Spiritual Disaster-Part II The Christian Survival Plan

For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)

In Part I of this series we looked at how God can and will at some point pull back His blessings upon a nation who turns their back on Him and refuses to acknowledge Him and follow His ways.  We looked at how we as a nation here in the U.S.A. have been richly blessed since our inception following our strong foundational beliefs in God and His Word.  

Slowly but surely we have began to slip from these outward professions of our faith and we have taken God from His rightful place of Lord.  As a result of our freewill choices we have begin to fall into the grasp of Satan's temptations to seek the world and all that it has to offer.  As a direct result of our turning from God we have encountered what I call, A "Spiritual Disaster."

In Part II of this series, we wanted to start to look at what I call, "The Christian Survival Plan."  This plan is what we, as Christian men and women, need to do to address this time of "Spiritual Disaster" that we have brought upon ourselves.  I would like to look at 7-things that we must do to remedy the spiritual apathy that we are suffering as a Christian Nation.  


1.    Break up the fallow ground

For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns." Jeremiah 4:3 (NKJV)

This scripture that the Prophet Jeremiah gave the people of Judah is the same thing we need to do.  We need to break up our neglected and untilled hearts.  Farmers don't sow seed on unprepared ground, and so neither can God sow the seeds of His truth until we prepare our hearts. 

Q:    How can we best prepare our hearts for God to change us?

A:    We need to repent and obey God.  We need to get on our hands and knees and cry out to Him for forgiveness.  We need to ask God to break our hearts for the things that break His.

We cannot simply go to church and practice rituals--we need to make an inward commitment to follow Jesus and to make Him the Lord of our life.


2.    Mourn    

Thus says the LORD of hosts:  Consider and call for the mourning women, That they may come; And send for skillful wailing women, That they may come. Let them make haste And take up a wailing for us, That our eyes may run with tears, And our eyelids gush with water. Jeremiah 9:17-18 (NKJV)

A true sign of our repentance and sorrow is for us to mourn the terrible sin that we have committed as an individual and as a country.  This is a proper way for us to feel if our heart is breaking for what breaks God's heart.  (See Ezekiel 9 as well) 


3.    Pray        

It may be that they will present their supplication before the LORD, and everyone will turn from his evil way. For great is the anger and the fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people. Jeremiah 36:7 (NKJV)

Prayer is single-handedly our most powerful weapon that we can use.  Our prayer of intercession is amazingly powerful.  We too, as a Christian family should be constantly praying for each other (1 Thess 5:17).  When the Israelites turned against God in the deserts while Moses was up meeting with God, it was Moses interceding and speaking (Praying) to God that saved them (See Ex 32:10-14). 

We should be lifting up our political leaders as well in prayer each and every day.  When you pray--pray with a passionate heart. 

In Part III of this devotional series, we will look at the next 4- things that we must do to remedy the spiritual apathy that we are suffering as a Christian Nation.

I want to encourage you today to seek God for our Country.  We can make a difference--and it is turning our lives over to God and allowing Him to use us in a mighty way.  Don't underestimate God's forgiveness, and His power.

STUDY QUESTION: What does Jeremiah 29:11-13 tell us about when we come to God with a proper repentive heart in prayer?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to intercede and pray for the Christians of this nation?

APPLICATION: Start today, pray for every Christian, that they will see their sin as God sees it.  Pray that it would break their heart as it breaks His heart.