Put Your Trust in the Lord Our God

For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. – Psalm 112:7-8

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him. – Psalm 34:8

An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. – Proverbs 28:25

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you Trust you in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: - Isaiah 26:3-4

We all have to trust in something. Some place their trust in the wealth they have acquired. Others place their trust in people. But as we can clearly see with the current state of the global economy, trusting in wealth is not very wise because all that we have stored away can be worthless at any time. We have seen stock plummet to ridiculously low levels. I know a man who has lost over $198,000 in his retirement money and he is 67 years old. Another lost over $700,000 to the greed of another and has to take up a mediocre job at a supermarket at 77 years of age. I know a woman who trusted her spouse to continue to make his six-figure salary and placed all her hopes and dreams on this man only to find out by the ring of the front doorbell that the men had shot seven people at the office and turned the gun oh himself when he got the news that he was being laid off.

People and wealth will never be stable. All they can provide is a shaky foundation at best. The only true foundation is God and His Holy Word. It is only when we place our trust in the Lord and only Him that we can stand secured. Our God is a very jealous God and He does not like to see anything or anyone placed above Him. He was to be priority number one in our lives. He wants to be the first person we go to everyday concerning our lives.

Obedience

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. – Job 36:11

Now therefore listen, O Israel, to the statutes and to the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers gives you. – Deuteronomy 4:1

You'll be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I'm giving you today. – Deuteronomy 11:27

If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God: But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. – 1 Samuel 12:14-15

Only the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God Then shall you prosper, if you take heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. – 1 Chronicles 22:12-13

Obedience is indeed better than sacrifice. There is an African saying which dictates that what an old man can see sitting down, a child can never see whilst standing on a ladder. All the commandments that God has given us in His Word are not designed to prevent us from having a good time but rather are to help us live fruitful lives. God created the heavens and the earth. He sees things that we can never see. He sees the end from the beginning. I don’t know about you but I will definitely walk in obedience to a God who can see all the curve balls ahead that I cannot even begin to fathom.

Obedience is for our own good. The sacrifice that we will pay if we are disobedient is far too costly. We never get away with anything. Anytime we choose to go against God’s instructions for living, we must pay a stiff price. But when we obey, we get to have peace, joy and prosperity in our lives. So how do we learn to obey? We can never obey in the flesh and in our own strength. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to assist us, strengthen us and guide us. It is with God’s divine assistance that we can follow His instructions.

We must all spend time in prayer asking God to help us be obedient to His Word. We can never achieve obedience on our own. The Bible reminds us in John 15:10 that if we keep God’s commandments, we will abide in His love.

Hope in the Lord

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the LORD. – Psalm 31:24

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. – Psalm 42:11

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. – 1 Peter 1:20-21

You have been trying for years to get ahead and make progress in your life but crushing circumstances keep arising – one after the other. You wonder if you will ever catch a break; you wonder if you’d ever win. You’ve haven’t been silent. You have been praying. You have been paying your tithes and offerings. You have been going to church and serving diligently in ministry. You are now beginning to lose hope. Maybe this is all there is to your life. You have decided to give up and stop pressing forward. Your heart and your spirit is weak and you are exhausted. Your faith and your belief is dwindling and hanging by a thread. Where is God in all of this you ask? How can God let them take my car and my house? Why did God allow the loss of my job?

The current economic times has brought pain and despair to many a Christian but as believers we must understand that faith does not make us immune to the troubles of this world. The Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Christianity has never been proclaimed as a golden parachute that gets us out of troubled times. But we are told in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 that we have the power of the greatness of God at work within us such that even when we are afflicted in every possible way, we are not crushed, we may be persecuted but will never be destroyed. The Bible goes on to tell us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that God’s grace is sufficient for us for His power is perfected in our weakness. Trouble and trials make us weak at heart but it builds up our spiritual strength.

So when we suffer in this world while doing well, we must never lose hope. We must be of good courage and God will strengthen our hearts. We must remember that no trouble, no trial, no circumstance can be greater than our God. The joy of the Lord is indeed our greatest strength.

What Really Matters?

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. – Romans 14:17

We are all guilty of placing a lot of emphasis on inconsequential stuff. We worry about what others will think and what they may say. We toil from dawn to dusk to get more money to satisfy our need for excess material possessions. We try all that we can to elevate our class in a man-made society and according to man-made social structures. We focus all our efforts on external things, forgetting that God is ultimately only interested in the state of our hearts. On the Day of Judgment, no-one will ask how much you made or what your status was in society. The only question that will matter is what we did with the Father’s Son, Jesus Christ. How we treat others and our actions clearly dictate the condition of our hearts. So when we spend time in prayer praying for God to bless us in terms of riches, we must remember that our motives that lay buried deep in our hearts is all that God is looking at. He is more concerned about the spiritual condition of our hearts than giving us more “things” than we need.

All the things that money can buy will never bring the blessings that really count – righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. These true blessings only come when we are not focused on external things but on God the Father.

I Live Because He Lives In Me

Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. – John 14:19

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10

The life I have now I cannot take any credit for. The only reason that I am alive is because Christ lives in me. He who knew no sin took my sin upon Himself and died on the Cross, was buried and arose again so that I can have the kind of life that He designed for me. He gave up himself just for me. That makes me feel very special and keen to do all that I can to promote His message – the message of love, forgiveness and acceptance. If God could take me as I was, His arms are open wide to anyone who decides to come. God is a God of mercy. He desires lives for us that are so beyond anything we can even begin to think or imagine. God’s plan for us is to walk in His light, His power, His peace, His joy and His love.

The enemy of our souls, Satan, prowls around looking for who He can devour and destroy. His main agenda is to rob us of our joy and our peace by keeping us preoccupied with all the things that have no place in eternity whilst we ignore our heavenly inheritance. He has us chasing shadows and we are weary and exhausted from running after the things of this world. It was just a few years ago that I came to realize that the life that I was living could never be what God intended for me. As I studied more, it became clear that I was exhausting trying to do and change things that only the Lord can. What great peace I found when I decided to let go and let God. I am finally beginning to move into the life that God intended for me to live. I can say that this only became possible when I placed my total reliance on Him and His Word; when I decided that my way was not working and that I needed the life of Jesus Christ within me to have the kind of life that I wanted.

Immanuel – God with Us

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14

When we give our lives to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us. We are no longer alone and left to our own devises but we have a new confidante, a counselor; a guide and a helper. If we are in tune with the Spirit inside of us, we can enjoy sweet continuous communion with the Father and with the Son. If we are still enough for a considerable length of time, we can hear all the things He longs to share with us. God is indeed with us His children. We are never alone anywhere and at anytime. The Psalmist David said in Psalm 139:8 that “If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there”.

God is with us everywhere we go. When we choose to follow His ways and do the right thins, He is there. When we decide to go astray and do our won thing, He is also there. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary, we have direct access to the throne of God. God now works in us and through us. We are now with the Spirit, the Father and the Son. God is never far away from His beloved children. He is always readily available to us even when we cannot feel His presence. God is always there. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is omnipresent which means He is everywhere at the same time. He dwells in us and with us to make us complete because without Him, life will have little or no meaning.

Grace to Persevere

Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: - Philippians 1:6

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. – Galatians 6:9

And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. – Matthew 10:22

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. – Romans 5:1-5

It is so easy to give up when difficult circumstances plague our lives. Things happen that make us doubt ourselves and the things that God has spoken concerning our lives. Calamity strikes and we try desperately to find meaning in all that we are experiencing. We try to find the presence of God in the midst of it all but it appears that the Lord is silent. Even friends and family wonder why we chose to persevere; they don’t know why we will not simply take the law into our own hands. They tell us that “The Lord helps those who help themselves”. Yet something deep down in the recesses of our mind tells us to hold on; a voice that reminds us that help is on the way.

The Bible tells us never to be weary whilst doing the right thing as we will reap the reward in due time if we do not give up. Giving up is so easy because it is the natural thing to do. Many view obstacles as permanent road blocks and do not make the effort to push through them. How can we have appreciation for our achievements if there were no obstacles to overcome? It is only when we suffer for a while that we can learn the real meaningful lessons in life. There are some lessons that can only be learnt in times of misery. In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, the Bible reminds us that there is a time and a season to every purpose under heaven. In life, there will be a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time for sorrow and a time for dancing. Because of the different seasons that we must go through in life, we must develop the ability to persevere - understanding that even when times are tough we have not been forgotten; remembering that delay does not necessarily mean denial. The ability to persevere strengthens one’s resolve and builds character.

Pray to God for His grace to persevere – to stand strong even in the midst of adversity; to trust in His promise that there will be better days ahead.

He Orders My Steps

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. – Psalm 37:23

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do to them, and not forsake them. – Isaiah 42:16

A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps. – Proverbs 16:9

We are always looking for direction in our lives. Often times we arrive at crossroads and we are unsure of what path to tread. The world we live in now is full of choices. Being a believer certainly helps us narrow the good and right choices somewhat based on scripture, still there are specific decisions that must be made. This is where prayer comes into play. When we fail to pray, we are left guessing about which way the Lord will have us go. Prayer is important when we are faced with directional and life changing decisions. It is when we make the time to be still in the presence of God that He speaks to our hearts.

It is so very easy to get lost in this world. Many are busy running around but they are getting none of the important things done. Many fathers are so busy trying to make a living or enjoy adventures of their own that they fail to connect with their spouses and children. Even women today are getting preoccupied with climbing the corporate ladder at the expense of their homes. The secret to being on the right path and headed in the right direction lies with God. If you are feeling lost and overwhelmed by life’s troubles, get in the presence of God and be still. He will tell you which way you ought to go as He gently gives you wisdom on how to navigate life’s rough terrain.

You Are Forgiven So Forgive Others

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. – Isaiah 43:25

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. – Hebrews 10:17

When we come to Christ, we come to Him often broken and bruised. We are bogged down by things that have happened in our lives in the past. We may have been hurt by others or have been a source of pain to others. As we go through life, difficult circumstances change who we are and our perception on things. If we are not careful, we begin to view the world through the lens of our experiences. The problem with this is that, our lenses may be blurred.

Forgiveness is a gift that we have through the Blood of Jesus Christ. One of the core fundamental principles of Christianity is forgiveness. Because we have been totally forgiven, we must also forgive others who trespass against us. Understanding that people always do people “stuff” makes it easier to let go of past hurts. No-one can behave better than they know. If we know better, we do better. God understands this perfectly when He sent His Only Son to die on the Cross for man. He knew we can never attain the righteousness we need on our own. In the same way, we must understand that people will wrong us from time to time. That is why it is so important to have a place in our heart reserved exclusively for God that no man can touch. When someone hurts our feelings, we can go to this special place and react to them from there.

Past hurts and pains, if not dealt with, can severely taint our futures. It is possible allow our pasts to seep in and pollute our futures. It is up to us to partner with the Lord and make sure this does not happen. Remembering the sacrifice of Christ makes it easier to extend forgiveness to others even when we feel that they don’t deserve it. We forgive for ourselves and not our offenders. Forgiveness cleanses us and relieves us of un-necessary burdens so we can enjoy the abundant life that Christ promised us.

He’s Got Your Back

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. – Psalm 27:14

God is our refuge and strength, and 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 the surging. Selah. – Psalm 46:1-3

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. – Psalm 55:22

When trouble comes, we are sometimes tempted to take the law into our own hands. We start to run around; trying everything we can to fix things in our own strength. Sometimes, we end up in with a bigger mess than we actually started with. Or we get a solution that cannot stand the test of time.

God is available to all those who believe. He does not want us to worry and fuss when trouble arises. He wants us to bring all our issues to Him in prayer and leave them at the altar, trusting that He will work things out for us in ways that are best for us. When we are blood-washed believers, we must look up to the Lord in the times of trouble. God must be who we consult first – before we talk to our friends and our family, we must pray about the circumstances that face us. I find that praying anytime trouble arises gives me great peace and keeps me calm – regardless of what the issue is. I am reminded during prayer to compare the size of my “little” problem to the size of my great God.

If life is getting you down today, go to the Lord in prayer. He is the Only One who can bring true lasting solutions to your problems.

Peace Is Mine

I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land. – Leviticus 26:6

The LORD will give strength to his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. – Psalm 29:11

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves. – Psalm 127:2

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. – Proverbs 3:24

The world we live in is at war. People are killing one another over things that have no place in eternity. Greed and dishonesty reigns supreme amongst us and we fight and fuss at one another over inconsequential stuff. God has promised peace to those who are His. Peace is a gift from God – it cannot be sold or bought. Money will not bring peace; power will not bring peace. Real inner peace comes when ones has a relationship with God. His wonderful peace allows us to hold our head up high and give thanks to His Holy Name even when the world is crumbling around us. His peace is what allows us to say “It is well” when by all hell is breaking loose. God’s peace keeps us focused on the heavenly realm and the inheritance that awaits us rather than the toxicity of the world we live in.

Got peace?

God's Blessings Are All Yours

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. – Psalm 84:11

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. – Psalm 23:1

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” – Psalm 23:6

I once heard the story of a young man who was given up for adoption and had grown up to be a resentful and rebellious adult. His adoptive family was not much to write home about. His father was in prison for armed robbery. His mother hung around alleys and corners at night selling her body for money. His younger sister though was in high school, was dabbling in drugs. He believed that the life he had was all he could have. They say “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. “How can I be any better than the man who fathered me? I’ll probably end up in prison or dead very soon.” Unknown to him, he was adopted and his real mother was out looking for him. She came from a very wealthy and prestigious home and could not afford to keep him due to the stigma associated with having a child outside wedlock. Even though she willfully gave her son up for adoption, she thought about him everyday and vowed to find him. When mother and son eventually met, he could not believe that he came from that kind of background. She was completely different from anyone or anything he had ever known – even the way she spoke. She took him in and cleaned him up and gradually he adjusted his thinking to match his real family. He came to understand his pedigree and his inheritance and was able to abandon the destructive lifestyle he once led.

Many of us are like this young man. We fail to realize the inheritance we have in Christ Jesus. We do not know who we are or whose we are so we live and lead destructive lives. We have no comprehension of the promises that God has for those who love Him and belong to His family. We do not know that every good thing belongs to us by birthright. We live in ignorance like the prodigal son wandering around in wildernesses we were never meant to be in. As born-again, blood-washed believers, we belong to the family of Almighty God. By virtue of our inheritance, we are called to be the head and not the tail. We are destined to be over comers and not to overcome by the things of this world.

A New Day

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. – Isaiah 61:10

Then will I sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them. – Ezekiel 36:25-27

When we come to Christ we all come with a great deal of baggage. We have all sinned and fallen short of his glory and not a single one of us can claim perfection. But because of Our Lord Jesus Christ who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for all of our iniquities, we have been washed clean by His blood. The blood of the Lamb has washed us clean from all sins – past, present and future.

A new day has dawned and we are undergoing a change in our lives. Physically, we will look the same but internally we are being transformed and renewed. Sin will no longer have power over us. We will have the strength by the Holy Spirit to say no to what is wrong and distasteful in the sight of God. All the errors that we used to so easily commit will no longer be of any benefit. If we try to do the same old thing, we will never derive the same satisfaction that we once did because God is now at work in our lives in an effort to bring us to where He wants us to be. We start to feel more inclined to do God’s will and comprehend His purpose for our lives.

Real Strength Comes From The Lord

Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength; And he maketh my feet like hinds feet, And will make me to walk upon my high places. – Habakkuk 3:19

The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. – Psalm 118:14

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

I don’t know about you but I can hardly face life without the Lord. A life without God is an empty and meaningless one. We were not created to exist in isolation. There is a void in the heart of every man that only God can fill. That void was put there at the time of creation to help us identify our desperate need for a Savior. No-one can live a successful existence in this realm in their own strength. The only way to live a truly productive life is through Jesus Christ. Many have tried to go it alone only to find out later down the road that what they were attempting to do was pointless. Many give their lives to God on their death beds. Even though they are now assured eternity in paradise with God they have nevertheless wasted their entire existence chasing shadows.

Strength in the Lord is not just physical; it is more spiritual. It is strength on the inside that overflows and shows on the outside. The joy of the Lord is indeed my strength. My day-to-day life would be impossible without God. He gives me the strength to keep on going. He gives me the hope and the focus to keep the main thing the main thing. Because of my relationship with God, I never lose focus on what is important and what the goal is. Even when I occasionally feel weary, praying and communing with the Father restores my strength instantaneously. It is profitable to exercise and keep our bodies in good physical shape. It is more important to study the Word of God and get our spiritual life in good shape because that is where the real strength comes from.

The Lord Hears You

As for me, I will call on God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. – Psalm 55:16-17

And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. – John 14:13-14

Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the middle of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; - Isaiah 58:9

The times we face today are difficult times. The global recession is weighing people down. Some are going to extremes as they see no way out by committing murder-suicides. Men, who mainly derive their sense of identity as a provider lose their jobs and don’t know what to do next. I pray that taking this kind of drastic action as a solution to your problems will not be your portion. Regardless of whatever hardship – financial, emotional or physical, that we are experiencing, we must never forget that we have a God who can get us out of any difficult situation. Our rescue may not be overnight but we will be rescued. When we cry unto God for help, He hears us and will save us. The economic structures of this world have no lasting hold on a blood-washed believer. Every trial that we go through has a reason. It is crucial then that we take the focus off ourselves and our situations and turn our attention to God. The more difficult things get, the more focused we ought to be on the Lord; feeding on His Word and His promises and believing that “this too shall pass”.

The Bible tells us that no weapon formed or fashioned against us shall prosper. We must understand that the Word does not say that the weapon will not be formed; it says that will not prosper. So as the fiery darts of these perilous times fly at us, we must remember that we will overcome. Nothing lasts forever; these tough times are only for a season. God promises us that whatever we ask in His name (with the right motives), He will do for us.

His Grace Is Sufficient For Me

Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8

In the last few years I have come to realize that I don’t need much in the way of material possessions to keep me content. The most important thing in the world to me is my relationship with God and the state of my heart. I know that once I keep God first place in my life, all other things will be added unto me. With God taking center-stage in my heart, I will never lack for the things that I need. When things go wrong for me and my reaction to the situation are worry and anxiety, I can see very quickly that I have failed to place God in his rightful place in that specific situation. The moment I put Christ at the throne of my circumstance and my body on the cross, I get perspective and all my agitation disappears. I am able to accept the things that I cannot change and turn my attention to the ones that I can with God by my side.

God’s grace has always been my source of strength and hope. His grace is never far and is sufficient to supply all that I need. So in every situation that I encounter, I remind myself of how great my God is in comparison to the size of my problem. No issue can ever supersede the power and magnitude of God.

Healed and Delivered

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. – Psalm 107:20

'For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'Because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her."' – Jeremiah 30:17

"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the tree, so that we might die to those sins and live righteously. "By his wounds you have been healed." – 1 Peter 2:24

There was a time in my life when everything that could go wrong actually went wrong. I was sick physically, emotionally and mentally. I felt as if I was trapped and there was no way out. I was breathing – yes, I was alive biologically but what I had was no life at all. I struggled to make sense of my life and what was happening to me. When I finally came to the realization that I could not fix myself and I need the hand of God upon my life, things began to change for the better. I renewed my commitment to Jesus Christ and He gradually brought me back from the depths of despair. Today I am confident in who I am and whose I am. I understand the vision God has for my life and I am pursuing my purpose with vigor. Fear and doubt that used to plague me and keep me tied up in dysfunctional associations and excruciating bondage are now a thing of the past. God kept His promise to heal and deliver me. He carefully restored me and brought me back to spiritual, physical and emotional health. He renewed my faith in what I once passionately believed and mended my broken heart. By the stripes of His Precious Son, Jesus Christ, I am healed.

Plead the Blood of Jesus

God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom he loves, through whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:13-14

Through the Son, God also reconciled all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, thereby making peace through the blood of his cross. – Colossians 1:20

There is indeed power in the blood of Jesus. Pleading the blood of Christ over our situation can make a wealth of difference. It can take us from a place of helplessness to a place of victory. When we cover our lives with the blood of Jesus, we get the maximum protection of the Lord. When we fail to plead the blood of Jesus over our lives through prayer, we open ourselves up to all sorts of attacks from the enemy.

There are three main reasons why we must plead the blood of Jesus Christ over our lives and the lives of our loved ones:

1)Deliverance: We have the gift of being able to use the blood of Jesus to counter any attack that comes into our lives. We can plead the blood over any physical, mental or emotional illness. Any work of the evil one in our lives can be overcome through the blood of Jesus. The blood can deliver us from fear and the bondage associated with it. We are already assured this deliverance through the defeat of Satan by the physical death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. Every blood-washed believer has the ability to lay hold of this power and use it break free from the clutches of the enemy.

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. – Hebrews 2:14

Look! I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to destroy all the enemy's power, and nothing will ever hurt you. – Luke 10:19

2) Forgiveness: The power that exists within the blood of Jesus Christ includes the power of forgiveness. The act of forgiveness is central to the life of any believer. Understanding that God sent His Only Son to die on a wooden cross to give us the gift of total forgiveness of sins – past, present and future gives us the ability to forgive others who trespass against us. Without the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the Cross of Calvary, forgiveness of sins will be impossible. Because of the blood, we are completely and totally forgiven.

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. – Matthew 26:28

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. – Ephesians 1:7

3) Protection: With regards to protection, pleading the blood of Jesus is a pro-active act of prayer rather than reactive. When we plead the blood over all that we care about and cherish before calamity hits us, we are protected. Jesus Christ is referred to in the New Testament as the Lamb of God. This is significant as it indicates that Christ has come to be a substitute to the Old Testament ritual of the shedding of the blood of animals to get temporary covering of sins so that the people may approach the throne of God and enter into a covenant relationship with Him. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the New Testament meant that there will no longer be a need to sacrifice animals for sin atonement. The blood of Jesus represents a permanent covering and atonement for sins.

Victory in the Lord

Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries – Psalm 60:12

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." – Joshua 1:9

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. – Psalm 138:7

Every believer in the work of Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary is assured victory. We can experience this special victory in our lives not because of what we have done or are doing but solely on what Christ has done for us. Understanding and embracing this spirit of victory can be difficult even after we come to Christ because it requires faith. When we persist in looking at the state of things around us, relishing and thriving in this assured victory can be hard to do. The Bible calls us to have faith in things that we are yet to see and experience as though they were already here. It is only through faith that real and true victorious living can be a reality in our lives.

Faith and fear cannot co-exist at the same time. When faith rises up inside of us and takes the wheel in our lives, fear must remain in the back seat. This is not to say that we will never have brief moments when we experience fear but it never lasts for long. Faith is what gives us hope and reminds us that God is definitely at work in our circumstances. Faith assures us that victory is already ours and we only need to claim it. Faith gives us the ability to focus on what God has said about us in His Word rather on the external physical circumstances that we are seeing and experiencing. Faith allows us to be still and rest in the comfort that even though the things we see are not what we desire, Almighty God is always at work.

Help Is On the Way

I took you from the ends of the earth; from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who opposed you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. Those who wage war against you will be nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. – Isaiah 41:9-14

Sometimes we forget how far we have come. We forget where the Lord has brought us from. As believers we must understand that we are a chosen generation. Before we came to the Lord, He first chose us. God is always the initiator and we are the responders. Even when we do wrong, God never rejects us. The minute we truthfully repent, God welcomes us back with open arms. God reminds us to never fear because He will never leave us nor forsake us. I don’t know about you but knowing this makes me feel great and gives me confidence to take life on.

When we understand who we are in God, we understand that it is pointless to waste time on our critics. We learn that we don’t need to spend our life convincing others that we are nice people especially when they are not so nice themselves. We know that there is nothing to gain from fussing and fighting. We live in the comfort of knowing that God will fight for us. Regardless of what we go through, we can see light at the end of the tunnel. We know that we have God in our corner. Fear is rapidly replaced by faith and we can keep on keeping on because we have the Lord on our side.

Listen to the Voice of the Lord

But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” – Ezekiel 2:8

God speaks to all His children all the time; the question is whether we are listening. It is important that we heed the voice of the Lord. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us to guide us with a still small voice toward the path we ought to tread. When we are quiet and still in the presence of the Lord, we can hear what He needs to say to us. Understanding prayer means that we know that it is just as important to be quiet and listen as it is to speak and state our thanksgiving and requests.

Listening to the Lord is what makes a difference between making progress in life and going round and round the mulberry bush; revolving around the same mountain for eternity. God will sometimes have us in a holding pattern or making circles but it is never for ever. It is only when we fail to learn the right lessons that we are left to repeat the same classes over and over again. God wants us to make advances in our lives. He has plans for us and He longs to get us where we need to be. There is however a catch. We must be sensitive to the Spirit of God and be prepared to feed continuously on the Bread of Life.

The Gift of Humility

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. – Matthew 23:11-12

It is a real gift to be successful without being condescending. It takes a special kind of maturity to have achieved a lot in life without looking down at people who are still struggling to find their way. God gives the gift of humility and as such not everyone can be humble. It is however a gift from God that we all desperately need. If we refuse to be humbled, God might be forced to humble us. The scripture says that those that are humble in spirit shall be promoted and those that are proud and arrogant shall be abased.

Humility is a treasure that we all must strive to attain. It is the spirit that allows you to admit when you are wrong and take steps to make amends. It is what stops you from wallowing in the errors of your past. It gives you the opportunity to move into the future filled with the hope and faith that with God you can get it right. It allows you to put your pride aside and see what God requires as opposed to what your ego longs to achieve.

No-one achieves greatness through fame and fortune but rather through service to mankind. No-one can achieve a life dedicated to service without truly embracing humility. As Jesus Christ put it, to be great, we first need to be least. To be a true leader, we must humble ourselves and be prepared to serve.

Love: The Greatest Commandment of All

“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” ‘”The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as your self.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31

We all know the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament (Exodus 20). God’s Word is clear as to what He expects from His children. But of all the commandments, the most important is given to us in Mark 12:30-31. We are called to love God with our entire being and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. If only we could obey these instructions fully, life on earth would be so much better. Most of the issues faced globally today are as a direct result of lack of love for God and for one another.

We bicker and we fight one another. We embezzle money the minute we find ourselves in public positions. Rather than use our appointment to do good in society, we use the resources to line our pockets. The one and only reason this happens is because there is a lack of reverence and love for God and we love ourselves; think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, disregarding the needs of our fellowmen in the process.

Until the world understands the true meaning of love, there will be no peace on earth.

Just Do What Is Right

This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” – Isaiah 56:1-2

The death, burial and resurrection has indeed taken away all our sins – past, present and future. We have been set free and are victorious in Christ Jesus. We are lucky to have the grace and mercy of God such that when we make mistakes and we confess and are truly repentant, God is merciful and just enough to forgive us. We must however never take the grace of God for granted by intentionally sinning. We must make an effort to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. If we do our best to remain in the Spirit, we will make good decisions and desist from evil. We must ask for Holy Spirit to help us do what is right at all times. As believers, people must be able to tell us apart from non-believers. Our character and attitude to life must be different; it is desecrating to the Spirit to do what is contrary to God’s Word in a foolish attempt to blend in.

The Bible tells us clearly that blessed is the man who does what is right in the sight of the Lord. Do you spend enough time with God such that you are walking in the Spirit? Or do you read so very little of your Bible that you are walking in the flesh? Do you find yourself stumbling in the same sinful activities over and over again? If you answered yes to the last two questions, change your ways. No one can do right unless they truly know what is right. To obey the Word of God requires knowledge of the Word of God. We all want the blessings of God upon our lives and to get them we must do as God wants.

Oppressed?

I saw the tears of the oppressed – and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors – and they have no comforter. – Ecclesiastes 4:1

When we are experiencing difficulty in our lives and we see no way out, we feel trapped and alone. There may even be people around who have the ability to help but because they are so engrossed in their own daily lives, they fail to recognize our need and leave us to our demise. We feel hurt and isolated but if this speaks to your heart, know that God sees you.

God has not forgotten you. He has you on His mind. He sees all that you are going through and knows that you are being oppressed and depressed by the pressures of life. He longs to comfort you; He longs to bring joy, peace and love into your life. When the circumstances that are beating you up seem to be getting the better of you, do not lose hope; do not lose your faith. Hold on to the memory of the place where you first believed. God is the lifter up of our heads. He will surely lift the burdens that are pressing you down off of you in due time. Take time to learn any lessons that must be learnt in your current predicament, especially if you are suffering because of your own doing. Learn the necessary valuable lessons so that should you come round the same mountain again, you will make the right choices.

God is a comforter to all those who believe. He will surely comfort you in your time of need.

Open My Eyes Lord

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. – Psalm 119:18

No matter how long one has been a believer, we sometimes act in ignorance. Even though we read the scriptures, we may only see what we want to see and not what the Spirit is trying to teach us. Our prayer must always be that the Lord open the eyes of our heart so that God can reveal to us specifically what the Word is trying to tell us at any particular time. There are truly wonderful things to be imbibed and enjoyed within the Word of God if only we have the heart to receive. God has great things in store for us. He wants to bless us. He longs to give god things to us His children. He is waiting on us to open our hearts to receive what He has for us.

God never hides His purpose for us away from us. He has placed all that we need for a successful life in the one place we could never miss it – inside of us. All we need to do is open up our eyes so that we may see.

One day at a Time

“I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way, I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” – Exodus 16:4-5

Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. – Exodus 16:19-20

We all want to plan ahead. We want God to show us his plan for our lives for the next 30 years. But God never shows us the entire picture at once. He reveals his plan for our lives little by little. He gives us his plan in chunks so that we can assimilate and digest it. When times are tough and things are difficult for us, God gives us His strength and hope on a day-by-day basis so we can face the challenges of our lives on a daily basis.

God knew that the Israelites would need to eat every day but he choose to give them food on a day-by-day basis so that they would learn to trust God for tomorrow. We all need to learn from this – God wants us to trust on a daily basis. He wants us to follow his instructions and believe in Him and His Word.

Bitter Made Sweet

For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah they could not drink its water because it was bitter. So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” – Exodus 15:22-26

Life can become very bitter. The Israelites had been traveling through the Desert of Shur and had gotten no water to drink for three whole days. They were tired and they were thirsty. Thirsty people are angry people. They grumbled against Moses. God made a way where there was no way. The water was bitter. They couldn’t possibly drink it in that state. And God used a piece of wood to turn bitter water into sweet water. Just like He used the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the wooden Cross of Calvary to bring sweetness and life into our lives, He used a simple piece of wood to bring life to the Israelites.

God simply wants us to pay attention to His commands and decrees and the bitterness in our lives can be turned around into sweetness. When we make a choice to heed the voice of God and do as He commands us to, He can take away all the pain and hurt that we feel in our hearts. He can turn all things around for good in our lives. He can turn our mourning into dancing.

Taste the Lord today and know that He is good. Exchange your ashes for beauty; your bitterness for sweetness.

My Song

Sing to the Lord for He is highly exalted.
The Lord is indeed my strength and my song.
He is my salvation; He is my God.
I will praise Him and exalt Him.
My God is a warrior; the Lord is His name.
My enemies have been hurled into the sea.
The deep waters have covered them.
They sank to the depths like stones.
All those who oppose you shall be thrown down.
Your right hand majestic in power has shattered my enemies.
My enemies boasted – “We will pursue and overtake her;
We will draw our sword and destroy her.”
But at the sound of your voice the sea covered them.
They sank like lead beneath the mighty waters.
There is no other God like you.
No other God is majestic in holiness or awesome in glory.
You are the only true God who works great wonders.
In your unfailing love you lead those you have redeemed.
In your strength you guide them to your holy dwelling.
My enemies will be as still as stone until I pass by.
You will bring me in and plant me on the mountain of your inheritance.
You will position me in the place you made for your dwelling; your sanctuary.
In the very place that your hand has established just for me.
O Lord, you will reign for ever and ever – into eternity.

Rise Above Your Circumstances

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31

Our problems will often drag us down. We feel down in the dumps and the whole world appears to be resting on the top of our heads. We put a lot of effort into trying to improve our situation but things just seem to go from bad to worse. We pray and we seek direction from the Lord but we hear nothing. We start to lose hope and our faith begins to diminish as the pressures of life overwhelm us.

But the Bible reminds us of the benefits of holding on. Perseverance produces character and it builds our faith. When we choose to hold on to the hope that the Lord has placed in our hearts, victory will eventually become ours. Hope in the Lord gives us the ability to recharge our strength. It enables us to rise above our circumstances rather than let our problems rise on top of us. Even though we strive and are struggling, we have the strength of the Lord so we do not grow weary. Because of the joy of the Lord, we are able to keep on keeping on in spite of our circumstances.