Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever! We give You thanks, O Almighty God, for all thy benefits.
“Mass distraction! Mass distraction! Mass distraction!”
These words echo in my heavy, heavy heart. I usually begin my Praise Report with, well, praise and thanksgiving, leading to repentance. But today, I need a minute. I desire to praise Him and thank Him in ALL things. I desire to repent for all my sins, the sins of my family, community, parish, Church, and world. For a moment, my desire to do these things and to live in His will is what I can give. I just need a minute.
Have you ever just needed a minute? Have you ever just needed to vent to God? I mean, just lay it all out there at the foot of the cross? Just pour your heart out before Him? Just say all the things that have been racing through your thoughts and you have dared not speak them, because you dare not allow the enemy to hear? Come on … I can’t be the only one! I know y’all are feeling it. The whole world is … and because we are ONE body… I know you are.
God granted me some very keen insights this week amid my heaviness. I will praise Him for His goodness and His Mercy. I will thank Him for the nuggets He has left for me this week. I will repent of my sins and repent of the sins of the whole world … BECAUSE we are ONE Body! If the sins of one affect the whole body – then the repentance of one will too! I trust in God’s math!
The first nugget I want to share with you is a word received while praying with a friend this week. My friend could sense the Lord give a word, “Mass distraction”. Remember the greatest commandment? Remember the first? How difficult has that been lately? It’s difficult because of the mass distractions! No matter what is going on in the world, we are still to put God first, with all our heart, all our mind, all our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves- No matter what is going on in the world- No matter what is going on in the world- No matter what.
The second nugget I wanted to share with you is that we should feel a heaviness, I think, but that does not mean lose hope or trust, because GOD IS STILL GOD! I find myself especially heavy when people SPEAK hopelessness and despair. Quite frankly, it frustrates me! WORDS HAVE POWER! I forget this so many times y’all! I get so frustrated at myself too! We are to speak life and hope into every situation. Not because we want to sugar coat any situation, but because we MUST LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD TO MOVE IN POWER IN EVERY SITUATION! Let us NOT give power to the enemy!
The final piece of peace He granted me this week was golden! When we “Seek ye first…”, many will feel as if we are putting on blinders. Let me give you an example. Many of the people in my life are “seeking ye first…” by preparing and doing and going, because that is what they are called to do at this time. I have been called to “seek ye first…” in my own way in this time – we all have our own unique role. Now, as I “seek ye first…” in my own way, compared to some “preppers” and “doers” and “goers”, it may seem I have put my blinders on and have disregarded much that needs my attention. And I get anxious about that at times. Comparison is NOT good for me. God sweetly reminded me this week, that it is NOT BLINDERS…. IT IS FOCUS. We are all one body, but each member has a different and unique role. Some of us cannot focus while observing what others are called to prepare or do or go. Some of us need our blinders in this era of mass distraction- and that gives me such peace!
So, there’s my moment. I am ready, once again, to Praise and Thank and Repent. I am ready to speak life and hope and mercy into every situation. I pray you are too!
Hebrews 13:29-21
May the God of Peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do His will. May He carry out in you what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever Amen.
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