Some days I find myself whistling the song “Don’t worry, be happy.” It just comes upon me, wafting into my mind seemingly with no rhyme or reason. The melody is delightful and easy to repeat. Great song. Wise words.
It would do us all so much good these days of crisis and turmoil to take some time and hum that sweet melody. But maybe we can change the lyrics a bit by swapping out punchline like this:
“Don’t worry. be prayerful.”
God is at work in everything going on on our lives
Things don’t usually (if ever) happen in a vacuum. While I do not subscribe to to “Determinsm”–boiling God’s sovereignty down to omni-control, where He calls all the shots and we live out a computer program–I do believe that as Christians we are wrapped in God’s grand project and we can’t escape the fact that everything going on in us, around us and through us has signficance. That includes our worship in the church and our life outside the church. It includes every facet of life.
I try to keep an open ear out for what the Holy Spirit is saying and open eyes to see what I can be doing to advance God’s purposes on the earth. The starting point is always prayer.
Today I read few paragraphs posted in a Facebook group I belong to that that caught my attention. It resonated. I will include the content of this post in Courier font and quotes:
“Still think George Floyd’s death JUST happened? Or that the protest organically developed, without any outside design? NO. This has been engineered and/or exploited by the hard left to spur race riots in Democrat-run cities for widespread destruction & chaos.”
“Don’t worry. be prayerful.”
“They’ve been planning this for two years. All this happened within 36 hours – thousands of well-funded & well-trained rioters descended on every major Democrat-run city.”
“Don’t worry. be prayerful.”
“First China unleashed and/or allowed the spread of the VIRUS to create shut down world economies (while sweeping in to buy us all the masks and other related equipment available in the world) inducing fear, putting economies in a state of shock. Interestingly, the left-leaning governors and mayors seemed so intent on keeping the COVID shutdown in place, while many spoke, and still speak, favorable of Communist China.
Now, this. All to scare the people into compliance and push through total VOTE-BY-MAIL, new public housing corridors, tent cities & ballot mills so they can RIG absentee & mail ballots for the election. Clear as day!”
“Don’t worry. be prayerful.”
“But that’s not all. China has annexed Hong Kong and is beginning to make aggressive moves around the world. Joe Biden is a China dove who would be a dream come true for them if he were to get elected.
Add to the drama the fact that the Durham-Barr investigation of the corrupt Deep State in our country is ready for a summer roll-and I think you get the picture.”
“Don’t worry. be prayerful.”
I believe in prayer, but with open eyes. Jesus said to his disciples “watch and pray.” We need to pray with open eyes so we can effectively address our prayer before the throne of grace. Here is a verse we should meditate on. I am including it in three translations:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.1 Pet. 5:8-11(KJV)
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” 1 Pet. 5:8-11(MSG)
“Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure. And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up. And he has all the power needed to do this—forever! Amen.”
1 Pet. 5:8-11 (TPT)
Is this just a Conspiracy Theory?
We know there is a conspiracy because we have been assured by Jesus himself that there is an evil one conspiring to kill, steal, and destroy. Maybe if we leave this “theory” in the oven long enough it will pan out, even if some details of the theory prove to have been inaccurate. There is an old saying
“Just because I am paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after me.”
This holds true here. Be assured, the devil is on the loose. He uses people who give him permission to work. That is the way things are set up. Just like God uses our prayers to do His work on the earth, so the enemy of our souls never ceases to look for open doors that will give him control and free operation to wreak his destruction, individually or societally.
Don’t worry. Watch and pray. God’s got this! He invites us to participate and enjoy the show!
