Pray Courageously for France

Posted on November 16, 2015 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Tags: paris

 

 
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall praise Him for the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5 NASB

I am writing my blog for Monday’s Freedom Fighter on Friday evening, November 13, 2015. Millions of people around the world glued to the news networks broadcasting the tragedy that has been unfolding in Paris, France.

By the time you read this blog today, my guess is that the death toll will have risen to hundreds of people. Fox News is now using phrases like, “this is the new normal for France and the rest of the world.”

In a matter of minutes life for thousands of French people has turned upside down. For hundreds of people who purchased ticked to a concert in a French Concert Hall – their evening of fun ended with bloodshed and carnage everywhere.

We experienced what the French are now experiencing on 9/11. That day will live on in all our lives as the new normal for American’s. Thousands of people that day flocked to their places of worship. Hundreds of prayer vigils took place following that horrific day.

The nation mourned. The nation for a season, wept and mourned and seemed to be moved to return to God.

But as you and I know – it was short lived. It didn’t take long to go back to life as usual. How could we forget such a horrendous day and go back?

Well it’s no different than what happened with Israel. During the plagues, hundreds of thousands of Israelites witnessed the miraculous hand of God as each plague came upon Egypt. What should have left a lasting impression on the children of Israel soon gave way to mumbling, complaining, and sinful behavior.

These are not times to give up in despair. These are not times to pull ones covers up over our heads in fear and trembling. God is still on the throne and He is shaking the nations. This is a wake call to believers all around the world that we are living in perilous times. We need to dig deeper into the Word of God and His promises. We need to become diligent in our praying. We need to repent of our sinfulness and yield ourselves completely to Him.

Could it be that what just took place in France could happen on the soil of this great nation? Absolutely! We have drifted so far from our Judeo-Christian world-view that we have opened up ourselves for this very thing to happen in the United States of America.

We have been silent when we should have spoken. We have turned our backs thinking nothing like this could ever happen again. It can and I believe it will.

Let’s not give into fear. We know the end of the book! But these are times to keep short accounts, to keep our eyes on Jesus, and to dig deeper into the Word of God. We need to be on our knees praying for our families, our churches, our Pastor’s and our missionaries around the world.

Our theme for this year sums it all up: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Lord, please bring comfort to the families of the victims of what the enemy has done to the people of France. Draw the hearts of the families who have been impacted by this horrific day to You. We need You. They need You. May God help them, and may God help America. Amen. – Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick. You can email him at bwelte@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 16-18; Luke 2:1-24

Think About This: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ~C. S. Lewis

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. ~Lamentations 3:25