In these days that we are watching so much unfold in our country, we can’t sit back and act like it doesn’t involve us. I believe that we must seek God and ask what it means for us. Yes, for us in our little community here in Northwest Iowa, in our church, and even in our very own families – which then comes down to what is within our very own hearts. What might be there and we don’t have a clue? Could it be that we need to seek God in repentance for racism at our core? Could we have racism in our church? God wants to be glorified, yes, even in this.
I did some fasting between Easter and Pentecost, seeking God for more of His Spirit. It has been so beautiful to see what God is doing in me, but it has been painful. It will always be. So Pentecost was May 31st and I started a 28-day prayer journey starting on June 1st called “Seek”, by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. She is one of my favorite authors and teachers on prayer. The first 7 days were about surrender, and in that, He did amazing things in me and around me. There are stories I could tell! The next 7 days were about exalting God, no matter what! Again, an amazing week and it was the last week of life for my father-in-law, Fred Wells. Again, God was so evident and so powerful in it all. And this week our word is expose. God has been gently exposing things in my heart, and I am looking at what seems to maybe be lurking in there somewhere, with this racism issue around us. I began to feel like God was showing me to share this and to encourage others around me to consider what He might be wanting to show us.
Even if I think it is not a possibility, I am considering and asking for clarity and I believe He will EXPOSE. The whole reason I can say that, is that for the last 6 months God has been doing this deep work in my soul, and bringing me all kinds of things that I didn’t know. Over time, I might start to share some of those testimonies. He is using it all for good and has brought so much healing. Life-changing truths for me. God is certainly being glorified!
Would you begin to pray with me and let’s ask God to show us what we don’t see. This might be the whole purpose of 2020. He brought this theme of GLORY! How might God bring His glory in your life through all the upheaval that is happening? Show us what we don’t see Jesus, by Your Spirit. Would you show us things in a way that we can’t deny it? Would You show us all in ways that we know that we know, it is YOU. Expose what needs to be exposed for Your glory! Bring heaven to earth through this time in our lives.
In her book “Seek – 28 Days of Extraordinary Prayer”, Jennifer Kennedy Dean said:
“God uses the picture of silver to describe His people and of refined silver to illustrate His purifying work: “He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites [priestly tribe; we are now His priests] and refine them like gold and silver” (Malachi 3:2–3). Why silver? Silver has many qualities that demonstrate what our purified hearts are like. Silver is resistant to corrosion from the atmosphere. Atmospheric corrosives cannot destroy silver, but can only produce surface tarnish. A pure heart is resistant to corrosion and corruption by outside influences. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
• Could 2020 be all about exposing? What is God bringing to the surface in you?
• Start in a place of seeking God in repentance? Ask Him what you need to seek Him for that is sin in your life. Repentance means to ask God for forgiveness and then turn from that sin and go in the opposite direction.
• God loves you so much and He just wants to remove something that is holding you back and hurting you and hurting others in your life.
• It is also hindering you in your relationship with Him. Hindered in the Greek is the word egkopto. It means an impasse so severe that it prohibits you from going where you need to go.
• God wants that impasse out of the way so that He can reveal His glory to you and through you!
