In these crazy days across our nation, let us fix the focus of our hearts and thoughts upon the Lord. Jesus told Pilate “My Kingdom is not of this world: if My Kingdom were of this world, then I would have My servants fight” (Jn. 18:36). God’s Kingdom is ruled by different standards than the kingdoms of this world. We, as His people, must remember this. I don’t normally turn to the book of Jeremiah for encouragement, however, chapters 29-32 seemed relevant to me. Israel found itself riddled with pestilence which is later identified as an incurable disease along with economic upheaval and unrest among the peoples. Sound familiar? The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah was along these lines: There is a set time (a limited timeframe) around all the chaos. The purpose of the time was to clean up the hearts of God’s people as well as to grab the attention of the unbelieving population. They were instructed to put away their deceptions through seeking the Lord with the promise of finding Me when you search for Me with all your heart. God is after our wholehearted pursuit of Him, not just when it rescues us from things we don’t like. I believe the Lord has also set a timeframe around our current days as He prompts His people to seek Him wholeheartedly. Here’s the encouragement God then spoke which I see as relevant and applicable to us: Do not fear nor be dismayed. Though you have no healing medicines and your wound is incurable, yet I will restore health to you and heal you. I will have mercy upon your dwellings, from the palace (our nation’s Government) which will remain! to the congregation that shall be established before Me, to the nobles and governors (leaders, both private and public) whom I will cause to draw near to Me because they have pledged their hearts to be My people, and I will be their God. Behold the whirlwind of the Lord will fall upon the head of the wicked until the Lord has performed all the intents of His heart. Refrain your voices from weeping and despair for there is hope for your future. I will restore rejoicing in the streets, the sound of bride and bridegroom, and people will stream to the goodness of the Lord who causes souls to be like well-watered gardens. Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for Me?” These verses come from those chapters. I feel strongly they are a NOW WORD from the Lord of Hosts as we set our hearts upon Him and bow low in surrender to His voice. He desires us to superimpose His Kingdom of Righteousness, Peace, and Joy upon this afflicted world and upon our nation and communities.
Wanda Anderson