LORD, Our Hope is in You Alone!

Recently, I went to a prophecy conference that tackled the question, "Is there any hope for America?
If my hope is in the economy, it's not looking good.
If my hope is in politics, it's not looking good.
If I'm counting on national security, it's not looking good.
So, just when I was about to leave the conference dejected and depressed, one speaker said,
"The only hope for America is Jesus. Remember, as Believers in Jesus Christ, you are only a pilgrim passing through. Our real citizenship is in Heaven."

Even though that truth gave me hope for my eternal future, what should I do about having hope for today? Because, you see, I love my country. I love the freedoms our Founding Fathers fought so hard to establish. I love that my nation's government was founded on God's Word. I love that scripture references are seen throughout our nation's monuments. I love that we were a nation that proudly declared, "In God we trust". A people not offended by our own flag, where everyone stood and pledged allegiance to what our flag stood for - freedom. But, as I see all that I love deteriorating before my eyes, I am saddened and in despair.

Long ago, Abraham Lincoln spoke prophetically when he said, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

After the conference, I asked the LORD, "What can I do? Everything is playing out just like Your Word says it will." Literally, prophecy is unfolding before my very eyes. After hearing of two major earthquakes in 2 days and news that the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 37-39 are aligning, I thought to myself, "I can't believe some Christians can't see what the LORD warned us would happen in The Last Days. In Luke 21:28 Jesus said, "When you see these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation draws near." He told us to look up when the signs start to happen: earthquakes, signs in the sun, moon, and stars, nations in turmoil, roaring seas and strange tide, etc. Well, the signs are all around us. And the events are escalating and building in intensity. The world is literally being shaken to it's core.

So, what did the LORD tell me to do?
Build a wall. A spiritual wall.

I recently read the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was one of the Israelites exiled in Persia. When one of his Jewish brethren came to visit him, they told him how the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins leaving the temple and the people unprotected. Nehemiah was heartbroken and wept for his country.

I can relate.

Nehemiah cried out to God.
"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for Israel....Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you."

When I read this, I said, "O LORD, hear my prayers for America too."

God inspired Nehemiah to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem. He encountered opposition, mocking, attacks from the enemy, strife, and complaining but, with the LORD's favor and blessing, he rebuilt the wall. Once the wall was rebuilt, the Israelites had spiritual revival as they turned from their sins and rededicated their lives back to God and His Word.

In these Last Days, I believe God is calling every Believer to become a Nehemiah. Our hearts must be broken and burdened for our nation. Our spiritual walls, built by our Founding Fathers, now lie in ruins because we allowed the enemy to tear them down while we slumbered in our sin. We must cry out to God and plead for his mercy and blessings. However, God does not expect us to just sit and bemoan our sad condition. He expects us to be men and women of action. He is calling us to rebuild our nation's spiritual walls, one section of wall at a time. You see, Nehemiah assigned people different portions of the wall to rebuild. While some built, others stood guard, protecting them from attacks of the enemy. God is assigning each of us a section of the spiritual wall to rebuild. Some will be called to rebuild while others will be called to stand guard.

So, how do we know what portion of the wall to rebuild? It's the one in ruins right in front of us. We must rebuild the spiritual walls surrounding our own families that have collapsed. Have we allowed the enemy to tear down the protective wall around our families? Are we allowing our families to fall victim to attacks of the enemy because we neglect prayer, God's Word, or attending a Bible teaching church?

If we have, then that is where we start.

Once, we have secured the walls around our own home, then we help our friends secure their walls. Then, we move out to our neighbors and community, and so on and so on. If every Believer secures their own spiritual wall, then moves out and helps a friend, maybe, just maybe, our nation will have revival again just like in Nehemiah's day.

Nehemiah finished rebuilding the wall in 52 days. Nehemiah 6:16 says, "When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized that this work had been done with the help of God."

America was a light on a hill because we stood for liberty and freedom. We were a beacon of hope to those oppressed who came from afar to share in the dream that all men were created equal and have the right to the pursuit happiness and liberty. We were dedicated to the Great Commission sending out missionaries throughout the world. We must rebuild our spiritual walls because America could still be a beacon of light shining God's love. And in blessing others, the nations will see that every good and perfect gift given to this nation has been with the help of God.

Now, unfortunately I have to get political. We have a little over 52 days before Election Day in America. America is approaching a tipping point. We will either side with the enemy who wants to keep our spiritual walls in ruins or we will side with a team who wants to rebuild our spiritual walls. The fate of our nation is not dependent on the Non-Believer who will cast his vote. It will depend on the actions of the Believer. We, Christians, are responsible for the fate of our nation. God's Word says, "If My People, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
So, you see, God is laying the fate of our nation on our shoulders. Will we bend our knees in prayer and humility asking for his mercy and grace. Will we pick up the stones of faith, the mortar of His Word, and rebuild our walls on the cornerstone of Jesus? Or will we slumber in ignorance, too concerned about the pleasures of this world, and allow the enemy to keep us imprisoned by burned down, piles of rubble and destruction?

Oh, may the LORD rise up Nehemiahs in this nation before it's too late.
Join me in praying for my nation but also for your own. God rules over every nation and desires all to come to salvation.

Prayer from Psalm 20:1-9; 22:19-21; Psalm 33:1, 20-22
In times of trouble, may the LORD respond to our cry.
May the God of Israel keep us safe from all harm.
May He send us help from His sanctuary and strengthen us from Jerusalem.
May He remember all our gifts and look favorably on our burnt offerings.
May He grant our hearts desire and fulfill all our plans.
May we shout for joy when we hear of Your victory, flying banners to honor our GOD.
May the LORD answer all our prayers.
Now I know that the LORD saves His annointed king.
He will answer Him from His holy heaven and rescue him by His great power.
Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the LORD our GOD.
Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.
Give victory to Your people, O LORD!
Respond to our cry for help.
O LORD, do not stay away!
You are our strength; come quickly to our aid!
Rescue and spare us.
Snatch us from the evil one.
Then we will declare the wonder of Your Name.
We will praise you among all Your people.
Praise the LORD, all you who fear Him!
Honor Him, all your descendants of Jacob!
Show Him reference, all you descendants of Israel!
For He has not ignored the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned and walked away.
He has listened to their cries for help.
The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to Him.
People from every nation will bow down before Him.
For the LORD is king!
He rules all the nations.
Our children will hear about the wonders of the LORD.
His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn.
They will hear about every thing He has done.
What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD,
whose people he has chosen for His own.
We depend on the LORD alone to save us, protecting us like a shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in His Holy Name.
Let Your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our HOPE is in YOU alone!
In Jesus Powerful Name I pray.
Amen.

May all who search for You be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love Your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"
Love,
Yolanda
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