God Never Fails

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23

We do all we can to help ourselves. We get a good education, work hard at our jobs, buy a home and try to provide for our families. But sometimes our best just isn’t good enough. The powers that be oftentimes are greedy and have no regard for the average person and all that we worked so hard to get can be lost in an instant. In time, all our efforts to provide a decent standard of living for ourselves and our families fail. But one thing stands true now and always. God always stands the test of time. His faithfulness to us is true and dependable. With God we never have to worry about our inheritance in the way we worry over our retirement funds. We don’t need to be plagued by the knowledge that what we see on paper does not match our reality. The Word of God as written in the Bible is alive, true and remains the same – never changing or fluctuating.

I am thankful that God’s mercies are new every day. With the dawn of every new day, I encouraged to press forward with the things that the Lord has shown me. I am reminded that I believe in a God who holds the sun, moon and stars up in the sky. He is the same God who will hold me up regardless of what happens around me. I am confident once again that my God never fails and that He will see me through to the other side.

If things are difficult today, don’t lose hope and never give up. Trust in the Lord and all His promises. They are all yours. Claim them and live as though they have been realized. God’s word never fails.

You Will Get There

You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stooped down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn. – Psalm 18:35-36

The path to true success is never easy. There will be ups and there will be downs. There will be happy times and sad times. There will be times when you feel at the top of your game and times when you wonder if you’ll ever make it. God never promised us that our lives will be easy when we follow Him; rather the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:12 that everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Being a child of God does not entitle us to a golden parachute that helps us escape life’s troubles. We are however promised in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Believe that you will get there; believe in the promises God made to you and to your purpose in Christ Jesus. Live your life everyday overlooking all the negative circumstances that present themselves in your daily life. Decide not focus on what the media is saying and ignore the meaningless chatter around you. Rather, choose to focus on God’s heavenly promises as God’s purpose will always prevail.

God’s Timing

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. – Ecclesiastes 1:1

He has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecclesiastes 3:11a

God has a unique plan for the life of every one of us. Nothing happens to us by accident. I believe we live in a “controlled” environment where the Lord has his hand securely on the knob. He knows when to let us relax and when to get us out of our comfort zone. God’s timing is never too early or too late. Our God is always on time. When a new baby arrives into the world, it is based on God’s timing. Sadly, when a person dies and departs this world, it is also God’s timing. The dates of birth and the dates of death are in the hands of God unless man-made intervention comes into play. Our success and failure at life is all based on our acute understanding of timing.

It is important that we know and understand God’s timing and this only comes through a relationship with God. The Bible tells us there is a season for every activity under heaven and seasons determine timing. Choosing what to do in the seasons of life ultimately dictate our success or failure. There are four seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall. During the winter circumstances of our lives, for example, when we lose our jobs or our homes due to the economic downturn, we must spend our time planning and figuring out what we want to do. This is the time to develop roadmaps and plans of action. Spring allows us to start putting actions behind the plans we spent the winter season developing and perfecting. In the summer, we must work at our plans, watering and pruning; taking the steps to grow and develop all that we have planted and fall is when we reap all that we have sown.

Understanding the seasons of your life allows you to plug into God’s timing.

Changing Gears

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

Today is a very important day for me for many reasons. I will share two: my youngest daughter turns six today. I remember the day she was born and all the test and trials that got us to this day. I glorify the name of the Lord for keeping us and protecting us. His hand upon our lives is evident for all to see. God has been really good. We never would have made it without Him. On another note, my job of the last four and half years ends today as my company got bought over by a bigger retailer and 99% of the workforce are being released. For this also, I glorify the name of God for sustaining me all these years and for the bigger and greater door that He is about to open. I have no regrets, anxiety or anger. Surprisingly, I am full of thanks as I know that nothing happens to me without God allowing it. I will be one of the very few that accepts my severance package with excitement and joy. This is God’s time for me to move into the other things that He has shown me and start on the wonderful journey of fulfilling His purpose for my life.

Too Sad to Pray

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

There was a period in my life not too long ago when I was going through a very difficult time. I felt as if my heart had sunk to the bowels of my stomach and was about to come out through my mouth. Many days, I will get out of bed, get my daughters dressed, drive to school and to work and I will have no memory of the trip. I will arrive at work and sit in my vehicle, trying to summon the strength to get out and walk into the building. On some days, I will arrive at my office parking lot; turn right around and drive back home. On days such as these, I knew I had neither strength nor courage to face a work day.

I was suffering and yes, I was a Christian at the time. I believe we all have a cross which we must bear as we journey through life and suffering is just part of the trip. Romans 5:3-4 reminds us to rejoice in our times of suffering because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces hope. It goes on to say that hope never disappoints because God Himself has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. As I learnt the validity of these verses of scripture courtesy of my devotional Bible, I still felt a lot of pain and hopelessness. Nothing I did or said seemed to change the situation I was in. Most importantly, I found it extremely difficult to pray during these times. Not only did I have no clue as to what to pray for; I also could not seem to form any words when I tried. All I seemed to do without effort was to cry.

During this time of weakness, all I could do was move from one day to the next and shout the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus was not far from my lips as I cried out repeatedly in pain. Unbeknown to me, during this time, the Holy Spirit within me was continuously interceding for me and all I needed to do was hold on to the Word of God. I was still trying to wrap my head around it all intellectually but I knew that my logical thinking was not relevant – the Holy Spirit was there for me during my weakest and most vulnerable times and He brought me through to the other side.

Are you dealing with very difficult circumstances in your life at this time? Are you too sad and confused to pray? Trust in the Lord and His Word. Sit calmly in His presence even if all you can do right now is cry. God hears you and He sees what you are going through. Believe that your help is on the way.

What Kind of a Witness Are You?

“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 7-8

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives must reflect our beliefs. This does not mean that we have all that money can buy but it does mean that we have the most important things in life which no amount of money can ever purchase. It makes no sense to proclaim that we are blood-washed believers if the way we live our lives speak contrary to the fact. Any time we talk about the Lord and how much we love and trust Him, people are not necessarily listening to all that we are saying, rather they are watching what we do.

When we truly give our lives to the Lord, we are gradually transformed from the inside out. The Holy Spirit that comes to dwell within us starts to change the way we think and the way that we live. Our hearts, minds and souls are cleansed and we start to view the world through a completely different lens; the eyes of the Spirit. People who encounter us can immediately tell that there is something different about us and they are curious to know what it is. Our lives essentially become a testimony of the glory of God and a roadmap to meeting with Him. This does not mean that we have attained perfection. No, we will still make mistakes but the greater part of us is walking in the Spirit rather than in the flesh. People can see a picture of God through us in the way that we conduct ourselves.

We are all called to be a living witness to the glory of the Lord. Are you a witness?

You Are Blessed When You Obey

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” – Luke 11:28

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3

To obey is truly better than sacrifice. Choosing to disobey the Lord has its consequences and these consequences can be very difficult to endure. It is important to understand that the Word of God is designed to guide us and give us peaceful and joyful lives. God does not want His children to suffer so He gave us a clear roadmap with which to navigate this crazy, intoxicated world. The problem is the devil is also out there luring us with attractive temptations; presenting us with countless opportunities by which we can go against God’s instructions. As soon as we accept one of the attractive carrots dangled in front of us by the devil, we get caught in a big trap. The next thing we see is our lives unraveling right before our very eyes.

But the Book says that those that hear the Word of God and elect to obey it will be blessed. If we choose to delight and mediate on the God’s Word, we will be fruitful in our lives. Our obedience will pay off in multiple folds.

Resting in the Comfort of the Lord

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Life can sometimes be overwhelming and cumbersome. Jobs and homes are being lost and people are going hungry, depending on food banks for their daily bread – in America. People have become shadows of themselves as they watch everything they have labored for vanish into thin air. Yet in the midst of all the chaos, Christ is inviting us to learn from His life. His commandments are not designed to harm or make life difficult for us but rather to make life easy. The Bible tells us not to be moved by the “things” of the world but rather to store up treasures up in heaven. As we can now clearly see, the laborious process of focusing on getting all we can, canning all we can get and sitting on the lid is not fool-proof.

Finding rest in the Lord, away from all the worries of this world and the complexities of religiosity is what this passage promises us. Jesus Christ wants us to know that trying to do things in our own strength and according to the Law can be exhausting. When we give our lives to Christ and allow Him to order our footsteps and minister to us via the Holy Spirit, we can rest in His comfort. Our relationship and love for Him makes it easier to live according to His commands. We are able to focus on the things that are important; the heavenly things that help us keep the main thing the main thing and give us rest.

Blessed and Highly Favored

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will swell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. – Psalm 27:4

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. – Psalm 20:7

Regardless of what may be going on around me, I remain encouraged – encouraged by my faith in the Lord. My joy and excitement about the future has nothing to do with the economy or money but rather what I can do to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the beginning of my relationship with the Lord, my prayer was always loaded with requests but now I am constantly asking God to direct me in ways that I can serve and love Him more. Fear has become a thing of the past. Even when the economy went belly up and things didn’t look promising, God was able to direct my focus to what I do have and will never lose instead of focusing on what I might need to give up.

I am grateful to be blessed and highly favored. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God will always be with me and that His goodness and mercies shall always follow me regardless of where I end up on the planet. My trust is totally in the Lord and nothing else; He knows what I need and He sees the desires of my heart. No one knows me like He does. All I really need in this life is to be close to God, to dwell in His house all the days of my life and to have my family and friends around me.

Be Slow To Anger

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. – Proverbs 16:32

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. – Ephesians 4:26-27

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. – James 1:19
An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. – Proverbs 29:22

I used to lose my temper really quickly. It didn’t take much to set me off but life taught me. It is never ok to have unresolved anger towards anything or anyone. All it does is eat away at one’s soul and makes one bitter, negative and cynical. God wants us to be a people who spend more time listening than talking. I guess that is why He gave us one mouth and two ears! As I studied more, I was relieved that learn that it was ok to get angry. God does not forbid one from getting angry. It is what you do when you get angry that matters. When we get angry, we are warned not to sin.

Developing patience and compassion has enabled me to get angry less often and even when I do, it does not last for long. I have learnt not to be easily stirred up by what anyone says or does. Life has taught me to make sure that my brain is carefully engaged in the right gear before my mouth goes into motion. Now I can pick up the phone to call someone to give them a piece of my mind but set it down and walk away to think and to pray. As I pray, I am gently reminded by the Spirit what God did for me through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and how no one is perfect and my anger dissolves very quickly.

Anger that is out of control does not display the righteousness of God in anyway. All it does is make us do things that we will not ordinarily do – things that do not glorify the name of the Lord in any way, shape or form.

Live Your Life Right

Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. – Ephesians 5:15-18

Regardless of what is going on in the world, there ought to be a marked sense of peace and joy in the life of any believer. The same way we feel good about ourselves when we are worshipping God in our quiet time and in the presence of other believers, we must feel at peace with our lives and where we are. This does not mean that we do not aspire to be more or to do more, it just mean that we are content with how far we have come and we are trusting in God to take us all the way just as He has promised in His Word.

When the Bible tells us in the above passage of scripture to be wise, it means we are to look at every situation through both the eyes of our hearts and our physical eyes. We are never to take anything at face value. Every situation must be approached with God’s purpose in mind. When we deal with our lives with God’s will as our compass, we are able to make good use of every opportunity that comes our way. Focusing on the things of this world will only takes us completely away from the path the Lord wants us to tread.

It is crucial we make the most of the time we have. We are called to be continuously motivated in our walk with the Lord so that we can understand His will for our lives and develop spiritual strength. There are two dates no man can dictate – the day he is born and the day that he dies. The only way to live a fruitful life is to understand the will of God and live according to it.

Choose Your Friends Very Carefully!

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17

Encourage one another daily as long as it is Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. – Hebrews 3:13

As I write this I remember the popular saying “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you really are”. We must be very careful when choosing the people that we will call friends. There are friends that can build you up and there are friends that can very quickly tear you down. In time, friends rub off on each other. Whether we choose to or not, we unconsciously influence one another – for better or for worse. When we are not vigilant in the process of selecting our friends, we can end up used, abused, stressed out and filled with anxiety.

It is wonderful to be in positive relationships – associations that encourages and builds one up. Isolating oneself because of fear is not what the Bible teaches. We were created by God to be relational beings. We thrive and grow when we associate with people who are of like mind and are headed in a similar direction as we are. We have the ability to encourage and pray for one another when our values are similar.

Look around you and honestly evaluate the people you spend majority of your free time with. Are they helping you along to achieving your purpose or are they holding you back? If your values have changed because you recently gave your life to Christ, changing the friends you once hung out with may be an essential requirement. The fact that you’ve been friends for a long time does not mean that the friendship must continue. The more you line up your thinking with what the Bible teaches, the less you will begin to have in common because your life is being transformed and you are no longer the same person that you once were.

Leaving relationships that no longer match up with your new life does not mean that you stop caring for your “old” friends. In fact the opposite is the case – you care for them and love them by praying that they encounter the God of the Bible for themselves but you simply do all this from a safe emotional distance.

Our Lives Depend On His Word

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. – Joshua 1:8

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3

There is great power in the Word of God. It is God’s instruction for living for any blood-washed believer in Jesus Christ. When you spend time in the Word of God, you strengthen your relationship with Him and get to know for sure what He desires of you and for you. Every day comes with its own set of problems and challenges. The grace of tomorrow cannot handle the issues of today. It is important to spend time daily in God’s Word so that we can grow in spiritual strength and faith. The Bible tells us in John 15:7 that if we abide in the Lord and His words abide in us, when we ask whatever we desire (according to His will and purpose), it shall be given to us. This means that if we spend time with God and never depart from His Word, our purpose in this life will be fulfilled.

Furthermore, it is not possible to claim to be a child of God and not spend time in His Word. If we are to bar the enemy from having a foothold in our lives, we must be diligent scholars of God’s Holy Word. John 8:31-32 reminds us that if we hold to the Lord’s teachings, we are indeed His disciples. Only then can we know the truth and have the truth set us free.

Distance Yourself

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather clothes yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. – Romans 13:13-14

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character”. – 1 Corinthians 15:33

Keep to a path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel. – Proverbs 5:8-9

What you ponder upon, you will surely become and what you focus on in your life will get bigger. If we choose to keep our eye on Jesus Christ, the temptation to succumb to the desires of the flesh reduces. Whatever our “drug” of choice is, it is important to stay clear of people and situations that will tempt us. For example, if your issue is with alcohol, hanging around bars and folks who drink will not help you stay sober for long. I have heard recovery alcoholics say they can go to bars and just not drink. But the Bible tells us clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that if we think we can be good in the midst of evil, we are misled. Keeping one’s eye on heavenly things can be impossible if one is surrounded by sinful things and people. If we want to stay on the straight and narrow, we must distance ourselves from all those things that have a remote chance of dragging us into sin.

Is All the Toiling Worth Anything?

What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. – Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:4

To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 2:26

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:6

In reality, most people hate their jobs. It is not common to find folks who genuinely like what they do. People give up their dreams to work and toil in an effort to accumulate wealth only to arrive at their 50s and 60s angry and disappointed with life – wishing they had been strong and determined enough to follow the life-long dreams. It has been reported that most heart attacks happen between 8 and 9 am in the morning when people are returning to work. So if work is such drudgery, why do we believe that we have to keep at it? Well I guess you can say that we can’t stop because we are getting paid and the bills don’t allow excuses. All the same wouldn’t it be great to have a job we liked so much that we will gladly do it for nothing?

How do we find work that we love? I believe it all starts with God. Putting God first and spending time in His presence allows you to discover the true purpose for your life. When your purpose is revealed to you, you will find yourself in a “job” that feels nothing like work. You will be waking up every morning simply to do you. Your work will be as easy as breathing and the concept of toiling never comes into play. This does not mean that you will not have challenges, but you will have the zeal and the desire to face the challenges that come your way head-on. When you are operating in God’s purpose for your life, the Lord becomes the wind at your back that propels you forward with ease. The road will rise up to meet you. And most importantly because you have placed God first above everything else, you are pleasing Him. Scripture tells us that when we please God, He gives us wisdom, knowledge and happiness – the most important ingredients for a fruitful and successful life.

The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:5-11

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. – Proverbs 3:11-12

A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. – Proverbs 15:5

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. – Colossians 3:25

When I was growing up my father was a great disciplinarian. He was quick to dish out punishment when you knew for sure you deserved it and sometimes when you think he was being unfair. Some of the things he said to me did not make any sense at the time that he said them. But now as a parent myself, I see the wisdom in his words in hindsight. He rebuked me when I was headed in the wrong direction, especially during my teenage years when I believed I knew it all and could make my own decisions. I can say that being disciplined was no fun at the time – it hurt every single time!

In the same way, our Heavenly Father often sees the need to rebuke us. If he didn’t, we will have no clue when we are wrong and need to repent and change direction. How does the Lord warn or rebuke us? The Holy Spirit that dwells within us will often convict us when we do wrong. I have also been rebuked by a sermon being preached by a minister who had no clue as to what my mistakes were but God used him as a tool to get me to change my ways and repent. As believers, we get away with nothing. When we sin and fail to repent it comes back to bite us in the butt. Let’s face it, if we are left to abuse the grace of God and live in perpetual sin, how will we ever get to share in the holiness of God mentioned in Hebrews 12? Even though God is merciful, patient and kind, He will never turn a blind eye to unrepentant sin because of grace.

It brings great comfort to blame all the wrongs in our lives on Satan but truthfully some of the issues we face is because of unrepentant sin in our lives. The Lord will discipline us as His children when we are disobedient to His Word and instruction. When we acknowledge our sin and repent, God will cleanse us and renew us.

Living a Life of Confession and Repentance

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but he whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. – Proverbs 28:13

No one is perfect. We are all a work in progress. Mistakes will be made yet life must go on. But how do we rightly move on when we mess up? How do we continue walking with God in the wake of errors and blunders? God is faithful and He is merciful. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. Even though God sent His Only Son to die for sin, we are still accountable when we do wrong. God isn’t asleep and He sees us every time we screw up but because He longs to be in fellowship with us, He wants us to come to Him in confession. We can’t hide anything from the Lord; He is omnipresent which means He is everywhere at every time. When we go to God and admit what we have done with humility, He forgives us, restores us and gives us an opportunity to start over.

Repentance is not easy. It is a gift of God. Some people sin day-in, day-out and feel no remorse and no sense of wrongdoing. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that nudges us when we do wrong and gives us the desire to want to seek repentance from the Lord. No-one can live a life of confession and repentance without the Holy Spirit. He is there to make us aware of our spiritual condition so that we can take steps to cleanse and renew our hearts and mind.

Every believer must endeavor to live a life of continuous confession and repentance. It is this attitude to life that reminds us that we are human with flaws serving a perfect God.

Watch Your Tongue

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. – James 3:5b-12

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. – Psalm 34:13

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

Have you ever said something about or to someone that you later regretted? Have you ever been possible for propagating a rumor? When you get angry or do not get your way, do you resort to verbal abuse? As a Christian, we are instructed to guard our tongue. Our tongue has the power to build another up but it can also tear them down. The old saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” is so not true. Words can be very damaging especially where children are concerned. We must be careful with what we say and how we say it to anyone – young or old.

Our tongue is the control centre of our lives. We can use it for good or evil – the choice is ours. It dictates what happens to us in life. An employee who cannot control their tongue will very soon be out of a job. A woman who cannot tame her tongue will have serious issues in her home. A man who finds it hard to watch the things that he says will look like a clown amongst his friends. There is no doubt that no one is perfect. Women especially find it hard to tame their tongues. We are more vocal than men. We tend to talk more and as such, are more vulnerable to loose talk. God gave us tongues to use to His glory. It is not ok to pray one minute and be cursing the next. God wants us to be of one voice – a voice that brings honor and glory to His name. We cannot be of two voices being tossed about by the things of this world.

Just like a fresh water spring can never produce salt water, our tongues designed to sing praises to the Lord must not be used for spreading curses. We must use our tongues to speak truth and light into the lives of other; to help build people up and not tear them down. We are called to be source of hope and encouragement - a picture of how God looks.

So next time you have something to say, put some thought into your words before you speak them. They could very well be the difference between life and death.

Seek God's Counsel

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. – Proverbs 19:2

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5

God is interested in the intricate details of our lives. We were never designed to walk alone. God intended for us all to believe and commit our lives to His Son Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross. When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to guide us, counsel us and walk with us. We humans have a tendency to believe we know it all and that all knowledge is within man. But God is the only true all-knowing God. He is the Only One with the power to see the end from the beginning.

God is defined as the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. But in our quest to get ahead we often fail to consult the Lord. We put life-changing plans in motion without once considering the need for prayer. We go full steam ahead, planning and executing - forgetting that what we are doing may not be in line with what God has for us. It is dangerous to be hasty. We must never be in too much of a hurry that we forget to pray. When the essential ingredient for successfully navigating through life is missing, things can go horribly wrong. Without continuous prayer, what once seemed like a good idea can very quickly become one’s worst nightmare!

Experience has taught me that prayer is not a specific position at a specific time but a constant state of mind. Talking to God to me is an all-day affair. It is indeed true that we must schedule some time everyday to study the Word and be still in God’s presence but prayer is something that must go on all day and every day – sometimes even in sleep!

Never run ahead without praying. It is without prayer that good ideas and good intentions come to naught.

Crucial Steps to Forgiveness

Step 1: Admit the offense

Offenses will always occur especially where relationships are concerned. Some offenses will be accidental and some will be intentional. Some will be minor infractions and some will be major. The most important thing to do when we feel we have been wronged is to admit the offense to ourselves. Staying in denial when we believe we have been wronged does us no good. All that does is allow us to bury negative feelings inside of us that germinate into destructive emotions, attitudes and actions. We must admit to ourselves that we feel offended and own all the associated feelings.

Step 2: Acknowledge the consequences of the offense

Next we must determine the changes the offense has created in our lives. Every offense creates consequences. Maybe we have lost out financially or a relationship has been severed. It could be that we have started to give the person who we believe offended us the cold shoulder. We may start going down the route of implementing the famous “an eye for an eye” strategy, trying desperately to make them pay for what we think that they have done to us. It is important to acknowledge the consequences of the offense and take positive steps to deal with them appropriately through prayer.

Step 3: Make a conscious decision not to retaliate

It is never a good idea to take matters into our own hands. When we do that we stand in a position of judgment – saying that we are in the right and the person(s) who offended us are in the wrong. Retaliation is never a good idea. Not only that it takes us down to the level of the person who we believed did us wrong, it also makes us go against God’s prescription for problem solving. Deciding to pay another back will most likely make a bad situation even worse. Rather than spend our time trying to get back at them, we are better off praying to God to soften and change our hearts towards the offender.

Step 4: Choose to see some good in the offender

I believe there is good in everyone. When we are offended, it helps to see some good in the offender. Maybe we can think back to a time when they did something nice for us. Remembering them in a good way makes it easier to forgive. If we choose to focus on the good things we know they can do, we are more inclined to be sympathetic to their shortcomings. If we have a good relationship with the person who offended us, knowing their good side makes it possible to approach them in a loving way. Coming to them in a tender confrontational way also makes it easy for them to acknowledge their errors and opens the door to reconciliation.

Step 5: Choose not to stand in a place of judgment

The Bible reminds us constantly not to judge one another. Only God can stand in the place of judgment against any man. Following God’s instructions with regards to continuous forgiveness does not mean that we ignore the consequences of the offender’s actions. Sometimes the consequences of an offender can be devastating and far-reaching. The effects of their actions can be a lifetime thing. But we must remember that when Christ forgave us for our sins – past, present and future, His act of forgiveness did not eliminate the natural Law of Sowing and Reaping. Whatever any man sows, he will surely reap. If someone truly does us wrong, we have no need to judge because we know that they will surely reap what they have sown.

Step 6: Do not put the past on replay

We must choose never to keep replaying or talking about the offense. As long as we decide to go on and on about it, it remains fresh in our minds and in our hearts. Whatever we ponder upon or focus on will surely become bigger. It is best to put the offense out of our minds and focus on other positive, more fruitful things.

Step 7: Decide to forgive and ask God for help through meditation and prayer

Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice. When we are offended, we have to make a conscious decision to forgive – it will happen no other way! Forgiveness is however not without its price. As an offended person, you must be ready to release the offender of the “debt”. You must accept and acknowledge that revenge is not the answer. You must also be willing to reconcile if the offender is truly repentant. The offender must be willing to humble themselves, confess and seek repentance. They must be ready to take responsibility for their actions and not resort to finger pointing. If both the offended and the offender are willing to pay the price, they will surely enjoy the joy of the Lord that comes with reconciliation. How do the offended and the offender get to this point? They price that must be paid can only be done through meditation and prayer. Hearts can only change when God and His Word is at work.

Resentment, Bitterness and Anger: Poisoned Fruits of Un-Forgiveness

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. – Proverbs 10:12

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. – Hebrews 12:14-15

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:31-32

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. – James 4:14-18

Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die. – Unknown

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. – Catherine Ponder

Forgiveness is not for the offender but for us. It helps to release all the negativity from our hearts and minds so that we are free from hurt and pain that can cause lasting devastating effects. When we refuse to forgive, the seeds of offense germinate in our hearts and gives rise to a forest that yields bitterness, anger and resentment as its fruits. Unconsciously when we refuse to forgive, it is because we are standing in judgment of the person who wronged us. And even though they may have sinned and acted unjustly towards us, we cannot judge their actions. The Bible tells us that none of us can stand in righteousness. Any righteousness we try to portray in our own strength appear like filthy rags to God. Rather than be judgmental about the actions of others towards us, we must turn everything over to God. He is the One and true Judge. Even when Our Lord Jesus was persecuted at the Cross of Calvary, He could have caused lightning and thunder to strike all this assaulters dead but instead He chose to pray for them and leave their fate to His Father.

There is no value to harboring anger, bitterness and resentment because we have been wronged. It can pollute our minds and our hearts and cause us to self-destruct. We can very quickly get overwhelmed by nursing these negative emotions. They can wreak terrible havoc on our health and our relationships. Anger, bitterness and resentment very quickly evolve into anger. Peace of mind and joy will elude you when you are under the influence of these toxic emotions. The only way out is to repent and have a change of heart. We must not deny how we feel. A problem is half solved the minute we acknowledge it. Regardless of what we have experienced, we must walk in obedience to God’s commands and choose to obey by extending forgiveness. Regardless of how angry and slighted we may feel when we must elect to forgive, and allow God to help us.

Choosing to stay away from the fruits of un-forgiveness is a very wise choice. When we seek to be a person who seeks the things of heaven and pursue peace in all our relationships, the Bible says “we reap a harvest of righteousness”.

The Truth about Forgiveness

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

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. – Mark 11:25

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you. – Corrie Ten Boom

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass. –George Herbert

I don’t know about you but I have been in situations where I have found forgiving be very difficult. It is at times like this that I am humbled and accept whole heartedly that I am still a work in progress. It’s one thing for you to have to forgive someone who borrowed your car and crashed it and still refuses to take responsibility. It is quite another to be confronted with the act of forgiving a man who raped and murdered your friend or your child. How do we forgive when the offense is great? How do we let go of the pain and the hurt when the repercussions of someone else’s actions will affect us for the rest of our earthly existence? We cannot truly completely forgive in our own strength. We can only forgive through prayer and a personal and intimate relationship with God.

Forgiveness is not always easy; it is oftentimes very difficult. Depending on the gravity of the offense, our natural instinct is to hold on to anger, bitterness and resentment. But we are instructed to forgive by God and when we do, we do it in obedience. We forgive not because we like to but because we are told to. God tells us in His Word that we must clearly continue to forgive as long as we live – whether we like it or not. He tells us that there is no limit to the number of times we ought to forgive another. We are to keep on doing it as long as it is necessary to do so! God wants us to forgive out of obedience to Him and His Word.

The truth is that forgiveness is only possible when we extend it by faith. We cannot forgive on our own; we must do it in faith. We do it confident that the Lord will work on our hearts and make true and lasting forgiveness possible. When the Lord sees that we desire to honor his Word and do is will, He steps in to help us really forgive. With His help, we can extend complete forgiveness that sets us free.

Choosing Forgiveness

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Colossians 3:13

There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. – Bryant H. McGill

Forgiveness is a word that is talked about extensively, taught on and preached on in the church. It is emphasized greatly because of its importance. It is crucial to having a healthy state of mind. Being offended is simply a fact of life. At some point someone is going to do something that we do not agree with or are not happy about. Sometimes, it may even be the same person that keeps being on the offensive over and over again? What are we to do when are wronged by another?

Forgiveness brings to mind many things. It means helping to assuage the guilt of someone who is remorseful because they hurt us and letting them off the hook. It means being empowered and set free by letting go of all the wrong that has impacted our lives. It helps us to stop the pain and anger that can be very overwhelming from being offended. It makes possible the cleansing of the heart and the mind, freeing it from unhealthy negativity. It allows us to show and extend the love of God to another human being.

In order for forgiveness to be required, sin must be involved. There would be no need for forgiveness is there is no sin. A great example of forgiveness is shown by God. He sacrificed His Only Son, Jesus Christ for us. He used His Son to lovingly cancel a debt that we could never pay. So if Almighty God can find it in His heart to lovingly forgive us of all debt – past, present and future, why do we find it so hard to forgive one another? Why do we find it very acceptable to hold grudges and sever relationships with each other? We could all learn a thing or two from Our Father in heaven.

Are you holding anyone in un-forgiveness today? If you are, take steps to forgive and cleanse your heart.

A Call to Service

Then said he to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; - Matthew 9:37

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. – Matthew 10:6-8

And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. – Matthew 25:40

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:18-20

For everything created there is a purpose. Nothing exists that was not created for some reason. As believers, we all have a role to play in the body of Christ – we all have a job to do. There is work still to be done within the Body of Christ itself and in the world. Many people are part of the body of Christ and are hurting and in pain. Not everyone that shows up in church is really experientially free. Some are trapped in various financial, economic and emotional conditions. Others are oppressed and depressed. The Body of Christ itself is in need of healing. We must first respond to the call within before we can reach out to unbelievers. One of the biggest reasons a lot of people in the world will not give their lives to Christ is because of the examples of Christians they know and see around them.

Jesus Christ knew what He was talking about when He said that the harvest is truly plenteous but the Christians responding to the call to service are few. God has indeed called us to be His mouthpiece here on earth. We are called to be His hands and feet. We are to preach the truth that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so that people can repent and come to know the God that we serve. If we believe and we enjoy the benefits of our faith, it is required that we share that with the world so they can enjoy some of the peace and joy that we have acquired through Christ. We are not called to come to Christ and keep our faith to ourselves. Jesus Christ came to die for the sins of all not for a few select people. The ultimate work has been accomplished – all we need do is make people aware of this great sacrifice and the change that it will bring to their lives.

So why do so few Christians respond to this great call to service? Many people fail to participate in ministry for many reasons. Some are afraid of what to say; they believe they do not know enough about the Bible to answer questions that may come their way and others think no one will belief them especially if they have had a very shady past. But Jesus assures us that He himself through His Holy Spirit will teach us what to say. If we can truly appreciate that it is the work of the Spirit to convert anyone and change does not come via what we say, we can eradicate any fear or apprehension about preaching the Gospel.

The Great Commission requires us to spread the Lord’s teachings around the world. As believers, we must all participate in ministry and mission work. There is so much to do.

The Lord Will Always Provide

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who keep on asking him! – Matthew 7:11

But first be concerned about God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. – Matthew 6:33

And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow. – James 1:17

We all have doubts when we encounter difficult times. We question if the Lord will really come through on our rent before the landlord serves the eviction notice. We have no money in the bank and we have been praying for a breakthrough in the area of employment but nothing has come forth. Sometimes nothing shows up and we become homeless, living with family while we try to get back on our feet. We wonder why we prayed and prayed and God didn’t come. This is the time we ought to remember that God’s way is not our way; that when God closes a door it’s because He is about to open a bigger window. Difficult things happen to believers and non-believers alike – the only difference is believers have a guarantee that God will make a way of some kind. He knows best what it is that we need. He sees ahead into the future and can tell before hand what will work according to His plan for us. The job we may have been so upset we did not get may not be the right job for us. The house we lost may be so that we can develop strength and endurance to prepare us for the bigger job and house that God is about to move us into. Provided we are focused on the things on God and have our minds set on him, we are guaranteed that all things will be provided for us no matter what comes our way – unemployment, bankruptcy, death, illness or homelessness. Our greatest inheritance in heaven is secure and can never be taken away from us no matter what happens in this realm.

God always has His children on His mind and wishes great things for us. If you are experiencing difficulty in your life right now, trust in the Lord and His ability to provide. Do not lose your hope or your faith. Keep your eyes fixed onto Him and He will come through just in time.

We Are Never Alone

Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:20

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. – Hebrews 13:5

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, he it is that does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

And the LORD, he it is that does go before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you, neither forsake you: fear not, neither be dismayed. – Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: - 1 Kings 8:57

And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. – John 10:28

A life without Jesus Christ is really no life at all. When we accept the work of Christ at the Cross we are welcomed into the His body. From then on, we are never alone. We have the Holy Spirit inside of us to help and guide us. We are never alone. God has promised in many places in His Word that He will never abandon us. With everything that life has to throw at us, our God promises to be there every step of the way. It is a great and comforting thing to have God to lean on during these very difficult economic times because when all is said and done, only the Lord matters – having faith in anything or anyone else is just like standing on sinking sand.

The minute I wrapped my head and my arms around the scripture verses above, nothing else had the power to steal my joy and my peace. I feel good knowing that even when I feel lonely, I am not alone as I always have the companionship of the Father through the presence of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me. When things get extremely difficult for me, I am constantly strengthened by the knowledge that God will always be there until the end. I get encouraged to face whatever life throws at me because I know that with God, nothing is impossible.

Letting go of material things and toxic relationships are now quite easy for me to do. I am making moves to pursue my Ph.D. and I understand that working as hard as I do now on my “day job” my not be possible in conjunction with studies but I am trusting that the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me and that He will provide for me. The future is uncertain for me at this juncture for me but knowing the Lord will always be behind me100% gives me peace. It also allows me to have a spirit of contentment with what I have in this crazy intoxicated world we live in where everyone wants more and more.

If we succumb to the feelings of rejection, isolation and desolation, we make room for the enemy to operate in our lives. The Bible reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 that we already have the victory through Our Lord, Jesus Christ so no circumstance or anyone can move us off the foundation of our faith. We must diligently continue to excel in whatever work we are doing for the Lord – remembering that the hard work and diligence we demonstrate towards the things of God is never in vain.

Keep Your Mind On Him

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. – Isaiah 26:3

The worries and cares of life can very quickly get us worked up and steal our peace – if we allow it. We have so much to get done and for single parents, the task list is doubled. They must worry about finances as well as keeping the children and the household in check. Couples are quarreling and bickering over money during these tough economic times causing strife in a lot of homes. Disagreements with family and friends can spiral out of control such that you have siblings who have not spoken to each other for years. Friends have fallen out and taken their affairs to the streets looking for sympathetic ears to listen to their woes. When you ask what started the issue that has robbed everyone involved of peace and tranquility, no one can really remember. Even when they can remember what happened, the issue that seems to have caused so much pain now looks trivial.

We have to be very guarded with our hearts and our minds. No circumstance or person should have the power to get so deep under our skin that we lose our peace. Once we know that God is control and at work in our lives, it is easy to focus on him. The enemy of our souls understands how crucial our peace of mind is to us. He knows what buttons to press to get us rattled. If we do not have enough wisdom to keep our minds focused on the Lord, Satan will get the better of us.

How do we keep our minds on God? We do this by being in constant fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. As long as we study scriptures, listen to His Word, worship and praise God on a daily basis, He will never be far from our minds. With God on our minds, we will remain in perfect peace.

Diligence Has Great Rewards

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. – Proverbs 10:4

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat. – Proverbs 13:4

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5

See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. – Proverbs 22:29

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. – Mark 1:35

And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father's business? – Luke 2:49

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; - 2 Peter 1:10

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. – Deuteronomy 6:7

A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest: Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man. – Proverbs 6:10-11

It pays to have a diligent spirit. The dictionary describes diligence as being steady, earnest or prompt, and energetic in effort. It means to apply ourselves wholly, thoroughly and be dedicated to whatever we do. The Christian is meant to be diligent. We are to work for our employers with diligence and consistency. Our employers must recognize us as reliable and dependable. When we show commitment and effort, our Father in heaven sees us and we will be rewarded for our efforts. Diligence is what leads to lasting promotion. The act of diligence and commitment never goes un-noticed especially when we make the effort to persevere and press through tough times.

God always rewards diligence. When we are diligent in our work and in our service to the Lord, we will never be overlooked. God wants us to be diligent in the studying of His Word and in building our relationship with Him. We are to be diligent and commitment to prayer. The Bible encourages us in Hebrews 6:11 to be diligent to the very end. Joseph was diligent with the gift God bestowed upon Him with the interpretation of dreams. He was diligent to his believe in God and what God hates when he turned down Potiphar’s wife and her advances towards him. Daniel was diligent in prayer and Apostle Paul was diligent in his work for the Lord. Jesus Christ applied Himself diligently to prayer and to the work He was called to do by the Father. He was dedicated to His Father’s business. As parents, we are called to diligently and faithfully teach our children the ways of the Lord. Our children will bring honor to the family name if they are trained to be diligent and faithful in the things that concern God. We bring honor to our Father in heaven when we show diligence and honesty in all that we do.

The true wealth of this world is only harnessed through diligence and hard work. Any other manner of acquiring wealth will not bring joy or peace.

A Way Out of Temptation

No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

When someone is tempted, he should not say, "I am being tempted by God,"
Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it. Because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death. – James 1:13-15

Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. – 2 Timothy 2:22

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. – Matthew 6:13

Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell. - Anonymous

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. - Anonymous

We all run into situations that tempt us to deviate from the Word of God. Everyone will face situations in his or her lifetime that will present opportunities to violate God’s laws. Maybe you work in a government position and you have been offered a substantial amount of money to do something illegal or you feel tempted to take the credit for someone else’s work to get that promotion you really want. Or maybe you work in a bank and are faced with a daily temptation to walk home with some of the money you oversee. For you it could be that you are tempted to have an affair outside your marriage or cheat on an exam. Regardless of the kind of temptation that you are facing right now or may face in the future, God is always faithful. No-one is exempt from facing temptation. Jesus, the Son of God, was Himself tempted by the Devil but He overcame by the power of the Father.

We must know that God never gives us more than we can bear nor does he lead us to sin. The Bible tells us in James 1:13-15 that we are never tempted by God. If we feel tempted at any time, we are being tempted by our own desire because God cannot be tempted by evil neither does he tempt anyone. God may allow circumstances to come our way that tests our belief and trust in Him so we can build endurance but He never lures us into sin. It is when we pay around with temptation that we succumb to sinful actions.

How do we get out of temptation? We can avoid temptation. We are called to pray so that we do not fall victim to temptation. If certain places and people cause us to face temptation to sin, these people and places must be boycotted. For example, If you find that you cannot go to a bar without getting drunk with wine, you must avoid bars. God’s Word is also power against temptation. The Bible tells us in Psalm 119:11 that when we hide the Word of God in our hearts, we are less likely to fall into sin. God’s Word gives us power to overcome temptation. When we are knowledgeable about the Word of God, we will never be outsmarted by Satan because we are aware of all his intentions towards us. The Word and prayer are the tools with which we use to fight the enemy in any situation.

The Gift of Repentance

When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways. – Acts 3:26

God has exalted to his right hand this very man as our Leader and Savior in order to extend repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. – Acts 5:31

Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. – Ezekiel 36:31

The Bible calls to us in Matthew 3:2 to repent for the kingdom of God is near but true repentance is not easily done. Repentance is truly a gift from God. It means for one to completely turn around and to change one’s mind. It means to exchange one’s old way of thinking and acting in the flesh with thinking and acting in the Spirit. Only Almighty God can help us achieve this transformation of mind that we all desperately need. In Romans 2:4, we are reminded not to think so little of God’s kindness, tolerance and patience by failing to realize that He is the one who leads us into repentance. True repentance can only come through the power of God and not in our own strength. If we will ourselves to be transformed outside the power of God, our change will be short-lived. It will only be a matter of time before we are back in our old sinful ways.

With the true gift of repentance from God, our transformation is gradual and lasting. It happens from the inside out. The sinful things that once used to excite us will all of a sudden fail to move us. Things and people that used to have the ability to get under our skin have no effect on us anymore. We have a changed mind resulting in a changed attitude towards God and the things of God. When we truly repent, we turn to the Lord to have our sins blotted out which brings us to the ultimate place where we receive salvation.

The Good Kind of Fear

By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. – Proverbs 16:6

Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. – Ecclesiastes 8:12

His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. – Luke 1:50

The LORD is pleased with those who fear him, with those who wait with hope for his mercy. – Psalm 147:11

And I will give them one heart, and one way that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them. – Jeremiah 32:39

Fear is a basic human emotion. We all feel it at one time or another. For some it can be a fleeting emotion that quickly passes and for other it can be a lifetime phobia. Fear can be experienced as a mild, average or intense emotion depending on the individual and the circumstance they are in. Fear is not necessarily bad, if put in put in proper perspective, it can actually help protect us. It alerts us to possible immediate danger so that we can be more careful and avoid mishaps.

There is good fear and there is bad fear. A good example of bad fear is when one is too afraid to come out of the house for fear of an external factor. I have heard of people who are so afraid of stepping out of their homes that they hide in closets or behind closed doors and have to be fed through a trap in the door. Bad fear can also be fear of other human beings because of what we believe they may do to us. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but one of power, and of love and most also of a sound mind. We are not called to live in fear of places, people, insects, height and confined spaces. The only good fear that we must all have as believers, is a fear for God.

When I say the “fear of the Lord”, I do not mean the “shaking like a lily” kind of fear. I refer to a reverence and respect. I mean our spiritual attitude to God the Father. For example we will not steal, not because we are afraid that God will reach out from heaven and strike us dead but because we know stealing will not make the Lord happy. Our sovereign respect for Him makes us want to do all we can to avoid offending Him. We love Him and we want to do his will. The fear of the Lord is predicated on love. Perfect love drives out all fear and when we love the Lord we want to obey His Word.