Have you ever felt like you couldn't hear God anymore, or that you may have lost that connection with Him? I've always gone through this from time to time, and I couldn't figure out why. With close communication with God through prayer and meditation (mediation on the Word)---I always had some sort of answer, be it through the words of someone else, or an impression God Himself had given me and mainly through the Bible itself. I've received miraculous signs and miracles such as asking for a dove to land next to me, and not even 10 seconds later---there it was! I've prayed for financial help, and a few days later, $700 crisp fifty dollar bills were laying at the bottom of my purse (the exact amount I needed.) I investigated that like a detective, and nobody claimed it was them that placed it there, and no, I did not sleepwalk and rob a bank somewhere. These things all happened and I have this all on video as well.
But what if you lose that connection with Him?
Where Are You, God?
There was a time when I just wasn't hearing God at all. No signs, no words from other people, no epiphanies from reading scriptures---nothing. I was getting discouraged and finally yelled at, "Where are you?" I happened to open the Bible and it turned to all of these passages toward forgiveness---not only forgiveness, but to pray for them, as well and to not only forgive them once, but forgive them each and every time it happens.
"Peter asked Jesus, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.'"
-- Matthew 18:21-22
Basically, the Scripture above means that we need to constantly forgive. It's limitless. They say to "know someone is to love them," but I say, "to love someone is to know them." Know that they're human and they're going to mess up again. There's a difference between setting up boundaries and knowing when you can let somebody completely in again. But this is about loving one another on levels that are beyond what the average person can tolerate. It has to be on a spiritual level. Let's face it---we all mess up from time to time. I've been blessed to be forgiven by people who I have hurt in the past. So for me, forgiving someone in my life who has hurt me will always be done. Forgive us for our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...and so on.
Forgive and Forget
Forgiving and then forgetting on top of that is hard for a lot of people. I mean, to forget means that history may repeat itself. And yes it will! The forgetting part doesn't mean that you choose to have amnesia toward it---it means that you never bring that topic back up again. It also means that you don't entertain the thoughts of what happened ever again either. And if it slips back into your mind, just cast it back out. That's what "forgive and forget" truly means.
The Message
God was trying to tell me that I was harboring resentment in my heart, by not speaking to someone in my life who I love, who happened to hurt me too. I 'said' I forgave them, but the act of not speaking to them again was an act of unforgiveness. The disappearing act was an act of resentment. God couldn't get through to me if I had all that static inside my heart. I had to let it go. Once this was shown to me, I prayed for so long for God to forgive me because I wasn't being forgiving at all. All of the sudden, things started to change. The atmosphere was different and I felt so much lighter. I started to hear from God again. I saw signs and even felt like the person I was 'at war' with was okay---can't explain that one, but I felt it. Not long after that feeling, that person called me and it was as if nothing ever happened. Wiped clean---a new slate. (I make sure I collect a lot of slates!)
The World Has Changed
Especially now with the pandemic, and all of the political static in the air, people are at each other's throats. Nobody is kind to one another anymore---not like they used to be. I saw someone post up, "I wish the world was like it was on the day of September 12, 2001." Everyone came together, paid it forward, flew an American flag on their cars and trucks and treated each other with love and respect. Whether you believe this or not, the mainstream media and social media has divided us. You wouldn't even believe how they can manipulate people into turning against one another. You see it online---people screaming and physically attacking one another for not wearing a mask, or protesters destroying businesses and homes, despite what side the victim is on. There are fights everywhere and fights within our own circles. People are "unfriending" one another on social media and in real life. If you're not voting for the same presidential candidate, then you're casted out like a used up rag. Unless you have their view, then you're on your own and not welcomed into their lives anymore. People are getting short-tempered, irritable and downright obnoxious about the smallest of things. The worst of it all is, the mainstream media and social media are showing you how white people hate black people and how black people hate white people. Don't believe it! It is made to make you angry and go against anyone who is of another race than you. The "GODS" of social media have pretty much brainwashed ALL of us into thinking that we are not only hated, but wished ill upon us. No weapon formed against you shall prosper---say it. People are wishing ill on others, even our president. I've seen people wish death on our president and even for Joe Biden. This is not the world I want to live in. This is not acceptable! But it is written. It has been already predicted by the Bible itself. If you haven't seen The Social Dilemma on Netflix, it proved what I have believed to be true for many years. It shows the addiction to our phones and devices---how every chime, every alert to check our messages, comments and even likes has now taken more priority over sitting at the dinner table with our families.
End Times Brother Against Brother
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Luke 12:53 ESV They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Matthew 24:7 ESV For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Mark 13:12 ESV And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
Matthew 10:21 ESV Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
Matthew 24:14 ESV And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Mark 13:12-13 ESV And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:10 ESV And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
Matthew 24:3 ESV As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?”
Luke 12:52-53 ESV For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Matthew 24:12 ESV And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
The End Times
I do believe we're in the end times right now. Even though nobody knows the day nor hour of when Jesus will come back, these events that are transpiring right in front of our eyes should be a wake up call for many. In fact, I've been having many prophetic-like dreams, where I hear trumpets from each corner of the world---from the heavens! And angels screaming out, "Wake up! Wake up!" One morning, while they were screaming, I woke up and actually still heard the last words of, "Wake up!" If you look online, you'll see that there are other people having similar dreams as I am.
The Takeaway
Whatever side you're on, whatever you believe in, and however you handle things---just be kind toward one another. And if for whatever reason someone snaps at you, forgive them. Make allowances towards one another. Listen, I'm not perfect. Just the other day a "friend" of mine attacked me via text message. (Wouldn't it have been better if that said person would've called and at least, had a decent discussion about the issue instead of an all out keyboard warrior style ambush?) And as taken aback as I was, I couldn't type fast enough to explain to this person what the deal was. Technology is funny. It makes it easier to communicate, yet harder to communicate. Words are taken out of context, and replies aren't fast enough. Whatever my friend was going through, she chose to grind her axe through a text message and destroy whatever friendship we had left. I responded poorly, given the fact that she was texting like Speedy Gonzales, so I basically told her to 'shove off.' She said, "You have emotional issues." And I'm like, "No sh*t." (Like who doesn't know that?) I don't like confrontations, or awkward arguments with acquaintances/friends. So I took it upon myself to send her a message when I was calmer. I told her that I was sorry for how I reacted, that I was caught off guard, and that I knew that my response wasn't the best. And then I wished her well.
Even when you think you're right---apologize. The apology doesn't mean one person is right or wrong, it means that the entire thing is just regretful. I challenge you to look at life through different lenses right now. Whenever you get angry over something or somebody offends you---try to respond with LOVE. It's really hard when you're all fired up and ready to fight---but be mindful and respond with love. This world needs it. They say that you can't control your circumstances, but you can definitely control the way you react to it. And if you mess up, then own up to it and say you're sorry. Say it sincerely and with love. Make room for mistakes for you and for others. I'm going to start doing that more often. People are in pain, hurting, emotionally and physically. It's time to lessen the blow and tell everyone you know how much you care for them. Life's too short.
That's all.
