Lord, fear grips the world. Anxiety is in the hearts of men. The gospel of hope in hope prevails. The message of believing in faith is all about us. We forget that God's anger cannot be held in check forever. We forget that whatsoever man sows that will he also reap. So we hear that things will get better. Maybe they will, but let us never forget that those words were spoken before the fall of Rome. They were spoken in the last days of the Greek Empire. They were heard before Hitler was found dead. Empires rise and fall. They actually have a very short life span. Help us to remember today that a nation that forgets the Lord is a nation that will see shortened days and brevity of life.

Lord, when dark days come, may we find hope in the true light. When the sun disappears and the rivers run deep with blood, turn our hearts toward Thee. When men commit suicide and when their wives wail in grief and pain, turn our hearts toward Thee. When children become orphans, turn our hearts toward Thee.

Lord, what a waste for a man to live and accomplish so much, and yet die in His sin. Lord, how sad to see brilliance without godly fear. Lord, oftentimes, the world and the unbeliever far exceed us in gifts and talents. Oftentimes the sons of men are wiser than the sons of God. Lord, how we are ashamed. Yet, one thing we know, You are the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by Thee.

Lord, we have believed a lie. We have been told that the gods can live in peace. We have been told that Mohammed and Jesus both have a place at the table of peace. We have been told that the crescent and the cross can adorn the same land. Lord, we have believed a lie. Forgive our forefathers, for they caved in, allowing false gods to be worshipped in our land. Forgive our forefathers who preached that our God is not a jealous God. Lord, we are afraid. We confess. We are frightened. We confess. We are fearful. We confess. Give us boldness in the day in which we live.

Give us men who will proclaim the crown rights of the Lord Jesus Christ. A Jesus Christ who is not King over all is no Jesus Christ at all. A Jesus Christ who will share His throne with other gods, is no Jesus Christ at all. A Jesus Christ will not rule the nations, is no Jesus Christ at all. Lord, the leaders have become wimpy. The Church has become feminized. The gospel has become a word to tickle men's ears. Lord, how we yearn for a recapture of the gospel of the sovereignty of God where God sits on His throne and will crush all opposition with a rod of iron unless they repent and bow at His throne.

Lord, in the midst of our troubles, help us to remember the sick and the troubled among our own people. There are many among us who suffer daily. There are many among us who are lonely. There are many among us who need a friend or a kind word spoken to them. What is the gospel, if it does not work its way into mercy toward the helpless? What is the gospel, if it does not drive us to be kindhearted, sympathetic, courteous, giving blessing for a curse, and doing good for even our enemies. Lord, if we are to do good to our enemies, how much more should we do good to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, in the midst of a world full of troubles, we need to be known most of all by our love one for another. Lord, make us ashamed until we make that call to the lonely. Lord, make us ashamed until we give a kind word to the broken hearted.