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 Did you know that in just the past few weeks there’s been a spike of Americans seeking God? 55% more Americans are praying more often, and reaching for purpose and meaning through religion during COVID-19. (reference: the latest gallup pole) “Internet searches for the topic of prayer surged..(during COVID-19), surpassing all other major (searched) events that otherwise instigate intensified demand for prayer, such as Christmas, Easter and Ramadan.” - Jeanet Sinding Bentzen, associate professor in economics from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), CEPR, and director of the Association for the Study of Religion, Economics & Culture  Here are a few more stats to show the incredible turn towards God and faith during times of crisis: % increase of the U.S population that turned to prayer during crisis:
It’s incredible that so many more people are seeking God. We understand when we are affected by tragedy, we seek a higher being, reach for our unique rich heritage, faith and hope, and draw strength from our family and community. Just remember this -- God is always waiting for us. But…. we want to ask you all one thing... Why do so many of us wait until a tragedy to seek God?  What’s sad is, most of us reset our priorities back to what society deems important shortly after a crisis is over. We forget what we knew was important when times were bad. For example, for the first 3 weeks after September 11th, religious attendance increased by 6%. Then, 4 weeks later, flat lined back to what it was before the crisis. Why? Does that mean that once a crisis is over worldly things become the priority again? Why are factors of social conditioning the new measuring stick of our worth? God knows your true worth - no matter what is happening around you, or what the new trend is. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." [John 3:16] You see, why is that during a crisis we realize what is most important:  So is this the only time when we turn to God, to remind God we exist, we are here, and please remember me God? - ME - a human being. - I want to be valued as ME. - I want to be loved as ME, - you love me for ME - right God? Then, when things are good, are running smoothly, there is no need to talk to God right? NO… We are missing God in our lives. God wants to have a relationship with us everyday, not just when we need him most. We can’t have God part time. God wants a full time relationship with us. He wants to celebrate our successes too. He’s not there to only hear when there is sorrow. He deserves the praise for all the good that we have. But -- why should it take tragedy for us to be this way? God wants us to naturally be this way each day. “Love one another as I have loved you”[John 13:34]. This is not meant for just when there is hardship, or during struggles. This was meant to be a choice we make every single day. When God created man and women in his image, that is our soul -- our attachment to God. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” [Genesis 1:27] When we allow our soul to have quiet time to ponder what’s happening in the world and think about others, we start to want to reach out and care about helping those we love, and those we don’t even know.  Yes, there are bad people out there. Yes, there are people who will take advantage of it. BUT, there's so many more good people who won’t, and that outweighs the potential circumstance. If 10 people take advantage of our kindness, while 100 people don’t, it's worth it for those 100 people who seek it, and need it. Why should those 10 people block the blessing for those 100 that are caring?  Remember - we are all made in God’s image. Most people recognize this in their own way, and have a natural goodness inside, which is God’s light reflected in our soul. Even physically we have fleshly attributes that demonstrate the inherent nature of God in our souls. You see, our bodies are wired to be kind to each other. When we are kind to others, our bodies release a chemical called ‘serotonin’ which activates a reward circuit in our brains that results in a happy feeling.  Also - - the genes that are impacted by that kindness are coded for immune function and inflammation which helps us recover from disease faster, and may even lengthen our life. God made us this way! He made us, to be kind to one another, designed to encourage kind acts, which in turn increases our levels of happiness and our life expectancy. This is just a sliver of the genius demonstrated by our creator and what a blessing this is! Even in Proverbs, we are reminded of this: “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart” (Proverbs 15:30) Imagine if we could take the energy that we put together through caring and love during a crisis, and reach out to each other and to God daily in this way. No matter what is happening in the world - Good or Bad, what an incredible world this could be. Instead of taking a pandemic or plague for us to come together, to recognize the people we never cared to speak to, and try and be there for each other.  WHY?
and he wants only what’s best for us, and will not guide us down the wrong path.  You can start to find this guidance in his word, by reading the bible. Learn how God helps and protects those that reach out to him, that want a relationship with him. Did you know everything that has ever happened in the world has been experienced before in one way or another in the bible? There is so much knowledge waiting for you to help bring understanding, which will give you strength, which will give you peace in your life. Just try it. Want to know what LIFE WITH GOD is like? - learn more here
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