With all the bad new we hear around our affluent culture today, it’s easy to fall into pessimism and a rather grim expectation for the future.

It can seem like the time of the judges in the Bible when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

Judges 1-2 stresses that Israel’s tribes failed to obey God in driving out all of the abominable pagan Canaanites from the land.

• They disobeyed the true and living God and allowed lewd idolatrous gods to become a trap to them.
• After Joshua’s death a younger generation arose that did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.  Why not?
• They did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.
• They ignored the Godly ways of their fathers and played the harlot after false gods, turning aside from obeying the commandments of the Lord.

For anyone who is aware of his current world, there is no doubt that there are some pretty scary physical omens of…

Problems ahead

1. The HoneyBee colony collapse syndrome could quickly result in massive crop failures and widespread global famine.
2. Even though mankind’s influence is miniscule, the prospect of severe changes in the climate could affect the choices that many humans have to make in coming decades.
3. Whether a rogue nation detonates a high altitude bomb to cause an EMP or it happens naturally from solar storms on the sun, the fear of the collapse of much of our electronic technology could result in the death of 90% of the highly dependent population.
4. The failure of pharmaceutical-based medicine to prevent the rise of Super bugs (diseases) raises the potential of large-scale epidemics like the plagues and pestilences of both the ancient past and even the major epidemics of modern times.
5. The Muslim immigration to Western Countries predicts the total transformation of many cultural norms in the next two decades.
6. The continuation of the ‘me’ generation, notably given to Abortion means the inevitable loss of population growth in western Christian culture.
7. The unwillingness of governments to manage finances conservatively will inevitably lead to Economic collapse, inflation and depression.
8. The Irrational delusion of leftist secular philosophy is overtaking the masses who have no self restraint. They are being manipulated by ‘mountains’ of influence that the church has failed to reclaim for the kingdom of Christ.

What do the facts say about what’s happening in our world?

Check out: World Revival Network Blog – “Why you have been duped into believing that the world is getting worse and worse.” http://worldrevivalnetwork.blogspot.com/2015/08/why-you-have-been-duped-into-believing.html

“Based on social media and television news reports, multitudes are convinced that the world is growing worse and worse. Yet, there’s absolutely no evidence of this. By every measurable standard, life is improving around the globe. Darkness is fading and the goodness of God’s Kingdom is truly taking root.”

War and Violence have been going down.

There has never been a time in world history where the masses have been escaping poverty like they have in our present generation.

In 1720 the average man in England only lived to be about thirty years of age. Currently most are living past the age of eighty.

The number of those who claim to be Christians around the world has nearly quadrupled in the last century, from about 600 million in 1910 to more than 2.3 billion as of 2011.

There is greater prosperity, peace, and health than ever before in recorded history. The Kingdom of God is boldly advancing and it’s transforming everything in its wake.
We need to let go of our pessimistic, “doom and gloom” worldview and truly embrace the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God.  As Jesus promised, His Holy Spirit is working through His people to bring blessing and life to a world that has been ravaged by darkness.

What can change the World? What is the reason for True Hope?

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living.”

Psalm 27:13

Is it possible that God is raising up a generation to repent and reform a culture, guiding a new generation to God?

How must we live?  Think?  Act?  Are we willing to think beyond ourselves and prepare to equip the “next generation” in Reclaiming their legacy?

 

1 Be grateful for what you have

1. Focus on positive things you have.
2. Write down 10 things you’re thankful for.
3. Post that list and read it often.

2. Set Goals – both short term and long term

1. Aimlessness brews frustration.
2. Make a daily to-do list and check things off as they are done.
3. Write where you want to be in a year and beyond.

3. Take care of your physical body

1. Be deliberate about eating nourishing foods the build up.
2. Thoughtfully avoid toxic substances you know destroy your health.
3. Make a quest of finding things that enhance your wellness.

4. Take your focus off yourself

1. Do 5 nice acts of kindness daily for others.
2. Love the blessing of giving without expecting payback.
3. Remember that what goes around comes around.

5. Put a guard on your mouth

1. Consciously monitor your words to edify others.
2. Your thoughts don’t all need to be spoken.
3. Be careful about what you think about to guide what you say.

6. See yourself as who you want to grow into

1. Find admirable role models to watch how they behave.
2. Daily work on learning and doing the things that will improve you.
3. Be patient with yourself as you would with a child you are coaching.

7. Express your creative self in some way each day

1. Feelings of satisfaction with yourself improve when you create
2. Do little creative acts with your appearance or your home environment.
3. Be creative with how you treat other people.

8. Refuse the fear of failure.

1. Embrace the fact that success is always built on multiple failures.
2. Draw encouragement from life stories of others who overcame difficulty.
3. Do uncomfortable things first, not just things in your comfort zone.

9. Do Not condemn yourself or labor your negative past or present.

1. Think about what your Creator has done for your advantage.
2. If it’s to be it’s up to me, always remembering you live by God’s grace.
3. Think: If others can achieve it, why not me and why not now? Just get to work.

10. Stay in the moment

1. When your thoughts drift to past hurts, decide you’re going to refocus on what you do now.
2. Rather than worrying about future problems that might happen ask what you can do now.
3. Look for things you can change for better outcomes in the short term.

11. Being happy is a deliberate pursuit.

1. Smile more.  You can give one without losing yours.
2. Find others who are joyful and learn from them.
3. Laugh often when you have the slightest reason.

12. Recharge your emotional energy daily.

1. Find 5 minutes of quiet time several times a day.
2. Optimism requires refocusing on happy thoughts.
3. Deliberately praise others and especially God.

 

“For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. 7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.”

Psalm 112:6-8

 

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!

Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;

though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

11 But the meek shall inherit the land

and delight themselves in abundant peace (prosperity).”

Psalm 37:8-11