California Dreaming 

If everyone who sees a certain child curses her—telling her how stupid her choices are, how despised her efforts, and how worthless her life is, what do you think her chances are of a happy, successful life?

So why do you do it to cities, states, and nations? I know what Jesus said about shaking the dust from your sandals against cities that won’t receive you. But that doesn’t fly when you’ve never actually been there to try and minister to people, and all you’ve really done is judge and condemn it from a distance because they think differently than you. 

California has some of the most wonderful people and beautiful land in the country. It provides a huge amount of the food and technology everyone uses every day. It can also be nuts. Much of the politics and over-regulation here have set my eyes in a semi–permanent upward roll. 

But cursing California isn’t the right response. It’s certainly not God’s. I’ve read or heard people—including ministers—actually wishing for a massive earthquake or other disaster as God’s judgment. Are you serious? Are you that unaware of God’s nature and character to think that’s what He wants—to cause massive suffering and death to teach people a lesson? Is that how you deal with your children?

There’s already a lot of reaping what’s been sown here. But some of that negativity hasn’t come from the choices of people here, but from the constant condemnation and rejection of others. 

What this place needs is to have blessing sown here, not cursing. It needs you to ask the Lord what it can be, and then pray in agreement with Him for that. It needs words of life spoken into it, not wishes for its death. It needs people to come here from around the nation and the world who know the genuine love of Jesus and live it out in all they say and do. 

California is the land of pioneers, dreamers, adventurers, entrepreneurs, innovation, artistry, passion, and abundance. It is a crossroads of the earth, connecting cultures from around the world. Bless and pray for this place, and I believe you’ll open yourself to God’s increasing those areas in your own life.