Yesterday we held our Pray for the Nation rally at Honey Lake Plantation Church. It was well attended and a good time seemed to be had by all. One of our speakers who is running for office commented on the attitude that he has seen while out campaigning all over his district. He said he couldn’t remember even one person saying anything good about our country, or… well… About anything else either!
As I made the closing remarks for the event I told the crowd that I was perhaps the most optimistic person in the room. Long time readers of this column, (that has spanned 14 years – five days per week), will attest that my writings do not always reflect that attitude, especially when satan is working me over, but nonetheless I almost always wake up in a good mood, and am optimistic the overwhelming majority of the time.
I know something good, and it’s God, and He is good ALL of the time. I did some research and discovered that according to a poll, 82% of the people in the country purportedly have indicated that they have lost hope. Some have lost hope on one or more of their children, their marriage, siblings, friends, their financial situation, their government, the president, congress; the media, the possibility of ever turning this country around, ever obtaining a good job, being happy, and on and on.
I want to write about “hope and change” this morning. I believe in hope and change, and trust me I know what it feels like to be without hope. I once deemed my situation to be utterly hopeless, and was convinced that it would never change. My grandfather, two of my uncles, and my brother all lost hope and committed suicide and believe me I was ready to commit suicide too.
So how did I find hope and bring about change in my life? I’ve tried all sorts of things to find what my heart yearns for and I can assure you that it cannot be obtained through Obama’s rhetoric; (his brand of hope is hopeless, and his change is destructive). I discovered that it couldn’t be found through any individual; nor through government, a job, or in bar rooms, or bedrooms either. Nor could I find it in drugs, or money, or huge accomplishments, or grand homes, private jets, hobbies, or yachts. I’ve only been able to find hope through Jesus Christ. Only He can bring about the change in our lives, our country, and indeed the world.
To use a cliché, God’s hope springs eternal. It’s never ending. During our prayer rally all sorts of people prayed for all sorts of things. At the end I remarked that my personal prayer for our nation is that the people will come to the realization that we cannot make it apart from our Lord. He will bless us if we turn to Him and ask for forgiveness and then work for Him. That is what we should pray for; that more people will realize that apart from God we can accomplish nothing.
Is it too late for our country? No it is not! My life is the perfect example of how God can change seemingly impossible situations for the better. Yes I had to do my part to escape homelessness, drug addiction, alcoholism, and a life of crime, but I would be the first to tell you that I could NEVER have changed my situation on my own. I asked God to forgive me and to help me turn things around and He did and then I worked hard to do my part. It is simple as that. So let’s do it. Ask for forgiveness for our nation’s conduct and pray that He will bring about change beginning with this election and ousting Obama and crew.
Again: Apart from God we can do nothing. Pray that our nation will become cognizant of this axiom of life.
Tonight I join Governor Mike Huckabee on the Romney bus to tour some churches and try and rally Christian leaders and layman to get off the couch and get out the vote. This election is the tipping point in our nation. The choice for a continuation of our march toward a Godless society or our effectively changing course and moving it back towards the values that all God fearing people cherish hangs in the balance. This is no time to sit around in a daze with eyes a-glaze – Let your eyes blaze as you work hard right up until the final bell has rung and the last vote has been counted.
We can win this election and dump Obama, but we need to work hard and pray hard.
Yes we can!
John 15:5
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”