Month: June 2021

[The Glory Unveiled]

And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you should come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ( 1 Samuel 17:43 )

The weapons we don’t see are the most deadly ones. The attack that is not anticipated is most likely to destroy the attacked. The Israelites and Philistines had been fighting for years until a Philistine champion, Goliath at one time suggested that instead of the whole army of Philistia and the army of Israel drawing out their swords in battle, each side should select a champion who represents the army. If that champion wins, the side of the battle they belong to, wins automatically. Goliath represented the Philistine army while it took Israel over 40 days to find their presentative who was “unfortunately” not a champion on the battlefield. He came at Goliath with a staff in one hand and a sling in the other. But Goliath had only seen the staff because he didn’t make much of what was in the other hand, and so he thought David was coming at him only with the staff [which he called a stick]. And because he was distracted by the staff, he didn’t see the real weapon that will bring him down. Hence, Goliath died by what he didn’t see David carrying. In fact, he was killed by the invisible God of Israel, that was why he couldn’t see the weapon of David. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). Our weapons of warfare are not carnal. And so, our dependence on the invisible power of God is what will bring down the strongholds of our lives._

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, mighty in battle, fearful in praise, doing wonders by the finger of His hand, thank you for showing us the invisible weapons of our warfare. As we bring the battle to the gates of the enemy, we glory in your victory.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: ( Numbers 14:28 )

Often, when we are surrounded by crisis and problems, we tend to tell people more frequently about it than talk to God about it. Sometimes we do this knowing very well that these people have no practical solutions to our needs but we still trust them with the burdens that weigh on us. On the other hand, there are those who would attempt to tell the Lord about their problems but in the long run, their approach does not yield any meaningful results because they don’t seem to tell God what they want but rather they just retell God what they are facing. You see, it is one thing to complain about something and another to request or ask for something. God is always attentive to us, to hear our requests and heart desires (Ephesians 3:20). But rather too often, when we go to God in prayer, we complain more than we make requests. During Job’s famous trials, it was very clear that Job complained more than prayed. More than two thirds of the chapters that covered his predicament were spent complaining about what had happened rather than telling God what solutions were needed. It was at the later parts of the book, when Job prayed for his friends that the solutions returned to him. God says in today’s scripture verse that He would do the very thing we say to him. So then, if we don’t have what we need, then it means we didn’t say to the hearing of God what we needed; maybe we said it to our friends and google but not to God. Maybe we only complained to God.

Prayer_Bead: Prayer answering Lord, thank you for being attentive to my needs. Take away resentment and bitterness from my heart so that I can speak to you as to my Father. Give me more of you, Lord. In Jesus’ name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ( Jeremiah 6:16 )

There are times when action speaks louder than the loudest words. Many of us have no rest for our minds and hearts. We are set on edge at every time and every moment. We have occupied ourselves with a lot of activities, trying to keep everything together until we come to the crossroads. The crossroads is not a place for taking actions but for looking out for the good way. Whenever we find ourselves at the crossroads, the best thing to do is not to start acting and occupying ourselves with activities. Crossroads are for sober reflections and looking out for the tried and tested routes—ancient paths— to find rest for our souls. At that point, we need to seek for the path that had been taken by those who had gone ahead of us in the same direction of our calling. Rest for our souls is only guaranteed at the shores of our calling and purpose. Until we find the path that will lead us to the place of our true calling, everything that is supposed to bring peace of mind and comfort to our lives will actually seem like they are draining our live force. For some of us, we have found that ancient path but we don’t want to walk in it because of fear. But make no room for fear, whether you have found the way or not [yet] because it steals away opportunities.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for bringing me to the crossroads. Show me the good way so that I may find rest for my soul. May I not be distracted by fear or foes but keep me on the path of my calling for the benefit of others.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”( Luke 5:5 )

The best time to fish according to expert fishermen is at night. Maybe because at night the temperature of the water and the quietness helps the creatures in the water much. And so, to have a great catch, a fisherman must study the water and also consider the time of day. In Luke 5, Peter had toiled all night with his companions but they caught no fishes. Now, we established that, the night was a better time to have a catch but at this point, they couldn’t catch anything even at the most convenient time—night. It seem that the window of opportunity had closed on them. Nothing could be done because it was already day and they may have to go home empty handed and hope to come back the next evening—at the next opportunity. But Jesus will ask Peter to go fishing at the time of the day when it was almost impossible to find any fishes out there. I believe He chose that time of day so that Peter will see the impossible of catching a fish and if he did, he will not depend on his expertise. God is the custodian of all opportunities (doors), He permits them to come our way or go from us. He leads those He would to the right opportunities even when it seems too late for anything substantive. This is why with God, we cannot lose what He intends to make available to us even if it seem delayed. So, hold on, trust in His word, and He will drive the fishes to your net.

Prayer_Bead: Master Jesus, Saviour and Redeemer, thank you for the wonderful opportunities available to me through your word. Please restore to me whatever I lost trusting in my strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.