(Ephesians‬ ‭1)

We are blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

We are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blame before God in love.

We were predestined to be adopted as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,

We are accepted.

In Christ, we are redeemed, we are forgiven through His blood.

We are forgiven, according to the riches of God’s grace

We are chosen.

However, what you see matters!

Do you see yourself as God sees you.

Do you trust in the finished work of God over your life?

I pray for you today that God will bring light into your mind. So that you can truly understand and experience the many good things that God has prepared for you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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(Psalms 55:22-23)

“Pile your troubles on God ’s shoulders.

His big shoulders can carry your load.

He will carry your load, he will help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin... And I trust in you.

(I Peter 5:7)

While sitting an exam, it could be overwhelming when flipping through several pages of tasks to be done, especially when you feel that you have limited time.

In real life, when we are faced with several challenges, there is high tendency to keep flipping through all the burdensome problems in our minds.

When we do this, we allow worry to creep in bringing along fear, anxiety and depression even to having suicidal thoughts.

What do you need to do when life situations seem to be burdensome?

Stop!

Take a deep breath.

Remind yourself that the breath of God - His Spirit lives in you. Let this understanding propel you into “casting all your cares, all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all, on Him, for He cares about you, with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭AMP‬‬

(Psalms 42, Phil 4:7)

At the sight of the big and beautiful looking plums, I bought two bowls with expectation of eating juicy and sweet plums.

Biting three of the plums, my hope of enjoying them was dashed because they were sour.

Life, sometimes, can dish out sourness when one is hoping to get sweetness after countless endeavours in desiring great results.

Such is the story of David in Psalms 42. He was in distress. He cast his mind on past victory, strength and achievements. And he said “...My heart breaks when I remember the past...” His past joy of leading the crowd into God’s temple.

Another thought came to his mind - could God have forgotten me? He said in verse 9- “I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?””

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David finally had the best thought-option- He asked himself in verse 11 “Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God.” Psalms‬ ‭42:11‬ ‭CEB

This is the best place to be - Turning our thoughts to God at all times.

I pray that we continue to see in God the peace we desire. I pray the peace of God, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep our hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. Amen.

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(Psalms 51; Rom 12:1)

God does not delight in our sacrifice.

Our “sacrifices” of performance is not pleasing to God until we render “sacrifices” of broken and contrite heart. Broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent. Desiring to please God in thoughts, word and then in deed.

What God desires is for us - His children to to serve Him with our whole lives. Offering our bodies to Him like a living sacrifice-sacrifice that continues to live.

Lord we thank You for giving Your son to be sacrifice for our sins.

We receive Your grace to live sacrificial lives, pleasing unto You in Jesus’ name. Amen

(Romans 8:26-28)

God is not taken aback when we get tired in the waiting.

He knows our frailty.

Romans 8:26-28 MSG caught my attention during the Pentecost Sunday service at my local Church.

The verses were uplifting and I pray that you will find succour in this Word of God in Jesus’ name.

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26-28‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Be mindful of this truth - every detail or of your life of love for God - whether pleasant, bothersome, worrisome or ugly -is worked into something good.

There is always a ripple effect of every single action - whether good or bad.

(II Samuel 21)

There was national famine in King David’s time. It went on for three years and David sought God for the reason.

Apparently Saul killed the Gibeonites who Israelites had a treaty covenant with.

David had a peace consultation meeting with the Gibeonites and arrangement was made for compensation.

Saul’s family paid for his foolishness.

The people of Israel paid for Saul’s disregard for covenant. They had lack for 3 years.

Our decision whether positive or otherwise will impact on families and also non-families.

There is always a ripple effect of every single action - whether good or bad.

Help us Lord to always sieve our thoughts with the standard of Your Word so that our actions and decisions may always be pleasing to You and positively influencing our loved ones, colleague and strangers.

I pray for our leaders- wisdom from above to make right decisions that will lead to national stability and abundance in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(John 18:11)

“So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?””

‭‭John‬ ‭18:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus knew the pain awaiting him. He knew the cup of suffering was planned before the foundation of the earth for the redemption of mankind. He knew he was going to be made sin for man.

The thought of the shame, ridicule, beatings, nailing on the cross, being given unpleasant drink - vinegar. Also going to the pit of hell were all heart-wrenching.

Jesus was intentional about going through the pain for our deliverance.

It all turned out into victory. His blood, death and ressurection brought about our freedom - our salvation and ability to be like God.

We all have a cup to drink.

We all have a certain ‘cup of suffering’ we will individually drink of, when we become a part of the family of God through embracing the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sins.

This cup of suffering, for example, could be brokenness, rejection by friends, being misunderstood by friends and families.

Father, we pray for fresh grace to be willing to obey you, in all, completely.

(Habakkuk 2:2-3)

“The Lord answered me. He said: ‘Write down what I will show to you. Make it very clear on the page where you write it. Then someone can easily read it, and he can tell the message to other people. What I will show to you must happen at the time that I have decided. That is a future time, but it will certainly happen, as I have said. It may not happen very soon, but you must be patient. What I show to you will certainly happen at the right time, so wait for it.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭EASY‬‬

Start where you are while waiting for God’s promises and Words over your life to materialise.

Cultivate the fruit of patience- help some one. Serve someone. Do every seemingly little things with joy and as unto the Lord.

An intentional call or text to someone can be timely in comforting or guiding.

It could even be a prayer and acts of kindness for neighbours aside your prayers and act of kindness toward family.

Remember, where you are!

What God Says About My Children (Day 30)

(Luke 2:40; 46-47; 51-52)

Thank you for joining me today the thirtieth day of making declarations of God’s promises and blessings upon our children.

Thank you for coming along on this journey as we declare what God says about our children, whether born or yet unborn, making fat deposits of God’s goodness into all our children’s lives and their future.

So join me to make the declarations. You can personalise the declarations adding your children’s names.

Today’s focal scripture is from “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:46-47‬ ‭

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:51-52‬ ‭KJV‬‬