29 Apr 2020
What causes me to praise God in the midst of a storm, to have faith and be positive when things look so bleak? It is knowing the God that I serve. It is knowing what Romans 8:28 says and means. It is knowing that the God who can do all things answers prayer. It is knowing that I may be hard pressed on every side, but I’m not broken – 2 Corinthians 4:8. It is knowing that I have everything I need for life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3 and in addition to that promise, verse 4.
28 Apr 2020
Psalm 32 ministered to me this morning. We have petitioned, confessed, been distressed and burdened. Now, a new dawn has come. These experiences and the work the Lord is doing will cause us to look back and praise Him. It may seem odd for such a time as this, but rejoice!
27 Apr 2020
In Matthew 4:1-11, we learn that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting. Over and above that, the devil tempted Him. But when He emerged from that season, He started His ministry as seen in verse 12-17. We are going through a season that gives us the opportunity to wait upon God, pray and even fast. What will be the outcome of this experience for us? Will i be business as usual or will there be evidence of transformation? What is the Lord working on in us during this season?
24 Apr 2020
It is my hope and prayer that I develop a more consistent attitude of hearing God and understanding what His will is in the different circumstances I find myself in; that I understand life is not primarily about me, rather about He who began a good work in me and is working in me no matter the circumstances I am in; that times and seasons don’t change Him, rather He remains God and I need to seek Him every time. May we learn from the consistency and focus of Daniel who served under four kings and took advantage of opportunities without letting the opportunities take advantage of him.
23 Apr 2020
Allowing God to do His will in our lives especially during tough times is critical to us seeing what He is accomplishing under the circumstances. What if Daniel had bowed down to the image of gold in chapter 3? Would he have been thrown into the furnace? Would the Lord have rescued them? Would we be reading of God’s great deliverance in that incident? May we have the discipline to seek His will and obey, and keep the course. May He be merciful to share His will.
22 Apr 2020
We are smack in the middle of a pandemic that is shaking the whole world. For many who have lost loved ones, jobs, property, etc, we may be shaken and not sure what the future holds. Israel and Judah were in a similar situation when they were conquered and carried off into exile. In the midst of that calamity, God was still at work, hence the rise of Daniel and other great occurrences. The book of Daniel shows the sovereignty of God. Even the conquerors came to know God. May we encounter this great God of Daniel and may our lives be transformed even in the midst of all this “chaos”. Daniel chapter 1 and 2.
21 Apr 2020
We don’t serve a mean God who is always looking for an opportunity to inflict pain. Even in times of uncertainty, He gives reassurance and grace. What season is He taking you through? How are you holding up? Are you learning what He wants you to learn under the circumstances? 2 Kings ends with the destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying off of the children of God into exile (2 Kings 24:8-25:30). The period in exile came to an end and the survivors returned home and some even settled on their own property in their own towns (1 Chronicles 9:1-2).
20 Apr 2020
In John 8:48-59, Jesus had a conversation with some Jews that got them angry to the point that they wanted to stone Him. He stated that He was eternal, that He knew the Father, that He existed before Abraham was born. Why were the Jews so angry? This happened again in John 10:31. This was the punishment meted out for blasphemy. Over and above that, Jesus challenged their faith in God beyond what they were ready to accept. Are there times you have felt the same way? How do you respond? Do you let nature take its course? Do you allow your faith to grow? Do you allow God to mould you afresh to become what He wants you to be under the circumstances? Do you give up?
17 Apr 2020
The interesting thing is that I may decide to do something which feels right, without thinking about the motivation that drove me to do it. And I might have a reason to back up my actions. But because I have not sought the Lord about it or He is not the initiator of my action, it may not end up well. Proverbs 16:1-3 gives us good guidance on what to do to avoid this. To be able to consistently do this, I need to have a relationship with God that makes me desire to walk in His ways always. Consistent communication with Him will enable me to always engage Him and allow Him to guide me in all I do.
16 Apr 2020
After Moses had served as leader, the Lord allowed Joshua to lead Israel into Canaan. He died at the age of 110 and there was nobody left who had personally experienced the exodus from Egypt. Israel grew more and more distant from God and was easily influenced by the communities they settled among. Idol worship was a key problem they struggled with. We are faced with a similar predicament today. Successive generations here are struggling to remain faithful to God despite the finished work of the cross. May the Lord have mercy. May we not let other things take up His place in our hearts and may our circumstances, good or otherwise, always point us back to Him. Judges 3:7-31.