Trading your Sorrows

Have you ever received an unbelievable bargain and wondered what's the catch? Compared to most bargains in this world, the most unbelievable, radical offer comes from Jesus. He offers to take all our sorrows, our shame in exchange for His joy and glory!
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all go through hard times, everyone of us. But we need not do it alone. When we give our pain and circumstances to God, He will make beauty out of ashes because that is God's speciality! So we can rejoice in what God will do!
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Sorrow is short lived but joy is eternal and does not depend on the outward circumstances. The Lord says that in His kingdom, there will be no more pain or suffering or tears.
Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
In the interim until the final consummation of His kingdom, He promises to be with us and make everything beautiful in His time and give us even joy here and now!

The psalmist David took up God on his offer. He endured injustice after injustice from King Saul who pursued him to take his life. He found solace in God and allowed God to take up his pain and sufering and even more to turn those sorrows into joy. He knew that sorrow, weeping and mourning only last for the night and he will rejoice again.
Psalm 30:5b
Weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:11-12
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
That my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever..

Paul, the apostle of Christ knew this well. Paul wrote the joy soaked book of Philippians while enduring difficult circumstances in prison. He endured hardship of every kind - falsely accused and imprisioned for few years awaiting trial, misunderstood and persecuted on every front, ship wrecked and placed under house arrest. Yet he lived in joy, more concerned for the brothers and sisters in the Philippian church that his own circumstances. He knew that in Christ he had gained everything and had nothing to lose! What a great perspective to hold onto as we live our lives!
Philippians 3: 8
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gaian Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, biut that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis on faith. 
In Philippians 4:4, Paul asks us to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!."

What burdens are you carrying? Jesus has already made an unbelievable offer to you. There is no reason for not trading with Jesus as He is a man of His word and will keep His end of the offer! What are you waiting for? Trade your sorrows and come out singing with joy! If you have Christ, you have everything to live for!
I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

Truth in Love

Sometimes we avoid speaking the truth for fear of offending someone and causing them pain or hurt. Sometimes when we decide to speak the truth we do it without any love. Either of this is wrong and is detrimental to a relationship. We are exhorted to speak the truth of God in love and both the elements are equally important.
Ephesians 4:15,16
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The reason we are exhorted to speak the truth in love is because we belong to one another in Christ, we are part of the same body. Not speaking in truth is deception.

How can we speak to one another God's truth in love? Here are some aspects of how this can be achieved. Paul had to do this with the church he established in Thessalonica and we can learn some principles from Paul's approach in dealing with the problems the church faced.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 Paul spoke words of affirmation. He praised them for their faithfulness to the gospel even though they were Christians for a short time. We need to affirm people, because God does not condemn anyone.

Then Paul told them of the relationship he shared with them in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. Paul emphasized that he cared for them and that they had a relationship like a father to a child. Often if we do not have a relationship with the person, we do not earn the right to speak into their lives and we will look like we are interfering.

Once Paul had affirmed the Thessalonicans and emphasized the relationship they shared, he then went on in the subsequent chapters to tell them the truth - warning and admonishing them on the basis of their relationship. After he had this, he finally ends with encouragement to walk in the truth of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

No one embodies speaking the truth in love more than Jesus. To the women caught in adultery, Jesus called out the truth of the woman's sin but treated the woman with love and compassion and encourages her to leave her of sin.

John 8: 7-11

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

How do you communicate to others? Are you speaking the truth without love or are you avoiding to speak the truth thinking that it is love? Analyse your motive, is it to build and encourage one another in love? Let us, with the help of God, speak the truth and always in love because love is the heart of all relationships!

Jehovah Jireh

Jehovah Jireh is a declaration that God is our Provider. Sometimes we walk around worrying and thinking that we are working and providing for ourselves. However, God wants to remind us that everything we are, everything we have comes from Him. He is our provider. He knows what is best for us and provides for us in every way. It was God who recognised our need for Him and He provided Himself for us. How much more then can He provide for our day to day needs?
Phil 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Do you remember how the Lord provided for the Israelites after He rescued them from Egypt? He provided for them manna every morning and quail every evening.
Exodus 16:13-15
That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

Similarly God wants to remind us that we need not worry about things that we need and run after them. The Lord knows our need and He will provide for us!
Matthew 6:28-34
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Sometimes God puts us in situations so that we can rely and depend upon Him! As a little child rests secure in the knowledge that his parents will provide for all his needs, how much more should we be confident and rely on God's ability to provide for us! God tested Abraham. He told him to sacrifice Isaac, the only son he loved so greatly. One can almost feel the pain and confusion Abraham must have experienced. His heart ached, but he was faithful to God. He was determined he would use Isaac as a sacrifice. At the right moment, God told Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac and God provided the sacrifice instead - a lamb. God called Abraham to do the impossible - sacrifice his own son. When Abraham obeyed, then God made the provision for the sacrifice. Consequently, the Bible says` "Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh" (Genesis 22:14).

What are you worrying about today? Quit worrying and rely on God who knows your every need. He will surely provide and God wants you to experience Him as Jehovah Jireh!
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Unity and Harmony

Have you enjoyed an orchestra performance? All the musicians have their instruments tuned and when they all play, its just magic. Even if one instrument is out of tune, then its not pleasant. It is exactly the same in the church. Each member is unique but there is an underlying unity brought about by the one Spirit who is in all of us.
I Cor 12:12,13
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

When there is disunity, there is discord. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that he was concerned for them because he could see a lot of problems that arose from disunity.
2 Cor 12:20
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

When each of us are tuned to Christ, then we will automatically be tuned to one another. When we humble ourselves just like Christ did and esteem one another, we will not give in to selfish interests but will maintain unity.
Philippians 2:1-4
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
When we realise that Christ died for each one of us and that each of are baptised by the same Spirit into one body, then we will strive to ensure that our differences of opinion do not hinder us from being unified with each other. We may not see eye to eye on everything with fellow believers but we do not allow petty differences to destroy our unity.

How are your relationships especially in the church? Are they marked by unity or would you have to admit that you need restoration? Confess any pride and selfishness that destroys unity. Let us strive together to be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and one mind so that we are one united church for Christ.
Psalm 133:1
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Where are you?

Have you ever tried to reach someone deperately and then when you get hold of them say "Where are you?" rather than "How are you?". I have done this so many times especially when I get hold of my husband after a lot of tries when he was probably locked away in a meeting. The "where are you" expressed here is a sense of deep longing and loss of not having contact. This is exactly the phrase and longing that God expressed when He could not find Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden just after they had sinned.
Genesis 3:8-9
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

Everyday upto the fall, God enjoyed close fellowship with Adam and Eve by going for walks together. After the fall, Adam and Eve felt shame, hid from God and avoided contact with God. It broke God's heart and He came looking for Adam and Eve and longing for their company. It is the same today. God is longing for you and asking "Where are you?"! We should spend time with the Lord daily. Fellowship with God was one of the privileges of man before the fall. Jesus Christ gave His life so that our fellowship with God could be restored.
1 John 1:3
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Because of what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross, our shame has been dealt with and we can come boldly before God because we are now adopted as His children!
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Galatians 4:4-7
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Make a decision to spend time with the Lord daily. Don't spurn His love and longing for you. God has given His life to adopt you as His child. Don't make Him ask "Where are you?" all over again.

Guidance for our lives

Light helps us to see. If we are in darkness, we do not see and perceive as things really are. It is when God shone His light into our hearts that we were able to see our need for Him as our Lord and Saviour and come to Him.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
How much more then God is able to show us His light in our life after we have come to know Him? How much more is He able to guide us through the pathways of life and take us where we need to be?! We can be confident that the same God who shone His light into our hearts will definitely light our paths and guide us in His purposes for us!

God will definitely guide us. He is waiting to help us because He does not want us to do it alone. The Bible shows us that God is guiding His people incrementally - as they focus on one step at a time. Although God sometimes gives believers a special glimpse of their future through prophecy etc, it is not the norm. God's direction and guidance can be likened to light from a lamp, enough light to softly illumine the path just ahead so that we can take a step or two forward. When we view God's direction as a giant searchlight revealing the whole future rather than a lamp gently showing us the next steps, we are setting ourselves for disillusionment and disappointment. We need to accept that God's guidance comes step by step and this will enable us to walk our everyday with Him!
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

God truly wants to guide us and He always takes initiative to show us the way as He is our shepherd. The question is, as His sheep, are we listening actively for His voice everyday? The way we can truly have guidance from God is to meditate on His word and live in communion with Him every single day. Meditating means thinking deeply, pondering and reflecting upon the words over and over again so that the Word of God resounds through our very soul and being. Meditating on God's word allows us to keep our hearts right before God and gaining wisdom, discernment and insight to guide us through the turns of life when we need direction.

Psalm 119: 97 - 105

Oh, how I love your law!     I meditate on it all day long.

Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.

I have more insight than all my teachers,  for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders,  for I obey your precepts.

I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.

I have not departed from your laws,  for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts;therefore I hate every wrong path.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Are you reading and meditating on His word daily? Are you allowing God to direct your steps everyday? God desires to direct your steps!
Proverbs 20:24
A man's steps are directed by the LORD.How then can anyone understand his own way?

Keep on going..

When things get tough, the tough get going. We have all heard that saying. How can we keep on going when things are really tough and when it is easier to give up rather than hang in there and persevere?

Let's look at Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Jesus was able to endure the cross and persevere because of the hope of the joy that He knew was coming after the suffering!
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
James encourages us to persevere and keep on going so that we become more mature and complete!
James 1:3-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Here is a real life Olympic inspiraton. At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Tanzanian marathon runner Stephen Akhwari badly injured his knee but limped on to finish over an hour behind the rest of the field. When asked by filmmaker Bud Greenspan after the finish why he had continued to run, Akhwari famously replied, “My country did not send me 7000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7000 miles to finish it”

That’s right. We may be tired and weary right now from an earlier fall and feel that we cannot go on anymore. But God didn’t send us this far only to start the race, He got us here to finish it! Now, let’s get up, brush off the dirt and keep on going! Let's put our hope on the author and perfector of our faith..
Jude 24,25
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Don't get sidetracked in your thinking..

In this post-modern world, we are exposed to various kinds of thinking and theologies. It is very easy to get caught up in the intellectuasim of various thoughts, philosophies and theologies and get all messed up in what we believe. It is important what we take in into our minds as we are what we believe. Paul exhorts us not to get sidetracked by every whim of thinking but to make every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

What we think in our minds - our thoughts are what drives our emotions, our behaviours and actions. James Allen said - "You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." It is because of this that God commands us to renew our minds with His word and think great thoughts! If we want a better future for ourselves in God, we need to pay attention to our minds and get our thinking right.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
No wonder Martin Luther said, "You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair."
Yes, we are surrounded by wordly thinking but we take those thoughts captive and and not allow them to have a hol on our lives. Instead, we need to actively build our life with God's word!

We need to overcome evil with good. Instead of focussing on what we are struggling with in our mind, we need to fill our minds with God's word and with thoughts that are in line with God's thinking and character. God's word hidden in our hearts and minds, becomes a plumb line against which we check every thought that enters our mind.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

What are you feeding your mind on? Feed your mind on His word, great books, listen to great music and personalise scripture. Think great thoughts about God, about yourself, about others, about life, about the past, about your future, about your challenges and you will not be sidetracked but will go on to live in God's perfect will!

Put on your armor!

How many of you think that it is necessary for every country to have it's own army, navy and airforce in order to protect it's own people and resources? I would think it would be foolish if the country did not invest in it's defences so that it would have a chance to protect itself and not be ravaged in the event of an enemy attack. The Bible tells us that our enemy, Satan is prowling always looking for someone to devour.
I Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It is foolish on our part if we allow the enemy to steal, kill and destroy and render us powerless so we lead defeated lives. God has already won the victory for us and we need to protect ourselves so that we are not defenceless in the face on an attack. We need to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God!
Ephesians 6:13-18
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

What is the armor of God? Here it is:
Belt of Truth - Jesus is the Way and the Truth. To win our spiritual battles, we neede to be anchored to the truth that is Jesus alone!
Breastplate of Righteousness - Our righteousness is worthless in battle. The only safe place to be is to rely on the righteousness of Jesus found in the cross.
Sandals of Peace - Our preparation for battle is the good news of Jesus's life, death and resurrection. Jesus's work on the cross brings us peace with God and this brings us boldness and confidence in battle!
Shield of faith - Jesus is the focus of our faith. Faith in Jesus alone can protect us from the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Helmet of Salvation - Jesus alone saved us and we can find deliverance in every situation. We cannot deliver ourselves, only Jeus can!
Sword of the Spirit, His word - Jesus is the Word of God, the written picture of Jesus! God's word is a powerful offensive weapon to the enemy. We must hide His word in our hearts and minds.

Don't be caught as a streaker with just your helmet of salvation! I certainly don't want to be caught defenceless without my armor and be defeated. What about you? Put on the armor of God and victory will surely be yours as you rely on Jesus, our Savior and Deliverer!

Don't look back but look ahead!!

There are times when we feel we missed out on life, that we could have done differently and things would been better. We all have regrets but dwelling on them and constantly looking back will weigh us down and hinder our run to the front. When you watch a major sporting event, you see that the athletes do not run or swim in a race constantly looking back, else vital seconds will be lost and the result will suffer. Similarly, dwelling on regrets in our life is like looking back in a race and this will cause us to lose focus, trip up and the final result will be robbed.

Jesus preached this too. What does the following mean?
Luke 9:62
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Plowing involves always moving ahead - moving ahead in a straight line to till the soil. No farmer ever goes back to the soil that he has already plowed. Jesus is essentially saying that we can't go back to where we have been and live in the past. The future is ours for the taking and we need to move ahead!
We cannot redeem the time from our past but God is able to redeem time for us! Let's press on heavenward in knowledge and obedience to our Lord Jesus and as we focus on what is ahead, we are sure to win!
Philippians 3:13b,14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The enemy will come to undermine us and constantly condemn us. We need to stand grounded on God's word and continue to persevere and understand that there is no condemnation for those who are in Chist Jesus (Romans 8:1). Each day is a new beginning and a fresh start with new opportunities to live fully for His glory.
Lamentations 3: 21-23
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
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. 

Paul exhorts us to run the race of life keeping in mind the eternal finish line! We want to hear the words of our Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Running to win here means running with faithfulness, not giving up easily. Just like a professional athlete, we are called to run the race of life with perseverance, passion and purpose!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

I want to run in a way to hit the tape and win in the eternal race! What about you? Decide not to look back but look ahead. Don't be sloppy but shape up!! Let's run to win.
2 Timothy 4: 7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only yo me, but also to all who have onged for his appearing. 

Living in wonder and belief!

We live in a time where many voices are beckoning for our attention and added to that we all live very busy lives with calendars packed. Sometimes, all we seem to be doing is running from one task after another with no time to reflect. It is very easy to lose sight of our purpose and vision and become discouraged and wonder where our life is going.
Luke 11:33-36 (The Message)
No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they're going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.

How can we live in wonder and belief and avoid being stale, musty and murky? How can we keep our vision expanding and move ahead with hope and confidence? We can do this by regularly reflecting from God's word and allowing God's word to illumine our hearts and minds. When we hear God's voice through His word, we will become more focussed and clear, the murkiness and confusion will fade and we will begin to grasp the vision that He has for our lives! That is why Paul writes the following:
Ephesians 1:17-19 (The Message)
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
2 Timothy 3: 16 - 17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

Even a small leak is sufficient to sink a large ship. D.L. Moody, the famous preacher and evangelist constantly urged Christians to be refilled with the Holy Spirit because we all leak! The pressures of life and the constant busyness drains us and we need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit to replenish and refresh our Spirit so that we can keep pursuing the dreams, visions and purposes of God.

Acts 4:31

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Ephesians 5: 18 – 20

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

When we are refreshed through God's word and the Holy Spirit, we are are like lamps burning and our lives are full of wonder and belief lighting our world! That's very attractive and will greatly have impact and influence on the people around us! Are you spending time daily in His presence? Are you hearing God's voice loud and clear above all the other voices that call for your attention? Is your vision clear and focussed and your life lived in wonder and belief? Are you refreshed with the livinhg water of God? Let's read His word and be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit and be directed by Him and glow with light and shine brightly for His glory!
Proverbs 4:18 (The Message)
The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.

Reaching in to God

Prayer is conversation with God and it should come easy for us Christians. In the old testament times, one had to make a pilgrimage to the temple to talk to God, to make requests known to God and to worship Him. Today, we are so privileged to have the Holy Spirit reside in us if we are believers. Is it not amazing that the God who dwelt in the ark of the covenant and could not be touched by us unholy people, actually now lives in us?! That's just mind blowing!!
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
May my prayer be set before you like incense..

Ephesians 1:13,14
I Corinthians 6:19

God's presence is continually with us! He is so close to us! It is upto us to make Him the centre of our lives. We need to reach in and commune with the Holy Spirit and make God a part of everything we do. When we involve God in our everyday life - from our waking up moments, in our work, play, relationships, everyday chores - life becomes exciting! We just need to be conscious that the Third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is within us and we can continually reach out to the Holy Spirit in prayer for strength, comfort, wisdom and help in time of our need!
Ephesians 6:18
Romans 8:26
I Thessalonians 5:16-18

What more - The Holy Spirit that is within us is powerful as He is God! He raised Christ from the dead! When we have such access to the Holy Spirit, our lives cannot be dull and boring but full of passion and power no matter what circumstances we are in. We need to invite the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1: 18 - 21

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Do you feel that you are going through life alone? Do you wish you had help in time of need?  Does your life dull and powerless? The Holy Spirit, God himself dwells richly in you and wants to be your help and comfort and empower you supernaturally in everything you do... There is no one better to come to our aid than God Himself, the supreme being and creator of the universe! Let's be encouraged to tap in through prayer and reach out to the Holy Spirit in everything we do for this is pleasing to God!
Psalm 141:2a

Enjoy your life now!

Sometimes many of us postpone our happiness. We think that we can be happy only if we go on the next holiday or get that promotion or have a better relationship. But life is not meant to be lived waiting for the perfect moment or season. We need to learn to savour every moment and every season and enjoy life to the fullest! Happiness is dependent on the circumstances , on the "happenstance" of life but joy is for the now and every moment! C.S. Lewis said "Joy is the serious business of heaven" and let's get into that practice when we are here!

King Solomon, the wise man understood this and this is why he writes the following in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes!
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

God renews our hearts and lives with joys of laughter! If we are one of those Christians who walk around always serious and not enjoying life, people may get turned off and have nothing to do with us! We of all people have so much to be thankful and joyful about - God has rescued us from darkness, redeemed us, saved us, continues to bless us, provides for us, loves us, shows His grace to us everyday, sustains us and has already prepared places for us to reign with him eternally in heaven!
Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

There are seasons of pain and loss and grief. How are we to live through the pain and yet be joyful? Paul talks about this  in 2 Corinthians 6:10, he says he was "sorrowful, yet rejoicing". We can tap into the foundational ungirding joy that we have in Christ because of being His. Christ's redemption for us now and the  hope we have of our future final redemption at Christ's second coming when we will be with Christ and there is no sorrow or tear should help us be joyful now. This joy that we have in Christ is more than enough to sustain us through the deepest sorrow that we can ever face. What do we do when we don't feel joyful? King David was sorrowful when he realised that he had commiitted adultery and murder and lost a child. He was at such a low point in his life that he felt devoid of joy. He asks God to restore the joy of his salvation. We can ask God to do that in us.

Psalm 51: 10 - 12 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Romans 12: 12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Someone said that love was the marketing plan of the early Christians and joy was their business card! That is why they could transform the world around them and so many joined in to find the secret of their joy! We have God's permission to enjoy life now and live joyfully no matter what season we are in or what circumstance we are facing! Our God is not a morose sorrowful God. Our God is a happy joyful God! Let us reflect His joy in our lives.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Reactive vs Proactive Living

When God made us, He placed within us great potential - potential to live out our purpose to the maximum. Each of us is different because God created each one of us for a different purpose and He created each one of us with the unique mix of abilities, gifts and talents to achieve the specific purpose that God created us for.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are like icebergs. Just like icebergs, humans come in different shapes, sizes, colors, depths of understanding and travel through life in different drifting speeds to different destinations. 70 to 90 percent of an iceberg's mass is below the waterline and similarly most of who we really are is yet to be seen and needs to be uncovered. Iceberg's are generally derived from bigger land masses than themselves and similarly we are derived from a source far greater than ourselves - God!

Ben Herbster said "The greatest waste in the world is the undeveloped difference between what we are and what we could become.". It is a waste if we live reactively and disengaged. We need to be proactive and purposeful if we are to live to our potential in our purpose. We need not know all the how's of how to get to our final destination but we need to start and God will show us the next steps. It's time to dream and take small steps proactively! We all have a God given destiny and God is very interested in helping us to achieve that destiny. We need to do our part and pursue God and seek His face and obey Him as He unveils His plans to us bit by bit.
Jeremiah 29: 11-13

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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Are you proactively seeking out your God given purpose? Are you proactively investing your time, money, resources and talents towards uncovering your hidden potential? If you are just living reactively rather than proactively, chances are that you will miss out on living to your maximum potential. We discover our fullest potential and true fulfillment as we walk in the purposes and plans that God not only designed for us, but designed us for. Get proactive and live out your true potential to the glory of God!
Ephesians 1:9-12
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

More fruit

The call of every Christian is to produce Christ like character or fruit. The fruit is singular referring to the unified Christ like character that the Holy Spirit produces and has the underlying orientation of selfless and outgoing concern for others as expressed in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Of the fruit listed, love is the primary fruit that should characterize every believer as every other fruit is an expression of love and reflects the eternal unchanging character of God which continues to remain even after everything else comes to an end.

A believer will produce spiritual fruit as long as the believer stays connected to Jesus, the True Vine. Just like a branch stays connected to the vine and allowing the sap to flow through, when we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit will flow from the vine to the branches, which is us. The spiritual fruit is thus naturally produced by the Holy Spirit as the believer abides in Jesus and lives in full consecration, perfect conformity, absolute dependence and undoubting confidence on Jesus and allowing his life to be taken in and receiving his life making “Abide in me and I in you” (Jn 15:4) a reality.
John 15:5-8
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The fruit in our lives can be measured by our willingness to lay our personal agenda behind and willing to serve God by serving others. The fruit is always in expressed in relation to one another in community and is not measured in isolation to ourself.
John 15:12-14
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

What is the measure of fruit in your life? Are you progressing in expressing Christ like character to others around you? Let us not be deceived, our love for God is always expressed by the way we treat our fellow being and our willingness to serve them.