Do You Have It?

Author: Saleama A. Ruvalcaba, MATS

I think most of us who call ourselves Christians would say, yes – we have fierce love for God. I think in our hearts we want to believe it. I truly believe in all honesty we do have fierce love for God – but maybe it’s not as powerful and empowering as it should be.

Just looking around our world today – it’s sad on every single level.

This has been one of the worst years of my life. Maybe not for someone who’s older – but for me – I have never seen such sadness in all my life.

I have seen moments of sadness but not like what is happening in our world today. Prolonged sadness, deep division, and anger almost everyday. It’s like the moment you start to feel even the slightest glimmer of hope – something else happens.

How do we respond to this?

We pray.

But why aren’t we seeing any sign of answered prayers?

Leaders continue to cause harm to the people they are called to govern.

This virus has gotten to the point of sheer hopelessness, in my opinion. Whereas we were once shocked to learn someone close to us has Covid – now we aren’t even shocked when we hear that someone else has it.

We continue to hear about racial divisions, election fraud – and leaders abusing their powers.

Hosea 1:2 “The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash^[a] king of Israel:”When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

God expected His chosen people, Israel, to be loyal and faithful to Him. The book of Hosea, according to some scholars, is an illustration of the unfaithfulness of Israel. They were fickle. All of Israel – the nation and individuals, were expected to be faithful to God. And all of Israel – the nation – and individuals – were held accountable to God’s judgement. God reminded Israel that their apparent love for Him was like the morning dew which disappeared;

Hosea 6:4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.

Israel had forgotten God. They did not obey His commands. They had no knowledge of Him.

They did not love God as much as they thought.

Is it possible that we too don’t love God as much as we like to think?

The people in day of Hosea were mostly guilty of loving their idolatrous world more and worshiping other gods.

Um…this can easily be said of us today in America.

We worship celebrities, social media, money, power, material items…

Prayer is vital as it brings us closer in our relationship with God. But ask yourself this question; how much time do you honestly spend praying for others? How much time in prayer do you honestly spend praying for your leaders and nation?

I saw someone on social media recently say; “I can pray for my leaders, but God doesn’t tell me I have to pray for God to bless them.”

What a said way to live.

What does blessed mean? To have power, status, material items?

Or maybe it means what the Bible teaches us;

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;  the Lord turn his face toward you  and give you peace.”

I don’t know about you, but I want the people leading me, my husband, my boss, my city, and nation to be blessed by God. I want the people leading to have a relationship with God therefore, my prayer is that all leaders know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – and my prayer is for God to bless them. When leaders have the favor of God upon them that means that leader is leading through the power of the Holy Spirit. That leader is relying on God and not him or herself.

We are allowing the demonic forces in the world to divide us – thus – we don’t pray for others, and we don’t pray for our leaders – thus – we cannot say we have fierce love for God.

God wants our nation – individuals as well – to be faithful to Him – to have fierce love for Him! You cannot have fierce love for God only thinking and praying about your inner circle of life! What does it mean for God’s favor on you while the entire world is in shambles?

Hosea 13:9 “You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.

Oh how I pray we would take God at His Word. If God can destroy His own people for their unfaithfulness to Him, why would He spare America?

Why?

God had warned Israel. When the nation had kings who lived for God there was strength in the nation, yet once the nation divided, the northern kingdom never had another good ruler. The evil kings led the nation into unwise political alliances and idolatry. The result was they were punished.

Do we not see the same in our nation today?

No matter who is leading, do you have fierce love for God to pray for your leaders to lead well? Do you think if you pray for God to bless your leaders, God will give them power to be evil?

That makes no sense!

When we pray for our leaders, whomever they may be, we are praying for their salvation and for God’s favor on them to lead well. Demonstrate fierce love for God today by forgetting your selfish needs and pray for our leaders, and pray for this nation.

Don’t be fooled into thinking God will spare America – He won’t.

It’s time to rise up and pray, fight, and destroy the powers of darkness over America.

The battle is not with leaders. It’s a spiritual battle to destroy America. If you have fierce love for God – pray today for His will to be done in America.

Pray for all leaders in authority: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Pray to end division: Romans 16:17

Pray for peace in our nation: John 14:27

Pray for God’s favor in our nation: Ephesians 1:11

Pray that we show love to one another: 1 John 4:7-8

Pray that God help us lead people to salvation: John 3:16

Pray that all of us have repented hearts: Acts 8:22

Pray for families to fear God: Acts 10:2

Pray that we love God with all our heart: Luke 10:27

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Do you have fierce love for God?

How you pray each day will give you your answer.

Our nation needs fierce love!

Pray!

~Saleama A. Ruvalcaba, MATS