What Are You Counting On?

I can't say that I'm surprised. Just disappointed. I suspected that it was so, but until this morning, I had no confirmation. But there it was at the bottom of the front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; "Lottery Sales Get Boost During Recession."

I must confess that I know some people who play the lottery on a pretty regular basis. Things I have heard them say caused me to believe that more people were turning to the lottery during this time as a chance to rise above the present economic strain.

I have also heard comments from people I know who do not play the lottery that indicates that they are considering it more and more every day.

I'm pretty sure pawn shops are busy right now, too. I know that I've seen more non-essential items like boats, four-wheelers and campers for sale in front of houses.

People are desperate and are looking for relief from the strain of our difficult economy. And they are looking in many of the wrong places.

I don't have to wonder how all of this makes God feel. Things like this happen with His knowledge. He was not surprised at our national recession. He saw it coming thousands of years ago. He allowed it to come and He stands by His promise that "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV.

He wants people to turn to Him. Not the lottery or the pawn shop. Him. He has the answers. He has the resources. He is the One True Source of all that we need.

People need to seek His face. When they do they will find all that they need to make it through the difficulties of the day. It might not, probably will not, be money. But it will most surely be what will allow each one who seeks Him and His ways and His will to have what is more valuable than money or any other material resource: His abiding, guiding, sustaining presence.

When He is all you want, He is all you need. When He is all you need, He is all you want. Think about it.

Then pray. For our nation. For our community. For our church. To experience God in a mighty, wall-shaking revival. One that brings gratitude and rejoicing bursting forth from our hearts and mouths. One that changes hearts and lives.

God can, will send it. Just pray. As if our nation's life and health depended on it. It does. President-elect Obama and all the lawmakers on earth can't fix all that needs fixing. Only the One True Law Giver. Seek Him. Him only.

In His Love
Walter