Speaking in tongues had been a major mystery to me for years as a believer. I could not speak in tongues even after being prayed for severally. I had heard different controversies about tongues making the issue even more complicated; these mostly pointed towards tongues as a sign of spiritual maturity. So, I wondered when I would ever receive the said maturity.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Time flies. It’s Christmas time and the New Year is just around the corner. In the whole world, it is celebration time with food, gifts, partying and excessive shopping. However, at midnight on 31st December, a Gate will open and close—the New Year Gate. Elisha Goodman calls it a spiritual Gate to usher in certain things in your life for the years to come. And there is a spiritual battle at the gate at the midnight hour. Whatever manifests in the physical has already happened in the spiritual.
The minutes leading to the midnight hour are crucial . . . don’t be caught unaware with busyness. Do you remember the story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-10?
What things do you want to let in or shut out?
For me, I need to kick out some stuff and take some things in. Easier said than done . . . so, it’s a battle . . . don’t sleep, stay awake and battle your way into the New Year with worship and prayer. Remember to have written goals for the coming year, for we serve a God of order. Present them to the Lord and then seal and keep the paper until next year same time. But don’t sleep yet . . . keep watering the goals with prayer, thanksgiving, love, obedience and faithfulness. And keep a sharp ear and exercise humility; God will instruct or connect you to the few who will help you realize your dreams.
God is faithful . . . you will be amazed when you open your written paper. I can testify that God has fulfilled some of the goals that I committed to Him last year. . . glory to His name!!!
Wishing you divine victory at the New Year gate!!
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18 NIV).
Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it” (Romans 12:18 The Message).
The first time I read this verse, I thought it was an impossible pursuit. Then recently, I was faced with a disappointing situation, and I remembered it. It is challenging living in our fallen world—especially these days of insecurity of all sorts where people have become more selfish than selfless. Insecurity makes some to act secure but they hurt others in order to feel good about themselves. Yet God is calling us to be selfless and seek peace with others. Despite the state of our world, the Apostle Paul sees the believers as being capable of pursuing peace with others. What an honour! However, “humility comes before honour” (Proverbs 18:12). Living at peace with others requires humility, and that is a challenge to most people—even believers. Yet it pleases God when we live in humility as far as it depends on us.
Does it really depend on us?
Firstly, we have the power . . . “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). We have been equipped to think, choose, act and therefore determine the outcome of a situation. Often times, we relate to the divine power given us with doing warfare in prayer. However, humility, forgiveness or kindness are lethal weapons of warfare too which are founded on the character of Christ. There is immense power here, which does not need the usual ‘binding’ and ‘loosing’ that we are accustomed to. This kind attracts peace and disarms the enemy. May be you’re wondering how you can please everybody. You cannot—and God does not expect you to. In fact, we will have enemies; otherwise why did David, a man after God’s heart cry to God saying . . . “There are more people who hate me for no reason than the hairs on my head (Psalm 69:4). If you’re doing the right thing, you will wake up opposition even from the unexpected and that is disappointing. However, in order to stay focused, we must pursue peace in our hearts by letting go of the disappointment. Moreover, when we are not at peace with others, we cannot have peace with God, because it is for reconciliation that Jesus died. And we do not want to lose fellowship with God for whatever reasons. There is peace to know that we are at peace with God and man, if that depends on us.
Peace is a virtue that determines the quality of our lives and relationships. Jesus said, “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” (John 14:27). Godly peace produces joy even in difficult situations, and we cannot experience it if we are at war with others or ourselves. Being at peace with someone does not mean that we agree with his or her behaviour. It means that our peace is extremely significant, and we will go to extra lengths to preserve or pursue it. Pursuing peace is a hard task but its attainment is pleasurable.
Dear Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. Help me to pursue peace with others, so that I could keep your gift of peace in my heart and mind. Amen
A while ago and not so long, I reached an important decision after prayer and long endurance. I would tell you that I heard the Lord’s voice gradually directing me, and I was ready to step into the water until God said STOP. So I didn’t plunge in as much as I was raring to go. The Master had spoken, I heard His voice and as His sheep, I stopped. God hasn’t even shown me His alternative plan yet making me humanly confused. He just said STOP!
I can’t tell you how often I have followed my feelings and made decisions without waiting to hear God’s voice. And I have reaped the painful consequences too. But this one time, I had the privilege to hear His voice and STOP. Why a privilege? Because…Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (Proverbs 19:21 AMP). So whose purpose do you want? If you’re like me, you want your plans to stand and not collapse anymore.
The choices we make always affect others positively or negatively, even for generations. Remember King David, a man after God’s own heart; yet his feelings led him to commit murder. After he organised for Uriah to be killed so that he could take his wife Bathsheba, the Lord sent him a message. (2 Samuel 12: 10 AMP) ‘Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house…’ So, next time you contemplate any choice, remember you’re making it for your children and the generations to come.
And the only way we can make solid choices is when we involve God. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations (Psalm 33:11 AMP). If we want a sure and stable legacy, we need to submit our plans, dreams, vision and desires to the Master first. Under His perfect eyes, He sees every obstacle and snare that the enemy has laid before you. However great our plans, if they don’t bring Him glory, they will not stand. And remember (Psalms 84: 11 NLT) says… The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. And what is right? To allow Him to rule over our lives since He has purchased us with His blood.
Precious Lord, open my ears to hear Your voice as You tell me to turn to the right or to the left and when to STOP. In Your name. Amen.
If I knew, what the skies will be on the morrow
If I knew when the oceans will roar and rise
If I knew when the sun will rise and set
If I knew when the wind will blow
Oh! If only I knew tomorrow
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If I knew when the mountains will quake and shake
If I knew when the raging storms will cease
If I knew when the chirping birds will sing again
If I knew when the flowers will blossom again
Oh! If only I knew tomorrow
My heart would rest
♦
Yet I know not; I am but the clay
But the Potter knows! when, what, how,why
He fashions the skies; He points to the oceans
He beckons the sun; He whistles to the wind
He summons the mountains; He speaks to the storms
He feeds the birds; He clothes the flowers
Praise Him! He knows tomorrow
In Him my heart rests
I once watched a recording on the life of Kathryn Kuhlman, the late renowned Evangelist. As a young woman, she suffered from low self-esteem and felt that she was born without a talent. One day, exhausted from the frustrations of not measuring up to the worldly standards, she asked God if He could use an empty but available girl. You know the story. God did that through signs and wonders.
Kathryn claimed that she was God’s third choice: He had called two other people before her but they both declined. He chose her because she was available—as she was. Although the gifts and call of God are irrevocable, (Romans 11:29) God could ask someone else to take our place, if we reject His call. That means, not all may be lucky to end up in the belly of the whale like Jonah (Read Jonah). In that regard, I think God was extremely patient with Jonah.
Due to various circumstances in my life, I didn’t recognise my gifts and talents, early enough, and I think some of them are yet to be developed. Nevertheless, God requires available vessels even when we may not know our gifts and talents. I started writing articles after forty and my first book has now been published. But it doesn’t have be that way for everyone. If you already know what God has called you to do, get your hands on it and He will lead the way. And if you don’t…ask Him and He will certainly tell you. But the big question is, are you available? Our talents and gifting are meaningless if we don’t avail ourselves for use because it’s through them that God erects a pulpit to accomplish His purposes.
For most of us, it’s not necessarily a pulpit to preach. It may not also be mind blowing such as, parting the Red sea or calling down fire from heaven as Elijah did. God may call us to do little things to the human eyes but great in His sight. We need the little and the big things to build the kingdom of God. However, you’ll never find out until you are available for the Master’s use.
Dear Lord I know you have called me. I thank you for choosing me just as I am.
Show me how and where to serve you. Open the eyes, ears of my heart so that I can follow you, and give me the humility to submit to your Lordship.
In Jesus’ name. Amen
