Be Watchful; Be Prepared

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” – Matthew 24:36-41

We’ve all heard the saying – “Preparation plus Opportunity Equals Success” but a lot of us do not grasp the importance of organization or preparation. Some even boast that they function best under chaos and disorganization. I’m the opposite. I like to prepare for every day – I like my things in order. I cannot work if my desk is not clear and I cannot leave my house with things in a mess. Maybe it’s because I know that if I leave things in a mess, it will still be in disarray when I return. Basically I can’t function in chaotic environments.

But even though I was organized in the natural, my spiritual life was in disarray and I couldn’t function as effectively as I wanted to. It took a while for me to tie the two things together. I have since learnt that my spiritual life must be just as orderly as my physical surroundings. It is crucial for me to have things in the proper order from the inside out. Now I constantly ask myself the question – “If my Lord, Jesus Christ came today, would I be found in the right place doing the right thing?”

I am forever grateful that God has the supernatural ability to reverse the natural law that everything that is fresh when new must eventually decay. He has the ability to take what is decayed and make it fresh. So now spiritually I am better prepared; my discerning spirit is sharp as a whistle and renewed afresh everyday. Even though I sometimes give in to the flesh, I can tell right away when an attack of an enemy shows up – in any form. I do everything I can now to make sure my heart is constantly protected and my mind is focused on the Heavenliness.

If God showed up today, where would you be found and what will you be found doing? Are you where God placed you or are you living in blatant rebellion and opposition to the instructions laid out by Our Heavenly Father? I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news but the truth is sometimes hard to swallow. Take some time and look around you today. Just like God asked Adam in the garden in Genesis 3:9, “Where are you?” I am asking you today – “Where are you?”

Don’t Let God’s Period Be Your Question Mark

The secret things belong to the Lord our God but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever that we may follow all the words of the law. – Deuteronomy 29:29

There are things that happen in life that cannot be explained – why some believers get healed and some don’t; why some Christians end up divorced and why children that have believing parents seem to go astray even as their parents pray and fast that they be delivered. We don’t have the answers to everything. Some circumstances just defy explanation and meaning. But one thing we can be sure of is that God has the whole world in his hands.

Whether we self-destruct due to bad decisions or things bad happen due to no fault of ours, the truth is no-one can unscramble eggs. What is done is done; the only thing we can do is move on to the great things God has in store for us. If we can understand that God always has a replacement plan for our lives to get us to the end he designed for us, we can rest and have peace. When one door closes, God can open a bigger and a better door.

For some of us who have had relationships that have ended badly, it is vital that we understand that life is not over and our destiny isn’t tied to who we may have lost. I learnt that looking at what there is to gain rather than what seems lost helps a great deal. Asking questions when things are clearly over serves no purpose. Neither does hanging around thinking that someone will change their ways in order to do what is right by you a worthwhile effort.

Don’t put a question mark where God has clearly placed a period. Take hold of the abundant life that God has in store for you. Let go of all your pain and disappointment and allow God to replace your ashes with a crown of beauty (Isaiah 61:3).

Simply Say “I’m Sorry”

If you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. – Proverbs 6:2-5

I used to find it difficult to say I was sorry. Now it’s like second nature because I understand the benefits of correcting situations in the moment. As I have grown in my faith, I find it a requirement to apologize to people if I believe I have offended them or they tell me they have been negatively affected by my words or my actions. Simply saying sorry heals wounds and maintains relationships. So I have learnt to humble myself and say sorry from the heart as I see necessary.

I have however also been unfortunate to meet people who will adamantly refuse to accept an apology. They choose to remain offended for reasons best known to them. If you ever find yourself in the same situation as I did, don’t fret. The offended person does not need to accept your apology – quite frankly they can carry the grudge to their grave but by saying sorry you have set yourself free to move on to bigger and better things.

It is important for me to say that your apology must be genuine and from the heart. You may even enlist the help of close friends to assist in conveying your remorse. Once that is done, you have accomplished your part. You need to understand that you have earned the right to move on with your life regardless of the reaction of the person or people you offended and their reaction to your apology.

If by chance there’s anyone in your life that needs an “I’m Sorry” from you, do the right thing and apologize even if you believe that you are right and they are wrong. The truth of the matter is when no-one forgives; no-one wins.

Change Your Words; Change Your Life

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. – Proverbs 18:20

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. – Proverbs 18:21

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ “– Matthew 15:18-20

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. – Proverbs 15:4

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. – Proverbs 10:11

Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. - James 3:4-6

In James chapter 3, the tongue is described along the same lines as the rudder of a ship. The rudder on the ship controls the direction in which the ship will travel in the same way our tongue controls the direction that our lives will go. We all have the ability to experience the joy of the Lord but this joy can be poisoned by complaints and negativity. When you start speaking the right words, you can get joy even in your negative circumstances. You can see good days whether apparent or not even in the midst of tough times by speaking God’s promises. Aim to magnify God, not your problems. Speak words of faith concerning your life and God will move miraculously to bring your positive vision for your life to reality. Remember you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. God will always cause you to triumph. Believe that God has good things in store for you. By his stripes, you are healed. Don’t let anything or anyone steal your joy.

Circumstances – A Chance to Grow

Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” – Mark 4:36-41

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

No-one likes problems. Majority of us would desire a problem-free life. Some even believe that being a Christian shields you from issues and the Christianity offers some kind of parachute from real world difficulties. The truth is God never promised us a free-ride. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe one’s faith can grow without trouble.

I especially like the passage above as I can identify with the disciples. I recently faced a crisis where I was basically going out of my mind. I could not believe the shock and disbelief that overwhelmed me. I knew human beings could be selfish but the degree to which they could be downright hateful and mean to another is always astounding to me. I looked around in panic wondering if anyone could see; if anyone cared about what was happening to me. For a brief moment, I wondered if God even cared about what was going on in my life and the lives of my children.

Today I am grateful for the circumstance in which I found myself. It taught a few of life’s valuable lessons. One is that the only person I could depend on is me. Secondly, the only parent my children can really count on is me. Thirdly, I am solely responsible for my reactions, attitudes and feelings. I am not out of the woods yet but I am on my way. Day by day I get stronger. I am still waiting for God to still the storm but I am confident that he will. In the meantime, I try to learn as much from my circumstance as I can. I continue to develop spiritually as I carry my cross and follow my Savior.

My Silent Prayer

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks Be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! – Romans 7:15-25

No garden is without its weeds. – Thomas Fuller

No matter how spiritual we are there is a carnal proclivity to us still. Our bodies are constantly at war with itself; the carnal side at war with the spiritual side. We are like a hybrid see – two parts meshed together. Our earthly side made from dirt in the ground and our celestial side from our Heavenly Father as He breathed the breath of life into our ancestor Adam in the beginning.

Since I am aware of these two sides that I possess, my silent prayer is that my spiritual side has strength over my carnal side; that I exercise my spiritual man enough for it to stand firm against the fleshy side. There are times however that the carnal side takes over and all hell breaks loose. I silently pray that my anger, disappointment and pride never become greater than my faith in God.

I pray that God continues to strengthen me such that I can always put my carnal side under subjection. That he teaches me to be a person who readily forgives not because others need my forgiveness but because forgiveness sets me free.

Are You Carrying a Load of Excess Luggage?

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

If you know me very well you would know I never give up on anything and I never back down from any task. But even little “Miss Do-It-All-All-Of-The-Time” gets overwhelmed – especially when I take on more than I should. I recently had a semi-meltdown last week. I was exhausted, frustrated and overwhelmed. All of a sudden I wasn’t soaring like I normally do. I felt as if someone clipped off my wings. Isaiah 40:31 just wasn’t working for me. I still felt like an eagle but I couldn’t soar, couldn’t walk let alone run. I was heavy in my spirit and terribly weighted down.

But I was grateful for a message that I listened to that taught me to set up boundaries – emotionally and spiritually. Without setting up these boundaries, I allowed myself to be continually violated by myself and others. I love to write – it keeps me alive so I need to allocate time to the effort – time that even I must respect. I understand that I owned my own beliefs, attitudes and feelings and no-one has control over that. Most of the battles we fight must first be fought internally. Once we make up our minds about how we want to structure our lives and make a commitment to the decisions that have been made, the rest is easy. Each of us must take responsibility in carrying our own load rather than abandoning our responsibilities and burdening others for no reason (Galatians 6:5).

I decided to cast all my burdens onto God because I know that he cares for me. I started to throw things out of my mind that had no business being there. I decided it was time to look out for me; do what’s best for me all the while keeping the best interest of my children in mind. The fact that I have faced rejection, abandonment and abuse does not define who I am in anyway and I needed to let all that go.

If you are dealing with a lot of excess baggage today, ask God to show you what is yours and what isn’t. He surely will. Start to release yourself of responsibilities that aren’t yours so that you can soar again; so that you can once again see God be great in your life.

Don’t Build Your Life on Sinking Sand

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams arose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. – Matthew 7:26-27

I built my life once on sinking sand. I did not consult God on life changing decisions and I ultimately opened myself up to be misused in ways that can’t be imagined. I sold myself cheaply in an effort to please other people. I lived a life completely filled with ignorance. It wasn’t that my brain power suddenly grew overnight – No. I just didn’t harness the wisdom in the word of God that was always available to me. I did not walk faithfully with the Shepherd. I was naïve to think that I could get to the right destination going the wrong way; that I could do wrong to make things right.

Life will make it seem like you have everything under control; that everything is going well. Denial will make you believe that your life couldn’t be better. Even friends and family members that see you headed down the wrong road will not stand in the gap for you – they’ll leave you sometimes to fall and self-destruct because of bad decisions and wrong choices.

There’s no message like that from someone who’s been there and done that and most importantly come out of it. I tell my children how important it is for them to put God first in their lives, how crucial it is to get organized and to focus on their school work. I am glad to say that my life has change. God gave the gift of repentance by allowing me to know and understand that I could not continue to live the way that I was living. God gave me the Grace of Repentance; the ability to change my life for the better.

If like me in the past, you are currently struggling with life in sinking sad, if your life is falling apart due to bad decisions, know that it’s never too late to make a fresh start. Begin by giving your life to God and making him first in your life. Let him be the first person that you run to when life is unfair, he will direct you in the way you ought to go through his Holy Word.

Your Stability is Dictated By Your Foundation

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams arose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock. – Matthew 7: 24-25

We are only as stable as the foundation that we stand upon. When we build our lives on man-made laws and doctrines that are contrary to the word of God and we place our faith in earthly things, it’s only a matter of time before things come crashing down around us. Whatever we do without God’s involvement will never last the test of time – it’s a given. The devastating results may not come to light in our own generation but it will eventually show up in generations to come. We never really get away with anything. When we start to gain knowledge and understand generational curses a little more, we change our decision-making process. We start to think with long term generational living in focus. We start to think not only of our children but our children’ children and their children and how what we are choosing to do might affect generations to come.

God is the only firm foundation that I know. With him by your side, your boat can never sink. Standing firm footed and deeply rooted in the word of God secures your foundation. It secures your future and increases the chances of future generations to come. Before we take any action, we must weigh our decision against the word of God, if it passes the test, then we are on the right track. If our plans cannot stand up to the word of God, they are not good choices.

The word of God touches every aspect of our lives. There is nothing that we may be dealing with that God does not have a word for – all we need to do is find it. How strong is the foundation upon which you have built your life and your decisions?

The Critters of Life

If anyone will not welcome or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth; it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town. – Matthew 10:14-15

That’s my gift. I let negativity roll off me like water off a duck’s back. If it’s not positive, I didn’t hear it. If you can overcome that, fights are easy. – George Foreman

Not everyone agrees with what we do or the decisions that we make – especially if we seem to be doing ok against all odds. I remember being told by someone recently that I was not a therapist. No-one wants to hear the truth about their lives as it so much easier to live in total denial – to be strung out and in denial. We never want to hear about what we should have done, should be doing or what we could have done to make things turn out differently. In reality, there may be things that we could have or could do better but we didn’t or we refuse to and that’s just fine. So long as we know from scripture that we are walking in tune with the word of God, all we can do is have great assurance that even when we make mistakes, God has the power to turn our errors around for his glory if we continue to walk with him and place our complete trust in him. However if we are off tangent, going against the word of God and are hell-bent on doing our thing, we will suffer the consequences of our actions.

I have learnt over the years that a lot of people are more comfortable with the failures of others. To some it brings them great comfort as they spend there time comparing their lives with the lives of others – drawing great esteem from the errors and consequences in the life of others around them. You do a million things right and ten things wrong and all eyes are on those ten things you fouled up on. You are great at your job and people secretly wonder how you do it but talk behind your back continuously about the fact that you can’t spend ten hours a day in the office like they do even though you deliver ten hours of work in half the time. When things are going well, people act surprised and are not comfortable with your ability to stay afloat in the midst of horrible confusion. But ultimately, the ability for your spirit to be poisoned lies with you. You hold that key. You decide what you want to carry with you or what you want to shake off as water off a duck’s back. It’s not what others do to you that kill you. It may wound you what people do but it will never kill you. What kills you is what you do to yourself. Let’s face it, who can stop critters from noisily chatting away at night?

You will always face opposition – it’s a fact of life. Jesus faced extreme opposition, what makes you special? To survive you will need to be a person of very strong spirit so that you are not easily broken and destroyed. Regardless of all the noise around you, there is a process in motion in your life that cannot be aborted by anyone else but you. The process may be tough but God has promised a pleasant ending. So dig your heals in – refuse to take on extra baggage that is not yours to carry and press on towards the price God has in store for you.

God Sees Everything

As I arose this morning, I knew for certain there is a God. I prayed that he will have mercy on me and take me finally to a place of rest. My life is busy and my schedule is overwhelming most of the time, nevertheless I am hopeful that someday God himself will send me a helper. I just wish there was a way to hurry things up a bit :=)

I was strengthened by this scripture verse in 2 Chronicles 16:9 – For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. I believe that God has a plan for my life – a plan that I will see unfold in my lifetime. I am comforted in the knowledge that God sees and knows all things and no-one knows what I need more than he does.

I can imagine that as God looks around he is looking for people that can face the impossible; people that will submit themselves under his mighty hand to be used mightily for his service. When I look at the circumstances around me, I have no idea what God will do. I feel like I am way in over my head with my current responsibilities but I am still at rest and hopeful because I have a deep and unshakeable feeling that I am on God’s mind all the time. God promised to give us more than we can ever imagine, ask or think so as long as I stay in his word, continue use my imagination, think and ask in prayer for my needs to be met, God will surely meet them – in His time.

So if today like me you feel over-worked and under-paid; you feel yourself working very hard but unappreciated; you feel like quitting because you are not getting the recognition from man that you thin you deserve, remember that God sees all and he remembers you. God is at work in you, strengthening you so that when your needs are met by his supernatural hand, you will have no doubts as to where your help and assistance came from. Hold on till the sun arises. It will all work out in time.

Things Aren’t Always The Way They Appear

I went through a difficult period between 2002 and 2006. Not that I had not experienced difficult times before; if truth be told, I struggled all my life. But that particular period is what I now refer to as the darkest period of my entire life. It’s a time-zone I try to forget, the important things are a blur and the things that drive me are as clear as daylight. During this time, I had one priority and one priority alone – to survive.

I have two wonderful children that were looking to me to hold on and make it through. I was all they could see. I was all they really had. So I shut out the world, the noise and the distraction and got to work – working with God. God is my Father, Husband, Friend and Confidante. Most importantly, He was my cheerleader; spurning me on, encouraging me to never give up and never give in. You never really know what you are packing until you find yourself in deep waters. Circumstances will require that you bring out all your arsenals and all your weapons to ensure that you simply do not drown in stuff you ought to be walking on.

After the dust had settled, I had the chance to speak to a friend of mine and he mentioned what my fight to survive looked out on the outside. It seemed that I was trying to prove I could make it on my own and I didn’t need anyone. If that was my objective, I had succeeded. I denied the fact that this could be a motivation but on reflection, I think he had a point. Even though my main goal was to simply survive, along the way the need to prove that I could find my way in this painful world definitely may have come into the mix. Unfortunately, for me the more I struggle, the more my fighting spirit kicks in – it’s a natural law just like gravity.

I have by no means reached where I am headed. The journey has actually just begun. God has great plans for my life. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, I am daily being inspired by an Everlasting, Powerful and Ever- Present God so quitting is not an option. But I will make an effort to “give a little” as he eloquently put it. I will make myself slightly more accessible to the world – a world I no longer trust but all the same I will try.

“Life is a like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get” is what I always thought was true but in reality you can if you want reduce your chances of selecting the wrong piece.

God of the Impossible

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, Let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord; answer me, so these people will know that you, O lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord – he is God! The Lord – he is God!” – 1 Kings 18:36-39

When God decides to move, wonders take place. I can understand fire burning up wood or soil but how does fire burn up stones and water? When God intervenes in your life, he would move people who said they couldn’t be moved; he would change situations people thought you would never come out of alive. God can and will do the impossible. But we must first believe. The bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

When we want God to do the impossible, we must do the following:

Believe that He is God. God is Sovereign and He comes with power (Isaiah 40:10).
Have faith in who God has been to you and who He is.
Diligently seek God.
Be committed to God by obeying His word.
Respond to God in faith even when we have doubts.
Spend time in prayer.

I was reading this passage in Isaiah about Our Powerful God:

See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off his heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? – Isaiah 40:10-12

I know we all have situations or know people that we are praying that God do the impossible with. May God hear and answer our prayers in his time – the right time.

Knowing God Through Revelation

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” – Romans 1:17

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ – Acts 17:24-28

To come to true knowledge of God, it cannot be explained, it must be revealed. That is why no-one will go to hell with the excuse “I just didn’t understand!” Getting a hold of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has less to do with intellect and more to do with the heart. Understanding this simple fact changed my life. I have met people with appreciable intellect who just couldn’t change their ways. They could quote the scriptures with ease but couldn’t live a live reflective of what they quoted. If God is revealed rather than explained, it can be revealed at any intellectual level. That is why you find people who cannot read but are filled with the Holy Spirit and those that have studied and teach Theology who are devoid of the light of God.

In order for God to be revealed to us, we must seek him. We must spend time seeking his face. Our being must be focused entirely on him – not only on Sunday mornings but every day of the week! There will come a time where a minute does not go by that you do not think of him. We either develop ourselves spiritually or deal with warfare – where our lives are a continuous struggle. When God reveals himself to you, your life will change. The seeking that you do in secret will be rewarded openly for all to see.

God Has Given Us The Land

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had departed from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go; walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you. – Genesis 13:14-17

I sometimes get a little concerned when some religious people talk extensively about going to heaven. Once you have given your life to Jesus Christ, you place in heaven is pretty much secure. The Bible says clearly in John 14:2-3 that “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Focusing on going to heaven after you have accepted Christ is redundant. What do you plan to do while you are here on earth? Are you going to be so busy looking up at heaven that you fail to lay treasures up there like you were instructed to do? What about making the most of the journey by applying yourself to the fullest capacity? I heard a famous preacher make a remark about Christians who believe in the “God has a mansion for me in heaven so all I need to do here is wander around” doctrine. I totally agree with him!

As descendants of Abraham, we cannot afford to spend another 40 years monk eying around in the wilderness. We cannot be focused on going to heaven while we make a mess of what God has called us to do here on earth. If the mission of God was to take us to heaven, he will strike us dead and take us there the minute we turn our lives over to Him.

God has given us the land as far out as we can see. What do you see? What do you believe? Your allotment for living is proportional to your vision for life. It’s proportional to the development of your believe. You will never be more than you believe. If you cannot see beyond the capability of your physical eyes, you are in big trouble! Start doing your part today as a child of the Most High. Start working on what you were called to do and don’t waste another minute. God has given you all you need to be who he created you to be – He hid it all in one place you would never have to look for it – inside of you. Grow up and move up today. Stop winning and complaining about this person and that person, work diligently on God’s vision for your life!

Learning To Trust God

Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. – Job 13:14-15

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” - John 14:1-4


In my most desperate times, I cling to God. I have no-one else around anyway – all my family live in the United Kingdom. I know they are with me in spirit but as per physically, I am basically it. So far God has been good; I have not had a reason not to be thankful. Even when I feel weak and oppressed, I gain great strength from the promises for my life in His word. I refuse to stray away from God again as I have done in the past. I have learnt the hard way that life without a relationship with God is no life at all.

I am human so I sometimes argue, murmur and complain but even in the midst of it all I am committed to my decision to walk with God for the rest of my life. Only 2 things matter to me now – my commitment to a life with God and being there physically and emotionally for the two children he has placed in my care.

The only power that continues to hold me close to God is my faith. Faith that continues to grow and develop based on hearing His Word and remembering all the things He has brought me through. During difficult times, my faith may falter but I know that it can never be taken from me. So long as I have access to His Word, my faith shall only grow stronger. Even when the enemy is doing all he can to frustrate me, I refused to be deterred from my mission. I know that no matter who tries to make my life difficult or throw darts at me, what God has purposed for my life will surely come to pass.

Standing Up On the Inside

As my of my daughters told me today, when life throws you a lemon, you only have two choices – give up and give in defeated or fight back like the child of God that you are. We all miss the mark sometimes. We make mistakes and suffer from the consequences of our errors but we don’t have to suffer forever. We can get up and simply decide to move on.

Maybe you’ve failed in one or more areas of your life. You have failed to be a dependable friend or you have a wayward child. Maybe your spouse abandoned you and your children for other ventures. You could have lost your home, your job and your car due to a bad drug and/or alcohol habit. You’ve been laughed at and mocked endlessly and you feel like throwing in the towel. Don’t despair – even in tough times like this, know that God still has a plan for your life.

The Bible says in Numbers 23:19 that God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Determine in your heart that your setback will be a setup for a comeback. Make up in your mind to stand strong even when everything around you dictates that you need to be depressed. God has already set you free from the Spirit of Defeat, the Spirit of Depression, the Spirit of Low Self-Esteem, the Spirit of Abuse and any other negative spirit that may be messing with you today. But you need to lay hold of it in the spirit in order to receive it in the natural. Trying to receive it in the natural alone will only make your deliverance temporary. To lay permanent hold on your freedom today, set yourself free in the spirit. Hebrews 11:3 says that - By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. You need real faith to be free in the spirit. Take time to build your faith. How do you get faith? Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Fight the fight required to stand firm. It's not too late to make a change in the direction of your life. Do not give in; refuse to be defeated.

God’s Grace is not to be Abused!

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. – Jude 1:3-4

“Why not say – as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say – “Let us do evil that good may result’? Their condemnation is deserved. – Romans 3:8

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? – Roman 6:1-2

It’s amazing how one can live their life in total denial – strung out and in denial. My initial exposure to Christianity was warped. It seemed to me like a religion founded solely on external appearances – what other people saw and what they believed. I met some professed believers who focused their lives entirely on what people saw on the outside. They believed that to be far more important than anything else. The life they lived behind closed doors, a far cry from the one they lived in public. In some cases, it was fine to be mean and unforgiving provided no-one knew and it was well hidden. I had the unfortunate experience to interact with a woman who would cover her head every night with a scarf as she prayed for hours and read her bible but she was as hateful as a burnt cat! She had a knack for spreading evil under the veneer of true faith. I saw time after time how it was ok to go against the word of God so long as you make peace with God about it. It seemed like being in a garage automatically made one a car. It looked like parking your body in a pew every Sunday made you a Christian.

It wasn’t until I took hold of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Death, Burial and Resurrection) that my perception was completely changed. I am one of the lucky ones – I learnt to discover the word of God and learn for myself the great difference between being a “Christian” and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I learned to love the word of God. I grew to appreciate the teaching and the preaching of the word. It has changed my life – for the better. I now know for a fact that it is never ok to do whatever I like and believe God’s grace will cover it. I understand that it’s not acceptable to simply break God’s commandments because of a selfish desire to satisfy the flesh. It does not solidify who I am in Christ to be immoral or pervert the truth of the word of God.

The men Jude is referring to are twisting the grace of God to advocate lewdness or lasciviousness. They are advocating the right to be irresponsible and the falseness in the fact that you can get away with it. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have also learnt one painful truth – some people will never get it and they will never change based on what anyone says or does. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But as servants of the Lord, we have responsibilities we cannot take lightly. We are still to contend with the faith and spread the gospel – it’s up to God after that. The scripture says very clearly in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 that “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

True Wisdom Only Comes From God

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. – Isaiah 5:21

Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands for there I find delight. Turn my heart towards your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. – Psalm 119:33-37

Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. Before I was afflicted when I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. – Psalm 119:66-68

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. – Psalm 119:92-93

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. – Psalm 119:105

There was a time in my life when I believed I knew it all, have seen it all and had everything under perfect control. But I was wrong. My life was a DIY job that was certainly headed for self-destruction. Thank God that great affliction comes with incredible faith. God finally got my attention and I made a decision to follow his word. Even the fact that I was afflicted came to be a necessary valley that I had to dwell in for a while; a pothole that was divinely orchestrated to show me that I wasn’t being all that I was created to be. I was simply joyriding through life believing that I was actually living. God for the first time had me right where he needed me to be.

Any kind of wisdom outside of God’s methodology is a waste of time. Giving your life to Jesus and living according to his decrees means Jesus is on your boat. And when Jesus is on board, your boat can never sink. It doesn’t matter how bad it gets or who tries to harm you, you have the Almighty God on your side.

God has a unique purpose and agenda for your life and your only find your purpose through a relationship with God and spending time in his word – learning to see things the way God sees things. Don’t waste your time and youth wandering through all the options that will never bring any lasting satisfaction. You were created with great contemplation. Jeremiah 1:5 says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Romans 8:29-30 also says “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

God’s word should be the compass by which we direct our lives if we are not to end this realm full of regret. The only way to get God’s wisdom is through his word and obeying it. It’s amazing how God’s word and light changes everything. It allows you to know what you are worth and allows you to make better, wiser choices and decisions about your life and the lives of those God have placed in your care. Because of his word, I have no regrets – God will move people that said they will never be moved and change situations people thought could never be changed. Make God’s word a priority in your life today. A simple change in your priorities and attitude could change your altitude. Follow the Almighty God’s instructions and see how your whole life could change – for the better!

Faith without Love is Worthless

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

When you love people, you want to be there; to watch them grow, change and develop. You don’t want to miss a single thing. I have two daughters and they are just hilarious. I love to find out about their adventures and ideas. As soon as the four year old learns a new word, we all get to know about it. I can’t imagine not seeing them and being with them everyday. Talk is unbelievably cheap! Saying you love your children and not making an effort to be there for them daily is a lie from the pit of he**. Luckily even children these days know that it’s not what you say that counts; it’s what you do and they are watching you all the time.

Love is the greatest gift of all – and it doesn’t cost a thing. The main function of the church is to love. Any program, outreach or ministry that is not founded on love is not worth a thing. It is not a building that makes a church; it’s the people. Revival never comes to a church building; it comes to a people. I write the things that I do for love. So that no-one falls into the same pit that I did. I don’t want to be anyone’s counselor – far from it but if my writing saves another from making a wrong choice, it will be worthwhile.

As my children grow everyday, the ability to show love to them is not a right but a privilege. A privilege that I am grateful to God for and I pray for the strength and wisdom that will never allow me to take this for granted. Show the people God has placed in your life love today. Take that extra bold step so they will never ever doubt that you indeed care for them.

But For the Grace of God

There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:24

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. – 1 Corinthians 15:10

None of us are perfect – not a single one. The fact that your neighbor’s child is on the straight and narrow and yours is giving you trouble does not mean they have more faith than you do or that they are called and you are not. The fact that you prayed to be healed of your disease and you still suffer does not mean you didn’t pray enough or God turned a deaf ear to your cries. If people wonder how you can be going through a divorce with your spiritual self don’t despair. You just lost your job and you never failed to believe God or serve in His church. If only it were possible to measure faith by the size of one’s trials or the length of one’s car.

It’s only by the grace of God that any of us stand – that our children do well, that our jobs are secure or our marriages stand the test of time. If you believe what you have going well for you is because of what you are doing then you must be in denial. All those things you hold dear can be taken away by the snap of his fingers even as you pray if you fail to put your faith and trust where it rightly belongs.

We are all justified only by his grace and not by works so no-one can boast. I am what I am today; I have what I have today only by the grace of God. I humbly accept the good times and the bad times with confidence because I know his grace is always readily available to me in times of need. I am not perfect and neither are you. I thank God we don’t need to be.

No Matter What

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:1-3

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14

When it suddenly dawned on me that I had been abandoned to face the physical care of my two daughters alone, I was angry – not bitter but angry; angry that I had been left in a lurch. Disappointed that even though I understood clearly what signing on to be a parent involved, the other party had no clue. Being a parent is not optional. You cannot check in and check out as you please. But I have since learnt that there are only two ways we get it – easily by following the Word of God or through pain and suffering as a consequence of bad decisions.

In time I pulled myself together and vowed that I would be there physically and emotionally for my daughters no matter what. I basically decided and was determined not to be distracted by what anybody else did but to simply follow the Lord’s direction as to what I should do. I came across the two scripture verses above and I was greatly encouraged. I learnt that sometimes harping on about what someone else is meant to be doing (even if only for a minute) takes our energy and focus away from what we should be doing. The precious Son of God endured terrible opposition from sinful men so why shouldn’t I? I am committed never to lose heart or grow weary – quite frankly I cannot afford to. My daily schedule is challenging even to me but I am making it with God by my side.

I have made a decision to press on towards the prize that God has for me. We all eventually reap what we sow. No-one gets away with anything – even when we are saved the consequences of bad decisions are always ours to bear. So if you are facing a difficult period in your life, find out what God will have you do and do it no matter what.

My Constant Struggle To Obey

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. – Hebrews 11:7

Majority of us do not actually come to the Cross with vigor until some catastrophe happens in our life. We do not put Christ on the throne as we should until we come to understand that there is more to life than ourselves; that there is something bigger and far greater than our own little enclave. But whether you have known Christ from the womb or came to him at 65, it really does not matter. It’s not so much how you start but how you finish.

For a few years now, I have been hearing from God about certain things concerning my gifts and the ministry but I continue to explain why it cannot be so for many reasons. In a nutshell, I continue to stall and drag my feet at the Lord’s calling but eventually I know that I will have no choice but to obey. I made a pledge in my heart that if I can for the most part be faithful in maintaining these messages for one year then I will know for sure the next steps to take. The truth is I already knew what steps to take – even before I started the postings.

To me, a call such as mine makes no sense at this time. But I was reminded today about Noah who built an ark by faith. The region he lived in was dry and they have never seen rainfall talk less of a flood. They had probably never seen a boat much less an ark. Noah did not take an engineering course on how to construct ships but he followed God’s instructions by faith and with trust. His neighbors must have laughed at him, convinced that he was losing his mind. They must have wondered why he was spending all his money building a boat in a region that was dry when he could have bought a new Porsche :-). Even Noah himself must have had doubts but he probably shrugged them off because he knew he heard from God and that God never fails. He must have known in his heart of hearts that whatever God says will be, will surely be.

So when my call makes no sense, I trust by faith. As I continue to study and pray, I place my complete trust in God. I know that God is not a man that he should tell a lie. It’s my purpose to walk through whatever door God opens – by faith. He is not looking for me to be perfect or be an expert; he just wants my heart to be willing. If like me God is calling you to do something great for his kingdom and you think that you are too small, not smart enough or not eloquent enough – trust God. He chose you because you are special. He chose you for a reason. Simply be courageous and walk through the open door to the other side where your destiny awaits you.

My First Impulse in Times of Peril

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; - Lamentations 3:25

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. – Psalm 46:1-3

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. – Psalm 138:7

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. – 2 Thessalonians 3:3

When I am having a tough time, my first instinct is to pray. When I pray, I am immediately comforted. My problems do not varnish – far from it. But I am given the strength to deal with the situation. God comes to my aid and gives me assurance that He is always with me and that he will never leave me nor forsake me.

God is the best answer in times of trouble. I have in the past misplaced my trust and I was terribly let down. I learnt the hard way that if it does not stand up to the Word of God, it’s not worth doing – at all!! God loved me so much; He gave up his Only Son to die in my place. Who else would do that for me? No-one. So it stands to reason He will be the first One I turn to when the world is unfair.

I am grateful everyday for my God and I hope as you read this you have come to a full knowledge of the Cross and the message that it brings. I pray that if you do not, God will reveal himself to you – personally so that you can come to accept the wonderful message of salvation brought to us through his special Son, Jesus Christ by faith.

When God Shows Up and Shows Out, It’s a Wrap!

The Spirit of God is the only One that can make the difference. We might be able to do some things in the flesh but lasting gain only comes with God. Whatever God is not a part of will never truly stand. I remember with great fondness the story of Daniel in the lions den. The den was secured and the lions were hungry but the God whom Daniel had continually served rescued him from the lions. Daniel was found innocent in the sight of God and God showed up for him. (Daniel 6)

My life is a classic testimony of the Grace of God. I am by no means perfect but the Christ that died on the Cross so that I may live is perfect and I believe that without a shadow of a doubt. So when things are tough (as they often are), I trust in God to show up and show out. I do the best I can - based on the gifts and talents that have been placed in me and I wait on God to wrap things up – in his time.

If you truly believe in God and you are doing all can to walk in his will as directed in his Word, never fret when things are difficult. Do your best and leave the rest to your Heavenly Father. If it is will, He’ll surely wrap things up for you nicely. Whatever God says it is; it is.

Christ in Me

I have no real value to anyone but you.
To the very core of my soul you see right through.
My heart I give to you is worth nothing.
Your heart you gave to me is worth everything.
I strive to do your will not mine.
I choose to speak your word not lie.
A changed heart; an exchanged one I desire;
Your grace upon me that can never expire.
Now alive to you and dead to sin.
All in me completely changed from within.
Your path, your way I strive to follow.
The door slammed shut and you opened a window.
Your Spirit in me; your life I live.
My worthless soul to you is all I give.
My body on the cross and yours on the throne.
There’s no more feeling of being alone.
Good days are here to stay.
There’s the sunlight of the dawn of a new day.
In my heart I feel a love brand new.
I finally found the one true breakthrough.
Stay with me; Live in me; Never leave me;
I am yours for now and always.

“I am a Christian”

The phrase "I am a Christian” is thrown around carelessly everyday. Here are some interesting definitions I found on the web:

1) Someone of European descent.
2) A persecutor of Jews.
3) Someone who votes for the most conservative republicans.
4) Someone who is a member of a church/religious organization.
5) Someone who is kind and charitable to the poor.
6) Someone who has high moral standards.
7) People who live in a Christian nation - Spain is a Christian nation.

The word Christian in the dictionary starts with saying that the word itself is derived from Jesus Christ and His teachings. I was really glad to see that. It seems by the dictionary definitions you cannot call yourself a Christian without Jesus Christ! Here are the definitions in the dictionary:
Pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

1) Exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ.
2) Displaying Christ like character.
3) Believing in Jesus Christ.
4) Exemplifying the life of Jesus Christ.
5) Member of any Protestant church.

The list is endless. The issue is simple Christianity is belonging to Jesus Christ - just like Christmas should be about remembering the birth of Jesus Christ. The truth is a lot of people call themselves Christians even though they pray to Mary, his mother. You can put your bike in the garage all year round but that does not magically make it a car. It is much quicker to dress up like a Christian than it is to live like one. Being a Christian does not mean you know all the scriptures, pray 10 hours a day and speak in tongues until the cows come calling - it's all about where your heart is. I have found that it is much easier to know the Word of God than to live by it. I have met a lot of people who know the word. They have read the bible over 10 times. They can even finish the scriptures before you start it but their lives are a clear indication that they do not know his voice. Jesus Christ said - "my sheep shall know my voice" not my word. This is definitely not to minimize the importance of studying the scriptures; we must study to show ourselves approved. But we are more interested in what is in your heart and what you have heard from God rather than what you have crammed in your head.

There is also a great tendency for us to focus on what we do in the church, what people wear, the color of their hair, the bible studies, the cell groups and the prayer meetings - thinking that will be our passage into heaven. The reality is going to church everyday does not make you a Christian. Where you park your body on a Sunday morning is really not the key. It's not about what you wear or how you style your hair. Obviously, there are certain articles of clothing that are grossly inappropriate - common decency will tell you what those are! But you cannot judge a person's level of spirituality or whether they are a Christian by what they wear, whether they speak in tongues or how long they pray for in the morning. Scriptures are clear that it's not about what we are doing out here but what Jesus Christ has already done for us. To real followers of Jesus, prayer is not a just about certain position at a certain time of the day. This again is not to minimize the importance of spending quiet time with God daily. It is necessary because of our carnal nature requires it. But it is so much more than that. It is a lifestyle and a way of life. We are to be in constant prayer all day everyday.

So in a nutshell, a real Christian is someone who has been born-again by God and has his or her faith completely in Jesus Christ. A true Christian is someone who has repented from sin and put their faith and trusts in Jesus Christ and him alone. A true Christian places their trust not in following a religion or a set of moral codes, or a list of do’s and don’ts. A true Christian is a child of God who shows love to others and is obedient to his word. So when next you see someone who says they are a Christian, watch out. Before you can judge them based on what you think a Christian should be, you'll need to have supernatural powers to see what is inside their hearts. Without that insight, it's really kind of hard to tell.

What Do You Do When God is Silent?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11


I once heard a story of two people – two completely different lives with the same problem – cancer. They were both believers. They both prayed. One is healed and the other passed away. I wondered why? Did one pray more than the other? Did the healed one have more faith than the one who passed away? I never really got an answer; I never could figure out why. Sometimes we cannot explain things. We can only rest in the assurance that nothing is hidden from God and everything is known to God.

Life can be hard. What do we do when we are going through a hard time, we pray and pray and nothing happens? God appears to have taken a vacation and we hear nothing. I remember asking God for relief over a very unfair and unjust situation, I got no physical answer. All I could do was rest in the knowledge that no weapon fashioned against me shall ever prosper and that I am more than a conqueror. All I could do when God seemed to be silent was to look back on the times that He wasn’t silent and got an immediate answer for my worries. I looked back on the many miracles God had brought my way. I learned to rely on prayer to continue to fuel my faith in the knowledge that God has total control over my life. I learned to trust in God and his perfect timing even though sometimes very different from my own.

So if you are experiencing a season when you think God is silent, don’t despair. There are only three answers to our prayer – Yes, Wait or No. Regardless of the answer God has for us, we must be convinced it’s the right answer – the answer not given to harm us but to bring us in tune with His purpose for our lives.

Pride = Prayerlessness = Failure

When we do not continuously pray, we are prideful. We are consciously or unconsciously telling God we do not need Him and we can handle life on our own. We all know that having all the money in the world may provide all the modern comforts but it cannot bring peace neither can it bring joy. Only God can give us the important things we need in order for our lives to be full. When we do not invite God into every area of our lives and submit ourselves to him in prayer all the time, we invite trouble.

1 Peter 5:8 says: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of sufferings. How do we resist the devil without prayer? When we do not pray, we become an easy target. The devil comes in and takes your home, your marriage, your job, your children and every other thing you hold dear – in the twinkle of an eye!

It’s time to let go of our false “self-sufficient” spirit and pray in the spirit at all times. God is available to us at all times; He never takes a vacation but we sometimes fail when we refuse to plug into our Heavenly Father. When we pray, we feel strengthened, secure and protected. When we do not pray, we open ourselves up to attack from every angle by the enemy of our souls. Spend time in pray – ask God to help you steer your life in the right direction and He will. Even Jesus who was one with God spoke to his Heavenly Father at all times.

In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus himself says: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Sometimes I Know Not What to Pray For

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. – Romans 8:26-27

I can recollect times when I couldn’t pray. My burdens were so much that all I could do was weep. I was so weak with worry and shame I could not say anything to God. But I believed that even in those times, God heard my heart. I used to think that God only hears us when we pray out loud but sometimes the pain that we bear is too much that we often cannot speak. Luckily God is not one that listens to what we say – talk is cheap. He looks at our heart. That is why in the Bible, David was better than Saul. Saul did not have a filthy life; he had a filthy heart. David was morally bankrupt but he had a repentant heart. I am so grateful for the kind of God that I serve because I am not always right and I make mistakes but my heart is in the right place. I want to please God more than anything but I am also human so I fall short.

So if you’re experiencing a hard time right now and things are tough, don’t despair. Even when you cannot speak, the Holy Spirit is always present to intercede for you. He knows your burdens and he sees your heart. Just rest in God’s presence, knowing that he knows you better than you know yourself, after all He created you. He listens more to the prayers of your heart more than the words from your lips.

Prayer – The Answer to Everything

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. – Ephesians 6:18

I have been through a lot in the last 16 years. My problems began in September of 1991 and it took a lot of prayer to make it through. I didn’t begin to really use the power that was always available to me until late. Prayer did not take my problems away but they made my problems easier to bear. Am I now problem free? The answer is – No but I have found a tried and tested weapon against despair and it is prayer. Here are some of the things prayer did and continues to do for me:

A) Prayer changed my heart. There were people that I came to dislike and was holding in un-forgiveness. Prayer allowed me to release them and get on with my life. Most importantly, it helped me to forgive myself.

B) Prayer enlarged my heart. I got to a point that I could actually feel empathy and sorrow for the people that wronged me.

C) Prayer gave me a new lease on life. It showed me that God had a plan for my life – a plan no one could abort. I learned that the only thing that could stand in the way of me achieving my dreams is me.

D) Prayer allowed me to appreciate the “here and now”. I am able to celebrate where God has me right now. I am able to experience contentment that alludes so many. My life is hard work but my mind is clear. I know where God is taking me and I am enjoying the journey there.

E) Prayer brought light and direction into my life. I had no idea where I was going and what would happen to me. Prayer showed me a way to God and the light that I so desperately needed to find my way.

F) Prayer gave me a secret weapon. It wasn’t a magic bullet that made all my worries disappear but it gave me the peace in the knowledge that God was in control of my life – not the people that were doing all they could to kill my spirit.

G) Prayer showed me that I could make it. In spite of all the hardships I was going through I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. I could see an end to my suffering through the eyes of my heart.

H) Prayer taught me to be thankful. Even when I had nothing in the physical to be thankful for, prayer gave me the ability to thank God anyway. It allowed me to be grateful for what I did have instead of focusing on what I didn’t have.

I) Prayer taught me to trust God’s will for my life. Even though what I wanted was clear as daylight within my heart, I was able to ask that God’s will reign supreme in my life.

G) Prayer showed me I wasn’t perfect and I didn’t need to be. The way others treat us sometimes may make us question our self-worth and give credit to their opinions but God let me know all that didn’t count. He says it's OK to make mistakes. He is perfect so I don’t have to be. Walking with him daily will gradually take me to the place I need to be not where others think I ought to be.