Author: Anneta Pinto-Young

I am a trained Social Worker who currently provides professional leadership on a programme to support Social Work students and Newly Qualified Social Workers entering the Social Work Profession. Born and raised in Jamaica in a Christian family where my father is an ordained Pastor and Deacon who has served for over 50 years in the ministry. My father is also a trained musician and our family can be described as a musical family. I grew up in a small farming community in St. Peter’s, St. Andrew and my parents also have a small farm. I credit my gift of writing to my father who I watched and listened to over the years as he wrote sermons, poems and other recitals in his capacity in ministry. English has always been an easy subject for me and over the years I have developed an increased interest in writing. I am a Trainer, I sing and have a passion for worship, the spoken word and the free flow of the prophetic anointing. I am married to my best friend Andrew Christopher Young who is an advanced Musician and whose music you can find on YouTube and Facebook. I am a trained Coach and Mentor and I love experimenting with food so I love cooking. I enjoy trying cultural dishes from across the world and I view food as an entry into cultures and languages.

Watch Your Words

**“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21).**

Yesterday we spoke about the need to pray without condemnation. Today we will continue to explore some of the pitfalls of our words. I recall a time in the Old Testament when Aaron and Miriam faced condemnation, based on the words they used to criticise Moses. In Numbers 12, they spoke against Moses because he married a Cushite woman. Not only did they speak against Moses because of his choice of a wife, they also challenged his relationship with God. “And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it” (Numbers 12:2).

Miriam was a prophetess and Aaron went with Moses, to speak on his behalf before Pharaoh. In a sense, both Miriam and Aaron shared in the leadership role with Moses over the children of Isreal. Additionally, they were Moses’s siblings and it was Miriam who watched over Moses, when he was placed in a basket in the river. Their proximity to Moses and their familiarity with him, made it difficult for them to see him as more than their little brother. There could also have been some hidden resentment towards Moses who experienced a privileged upbringing in the palace. All the while Aaron and Miriam would have grown up under the bondage of Egyptian tyranny.

Either way, something gave them the bravery to challenge Moses’s authority. It is one thing to challenge his choice of a wife, but to speak about his relationship with God was taking things to an entirely different level. The bible’s description of Moses was someone who was humble and meek. God summoned Miriam and Aaron and gave them quite a scolding. “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed” (Numbers 12:9). After the Lord departed, Miriam was leprous and Aaron begged Moses to have mercy. Moses cried out to God on her behalf and God instructed him to shut her out of the camp for seven days. After the seven days, Miriam was brought back to the camp. We can assume that she was healed from the leprosy as she would not be allowed to return otherwise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and we have to be careful how we use words to describe people. Words spoken in anger, frustration, bitterness, resentment, jealousy and other negative emotions can be extremely harmful. Either way, God judges the intentions of the heart and searches the deep and hidden things. Unlike us, God sees the motives behind what we say and we have to be careful that our words don’t come back to haunt us. There is a song that I remember singing in Sunday school which goes like this; “watch your mouth, watch your mouth, what they say, watch your mouth, watch your mouth, what they say. For there’s a father up above, looking down in tender love. Watch your mouth, watch your mouth, what they say.”

A.P.-Y.

Praying Without Condemnation

**“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20).**

We know that there is no condemnation to us who are in Christ Jesus. Why do we often feel condemned and judged and worry about approaching Christ for forgiveness? We can also extend our inward condemnation to others, due to the guilt that we experience, because of our failures.

The bible exhorts us to pray constantly for each other as believers (Ephesians 6:18). As we pray, we resist the desire to condemn and criticise. Oftentimes we use the excuse of being honest and having the need to vent. Our reminder should be about the power in our words and the life and death that exists in our tongue (Proverbs 18:21).

Since we are convinced of the life giving power within our mouths, let us use our words to speak life, and call those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). This principle is not living in denial and ignoring that challenges exists. Sometimes we do have to speak the truth in love in order to correct and edify. But we must always bear in mind, the motivation behind our words and use our words to speak life.

A parent with a wayward child can complain about their child’s behaviour, or confess the promises of God over them. Wives and husbands should look for the good in their spouses and speak what God promises concerning them. If we truly recognise how much power is stored in our words, we would not use them loosely. We pray about each other’s weaknesses and trust God to complete the work in us and in others.

A.P.-Y.

From Trials to Triumph

**“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18)**.

Paul faced much persecution, when he went about preaching the gospel and establishing the church. Paul’s hope was for a future reward in heaven, where the glory of God would be revealed in him. There are also rewards here on earth, for those who do the right thing and we see examples of this throughout the bible.

Joseph had a dream; told his family and was coveted and sold into slavery and then ended up in prison. Fast forward a few years and Joseph is appointed Governor of Egypt (Genesis 37; 39; 41).

Daniel trusted God and refused to stop praying three times a day, when the officials had the King sign a decree to cause trouble for him. This was because the King favoured Daniel and had plans to set him over the entire Kingdom. Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den because he continued to pray, but God preserved him so the lions could not eat him. The men who conspired against Daniel were themselves fed to the lions. After this, not only did the King establish Daniel, but he wrote a decree to make it known, that the God of Daniel is the true and living God who had delivered him (Daniel 6).

Haman set a trap to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews, because Mordecai would not bow to him. Haman’s plot backfired and he was hung on the same gallows, which he built for Mordecai. Mordecai was set over the house of Haman and the King gave him the title, which he had taken away from Haman (Esther 7; 8).

All of these bible stories and many more, serve to show us that trials often come before triumph and major difficulties before a breakthrough. The test will produce major testimonies and this challenge will lead to your promotion. We are in a season of victory and your best days are ahead. Stay in faith and continue to speak what the word of God says. God is turning difficult situations into moments of great destiny and purpose.

A.P.-Y.

Dealing with Codependency

“And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food” (1 Kings 21:4).

Ahab was King in Israel after the death of his father Omri. “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30). One of Ahab’s major mistakes, was marrying Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal who served Baal. Ahab followed his wife in serving Baal and built an altar to serve him in Samaria. One day, Ahab approached Naboth who owned a vineyard near his palace. He asked Naboth to give him the vineyard, so that he could turn it into a vegetable garden. Naboth refused as the vineyard was the inheritance of his fathers.

Ahab’s response was so extreme that he went into his room, turned his face to the wall and would not eat. Imagine a King throwing a temper tantrum, because a man would not part with the land that he inherited from his family. When his wife asked him what was wrong, he complained like a petulant child. Ahab was angry because Naboth refused to hand over his vineyard. Jezebel’s response was to support Ahab’s childish behaviour. “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite” (1 Kings 21:7). Jezebel decided to take matters into her own hands.

She used the Kings seal to write letters of accusation against Naboth, which led to his execution. Ahab took possession of Naboth’s vineyard which aroused the anger and condemnation of God. This was the prophecy concerning Ahab as a result of what he did. “Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood” (1 Kings 21:19). The plot of land was not worth the life of an innocent man. Ahab brought condemnation on himself and his household, because of his toxic and codependent relationship with Jezebel.

“Codependency is a circular relationship in which one person needs the other person, who in turn, needs to be needed. The codependent person, known as ‘the giver,’ feels worthless unless they are needed by and making sacrifices for the enabler, otherwise known as ‘the taker” (DR. EXELBERG, verywellmind.com). In healthy relationships, people have a desire to feel loved and wanted. The ideal relationship is one where both persons are interdependent. This is when two strong people are involved with each other without sacrificing themselves or compromising their values.

The pattern of codependency first started with Solomon, who married the Queen of Sheba. This marriage led him to leave his love for God and to serve other foreign gods. This generational pattern was passed down to Ahab, who was an extreme case. This is why choosing a life partner is such an important decision, as being attached to the wrong person can ruin your life. We can learn a lot from Ahab and Jezebel’s toxic relationship and guard against codependency. A wife should encourage her husband to be a better person as should a husband love and nurture his wife. Both people should help each other to become better children of God. A relationship needs two people who are firmly established in God to create a healthy and balanced union.

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals”” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

A.P.-Y.

Inner Peace

**“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).**

I once watched an animated movie called Kung fu Panda with a Panda who was a skilled martial artist. When Panda was a baby, his parents were killed by a peacock who’s desire was to take over China. The Peacock was told that he would one day be defeated by a Panda. Panda’s struggle was to find inner peace in order to fulfill his destiny and defeat the Peacock. In the end Panda learnt how to control his anger and found inner peace. Once Panda found inner peace, no weapon thrown at him by the enemy could take him out. Panda found peace and fulfilled the prophecy of defeating the Peacock.

Like Panda, we need the peace of God to block the attacks from the enemy and to fulfill our purpose. Jesus promised his disciples that we would have peace, not in and of this world, but a peace which comes from God. He encouraged us not to let our hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).
The nightly news can cause us so much fear. There is so much happening around us to rob us of our inner peace and joy. We have to limit how much of the bad news we take in and remain in tuned with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus taught his disciples of troubled times to come in this world and his teachings are to help us find peace in him. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John‬ ‭16:33‬).

We will not find peace in our bank account, in the government or scientists, in our jobs or earthly possessions because material things can be taken away. But the peace which God gives cannot be taken away by the challenges around us. Peace be unto you.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”
‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬).

A.P.-Y.

God Hears As We Speak

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it. And a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared the Lord and who thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16).

Malachi spoke of a book of remembrance, which was written before God, of those who feared him and honoured his name. What was written in the book were the conversations of those who feared God. He listens in on our discussions and he harkens (listens and gives respect) to what we say. This is why Paul encouraged us to let our speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 4:6).

We are the salt of the earth as we are the light of the world. Our conversations should reflect the salt and light that we represent and the grace of God in us. Paul warned us to have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels (2 Timothy 2:23). Titus also cautioned us to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless (Titus 3:9).

We have nothing to gain from strife and quarrelling and it is a waste of energy to engage in arguments, for the sake of being controversial. Let us use our time wisely and be selective of the conversations we engage in. What can God write in his book of remembrance when he listens to us speak? Are we seeking to build each other up and to edify and encourage each other in the word? Who are you speaking to and what is the nature of your conversations?

I know that God listens and I want him to harken and record my conversations. We need to bear in mind, the next time we speak that God is listening and keeping a record. God is interested in what we have to say and the Holy Spirit is present to speak through us. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm‬ ‭19:14‬).

A.P.-Y.

Heavenly Intelligence

**“And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom” (2 Kings 6:12)**.

The King of Syria decided to wage war against the people of God in Israel. Every time the Syrian King made a plan to set an ambush against Israel, Elisha the Prophet would warn Israel, so that they evaded the ambush. The Syrian King was frustrated because he thought, that certainly someone in his camp was a spy and passing on information to Israel. How else would they know about the plans that he made against them and managed to avoid his attacks? A servant told the King that there wasn’t actually a spy, but a prophet in Isreal who heard even the conversations that he had in his chamber.

There are angels that surround us and the Holy Spirit that lives in us, translates heavenly intelligence concerning the activities of the kingdom of darkness. Every time the enemy tries to launch an attack against us, God will send us a warning to avoid being caught in Satan’s snare. The King in his anger sent an army to surround Elisha and take him captive. What he didn’t know or realise was that Elisha had an army of angels at his disposal. “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings‬ ‭6:17‬).

We see similar occurrences around the time of Jesus’s birth, when Herod had plans to assassinate him. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take Jesus and his mother and escape to Egypt, because Herod was coming in search of him (Matthew 2:13). It was also an angel who told Joseph that it was ok to marry Mary: this was because he had to plans to put her away privately, because she became pregnant before they were married (Matthew 1.20-23).

It is important for us to live at a place, where we can hear from God through the Holy Spirit. There are also ministering spirits (angels) who will transit messages to us for our protection and direction. We have access to supernatural insight, wisdom and divine revelation concerning happenings on earth. It is in remaining in close relationship with God that we will have access to such intelligence. “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians‬ ‭1:18‬).

A.P.-Y.

God is Acquainted with Sorrow

**“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” (Isaiah 53:3).**

Jesus walked the path of suffering and shame, in order to understand the places where we hurt. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are; yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:5).

God wants us to know that he understands how we feel and he cares about our emotional wellbeing. He is a God of comfort and compassion and wants to heal every broken emotion. God wants to heal our hurt and pain. Sometimes we try to mask our pain with our own solutions, that at times create more problems. By the stripes of Jesus we can claim healing for every emotional wound. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm‬ ‭34:18‬).

Jesus was described in (Isaiah 53:3) as being despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. There is nothing that you will go through that Jesus cannot relate to. His time on earth was depicted by suffering and pain and he wants to comfort you.

There is hope friends and God will walk with us and carry us through every place where we hurt. He died for our healing and he wants to make us whole again. Stay in his presence and know that Jesus is able to heal you where it hurts. “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah‬ ‭53:5‬).

A.P.-Y.

God Heals the Wounded

**“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).**

It is impossible to go through life, without experiencing some kind of hurt or heartache. Some hurts are emotional or psychological and while some wounds are surface level others are deep seated. Some human beings are said to be more resilient than others. If that is the case, it is hard to measure types of hurt and try to determine how it will affect people. Two people can go through the same experience and both respond to it differently. It is hard to tell what makes some people more resilient, or try to determine why some people are better able to cope than others.

Whatever the hurt, God is invested in mending and providing healing. I didn’t always understand that God cares about my emotions and I once felt that he was too busy to be bothered with my heartache. I later learnt that God also cares about the matters of our hearts and our emotional well-being. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Not only does God care about our heartache, but he is also close to us when we are hurting.

It is sometimes the people that are close to us who cause us the most heartache. David said, “For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him” (Psalm 55:12). In this passage David was lamenting about the betrayal of a friend, who he used to confide in. We have to trust our emotions to God and trust Him when we cannot trust other people. We learn the lesson, try to make better choices and be more selective when making decisions about significant relationships.

The best thing is to allow God to choose our friends and those people who he wants us to be close to. We have to also surrender our hurts to Jesus, so that we do not become hardened, as this can lead us to hurting others. God is not like people and a difficult relationship with a parent can affect our ability to trust God, for example. God is a good father and even if our parents forsake us then the Lord will take care of us. Even if your mother and father forsake you, the Lord still cares for you.

“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares’” (Jeremiah 30:17)!

A.P.-Y.

High Above the Storm

**“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).**

Eagles are large, powerful birds with incredible eyesight, which allows them to see prey from very long distances away. They are ranked at the top of the food chain and make their nests in tall trees or on high cliffs, which is well out of the view and reach of other animals.

Isaiah made reference to even young men growing faint and weary and falling due to exhaustion (Isaiah 40:30). But it is in waiting on God, that causes us to develop the strength and stamina of an eagle. Paul also reminded us that God has, “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Our seating with Christ Jesus is, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21).

Our positioning offers a privileged vantage point and changes our perspective from surface level thinking, to seeing in the realms of the spirit. Knowing who we are, the authority that we have in Jesus Christ and our place in Christ, takes our focus off the tests and trials. God has put all things under the feet of Jesus and as we are seated with him, all things are under our feet (Ephesians 1:22).

We have to maintain our eternal perspective and keep our eyes above the challenges. Stay seated near Jesus with the devil and his agents under our feet.

A.P.-Y.