Pandemic

“…In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

Gratitude is not the first virtue I normally might think of as I sit through this pandemic. My life, along with untold millions across the world, is being upended in various ways and degrees. I am obviously grateful that personally and familywise, we are healthy and, in a place, where all our needs are met. I recognize quickly that not everyone is in that same state. I am sympathetic and compassionate for those struggling and grieving, while at the same time grateful that my loved ones are healthy. It is a paradox of emotions that many of us will need to sensitively walk out in the coming months.

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I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from ALL my FEARS. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is noLACK to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not LACK any good thing.

Psalm 34:1-10 NKJV (Capitalizations mine for emphasis)

Fear tried to jump me today. It’s weird how you can be sailing along for days in good spirits and all of a sudden…bam! A thought pops up in your mind and you can literally feel the fear start to knock at the door of your mind. In this instance, the fear was attacking my sense of provision (and even prosperity) that the Lord has promised. It isn’t hard to identify how moments like this happen. You are watching the news for the daily updates and information on the pandemic (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). You listen to the media voices, or read the news threads, concerning people who have lost or are losing their jobs (which includes people in my family). You absorb the tragic stories many are sharing concerning the untimely death of loved ones and your heart reaches out to them. There are many legitimate reasons to be absorbed in the news cycles and issues of our day. This pandemic is real and while we may have our differences of opinion in how governments are reacting and handling the dynamics of these days, the fact remains, I am caught in the middle of it and my mind cannot help but be affected. There is a lot of fear which has been loosed.

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“As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day;”

Joshua 14:11-12 NKJV

“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

As I grow older, I think of Caleb. In fact, he is becoming my “go to” biblical character as I begin to enter the last quarter of my life. He was eighty-five years old and he couldn’t get that mountain off his mind. That was his destiny. That was God’s promise. He had known it for years despite the challenges and setbacks he had experienced with the people of Israel. Remarkably, there was no sound of bitterness or anger flowing from him because he had yet to secure that mountain. It is all the more amazing when you consider that he was one of the voices encouraging the nation to press forward and secure the land, but unfortunately, his passion was largely ignored. Yet, he was neither offended at God or the people. All he could think about was that mountain. He had learned the secret of maintaining a destiny mentality.

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“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

Courage only counts when you are facing something that is wanting you to lose heart, live in fear, or run away and hide. It’s easy to spout off verses concerning courage when you live in a first-world environment and your faith enjoys relative accommodation. However, change the environment and turn up the adversity or hostility and courage takes on a whole new meaning. It’s a dynamic that American Christianity has never had to face, but it is increasingly becoming a most relevant consideration.

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“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”

Matthew 11:12 NKJV

I have to be reminded on a fairly regular basis that violence is an attribute of life in the Kingdom. I am not suggesting this violence is fleshly or carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4), but rather the acquisition of certain promises will demand a spiritual fight. Contending faith is a faith that is willing to wrestle for the plan or promise of God and refuses to accept defeat. Unfortunately, the world does it’s best to condition me to accept fear and defeat. Equally unfortunate are the times I succumb to its lies and relentlessness. I need reminding in this pandemic that whether it be my health, my job, my personal disposition, my peace, my joy, or my hope; it will be expected that I arise and contend for my promise.

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