully ignored and celebrated.
Those that proudly ignore Your call to return:
"You saw the great disaster I brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah. Today they lie deserted and in ruins because of the evil they have done. They aroused my anger by burning incense to and worshiping other gods that neither they nor you nor your ancestors ever knew. Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’ But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out; it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins they are today." Jeremiah 44:2-6
"You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.
On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night."
Even those in positions of power, including every Christian, have found it tempting to following the lead of those whose overconfidence seems infectious. But that is merely a fancy adjective for pride; and pride is Satan’s sin. Nonetheless, the allure has permeated so many leaders today. Lord, so many high-ranking government officials, presidents, pastors and church leaders, even the every-day Christian, have turned to “false truths” that dishonor the leadership You have bestowed on them.
And one of the worst casualties of this battle is manhood. Many would say incompetence is the issue. But I wonder if it is only the appearance of a lack of ability. In reality, it seems to be a lack of love, for You. So many of our men have sunk to a level of lifeless leadership that falls far beneath what You have created for their lives. It seems that our men have given up on their responsibility as leaders: of their homes, their churches, and their communities. The enemy has enticed their eyes by all sorts of things that are not of You; and we are ALL the worse for it.
And where does that leave the ladies? In many well-meaning instances, women take the lead. We are definitely capable. We can do great things. But there are certain things that You have set aside for men; and likewise, there are certain equally good and important works, You have set aside for women. Today, women’s leadership seems to be bleeding into a territory we were never meant to occupy. Not because women are incapable; its not that we couldn’t, but perhaps, we shouldn’t. With so many years of being pushed down and out of jobs that we were perfectly capable and suited for, we are now desperate to persevere. Being allowed to assume positions for the first time in history, it seems this new freedom has brought the most beautiful of deceptions, pride. We, strong, powerful, smart and beautiful wives, daughters and mothers, have been duped by the freedom and power that so easily breed pride. We have begun to force our own purposes, instead of Yours, placing proof over purpose.
Like a wobbly, jewel-encrusted flamingo rolling down the middle of the street, the idol presents itself as capability, instead of a full commitment to glorifying You and Your ways. Not that women cannot be successful, God-honoring leaders. They can; but there’s no hiding from our heritage. We are Eve’s children; and as unpopular as it may be, our hearts can be redirected so easily. We are made to embrace those things that make us women, which include a sensitivity that most men do not possess. That blessing of emotional connection, nurturing and caring for others, unfortunately, makes us more susceptible to the enemy, and less able to hear from You. I know we are all uniquely and wonderfully made, and perhaps even some of us ladies are intended to hold positions of power previously held by men. But I know, as women, we must always be aware that the enemy will attack us EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. And the ONLY WAY we could ever succeed, is with You standing at the helm, guiding our every step. There is simply no other option.
Lord, if we do not heed this warning and open our eyes to the work of the enemy and his mission to destroy Your authority, what is in store for us? Simply put, if we continue on the paths we are currently forging for ourselves, men AND women, what should we expect?
"But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth." Jeremiah 45:4
“For I am watching over them for harm, not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed. Those who escape the sword and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few. Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.” Jeremiah 44:27-28 (2 Chronicles 6:23)
And with those holy men and women:
“I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.” Malachi 1:10b
And here, Lord, is the big, whopping question. After all the rebellion, all the sin, all the evil, all the deception, including turning away from Your Word, can those that have gone astray REALLY find their way back to You?
“If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares the Lord. “If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”
Lord, when You speak about worshipping idols, You don’t just mean literal worship of an object, do You? It means valuing anything with our time, talents and treasures ABOVE You. Those things that consume our hearts and minds far more than pleasing You. . . those are also idols (1 Corinthians 6:8-10, Galatians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:5, 1 Peter 4:3-6, Revelations 21:8, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, Philippians 3:18-21, Mathew 6:19-24, Jeremiah 44:10, Malachi 1:4-5)
Jesus, I love that You are a storyteller. It is so easy to understand what You are tying to say to us when You give us an example. In the book of Luke, in the Holy Bible, there are two brothers. One stays and one goes. The brother that goes far away, is thought to never be seen again. And so the rift begins. . . the division. The traveling brother asks for all the money his father has set aside for his inheritance and squanders it in sin and selfishness. The other brother stays home and works. With no money left, the wandering son grows hungry. And with no one to help him, he acknowledges his sin and comes home, asking his father for forgiveness. Fearing his father would renounce and disown him, he was surprised to find his father embracing him. Even better, his father kissed him and ordered a celebration! The son was amazed and humbled. However, the other son, the stable and dependable son, was angry. He asked why his father had never thrown a celebration for him, even though he worked day after day for his father. The father explained to the angry son that he always knew that he was trustworthy and would always be there. The father further acknowledged that EVERYTHING he has belongs to this son. The father was uninterested in placing blame and berating their sins; he was just happy that his family was together again. (Luke 15:11-32)
Those of us that know the pain of straying from You, Lord (my hand is raised too) can relate. The two brothers can be represented as those who have remained in the faith and those who have wandered away in search of something better. Those that have strayed, likely shutter at their sin-littered past, marring their lives with guilt and shame. Having lived in both of these camps, it is only fair to state that those who have remained in the faith have sinned as well; however, those sinners have consistently repented and humbled themselves before You, releasing themselves from the ugliness of sin and drawing themselves closer to You.
Just like the enemy intends, the true nature of sin always leads to more sin. And those who have ignored theirs, will eventually be faced with the err of their ways, the tricks of the enemy, and the naivety of their choices. And since You have given us free will, like ever other decision in life, the choice is ours. Will we come home and ask for forgiveness, fully aware of the repulsive nature of our sin? Will we come before You in true heart repentance, turn from our evil ways, and start back down the path that leads to You?
We might sigh at this prospect, dreading the disapproval and reproach You must feel for us. But just like the father in the above story, You care nothing for guilt and shame. You want us to come to You so that You can throw Your arms around us, kiss us, and celebrate our return! When we repent and turn to You, we are joyfully welcomed home (Philippians 3:20, John 18:36, Hebrews 11:16, Hebrews 13:14). And like any good Father, some sort of punishment may be a necessary assignment; for You are sovereign and demand justice. Reprimand from You is fair. And it shows true sonship; like a parent who responsibly punishes their child for the child’s own good, not out of meanness, but out of love. Parental grounding is very different than being completely destroyed for our sin. Praise You Lord, that we who belong to You are charged with a penalty rather than death.
“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
This returning may require some painful cleaning house. There may be relationships that are unhealthy that we must let go of, and indulgences that we have to give over to You, every single temptation, asking for forgiveness and strength to overcome our weaknesses. It may require an honest look at how we got here and actionable steps to move away from those stressors. And it may be hard. But the reward is being home, with our family, in heaven. Bellies full and all that we could ever want and more, knowing that we deserve none of it. Yet recognizing that, even in our rebellion, Your great love for us, shown by Your death on the cross, declares that You want us back. For good.
And some of us may be angry, unable to accept the wayward brother back. We may remember how hard we’ve worked at our faith and how flippant others have been. We may be jealous of the wandering, crazy days that our brothers and sisters have experienced, while we were being “good”. Lord, let us not be angry. Let us not focus on the valley, but the mountaintop. Souls have been saved. Our family has just been enlarged. We are united, and the past no longer matters. Lord, please help us leave sins where they belong and rejoice in the future we will share with our brothers and sisters who have returned to You. And may we rejoice in our own inheritance, enjoying EVERYTHING that You have, like the father in the story. Praise You, Lord!
And lastly, there may be some of us who find ourselves unreasonably furious with those Christians calling us back (or to know You for the first time). Lord, You know how hard it is for well-meaning Christians to watch our friends, family, and neighbors who do not know You. It is hard to see those we love going down paths in life that do not honor You; but Your Spirit has taught me the most valuable lessons in this area of life.
One: It is not my job to convict someone’s heart to accept You into their lives; it’s the job of Your Spirit, the Holy Spirit. I am merely asked to share the Gospel (Your life, death & resurrection, in order to take our sins onto Yourself) with others, inviting them to accept the free gift of salvation and eternity in heaven.
Two: We are all in different chapters in the story of our lives. I may be in a chapter somewhere in the middle of my story, but someone else may be at the beginning. We must resist the urge to look down on those who do not know You. It’s simply outside of our wheelhouse. We are not proper judges and have no business prosecuting others with gifts we do not possess.
And three: The business of saving lives belongs to You, Lord. We will never truly know who is saved and who is not; whether someone accepts You into his or her life the second before their last breath on earth or early in childhood; those that are welcomed into Your kingdom is none of our business. It’s Yours. You invite who You want into Your house for all of eternity. These are things we shouldn’t worry ourselves with, because we simply have no control over them. After we’ve shared Your Good News with others, we cannot force them to accept You. We must allow the Holy Spirit to fill them with the desire to accept You. At this point, the only option we have left for our loved ones (and the world at large) is to pray. And to keep praying, because You listen to Your children’s voices. We pray, Lord, for You to bring ALL Your children to know You!
So, we CAN return to You; we must simply come to You and ask. Ask to be forgiven. Ask to come back to You. Ask to rejoin (or join) Your flock. And as long as the request is heart-felt, we are forgiven. And hopefully, armed with the wisdom of experience, we will stay near You all the days of our lives.
But is there a timeline on this offer? According to Your Word, when this unique day comes, as stated in Zechariah 14, of neither dark nor light, no one will be able to come before You in repentance. Everyone’s fate will be sealed on this day (2 Peter 3:10, Joel 2:11, Isaiah 13:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:2). This is our eternal dividing line, between “Eternally Yours” and “Eternally Not Yours”. And no one knows when that day is (Mark 13:32-37). Is it coming soon? Is it far away? Only God Almighty knows that answer.
"and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you." 2 Chronicles 6:37-39
Lord, it seems like the days ahead may be difficult. Our world has already begun feeling the overwhelming price of sin. Yet I am comforted by Your declaration that there will be a remnant. As defined in the dictionary, a remnant is a small remaining quantity of something; in this instance, those that belong to You. Lord, I am thankful and blessed to know that I am part of this remnant. No matter the days ahead.
"Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.” Jeremiah 44:28b
There is peace that comes in knowing You and knowing that my eternity is sealed with Yours. You came to earth, the King of all kings, and took on a human body. Instead of living as the royalty You are, You lived as a carpenter. And throughout Your entire ministry, You didn’t even have a home. You endured more hardship than I will EVER know, and You died the death of a criminal, yet You never sinned. This perfect life of Yours and the sacrifice of Your dying on the cross, cancelled our sin and placed it onto Your shoulders, literally. So we could join You in heaven for all eternity. That sacrifice shows Your great love for Your children. And just like then, You will not leave us in these trying days ahead. However, we must exercise our God-given right to choose. . . and the choice is You.
"Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord."
There is great wisdom in the following words:
"Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’” Jeremiah 45:5
Lord, at first glance, the above Scripture appears ominous; but upon closer inspection, it’s meaning is quite the opposite. This passage is meant for Baruch, a scribe to the author, Jeremiah. You are saying to him that he should stop striving for aspirations beyond measure. That he should be contented with what You have given him. A difficult time in history is upon us, and we must be satisfied with what we’ve been given and recognize that the saving of lives is the business of the day, not our personal gain. Disaster will come and You will rid the world of ALL evil. People will die; this is certainly cause for humble hearts. Those that love You will escape with our lives, bound for heaven. While others will not share the same fate. You call us not to fear; for no matter where in the world we may be, we will be saved. You are with us and we will live.
". . . When evening comes, there will be light.
On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.
The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name."
And when this day comes—a day with no sunlight or darkness, and nightfall approaches, there will be Light! And water, the bringer of life, will flow. These waters are no ordinary waters. They will never dry out; they are healing, refreshing, purifying, fruitful, life-giving. Eternal. And they are offered to us as eternal life, made possible through Your death.
And FINALLY, You ALONE will be worshipped.
And what message do You have for Your faithful pastors and Your faithful children?
"May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness."
Lord, may You fill us with joy in expectation of a world with You in Your rightful place, and one that knows You are Lord over ALL. May we stand firm in our faith, rejecting any lies spewed at us and continue in the good work of spiritual maturity. May we share Your goodness with the entire world while You turn our fear to faith. And may we ALWAYS give all the glory to You.
And finally, Lord, may You give us all hearts that cry out to You in prayer, for those lost in this dying world. Please open our eyes to the truth. So many are blinded by the momentary pleasures of this life and don’t realize how they have been manipulated by this spiritual war, unaware of how dangerously close they are to losing their place in Your kingdom. Lord, we fall down on our knees and pray for our fellow man. Please remove the blindfold of death and reveal the living truth, in Your Word, that our worship belongs to You, and YOU ALONE! We praise You, Lord!!!
