We want to be able to control our lives and our destinies. We want to be able to make things happen, seize the moment and grab that opportunity. What happens in those times when situations are outside of our control? I had a thought some years ago about how God works in our lives and it goes like this. ‘At times God will render us helpless, so that we have to rely completely on him. When things work out as they generally do, then we have no choice but to give him the glory, because we know that what we accomplished was not in our own strength.’ In other words, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

There are seasons when I have felt extremely frustrated, when it feels like things aren’t going the way that I wanted. I have often prayed and cried out to God, only to get a response to “be still.” My feelings have been, “really God, just be still. You mean I don’t need to write a letter, lodge a complaint, resign my job, tell somebody about themselves?” Just be still and wait for me to act, is what God usually says.

“And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again” (Exodus 14:13). This bible story is one of the most extreme examples of God asking people to be still. Israel was caught between a Red Sea and an army in pursuit. God was telling his people to stand in the knowledge of who he is; omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, almighty, powerful and mighty to save.

As long as we are busy trying to do things our own way, then God will let us try. He won’t force himself into our situation. We have to invite him into our circumstances and learn to surrender. Knowing that our help and our strength comes from the Lord.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

A.P.-Y.

In Acts 10, Peter had a vision regarding different animals being lowered on a sheet from heaven. He heard a voice telling him to arise, kill and eat the animals. The problem with this was that, the sheet contained every kind of wild beast and animals including creeping things. The Jews were very selective about the animals that they ate. As such, Peter objected to the instruction in his vision. “But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean”” (Acts 10:14). God’s response to Peter was, ‘What God has cleansed, you must not call common (Acts 10:15).

While Peter was having this vision, an angel appeared to a Centurion named Cornelius. The angel instructed him to send for Peter so that he could instruct him and his household. Cornelius’s prayers and his benevolence had gone up to God as a memorial. He sent two men and a soldier to ask Peter to visit his family. The men arrived at Peter’s house and the Holy Spirit told him about their arrival. “Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them” (Acts 10:20). Peter allowed them to stay with him overnight and then accompanied them to meet Cornelius.

When Peter arrived at his house, he knelt down to worship him. Peter corrected him and spoke to him concerning his vision and instruction from God. Peter explained that ordinarily the Jews would not enter the house of a Centurion or a non Jewish person. However, God had demonstrated through a dream, his love and sanctification for all people. Cornelius also told Peter about his vision and Peter preached the word of God to his household. Cornelius’s relatives and close friends were all gathered in his house, and while Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word. Peter was proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and of Jesus Christ.

I would love to have heard Peter’s sermon on that day. He spoke as the spirit gave him utterance. Prior to Peter’s vision and instruction to meet with Cornelius, he was on his roof praying and hungry and fell in a trance. Perhaps Peter was ending a season of fasting and intercession. Either way, through his quiet time in prayer and consecration, God sent him divine revelation. Through this revelation, it opened a door of opportunity for him to minister the gospel. Peter also baptised the people who were gathered on that day as they accepted Jesus Christ as Lord.

Our words are like salve, which can heal, deliver and set free. I remember as children, a few of my siblings were ill for some time. After a few hospital admissions, medication and treatment, my parents were at a loss as the illness persisted. My father took our church magazine called the White Wing Messenger, which contained the anointed words of ministers and put it in hot water, made tea and gave it to my siblings. They were healed by his faith mixed with the anointed words on that paper. Use the word of God to bring light to the darkness. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

A.P.-Y.

Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica concerning the coming day of the Lord. The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (I Thessalonians 5:3). As saints, we are not in darkness, so that this day would come without us being aware. We are children of the light and of the day, so we do not sleep as others do. We remain watchful and sober, wearing the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of hope and salvation.

Christ died for us, so that whether we live or die, we will be with Him. Paul further exhorted the brethren, to have respect for those who have authority over them. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (I Thessalonians 5:14). Paul warned that no one should repay evil with evil, but pursue what is good for ourselves and for others. He then said that we should always be joyful, pray always and give thanks in everything. This is because it is the will of God for us to be thankful. Paul also exhorted that we do not quench the Holy Spirit and do not despise the gift of prophecy.

We have a duty to test everything, hold unto what is good and stay away from everything that is evil. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 5:23). Paul’s instructions to be joyful and thankful always, seems like a difficult task. Is it possible to remain joyful and grateful amidst trials, testing and difficulties? I suppose the idea is that as long as we are alive, there is something to be grateful for. The joy which Paul made reference to, is the everlasting joy which we have when we are in right standing with God. This joy assures us of our hope in God and our plan for an eternal destination with him.

Things in this earth are temporal and will one day pass away. What we do for Christ will last into eternity and real joy comes from doing what God has created us to do. Gratitude is said to be one of the most powerful human emotions, which reduces stress and anxiety. Gratitude takes our eyes off our problems and focuses them on our blessings. Many theories suggests that when we focus on the positives, it produces more positives. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you” (Proverbs 23:7). Let us determine in this week and every other week, that we will maintain a heart of gratitude and rejoicing. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4)!

A.P.-Y.

I am taking a short break as I head away for a much needed holiday. You may not see any posts from me over the next two weeks as I rest.

I will resume posting on the 17th October, 2022. In the meantime, read some old blogs that seem relevant.

So long! 😊

A.P.-Y.

In chapter 17, Jeremiah spoke of the sins of Judah. God had plans to give their wealth as spoil and would cause them to serve their enemies. “Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5). Jeremiah said anyone who trusted in man would be like a shrub in the desert, who would not see any goodness. The alternative was to trust God, and be blessed like trees planted by the water. They send down roots in the stream and do not fear when there is drought or heat. The person who trusts in God is always fruitful and their leaves are ever green.

Jeremiah said that the heart is desperately sick and deceitful. “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:10). God compared a person who gathered wealth, which they did not earn as a bird gathering a brood that she did not hatch. Wealth gained through unjust means would not remain with the dishonest person. Jeremiah lamented for God to heal his people so that they could be saved. He asked God to be his refuge in the day of disaster. God would put to shame all who persecuted him and bring them destruction.

The essence of what Jeremiah was saying, is the need to rely on God first and not to look to other people for our salvation. God is the only one who can save us and although he uses people as destiny helpers, they are not the source. Sometimes we can knowingly or unknowingly put other people in the place of God. Whenever we start to look to other people to provide for us or to rescue us, we are making them out to be god. When we truly believe that God is able to meet our needs, we don’t need to manipulate others to provide for us.

Unresolved trauma can leave us in a position of victimhood. Sometimes people have been wrongly victimised through abuse or neglect. This is a sad reality which results from toxic relationships. Being victimised does not mean that a person needs to remain a lifetime victim. A victim mentality prevents people from taking responsibility for their choices and the resulting consequences. It is easy to sit around, feeling sorry for yourself and wishing for someone to come and rescue you. God alone is our salvation and we look to him first for provision, sustenance and to meet all of our needs.

God is able to heal the mind and emotions and we can unlearn unhealthy relationship patterns. We learn dysfunctional patterns from early childhood and negative parenting styles, create maladaptive behaviours. The good news is that helps is readily available. Many unhealthy behaviours can be corrected through counselling and therapy. There is empathy for anyone who has or continue to experience abuse. Healing is also possible when we seek support and guidance. We can overcome unhealthy coping strategies and replace these with healthy and wholesome habits. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

A.P.-Y.

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus’s coming and gave ample descriptions, of the life that he would live. He grew up like a young plant, like a root out of a dry ground, with no form or majesty that we should look at him, or any beauty that we should esteem him. He was despised, rejected, sorrowful, grief stricken and people hid their faces from him. Jesus was pierced and crushed by our sins, he took on chastisement so that we can have peace and his wounds brought us healing. He was oppressed and afflicted, judged a sinner and cut off from the earth.

He was crucified among the wicked although he committed no sins. “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Jesus was made a public spectacle in front of people, a public display of martyrdom. He was not afraid to die, although he asked God if his cup could pass. His blood was poured out for for the guilty, although he was guiltless.

People hated Jesus although he went about doing good. The devil hates us and anyone who belongs to God. He will use circumstances to create dysfunctions and shame. Many communities historically used shame based forms of parenting styles to raise children. The idea is that the child would change their behaviour, through having negative thoughts and feelings about themselves. The reality is that this concept does not work and what it does, is to create low self-esteem and people with dysfunctional patterns. The alternative to shame based parenting is positive parenting. This is where a parent focuses on the positive attributes and strengths of a child.

My point in explaining this concept is that, many adults are walking around daily with feelings of guilt, shame and inadequacy. These emotions were often generated in childhood, from negative parenting styles and have remained into adulthood. The good news is that our God knows what it feels like to be despised and rejected. He took quite a beating leading to his crucifixion. He was mocked, jeered, scorned and disdained. He can relate to our negative emotions and he died to set us free from guilt and shame. “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4).

A.P.-Y.