American believers have, for the most part, enjoyed a ‘good life’ where the fruits of freedom to worship, work, plan and save grounded us in ‘One Nation Under God’. The ‘good life’, often entangled in this world, gave birth to ungodly prosperity ministries and carnal churches. However, the bad thing about a good life in an ungodly world is the inevitable upheaval of misplanted roots. Since, “…Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin...” and “…the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” this is not the place to invest our heart and trust.
Americans and believers alike are alarmed by the powerful forays that are, through destruction, forcing change. A country that was built and cultivated over hundreds of years is seemingly toppling before our eyes. But it was toppling all along….
The Ten Commandments, ordered removed by Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2015, under cover of night to avoid controversy
We lost all fear of ‘controversy with God.’ What was sanctioned in secret has come to utter fruition in the daylight – toppled statues, ruined icons, wanton cultural destruction.
‘Successful’ Christians are now scrambling to secure their lives here, especially with the growing threat of socialism… “Should I cash in my 401K?…Put my money in a safe?…But will there be a ‘cashless society’?…Should we buy property?”
Self-preservation is the most natural instinct within us – who doesn’t want to live and preserve a good life? The only problem facing the believer though is the prevailing word of God that exhorts us to “pick up our cross” and follow Christ, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” This call of separation unto God is an ongoing call from Genesis to Revelation, as is the rebuke against ‘friendship with the world’ and its entanglements.
I challenge myself in this: maybe God is calling us to set our hearts upon and actually live according to His word,
“…godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that….take hold of the life that is truly life.“ (I Timothy 6 excerpts)
These social, political, and moral upheavals pose great challenges for believers but also great opportunities to live out our faith as God intends – to believe and stand on His word, to express the glory and faithfulness of God, to be content…strengthening our hearts with the reality of Christ’s promised and soon return.
Believers are called out in every time and place of world history and with that call comes the power of God to live out our faith and fulfill His purposes for our short time here.
Lord, help us walk in and live through Your word in greater measure, proclaiming Your truth and faithfulness as this dark world readies for Judgment Day.
theburninglampdotcom 
You are right, Lisa Beth, we have been toppling all along. Love and blessings.
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Thank you Mandy, always appreciate your visit and kind words.
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Amen, Lisa Beth. Absolute truth from top to bottom!
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Thank you so much David, your encouraging words mean a lot. And thank you for the re-blog!
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Happy to do it!
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Reblogged this on EttingerWriting.com and commented:
Another powerful and insightful post from Lisa Beth.
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Thanks a lot for bringing out the truth and for guiding believers to be strong in their faith .🙏
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Thank you brother for you encouraging comments! We need the Lord and His word more and more as the days grow dark.
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Exactly,thanks to the kind Lord for giving us all the opportunity to make hay while the sun shines. 🙏🙏
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Amen brother.
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Amen sister.🙏
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Thank you Lisa Beth for another insightful post. The days are truly dark and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Indeed our thoughts are to be on the spiritual and not on the temporal. We do well to place our focus on the eternal. Blessings.
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Amen Cathy. Things seem to be spiraling downward quickly. Press on sister.
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I’m so glad someone else shared this post, that was very insightful 🙂
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Thank you for your visit and kind words.
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Another great and timely post, Lisa. In times like this, we can see so clearly that the so-called prosperity gospel is powerless. People are terrified and they are looking for hope, they need Jesus. If they already know Jesus, they need to draw closer to Him (I’m including myself here).
I’m not a prophet, but I sense that things will get worse over the coming months and years. We need to be grounded.
God is so good, but we are living in a day that calls good evil and evil good.
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Amen dear brother, to all you said. I totally agree, “we are living in a day that calls good evil and evil good.” That churches are closed during calamities serves to test and refine our faith.
Press on brother Bill, we send love to you and Mary too! ❤
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Reblogged this on For Such A Time As This.
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Nina, your re-blog is so encouraging, thank you sister!
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Thank you, Lisa Beth, ~ a good post for the Lord’s Day. If you or any of your readers are interested, I would like to send a free PDF copy of our newest book Godly Contentment. He knew I would need this myself since He took Jerry home with Him last month. On my CONTACT page, leave an email address. Blessings as He keeps us close to Him and grows us in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Thank you dear Frances, for your encouraging comments and note about your book. I’m looking into it now. God bless you sister. 🌷
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Thanks for the thoughtful post, Lisa Beth! Events are forcing genuine believers living in America to reevaluate the popular notion of America being “One Nation Under God.” It’s joltingly uncomfortable as we must learn to shift our faith and focus from nation and the temporal “good life” to God and to reconsider ourselves as sojourners and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom rather than deeply-rooted temporal citizens.
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Thank you Tom, your comments are always on point. You’re right about our challenges here They may well expose the carnal faith of many, esp those who are convinced we’re in a political battle and must win. Reminds me of Joshua confronting the ‘Captain of the Lord’s Army’, “Whose side are you on?” He answered, “Neither”!
Press on brother!
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This is so good, Lisa Beth. I’m so glad I bumped into it, thanks to a faithful brother of mine who shared it recently.
I’ve been encouraged to thank God for the mercies of this nation, and as you’ve duly said, “American believers have, for the most part, enjoyed a ‘good life’…” This is our downfall. Our “good and comfort life” is robbing us, so to speak (here in America).
May our Good and Gracious God keep us. Teach us to be holy as He is holy. To be content in what He gives, yea, to be ever watchful. As, Jonathan Edwards, would have it, “May eternity be always stamped before our eyeballs.”
Again, thank you for this succinct article, Lisa Beth! Regards!
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Brother Thompson, thank you for such uplifting comments, it’s so good to hear from you. I’m very interested in your writing and perspectives as well. I think I may have found it on Biblical African. Thank you again, may the Lord continue to encourage and inspire you.
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Lisa Beth,
Ah! Yes! But that is not my site, as it were. 🙂 It’s just some friends overseas who requested to have those two posts over their site. May God be glorified. Looking forward to more of your articles.
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Your article “Are Death-bed Conversions Genuine?” captured my view perfectly. I do believe I found you at ‘Broken for Christ’.
Thank you again brother Thompson, encouragement from an eloquent and godly writer like you means a lot!
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We praise God, my friend. Debtors to nothing but mercy alone. And yes, Broken for Christ is my blog (the Biblical African got that read from there with my consent). Thank you for reading, though. May God continue to use your pen for His glory, Lisa.
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Good message in this post; I think God is definitely doing that, preparing our eyes to focus on heaven in these days
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So true Pastor. Thank you, I always appreciate your visit and comments.
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God bless you
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A great Godly post Lisa Beth. U.S.A. and Canada are in dire times. We are wandering so far from Jesus, and wondering why there is so much trouble.
I have been praying for revival to begin in churches, starting with me, and when Christ followers get revived, we will show the Life of Christ more outside the church, and see many turn to Christ for Salvation.
Thank you for following leading of Holy Spirit and writing as He leads.
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Thank you brother for your thoughtful and encouraging comments. You’re right to cry out for revival. I pray for us as the Bride to ready our hearts for our coming Bridegroom!
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