Anne Graham Lotz seems to have received a prophetic type of word for America. While many Christians and church leaders tend to set aside the first few days or even weeks to fast and pray, Lotz's focus and call for fasting isn't about many of the typical focuses that Christians choose. This is about asking the Lord to be merciful to this nation, set a hedge around it, and protect Americans from an "encroaching darkness of evil."
The only real specifics in regard to what she is discerning are that the darkness is "like a heavy moral and spiritual fog," and that, "it's permeating the nation at every level." However, she also says that this oppressive darkness can be overcome if God's people will get serious about prayer, speak out when it matters, and live their lives according to God's Word.
She goes on to note that she was drawn to 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, when Jehoshaphat was warned about the advance of the enemy, and he called for a fast. Then in Chronicles 20:15,17, God says to him, "Do not fear, nor be dismayed because of this great army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. ...It will not be necessary for you to fight in this conflict. Take your positions, stand, and observe the deliverance of the Lord for you, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be filled with terror. ... (T)he Lord will be with you."
While some many might say that the legalization of same-sex marriage, continued funding of planned parenthood, and present lack of discretion in connection with America's immigration policies could be considered explicit illustrations of what Lotz has discerned, There is another area that some might say is pretty much under the radar right now.
The second half of 2015 was not a good year for many people from a financial standpoint. Some are saying that it was the worst for the stock since 2008 and that nearly 70 percent of investors lost money. Also, it's expected that final numbers will show that about 1000 hedge funds were shut down.
Just as junk bonds crashed in 2008 before the economic meltdown of banks in the US, junk bonds are again crashing. Another item being carefully watched is the plummeting oil market. Within an 18-month time span, it's gone from $108 per barrel to $37 per barrel. While everyone has enjoyed the lower gas prices overall that this has brought, there was a similar massive crash in oil back in 2008 just before the economy collapsed.
Economic growth in the US ever since that is being called "weak" at best. It's expected that when the numbers for the fourth quarter of 2015 are reported, that they will show that there has been about a 4.7 percent drop -- a drop not seen since the 2008 crash that lingered for several years, and from which some would say the US still hasn't recovered.
Interest rates have been a nearly 0 percent for borrowers with good credit for about seven years. The Fed barely increased that in the last quarter, and it is expected that there could be as many as four interest rate hikes over the course of 2016. If the Fed follows through with that, this will put additional stress on the US economy, and world economies.
Several companies have been talking about layoffs or restructuring. And these aren't small companies. Some of the well-known names include DuPont, Murray Energy, Toshiba, and ten of Europe's biggest banks.
Another economy being closely watched is China. It's said that they have the second largest economy in the world. The numbers are showing that factory activity has contracted for the tenth straight month. In the US, it has contracted for the past two months now. World economies are very interconnected in the day and time in which we live. So what's happening on the other side of the world absolutely impacts America and all the other nations. But whatever form (or forms) the darkness takes that Lotz has discerned, God will never abandon His people. He always empowers His people to stand, especially when they are calling out to Him for His mercy, grace and intervention in their lives.
