The American Church has been given a second chance.  There has been a radical jolt to the system of humanity with the martyrdom of a believer in Jesus Christ.  An American Christian on American soil killed for his faith and the beliefs that align with that faith.  We as fellow believers are impacted by this for many reasons.

1. The loss of a brother in Christ is painful – we weep with those who weep, we rejoice with those who rejoice.
2. The activity of the demonic has an influence – violence goes hand in hand with demonic. Genesis 6:11 says, “Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.”
3. The conviction that we are not following Christ with the same level of obedience, zeal and passion as Charlie Kirk.
4. The reality that we have allowed the enemy to steal, kill and destroy – our joy, our unity in the body of Christ, our genuine fellowship with other believers, our families, our focus, our peace, our mission purpose for existing – to love GOD and glorify HIM forever.  Satan can only take what we as believers allow him to have.

For most of my lifetime, we have not experienced the American Church reflecting Christ in the purest of forms.  The whole purpose of the life of a Christian is to be a living example of Jesus to the world around them.  To do that, we must know Him.  To do that, we must know His Word.  To do that, we must walk in complete surrender and obedience to the Father. 

In my short life of almost forty years, I have witness so much hate among the believers of Jesus that it sickens me.  And has broken the heart of God.  So often, we as believers get more caught up in our own struggles, offenses, pains and viewpoints that we walk and live in the flesh and forget to crucify the flesh.

I would say for most of my life, I have greatly desired to be diligent in the pursuit of the heart of Jesus – and longed to live every second in complete surrender.  These last five years have brought me to a new, different place on my journey.  For more than one reason and on more than one occasion, I have attempted to run from everything.  I have tried to run from my church, my family, my faith and even at points – my own life.  When the fight gets too hard, I do one of two extreme things – assume the position of a runner and take off OR dig my stakes so deep into the ground that no act of anything but superhuman activity could get me to move.  Some may call it stubbornness.  The Lord knows this… we talk about it often.

In the last six months, God has been gently and lovingly been pulling me from my cocoon that I created to protect myself.  I call it a cocoon because it was self-made and needed for a season. I don’t regret this time as it led me to today. And I pray to God I look as beautiful as the butterflies He created – which I know I will because if it isn’t good, then He is certainly not finished yet.  Too often, I have confused the voice in my head.  My peace and my joy and my hope were stolen.  A critical spirit had moved in and began to plant seeds and grow roots.  I made it easier on myself in my cocoon to not let many people in and turned away from the spots that would potentially cause me to be vulnerable.  I heard the wrong voice.  Instead of taking every thought captive, I began to believe the lies that Satan had whispered.  Instead of holding everything up against the Word of God, I chose to be tossed to and fro like the waves letting my firm foundation slowly erode. 

Today, I have apologized to my God for listening to the enemy’s voice instead of to the Holy Spirit.  Today, I have apologized to my Pastor for allowing the enemy to separate me from his teaching and leadership.  Today, I have apologized to my husband for being critical and at times unforgiving.  Today, I am choosing to open up again and take the risk that comes from potentially being hurt or pained by another.  Today, I am reaching out to those whom I have missed that the enemy has separated.  Today, I choose to follow the Spirit once again in my life and see what the Lord has in store for this baby butterfly.  Today, Christian, choose obedience to the Lord – His Word and His Spirit.  Both are crucial for this life.  Today, unbeliever, seek God.  He says if you seek Him, you will find Him when you seek Him with your whole heart.  Choose today to test Him.  I am not asking you to become religious.  I am asking you to ask God if He is real and listen for the answer.  Make today the day you choose to look for Him.  Accept Jesus as your Savior.  He is faithful and just and will forgive your sins.  Jesus longs for none to perish, but for all to enter into relationship with Him. 

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life – no one comes to the Father accept through Me.”  John 14:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son.  John 3:16

Christian, be on alert –

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:19-23

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you; sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry – you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.”  Colossians 3:5-10

Christian, seek God and His face when determining if the voice speaking to you is from Him or not.  And if you are experiencing grief or overwhelming loss or deep pain, ask a friend who seeks Jesus to help you navigate these Truths.  AND never be above talking to a Christian counselor or therapist to navigate the pitfalls that so easily entangle us.

Our time on earth is coming to a close, rapidly.  Jesus is coming for His Bride.  If you haven’t chose to become a follower of Jesus – consider it.  Times will get worse here and don’t spend an eternity wishing you had heeded these words.  If you are a follower of Jesus – BE ALL IN.  Choose today to surrender to the call, the obedience and pursue His Word and His family more than ever.  Today, we choose to be bold in our love so that they may know that Jesus is real.  We are the evidence.