January 2021 week 3
Trials build Endurance
Being a fan of superhero movies and a Christian I have always perceived my faith as a super power. I feel my faith entitles me to certain advantages in life that the non-believer does not have. Inasmuch as all this may be true there are times in our life as Christians when we go through challenges that build and test our faith.
James 1 v 2- 4 : Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing
Whatever challenge you may be going through never allow it to make you doubt the Superpower that is in you. Just count it all Joy for in the end you will be more powerful.
Thought of the Day: The challenge is part of the process, trust in the Lord
God’s love is Unconditional
Love is a scarce basic human need. Like anything else that is scarce we sometimes get out of our way just to find love. Even after we find this love it can be lost if certain expectations are not meet. Customarily giving someone a gift is one of the ways to show affection.
John 3 v 16: “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
As you go through your day, know God loves you and you don’t have to get out of your way you have his love already. His love is pure and unconditional even while we were still sinners he loved us. He loves you not because you are smart, beautiful/handsome. He loves you not because of anything you have done, His name is love and so He loves you. It is called grace because you did not earn it, it was just given to you. To show his affection he has given us a gift that keeps on giving in the Name of Jesus we have life.
Thought of the Day: Celebrate today for you have God’s unconditional love and hold on to that life giving gift that is Jesus Christ.
Trust in the Lord
The mind is arguably man’s greatest resource, with the mind so much has been accomplished. Everyday our minds process different pieces of information to make decisions that serve our interests. The mind however is vulnerable to misinformation in this information age fake news has become more of a concern. Our ability to make the best decision is compromised by the quality of information we receive. And even when get accurate information there are no guarantees our process of thought will lead us to the best conclusion.
Proverbs 3 v 5: Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
Our experiences shouldn’t matter when you have the Almighty God on your side. We don’t know everything and we don’t need to know everything all we need is to have faith in God. Our Father is all knowing, all powerful and he loves us so much.
Thursday
Careful who you listen to
One of the most critical aspects about being a leader is knowing which advise to follow. In bible we hear stories about Kings seeking wisdom from prophets before going to war. Presidents and leaders of nations have advisors who help them to make day to day decisions. CEO of corporations are no different, by consulting with experts they try to maximise profits for the company. At an individual level it is my opinion that every man informally has their own advisor/s. It could be a friend, relative, colleague, role model or anyone whose opinion you give more weighting.
Psalm 1 v 1-2: Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
I like to think we are to some extent the masters/kings of our own destiny. It is imperative therefore that we carefully chose the people we surround ourselves with and the people we listen to. Our number one advisor should be the Word of God and day and night we should be meditating on it.
Thought of the Day: Bad company corrupts good morals.
Friday
Don’t Worry
Every day we wake up in our own way we try and plan for a better future for ourselves and for our loved ones. Our human nature wants assurances that our tomorrow will be a better one and that nothing bad will happen in the future. When we don’t get those assurances we worry.
Mathew 6 v 25 – 30: “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Thought of the Day: Why worry when worry won’t help, have a little faith.