Posts

Posted on

Peace and prosperity

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.

Posted on

Foundation and Decision

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.

Posted on

Time Will Tell

Scriptural Readings: I Corinthians 9:19, Galatians 5:1, Romans 15:3

Despite what most of humanity assumes, time isn’t what we pay attention to, as it shows and tells in its purest form. It’s not only taking a quick look at a watch or clocks mounted in our homes or jobs, reminding ourselves of what to do next. Within are messages sent by God. It affirms something profound, even if we aren’t aware. 

I Corinthians 9:19

King James Version

For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

New Living Translation

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.

Physical presence binds humanity to its entirety on this planet. We measure lives in seconds, minutes, and years, which leaves men and women wondering what the consequences of their decisions are. Working for 8 hours, six days a week, in a closed-in environment inside an enormous building is stressful, or asking a question of when housework becomes effortless. Whatever our occupation or who we are, we are servants.

As we strive to disconnect from dissatisfaction, the exact opposite of this status is what we find.  We are trapped and enslaved in the cycle of uncertainties. We cannot break loose from this bond. The justification for our existence is to suffer the grueling day. There is nothing more than a dream when it comes to liberty.

The gift of free will. Yes, today’s highlight. What is its role? We ask why? The reason is we must separate our wishes from our needs. It is the bridge connecting His wants for each follower of the Son of God. The counterfeit is exposed, and the truth is unlocked. We can draw the line between what we lack from what we claim. 

Galatians 5:1

King James Version

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

New Living Translation

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

In this status, we are trapped and enslaved in a cycle of uncertainties. Many factors cloud our minds. We cannot break loose from this bond. The justification for our existence is to suffer the grueling day. Liberty is just a dream. We wish to wake up from this nightmare. What are we to do? And so, we come to His throne of grace to discuss this problem. 

Freedom, in its literal effect, is unattainable and complicated. Consuming and ending the eight-hour work in our offices or the ever-tiring housekeeping, we still demand other matters to complete the unknown that we believe is an obligation. It is an undeniable, overwhelming feeling of disgust as soon as we hit the ceiling. As we strive to disconnect from dissatisfaction, the exact opposite is what we find. 

A believer in Jesus has an advanced understanding of a godly lifestyle. Christianity opened our eyes to a unique perspective that changes the condition we think, affects the sense we are passing through, and elevates our relationship with our Father. Problems are complicated because we view them as only one possibility. But it freed each Christians from a single bit of known lie the enemy offers.

“…that I might gain more ..”

Our Creator has a sacred task to achieve in everybody. He presents the believers with the best to meet full divine maturity to carry out the specific instructions and perfect cause for being a part of a Christian to fulfill. This bonding produces the satisfaction we have been desirous. And if this doesn’t happen, a total loss on our side.

Romans 15:13

King James Version

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

New Living Translation

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Time in our lives has an explicit purpose. We are now precise because we know beyond more. To realize what we undertake, we desire heavenly implications. We are to experience the true meaning of spiritual development. As we take in our daily directives from Him, He shall fill each individual with the overflowing power of the Holy Spirit because we trust the Almighty, the source of hope.

The newness of presence in Christ showed us the ultimate essence of godlike life. Our whole being today differs from when we were in bondage to sin because we are dead in spirit. The sense of God in our lifetime will separate our wants from needs and govern every second we live. 

Posted on

Fear And Power

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. 



Posted on

What Other News?

Scriptural readings: Genesis 2:4-6; 8-9

How influential is the news today? Does it help most of the time? Why do we pay attention to these reports, which often leave feelings of either pleasure or disgust? Why are we interested in these things?

Satisfaction and sanctification?

Is it a necessity to be satisfied? Is happiness or fulfillment a feeling or a condition in our way of life? If so, sanctification is another thing that sometimes restricts our earthly enjoyment. Is this right? For this reason, we have trouble prioritizing satisfaction or purification. Correct? This procedure has become a burden for us, adding to the original issue of what is essential, pleasure or consecration.

Genesis 2:4-6

King James Version

4

This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

5

neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil.

6

Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land.

God created the entirety of perfection. There is an order. And because sin entered the picture, today’s conditions are very different. Our faults make it difficult to live in an ideal world. Yet, our heavenly Father continues to clothe the field. He made sure birds ate without working. And what concerns us? We lead a sinful lifestyle and have a self-centered, oriented life.

The Mist

Why the mist or the fog? Verse 5 tells us God intended not for the plants to grow until someone has to take care of them. The man had to till the ground. The phrase “till” in Hebrew is “abad” a primitive root; to work; by implication to serve, till (Causatively) enslave. Now, in verse 6, the mist rose. It sprinkled, affecting the entire face of the ground. The term “watered” in Hebrew is “shaqah” a basic root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate. It is in the Hiphil preterite form, meaning in the past the irrigation was done.

In the past, the plants were irrigated by God. If we join the dots, when our original parents sinned, there was a procedure accomplished outside the garden. A continuing order was established. When they were taken out, they had to adapt to their new environment. They have to survive and plow the ground, and the rest is history.

King James Version

8

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

New Living Translation

8

Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.

9

The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Place we live in.

The mist? The trees? Do these make sense? They do! They are part of God’s plan and blessing. Aside from what God created first, He gave this unique location, the garden. Now, we have two places to enjoy. Then, came the sad day. We were ordered to leave the special place that our Father had provided. Our actions were forced upon us, and we were sent back to the outside with the consequences.

And Now the News….

It may sound like awful stories, but carrying the great message we knew and rejected. Since our first parents disobeyed our Father, we were in the irreversible position of spiritual death. Our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord saved us. It is the gospel of the Son of the Almighty living God we call the Good News. The only remedy is restoring things to their original purpose.

There is no doubt our Father loves us so much. From the beginning, He designed everything, including our redemption. Salvation. It is the other news that gets rejected the most. We want a righteous world, and it can only start by accepting Jesus, the Son of the Living God, as our Lord and Savior.

Now, those facts are stated. The gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the only good news that makes it matter. God had restored our relationship with Him through His Son. Despite the terrible reports that continue to plague us, we can face them with a different mindset this time. Satisfaction and sanctification are defined. It made it easier to handle happiness and consecration.

Posted on

Obedience And Favor

Scriptural Readings: Genesis 3:9, Matthew 18:20, Matthew 6:6


Can it be that one day our Heavenly Father tells us He needed help? Will this be possible? A Supreme Being whose attributes are omniscient, omnipotent, and infinite might seek sinners of whom we are for support, but why? Isn’t it odd? We now speculate why the Almighty, who created everything with nothing but His words, demands that we complete an impossible challenge. Do we say no to our God?

Genesis 3:9

King James Version

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?

New Living Translation

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”


Where art thou?

It is fascinating to notice that even after our early parents sinned, our heavenly Father still interacted with them. They had spiritual death and yet the Almighty never abandoned them. At first, He reached out to them. “Where are you?” These are the words our Creator used to bring the original man to attention. Omnipresent God knows where he is hiding. He can’t keep His location a secret from Him. Muchmore, He listened to Adam’s lies and wretched excuses. He loves us so much.


His inquiry is a revelation.

Identifying an audible or direct response from God is close to impossible. He always makes us aware of something. When God shows something to us, there will be a spiritual essence. There are amazing things He wants for us to unravel. It isn’t just that we are receiving God into our spirit at this moment; it is also that we are accepting the true purpose of life we all long for, which is to be in His presence. To be in the spirit of our Father is the ultimate purpose.

Matthew 18:20

King James Version

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

New Living Translation

For where two or three gather together as my followers, “I am there among them.”


What is it to be in God’s presence? During prayer, have we known who God is? Being with His Holy Spirit is more meaningful than being demanding on our part. In reality, we are at the right moment for whatever we may imagine. Until we come into existence with the Almighty, we are dead in the spirit.

Fulfillment comes from being in the spirit of the Almighty. It is the purpose of living. Today, being in the company of our Creator is a privilege. Why? We understand that iniquity separates sinners from their Holy Father. It could lead to arguments that our Lord is omnipresent. That is true. It is to highlight God’s attributes. Sin draws the line, and we cannot approach Him. He will get us to bend lower on our knees and draw our attention. Is being in Glorious Father’s presence more significant than having prayers answered? First, we need to be with God. Only then can we pray. Now, we ask ourselves? Which is more essential?

Why humble ourselves?

Our Maker deserves more of our concern. This is the only plan. We should know He will never leave. We may seek for nothing more than to be with our Creator. To be with our Maker is our ultimate purpose. Today, existing with God is a privilege. Why? We know that sin separates us from the Almighty. There are those who may argue that God is omnipresent. That is true. The purpose is to prove His attributes. Sin still divides us, and we cannot approach Him. Only He can grab our attention, making our inflated egos inferior to His holiness, so we have to bow on our knees and pray. Which is more significant, our prayers answered or being in God’s existence? God’s presence is foremost. Only then can we pray. Now, we ask ourselves? Which is more meaningful? Now, we seek ourselves? Which is more essential?

When we meet our Creator in prayer, our desires rush along with our spirits. We need to unite with God’s spirit. We cannot stop ourselves from pouring ourselves into Him. The most significant thing to realize is that our Maker knows everything. If we stay fixed on our passions, we cannot comprehend our God. We have to humble ourselves in His presence. He instructed us to be still and know He’s Almighty. His Holiness should be above even the smallest things. As we pray, resentments should fall at their proper time and place.

Matthew 6:6

King James Version

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

New Living Translation

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.



A missed opportunity.

Isn’t it true we always look for an opportunity? Opportunity knocks only once, as the old saying says. Are we blind to the opportunities God has given? Problems won’t go away, but our Creator uses the time to work through them. This is happening.
We do not have enough time. This is what we always say. But we find ourselves on our knees when problems keep creeping. Right? As a result, we realized the opportunity we missed.



Close the door behind you, and talk to your father in heaven.

Blaming ourselves is the only reason we missed the opportunities the Almighty has given. Why? Our God listens, wherever we are, and for whatever reasons we are having. We have plenty of time for Him. This is a fact, but we refuse to acknowledge it. Our creator is behind the door. It is never too late. Again, our Father in heaven is always ready to hear from His children.

We are now living the end times, as our Lord Jesus was saying. Time is of the essence. Are we giving more of our quality moments to Him? Obedience is not just carrying out orders, as we see. A reward or blessing accompanies it. This opens the door to God’s kindness. Comforting us for a while in His presence. We live by His grace and mercy. It is where favor from our Maker, His blessings, shows.

The revelation does not end here. He has more to show. We know our Omniscient Architect is imparting knowledge and is part of His blueprint. Every challenge has an answer, regardless of how complex or simple it may be. His children will be enabled to do for His glory. That is spiritual sanctification in its purest form. God designed us to enjoy a holy relationship with Him.


Posted on

Listen and Hear

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.

Posted on

The Enemy Is Always Busy.

Scriptural readings: James 4:6-8; Revelations 3:15-16; Ephesians 6:10-18.

King James Version

James 4:6-8 

V.6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

V.7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

V.8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double-minded.

New Living Translation

V.6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

V.7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

V.8  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty, is divided between God and the world.

Have we honestly been thinking about conviction and conscience lately? It might not be interesting to talk about, but one thing for sure is that we dealt lightly with these things, or we never tried to reach the point of reflecting on it seriously. A lot of us may probably respond to this question by relying on human reasoning. And currently, these words are a subject of controversy. And there are so many things about these terms to be accepted. However, we might have possibly failed or overlooked the terminology moral or morality. And for Christians, what should be our response?        

What are we thinking?

We are sinners. It is a reality that no matter what we think or do, we cannot escape from this reality. No matter what arguments we have, we will always sin against God. Whatever we should think, it has to be of spiritual significance. We have to put in our minds the power of God, not anything else. When we accept Jesus in our lives, our spiritual lives must be our priority. Our relationship with our Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit has to be the most significant part of our lives. It is the truth that we have to address first. The truth is not in us. We think we are doing the will of God, but in reality, we do not.  

The bottom line to this is that we will have second thoughts. And we will choose from a lot of options. The Holy Spirit can live in us. And this is the only way we can have victory.

King James Version

Revelations 3:15-16

V.15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

V.16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

New Living Translation

V.15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!“

V.16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

What are we doing?

We have to have God at the end of every second that passes in our lives. Why? The moment that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, everything will change. Of the many things that we are going to experience is a powerful conviction from the Lord. Aside from this conviction, we will also experience the enemy’s presence. Yes, the enemy will be both inside and outside of us. The old fellow inside us entices us to bow down to the external evil influences that this sinful world offers. Unless we reckon death to the aged fellow inside us, we will have difficulties dealing with our sinful nature. God knows how we think and our every move.

God’s way 

We have to make choices in life. Since there is no other way but to choose, our decisions must be unmistakable. Morality will always be a part of our decisions. It will separate confusion from confirmation. Once there has been a conviction, morality takes action. It is the one that God never lifted or took out from us when our first parents sinned against God. When Adam and Eve died spiritually, they separated from God. As a result, we can presume that our morals died as well. God could have taken the volition out of us, leaving the situation of nothing left but having only the worst things until we die. But it did not happen that way. God left morality because He wants us to know that goodness exists and we can find it through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

King James Version

Ephesians 6:10-18

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

V.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

V.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

V.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

V.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

V.15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

V.16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

V.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

V.18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

New Living Translation

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

V.11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

V.12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

V.13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then, after the battle, you will still stand firm. 

V.14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

V.15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

V.16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

V.17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

V.18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The enemy is always busy. We are always under attack constantly. The enemy is spreading lies every second that passes by. But we have conviction. Conviction is an audible voice of God heard by our spiritual senses. We do not have to face this battle alone. It points out our mistakes, and it also instructs us on what God wants us to do. It is why God left these convictions that either way; we are going to be alarmed or face the enemy with the Holy Spirit.  

We cannot handle ourselves. Anything can easily control us, and we cannot guarantee all that we believe in had better be for our advantage. The enemy is always busy. We can be under the influence of evil any second from now. We have to hand over our lives to Jesus Christ. There is no other way we can have a righteous and contented life unless we are under the control of the Holy Spirit who will produce in us the fruits.

Posted on

Pick Up And Carry Your Cross

Scriptural Readings: Matthew 11:28-30

King James Version

V.28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

V.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

V.30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

New Living Translation

V.28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

V.29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

V.30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

“Take up and carry your cross.” A commandment from our Lord that may seem an impossible thing to fulfill for us Christians. One thing for sure is that it might show an unpleasant picture, and we have this impression of nothing but difficulties. But faith tells us more than we can expect. And there are spiritual outcomes that are more necessary in our spiritual lives than we can have. Remember, it is a commandment from our Lord Jesus. It also includes having blessings.

In this world, we are living in, every second counts. For each second that passes by, it is of the highest quality to benefit, not only for our daily needs but also for our spiritual needs. As we go over with our lives living in harmony with state-of-the-art technology, uncertainty should not be a part of our day-to-day lives. However, because of the complexity of the world we are living in, mistakes are inevitable.  

“Come unto me…”.

The word “come” in Greek is “deute” (dyoo’- teh), coming from the word “deuro” (dyoo’-ro), an imperative meaning come here and follow; hitherto. Hitherto means describing a state or circumstance that existed until now. Followed by the Greek word “pros”: a preposition of direction, meaning towards, or forward. Now, let us connect the dots. God knows all of us will reach a point that we will need His help, and this is where we might miss the point. When Jesus said come, He means we must go directly to Him. He knows what we look for exactly. There should be no alternatives. What is wrong with us at present is that we have a lot of options. Jesus has become the alternative. We insist on working hard more on the things that we think are the best for us instead of coming straight to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is plain, and it is simple. Come.

“Take my yoke…”.

What comes up to your mind when you hear the word yoke? It is not a common word we hear every day. Is this word relevant today? Does it make sense to anyone, even in our spiritual lives? This word may seem irrelevant, but it infuses us with the most significant consequences in our spiritual lives. 

One dictionary defines a yoke as a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull; during ancient Rome, it is an arch of three spears under which it made a defeated army march. 

For these animals, this crosspiece is a thing that would help lighten the load and guide them with their purpose, and that is to help humans. As for some Christians, we might look at the crosspiece as burdensome for us. However, in its genuine sense is a connection for us to deepen our relationship to our God. 

“…and learn of me…”.

Learning is a must for our way of life, most especially in our spiritual lives. The problem is that we sometimes presume challenges as troubles to us. A burden that makes our lives miserable. We think that there are more essential things that we have to attend to than to accept these challenges that will improve our lives. For some, this may be true. But for our spiritual lives, it is entirely different. We have to respond to what the Holy Spirit is telling and instructing us.

Just how are you going to react if someone asked you to drive a massive 18-wheeler truck for the first time? What feelings are there for a first-timer pilot to fly an Airbus A380? Danger might be the first word to pop out of one’s mind. Lack of self-trust can also be in us. The size of what is in front of us is terrifying, especially when we talk about and face an insurmountable problem. It is the reason Jesus told us to come. To learn. And not to be dismayed. The word “learn” in Greek is man-than’-o. Prolongation from a primary verb, another form of which, Matheo, is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn (in any way):–learn, understand. Jesus would not let us reach out to Him to suffer. He requires us to come to Him in prayer and surely will learn. To learn from Him will cause finding rest, the opposite of what we presume to have difficulties because of yokes.

For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

If you can see another angle of the meaning of this word, it has the same predicament Jesus experienced. The wooden cross was weighty for our Lord Jesus, true indeed, but in its spiritual essence, it created the road map for us to travel the spiritual realm that God prepared us with ease to cope up with living in this unbearable world. He picked up His cross (piece), guided, and marched like a leader of a defeated army, but in the end, of course, is the beginning of everlasting life with our God.

God knows we are heading to rough and confusing times. Looking, picking up, and carrying our cross is an activity done every day for us to acknowledge and resolve the truth from lies guiding us where He wants us to be. It is where our lives cross with God’s plan. From the time being that we carry on our crosses, Our Father, through the Holy Spirit, instructs us of the things we need as we undergo with our everyday living. The moment that we carry our crosses, we will feel the power of the Holy Spirit defeating the body, taking control of our souls and spirit. We might bear our crosses every day, but tell us where we are heading, eliminating confusion and uncertainties, placing us in the right direction towards His will.

Posted on

Why The Cross?

Scriptural Readings: Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 2:22-23; II Peter 2:22; Mark 8:34; Mark 10:21; Luke 14:27; II Thessalonians 2:13-15.

Genesis 3:19

King James Version

V.19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat4 bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

New Living Translation

V.19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust, you will return.”

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

King James Version

V.22 For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the sun?

V.23 For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest1 in the night. This is also vanity.

New Living Translation

V.22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety?

V.23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night, their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

Have we become comfortable with our struggles in our lives? Have we developed callouses for them? Otherwise, we are still having a list of complaints. Another question that we might think of is how to handle it without easily giving up. True enough, we will have success and failure. And they will come from various levels of challenges, and we have to work on them fast.

II Peter 2:22

King James Version

V.22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her, wallowing in the mire.

New Living Translation

V.22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.”[g] And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

Of the many things that we have to do, the first is to question ourselves more often than we think. Why? One would ask. It is of extreme importance that we should always be on guard regarding our emotions. Our emotions are like a Global positioning system. Once we take a wrong turn, we are going to be lost totally. Reactions are an embedded part of us. Our minds and hearts continue to work together, and if they do not conform to each other, confusion will intervene. We will fall back to where we were once before.

Mark 8:34

King James Version

V.34 And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

New Living Translation

V.34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 

Mark 10:21

King James Version

V.21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

New Living Translation

V.21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Luke 14:27

King James Version

V.27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

New Living Translation

V.27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

For example, as Christians, are we commanded to choose between our possession and the cross? Is it necessary to decide between our properties and the cross? What happened to our volition?

Deciding, just like struggles, is a part of our everyday lives. Our Father in heaven will not take away this capacity to choose. Muchmore, He is always giving us the right decisions and directions, making it unmistakable for us.

The cross will force us to focus on only one thing while controlling our possessions divides our attention. It points much of our awareness to many things causing distractions leading to destructions. Thus, causing more harm than wellness. The cross has only one purpose, and that is putting ourselves into what our heavenly Father wants us to accomplish, His will. Our Lord and Savior Jesus carried the cross, died on it for our salvation. It is God’s will, and the best part is the cross opened a lot of what has God promised us. For some, looking at the cross depicts difficulties. It does not. For most of us, we use our finite abilities to see and interpret the cross as things that make it difficult for us to live. What is meaningful is the spiritual essence of the cross.  

We continually end up in the wrong places, constantly looking for a way out, leaving us with either unavoidable from light worries to unspeakable sorrow. Altogether, we continuously run out of the right cause and answers, arriving from the miseries that God never wanted us to have. The only way to have grace and mercy is to look at the cross. We can only approach the throne of grace if we acknowledge the message of the cross, of what Jesus did in that place, making Him our intercessor to the Father.

It is now the cross that makes the difference. We might end up again in the wrong places, but this time, God, through Jesus Christ (the way), will provide us with the road out, supplying us with the right reasons and with the conclusive answers to our questions in life. The cross is the place where our Father sees us and brings us to His throne of grace, living a righteous life only available through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:13-15

King James Version

V.13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

V.14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

V.15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

New Living Translation

V.13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first[d] to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

V.14 He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

V.15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

It is now clear that the cross is the only place that we have to go. The only acceptable place where God can meet us, and once we accept, will guarantee us of His love. We have now resolved the argument of why the cross. Alleluia!