I Prayed have prayed
Father, do not let us live in fear. Help us to make no provision for the enemy to attack and give our nation wisdom and discernment.
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The November elections may come down to one main question: whose base is more motivated? The answer to that question may come down to another important question: whose base has more hope?

The Bible teaches that, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) It also states that, “The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?” (Proverbs 18:14)

There is plenty of physical sickness in our country today, led by the COVID-19 pandemic. And there is plenty of heart sickness as well, with a plague of fear, hopeless, depression, and suicide.

An August 5 article on Roll Call stated that, “The nation’s suicide rate reached historic highs prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates at the highest levels since World War II. Economic and social pressures this year have heightened the risks, worrying experts, health officials and lawmakers.”

Things were bad enough before the virus. They have gotten much worse since.

On August 13, Politico reported that, “One in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 say they’ve considered suicide in the past month because of the pandemic, according to new CDC data that paints a bleak picture of the nation’s mental health during the crisis.”

It is difficult to live without hope. Difficult to live while believing that the world is crumbling around you. Difficult to live without something positive to look forward to.

Young people have been raised with constant fears of an impending world apocalypse, if not from climate change then from some other crisis, be it an alien invasion or an asteroid collision. And a slew of movies has underscored that fear. (An April 1, 2020 article on Town & Country carried the headline, “The Best Movies About the End of the World, to Watch at the End of the World. It’s bleak out there. So are these films.”)

That is why Americans today so desperately need hope. Real hope. Tangible hope. Hope they can sink their teeth into. More bad news will only depress.

Surely, there is not much joy in the midst of the riots and violent protests. Surely, there is not much joy in the midst of critical, hateful words.

Focusing only on what is wrong (or, allegedly wrong) will solve nothing. Neither will it motivate in the long term. There must be a clear vision of light at the end of the tunnel. There must be a positive breakthrough in sight.

That’s why, when you read the biblical prophets, they concluded their messages of severe judgment with promises of hope. “You have sinned, and God will judge you, but if you repent, He will restore!”

Even in the Book of Revelation, where Jesus brought strong messages to 5 of 7 churches in Asia Minor, He ended each message with a promise to the ones who overcame (see Revelation 2-3). Yes, the situation is dire and calls for radical change. But there is hope for a better future.

The Republican National Convention is just getting started, but we can expect a stark contrast with the Democratic National Convention. The latter majored on what’s wrong with America, giving viewers little to cheer about, even after candidate Biden’s convention-ending speech, which struck a better tone.

That’s why a rightwing website spoke of “Doomsday Democrats,” offering, “10 Gloomy Moments from the Democratic National Convention.”

The same website criticized former President Obama’s convention speech, stating, “Former President Barack Obama on Wednesday abandoned his signature message of hope and change in his Democrat convention speech, choosing instead to deliver a dark warning to Americans led by President Donald Trump.”

Trump himself followed in this line of criticism, stating, “Last week the Democrats held the darkest, angriest and gloomiest convention in American history. They spent four straight days attacking America as racist and a horrible country that must be redeemed.”

Although the Republican National Convention is just getting started, you can expect a very different tone, one that instills hope and vision, one that makes Americans feel good about themselves. This difference in tone could be the deciding factor in the November elections.

Hatred is a powerful, motivating force (in the DNC’s case, hatred of Trump). But hatred, without hope, will only motivate so far.

Which party and which leader will do the better job of instilling hope and giving vision? That could be the deciding factor a little over 70 days from now.

(Used With Permission from ASKDrBrown. Article by Michael L. Brown. Photo Credit: Dreamstime.)

Share your prayers of hope for our nation during these times we are living in!

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Mari
August 30, 2020

“Whose base has more hope”?
That is not the question I am asking myself.
My only question for this election, and only prayer is: “WHO does GOD want in the White House?”
The answer is clear.
The one who opposes the murder of unborn babies!

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    Tom
    August 31, 2020

    God and Father of us all I pray you’ll be at work in Mari to realize HOW your will is done! Such as electing a God honoring candidate! I believe your provided way is for us to show our faith by taking the trouble to work with our friends to help each other get out to vote by the standard of your word and not our passions or desires of our flesh!

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Marijo Reineking
August 30, 2020

Yes Hope is always better than pessimism; Joy is always better than happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances; Joy comes when we belong to Jesus and Know that HE belongs to us. YES, Jesus came to bring joy and to give it to us in abundance. Have a Joyfully Blessed Day!!

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Debra
August 30, 2020

This morning, Pastor Jentezen Franklin, spoke about the power of a little hope. He told about an experiment that had been done on rats. At first, the rats could only swim in water for 10 minutes, but as they were rescued before drowning, they gained “hope.” By the end of the experiment, they could swim for 37 minutes. You may feel like you are drowning, but God’s hand is always there to rescue you when you feel like he has given you more than you can bear. Feelings are not facts. The WORD of God is true. Lord, help us to truly believe your WORD over our feelings. Help us to know your rescuing hand in the midst of trial and trouble. Help the people of our nation be full of hope for the future. Help your church be light and hope and love and grace in a hurting nation.

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Karen Secrest
August 30, 2020

The Lord reminds that our Freedom isn’t in land and power and position but in being aligned with a Holy God who created us for His purpose. That includes communing as you walk and talk as friends even now on planet earth.
Behold, I come to give you Life and that more abundantly.
Enjoy this pause…SING

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Darlyne Jones
August 30, 2020

I see nowhere mentioned the very pensive looks on the faces of the President and First Lady and the Vice-President and his Second Lady as they came on the stage at the acceptance speech. There wasn’t the normal verve and vitality, and I found out why after the end, after the singing and fireworks: a few blocks away police were struggling to keep a violent mob in control, to keep the devil and evil away from our President as he fulfilled this awesome responsibility. The speakers knew what was going on, but still the President’s words honored God in the face of the evil clamoring on his doorstep.

I pray daily for the spiritual and physical strength of this President and his administration. It was so difficult to see him looking so grim, especially at a time when he should have been ebullient and happy.

Father, I pray for our President and his Vice-President and their families, that they will stand firm in their faith and receive your strength as they live their lives out in public and with constant high security around them. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Eph. 6:16). We pray for you continually, President Trump.

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Dona
August 30, 2020

Father, Your Word says hope deferred makes the heart sick. Yet, You are our hope and strong tower, we run into You and are safe.
Father, You are the strength of our heart, You are our portion forever. In You we put our trust especially when there seem to be so much evil and hatred. Only You can change the heart, and lives of people if they reach out to You. Father, we cry our for Your mercy for changed hearts and live for revival to break forth. For Your light to shine brightly. We would despair if we would not see Your goodness in the land of the living, so we wait on You, our hearts take courage, because we know Lord You are God and there is no other. Blessed be Your name. Jesus King of righteousness.

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