God Has a Plan for Your Life

In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1:11-12

As a believer in Jesus Christ, we must know that nothing in our life happens by accident. We are in a controlled environment - like a lab. God has total control over the thermostat. He knows what we can handle and His eye is always on the sparrow. Everything that we go through happens for a reason. That is why it is easy for me to give praise to God in happy times and in sad times. I can rejoice despite my circumstances because I know that God has a plan for me and His hand is always upon my life. I rest completely in the comfort that nothing can ever happen to me unless God allows it.

No inventor creates an invention without first having a purpose for his or her invention. If we mere humans put so much thought into what we create, how much more the Almighty God. Before He created each and every one of us, He stepped back and thought about all He would have us be. As he constructed us, he put in us all that we would ever need to be that special person we were created to be. God did not leave anything out! There is something unique that you were made to do that no-one can do the same way that you can.

So now that we have all purpose related doubts out of the way, let’s get a few things straight:

1) When we accept Christ into our lives, it is not because we chose Him because God first chose us. Before the foundations of the earth, God has called us unto Himself.

2) We are called according to God’s plan. Every one of us is a small part of His master plan – like a little piece of a great giant puzzle.

3) Everything we are called to do is not for self gratification but the praise of God’s glory. When people are attracted to us, we should not get it twisted and think it is us that attract them. They are drawn to us because of the God that is in us.

4) Until you take time to find out what God’s purpose for your life is, you will never find true fulfillment. You may make money in what you are doing right now but the true sense of achievement will be missing. It will feel like the right blessing has been placed on the wrong person.

What is Stealing Your Life Away?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10

There are many things that stand to compromise and reduce our quality of life. Growing up in a world such as ours means that some measure of unfavorable circumstances will have occurred in our lives such as the manner in which we were raised, how we were treated in school, the relationships we have had and so on and so forth. The negativity that we endure can affect the way in which we view ourselves and the world at large. I have found that even when we have been successful at overcoming some pretty challenging situations, the burden of what we have experienced can still linger thereby limiting our range of motion.

My question for you today is what exactly in your life is stealing away your promise of life to the fullest? Before we move on, let me explain what I mean by the abundant life. Living life to the fullest in the context of the Bible does not mean wealth and riches. God is more concerned with your quality of life rather than the value of your possessions. We all know that in the world we live in today there are any rich people who are depressed and suicidal. In the end, money never solves the issues that really matter. Whether you have little or plenty, the abundant life is available to you as a promise from Almighty God. But this full life comes with conditions. To get what God has promised, ask yourself the following questions today:

1) Are you really committed to Christ or is your loyalty just lip service?
2) Is there sin in your life that has not been dealt with? Is there anything that you do that brings negativity into your life?
3) Are you prepared to surrender to the will of God rather than follow your own agenda?

Love the Lord with All Your Heart and Soul

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. – Matthew 24:37-38

If you ask me, this world is in trouble. Nations that were founded on God have since turned their backs on him. We live in a society that preaches “If it feels good, do it regardless of the consequences”. We have relegated God to the back of our minds and He is no longer considered as an integral part of life. A life without love for God is no life at all. Every human being is created with a void that only God can fill – money and influence will never fill that void neither can health nor beauty. It was designed that way and will forever be so.

I have learnt that even the biggest of pagans will pray to God when calamity strikes. We all remember God the minute we are in big trouble and we have no where else to turn. Adversity brings out the most unusual prayer warriors. But God did not intend for it to be so. He did not want a circumstance based interaction with his children. He wants us to love and worship Him in good times and in bad times. Only God is to be worshipped; nothing else. We are called to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind – not just sometimes but all the days of our lives.

So how do we show that we love God with all our hearts, souls and minds? We do this by:

1) Singing praises to Him
2) Praying to Him
3) Taking time to listen to Him
4) Publicly identifying with Him
5) Remaining committed to Him

We Worship a Jealous God

Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God – Exodus 34:14

We are often tempted to worship the blessings rather than the Blessor. Some even choose to worship creation rather than the Creator. On Sundays, we stay home to clean the house that God gave us. We choose to wax the Cadillac the Giver gave us rather than go to church. We worship God only when we have problems. The minute things are great and the bills are paid, we start to worship the luxuries of life.

God wants our attention not some of the time but all the time. He wants to be a part of our lives; every waking moment of it. He is not happy when other things take first place in our hearts. He does not want us to love anything or anyone more than we love Him. If we choose to lust after the world and what it holds, we will eventually lose out in a big way. There is a great possibility that whatever is holding first place in our lives, He will take away so that we can return our hearts and our focus to where it truly belongs.

There are so many mini-gods available today – fame, wealth and beauty to name a few. Unfortunately none of these gods really bring lasting fulfillment. The only true fulfillment comes from a close relationship with Jesus Christ. God does not ask for our lives because He needs an ego-trip. He asks us to worship Him as the only true God because He wants what is best for us.

The Widow's Offering

Jesus went over to collection box in the Temple and sat and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two pennies. He called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” – Mark 12:41-44

God wants us to worship in spirit and in truth. Times are hard and in the scripture passage above the two pennies must have meant a lot to this widow. Her circumstance resonates amongst most widows and single parents today. But Jesus understood her situation and made it clear that it’s not how much you give but what you give in comparison to what you have.

The rich can afford to give a lot because it is small in comparison to the expanse of the wealth but the poor share no such luxury; when we give, we give wholeheartedly yet know that there isn’t much to draw from. The Lord is not concerned about how much we give because quite frankly, He does not need our money. But he is especially looking at our motives. He is interested in why we give. Are we looking for recognition and fame? Or are we eager to contribute to the work of the Lord?

Be encouraged to give what you can with a joyful heart regardless of how little or much it may be. What you give is absolutely between you and God and no-one else needs to be involved.

Working the Mission

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. – Acts 1:1-3

As Christians we have a primary task assigned to us by Jesus Christ. We are to be a picture of God in whatever we do in this realm. If people are looking for a character or trait of God, they should see it in us and in the way that we live our lives. God has given us a set of instructions that we must follow.

But how does one live according to the Lord’s instructions? I’m glad you asked. We cannot do it on our own. Human effort will not accomplish what God requires of us. We need the assistance of the Holy Spirit. When we give our lives to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells inside of us to lead and guide us. The more we study the Word of God, the more in tune we become to the promptings of the Spirit. The presence of His Spirit within us helps us to live our lives day by day with the aid of the anointing.

The only way to work God’s mission is by asking for a fresh daily portion of His anointing. We need His power to fulfill God’s purpose. We can buy a Cadillac, improve it with a host of bells and whistles; clean and wax it but if we put no gas in it, the car is headed no where. Similarly without God’s anointing, we as believers are headed no where. If we are to do the work that we have been called to do, we must pray for God’s power to do it.

Our Selfishness and Greed is Destroying Us

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. – James 4:1-3

I look at the world today and feel sad at the greed and dishonesty that has consumed us. We fight and slander one another just to make ourselves look good. We make selfish decisions just to satisfy our carnal desires. We are desperate to get all we can; can all we get and sit on the lid. If we see someone standing in the way of what we want, we do all that we can to get them out of the way; even if it means destroying their lives. We do whatever we like because it feels good, ignoring how it destroys the lives of those God has placed in our care. We go into marriages with ulterior motives and bail out as soon as we see a window of opportunity. We make friends with others, not because we like them in anyway, but because they have something we so desperately need. We may not be physically killing anyone but what we are doing constitutes as murder all the same. Murder, because we kill, emotionally maim and destroy with the things that we say and do.

I have to believe that we do this because we see everything we need as being here on this earth. We see no possibility of another realm apart from the one we are in. For many of us; this is it! We engage in selfish behaviors because we put what we want ahead of what God requires of us. We put our lives and livelihood ahead of that of others. We think we are more important than the people that we hurt and destroy with our actions. Our mindset and actions have since distanced us from the God we claim to believe in so when we ask with our ulterior motives at the forefront of our minds, we get absolutely nothing.

One does not need a Ph.D. degree to see that the world we live in is in serious trouble. Unfortunately the issues we currently face runs way deeper than the economic downfall that we face. Running around and focusing on the economy is like plucking at the leaves of a tree that is suffering from a deadly root infection. Even if we successful at fixing the economy - how do we fix the selfishness and greed that so plagues our society?

Forgiveness Without Reconciliation

“If your brother sins against you go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” – Matthew 18:15-17

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. - Matthew 18:21-22

If you live on this planet, someone has done something to you that they should not have done or they have failed to do the things that ought to have been done for you. Being hurt and offended is a fact of life; it will happen to us all at one point or another in our lives. Forgiveness isn’t always easy but unfortunately it is not a choice; it is a commandment that every Christian must obey. We cannot have peace in our lives if we do not forgive those that have trespassed against us. Forgiveness sets us free from the burden that comes along with holding grudges. When we choose not to forgive, we waste a lot of energy holding on to the anger. Rehashing bad incidents that have been done to us just holds us in a permanent state of un-forgiveness.

It is important to understand that forgiveness does not mean that what was done to us or not for us was ok. It just means that we have made a decision not to dwell on the error and see the world through the mistakes of others. When we choose forgiveness, we make a decision to stay healthy and rid our hearts of unnecessary burdens. But I have experienced challenges with forgiving. It is truly difficult to forgive when people don’t seem that they deserve to be forgiven; especially when forgiving opens one up to be continuously treated in a negative manner. I had to figure out a way to forgive but at the same time avoid any kind of reconciliation. In a nutshell, I decided to cancel the debt that was owed to me but not make myself available for any more painful loans.

How did I get to the point where I could actually let go? Here are some pointers:

1) I figured if Jesus Christ could die at the Cross of Calvary for my sin, who am I not to forgive others when they hurt me? I recognized that I am a sinner also in desperate need of forgiveness.

2) It is first and foremost my decision to forgive. Once I make that choice then God help me overcome all the anger and negative feelings that were holding me back and preventing me from forgiving.

3) I knew that I could not do it on my own and asked God for help daily to deal with the feelings that will crop up from time to time in an attempt to fuel the un-forgiveness I felt in my heart. I am still asking daily for His help but the sting and pain that accompanies the anger and the hurt fades as time progresses.

4) As I learnt to trust God to carry out any necessary judgment in His own time, it became fine with me to leave all revenge and justice to Him.

5) I quickly realized that I had to start letting go in order to successfully move on with my life and God’s plan for me. Holding on to what another had done gave them unnecessary power over my life and stopped me from going ahead with the things I needed to do.

6) I had to accept that forgiveness does not always come parceled with reconciliation.

Pass On the True Message of the Gospel

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. – Titus 2:1

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immorality to light through the gospel. – 2 Timothy 1:8-10

I am proud to be a believer in Jesus Christ and I will continue to testify about his love and redemption available to anyone who comes to him in true repentance. The gospel is very simple and should not be complicated in its delivery. Jesus plus nothing brings true salvation. The gospel does not need anything added to it nor does it need parts of it subtracted.

It is inevitable that there will be many interpretations of the same scripture verses. For one, God deals with each one of us differently and type of human involvement will ultimately mean many versions of the same tale simply because we all see things differently. That is why the true meaning of the scriptures as it applies to our individual lives can only be interpreted by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals to us based on what God is trying to communicate to us at a particular time. As messengers of Jesus Christ, we are often tempted to twist and manipulate the Word of God to suit our purposes. I watch and listen daily as preachers take pieces of scripture out of context. Some preach nothing else but the judgment of God while others preach a gospel solely based on grace.

It is important that we preach a balanced gospel; one that teaches the love, mercy and grace of God but at the same time clearly articulates that the grace of God should never be taken for granted. We must teach that salvation cannot be earned, it must be received by faith and it’s never by works. We must let the world know that salvation is available instantly to all those who come to Christ but true liberation only comes through walking with God and obeying His Word. When we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary and His ultimately victory over death three days later, it should makes us preach the truth and the truth only. It takes away from the message of the Cross when we intentionally deviate from the truth of the Word to suit our personal agendas.

The Same Today, Tomorrow and Forever More

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” – 1 Peter 1:24-25

In a world where people say one thing and mean another; where politicians change their statements from day to day forgetting that programs are recorded, one thing continues to remain the same. The Word of God never changes. I have come to learn that the Word is the only thing that can be trusted.

Let’s face it – the Bible is the greatest book ever written. The truth of the Word of God cannot be argued away. God’s Word is truth and is ever faithful. Man will always let us down. People are mostly here today and gone tomorrow. It’s amazing how many will say that they love you when you are up and things are great. As soon as problems come, all the folks that said they had your back start to drop like flies. The minute you become down and out, you are no longer fun to be around. You very quickly realize that people with problems are extremely unattractive!

God on the hand understands how flaky and unstable we can be. Just like the scripture above says, we are like grass that withers; synonymous to flowers that fade. We are not built to last forever. We change our minds to suit the circumstances we find ourselves in. Yet He loves us anyway because His love is unchanging – He remains the same forever. We are lucky to have a God whose mercy and love for us never changes. It’s comforting to know we never fall too far beyond the reach of the grace of God.

Work the Assignment

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at his coming. – 1 John 2:28

Imagine that you worked for a manager that you really respected. Not only do you value his opinion but you want to do all that you can to ensure that you do your work to the best of your ability. This top-notch manager is going away from a while but he promises to come back and gives you an assignment to complete in his absence. The thing is, he does not know when he will return but he hopes that you will be ready when he does. So you work in earnest to do the task that you have been assigned. You work tirelessly and even when obstacles are erected in our path, you find methods to overcome them. You do all these things so that when your manager finally returns, you can stand before him unashamed of the work that you have done.

In the same way, as Christians, Jesus Christ is our CEO. He has left us with the Great Commission as our assignment. What makes our assignment extra complicated is that our hearts and minds must be renewed first. Without our hearts and minds in the right place, our assignment loses his value and becomes impossible to complete. Living the Christian life is not easy. The world is full of compromise and we are often tempted to go against we believe. But it is important that we stick to the walk that we are on; not looking to the right or to the left but turning our full attention to the prize that has been promised to us by God the Father. We must make working on God’s assignment priority in our lives so that when He returns on that day, we can stand before the Lord unashamed.

The Comforter Has Come

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:3-4

Trouble will always be an integral part of human existence. As long as there is life, there will be struggles that we must endure. Christianity does not promise a life shielded from problems but it does give us the guarantee that we will not experience the struggles alone. God will be with us every step of the way. He will be there to hold our hands as we step over obstacles and problems that we come across in our journeys through life.

Even when bring trouble upon ourselves via bad decisions, God does not abandon us alone to slug it out on our own. He gives us comfort as we struggle to endure the consequences of our actions. The law of sowing and reaping is irrefutable. But when we come to God in true repentance and make a commitment to change our actions, we can receive deliverance and comfort. God is always there as a shoulder to lean on in times of discomfort. And when we are comforted we must extend the love of God by being a source of comfort to others.

What Are We Fighting For?

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. – 1 Corinthians 10:10

It’s incredible to see the division that is going in the different church denominations today. One denomination condemns another. Even inter-denomination squabbling is not unheard of. Others believe that they have been called to police the world. They know who’s right and who’s wrong. They believe God is with them and not with others. Some say they are the only true Christian denomination that exists because they are descendants of the Apostle Paul and others believe that they have a certain percentage presence in the Supreme Court while others have absolutely no presence at all. Bickering and fighting constantly and looking ridiculous in the process. It seems these days you don’t need to go to a circus to see a clown!

What is wrong with us? Why can we not practice the gospel that we preach? The Bible is clear about separation and division so why do we behave like we do not know what the Lord requires from us? I am not an expert on denominations but religiosity and denying the actual power of Jesus Christ is what is happening amongst the churches today. We all need to grow up and stop acting like big babies. We must start to begin to focus on the Lord that binds us together and not the man-made shenanigans that tears us apart. How do we think we look to the unbelieving souls we are trying to win into the body of Christ?

Something needs to be done and quickly. I don’t believe that heaven will be split up into different denominations – do you? The gospel of Jesus Christ is more powerful than any of the differences that may exist amongst us.

Our Refuge in Time of Need

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. – Psalm 9:10

I don’t know about you but I have been oppressed at some point in my life. So oppressed that I was unsure of where I would draw my next breathe from. I didn’t believe that I could live to tell the story. I was in a lot of trouble – physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I felt boxed into a corner with no where to turn. The only choice left for me was to look up; to go back to what had always given me peace in the past. The only option left to me was to rededicate my life to Jesus Christ and never look back again.

Trouble and pain is a universal experience. It does not discriminate by age, race, gender or economic status. We all feel it at one point or another in our lives journey but at varying degrees. I have learnt that the only way that God’s glory is manifested is through the adversities of men. My faith was built up because of what I went through and how God delievered me. There was no way I could have made it out on my own. Emotionally and mentally, I was at death’s door. At the very least, a mental and emotional breakdown was imminent. But I ran to God instead for shelter and He sheltered me. Gradually he healed me and is transforming my heart.

I trusted God and I called on His Name. In turn, he answered me and brought me out from the depths of despair. I can tell you with all confidence that God never forsakes those who call on His Name. If you are struggling with life, seek refuge in the Lord. Only God can give you the peace that you so desperately need.

You're a Picture of God's Perfection

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:14

Are you confident? When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see a picture of God’s perfection? Or do you see a flawed creation of the Lord?

God does not make anything that is not perfect. Everything that He created, He stepped back and said “It is good”. God is always good. You are a picture of God’s goodness. God put a lot of hidden talents and abilities in you even though you may not realize that right now. He put a lot in you so that He can accomplish a lot through you. The world would be able to get a picture of an invisible God through you.

Don’t put yourself down and most importantly, don’t spend your time making others feel bad about themselves. The Bible says that you will have what you say. What are you saying about yourself and others? It is time to start accepting yourself and others. We are all a work in progress and as long as we are walking with God, we are moving closer to the person he wants us to be. Acknowledge your imperfections but never make them the sum total of who God created you to be.

God says that you are wonderfully and perfectly made – start to live up to His declaration. God is for you. Who can be against you? Start being the person the Bible says that you are today and not what the world says that you are.

Exalt His Holy Name

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. – Isaiah 50:14-15

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. – Psalm 69:30-31

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised. – Romans 4:20-21

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. – Psalm 118:28

A friend of mine called me some time ago about a very difficult situation they were going through and didn’t know what to do. Listening to him, it sounded like he was in a very tight spot. I confessed that I did not know a lot but I do know that God is stable and that He is steadfast. The word of God is available for all situations – there is absolutely no problem that God cannot solve; nothing is impossible for the Lord.

When we get into trouble, we must separate from people who do not speak the word of God over our situation. If we are persuaded to continue with folks such as these, they have a way of convincing us that God cannot help us and our faith in Him alone is not to our advantage. Pondering upon what they believe and not what God says has a tendency to make our problem appear bigger than it really is. I explained to him that at times like, we must hold on to the Word of God because we know that what God says will come to pass.

We must never compromise on our beliefs and our take on the promises of God for our lives. We must learn to give glory to God even before we see the answers to our prayers. Speaking aloud what we believe to our own hearing helps to build up our faith. I told my dear friend that God will definitely do what He has promised. I am living testimony to that fact. When we are filled with faith in the Lord and are confident to speak the Name of the Lord on every single circumstance we go through, our faith puts God to work in our lives.

Exalt God today; Praise His Holy Name. Have faith enough to thank Him in advance for your breakthrough. Your deliverance is around the corner.

Rest for the Weary

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary. – Isaiah 50:4

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. – Psalm 33:4

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. – Psalm 3:5

With the recent issues with the economy, people are being forced to work longer and harder. People are weary and drained under the strains of life – dwindling investments, family pressures and job losses. I have spoken to a few folks who can see no reason for holding on considering their present struggles.

As believers we are called to strengthen one another. We are to be a source of encouragement to people around us. If we know that it is important to wake up in the morning and spend the famous “golden 30 minutes” with God to get encouragement and guidance to get us through the day, then it is incumbent upon us that we encourage others with the word of God specifically designed to uplift the weary soul. Believe me when I say that there is rest for the weary; I mean it because I have experienced it.

We must continue in doing good regardless of what the economy or the stock market is dictating. God will reward us if we do not quit. If we are in a position where we lose our jobs, God will provide us another one. If we lose our home, God will find us somewhere else to live. Whatever we lose in this realm will be restored to us. But we must never look back – we must continue to press forward and God in his faithfulness will provide the strength that is required for us to do so.

Take time to study the scriptures and get God’s peace for yourself even during these difficult times.

Thanksgiving

O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
I will always praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders, rejoice and be glad in you.
You are my Lord and apart from you I have nothing good.
You have assigned me my portion and my cup;
You have made my life secure.
I will praise the God who counsels me;
Even at night, your voice within my heart instructs me.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
My body will always rest secure in the safety of your wings.
You have shown me the true path to life.
You have filled my heart with joy in your presence.
I love you Lord with all my strength.
You are my rock in whom I take refuge, my fortress and my deliverer.
You are my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
You are the only God worthy of my praise.
Because of you I am forever saved from my enemies.
You reach down from on high and took hold of me;
You confronted me in the day of my disaster.
You are my helper, my support and my only true help in times of need.
You keep the light of my heart burning; you turn my darkness into light.
You are the God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
You make my feet like the feet of a deer; you enable me to stand on the heights.
You train my hands for battle and give me your shield of victory.
Your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn.
You delivered me from the attacks of the people.
You have made me the head of nations.
You are my shepherd and I shall never be want.
You restore my soul and guide me in paths of righteousness.
Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil.
For you are forever by my side; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Goodness and love will always follow me all the days of my life.
Only to you do I lift up my soul; only in you do I trust O Lord.
Show me your ways and teach me your paths; Guide me in truth.
The truth of your love, the truth of your grace, the truth in your word.
All your ways are loving and faithful so my eyes are forever on you my God.
Your face is all I seek; Do not hide your face from me; Have mercy on me.
You have been my only helper and my refuge; only in you do I trust.
I wait for you Lord; I take heart and I stay strong; Oh Lord I wait for you.
I am confident that I will see your goodness in the land of the living.
You turned my wailing into dancing, removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
O Lord, I will forever praise your name and give you thanks forever.

My Secret Hiding Place

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. – Psalm 32:7

Oftentimes I get into trouble and God picks me up, dusts me off and helps me clean up the messes that I create. And there are some times I should have gotten into a lot of trouble but somehow God moves me out of the way just in the nick of time. The amazing thing is that every time I get one of those “great escapes”, I feel the hand of the Lord guiding me out of the way. I am quick to acknowledge God’s presence as soon as I feel it and thank him immensely for keeping an eye out for me.

God is my hiding place. He protects me daily from trouble and surrounds me with his mighty power. Even when calamity strikes around me, it all works together for his glory and my blessing. God always makes a way of escape for me even when I didn’t deserve it. I am grateful to have a God like my God. I am forever grateful for his Son, Jesus Christ, for giving up his life so that His Precious Blood could eradicate my sin from the sight of God, the Father – a feat I could never have achieved on my own. I am grateful that He died on the Cross and that He rose again after three days so that I can have eternal life.

I thank God for being my secret hiding place.

Nothing is Impossible for God

Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh, my lord,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. – 2 Kings 6: 3-7

God is a God of recovery. Everything that we have lost while trying to walk the Christian walk the best we can will be restored to use in multiple fold. This man lost his axhead in the Jordan. He was working and actively engaged in the God’s work. He was participating in ministry when he lost his implement. To make matters worse, the implement was borrowed. He most likely begged the owner for it. He probably didn’t have enough money to buy his own axhead. And if he loses the one he borrowed for good, he has no money to reimburse the owner. What would he tell the owner? God knew his plight and he used the Prophet Elisha to recover the axhead. On normal circumstances an axhead will never float but God is a God of the impossible.

Sometimes we go through loss even when we are really trying to do the right thing. We walk by faith, do our best to tread on the straight and narrow and still we experience painful disappointments. But God has the power to restore all our losses. He sees all we go through and is concerned by all our troubles and disappointments. But we have a few responsibilities of our own when we experience loss. First we must be engaged in the work of the Lord and walking in his purpose for our lives. Secondly we must call on God as our first point of call. It serves no purpose to go round to all our friends and neighbors before we remember that we have an awesome God that we can call on. The sad thing is most times people can’t or won’t come to our rescue. One thing folks are good at is excuses. Only God will always be there without fail. When we live our lives in line with the Word of God, it is easier to call on him for help when trouble arises. He is always there for us when we need him - especially when we are engaged in his work.

There's No Other Way

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. – 1 John4:1-3

There are so many gods running around the place in the world today, it’s actually very comical. There are those who worship creation rather than the creator. And there are those who worship built statues, bowing down repeatedly before inanimate objects. Ignorance has allowed the world to be misled into thinking there are multiple ways to heaven; the sad reality is that there is only one way to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ.

Simply put, you cannot get into heaven without Jesus Christ. Being a “good person” just isn’t good enough. You must believe and have total faith in the work of Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary. Do not be deceived by false gods and prophets; they cannot help you with all their speculations and theories. You only hope for eternal life rests solely in Jesus Christ and Him alone. The Bible is clear when it says that without the shedding of the Blood, there is no forgiveness of sin.

Alien in a Foreign Land

After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become an alien in a foreign land”; - Exodus 18:1-3

The common thread that travels through us all is suffering. Pain is no respecter of race, sex or financial status. Turmoil and need is in no way prejudiced. We must all go through it at some point in our life’s journey. Regardless of how big or small the troubles that we face are - it is crucial that we do not own our troubles. Being in financial trouble at this very moment does mean a life destined with financial trouble. Going through a divorce does not make you a picture or poster for divorce; it’s simply a part of your story. If you are sick today, it is important to solidify your mind and tell the sickness you are battling that your body is simply a temporary residence and that it will not be staying. Through all life’s ordeals, remember - you are simply passing through. Whatever circumstance you are facing right now is temporary and for a short while only, you will not be facing it forever. The fact that we are going through a tough period does not define the entire totality of our lives.

Life takes us through many seasons – some great and some bad. We get palms days and we get willow days. Some days will certainly be better than others but it is important that we don’t make our bad days the total picture of our life experience. Every time we encounter sickness and health issues, financial trouble, spiritual attacks or job losses, we must solidify our minds and understand that we are in a temporary state. We are aliens in the land of sickness and health issues, financial trouble, spiritual attacks and job losses and we will not be staying long.

An Empty Life without God

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:9-14

The Christian life does not promise a life without trouble but it is a great privilege to have God by your side as you take your journey. With God at our side, we find it possible to make it through the most strenuous circumstances. When we are too tired to go on, the Lord lifts us up and carries us through. I cannot imagine what my life will be like without the love of God. His hand upon my life cannot be ignored or minimized. I have been through some situations where I didn’t believe I would survive. Truth be told, I was abandoned to die but God raised me up because He had something important for me to do.

Being blessed by the knowledge and believe in Jesus Christ makes me wonder how anyone can go through life without the love of God. Without God, life is bound to be an empty and pointless struggle. The benefits of being a child of the kingdom of God cannot be measured. Scripture tells us the following about a life with Jesus:

1) We have been brought out from a world of darkness into God’s marvelous light.
2) Through the sacrifice of His Only Son, Jesus Christ, we have been received forgiveness of sin and redemption.
3) Being in Christ gives us spiritual wisdom and understanding.
4) His Holy Spirit helps us to live a life worthy and pleasing to him.
5) We will bear good fruit in everything that we do to the glory of His Name.
6) Even when we are struggling and feel weak, we are strengthened by his glorious power as we develop needed endurance and patience.
7) We have been qualified by God to participate and share in inheritance promised to all believers.
8) We may not be happy all of the time but we have joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Spiritual Compass

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. – Psalm 119:9-16

It is important to have a measuring standard for all our actions. In order to be successful at this journey called life, there must be a Spiritual Compass that guides our lives and gives us daily directions. That Spiritual Compass for me is God and His Word. I do my best to think before I act. I still fall off the wagon from time to time but by and large, God is doing a great work in my life. Here are some questions we can all ask ourselves as we take the walk of life:

1) If I take this route, will it glorify God or will it bring shame to my witness?
2) Can I ask for strength in the name of the God that I claim to love and follow to execute my decision?
3) Looking at the Lord and how He lived his life on earth, what would he do if he was placed in the exact same situation? What will the Lord say to me if He were right here?
4) Is my decision for the greater good of the kingdom of God or is it for my own selfish reasons?
5) When all is said and done, can I thank God and give Him all the glory for the choice that I have made?

A True Disciple

A lot of people say that they are Christians. Some believe that they are because their father and grand-father were Christians – as if Christianity was some tradition that can be passed down from generation to generation. Others were baptized at some point during their childhood and think that the action of baptism initiates them into the Christian religion and assure them a swift passage to heaven. Then there are those that know for sure that they are because they have a personal relationship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ. To be a true disciple, the following must be true:

1) You must be saved – meaning your must accept the work of Jesus Christ at the Cross as a finality to the state of sin. You must be born again; born of the Spirit.
2) You must accept that your good works will not get you to heaven – only accepting, believing and having total faith in Christ will get you there.
3) You must be a follower of His ways and His Word. Being a follower of Christ will cost you something and you must be willing to pray the price – whatever that may be.
4) You must be committed to developing a relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ.
5) You must be ready to surrender your life completely to Jesus Christ. As a believer, you must accept and understand that everything that you are – all your gifts, talents, assets and liabilities belong to the Lord.
6) Once you come to the Lord, you cannot afford to look back.
7) As a true disciple you must be engaged in the work of the Lord. You must be involved in the Great Commission – winning souls for Christ.
8) You must be prepared to die to your old/former way of living as you have become a new creature in Jesus Christ.

Rest in Him

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. – Genesis 2:2a

I am always running around. I have a tight schedule and I tend to stick to it in a rather obsessive way. I tend to be busy all the time. There is never a spot, apart from when I am sleeping, that I have nothing to do. I used to think that ‘Idleness is the devil’s workshop”. Rest to me, was for folks who were not focused nor had nothing to do. How can you have time to lounge around if you are goal oriented? Every waking moment to me meant productivity. I never stop until my body literally shuts down. I keep going because I always have some task to finish; another important project to start.

But I have since learnt that going and going has a very real effect on one’s health. Most importantly it reduces our quality time with God. When we make work our god or an idol, we have no time to stop to commune with God. Every one that wants to be on fire for God needs to spend a significant amount of time daily in prayer and in the Word.

If you are running around like a chicken with its head chopped off, slow down. Take time to get important direction from God. The Bible tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto us. When we fail to take the rest we need, life can become a struggle. The Bible tells us that God rested on the seventh day – let’s take time to stop and reflect.

A God We Can Trust

O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever. – 2 Samuel 7:28-29

Lately a few people in the spotlight lost their lives unexpectedly. I don’t know about you but the unfortunate events got me thinking. Our lives are very fragile and our entire time on earth is simply a dash between two dates. In an era where trust is in short supply, we all have someone or something that we place our trust in. Some trust in the wealth that they have been able to accumulate and others place their trust in earthly relationships. But as believers, we are to trust completely in the Lord Our God. We are to believe in God’s promises for our lives and never doubt.

One of the most difficult things I encountered as a new believer is holding on to those things I claimed to believe when things go wrong. The minute I encounter a road block I find myself sailing along the sea of doubt and despair. Now as a stronger believer, as soon as I feel overwhelmed, I run quickly to the throne of God’s grace and I am renewed. God’s promises are true and they will always come to pass but this does not mean that our lives will be without struggle. All in all, we serve a living God; a God we can certainly trust. People will let us down and all the wealth we accumulate can disappear in a New York minute. The only true thing that stays the same and never changes is God and His love for us.

Totally Forgiven

“Come now; let us reason together,” says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient; you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. – Isaiah 1:18-20

Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary to take away the state of sin once and for all. The practice of sin however still exists amongst us all – believers included. My personal experience with sinful practices is that the more you study and work towards liberation, the more sin becomes unappealing. At best if you insist on indulging in it, you never get the same satisfaction that you once did.

It is important that when we come to Christ and receive instantaneous salvation, we spend time with God in order to attain liberation. We must be willing to get close to God and we must be obedient to his Word. It is impossible to be saved and live in perpetual sin. When we continually hear and read the Word of God, it changes who we are on the inside. Staying in the presence of God helps us develop spiritually and the presence of the accompanying Holy Spirit enables us to be willing and obedient to God.

The consequences for rejecting the offer God has for you are simple – the end will not be attractive. Society as a whole has taken a decision to exclude God completely. The ramifications of that decision are clear in our schools and communities today. No matter how many programs and self-help books we put out there, we would be ignorant not to realize that the issues we are dealing with, we cannot fix on our own. God sacrificed his Only Son, Jesus Christ for us all. We are forgiven; all we need to do is accept the gift of salvation and turn from our sinful ways.

All Good Things Comes From God

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17

All that we have is from Almighty God. Apart from him we can do nothing and without him, we can be nothing. Everything we have has been provided by Almighty God. It is important that we never forget that important fact. Unlike man, God is stable and his love for us is unwavering. If our parents love us and give us gifts all the time to express their love. God, also in a similar manner wants to give us good gifts.

God wants only the best for his children. Even when we have to deal with difficult times in our lives, God works it out all together for our own good. We may feel down when we are going through a tough time but when we come out of it and God gives us double for our trouble, it is easy to look back with no regrets.

The Lifter of Our Heads

But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. – Psalm 3:3

When you in a difficult fight you need a shield. God was David’s shield in the fight against Goliath. He protected him from harm and gave him victory. Just like David, we are in a fight and most of the fights we deal with today are more spiritual than physical. Society is obviously in moral, ethical and spiritual decay. Depression is on the rise. Schizophrenia is real because I have seen it in people who were once healthy and functioning members of society. The line between sanity and insanity is indeed very thin.

When life hits hard, we all need a savior. I have heard people who have neither acknowledged God nor have developed a relationship with Him; call his name when they get in trouble. But God is merciful and He will answer us when we call on him in spirit and in truth. Even when the world around us is cloudy and chaos abounds, God is the lifter up of our heads. He gives us hope to carry on.

If you are in a desperate situation today and need encouragement, call on the Lord today and He will surely lift up your head.