Mini-solo musings

I have a habit of taking what I call “solos” and “mini-solos”. The idea of “taking a solo“ was suggested to me by a friend/co-laborer in ministry (Jim Burns) many years ago.

A solo is simply extended time with God. It can be as short as 6-8 hours or as long as 2 weeks (or more if you have the freedom to do so). The point is to take only a Bible and a notebook with you, go somewhere where you wont’ be disturbed or distracted and spend concentrated, extended time with your Creator. The goal of this time is to get to know Him better and to listen to what He wants to say to you. That’s it.

What I have termed a ”mini-solo“ is a weekly/bi-weekly time of about 2-4 hours for the same purpose. This is not Bible study or preparation for a sermon or lesson of some sort. It is time in God’s Word, prayer and fellowship with Him to get to know Him better and listen to Him.

My mini-solo today was spent in the book of Habakkuk. What a phenomenal book! Truly it is a book of hope and encouragement in the midst of crisis, lawlessness and impending judgement/destruction.

For now, I just want to share one thought that came to me as a result of reading this book and listening to the Lord while doing so.

Is it possible that the destruction of the USA is imminent? Although it is the greatest super-power in the world today, there are factors that, I believe, render it very vulnerable to destruction.

Now, I’m not advocating the belief that the USA is God’s chosen nation -- that status belongs to Israel. So, I’m not drawing a direct parallel between Habakkuk and the USA. I’m asking a question that comes from the application of truth to our setting.

There is no doubt that the USA has slipped in many areas, morality being the most grievous of these. As I read Habakkuk, I saw parallels in the condition of Judah at that time with the condition of the USA in our time. Lawlessness, misery, destruction, violence are common, daily events in our country. Morality has slipped to an all-time low and cries to remove ”In God we trust“ from our moneys, courthouses, schools and more has become almost a rhythmic chant in legal & work settings.

How long will the Lord wait to discipline us for so blatantly straying from the foundations of a healthy society? How long? How will He discipline us? When?

I am sure that it is coming. I’m not a doomsday preacher in the least. But I believe that our straying, our sin, our disobedience cannot go much longer undisciplined by His hand.

I wonder how it will come? Will it be a religious organism or organization that has been planning for some time for our overthrow? Will it be a financial disaster using our debt and dependence on credit as the hammer to break us and bring us to our knees in dependence on another economy or country or alliance of countries?

Could it be a military strike? One that cripples our response to such a degree as to put us totally on the running defensive and having to draw our borders ever closer together, virtually shrinking the existence of the USA to a non-existence?

I could be totally wrong -- but I doubt it. History and Scripture teach us that no country, empire, people or nation has ever thumbed their noses at God for a long time without serious consequences.

Maybe we should stop thumbing our noses and simply say (as Habakkuk said), ”In Your anger, Lord, remember Your mercy.“