If not you, then who?

September Reading Plan: Psalm 31-60

September Memory Verse: Psalm 34:1
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I wasn't planning on posting today. However, you know how God can put something on your heart and you just HAVE to talk about it? Yeah, that's where I am. 

First, I came across this incredible little hidden verse in our reading last week. It KNOCKED my fuzzy pink socks off! 

"I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly." Psalm 40:10

When I read scripture, I apply it personally. I apply it to my life, my world, my people. 

This verse spoke to me on so many levels, I wanted to SHOUT it from my rooftop to anyone that would listen. 

Will you do me the honor of being the "great assembly" today? I sure hope you will. For a few minutes anyway.

I have to be honest with you and tell you that all of this prayer that we have been doing has put me in a very tender and vulnerable place with the Lord. Prayer draws us intimately close to Him, and it softens our hearts more than anything else can. 

As my heart has been pulverized by His faithfulness and His affection, I begin to get a glimpse of His love for us. Just a glimpse because the totality of His love would overwhelm me and knock me out cold. 

Not only do I see His love for me, but I see His love for us. Slowly my eyes are being peeled open to a world in desperate need of a Father. Our Father God. 

I have a new sense of urgency for our fellow men, women, and children across the globe. I have a sense of responsibility to do.....something. Part of doing what I can, is having eyes that are opened.

Opened eyes are the first step. They can only come by a heart willing and asking for them to be open. 

As I cried my ever-lovin' eyes out in the car last week over something, I got angry. 

I was angry over some things happening to children. Some information was shared with me, and my heart broke into a million pieces. 

I cried out to God. I may have even yelled at Him. I told Him I didn't understand. I told Him that He had to do something. This wasn't fair for these children.  He had to act. Immediately.

My spirit was weeping to my Father. Not just my spirit, but my flesh, every ounce of it. 

When we know the unconditional love of the Lord, we can share our honest feelings. We can yell, scream, pitch fits....because we know He will still love us. He is our Father. 

This is where I was last week. A tantrum mimicking that of a 3 year old in my car. 

God, me, and my tears. 

Soon after my rant, I turned the radio on. I was tired. I was worn-out emotionally and I just needed to be swept away by some good music. 

The song the Lord hand-picked for my ears to hear was this:

"Do Something"

by: Matthew West

I woke up this morning

Saw a world full of trouble now

Thought, how’d we ever get so far down

How’s it ever gonna turn around

So I turned my eyes to Heaven

I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”

Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of

People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery

The thought disgusted me

So, I shook my fist at Heaven

Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

He said, “I did, I created you”

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking

About how we are God’s hands and feet

But it’s easier to say than to be

Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves

It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”

Well, I don’t know about you

But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire

I don’t want a flame, I want a fire

I wanna be the one who stands up and says,

“I’m gonna do something”

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something

We are the salt of the earth

We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)

But we’re never gonna change the world

By standing still

No we won’t stand still

No we won’t stand still

No we won’t stand still

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something 

I asked God immediately to show me what to do. 

His response was simple....

Jill, I want you to pray. 

This was not the response I had wanted to hear. I wanted a direct command of action. Something I could sink my hands into, to feel like I was doing...something. 

Again, I tell you to pray. If not you, then who? Who will pray?

A peace washed over me like I had not felt in a long, long time. 

A peace only perfect enough to come from Him. My Father. 

Yes, Father, I will pray. 

I wonder how much of our world could be changed if we were to pray more, and talk less. Really, I wonder. We talk about how things need change, how horrible things are....

When God desires us to simply..... pray. 

"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" James 5:16

What if it just started here, today, with all of you. What if all of us chose to pray for our world today. Nothing too wordy, or too fancy. Just simply, "Thy Will be done with Your people, Lord, Thy Will be done."

Will you join me? Will you stop today, tomorrow, and the rest of this week and pray for our world?

God hears us, sisters in Christ. Oh, He hears us! If He can hear little ol' me in the car out here on a lonely country road, He can hear ALL OF US! We are HIS! He hears the cries of His people....

"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18:6

My hands are shaking as I type this because I feel the urgency to do something. His people are waiting on our prayers. Will you join me on your knees?

Psalm 46:1-7

1 God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

    and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

    God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

if not us then who,

jill