Restless Spirit

 January 22 2023

Good morning - I hope you are doing well. This January has been dreary and dull, with next to no sunshine. It can take a toll one one's mood.

I first wrote this in 2015, and have refreshed it a bit to be more current. But most of what I wrote 8 years ago is still valid. And this is where I first put into writing that I felt led to 'do' something with my writing.

 

I am restless in my spirit – are you?  World events, seen through a Christian’s eyes, are moving at a dangerously fast pace.  Yes, every generation has believed they are living in the last days, but that feeling is becoming stronger and stronger for me. Over several months I have felt a prompting in my spirit to do ‘something’!  I have prayed for guidance and direction – and wisdom.  And I want to be ready, to be right with God, and to be His servant, in whatever direction He leads.

I have thought about starting a web page, a blog, a voice on the internet. There are countless sites already and I’m certainly not here to prove I can do any better, but it will be my contribution.  I don’t want to be a silent Christian.

I am restless in my spirit.

We in the Western world haven’t had to count the cost very much to enjoy our religious freedoms – yet the number of our brothers and sisters around the world who are persecuted and martyred climbs. And our rights and freedoms granted by our respective governments is so very fragile and can be gone with the stroke of a pen – or sword.

To be honest, I am disturbed at the silence of my Christian friends when posts show up on Facebook concerning world events. Apathy and silence, thinking it won’t affect you is akin to the ostrich with its head in the sand.  If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.

The famous quote attributed to pastor Martin Niemoller about the cowardice of German intellectuals during the Nazi rise to power reverberates with me:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me

 

Will you be a silent Christian, will you be apathetic and think someone else will be your voice? Have you made any enemies yet?  Will you put your life at risk to assemble with fellow believers and not be ashamed of God’s word? Serious questions that need to be thought about.

Our lives are soft, we are materialistic and we love our comforts – I speak for myself as much as anyone else. But I sometimes I feel I am watching a movie, where you know catastrophe is about to strike and all around people are oblivious to impending disaster.  I want to shout out that our lives and way of life is on the brink of disappearing!  Yes God is ultimately in control and all will be done according to His perfect will, but that doesn’t mean we sit back and be silent doormats.

If I have offended you, I apologise, but I make NO apologies for acting on what I feel God is prompting me to do.

I am restless in my spirit.

A fear monger I am not – in fact I am not fearful because my faith, strength and protection lies with my Heavenly Father and my commitment to His Son Jesus Christ.  I am safe – my physical body may suffer, but no one can take away my place with Him.

Thinking we can just pray away this threat won’t work, even though  I continually pray for protection for  family and friends, our lands, for the service people who risk their lives for us, and who now are targets - for disrespect, hate, and worse.  It is the time to be alert and on watch – to be ready.  Are you ready? Are your loved ones ready?

My life, right now, will continue with loving my family and friends, and activities that are of interest to me. But, if all this is stripped away am I ready to be 100% totally dependent on God?  Or am I dependent NOW!

My prayer is we stand together and grow.  Remembering that one of the best tools of the enemy is to discourage and divide. 

Please believe me when I say I understand human fears very well.  At heart I am not brave at all, my biggest fear is that I will let God down when it really counts, so I pray now that He will guard me well against that day.

I just can’t sit silently by anymore.

 

What are your thoughts? How do you see world events - are you fearful, or do you trust God is in control and that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow?

God is the sunshine in my life - I pray He would be in yours as well.

In His Name - 

Liz