"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

-Isaiah 43:19 NLT

I bring up this verse not to measure the destruction in our world, but to perceive more clearly the power that God has to transform it. We can go on and on about how crappy earth is right now. Death, sadness, violence and tears are all over TV screens. We acknowledge that our world needs change. Who brings about that change? The King. The One True God.

It's easy to talk about how we should fix our surroundings; you may even be inspired or encouraged in a spiritual way to make it happen. But nobody can have an influence on our planet more than the Lord can. And it is THROUGH US that the change will be visible. We are but the broken vessels, perpetrators of this dark wasteland that God has asked to help do His work even though we're part of the problem.

He delights in showing mercy. And I have a good feeling that characteristic won't disappear anytime soon. Be for Him and He'll live through you.

My prayer is for healing in this land by His hand. May we all step from our selfish ways to willingly make God the shepherd and us His flock, roaming on His behalf to create purity in a broken place.

--JM