Build Your Kingdom Here

The shofars are sounding far and wide: “Come! Let us gather in His name and pray.” We see the desperate condition of our world and there is a great urgency to cry out to God. It’s time for Christians to arise and pray.

As I prepare my heart today for participating in The Gathering – A National Solemn Assembly, my spirit is singing the song, “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective.

I invite you to join me in praying these lyrics for our nation!

Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here we pray

Come set Your rule and reign In our hearts again Increase in us we pray Unveil why we’re made Come set our hearts ablaze with hope Like wildfire in our very souls Holy Spirit come invade us now We are Your Church And we need Your power in us

We seek Your kingdom first We hunger and we thirst Refuse to waste our lives For You’re our joy and prize To see the captive hearts released The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace We lay down our lives for Heaven’s cause We are Your church And we pray revive This earth (We’re prayin’ for revival)

Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray (Change the atmosphere)

Unleash Your kingdom’s power Reaching the near and far No force of hell can stop Your beauty changing hearts You made us for much more than this Awake the kingdom seed in us Fill us with the strength and love of Christ We are Your church Oh, and we are the hope on earth

Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray (Change the atmosphere, build Your kingdom here)

Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray (Let’s win this nation back!)

Written by Christopher Dean Llewellyn, Gareth Andrew Gilkeson, William Herron • Copyright © Capitol Christian Music Group

Click here to listen to the song.

Prepare for the Changing Seasons

The signs of changing seasons are usually very obvious. School buses slowing our morning commute warn us that summer break is over. The school supply shelves have dwindled to a small clearance display making room for pumpkins, costumes and candy corn. Facebook feeds are no longer filled with back to school pictures of precious little ones displaying their new uniforms, shoes and backpacks. Young moms are smiling a little bigger with new, found freedoms and college moms are still a bit weepy. Dad’s brows are furrowed as they wonder how they will pay for it all. Early mornings bring a twinge of cooler temperatures and leaves have begun to litter the lawn.

All of creation speaks of changing seasons and yet we deny reality in every part of our being. We welcome the parts of season changing that we enjoy….summer ushering in play and relaxation, but with it comes long hot days causing the body to sweat from a mere walk to the car. We love growing up and gaining greater freedoms, but we hate the aging loose skin that begins to appear. We feel wonder and awe as we catch sudden peeks of the beauty in leaves changing from green to every color imaginable! Yet we complain at the seemingly never-ending task of raking and disposing of them.

Humanity is never happy!

The signs and warnings are very evident, yet we refuse to acknowledge them and accept them when they are upon us. Scripture clearly warns that seasons are changing and will continue to change as Jesus’ return draws near. The pages of our Bibles are filled with warning and instruction, but we have chosen to cling only to the parts we love.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Matt. 24:32-33

In the verses prior to these, Jesus is very specific in what to watch for. Deception. Wars. Nation against Nation. Famines. Earthquakes. Persecution! Increased Wickedness!

It’s as if He is saying, “Do you hear the rumbling bus? Do you feel the air? Do you not see the leaves changing right over there? Attention! The shelves are changing.

The obvious changes are declaring: “Prepare!”

Now is the season to prepare! Take heed the word of the Lord and don’t be caught unaware. This is a spiritual preparation that goes far beyond storing beans and bottling water. It is a call to stand as a warrior for the Kingdom of God.

This might stir a question within your heart. In light of the signs of change, how do I prepare?

• Believe the signs –Jesus is coming soon.

• Believe God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.

• Believe you are who He says you are

• Believe you can stand with all the armor of God in place

• Believe you are victorious because He is victorious

• Believe the most important thing is to love God and love people

“10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.” (Eph. 6:10-11 AMP)

How to Encourage Yourself in the Lord

Everyone faces difficulties in life. Not just bad hair days or especially crazy traffic days. Not just getting through the school line five minutes late only to learn that your little one forgot his book bag. The kind of days turned to months when everything has gone bad. You are overwhelmed and really feel like running away.

Not many of us have experienced as bad of a day as David did when he returned to his home in Ziklag after a journey and discovered that his enemies, the Amalekites, had destroyed or stolen everything that was important to him—and his own men turned against him. (See 1 Sam. 30) It looked as if God’s promises were null and void. It seemed that God had turned His back and hit the delete button on His promises.

As David sat among the ruins and devastation, he had a choice. He could allow anger and bitterness to win in his heart. He could sink into depression and let unbelief rule his life. Or he could stand and fight back. He chose the later and we can do the same.

How did he do it? How did he survive such loss and devastation? How did he have a “come back” story? We find the secret to David’s heart in verse 6.

Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 1 Sam. 30:6

David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. He encouraged himself. He sat in the counselor chair and told himself truth. I’m reminded of another verse in Psalm 42:11:

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

David did not give himself a self-talk session. He didn’t do the positive thinking routine. No he chose to focus on the LORD his God. Do you hear the personal relationship enjoyed by David?

After discussing this scripture with my group of Touching Hearts sisters, a lady shared with me of a painful weekend experience. Family had not kept their word and plans were dashed. Money wasted on party food, but no one showed up, called or canceled. She began to feel the disappointment and taste the hurt, but she quickly made a choice.

“This house will be a cathedral of praise. There will be no whining or self-pity here. We will praise the Lord and forgive. We will give love in this house.”

Everything turned as she chose to strengthen herself in the Lord.

I would imagine that David clinched his harp closely and began to sing songs of old that reminded Him of God’s faithfulness. Is it easy to worship in the storm? Not always, but David’s pattern was to always magnify the Lord.

We encourage ourselves in the Lord the same way: * Worship Him even when you don’t feel like it * Declare His word * Recall all the times He has been faithful * Remind yourself that God is a Promise Keeper * Magnify the Lord not your circumstances * Confess your trust in Him and refuse to let disappointment, fear, bitterness take root in your heart * Express Gratitude * (Add a few of your own) * ________________________________________________ * ________________________________________________ * ________________________________________________

Oh how we need this! Tell yourself the truth

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Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. (Romans 4:20)

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Ps. 18:2)

Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD. (Ps. 31:24)