By Tamara Glasner

The last few weeks have been extra trying for us here in the US. I have found myself meditating more on the scripture than usual. I have found myself calling out to the Lord to make my heart softer. Larger. Kinder. More alert. More engaged. More sensitive to others. Less distracted. Less foggy. I have asked for tender understanding of my fellow man and a deeper relationship with Jesus. 

The tragic, avoidable violence and loss of innocent life all over our country has placed us in a season of mourning. We live in times when sin is no longer sin. God’s blessings that He has richly poured out on us as a nation have served to steer us away from God rather than draw us to Him in thankfulness and praise. We have forgotten who we are and where we came from. We have lost our compass. In response, I want to be humble and pray for forgiveness. I love this land and her people. This is a precious land to our Father. He loves when we go low and repent so He can bring healing.

I must repent for not speaking up. For not noticing the enemy sliding in through the back door.  For contributing knowingly or unknowingly to my nation’s turning away from God. I must repent for not loving God or others as I should. The tough love that corrects, the gentle love that comforts, and the untiring love that stays when everyone else leaves. 

“And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.” (Daniel 9:4-6)

If the last few years have revealed anything, they have revealed a need for collective repentance, a need for deeper understanding and courage to walk in God’s ways, and a serious need that we are filled with His love for others as never before. More love for Jesus, and more love for others. 

When times of trouble and stress come, a natural human response is to shrink back. Instead, as believers, we have the opportunity to grow and “take up space,” to speak up, to love the unlovable, to demonstrate our value for human life, freedom of religion, and the freedom to raise our children as we see fit in safe, healthy, nurturing, Christ-like environments. 

Don’t shrink back, mamas! Grow, grow, grow, through repentance, through active love, and through courage. Ask the Holy Spirit for His special “miracle-love-grow” to give you the energy and wisdom to run the race He is asking you to run. He is never empty. Jesus runs on full. HIs kingdom is always increasing, even in times of darkness like our present time. He has plenty to pour out. He is the life giver. 

Lead us our dear, precious Lord through the hard times to love You and know You and walk with You so close that we are running on FULL to pour out love on others.  

Jesus is truly powerful to heal and love you so much that you can’t help but love others in a way that transforms lives, families, communities, and ultimately, nations. See if there is any wicked way in you, then repent. Confess your sin to the Lord, turn away from the negative pattern or behavior, and welcome His presence to heal you and align you with His Word and His plan. 

He is so sweet to forgive. He is the good shepherd. He cares for his sheep. He LOVES his sheep. We are the sheep. 

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Much love,

Tamara