Friday slowdown

 No actual music today . . . 

Let's just think on some lovely old words. This is a very special song that was written by James C. Moore, over one hundred years ago. 

1. I have heard of a land on the faraway strand,
   ’Tis a beautiful home of the soul;
   Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die,
   ’Tis a land where we never grow old.
   • Refrain:
     Never grow old, never grow old,
     In a land where we’ll never grow old;
     Never grow old, never grow old,
     In a land where we’ll never grow old.
2. In that beautiful home where we’ll never more roam,
   We shall be in the sweet by and by;
   Happy praise to the King through eternity sing,
   ’Tis a land where we never shall die.
3. When our work here is done and the life-crown is won,
   And our troubles and trials are o’er;
   All our sorrow will end, and our voices will blend,
   With the loved ones who’ve gone on before.

A lifestyle of ministry

Although the psalmist has told us he is an old man (verses 9 and 18), he is not yet ready to quit. He could have kicked back and said, "Well, I can put my feet up and rest; I deserve it!" but he didn't. 

The songwriter of Psalm 71 still had a concern for ministry: he wanted to continue testifying to others of God's faithfulness and power.

My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long......

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts

    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion. (verses 8, 24)

As long as he was still breathing, he felt he had a ministry to tell people about God's greatness, His faithfulness to him, and about His glory. Many believers have allowed a worldly attitude to infiltrate their thoughts. They tell themselves, "I work all week long, so my weekends are for me. It's my free time and I will spend it however I please." Do we have that attitude? Do we think that if we give God a couple of hours by going to church on Sunday, that we have "paid our dues"? After all, we can't let ourselves be tied down to some kind of service or ministry that would hinder us from taking off for the weekend whenever we feel like it . . . .

Oy vey. Of course, there will be times in our lives when we are busier than usual with family and jobs. But let's think of the old-timey balance sheet: if all we are doing is making withdrawals (coming to church and receiving blessings) and we are not making deposits (spending time in service to God and distributing His blessings) then our lives are not balanced. When we think of our church life, our focus should be more of how we can serve God through the church, and less of what we can "get out of" the church. If we had been on the sidelines looking at our psalmist, we would not have thought "he doesn't serve. He only comes on Sundays." He had a lifestyle of ministering to others.

I have always had a different view of retirement than most folks. Our culture says that retirement is a time that we can kick back and chill, and do what we want to do. But we are believers! We do not have the right to live selfishly - our lives must be lived under Christ's lordship. If we retire from our job and are healthy, we have the opportunity to be involved in service that younger folks cannot handle - they are still dealing with the everyday demands of feeding, clothing, nurturing, and chauffuering their children, and juggling family and work responsibilities. Our lives are entering a season when we can focus on service.

When we read this psalm, we don't see the psalmist asking to be delivered so that he could sit by the river and play his lyre. He wanted to be delivered so he could tell the next generation about the power of God! He saw his mission as one of training the younger folks and then handing the baton to them.

How about us? Are we developing a lifestyle of ministry, built on our personal relationship with God? God's way for believers to grow old is for us to develop our walk with Him; we need to have that personal, deep knowledge of our Father. We need to trust Him, praise Him, and hope in Him, and then as we grow old, we need to have a ministry for Him.

As long as we have breath, we can show and sing of the greatness of God to the younger folks! What a finish!

Add the habit of hope

The psalmist is teaching us not only to have the habits of trust and praise, but also of hope. 

As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more. (Psalm 71:14)

There's a huge difference between secular hope and biblical hope. Both kinds of hope are talking about the idea of expectations for the future. But secular hope is uncertain.

The person who places his hopes for the future in his wealth cannot be certain: currencies rise and fall; the values of investments increase and decrease; economies of countries can be shaken and destroyed. 

The person who hopes in their own outward beauty or in their strength to overcome obstacles cannot be certain: beauty and strength are fleeting; we all age and grow weaker.

But biblical hope is different. Biblical hope is built upon trust in God and in His faithfulness. 

For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence since my youth. (v. 5)

For example, we know that Jesus has promised to return. We can say to others that our hope is in Him. We are looking for His return, and expressing something that is certain - but has not yet occurred. 

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:3)

As believers, we are people who have a habit of hope built on the promises of God. Our outlook should be, as the missionary Adoniram Judson wrote, "as bright as the promises of our Lord." It's unfortunate that many Christians have picked up the negative, hopeless spirit of the world because they keep their focus on the problems - instead of on God and His promises. That kind of habit will make us bitter, not better, as we grow older. We should be people who hope in God.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

The psalmist was ready for old age because he had developed a deep knowledge of God. And because he had developed godly habits: he trusted, praised God, and hoped in Him.

Developing our walk with Him - praise

Another habit that we need to develop in our walk with Him is shown to us by the psalmist in Psalm 71: praise.

I will ever praise you..... My mouth is filled with your praise,

    declaring your splendor all day long..... As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.....I will praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion. (vs. 6b, 8, 14, 22-24)

I guess for most of us, praise is not a natural habit. We look around us and many times our human eyes see what's wrong in our world. We may even give voice to our thoughts. We might be guilty of grumbling and complaining. 
But God desires that we be people of praise. When good times are rolling, and when difficult times come. From those verses up there, we can see that the psalmist had developed that habit. A habit of praising God.

When we are trying to develop our close walk with Him, we should focus on praising Him. But how to praise when trials are all we see? 

Learn to trust Him. We learn to trust Him when we know Him; we will learn to praise Him as our trust in His faithfulness grows. Have you ever known someone who just didn't give you "vibes" that made him or her seem trustworthy? There was just something there that made your instincts stand up and take notice. You're not exactly going to sing that person's praises when someone inquires about them, right?

If (in spite of all of His blessings, and the many times He has proven His loving care) we doubt God's goodness or faithfulness, then we can't say that we trust Him. If we begin to question when He allows a trial or a bump in the road, then we don't trust Him. And if we are not trusting Him, we cannot honestly and sincerely praise Him.

If we notice that we are complaining, and if we have trouble developing a habit of praise, we need to buckle down and use two strategies. The first one is to concentrate on getting to know God and His ways. This psalm mentions God's righteousness in five different places - why? Because the psalmist was facing unjust treatment at the hands of unrighteous, mortal men. He wanted to remind himself of the righteousness of the God he was trusting. God is good and faithful, even when He allows troubles and distresses into our lives. And He can be relied upon to save us.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all. (v. 15)

Next, review the things that God has already done for you. Remember the line from the old hymn, "Count your blessings, name them one by one...."?  That's not just a wonderful song; it's an important concept! It's common for us to forget His many benefits on our behalf -- all undeserved -- and then we fail to praise Him.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Let's try to make it a habit to trust and praise Him aloud every day.

Godly habits on our walk - back to Psalm 71

We humans are creatures of habit, no?

Uh, yes! (Grin)

And many times, those are habits we should try to leave behind! Habits are developed by repeating actions, words, or thoughts over a period of time. And once we have a habit "in place," it's almost involuntary. It's a part of who we are....for a while. Our attitudes, and how we respond to life's problems tend to become habits. 

Some people respond to problems by becoming habitual worriers. Some become complainers. Some people may respond to life's problems by becoming habitually pessimistic or even angry.

On the other hand, some people respond by becoming habitually positive. Their cheerful attitude is one we may find annoying sometimes, but we really should imitate!

There's a word that is repeated in three verses of our psalm that gives us a giant clue. Watch for it and see if you can pick it out:

Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come;
You have given the commandment to save me,

I have leaned on you since my birth;
You are He who took me from my mother’s womb;
My praise is continually of You.

But as for me, I will wait continually,
And will praise You yet more and more. (verses 3, 6, and 14)

Did you catch it? "Continually." In each of the three verses. That tips us off that there were habits that the psalmist had developed. These are not necessarily habits that we pick up naturally. We must cultivate them. We have to nurture them. On purpose! And in verse fourteen, the old man says "but as for me," which makes us know that it was his firm resolve to develop these habits. He was determined to respond to life's issues with these attitudes.

The first attitude he developed was to trust his God. We saw that in verse three, but actually the whole psalm is about trusting Jehovah.

Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come;
You have given the commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress. (v 3)

The man speaking these words was growing old. He was struggling because he was in difficult circumstances. Many were seeking his life. Many others simply wanted to see his downfall. But he was unstaggering in his faith because he knew Whom he believed.

That faith comes from knowledge of God. Knowledge that is "heart knowledge," not just "head knowledge." Knowledge that dispels doubt and fear. We fear and distrust things we don't know, and we are more inclined to trust things and people whom we know well. We know from past experiences if someone or something is trustworthy.

Because the psalmist knew God, he had learned to trust Him through some other tough times:

You who have shown me many troubles and distresses
Will revive me again,
And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. (v 20)

He knew that God would see him through this time, too.

Are we developing the habit of trusting God in the difficult times? Are we frequently filled with worry, doubt, and fear? If we are having trouble trusting, we need to concentrate on getting to know God. And we need to remind ourselves of the times that God has rescued, revived, and restored us!

We need to follow the example of Psalm 71....reviewing what God has done for us will strengthen our faith! In the past, He has saved us from our sins. He has preserved our lives. He is walking with us each day. 

And we can trust Him for our present and future problems!

Easter week worship

 

Easter week praise

 

Easter week, continuing

 

Easter week, continued

 

Easter week

 I will be taking some time off this week to rest and recharge. I hope that you will rejoin me next week and we'll continue our studies.

Rejoice!

Christ is alive! And I'm alive because He lives!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Why? Our Savior's death on our behalf is the reason why God can forgive us and still be holy and just. His death teaches us the way that we should forgive one another.

Jesus left us with a great hope and a certainty that He will return to bring a new heaven and a new earth. We are told that there will be no more sorrow, trouble, or death for those who have believed on Him and follow Him. 

Our task is to obey His command to tell the whole world about Jesus. Let's pray that during this Easter time, we will be filled with peace and hope, and that we will share this "good news" with everyone!

Friday slowdown

 All I Once Held Dear, Built My Life Upon
All This World Reveres, And Wars To Own
All I Once Thought Gain I Have Counted Loss
Spent And Worthless Now, Compared To This
Knowing You, Jesus, Knowing You,
There Is No Greater Thing
You’re My All, You’re The Best
You’re My Joy, My Righteousness
And I Love You, Lord
Now My Heart’s Desire Is To Know You More
To Be Found In You And Known As Yours
To Possess By Faith What I Could Not Earn
All-Surpassing Gift Of Righteousness
Knowing You, Jesus, Knowing You,
There Is No Greater Thing
You’re My All, You’re The Best
You’re My Joy, My Righteousness
And I Love You, Lord
Oh, To Know The Power Of Your Risen Life
And To Know You In Your Sufferings
To Become Like You In Your Death, My Lord
So With You To Live And Never Die

We must first know Him

 

Many years ago, when our middle child was only about six or seven years old, a Sunday School teacher said about him, "Those waters run deep." She was explaining that she was working to get acquainted with him, and that he was a very thoughtful child. It was going to take some time to get to really know him!

Our psalm (71) tells us that in order to walk with God, we must first know Him. 

And know Him well.

The psalm writer (whether it's David or not) had a deep personal understanding of the Lord. He says that even in his youth, he'd been taught about God:

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. (v. 17)

He knew God as his refuge:

I have become a sign to many;
    you are my strong refuge. (v. 7)

And he knew Him as his Savior:

In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear to me and save me. (v. 2)

There are so many wonderful verses in this psalm! They reveal a very deep knowledge and an intimate relationship between the man and his God.

He calls God his rock, and his fortress:

Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress. (v 3)

How could he say all of these things about God? Because over the years, the old man had seen the faithfulness of God.

He had seen the mighty deeds of God on his behalf; he had witnessed God's strength and power.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.  (verses 16 and 18)

Instead of being oblivious to the fact that it was God Who was in control and Who make things work for His purposes, the songwriter realized that it was God who allowed troubles sometimes, and it was always God who restored him:

Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up. (v. 20)

This was a man who knew God! He had proved to himself and others over the years that God was faithful. The result? In a time when he needed to trust and walk with God, there was no "Well, if you're up there, help me out!" He knew God in a personal, practical way.

Are we growing in our walk with Him? Are we spending time in His Word, getting to know Him? And then do we apply His Word to our problems? A fire extinguisher is a great tool and can save lives and assets. But if we have never read the label or considered how to use it, it won't do us much good. In the same way, we need to know our God as a faithful Friend and Helper, so that we can trust Him and have confidence in Him.

If we are learning that now, we too will know Him when the crises of old age come our way. That deep knowledge of Him will be the key.

It's not for sissies, part II

Everybody wants it.

Many people fear it.

What is it?

The opportunity to grow old.

While it's a blessing from God, old age also has some rather frightening aspects, no? Aging bodies are more susceptible to illness and injury. Health and feelings of usefulness are both declining. Friends and loved ones' deaths often bring on feelings of the reality of one's own death being "around the corner." Children and grandchildren are often busy with other interests. Dwindling income brings fears of financial problems.

It's sad, but our culture here in America does not esteem the elderly. We do not truly value old age. Our society is self-centered, even narcissistic. Often the older generation is viewed as a financial burden. Their care is seen as an obstacle to younger people's pursuits of success.

I have some real problems with the leadership of the nation of China, but their people still view old age as the most respected stage of life. Most of the elderly are cared for in the context of family life; they are not routinely shuffled to the care of strangers.

No matter our age, we should be asking ourselves, "Am I doing the right things to prepare for old age?" I don't mean have we purchased the latest miracle supplement that promises to stave off creaky joints or tottering balance. It's not about the wondrous face cream or body lotion that assures us we will not "look old." I'm not talking about an exercise regimen, nor the special diet that should keep our bodies percolating along nicely.

(Don't get me wrong: diet, exercise, and more should be things that we pay attention to, because we want to be good stewards of the bodies and the health we've been blessed with. But we don't need to agonize over these choices, nor should we spend huge amounts of time staring into the mirror at our wrinkles!)

The more important thought is this: we will be in old age what we are becoming now. If we are not pursuing a life of faith now, we will not be a person of faith then. If we are a negative, grumpy person now, we won't be a cheerful person then. If we aren't developing our walk with God now, we won't be walking closely with Him then.

Psalm 71 (I hope you re-read it again today) is the psalm of an old man. He's had many problems and trials, but he's joyful and is still focused on God. The song shows us that the right way to grow old, the way God would have us grow old, is to develop a walk with Him NOW.

The reason that the psalmist could get a grip on his problems and handle them so well was that he had worked at walking with God in the years leading up to his old age. He had a proven resource to rely on. Even though his body was growing weaker and his enemies were still around, he could be strong inside because he knew His Lord was faithful.

The scholars don't all agree on who wrote Psalm 71. Many feel like the references to the harp and lyre sound like king David. When the songwriter mentions having his greatness increased, that could be David talking about being restored to his throne.

But no matter who wrote it, this psalm will give us instruction on walking with God. And those are good to be reminded of! I hope you will join me in this study.

Verses that inspire

Rock solid.

Can't be moved. Can't be shaken.

I guess many times in today's world, we hear "rock solid" mentioned when people are talking about investments!

But I take comfort and inspiration from a different kind of "rock solid."

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, (Hebrews 12:28, NIV)

The writer of Hebrews was comparing the scene at Mount Sinai, when God gave His people the old covenant, to the nature of the new covenant, pictured in heaven. (If you have time in your quiet time this week, you might want to compare Exodus 19 to Hebrews 12. It's worth your time.)

The old covenant's introduction came with an earthquake, and the earth itself is destined one day to be undone and "made over." (Revelation 21) But heaven and the new covenant are also part of God's eternal plan, and they will never be undone or "made over."

We are so blessed to be living under the new covenant; we have the advantage of looking to our Savior, instead of following the Law. The Old Testament was often given through ominous signs, fire, and sacrifice. It involved material things in a material world, and God presented Himself as almost unapproachable - symbolic of His holiness.  The New Testament offers believers something much better: something beyond the Law and its rituals, and beyond our earthly needs. 

Christ gives us an ability to approach God personally. Earthly things can be changed and destroyed, but our relationship with Christ cannot. Our destiny is heaven and the new covenant; these are things which cannot be shaken.

They will last forever.

That is the kingdom that "cannot be shaken." Our worship of God should include our gratitude for a future that is rock solid.

Amen!

Growing old is not for sissies

Wrinkles.

Arthritis.

Commercials that warn you that you may fall and not be able to get up. 

We've talked before about leaving a legacy for those who come after us. We've touched on aging and the trials and joys there.

Today, we'll begin a psalm written by an old man. 
Ready?

It's a little longer than some of the psalms we have studied previously, but my goodness! There's a lot here for us!

I'm going to post it here and ask you to stop in each day and re-read it. Or re-read it in your own Bible. We'll begin our studies on Wednesday.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.
 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear to me and save me.
 Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence since my youth.
 From birth I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
    I will ever praise you.
 I have become a sign to many;
    you are my strong refuge.
 My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.

 Do not cast me away when I am old;
    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
 For my enemies speak against me;
    those who wait to kill me conspire together.
 They say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue him.”
 Do not be far from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help me.
 May my accusers perish in shame;
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.

As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
 Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
    you who have done great things.
    Who is like you, God?
 Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up.
 You will increase my honor
    and comfort me once more.

 I will praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
 My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.
 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion. (Psalm 71)

Friday slowdown

This wonderful old song blessed my heart this week. I hope it calms, soothes, and inspires all who pause here.

Before the throne my Savior stands . . . .

Your turn to speak!

Even after the pandemic has passed, our readership has decreased . . . I know that some of us have more than one job; some have family issues that they must tend to; others are recovering from illnesses themselves.

I pray each day for those who pause here to read; I know that all of us are burdened and busy - it may be that no one has time to answer these questions! 
And that is OK!

I'm honored that some still stop by here and make this a part of their day. In the past, I would post questions and ask readers to post thoughtful answers. I thought I would try that once more, and see if anyone wanted to share their thoughts.

I spoke just today with a lady who told me of a missions trip that she traveled on, and how it changed her ways of thinking. She observed people who had far fewer material blessings, but still led cheerful, spiritual lives. She said that when she got home, she was struck by how much more "stuff" people have in America, and her purchasing and giving habits both changed! She gave much more to missions, because she was spending less on "stuff"!!

What are your thoughts? Should we wait to give our offerings to missions until we feel we have "enough" of God's blessings, or is giving one way to experience His blessing? And how do we determine how much to give to missions and missionaries?

If anyone has a moment to answer, please leave a comment. You may help someone with your answer.

Thank you.

Seeking His blessings and sharing

As we finish our study of Psalm 67, we can ask ourselves some questions. We can do this in our quiet time, and ask God to point out things in our lives and in our hearts that may need to change.

Are we earnestly seeking God's blessings for ourselves, our family, and for the family of God? 

We should be! It's only when we experience the blessing of salvation that we can know the gladness of God and share it with others. It's easier to share our time and our finances when God has blessed us abundantly - we must open our hands and give to others.

It's the overflow of joy in our hearts that will appeal to others so that they want to know why our lives are different. Praise the Lord when that happens, and be ready to share a testimony of His love!

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (I Peter 3:15)

Let's take the time daily to rejoice in the Lord. Let's spend time in His Word and examine our hearts. Allow Him to judge all known sin, and bring unknown issues to our attention. Let's ask Him to bless us spiritually and materially, so that we can bless the people around us, and the nations that do not yet know Him.

Then, let's be good stewards of His blessings. Make a plan to get out of debt -- and follow it! Live simply and joyously. Give to the Lord's work. 

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (I Timothy 6:6-10)

Our gladness in God our Father will spread to those around us and all around the earth.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Prayer requests

 

Do you watch the news shows?

Do you avoid them?

Does it stress and/or disgust you to see all that is going on in our world today?

Are we anxious about it all?

Are we missing the boat on praying for our country?

Fear and anxiety are both normal reactions, but prayer is a vehicle that will help with our emotions and make a difference in our nation!

Here in the USA, we are a country in crisis. The USA is Christian in name only, and the "free choices" and sins of our fathers and grandfathers all come with consequences. Maybe you live in another country, but are facing the same type of crisis.

The Bible is quite clear that our prayers can change things. Intercessory prayers for people, leaders, and nations can change everything. 
We prayer warriors are needed!

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jeremiah 29:7)

God told Israel to pray for the peace of the place where they lived. They'd been carried as captives into exile, and He said, "Pray for that city."

Here in America, our country has been rocked by riots, protests, sickness, and more. If there was ever a time to pray for peace for this nation, it's now. 

God is clear in His Word that He is opposed to the proud and haughty, but that He defends the humble. We must be examples of humility, and we must pray that our country humbles itself.

if my people, who are called by my name, will 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. (II Chronicles 7:14)

We need to repent of our sins and ask God to heal the pain and hurt in our country. It is He Who can heal broken hearts and minds.

We can ask Him to help us never forget that every good thing in our lives is not because we did anything noteworthy, but those blessings come from Him, instead.

And that we are not good in our own right. We've not earned His love or favor, because we deserve nothing but separation from Him. Any time we get puffed up with pride, He needs to remind us where we once stood: hopeless. Lost. Rebellious. Sinful.

Then we can experience His peace and His protection. He will hear us, forgive us, and bring hope to our hurting world.