I come home in 11 days…. 11 DAYS. I know! I’m so excited to come home and see my loved ones. I’m excited to continue to share and cultivate what the Lord has shown me through these 11 months. I’m excited for so many different things. But, I’m struggling through what I have heard recently and seen about the state of our citizens in America. I’m struggling through the reactions, and being re-immersed back into our culture that I have taken myself out of.
The presidential election has been something that I’m sure everyone on my squad has been asked about each month, in some way shape or form; by either foreigners we met or by the locals we encountered. Even though I wasn’t heavily knowledgeable about the candidates and I didn’t follow the election campaigns intently (as seemingly the rest of the world did); I had seen and heard through the grapevine about different things occurring throughout it. As the election drew to a close, I heard more fear, more slander, more opinions and more words filling up my newsfeed. From the outside looking in I saw something so ugly taking place not only in the hearts of fellow American citizens, but in fellow believers. Even after the results have come in, and we now have a new president it has continued to only ignite the fire of division.
I know the Lord has to specifically prepare my heart for coming home, in more ways than just one. Exiting the States for 11 months, there has been a lot that has not only changed within me, but also within the States. I’m praying the Lord will continue to ground me in His Word. In all of this though, the Lord has told me that I hold the responsibility to also bring light to the darkness I see. So here I am stepping out into the reality of the state of our nation, but stepping into the calling my Lord and Saviour has asked of me.
This is my letter to the followers of Christ.
Followers of Christ,
The truth is, we have chosen to die to ourselves when we chose Christ. We have chosen to take up our cross and to lose our life, for the sake of gaining life in Christ. We are called to no longer act out of our own accord, nor act in the same ways of the world. We are called not to act out of our own thoughts; but we are to seek the heart of the Father and His desires. From that, we are to allow Him to transform us and propel us into action. We are to seek Him, guard our hearts and minds in Him, and guard our words. We are to reflect. We are to understand where the world is at, but also where too our heart posture is with the words we speak, and the actions we take. We are called to be more like Christ, and to operate out of His character.
When you died to Christ you chose to die to your “right” to the freedom of speech. All things may be lawful, but that does not mean that they are helpful or beneficial. Our “right” doesn’t mean that we are called to use it in any way we please. If we choose to, we can take our right and make it an entitlement we hold or excuse we make. Our “right” doesn’t make our sin excusable. You no longer are your own. You represent not just yourself, but you represent Christ. You represent the church, and a Kingdom that is not of this world.
My brothers and sisters, don’t you see that we are actually hurting the Kingdom? We are hurting our testimony when we choose to speak words of malice, strife, slander, and ultimately death. We are hurting our testimony when we choose to respond in the same way the world responds. We are giving a false representation of Christ to the world.
So, have we become more consumed with our voice being heard, rather than letting the voice of the Lord being heard?
My heart is convicted.
What message are we telling our country and those who do not know Christ, when we speak praises to the Lord but with the same tongue we curse others. What are we saying when we don’t guard our words, and let our words be from the Lord? What are we saying when we choose to fight with our words, rather than fighting on our knees? What do we say when we speak more about such things going on, rather than we actually spend praying about them?
It is up to us in how we react. It is up to us in how we walk. We can either continue to react out of our own opinion and division, or we can seek the Lord in wisdom as to how we should approach conversations and our words. We are called to show Christ and use the platform the Lord has given us to walk out the walk, and not fill it with mere talk. We are called to have an unoffendable heart. We are called to be humble.
Let us not forget the truth in the Gospel, and in that we are called to love others. Period. To love God with all our being and to love others as Christ has loved us. We are to model and become more like Christ. We will be known by our fruits, and we will be able to show the Gospel in the way we approach others, in wherever they stand on the spectrum.
No matter what, the Lord is sovereign and in control. Nothing that is taking place is a surprise to the Lord. In the same way, Jesus never once felt the need to defend Himself. So neither do we. We are called to walk in the Spirit, and let our actions speak louder than our words. To be a doer of the word and not just a hearer.
Continue to pray. Intercede for our nation. Seek the heart of the Father. Pray for our leaders. Pray for the hearts of the citizens of America. Pray for the body of Christ, the Church. Pray for our own hearts.
I love you all.
In Christ,
Mariah Evon Lower
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Here is scripture I’m choosing to take ahold of as I approach home, and praying for myself and for the body:
1 Corinthians 15: 58
[“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in your labor it is not in vain.”]
Colossians 2:6-7
[“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”]
Colossians 3:17
[“And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”]
*for more: [2 Thessalonians 3]; [Jeremiah 1:4-10,17-19]; [1 Thessalonians 5;16-18]; [Matthew 7:7-8]; [Luke 9:23]
Our Words & Actions:
Titus 3:1-11
[“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days away in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of our God Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Christ Jesus our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such things, so that those who have believed in God have been careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”]
Proverbs 18:21
[“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”]
*For More: [Psalm 19:14]; [1 Timothy 1:1-2]; [Matthew 7:1-5]; [James 3:9]; [1 Corinthians 10:23-24]; [James 1:19-26]; [Proverbs 4:23]; [Matthew 15:11]; [2 Chronicles 7:14]; [Romans 13:1-7]
