God wants us to have health and a full life. How else would we fulfil the will of God and be used by him when we are constantly struggling. God will allow some pain and struggle if we allow him to use it for his glory. All things work together for good, to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I know that this scripture can sound cliche and we cannot always wrap our minds around how some of our challenges are working out for good. I do not believe that all atrocities in the world are according to God’s perfect will. God controls everything but there are some situations that he will allow for judgment when people have hardened their hearts towards him. But for those who are walking in the perfect will of the Lord he uses the trials to bring glory to his name.

God can use illness to draw a family closer together and bring healing for his glory. It is through adversity when all hope is gone that we place all our trust and confidence in God. And when he delivers our faith grows stronger. We draw strength from the heroes of faith in the bible and we learn from Jesus’s example how he prayed the prayer of faith and healed the sick and gave freedom to the oppressed.

We learn from David how he constantly engaged in battle and always had victory. We also learn from the Israelites how disobedience always led to judgement and God turning away from his people. But God is always faithful to restore once his people repent and turn back to him. That’s the confidence we have in God that no matter how far we go away from his presence that he is always waiting with open arms for us to return to him. Once we repent and return to God he is waiting to restore all that was lost. God is restoring.

A.P.-Y.

• 

“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” Ezekiel‬ ‭18:23‬

People often blame God when very bad things happen in the world and cast doubt on his faithfulness and ability to heal the sick or stop major atrocities. I believe that God is a good father who loves us and wants the very best for us. And in order for us to stay under his covering and protection, we have to walk in obedience and maintain a relationship with him.

Very often we want to live life on our own terms and choose the parts of the bible that we want to obey for example. But we cannot expect all the blessings without the obedience and submission. The reality that we have to come to terms with is that God is not a convenience store where we select the items we want and leave the rest on the shelf. The commandments in His word are there for a reason and His laws are there to protect us.

There are spiritual laws that govern the universe and it is because God knows the outcome of some actions that he warns us to stay away from them. This isn’t because he is a grumpy old man who wants to ruin all the fun and make us live boring lives. In the same way that parents warn children to stay away from some behaviours because they are old and wise enough to know the outcome.

God knows the end from the beginning and his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts. Isaiah 46:10; 55:8-9 God’s wisdom is infinite and He is all powerful and all knowing.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”Romans‬ ‭11:34‬ Our duty is to fear God and keep his commandments, submit to him and walk in obedience and trust that he loves us and cares for us. God cannot be tempted by evil and he is not the cause of evil around us but the safest place for us to find rest and peace is in the will of God.

A.P.-Y.

• 

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Paul spoke to the Galatians about being tied to the rigidity of the law and in this scripture, he spoke concerning the practice of circumcision. Paul’s teaching points to the grace of God which we receive through Christ Jesus as our gift of salvation. Because of our understanding that we are saved by grace and not by the works that we do as this is a free gift from God.

What a relief to know that we don’t have to be “good enough” for God to love us and Paul once described himself as the worst sinner. Paul was a Roman soldier who relentlessly pursued and terrorised the church until his remarkable transformation where Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:1-4

God transformed the passion and zeal which Paul used to persecute the church to spread the gospel throughout the region. Imagine that Paul wrote most of the New Testament while travelling to establish churches throughout the region. A man once a murderer transformed into a missionary and apostle of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God’s concern with your past is how he can transform this for the establishment of his kingdom. God has thrown our sins into the depths of the sea because he has forgiven our sin and does not remain angry with us. Micah 7:18-19

You are free from condemnation and the guilt and shame of the past. Christ Jesus died to set you free and you no longer need to be tied to the bondage of the past. Pray, repent, renounce your attachment to the past and accept God’s freedom and forgiveness. Then walk in freedom and trust that you are forgiven and forgive yourself for the mistakes that you made because God has forgiven you.

If any of us were perfect then Jesus would not have died on the cross. We were all fallen and our sin separated us from God. So in accepting his death on the cross, we also accept the free gift of salvation and accept that we have been forgiven and set free. Now walk in freedom.

A.P.-Y.

• 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

I once had a MRI scan and I did not know before then that I was terrified of small spaces. The noise and racket from that machine caused me so much fear and panic.

The morning before the scan I set my alarm for 6a.m. but I was awake at 5a.m. Unable to go back to sleep I decided to have a quiet time of reflection and meditation. Jehovah is your name is the song that came into my spirit during that quiet time. I also meditated on the scriptures about God being with us and fighting our battles. 

During the noise, racket and fear of the scan, the words Jehovah is your name rang over and over in my head. God is with me, God is with me and he promises to never leave nor forsake me. Deuteronomy 31:6

This is a promise that amidst the noise of our lives and the many voices from the enemy to instil fear that God is present. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalm 46:2

When we become still and listen we will hear him speak. He is present in the storm and in the midst of trouble and despair. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm‬ ‭46:1‬ 

A. P.-Y.

• 

You shall decree a thing, and it shall be granted unto you, and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Job 22:28

Dominion is sovereignty or control regarding a territory of sovereign government. We know that heaven is God’s kingdom and the earth is his footstool. Isaiah 66:1

God created us to rule over the earth, to subdue it and to have dominion over every living thing that moves upon the face of the earth. Genesis 1:28 To subdue means to overcome or to bring under control.
When sin entered the world we lost that authority and the world was governed by the Prince of darkness who is our enemy.

Jesus’s birth, death and resurrection on the cross restored our relationship with God and to those who confess him to them he gives power and authority to become sons of God. John 1:12 Jesus also gives us the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions; and over every power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means harm us. Luke 10:19

Jesus’s death and resurrection also gives us victory over sin and death which the enemy tried to use to enslave us. 1 Corinthians 15:57 Jesus died so he could rise again in resurrection victory. When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we also crucify our flesh to sin. So we no longer live unto the flesh but Christ Jesus lives in us. Galatians 2:20

And as we live in Christ Jesus, we also live in the power that raised him from the dead. Romans 8:11As Christians we walk in our God given authority and with the power that has been given unto us through Christ Jesus. We are also seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus and whatever things we bind on earth is also bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth is also loosed in heaven. Ephesians 2:6; Mathew 18:18

Stand in your God given authority and take your place in the kingdom of God and manifest your destiny. Use your words to decree and declare over the atmosphere and access the sovereignty over the territory you have been called to govern. You have dominion and authority; walk in it!

A.P.-Y.

“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 had been killed by a peacock who’s desire was to take over China. The Peacock had been 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 of defeating 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.

We need the peace of God in this season 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 encourages us not to let your 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

God will give us perfect peace when our minds are stayed on him, because we trust in him. Isaiah 26:3 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.

A.P.-Y.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton