Category: Faith

Scriptural Readings: Romans 8:35-39

Miseries, this hidden enemy, will haunt us. They are inevitable, and we will face them sooner, if not later. We can never grow bigger than them. Being born in a third-world country, I have seen and experienced poverty, and trusting God is one option. These sensibilities drive us closer to God. That does not mean we need miseries, problems, and uncertainties to meet God on the throne. These things are not prerequisites for how God handles us. Misery is a result, not a cause. They flourish from our mistakes. Our wise and correct decisions cannot cause misery. The Holy Spirit guides us.

Who are we?

We are sinners. It is who we are. Whether we like it or hate it, we will sin. Handling our lives would be an epic failure rather than a success. These failures, again, connect us to misery in the blink of an eye, sending us into limbo, asking ourselves what to do next. A fact that cripples us with choices we cannot achieve, disabling us from finding the truth.

We are what God made us to be.

There are clear-cut facts that are crucial to grasp that we neglect to consider. And the result is that we need to remember when confronted with challenges. First, our feelings defeat us. As living human beings, our emotions are the first responders. All is true. However, we should not stop and pamper them. Like a baseball game, we are on first base and should not stop. Feelings come and go. Unconditionally trusting them is not a sound idea. At certain times only. Our faith in Jesus Christ should be at the top of the list rather than putting all our trust in feelings. Second. Aside from the threat of insanity from these miseries, we should regularly assess our spiritual condition to discern if it conforms to God’s will. Most of us have a mindset of being constantly defeated by our spiritual enemy, which should not be the case. Victory in Jesus Christ should be our mental state. God created us in His likeness, and we are now in Christ Jesus. Check out these Bible verses. I Corinthians 15:57, Romans 8:37, Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 6:10-18, Deuteronomy 20:4, Psalms 108:13, Hebrews 13:6.

This word war

No one would ever know that a horrendous war had started in Asia on a Sunday morning when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. It was also a morning when nuclear bombs flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. What does war mean in its genuine sense? Is there anything more meaningful than achieving freedom?

We need to uncover the root of this spiritual conflict and determine how it should conclude. First, we ask ourselves why evil lives on. Did God create sin? Of course not. God knows evil and wickedness, but cannot be corrupted or transgressed, for He is Holy. And if so, does sin like God exist at the beginning? Not at all. Evil and sinfulness could not exist if we made the right choice. Evil results from a choice made by humanity. Remember, it does not exist after we make the wrong choice. It is difficult to be entirely sure about the precise or accurate answers instantaneously. We can make assumptions, though, but there are more options. Time moves forward. We cannot turn back the hands of time. So, from the start, there was no evil. It was the consequence of our choice that was not part of God’s original plan. However, in the event of disobedience, God already had a solution in His omniscience.

“I will give you rest…”

This promise increases our faith. Why? Our usual response is to wallow in our miseries while waiting for rest. Right? Now, this is what we must comprehend. Jesus’ work is what we need to learn. Yes, it’s a burden. But it is a burden that teaches us how to manage a challenging life here on Earth. It is a burden because there will be a time for learning and producing spiritual blessings. This load or burden does not cause misery. Without a doubt, it is the peace we need or expect during difficult times (John 14:27).

Romans 8:35-39

King James Version

v.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

v.36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

v.37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

v.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

v.39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New Living Translation

v.35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

v.36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” )

v.37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

v.38  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

v.39 No power in the sky above or the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In conclusion,

The minute we wake up and face the day, we also declare spiritual war against our spiritual enemy. We must not accept defeat. The cross in Calvary did the job of crushing the enemy. Many Bible scriptures tell us how to deal with the enemy. However, it is also critical that we know first who we are. We are God’s children. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, covered us with His precious blood, and we are bound for heaven. 

We might notice ourselves reading articles like this important, but what really matters are God’s words written in them. With this, I challenge you to read verses 38 and 39 prayerfully. Emotions will respond immediately. You might cry, smile, or feel uneasiness. Again, our emotions are the first responders. What is significant is our response if we see it, not the way it confirms we live today. At that point, emotions become secondary, and what is essential now is what God is telling us. Now you can see the shift from emotions, which are human, to finding God’s will, which is divine. It is now the new us every day.

God, this time, takes our attention directly, not only through our emotions. As we read, and this time also study, His words, our divine nature, overshadow our human nature. God becomes our priority. The meaning of verses 38 and 39 is now spiritual and holy because of our faith, putting our unstable emotions behind us. Before, we used our feelings to find God. In the present, it is entirely different. God now uses our emotions to accomplish His plans and not our senses to use our human plans for Him. Now, we are confident that we can desire only His kingdom and righteousness, and then, He will add all these things we need (Matthew 6:33).

Scriptural Readings: Genesis 1:1, Genesis 21:5-6, John 19:30, Matthew 6:10

In today’s world, everything comes with a warranty or guarantee. But what do these contracts mean, and how do they work? Are they necessary in modern lives where security is a top priority? When choosing a reliable and high-quality guarantee, how do we make the right choice? It may seem a simple issue, but have we considered the full significance of these seemingly basic assurances?

But what most of us know is that these written guarantees might expire. Occasionally, some companies offer a lifetime guarantee on their products, only to fold, leaving them useless. But what about emotions and things we cannot see but feel? Can we guarantee them? There will be, for sure, grey areas for most of us, and this tells us to depend on something or someone. It highlights the importance of relying on something or someone that will never let us down, as guarantees in life can be unreliable.

Is there anything else that can shake the foundation, question the core of our faith, or the unshakeable foundation God has laid? It is when the unimaginable confronts us. The moment second thoughts knock on our minds and hearts, causing us to make extreme changes about our faith, confusion settles in a flash. This confusion ridicules our God-loving loyalty.

Reality and truth.

The truth in everything will reveal itself no matter how diligently people mask it with lies. What is certain is that nothing can remain hidden forever. Our relationship with God is evidence. We have a two-way relationship, not a one-way relationship. It informs us of a living, compassionate God who provides us with objectives to accomplish. It contrasts with our feeble strategies and vain, fruitless attempts to impress Him by following a string of rules and laws.

Genesis 1:1

King James Version

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The New Living Translation

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

” In the beginning…

Re’shiyth is the Hebrew word for beginning. It means and could be defined as being on top, for example, a mountaintop. It could also refer to who is at the front, like in a race. It could also imply the highest rank. For many of us, it means the beginning. What is the point? Are we about to join a bandwagon of people who want to argue about what the first verse in the Bible is? ” In the beginning… What about it?” If something starts or begins, it must have a purpose to accomplish before it ends. These days, we are more concerned about who is right or wrong when interpreting God’s words. Whoever wins gets more church memberships. People do not value what is more consequential, God’s divine purpose.

Revelation 21:5-6

King James Version

v.5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

v.6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

The New Living Translation

v.5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

v.6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.

“The beginning and the end.”

As humans, we know everything has a beginning and an end. However, we tend to overlook what happens in between. It’s crucial to question ourselves about God’s purpose for us and whether we are fulfilling or failing it. While we know why Jesus was here and will return, we often struggle with how to lead our lives. Finding our divine purpose remains a challenge for many of us.

John 19:30

King James Version

v.30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The New Living Translation

v.30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

It’s finished.

It’s finished. When Jesus uttered these words, God completed His divine plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. It made the covenant He promised us unconditionally. His death on the cross satisfied God’s justice and fulfilled His promises to us. It also means that salvation does not exist except through His atoning death on the cross at Calvary. It does not end here. The end is just the start of an exciting beginning. It allows us to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and be reconciled to Him unconditionally, giving us access to heavenly blessings.

Matthew 6:10

King James Version

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.

The New Living Translation

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth,

  as it is in heaven.

“Your will be done…

At the moment, whether our actions are of our own free will or God’s divine will is a longstanding contention. Regardless, God has a plan for us. The military proverb, “Obey first before complaining,” begs the question – do we question our faith, or does this saying hold truth? As humans, we’re constantly asking endless questions. If God asked us, “Who do you say I am?” What would our response be?

Is there an ideal place to live? A nation offering a haven of rest? An atmosphere free of anxiety. What if this place does not exist? In short, we need the best justifications to live in a sick and problem-infested world. Right?

Evil exists everywhere, and it was there even before humanity. Its wickedness works in our fallen world no matter what time. It is a reality unattainable to ignore. We cannot run away from this plight. There is no way to escape. A way out is not available. Its existence will plague us as long as we live. In summary, it will co-exist with us, and addressing this matter means a spiritual war. A battle we cannot be a triumph. We need someone to protect us and fight the battle for us. But how?

In defeating the enemy, we should stand firm in a stable and unshakable cornerstone. We must reckon in our minds that the foundation carries and bears the entire framework and organization of every one of us.

Philippians 2:5-9

King James Version

v.5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

v.6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

v.7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

v.8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

New Living Translation

v.5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

v.6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

v.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born 

as a human, being When he appeared in human form,

v.8, he humbled himself in obedience to God

     and died a criminal’s death on the cross.

Conveying the likeness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is everything we ever longed for when we first accepted Him. Do you agree? Acquiring His image is not having a piece of cake. Right? Sometimes, we do not expect what we hoped, leaving us puzzled. How can we manage this unpredictable life?

And making it complex, how can we Christians be an example of spreading the gospel if we are incapable of doing it? Or even engage in a spiritual war we alone cannot ever win.

What do we see in Jesus Christ, being God did not consider Himself equal to God? We miss this essential part of God’s nature unfolding before our eyes. Humility. Being able to control or even communicate without being restrained by pride or superiority. In simple words, His humble nature or personality. The indispensable part once we accept Jesus, the Son of the living God. Having His likeness is completeness (Yes, in everything!). He will offer us solutions to complications we face. An escape from every harsh reality we are suffering. In addition, He will introduce a distinct truth of what we are heading in our lives, a precise direction to carry out His perfect will for us.

God has given us the perfect example. A standard we should not miss and not follow. And everything good starts first in ourselves after God transforms us. The same humility Jesus had given God honor, glory, and praise He deserves. The consequence is for everyone to bow and confess to Jesus as Lord. 

We must admit having humility is complex because it involves our free will. It takes our time, money, and effort to mention this. We dislike complicated life because it makes everything intricate and compromises many things.

Proverbs 22:4

King James Version

By humility and the fear of the Lord

    are riches, honor, and life.

New Living Translation

True humility and fear of the Lord

    lead to riches, honor, and long life.

Humility is a single word that makes us understand and appreciate spiritual messages from God. He is to show us the bigger picture we want to see until we arrive at our God-given destination. Riches, honor, and life are things our lives will lead to as we are to have humility in this twisted system we are getting along.

An extensive master plan for the future is indispensable for every part of everything we work out in the modernized age as we struggle with endless tragedy. Food insufficiency, for instance, is an approaching problem that could take effect at any moment because of global warming, combining climate transformation that is affecting everyone. Pain has become a routine part of our ways of life, and will the next pandemic cause more loved ones to agonize on their deathbeds? 

Finding peace is a pursuit most people have, and this may include Christians. Other people consider it a mystery. Most likely, this thing we call tranquility or serenity does not last. Others swear they will never lose grip on it, but losing is more likely in the long run. We always expect harmony to leave when burdens arrive. It is an ingrained routine for humans. And as soon as it expires, our faith and trust in God follow. We return to living a life of confusion.

John 14:27

King James Version

Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

New Living Translation Version

 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So do not be troubled or afraid”.

Losing peace is impossible. It is always with us. Jesus gave and left it. Unbelief is the main reason we keep seeking the calm mind we thought we lost. Peter instructed, stepping out of the boat and walking in the water. And because he lost his faith for a while, he began sinking. Again, when Jesus asked Peter to catch fish. There were no fishes out there. They were fishing in the evening, and they got nothing. It was his response. It is a momentary lapse of faith. The minute he recognized losing it, conviction shook him, asking the master to leave because he was a sinner. A reminder is what we lack to tell ourselves that peace dwells within us. The truth is Jesus gave and left it. It is there beforehand we experience these anxieties.

John 16:33

King James Version

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

New Living Translation Version

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Within seconds of leaving our comfort zone, we find ourselves in a world of complaints; In actuality, we leave peace behind, unaware. As we look out from our current vantage point, we see the serenity outside of the empire of whines now going back to square one, asking ourselves why we cannot have that tranquility. 

What do we gain from having peace? Is it a mindset of having a trouble-free or carefree existence? We lost lives only to reach this. 

We refuse to allow peace to take control of us because of the weight of the load we carry and our exceeding unbelief that things will improve. We persevere to achieve peace, developing into prevailing practice. A reminder is what we lack to tell ourselves that peace dwells within us. It is a gift from God we accepted and never reached the completeness of its presence and essence in our lives. Being reminded that it came from God is valuable where prosperity starts.

II Kings 18:7

King James Version

And the LORD was with him; [and] he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served1 him not.

New Living Translation Version

So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.

We relate the idea of prosperity to financial success. This word came from middle English prosperite, tracing it back, and borrowed from the Latin word Prosperous, meaning favorable. This word does not mean gathering wealth in its absolute meaning. It may mean securing favor as well.

How can we have prosperity during troublesome times? Is it possible to do well during challenging times? The financial crisis leaves us in the dark. There has to be a way out. A light that guides us outward from this darkness.

To prosper is not what most of us believe is more about determination. Certainly, perseverance is a part of being prosperous. We might miss an important factor in why we are persistent. Confidence is a more significant part.

Even we reach the point that emerges that we have done perfectly well. We are to face a blank wall. Our determination may appear to be strong, but our confidence dwindles. It is time that we realize it is not a stand-alone act. God is behind us. He pushes us, and with our determination, we achieve prosperity.

The bottom line is that these things require outside help. We always need God. Peace is a residence in our hearts. It stays there and never has left us. We do not look for it. The idea of losing it is the same as saying Jesus did not leave a good thing after all. As we decide to put our trust in God, peace will make its way into every part of our body, soul, and spirit.

Prosperity is an action word, a verb. It will be a futile attempt to accomplish anything without peace and the specific plans to reach our ultimate destiny without God. Searching for peace will only take our time finding it instead of working on what God planned for us. Prosperity will become an everyday experience because He will direct our way to it.

Scriptural Readings: Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Peter 1:3-9; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; John 15:1,5.

King James Version

Galatians 5:19-21

V.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

V.20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

V.21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

New Living Translation

Galatians 5:19-21

V.19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,

V.20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,

v.21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

A defeated Christian is what we are. It is a powerful message inching into our spiritual being the moment we suffer failures. Because of this lie, our defenses weaken, and divine qualities wear out, questioning our status in our Lord Jesus Christ. And this thought remains in Christianity. Why? And to make things more inadmissible, they subjected us to this false statement daily. As we spend more and more time with our Creator, He strengthens our characters, and as this happens, our enemy becomes more aggressive and lashes out at us.

In a real sense, to please God is impossible. We are humans; the nature of doing evil is where we settle. We live continuously as a failure. Why? What is wrong with ourselves? Every day, we decide. We have regrets when we land on the unacceptable side of the truth. Why? And now, we ask ourselves whether we want to be lifted from this reasoning or keep in this miserable condition.

King James Version

2 Peter 1:3-9

V.3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

V.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust.

V.5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

V.6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

V.7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

V.8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

V.9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

New Living Translation

V.3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

V.4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

V.5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,

V.6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,

V.7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

V.8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

V.9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

Becoming a genuine believer in our Lord (being born again) is the only road to complete maturity in our spirits and satisfy Him. The relationship we are having provides spiritual well-being. Jesus will give power to every follower through the Holy Spirit. Christians receive what they need to live a Christlike and sincere life.

King James Version

Romans 8:15

V.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

New Living Translation

V.15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

King James Version

Galatians 4:6

V.6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

New Living Translation

V.6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

We have to know who we are to our creator. The moment the enemy realizes who we are to our God, he is already a failure. It is a victory for us. He will do anything, all the lies he can design to keep us from knowing who our maker is to us. We face difficulties. Regardless of what they are, we have to meet them. Our emotions interact at once as soon as it enters our system. As we know, our way of thinking is unstable. Trusting ourselves is unwise. We have to install faith in God in our decision. Otherwise, we will never defeat our adversary.

King James Version

John 15:1

V.1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

New Living Translation

V.1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.

King James Version

John 15:5

V.5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

New Living Translation

V.5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Is our desire for a deeper relationship with Christ increasing? Is there a need to strengthen this passion? Are we serious about Christlike living? These are essential questions we have to address in our lives.

It is true to contend with our emotions and decisions, but as soon as God takes control of us, His will dictates, and all our concerns follow. The Holy Spirit continues reminding us that our foundation is in Christ Jesus. This reality has to be our mindset. Colossians 3:2 says we should set our minds on holy things, not on something here on earth. God, through His son Jesus, promised we be able to accomplish things in Him. We arrive in a helpless situation. What do we do? Acknowledge our helplessness as soon as we are there. And what does it mean? It is the winning time. The only thing to reverse this cycle of defeat is to go deeper into our relationship with our Lord Jesus. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Our enemy does not want us to realize this. Satan is no different. Through Jesus Christ, God adopted us, and neither he nor his team can do anything about it.

Scriptural Readings: Matthew 10:28, Hebrews 4:12, Colossians 2:6-7, Ephesians 6:10.

No matter how strong we are, fear has to confront us, and our faith is being tested, no doubt. We can never flee from it. Nobody escapes the fight between good and evil. We can’t escape the horrors of anxiety. The past, present, and future tie humanity to dreaded things to come. Sounds desperate. Right?


Fear has many faces. And if we look only at one side, it will scare us. And the result is we spend more time worrying. Right? As we step into this world of terrifying conditions, anxiety embraces our entire being.

We have our share of the struggles with these things that haunt us in this everyday insanity, but difficulties interfere with identifying our contribution to how to win this battle. Discovering the missing part to handle fear is the most demanding, and sometimes under our noses and we cannot figure it out. 

Matthew 10:28

King James Version

v.28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.


New Living Testament Version

v.28 Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.


Fear the Lord

I guess, for many, death is the most dreaded fear. It creates unpleasant feelings for most of us. It arouses our sense of uncertainty as instantly as it creeps into our being. As a result, it forced us to decide the satisfying reasons to accept this. And to make things matter worse. Not only will our bodies soon die, but our souls too. What now?

There is no alternative. Either we fear God, or we do not. Conviction is always present, but we ignore it by not paying attention. Our last resort is fearing our Creator. It is at the end of our list of solutions. We know we cannot be right with him. It can never be late. We have to acknowledge God’s fear. Knowledge, together with wisdom, will begin if we do. 


Hebrews 4:12

King James Version

v.12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


New Living Testament Version

v.12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

What makes words powerful? They are just a bunch of letters. But for our heavenly Father, these terms created the entirety. True indeed, but it does not end there. We ignore the messages that have the power to change people. No matter how hard we tried to improve our way of living, we failed. As a result, we were wrong, believing we had it right.

Jesus reminded humanity cannot live by bread alone but by every word from God. Our will needs to be done, not His. This is the truth happening today, a fact and complication we cannot detach. These influences that we rely on and guide us to doubts result in more anxieties. We need spiritual intervention and empowerment.

Quick and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. In simple terms, authority. The verse didn’t say God’s words if anyone wants to notice. It says “the Word of God”. This makes John 1:1 true. Only our Redeemer will penetrate and divide our souls from spirits, realizing we are dead in spirit and we have to be born again. It doesn’t end here. There are more. Our Lord addresses our human component at the same time. Separating the bone and marrow means it describes our perspectives in life. The bone or cartilage. The outside section is us, while the marrow, the inside portion, defines our inner being. It gives a clearer meaning to our endeavors in the physical realm. And in conclusion, as soon as our Savior entered our lives, our spiritual beings are alive today. We can now discern thoughts and intents of the heart. Alleluia!


Colossians 2:6-7

King James Version

v.6   As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:

v.7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

New Living Testament Version

v.6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 

v.7 Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.


God has to be in us. Our efforts to reach Him are futile, but he has to break into us first. When we heard the gospel of our Lord Jesus, we received Him. This simply means that we allowed Him to enter our lives and live inside us through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the born-again experience (John 3:3-7).

The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised Christians, is going to work for us. And where strong conviction becomes very true. He will persuade us to carry out unmistakable instructions. 


Ephesians 6:10

King James Version

v.10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.



New Living Testament Version

v.10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

And finally….

For years, we have been blind to the real meaning of fear. This word is indispensable for us to carry out what God directed us, otherwise, failure in our spiritual lives continues to cripple us. Human success can never give us reliable satisfaction. We will make the same mistakes repeatedly.

Without the fear of God, we cannot have the power needed to survive the spiritual war. The truth has to be accepted. We will stay defeated Christian if we continue to carry on believing the old meaning of fear. The future is fast approaching, and it cannot change the past. We need to be strong in the Lord, and He can do it if we allow Him to enter our lives.

As Godly fear lives in us, continuing dependence on God develops in ourselves. It is being strong in the Lord. Our faith in Him will produce the true meaning of fear, allowing our entire being to live in the power of His might. 

Scriptural Readings: Provers 23:12, Hebrews 2:1, Hebrews 12:24-25.

What are your thoughts about misunderstanding? Have we ever thought and written about the number of reasons we disagreed? Is there ever a situation where a single word misunderstood by us led to a disaster that changed our lives?

Our ears always listen. It collaborates with what we see and what we think, giving us options. One more truth for most of us is that we only listen to what we enjoy. If we don’t like something we hear, we become childish. We come up with absurd arguments and opinions ready to defend them.

Proverbs 23:12

King James Version

V.12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

New Living Translation

V.12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.

God has something to say always.

Having a relationship involves communication. Communication means a two-way street of paying attention and conversation with each other. This is exactly what was happening between God and Adam and Eve until they disobeyed Him. Every detailed part has to sink into us, leaving no space for confusion.

Hebrews 12:24-25

King James Version

V.24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.

V.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven.

New Living Translation

V.24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

V.25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!

Hebrews 2:1

King James Version

V.1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip.

New Living Translation

V.1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

The only way to live a meaningful life is if we believe God wants us to do something. We must listen to what He has to say, and the only way to hear what God is saying to us is to place it at the top of our priority list.

Most of us have tried almost everything in these trying times to survive, but we are still searching for the most effective things to do. The question is why? The answer is God’s voice. We refuse to listen to Him, and instead, we continue to ignore and not to listen to Him. God created us to listen to Him. We can get in touch with Him. A thing we cannot trust because we do not want to do so. We always want to do it our way.

The next big question is, is it from our Father in Heaven? Communicating with God should never be a difficulty for us. God always listens, but most of the time, we don’t. We would rather listen to others’ advice. We give more preference to what we see and hear in the media. The proof? Watch the news. It is normal to make conclusions, but it becomes inappropriate when we make an instant judgment.

Emotions are deceiving. We cannot get over this lesson!

How about if, instead of giving instructions, God surprised us with a question of what we would appreciate Him to do? Are we ready to react to this scenario? God will never stop taking our attention.

There will always be something for us to accomplish and discover. Otherwise, we will continue to live a make-believe life in a fantasy world. Of the many things that we want to develop in our spiritual life, our listening skills might be the poorest. Our carnal body certainly restrained us, including, of course, our minds. The only way to come up with something certain is to listen to what God has to say to us. We have to listen and hear Him. We have to put into our minds that He created us in His image, having the capacity to speak to Him and listen and hear Him.

Heavenly Father, we are always led to temptation because we refuse to hear your voice. Deliverance from evil has become a regular part of our lives because we try to hear other voices than your Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We come and humble ourselves to your Holy presence, unto thy throne of grace that you grant us more time to listen to You. Let Your will be done and not ours.

Through Your Son Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.

Scriptural Readings: John, 9:1-7, 5:5-9, Mark 5:25-29

If we think that so far, we are still defeated in life with anxieties and uncertainties, and a feeling our prayers seem to be unheard of, then something is missing. Anxieties and uncertainties place us depending on someone or something. Whether we like it or not, aware or unaware at all, our emotions and thoughts agree together, telling us that we are not well from inside or outside our well-being. Our conscience and intellectual properties are working together, finding ways to eliminate these things that bother us, putting us back where we were doing our best. These things will indeed come and go, but the big question is, are we learning from our experiences?

John, 9:1-7

King James Version

V.1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.

V.2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

V.3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

V.4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

V.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

V.6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

V.7 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

New Living translation

V.1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 

V.2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

V.3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 

V.4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

V.5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

V.6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.

V.7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

This fellow was blind from birth, and to make money, he is begging for it. Can we say that he never regretted his situation even once? Was he also hoping that his situation would not go further? We can speculate. But for most of us who freely move, are we blind to the truth? Are we lost, hopeless and helpless? When God plans something, it has to be accomplished because he sets a time frame. There is a boundary.

It was not a coincidence that Jesus was there. It was all planned. His faith ended his misery. We can be spiritually blind, or the only thing we see is a vast ocean of helplessness and hopelessness, resorting to daily complaints. We must see with our spiritual eyes, or we will not see, the meaning of truth in our spiritual lives.

John 5:5-9

King James Version

V.5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

V.6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

V.7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

V.8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

V.9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

New Living translation

V.5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.

V.6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

V.7  “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

V.8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

V.9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,

Here is another guy who has the same situation with no assurance of development, and with all odds against him, he never raised the white flag. He could be stuck in that same spot in his lifetime, but his faith and spirit move. And so did God make His move, making him whole. Are we still in the same spot? Remember, faith moves mountains. We might be thinking that we are in the most difficult situation in life, and there is no hope. God is asking us, “Would you like to get well?”  What would be our response? Let us not give excuses.  

Mark 5:25-29

King James Version

V.25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

V.26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

V.27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

V.28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

V.29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in [her] body that she was healed of that plague.

New Living translation

V.25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding.

V.26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.

V.27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe.

V.28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

V.29  Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

This woman’s hopelessness and helplessness are not different from today. The only thing left is a miracle. There are two things that we can see here; faith and perseverance. Do we have these two? One may say yes, but are we serious about it, or are we still overtaken by our fear and distrust in Jesus? The answer lies in ourselves. God touches lives. He lets us know through small things, however, we remain unappreciative. But when we cannot handle our problems anymore, this is the only time we come to His throne of grace, and this time, we should touch Him!

Anxieties and uncertainties will never end. They will come, and they will go. But God sets boundaries in all our hopelessness and heartaches. He will not let them go any further. Whatever the worst things that so far are enslaving us will always come to an end. Faith in God makes us understand Him in the best way. It is a lot easier to believe in movies we have seen, heard, and read twisting stories in books that have given us hope, but it seems to be impossible as we pray daily to believe in what our God can do for us. 
So far, many of us are still suffering. The unbearable pain blinds us to the truth about what God can do. We are lame because we do not have enough courage to stand up for our faith and approach God in His throne of grace. If we think so far we are still defeated in life with anxieties and uncertainties, God had set boundaries on these issues. It will go no further. We will be free. When Jesus said, “It is finished” He ended everything, including our hopelessness and helplessness. He gave us an overcoming and victorious life. Alleluia!

Scriptural Readings: Ecclesiastes 6:2; Psalms 94:11; 1 John 2:16-17; Matthew 6:33



Ecclesiastes 6:2


King James Version

A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.



New Living Translation

God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.

Substitute is a comforting word. The feeling of delight happens after we accomplished an exchange for a frustrating effort. We recognize that there is a better replacement if we are not satisfied with our efforts. 

In the distressing time that we are experiencing right now, with no exception, every one of us is looking for an alternate to practically everything. Satisfaction is a futile word today. Change is imperative. It seems that nothing fits the thing we are changing. Did it ever cross our minds that our attitude is the cause? It boils down to the “I will never stop till I get on top.”  But this thing on being on top never stops. We never stop. A substitute will always be there, enticing us to choose from the options. After all, getting on top through adventure is satisfying for some, but until when?


Psalms 94:11


King James Version

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they [are] vanity.




New Living Translation

The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!



A substitute or the substitute? Is there a difference? In the spiritual realm, it has. We will always have a backup as a replacement, and the alternate who is Jesus whom God gave us remained unattended. The only thing we know is to rely on our futile actions. God deals with us, a reality we have to be well aware of what is happening daily. We are constantly ready for the change in our temporal lives, which by the way, most of the time is a time-consuming effort due primarily to our unreliable, disappointing management. Our endeavor must have spiritual essence!




King James Version


1 John 2:16-17


V.16  For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

V.17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.




New Living Translation

V.16  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

V.17  And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.



What is odd about the Christian life is that we must first deal with spiritual matters followed by earthly affairs. Time is an element when God delivers something for us to accomplish or reveal. Due to our impatience, we substitute something in God’s plan. God’s plan for us is perfect. We are not supposed to change or mess up things that God prepared for us. Jesus is the substitute. There are no replacements God has given us. What we cannot see and that we have to get rid of is our stubbornness. We have seen His works, but we still believe in lies we have been told.



Matthew 6:33


King James Version


But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.




New Living Translation


Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.



We are running out of time. God has set a timetable here on earth, and everything will come to its end. Are we still on to have a substitute? If so, we will be blind to the reality we are looking for in our lives. If we still insist our way, everything will come into naught. Our Father has given us the Substitute, not a substitute, and He is our Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever we might be looking or asking, Jesus is the substitute. It is plain and simple. We have to accept what the Lord Jesus did on the cross. As soon as we accept what Jesus did in Calvary, automatically we will be seeking His kingdom, and this time it will be very clear for us the things we are longing for, not only looking for with no doubt and full of confidence.

Many of us might be still in the habit of having a substitute, and this has become a lifestyle. God has given us a new life when we were born again. He has substituted our unreliable life for a life of confidence through His son Jesus, completely changing our body, soul, and spirit. Let us stop looking for a substitute. Let us trust and put our faith in Jesus, and he will give you everything you need.

Scriptural Readings: Matthew 17:20, Psalms 37:7,

We all do try our best in everything we do. There is no reason why we should not. As soon as we start with our plans, we will be having a lot of results. What’s next? Options will be available, and from these options, there are only two things we will arrive at for sure, success or failure.

Call it calculated risks or whatsoever, nowadays failure seems to be dominating, success. On a global scale, the human endeavor is falling short of its targets. Although individually, some are successful. One may think and suggest that this is normal. Is it? After all, we have been through world wars, pandemics, and more, yet we survive. Now we ask ourselves? Is this normal? Is it acceptable to undergo these things that we are not supposed to suffer? If we are going to welcome and take on these scenarios, what are we going to do? We have to have new ways of dealing with the same old problems, and maybe new ones facing us every day.

Hope and wish are only a few of the things inside us that help us go through our dark moments or giving us the wonderful feeling of anticipating success, and for most of us, comfort in a never-ending troublesome, and complicated world. Just like anything in this world, hope and wish are sometimes scarce. When we are dealing with difficulties, we become impatient, losing them slowly, leaving more miseries.


Matthew 17:20


King James Version

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.



New Living Translation

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.



What about faith in God? Many may claim that they tried their best, and it did not work either. Then, it is already a lost cause. There is no way that we can be having easy life in the future. Our life is a life filled with complaints and miseries.


Before we make conclusions, we have to consider several things. We must not be in a flash to judge. It is true that in the future we will still be having the same difficulties and miseries. However, we also have to consider some things that we might have missed.


It seems that having little faith in God is insufficient. The problems we face are bigger and more powerful than our God. The picture we see is our burdens are too heavy for us, and our small faith in God just will simply not work. If this is our side, have we given thoughts on how God sees it? But one may argue. How can humans see, as God sees? Isn’t God is perfect, and we are not? Our faith in Jesus, first, tells us that His Spirit and the Holy Spirit let us see things spiritually. Second, the same faith empowers us. So, it all starts with faith in God and trusting Him through Jesus Christ.



Psalms 37:7



King James Version


Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.



New Living Translation


Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.



Impatience blinds us in the true meaning of faith. It teaches us to listen to our unreliable selves. We will, of course, tend to wait for the solution, which might take time, but instead of putting our faith in Jesus, who gives us the peace that we need to rid of the uncertain feelings, we suffer from the devastation of impatience. What is happening is that we know that there will be an answer, but what takes place is we are fooled by impatience, letting us worry a lot.


All we need is faith in God through Jesus, our Lord, and Savior. The first thing to do is have faith in God. It may start as a small faith, but this is the foundation. From the start, it will strengthen as we go on. What’s next? He will instruct us.

Our relationship with Jesus is tapping us to our Heavenly Father in Heaven. A divine waiting is happening, replacing our impatience. It is now the spiritual beating the temporal, resulting in peace and contentment. The small faith we have seen is now bigger than we think, transforming our uncertainties with confidence.

Once our faith kicks in, all things that our temporal body follows the spiritual. Now, we can comprehend why trusting in Jesus gives us peace rather than trusting in a government that changes. We are confident in the healing power Jesus has rather than putting all our trust in vaccines. What we need right now is God’s intervention in our dying and chaotic world through faith in Jesus Christ to have peace, healing, and contentment. We must put our faith in God, not in human laws conceived in our unstable and unreliable minds. In other words, faith in God through Jesus Christ putting human endeavors behind.


If we haven’t tried our best, it is a must that we have to. All we need is just a little faith. God is always patient with us, and we are the impatient ones. What’s next? Trust God. It is now on its way.