Do you have a favorite commercial slogan? There are lots of famous, catchy slogans, phrases and one liners that have stuck in my mind over the years, like “Where’s the BEEF?” or “Show me the money!” However, one in particular seems to reverberate in my head whenever I watch the news lately. Every time I turn on the television, someone is screaming or fighting, blaming, demanding, accusing, denying or destroying someone or something. Everyone wants to be heard. Every voice, every action seems to be screaming “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
It’s bad enough that covid 19 set the world on it’s head; sending all of us into isolation and forcing businesses to close.
It only took one week of being by myself; binge watching old TV shows, web surfing, compulsive Amazon buying, frig raiding, cleaning out my closets and rearranging all my furniture, before my brain went on a spin cycle of fear, frustration, anger and anxiety.
Then, when all the screaming, fighting, killing and destruction exploded across every screen, through every media, through cities and countries around the world, I found myself weeping uncontrollably; watching helplessly as America imploded.
This was worse than the virus. My reality, my world, was turned upside down and inside out. I didn’t recognize any of it anymore.
One morning, while in the depths of prayer and looking for encouragement in my daily devotionals and scripture, God led me to verse after verse of encouragement and truth. I know God is in the midst of all this mess, but I needed to hear his voice to reassure me.
He led me to the story of Elijah, who was told to stand on a mountain and wait for the Lord to pass by.
1 Kings 19: The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
Elijah found God in a WHISPER, so I immersed myself in God’s Word and covered myself in His whispers and there I found peace, courage and strength.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I believe that Satan has reared his ugly head and is determined to destroy everything in his path. He knows that his time is short and he’s pulling out all the stops.
He is using man’s darkest fears, frustration and explosive anger to send a tsunami of hatred across the face of the earth.
Satan is the father of lies and deception. He is the great destroyer and a master thief. He is trying to steal, kill and destroy our faith, our peace, our families, our country and our world.
He has unleashed a windstorm of destruction, violence, lies and deceit in an attempt to obliterate all of the decency, brotherhood, love and kindness within mankind.
He has grabbed the four corners of the world and has shaken it with such force as to destroy hope and the very foundation of humanity.
He has ignited a blaze of hatred, anger, blame and shame in an attempt to not only destroy our homes, businesses and the world’s economy, but to destroy the very core of who we are and what we believe in. He is using everything and everyone that he can to rip our country, our communities and our families apart.
My dear brothers and sisters, BE NOT AFRAID! WE ARE NOT ALONE! Cling to the hand of Jesus as He leads us through this storm. He is the Way, the truth and the light in this great darkness that has descended upon this land and upon our minds and hearts.
We need to trust in God’s promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. Be still and know that He is God and HE IS IN CONTROL. We need to fill our minds and hearts with His voice, His Word, His Peace, His WHISPER..
He is bigger and stronger than anything Satan can throw at us. The battle has already been fought. Christ died. Christ is risen. Satan has no hold on you. Jesus WON! Satan LOST and he’s a sore looser.
As Christians, we need to stand strong; shoulder to shoulder, remembering that Faith, anchored in God’s Word, can withstand anything. His Word is a firm foundation; a rock that can not be moved or shaken.
My friends, there is a great SPIRITUAL BATTLE going on right now. Can you hear it? Can you see it? You are standing shoulder to shoulder with a Heavenly army.
In Ephesians 6:10-18 it says: 10 Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the LORD’s people.
So stay in God’s Word. “JUST DO IT”! Every word is “GOOD TO THE LAST DROP”. It’s the “BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS”. His Word is the “QUICKER PICKER UPPER” when you feel lonely, sad or confused. Know that He will never leave you. “YOUR’E IN GOOD HANDS“.
No matter what the world, your circumstances or the media tells you, BELIEVE OUTSIDE THE BOX they are trying to cram you into. Keep God’s Word and truth close and “DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT“.
Be God’s Whisper of PEACE AND HOPE AND LOVE above all the noise. “IMAGINE” what a difference we can make if each of us shows kindness to just one person.
Be “LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR” even to strangers. When you give a smile, open a door, make a call, read to someone, make a meal and share it or show any act of kindness, ask the person to PASS IT ON.
By doing one simple act of kindness, God’s love “KEEPS GOING AND GOING” and if they pass it on to others, God’s love will have a ripple effect on the world.. It may even turn into a tsunami, a whirlwind, a fire storm of God’s love and hope. It might even change the world.
Don’t worry about what’s going to happen next. “BE WHAT’S NEXT“. Nothing is impossible thru Christ Jesus. The word “IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING“. Your’e not alone in this battle. God “CARED ENOUGH TO SEND THE VERY BEST” when He sent His Holy Spirit to help you.
Be strong. Be not afraid. Speak boldly to the world of God’s love and mercy. “THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE” for God’s Love.
Get on your knees and pray for God to place His mighty hand upon the earth. The time is coming soon when the world will stand in awe before the God who created the Universe and together we will hear Him say ENOUGH! Be STILL! and hear Him WHISPER, “Can you hear ME now“!
From my heart to yours, Victoria.
Thanks to Wendy’s, Verizon, Nike, Maxwell House, Wheaties, Allstate, Bounty, Adidas, Hallmark, American Express, Microsoft, Samsung, Porsche, Energizer Batteries and State Farm plus the movie Jerry Maguire for all their wonderful slogans and one liners used in this Blog.
Believing Outside the Box 