The Correct Posture

One of my friends called me recently to ask me what was "the posture" of my heart during the season when my husband was unemployed for 15 months.  Suffice it to say, that was an unusually long time and our faith was tested intensely.

My response to her was that we maintained a posture of prayer and trust.  We learned to trust God by standing on His Word, and when the pressure was on, we prayed and made our request known to God.  Every time we did that, the peace of God would keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  When we didn't do it, we lost our peace and became overcome with worry and anxiety.  We certainly had some tough days, but I think we walked in victory more often than not.

In our country, we are walking through wars and rumors of wars, a fallen economy, rampant immorality and corrupt government leadership.  And according to scripture, it's going to get worse!  So then, what should be the posture of our hearts in these last days?  

Paul admonishes us in Romans 13:11-14 to stay alert and pray; to live and conduct ourselves honorably - as unto the Lord - and to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh.  And then Peter warns us that the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.  1 Peter 4:7

Sometimes we can feel so overwhelmed with the news of the day, that we might begin to cultivate a sense of hopelessness.  When hopelessness sets in, it will cause us to slip back into old behavior patterns.  The enemy wants to weaken our faith in God and cause us to give up.  Don't become a slouch.  Strive to finish well.  Get up, get dressed, and stand up straight.  Commit yourselves to prayer daily.  Apply the Word of God to your circumstances, to the moral issues of the day, to our spiritual and civic leaders and to the lost sheep of Israel.  When you do, you prepare the way of the Lord, and the peace of God will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.