Deeply Troubled

I am deeply troubled in my spirit today. I have been for the last several days. Maybe it's because I am tired -- I still haven't gotten that hour of sleep back from DST. Or maybe it's because of everything that is going on in the world. Death is everywhere. Senseless murders of a pastor in Illinois and people in Samson, Alabama and everywhere else. Predictions of economic collapse. Prophecies of cities burning from major ministries. The signing of the executive order reversing the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Approaching war. Freedom of Choice Act. Legalizing gambling in Alabama. Out of control spending in Washington -- led by our own Richard Shelby. We are in deep trouble as a nation and as the body of Christ. Christianity is on the decline in America. God cannot be happy. For the last several weeks, at least one of our visitation teams has been rudely rejected by someone we were trying to minister to. One person in the USA dies every 11 seconds. 75% of these are lost. Every hour, 300 people die and 225 of them go to hell. Can we be living in any time other than the last days? Can we not see that God's hand of judgment is about to fall on this country? How can we not be deeply troubled in our spirits? How can we be going about our business as usual? We desperately need for God to work, but it must begin in each one of us. We must fall on our faces and claim the truth of 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people which 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 will forgive their sins and will heal their land." We can't count on the politicians to do it. We can't expect our schools to handle it. We must fall on our faces before Holy God and cry out to Him for mercy. We must get rid of the pride that fills us. We must get rid of the root of bitterness that separates us. We must get serious with God and beg Him to touch us and to fill us once again. "Lord, please forgive me and forgive your church for our prideful rebellion, our spiritual apathy, our overall indifference to You and to Your Word. Forgive us our sin, and guide us in Your way."