Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God...Joel 2:13

We are a nation of people riddled with calamity. Our days are consumed with meetings and routines, hoping to gain recognition from others and the self-worth we desperately need to fulfill our lives. When we realize that we are no closer to this fulfillment, we become depressed and turn to self-gratification to fill the void.

What would God have us do to resolve this dilemma?  The scripture is simple, “Render your heart, not your garment, and turn unto the Lord your God. “Joel 2:13.

The love of God has waxed cold in many, opening us to chaos, confusion, and calamity. We are a people who have laid down our spirituality in exchange for carnality, and a lust for our fleshy desires.

When things get too bad, we ask why God is not fixing this situation, and blame Him for the way things are being handled. Especially when evil politicians are attempting to control the government and the judicial system. Unfortunately, voters donated to their campaigns and supported their nominations. But when they do not perform the way we expect, we challenge God on why He has not removed them.

Our lifestyle choices make us the creator of many of our calamities.  We push our agendas, fail, and downplay our involvement in the resulting adversities.

The fact is that without genuine repentance from sin, no change will occur. Our pride keeps away the freedom from sin and the blessing of Christ’s peace. This is the garment we choose to wear. But Jesus requires our hearts to be toward him if we are to receive His peace in our lives.

The answer is simple. Ask Jesus to come into your life, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how to substitute schedules with prayer, fasting, and bible study. The chaos will begin to decrease because Jesus will guide us through the calamities of this world. He knows how to dodge the traps and the evil devices Satan uses to bring defeat and spiritual stagnation. The Lord Jesus will take us over the mountainous journeys that end nowhere and help us through the valleys of rejection.

God’s word gives us a promise of deliverance and restoration. Begin reading this verse in your bible: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar….” Joel 2:25-27.

Ask yourself, Is it time for a new wardrobe?