Yet Praise Him!

Praise the LORD! "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God." Psalm 42:5 & 11. To be downcast is to be depressed or despondent [profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement or gloom]. (That's quite serious; thank God for minshɛ!) The antidote for a downcast soul is praise. The soul is made up of your mind, your will and your emotions. The authors of this Psalm (the sons of Korah) expressed that they felt so down and depressed but they reminded themselves that there was no real reason to feel that way because they had their God, my God, your God, our Saviour. They made a switch and told their soul to put their hope in God and praise Him. So, the secret to staying out of depression, discouragement and despondency is PRAISE. But, I've realised that praise is not a one-time event. It has to be a lifestyle, a conscious effort. That is the secret to a quiet (peaceful) soul. So, next time life tries it and you begin to feel some way, ask yourself, "Why, my soul, are you downcast?... for I will yet praise Him." Personally, I think it's very cheeky of me to be the one blogging this message. It applies very much to me too! (Just goes to show it is the Holy Spirit really writing this. I didn't plan to say all this...) 

Anyways, #YetPraiseHim!

Blessings!

It Is Working For You!

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 

Every detail of your life is working out for good.

Even the bits that do not make sense and the bits that seem unfair. God is molding you and shaping you for destiny. The level He is taking you requires a level of tenacity, character and spiritual fortitude. Trust the process.

Hold onto God. Hold onto His Word. Continue to seek the Lord while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6).

Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:
I am the Lord your God
And there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame

(Joel 2:27). 

I am too convinced of this. He will never put his children to shame.

As we say in Kharis, it is working for you!

                                                              

Lessons From An Encounter: Zechariah

Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth were righteous people. The Bible says that they observed the Lord’s commands blamelessly (Luke 1:6). But they had a problem. They had no children because Elizabeth was barren. (Luke 1:7). Yet they continued to serve the Lord faithfully.

One day, while Zechariah was burning incense, serving in the temple, he had an encounter. An angel appeared to him and told him that his prayer had been heard. He will have a son called John who would be a joy and who would be great in the Lord’s sight.

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” (Luke 1:18-20).

This portion of Scripture is loaded. A few lessons that stood out to me…

1.   It pays to be consistent and faithful to God. We shouldn’t allow our circumstances (e.g. barrenness) to stop us from serving God faithfully. [Luke 1:6]

2.   Zechariah had an encounter in the midst of prayer. In those times, incense was burned in the temple twice a day. When the people saw the smoke from the burning incense, they would pray. The smoke drifting heavenward represented their prayers ascending to God. So, prayer creates an atmosphere for encounters. [Luke 1:8-10].

3.    God hates unbelief! Zechariah questioned what the angel said because he looked at his situation. The angel, Gabriel, didn’t come to convince Zechariah. He came to tell him to what was to come. Whatever God has promised you and I won’t take what we have. We don’t have what it takes. All God is looking for is our faith! [Luke 1:18-20].

4.    Zechariah became mute after this encounter. Gabriel told him he would be silent until the fulfillment of the promise. I found this to be significant because I realised that sometimes, God will have to shut us up to stop us from talking ourselves out of the promise and out of destiny. If Zechariah had carried on talking, he would probably have continued to confess his disbelief. God cannot work where there is no faith! [Luke 1:20].

5.   My pastor always says “All you need is the hand of God to change your story.” After Zechariah had this encounter, his story changed. He was no longer childless. His destiny was transformed by this encounter. Seek God and seek encounters with Him. Destiny is at stake.

Every blessing!

#JoyUnspeakable

His Genuine Love for Us

God totally loves us.  

Israel and Judah continually rebelled against the Lord yet God said,
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.
(Isaiah 1:18)

When I read this verse, I really appreciated God's love for us, for you and I. Despite the constant sinning of His people, he beckoned them to come. 
"Come...let us reason together."

What He needs from us is repentance and obedience.
  
Wash and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
    stop doing wrong. (Isaiah 1:16)

His heart for you, His genuine love for you, is indescribable. 

No matter how far you've gone, though you may not have it altogether, God says, "Come now, and let us reason together."

#JoyUnspeakable 

When I Move, You Move

Ezekiel had an encounter with God Almighty Himself. As the glory of God was being revealed to him, he saw what looked like four living creatures (described in Ezekiel 1). Something struck me about these creatures.

"Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels" (Ezekiel 1:12,17, 20).

Wherever the spirit would go, they would go...

This is how I want to be led by the Holy Spirit. These creatures only went where the spirit went and they did so without turning. They set themselves as flint! (Isaiah 50:7). From teachings I've been listening to recently, following the Holy Spirit is absolutely vital for our rising in life and for destiny. The Holy Spirit knows where we ought to go. We don't. The Bible says the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God and although no one knows God's thoughts, the Holy Spirit makes them known to us! (1 Corinthians 2:10) We ought to follow the Holy Spirit.

What I'm about to say may seem abstract but hear me out a second...

...the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

The wheels made me think of movement. The creatures could only move once the spirit moved because the spirit was in the wheels. This made me think and reminded me of my pastor's teachings which both bring home that point that before we do anything, before we make decisions, before we make that next move, we need the Spirit in our 'wheels'. We need the Holy Spirit to back our steps. He needs to be the one behind what we are doing. He totally has to lead and we totally have to depend on Him if we really want to move forward in any direction of life!

#JoyUnspeakable

The Flesh Doesn't Count

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63). 

I've discovered that nothing we do actually counts, so far as God is concerned, unless it is done in the Spirit. This means that everything we do has to be done whilst totally dependent on the Holy Spirit for it to register in Heaven. 

John 6:63 tells us that "it is the spirit that quickeneth." This means that the Holy Spirit gives life. It goes on to say "the flesh profiteth nothing." This means that anything done in the flesh is dead. It has no life or worth because it is the Spirit that quickeneth; it is the Spirit that gives life!

That's quite a scary thought. To think that there are so many things that I may have been doing that have been a certified waste of time because I was doing it with my own will power, with my own strength - in the flesh. Ei! We value our time and our efforts so much. But is it possible that they have counted for absolutely nothing? 

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:3-4). 

So, as Christians, we are to walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh. For anything we do to be of value or to count for something, we need the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit everyday single day. 

Jesus was the One talking in John 6:63. He said the words that He speaks unto us are Spirit and are life. That implies that we can walk by the Spirit by feeding ourselves with the Word because the Word is Spirit and life!

Lord, we ask for grace to walk according to the Spirit and to bury our heads in the Word, in Jesus' name. Amen.

#JoyUnspeakable

Blood, Sweat & Tears

He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:41-44 NIV). 

This Scripture brings me so much comfort. God is willing man, God is just so willing to help us, to lighten our load, to show us that we are not alone, to show us that He is Immanuel, God with us! 

Jesus was in such agony for you and I that he prayed more earnestly for God to take such suffering away from Him. But, my God, He said "yet not my will, but yours be done." Jesus loved us so so much (and still does!) that despite that pain, He was still willing to go and endure the Cross for us. He endured to the very end. Wow. 

I read this Scripture at a time I was feeling so down. It lifted me from that place to a place of peace. I figured that whatever I was feeling could not compare to what Jesus felt. I almost felt like I had no right to even feel the way I did. I mean, He was in such agony that he sweated blood. Blood! I now know where the phrase "blood, sweat and tears" came from. This wasn't just a cliché saying for Jesus. It was his very experience, for mere mortals like you and I. 

Imagine. 

I want someone to know that, ah, Jesus loves you so much. I want someone to know that God is so willing to help you. Sometimes, He may not take you out of that situation but if you only ask, He will give you that strength. He will give it to you. I'm saying this because I experienced it this very week. He will. He is willing! 

But we have a responsibility. Notice how Jesus withdrew to go and pray. I find that when I feel down, it's easy to want to tell someone. But Jesus withdrew to talk to the Father and when he felt such anguish, God strengthened Him as He prayed more earnestly ( - big lesson there)! God is willing to give you want it takes to endure. 

Will you let Him? Just ask.


#JoyUnspeakable
http://joy-unspeakable-247.blogspot.co.uk/p/beauty-for-ashes.html  

The Potter

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?" (Romans 9:20-21 NIV) 

This Scripture just made me reflect on the messages I've been hearing at church on how God used people like Peter and Paul in the Bible to work miracles and how God used people like Smith Wigglesworth and William Seymour to spearhead revivals that brought so many to Christ. These were ordinary men but were used by God for special purposes. They carried the presence of God. They walked with the Holy Spirit. These people, just to name a few, were pottery for special purposes. 

I don't know about you but I want to be made and molded for special use! 

I've discovered that for God to use you, you have to be separated. Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles you (Hebrews 12:1). Walk with the Holy Spirit. Bury your head in the Word. Desire God and nothing else. Press into His presence. There is so much more in God for us! There is so much that He wants to use us for! But He needs our attention.

The Trans-Generational Gift

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord will call." (Acts 2:38-39)

Today's blog post is just to emphasize the need for the Holy Spirit. 

We have been praying for God to release His Holy Spirit on us afresh. It may seem that this prayer is just for us. No! It's not. It's bigger than us. It's for our children too and even those who are far off; for all whom the Lord will call. 

The Bible goes on to say: With many other words he warned them; he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." (Acts 2:40) So by asking for the Holy Spirit, we are securing our futures; we're ensuring that the generations are safe! Our children need us; our families need us, whether they know it or not. The generations to come need us! We have to stand in the gap!

What I love about this Scripture is that it says it's a promise! (Acts 2:38) God is certain to answer our prayer for the Holy Spirit, with us and future generations in mind! 


#TheTransgenerationalGift #GreatAwakening

It Is Not For You to Know

"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:7-8)

Often, we want to know all the details about what God is going to do in our lives, at what time, when, etcetera, etcetera. But the Bible says "It is not for you to know...but WHEN". Brethren, we can be assured that God will surely come through for us by that statement "but when". We don't know when. But it will surely come to pass. Have faith!

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry." 

(Habakkuk 2:3)

Lessons From John

It's been a while but I'm back to share some lessons I've learnt from the Book of John. 

John 1

v.12-13: "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." 

What I got from these verses is that until we believe, then we are not in line with God's will. It seems obvious to a Christian but it was emphasised just that little bit more when I read these verses. When we believe, our existence becomes solely for the will of God - we're not an accident or here because our parents wanted children but we are born of God; born of His will. No one is an accident. But this can only be realized and appreciated when we BELIEVE. Believe what? Believe in Jesus as Lord. Verse 12 says 'we have the right to become...' It's like, now we have the right to fulfill our purpose and destiny because now we are in His will as children of God.

John 2

v.4: "Woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My hour has not yet come." 

John constantly says that Jesus left where He was, or where there were certain crowds because His hour had not yet come. He was sensitive to times and seasons and to His time and His season. Ecclessiastes 3:11 says "He has made everything beautiful in its time." It shows that it's so important to be sensitive to the time and season you are in. Key lesson!

v.16 "To those who sold doves He said, 'Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!' " 

My study Bible summarises the explanation for this verse quite nicely:  
'God's temple was being misused by people who had turned it into a marketplace. They had forgotten, didn't care, that God's house is a place of worship, not a place for making profit. Our attitude toward church is wrong if we see it as a place for personal contacts or business advantage. Make sure you attend church to worship God.'  

John 3

v.34 "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit."

So no matter how much of the Holy Spirit we ask for, there's always more of Him to be given to us! Glory!

John 6

v.26-27 "Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

People were looking for Jesus not because of the miracles He performed but simply because the miracle brought food which they ate, enjoyed and were full. They were pursuing Jesus for that temporary pleasure. They wanted to have their stomachs filled and that was all. We shouldn't just seek God for temporary things. Seek Him for what will last, like more of His Spirit, like desiring the gifts of the Spirit...

John 9 

v.2 "His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' "

This shows that some illness, diseases or health conditions are caused by sin.

v. 11 "...He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

So it was after his obedience that he received his sight. His miracle was predicated on his obedience! Disobedience can delay our miracle!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Sweet Holy Spirit

For too long, we have ignored the Holy Spirit. I know I have.

When Jesus finished His work here on earth, He said, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever-" (John 14:16, AMP).

Just dwell on that for a second...

Jesus did not leave us comfortless on His return to glory. He did not leave us as orphans (- such love)! When God said I will never leave you nor forsake you, He meant it. (See Hebrews 13:5.)  

So, why do we choose to live as orphans? We have the Holy Spirit with us - forever! But we must have a hunger for Him in order to receive a fresh dose of Him everyday. We have to practice His presence (acknowledge Him daily) and not go on with our lives as if He does not exist.

I thank God for the great awakening that has hit us. What I mean is, at my church, we are currently experiencing a mighty move of the Holy Spirit. He is reviving us once again, breathing on us afresh, reminding us that we cannot do anything apart from Him.

This is such a crucial season. We are in the midst of a revival. We have to cut out all the junk that we allow to infiltrate our lives: the music we listen to, the programmes we watch, gossiping, entertaining nonsense. Even taking offense at what people say or do can grieve the Holy Spirit. It's not possible be completely sinless - yes, but that's why grace abounds. And with that grace, we must separate ourselves, on purpose, from all this junk for the sake of the Holy Spirit who is holy.

Today's blog post is to me as well as to you. There are things I've written here that very much apply to me. Truth is, I'm hungry for more of the Holy Spirit. We sing this song "There must be more than this, Spirit of God we wait for you." And it's true. In this Christian walk, there must be more than this; there is more than this!

I sincerely hope that this has stirred up a desire in your spirit for more of the most Holy Spirit. I plan to do more posts on the Holy Spirit soon, since there are a few more things I wanted to say. But for now... 

...I'd like to leave you with some websites and links that are all about the great Azusa Street Revival, where the Holy Spirit swept across a place in America. I tell you, mighty, unimaginable things happened. Find out here:

• http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/am_pentecostals/seymourazusa.html
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRcxcv7TWBc&list=PLiOYrPH-cxJT-XssZ9v9g5S5Xi9ZIkz6s
• http://www.azusastreet.org/AzusaStreetTestimonies.htm
• http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199904/026_azusa.cfm

Identity Crisis?

Recently I learnt that Jacob, in the Bible, had an identity crisis. I discovered that the name 'Jacob' actually means 'deceitful'  and we see from Scripture that Jacob fulfilled this. An example is when He deceived his father into thinking that he was Esau so that he (Jacob) would receive the blessing instead. (Genesis 27)

Jacob needed his identity changed. This happened when he met God and 'wrestled' with Him. God changed his name that day to 'Israel' meaning 'prince with God'. The Lord said from this day you will no longer be called Jacob, but will be called Israel. God changed his name. He was transformed. I would like to believe that this change also transformed his thinking. Jacob was no longer called 'deceitful' but was called 'prince with God'. So instead of the constant reminder of being a deceiver, Jacob would now have that reassurance that he is a prince with God. His mind would be renewed everyday with the knowledge that he has been changed and has been given a fresh, new  identity in God. 

Do you have an identity crisis? Maybe you even think of yourself as 'A deceiver' like Jacob, or as 'a failure' or as 'a mistake'.

Ask God to change your identity today.

Because the truth is that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

You are precious in God's sight. Isaiah 43:3

You are even made in God's image! Genesis 1:27

Change My Identity!

'Oh Lord this is me

I’m asking you to 

please 

change my identity;

I wanna be more like you

I’m asking you to 

please 

change my identity!'

These lyrics are from one of my favourite songs called Identity, by James Fortune & FIYA. I've had this song on repeat because lately, I have had such a need to want to be changed. As God's Word is issued out from the pulpit anytime I am in church, I become more and more hungry for the things of God. I want to give more of myself to God and receive more of Him. 

Problem is, what often happens is that the flesh gets in the way. My mind gets filled with other things and before I know it, I'm caught up in my own world - again.

This can happen a lot to us believers. We have a desire to want to draw closer to God in our walk with Him but we don't fully allow Him to have pre-eminence in our lives. He should consume our thought-life but it's so easy to just get 'caught up'. 

Romans 12:2 NLT : - 

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

God's Word in Romans is asking us to separate ourselves from worldly behaviours. Allow God to change us by changing our thought patterns and our worldly ways of thinking, which includes getting 'caught up' in our own world of worries, desires and what have you. 

One definition of the word 'identify' is 'to associate with'. So, in a sense, thinking like the world means you identify with the world or you associate yourself with the world. If you think like the world, you buy into its ideas, it's expectations and it's 'will' for you life. For example, the world wants you to think that it's alright to fornicate. Continuously thinking this worldly thought will eventually lead you to putting this thought into action. In this way, you have 'identified' yourself with the world. The Bible is telling us to change our thinking. Think godly thoughts. That way, you identify more with God. See: 'then you will know God's will for you'. You identify - "associate with" God! You fall in sync with His will for ya. You and God agree on something! The will for your life :D

Once our minds and thoughts are transformed, it creates the space needed for us to know God's will for our daily lives, and that pleases God!

#ChangeMyIdentity

I Wanna Make You Smile!

(Text in the speech bubble says: 'I wanna make you smile!')

Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

On Sunday, my pastor preached about the Wonders of Praise. As I sat there, taking it all in, I knew this message was for me, as well as for many others. Recently, I've just been zoning out, focusing on other things, when I'm supposed to be praising! 

It's so easy to stand in church during Praise and Worship and just sing the song because you like it or dance because the beat is 'infectious'. I mean, who doesn't like music, right? Music makes you happy, music makes you feel good, etc. But in God's presence, it's a dangerous thing to do. We were created to praise Him - and that's irrespective of how we feel by the way. Praising and worshiping God should emulate out of our love for God. So whether we feel like it or not, He still deserves all the glory - period.  Nothing else should matter when we are in His presence. He is of the highest importance in absolutely everything anyway!

There's this one line in this song that I love: 
'I wanna make you smile' [- Smile/Better Is One Day by Jonathan Nelson].

So whilst Pastor was preaching, I was thinking to myself, how am I going to make God smile? I'm sure I displease Him everyday with my carnal thinking, daily sinning and what have you... so how can my praise and worship, with all this flesh, make God smile?

Thank God for fellow Christians! A Christian brother shared with me that when you're praising and worshiping God, just let all else GO! Just rest in His presence and shift your focus back to Him; get back to that place (where it's just you and God)! It's not as if I didn't know this before but how he explained it just really made me realise my self-centredness in the whole thing. It's supposed to be all about God and I've made it all about me. If I really want to 'make God smile', I've gotta separate myself from everything and let 'Jesus be the centre of it all'! 

Colossians 1:18 "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."

Let Jesus have preeminence in our lives, in our praise and worship and in everything we do. 'Cause I don't know about you, but I wanna make God smile!

#IWannaMakeYouSmile

Testimony Tuesdays

Testimony Time!
(Click on this image for a clearer view)

Hey everyone!

These are some old posts I shared on Facebook a few months ago. I thought I'd put them on my blog so I don't lose them. It seemed that every Tuesday I'd have a testimony - 'small' ones, but the Bible teaches us to be thankful in all things :)  Check 'em out: 

March 25, 2014:

As it seems to be every Tuesday, I experience some extra touch of God's travelling mercies. 

Running early: 

I left my house early today. Well, on time. But I'm supposed to go in extra early today. From my bus stop to the station is about 20 mins. But I prayed that I would get to the station in 13 minutes; I prayed for a 13 minute miracle. Why 13mins? 

Well yesterday, I needed to get off the bus in exactly 13 mins to make my train. I dared God in prayer to let it be so and He actually did it, to the letter, or should I say, to the number! So, why not pray that same prayer today, right? After all, I was practically in the same situation as I was yesterday.

So here I am on the train. God got me here in 13 mins again. I'm chilled and early. Did I mention that today's train is extra special? The interior is more luxurious than the train I usually get 

#ThisKindGodO #TestimonyTuesday

March 18, 2014:

Funny enough, I always seem to have a testimony about my journeys on Tuesdays...

Nyame te ase:

5 hours sleep. No breakfast. Then the rush. For once, I wasn't running desperately late like the last time. No need to catch the train. 

One problem. This journey wasn't going to be relaxed. I still had revision cards to complete for my 09:00 session. I honestly did try to do all this before but life just got in the way. Being overly busy stole the time I needed to complete this work. Not to mention that I'd slept at 1am today, completing other work.

The struggle is real.

So there I was on the bus, writing like a madman, attempting to produce something presentable, something that's of worth.

By God's grace, I did it. I actually did it.

I completed the task!

I got to my session to see a note on the door saying that my tutor was not in. Was I mad? Yes! How can I rush like this only to have this notice slapped in my face?

After bursting with complaints and moans with my peers, I whispered to myself "Anyways, Nyame te ase" - meaning 'Anyways, God understands'. He knows why. He knows that I have even more stuff to do when I get home. And knows that I need to catch up on sleep. And food. And work.

So instead of complaining, though this stings, I will be grateful. Thank you Jesus. I have no lessons today. YOU made a way.

#WuTeAse #TestimonyTuesday

March 4, 2014:

God has a sense of humour!

Running late: 

I prayed that my 08:43 train will delay by two minutes just so that I can catch it and be on time for my destination. It turns out that I still would have missed that train. I am running to the train station all out of breath hoping to now catch the 08:51 train. I get to the station to find out that my 08:43 delayed by not just 2 minutes, but by 8 minutes. I am now sitting on that delayed 08:43 train. Favour be? #TinsLykDis #ExtendedGrace #TestimonyTuesday

This thing called 'Joy Unspeakable...'

Welcome to my first ever blog post!

This year, particularly, has been an interesting one for me. God has given me so much joy that I find it difficult to explain (it's unspeakable!). It's a kind of reassurance I have within me that everything is going to be absolutely fine. I haven't just felt this joy when I feel 100% okay, or when everything has been 'perfect' by the way! A typical example was during my exam season. Normally during exams, I am one to PANIC! It's ridiculous. But this year, imagine I was the one skipping around rather telling other people not to panic - Ha! God has a wonderful sense of humour, you know? I was at so much peace during the whole thing that it doesn't actually make sense up until now. And it's not because I thought I knew everything for the exams, but God always reminded me of this Scripture anytime I was getting slightly overwhelmed...It says, "Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated." (Isaiah 54:4) God gave me the strength and courage to trust what He kept telling me in His Word. Trust me y'all, it just settled the matter for me. 

Bible says, "Do not sorrow, the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10.) When you're on a 'high' and in your optimum state, you feel almost invincible, fired up for the day, ready to conquer! This is what the Bible means - this joy is your strength!

But wait, what is joy? 

Rick Warren put it this way: -

Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation. [From Rick Warren's devotional]

I dare you to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). In other words, chill out and know that God is more than able to handle the matter. Take God at His Word. As my pastor would say: Take God's Word raw! Trust Him and begin to experience His joy unspeakable!

#JoyUnspeakable