Our Nation has covered up the tragic darkness lingering around every corner and in every city for decades. Homelessness, child-trafficking, sex-slavery, drug and alcohol addictions, teenage runaways, orphans and abandoned elderly… but can I really blame the USA? As much as I want to, darkness cannot heal darkness.

We need light.

For most of my adult life, I have been so disappointed in the Church as a whole. The lack of resemblance between today’s Church and the Church of the New Testament has done more than just bother me. The absence of ambition to transform our nation because of our complacency attending Sunday’s service kept me praying for God to do something to raise up the Church. I wanted the Church to be the Bride we are supposed to be. To expose darkness and reveal the true Light of Christ in every circumstance — including the hidden darkness.

Needless to say, 2020 has been my favorite year to date. Churches around the United States fell apart, unprepared and unstable for the tidal waves crashing at their doors. People panicked and left the firm foundation of Christ quicker than the events could play themselves out. And while I am not cheering on the downfall of churches around the nation, I am thrilled at the awakening churches have been faced to deal with. Will churches rise up and defend the truth of God even at the threat of imprisonment or being shut down? Or will they easily succumb to the threats of the government and shut down their operations?

Unfortunately my church fell into the latter and shattered my soul. We as a church could have done so much for our community during the difficult times our nation faced (and continues to face) over this past year. .. but we didn’t. We completely shut down and encouraged others to do the same.

However, God was already prepared for the lack of commitment from thousands of churches around the globe. In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus says to Peter,

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

There is a remnant that has not compromised the calling of God to reach the ends of the earth and declare His will on earth as it is in Heaven, and I am beyond thrilled to participate in this movement of God! To be a part of the praying Church, unafraid to stand firm for the things of God to prevail, is the best feeling I have ever experienced. It is crucial we, as the Church, continue to stand for righteousness as the world around us falls apart in chaos. God has created humans with the undeniable urgency to look to the Church for all the answers. It’s time to stand up to our fears of being humiliated, imprisoned, or mocked and move forward in faith knowing the only answer to the darkness around us is the Light.

And the only way the world is going to see the Light is if we stand firm on the Truth of God’s Word, fight for what is right, and destroy the strongholds of the enemy through prayer.

It’s about time we rid our church buildings of wolves in sheep’s clothing, complacent, lukewarm Christians, and dishonest pastors and priests and rise up as the strong, fierce, and powerful Bride of Jesus! Are you in? The armor of God is waiting for you!

Stand firm my friends!