Seeking God in Times Like These

Hello Belmont Family. Many blessings to you and your families in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am blessed and thankful to be a part of the Belmont Family and your Pastor. My prayers and love go out to you and your families. I am trusting God to take control of the current situation, and give us peace in times like these. I have been thinking and praying about “seeking God in times like these.” All of us are going through things that many of us have never experienced before. God calls His people to trust Him, to live carefully, to be watchful, and to pray in troubled times. I would like to share and hopefully encourage those of you who are struggling with fear. We live in the most perilous of times, and fearfulness is a very natural response to the violence and uncertainties which surround us. In addition to the coronavirus pandemic, economic difficulties loom, health problems abound, and the testing of our faith is challenging. God speaks to us repeatedly throughout His Word, that we are not to give in to fear, but trust Him who is able to protect us and provide for us. In uncertain times, there is certainty in Christ Jesus. He will not fail His own. We must constantly keep before our mind’s eye that Jesus will return for His Church–perhaps at any moment. We can await His coming with passionate eagerness, and we can expect Him to take care of us while we are yet waiting for His return. There’s an old hymn that says, “In times like these, you need a Savior, in times like these, you need an anchor. Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.” I want to share and encourage you with a few relevant Bible passages: Psalm 33:18-22 (NKJV) 18 “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. 22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.” In Psalm 33:18-22: “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In times like these, we can Pray and Trust God. God wants us to have faith. God wants us revived. God wants us to be on fire for Him. God wants us to be at peace with one another and to love one another. He wants us to be empowered with His Holy Spirit and to work together in victory. We can and need to be worshipping, working, witnessing and winning others to Jesus. In times like these we can be healed, holy, happy and Heaven bound. In times like these, we can be looking, loving and longing for Christ’s return. In times like these, we have an Anchor. This anchor holds and grips the solid rock. This rock is Jesus…and yes, He is the only one. In Him we have all we need…whatever we need. Brothers and sisters let’s put our focus back on the mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Let’s hear His heart cry for those who are blindly marching toward hell and hold out Jesus to them–while we pray, and pray hard, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Be blessed, Brothers and Sisters. Please stay focused in One Accord. This coronavirus (COVID-19) will pass. God is in control. Pastor Larry