There’s something that has been percolating in my mind for weeks. After I met some friends for prayer in the park on the National Day of Prayer, I rode my bike past some tulips and a sign with a story about the Dutch immigrants who came to Holland, Michigan in 1847 with Reverend Van Raalte. I’ve seen these type of signs around the city my whole life and haven’t paid too much attention to them. My ancestors traveled from the Netherlands to escape tyranny and came to America for freedom of worship. One part of the story mentions that the believers often had hardships. I’ve heard these stories, but the word that caught my eye, was illness. Even when many of them were sick they continued to go to church and worship. America was formed on the basic morals of the Bible, so this is where they wanted to live. Our country has been sliding downward morally. We have a chance to turn the hearts of the people back to Godly morals and values. We can’t continue to hide.

 
Today, my husband and I attended a nearby church in person for the first time in almost three months. It was one of the few that we heard of that were going to come back together inside the church building. No, it’s not about a building. It’s about gathering with fellow believers to worship God, worship and pray. There’s power in the gathering of believers. It wouldn’t matter if we met in a garage, in a park, or a warehouse. Yes, the Lord wants us go out into the world to be the Church out there, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t regularly meet together. This promotion of being “the scattered church,” is not biblical, and doesn’t show courage and boldness in meeting together in Christ. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

 
We need the congregation now more than ever. Fear has taken over most people. The first few weeks we didn’t know what we were dealing with, but we must not cower in fear anymore. Satan loves to use isolation and fear to stir up horrible results of depression, anxiety, loss of businesses and violence.

 
In the last few days, satan is working through many people to cause them to sin using violence. We must resist and not allow him to continue to use us for his pitiful intentions. He wants to kill, steal and destroy, as in John 10. We must not let the issue be skin, but the issue is sin. I’m calling it out. We need to work on racial relations but there are those who are using a tragedy for an excuse for violence and rioting. It’s not the way to solve problems and is just causing much more hurt and pain. We must turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of our individual, Church, and national sin.

 
If the spiritual forces of evil can keep us from attending church, they certainly aren’t going to encourage it later. Don’t be fooled. Stand up!! California might have lost their opportunity for now, but I believe God will overcome. In most places we received the green light from our president that church is essential and we should run to unlock the doors. Some debate whether or not they should open up, or how to do it without offending people. The first ploy of the devil, of scaring people with the virus is way past. We need to please God, not men. Being Christians our whole lives, my husband and I can slowly claw along with the Lord’s help so far. But how are those doing who are new Christians, or have mental, financial, or physical issues or don’t even know Jesus?

 
“If my people, which are called by my name, and humble themselves and pray, then He will hear from heaven, and heal our land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

 
Thank you to the leaders and pastors that are leading in peace. We must rise up in the love of God with boldness and courage. If we don’t do that now, it will be too late. There’s too much at stake and I don’t think many people take that seriously enough. Many died to defend our freedoms. Let’s not let radical unbiblical ideas take over our land.

Ephesians 6 calls us to fight with all the parts of the armor of the Holy Spirit. We must stand to fight these forces of evil trying to overtake us and our beloved America. I pray that this fourth of July will be a day when we can celebrate our freedoms in our United States of America to worship and speak freely.