My Will or Thy Will?

 

- Nathele Graham -  Many people are praying for America. If there ever was a time in the history of this nation when prayer was needed, it’s now. I love America and the freedom we once had to worship freely, work hard, and pursue happiness, but our Constitutional rights are being trampled on and it seems we’re moving towards destruction. America had its beginning when the Pilgrims fled their homes in order to enjoy religious freedom. Eventually, it became necessary to declare independence from the tyranny of England, a war was fought, and a Constitution was written which guarantees rights and limits government. Today, evil is strong and Satan seems to be winning the battle for America. What’s causing this fall into destruction? “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34. God is being rejected and sin is being exalted; Godly values are laughed at and sin is legalized. I remember the United States from a more Christian time. When I was in 8th grade my class spent time before our Christmas break (not winter holiday) practicing songs like “Silent Night”, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”, and “The First Noel”. On the final day of school before Christmas break, we went out into the community and sang these songs house to house. Today, we don’t want to offend anyone by saying Merry Christmas, schools teach evolution as fact, make it seem OK for Tommy to have two mommies, and ask transgender storytellers to read to our children, yet we ask God to stop the madness that’s gripping this nation. God cannot be blamed for the evil that’s destroying this nation, because His will is being rejected. Even professing Christians keep silent instead of demanding the government return to Biblical ways. The last election was an IQ test and America failed. Shame on us. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21. Do you love the darkness of sin? We cannot live in both darkness and light at the same time. Christians must submit to God’s will and stand upon Biblical truth and moral values. If Christians don’t faithfully follow God’s will in these troubled times, then we can’t blame Him for the problems which are tearing America apart, as well as the entire world,   Nations rise and fall, and the history of America seems to be coming to an end. Why? Whether you look to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which fell to the Assyrians, the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which fell to the Babylonians, or America which is falling to the socialistic evil of the One World Order, there’s a common thread: Rejection of God’s Laws. Worshipping false gods, practicing child sacrifice, and following man’s will instead of God’s will are sins that can only lead to destruction. The only thing that would have stopped the fall of Israel’s two kingdoms would have been a return to a right relationship with God. The same is true of America. There are many Christians who cry out to God for His mercy, but our voices are drowned out by many who just don’t care or who think this madness is normal. “O LORD, how long, shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” Habakkuk 1:2-4. Can you feel Habakkuk’s anguish? Those words, written so long ago, seem fresh today. God does listen. He hears our prayer and is willing to act, but we can’t have it both ways. We can’t have His blessings unless we repent and submit to Him. That’s what is missing today…repentance. How many Christians accept sin as a normal part of life? “One-night stands” are sin. Pornography is sin, even if it’s disguised as a movie or music. Abortion is sin. Homosexuality is sin. Why does it seem God isn’t listening? Our sin gets in the way. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. Those words were written in a letter from Jesus to the congregation at Laodicea. They represent the final era of the “church age”. The people sitting in the pews are happy in their ignorance and are apathetic to God will. Jesus hasn’t stopped knocking on the door and waiting for each individual to invite Him in. That means turning away from the ways of the world. Will you answer His knock and submit your will to His?   There’s still time to repent before America completely falls. Many are praying for revival and for God to intervene, but it’s important to understand that prayer isn’t “magic words” where we tell Jesus what He will do. When we pray for God to make America great again, we need to repent of our sins, turn away from worldly ways, and submit to God’s will. Those of us who study prophecy know that America isn’t a strong power at the end of days. God exists outside of time and has seen history in advance. He told us what will happen because He has seen it. What we do with that knowledge is up to us. By looking at the signs God gave us, we know that we are near the end of life as we know it. We can pray that God saves America, but unless we change our moral ways, we will be destroyed. An example is found in the Book of Jonah. Nineveh was a city filled with wickedness. God notices things like that, but His desire is for repentance…even in a wicked Gentile city. He sent Jonah to preach to them. “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” Jonah 1:2. Likewise, God has seen the wickedness of America. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and the people were very brutal and sinful. Jonah was sent to preach repentance to Nineveh “And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4. What did they do? They repented and submitted their will to God’s will. Because they changed their ways, God spared them. There’s still time for America to reject the sin and wickedness that’s gripping this nation; there’s time to reject the evil leadership that will soon take office and lead us to destruction. Unless we submit our will to God’s, America will be destroyed. Brothers and sisters, don’t keep silent, but preach God’s. Unless our will is in line with God’s will, destruction will come very soon.   I have to admit that there are times that it feels as if God is far away and my prayers go out into space and aren’t heard. I’m not the first to feel that way, and I’m sure many Christians today feel the same. “Why, standest thou afar off O LORD? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1. The Psalmist goes on to describe how wicked people were behaving in a despicable way against people who were less fortunate and helpless to resist. “Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.” Psalm 10:15. It’s tempting to pray that God take vengeance against the people today who are leading America into destruction. On the other hand, that’s my will, not God’s. Jesus came into this world to give everyone the chance to repent and to find eternal life through His blood. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17. Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ, and only faith in Him can change the hearts of men…and women. That means politicians also have a chance to repent and change their ways. God doesn’t condemn anyone to Hell, but the unrepentant condemn themselves. “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18. Maybe instead of praying against the evil, we should pray for repentance and salvation of the evil doers. My will is that the wicked pay for their wickedness, but God’s will is that everyone comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. The last election shows just how wicked and evil America has become. Christians know that this world isn’t our home, but while we live here, we need to witness to the lost and do what we can to share the Gospel. Only Jesus Christ can change hearts, but we need to speak His truth. It should be our will, as it is God’s will, that the lost should come to redemption the Jesus Christ.   We are rapidly moving towards the very end of time. Prophecy gives us the road map, and we are very close to the Rapture. Some of the events that God has foreseen are a little disturbing. For instance, America doesn’t seem to be named in the final years of history. Could it be that America is about to collapse? The destruction of Nineveh was avoided for a few years because they repented. God also gave Israel directions about avoiding judgment for their wickedness. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. Can America avoid collapse? America isn’t God’s chosen land, Israel is. Christian’s, though, are called by Christ’s name. We need to repent of our wicked ways, humble ourselves, seek God, and allow our will to be God’s will. Many people who claim Christ as their Saviour haven’t repented of their sin. Sexual immorality, abortion, choosing ungodly companions, etc., is not God’s will. Most people who are praying for America aren’t praying for repentance and forgiveness, and many don’t want to give up their own sin and wickednesss. The end times are upon us, the Rapture is in the very near future, so don’t delay in repenting and turning from your own wickedness, and then share with others.   We know that God’s desire is for everyone to come to repentance, so praying “Thy will be done” is where we need to start. How can we expect God to bless America unless Americans turn from the wickedness of their own will and wicked intents? Stop living in opposition to God. “The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.” Proverbs 19:3. We tend to blame God for all problems, but it’s our own fault that sin abounds. My will or Thy will? Make sure you choose God’s will.   God bless you all,