Wisdom for the trials of life

Why does God allow His children to go through difficult, trying, painful times in life?

We know that God can prevent these trials if HE chooses to do so. Yet HE does not.

There must be some purpose for them, some divine reason for not sparing us these hardships.

James 1:1-12 issues a serious challenge to every believer.

Verse 2 tells us that we face trials of many kinds. Therefore instead of asking God how to avoid these trials, we should ask God to show us how to deal with them when they appear. We are also told to accept such trials as joy. There must be an answer beyond what we can make out. We are also told that trials produce spiritual endurance and maturity. If we lack wisdom, we must ask God and it will be given to us.

To determine the source of our trials, helps us to understand God’s purpose in each hardship. The trials we face may be the result of a wrong decision. It could also be persecution. We may encounter situations where we are hurt, mocked or distracted. We may face natural disaster like earthquakes, floods, disease, suffering, war.

In whatever circumstances we may be in, we need to recognize that God allows each and every trial that we meet. It is important that we ask God for wisdom in the midst of our hardship. Wisdom enables us to clearly see the source of the trial, and armed with that knowledge, we are better prepared to evaluate, handle and grow through the specific issue.

God allows our trials in order
to test our faith (James 1 : 3)
to test our devotion to Jesus Christ.
to purify our lives.
to give God an opportunity to demonstrate His sustaining power of His children in tough times.
to produce Christ-like character within us
to equip us for service in His kingdom for the sake of others.(2 Corinthians 1 : 4)

We must learn to stand firm in the face of any trial. We must trust that God has a reason for our sufferings and we must submit ourselves to whatever He desires to teach us.

(0508 01 III 2008)

Worship that pleases GOD

Psalm 95 describes the words of a person who knew how to worship.


You may find two people beside each other in church--both singing the same praise songs, both listening to the Bible reading, both bowing to pray at the same time. Are both truly worshiping God?
May be.
But it is also possible that only one, or neither, is actually worshiping.

In John 4, Jesus was talking to a Samaritan woman who told Him she had her own way of worship (v. 20). He said she didn't know what she worshiped (v. 22). Then He told her, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (v. 24).

When we truly worship God, we are aware of His worthiness in our spirit (the heart, not the place matters). We also recognize His worthiness in truth (your right relationship to Jesus, the Truth, is essential).

Christian worship involves
the object (the worthy God of the Bible),
the worshiper's attitude (a heart right with God) and
faith in God's spoken truth.

Psalm 95:1-7
"O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand"

(0507 29 II 2008)

Enduring mercy

Psalm 136 magnifies the mercy of God.

You would not be saved were it not for God's grace and mercy. Never take those two gifts for granted.

We must devote time to praising and thanking Him for what He does in our life

Psalm 136:1-9
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures for ever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures for ever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures for ever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures for ever.who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures for ever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures for ever. who made the great lights— His love endures for ever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures for ever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures for ever.


(0506 28 II 2008)

Change

There are two opposite lifestyles from which we can choose.

One is characterized by wickedness and error. This is walking in the dark. The other is characterized by holiness and truth. It is walking in the light.

We should only have one choice, and it is to walk in the light as Jesus is in the light. To walk in darkness is not an option.

When a person is a Christian, his or her life should show that commitment. Christianity is not just forgiveness of sins with no change in lifestyle. We are saved not just from sin but to live a life of godliness.

Consider your words. Do they match your life? You can lie to others and even yourself but never to God. To say you have fellowship is meaningless unless your life gives evidence to the change.

1 John 1:6
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

(0505 26 II 2008)

How to handle temptation

All of us have been so close to a temptation that we lost our perspective.

It may have involved something as small as a rumour that we knew should not be passed along, but the urge to gossip blocked out our sense of love and good judgement.

The moment of temptation seems so overwhelming, the idea so irresistible.

James 1 : 12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Adam and Eve faced a similar problem long ago. They became so preoccupied with one plant in their garden paradise that they could not see the forest for the tree. The garden was created for them. In it there were not evils, no trials, no sickness, no death. Yet they gave up all they had just to eat of the fruit of that one forbidden tree.

How to handle temptation
(a) Seek God with your whole heart - Psalm 119 : 9-16
(b) Listen to wisdom – Proverb 8 : 1- 11
(c) Resist the devil; draw near to God – James 4 : 7


(0504 26 II 2008)

Learning to pray

One of the simplest but most profound passages on prayer is found in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:7—11. Prayer is an intentional, learned activity for God’s children. In this passage, He is quite simply showing the disciples the three basic steps for an effective prayer life: ask, seek, and knock.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

Prayer is not only asking and receiving, but also giving thanks, adoring, and praising the Lord God.

Every request, every desire of our hearts, and every need should begin with prayer–asking God for permission, seeking to know His will. Because Jesus Christ has come into our lives and because He has now become our Life, we have the right and the authority to come to Him and make a request. (Ephesians 3:11-12, Hebrews 4:16)

God is always in the process of answering prayer. This simple message is the primary purpose of Matthew 7:7—11. Somebody may ask, "Does that mean that anybody and everybody can ask, seek, knock, and find?" No, because the Sermon on the Mount is addressed to the followers of Christ. He is talking about His own children.

We must be steadfast in prayer. We may not see anything happening, but a delay between our asking and our receiving does not mean that God is not answering our prayers. We may have within us attitudes of disobedience, rebellion, bitterness, or unforgiveness, or certain unhealthy habits in our lifestyles. We must be in a spiritual position to receive it.

We must be earnest.. If we are really sincere, we will not make our request known only once, and then give up if it goes unanswered for a time. That is why He says to pray, and to keep on praying, asking, seeking, and knocking. Persevere.

We must have faith. As we begin to ask, seek, and knock, something happens in our walk with God. When we talk to Him, we are building and nourishing our relationship with Him.

We must be patient. God’s timing does not always match our own.

We do not always like the answers that God gives. He does not say that He will give you anything you ask for; instead, He promises in Matthew 7:11 that everything He gives is good for us.

Matthew 7 : 7 - 11
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

(0503 25 II 2008)

Wisdom

Wisdom is not something we can achieve quickly.

Seek wisdom.
While we live in a world where it is easier to satisfy our humanly desires, 1 Corinthians 3:19 reminds us that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God." In order to gain wisdom, we must desire it and ask God to give us His wisdom.

Meditate on God’s Word.
As we learn more about God and His Word, we will learn the principles of godly wisdom and how to apply them to our lives. Paul reminds Timothy, "from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise. . . " (2 Timothy 3:15 ).

Obey biblical principles.
As we spend time reading and studying God’s Word, we will learn His ways and principles. If we fail to apply what we learn from God’s Word, we may not remember when we need it most. When we make a habit of dwelling on the things of God no matter our circumstances, we will respond, whether through a decision or action, in a godly manner. (Philippians 4:8)

Pray for wisdom.
Through prayer we gain God’s understanding for our lives and particular situations. James 1:5says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." Ask God for guidance. He never fails to give wisdom to those who seek Him.

Observe how God works.
God is always working in the lives of His children. Often we get caught up in our own agenda or our work for God and fail to realize what amazing things He is doing in our lives or those of our children. Keep notes of what you observe God doing around you and you will be amazed at the demonstration of His goodness and love.

Heed godly counsel and associate with wise people.
God places godly people in our lives who can be a source of wisdom and help. Proverbs 11:14 says, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; in the multitude of counselors there is safety." We should never be too proud to listen to the sound advice of others. However, the counsel we receive should always be checked against God’s Word.

Wisdom is the foundation on which we build a life that can courageously withstand the inevitable challenges of criticism, pain, loss, temptation, and success.

With God’s wisdom, life’s challenges become easy to discern. Decision making will be viewed as a venture of faith. As we seek God, our relationship with Him will grow and deepen.

Proverbs 2 : 6
For the Lord gives wisdom and from Him come knowledge
and understanding.

(0502 24 II 2008)

Running back to God

When we are out of God’s will, we are in a far country.

We will be tempted with promises of new experience and entertainment. We begin to have fragmented thoughts, we lose our sense of purpose. We drift through life, squandering time, money and often relationships. We spend large amount of money on temporary satisfaction. We waste our time, talent, ambition and joy on pointless pursuits. We make foolish decisions and find ourselves in want and in a wretched emotional state. We are isolated, unloved and rejected. We realize that life is empty.

If you experience any of the above state of affairs, come home to the restoring forgiveness of God. Let God help you.

Luke 15:17-24
When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

(0501 23 II 2008)

The moments that sustain us

Meditation, the focusing of mind and spirit on the Lord is a critically important discipline in our life. When we are faced with difficulties, we focus on the problem, its impact and its effect on others.

Our main resource for meditation is the Word of God. Throughout its pages, His character, works, and purposes are clearly displayed.When the next difficulty comes,use it as an opportunity to meditate on some aspect of our triune God. From this will come strength and hope to sustain you.

Psalm 145:1-13
A psalm of praise. Of David.
I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no-one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.



(0500 22 II 2008)

Why we cannot wait on the Lord

We are tempted to follow our own schedule. Impatience may cause us to run ahead of HIM. Feeling of insecurity may keep us behind. The result of both situations cause us to get off track

We receive pressure from people around us. We receive opinions that may be hard to resist. Our main concern is God’s viewpoint and we cannot move forward until the Lord confirms the advice that we may receive from those around us..

Fear of failure and mistakes can cause us to feel badly about ourselves and have doubts on our judgements, abilities or even intelligence.

Trusting God and waiting on Him is the only solution.

Psalm 25:1-5
Of David.1 To you, O LORD, lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No-one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.

(0499 21 II 2008)

The foundation of unwaivering faith

When we are confronted with difficulties, we are discouraged and our thoughts are fragmented. When we place our trust in God, HE intends to build a strong relationship with us. Hebrews 13 : 5, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.

When we start to doubt God, our faith foundation is cracked. We begin to have trouble trusting anything. Learning from God’s Word and looking at HIS work in our life, we can see HIS consistency for ourselves. Then we can build unwavering faith on the truth that Jesus is the same forever.

Hebrews 13:1-8
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.


(0498 20 II 2008)

Inadequacy as a blessing

To overcome our fear of inadequacy, we need more prayer and biblical meditation so that our reliance on God is strengthened. Knowing that God shares our burden, we become motivated to work in the power of the Holy Spirit

We must recognize that our inadequacy enables God to show the great things. HE can do with so little. Judges 6 : 15, Moses and David were mere shepherds, and Gideon was least among Israel’s men, yet God accomplished amazing facts through them.

Let us remember Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 : 9,
“I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me”

2 Corinthians 3:1-6
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant— not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

(0497 19 II 2008)

Inadequacy as a barrier

Do you feel inadequate to do God’s work ? Problems can occur when we feel inadequate about doing God’s work.

We feel inadequate because of fear, the fear of failure and fear of not meeting expectations. But, the Holy Spirit is adequate, we do not have to possess perfect qualifications or skill, we need only to be willing.

2 Timothy 1 : 7 tells us that God has given us a spirit of power, not one of timidity. We just have to step out in faith, and the Holy Spirit’s strength and courage will be there to guide us.

Ephesians 3:14-21
A Prayer for the Ephesians
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge— that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.


(0496 18 II 2008)

God's purpose in the storm

When you are confronted with life’s problems, how do you react. Do you cast your blame, become resentful and bitter or turn to God .

When we recognize God’s purpose in our way, our faith grows.For instance, in the Old Testament, King David made destructively wrong choices for which God allowed cleansing storms into his life. He had wandered off the right path, but painful experiences drove him back to the center of the Lord’s will. We might consider the divine method crue. “ He wrote,“Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word. . . . It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:67, 71).



Some difficulties are meant to blow away all distractions so we can focus our attention on the Lord. Other tempests break our worldly mold so that we can be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Our personal pleasure is not the top priority. God’s primary concern is to shape a wise and obedient servant who loves Him.

When we encounter problems in our lives, God is already planning how to turn destruction into good. Seek His objective, and work with Him to achieve it.The promise of Romans 8:28 is that we will reap gain from our losses.

Romans 8:28-29
More Than Conquerors
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

(0495 17 II 2008)

Obstacles to waiting on the Lord

The temptation to follow our own schedule
When we follow our plans apart from God’s, it leads directly to a path outside of His will. Impatience may cause us to run ahead of Him, or insecurity may keep us lagging behind; either way, the result is that we get off track.

The pressure from others.
We receive opinions from people around us and sometimes they can be hard to resist.
We must bear in mind that God’s viewpoint alone matters and we must learn to lean on God for counsel and advices.

The fear of failure.
Our mistakes may make us question our judgments, abilities or intelligence. Our mistakes may make us anxious thinking that others may criticize us for what we do. We must learn to trust God and wait on HIM

Psalm 25:1-5

I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No-one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.

(0494 16 II 2008)

A passionn to obey

Our obedience to God does not suddenly appear in our lives. It usually begins with a fear of the consequence of disobeying. We need to have a firm foundation of bible knowledge and trust. Once we have built this firm foundation we are safe from harsh consequences. As we mature, fear is replaced by recognition of God’s control and our commitment to always submit to HIS wisdom.

Romans 6:16-23
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey— whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


(0493 15 II 2008)

Giving thanks in everything

We must understand that thankfulness is not based on emotions or on a situation’s outcome. We can also be grateful during trials, because God has promised to work everything for our own good (Romans 8 : 28) God has a purpose for every experience, whether it is pleasant or otherwise.

Showing our gratefulness changes our attitude about God, ourselves, and our situations. How we react in a situation invites people’s attention. Our dear and close friends will want for themselves the peace and energy we derive from a grateful relationship with God.

Ephesians 5:15-21
Be very careful, then, how you live— not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

(0492 14 II 2008)

Prayer

Prayer
A Winning Combination in Prayer



We do not get our answers to our prayers due to hindrances.

We need to know God’s will for our circumstances. HE answers when our petition is in agreement with HIS purpose for our life, (1 Peter 2 : 1-5 ; 1 Thessalonians 4 : 3 ; 5 : 18)

We need to ask confidently, (Ephesians 3 : 12)

We must not doubt. We have doubts when we listen to wrong opinions. Very often we doubt because we focus more on our problems than on God. When God answers our prayers in a different way, we begin to have doubts. In order to trust God, we must learn HIS ways. Put our faith on HIM and we will not have any doubts.

James 1: 6 – 8
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-mindedman, unstable in all he does

(0491 13 II 2008)

Profiting from pain

Is suffering profitable ?

When faced with difficulties and pain, we mature spiritually. We make discoveries about ourselves after each trial as we experience our emotions, our strengths and weaknesses. We learn more about our faith, the Scriptures and opinions. All these reveal to us strengths and weaknesses and whether we boast of Christ or of our own.

We can profit from difficulties and pain by accepting God’s plan for us. Fighting or crying for a way out gains us nothing. Accepting means submitting ourselves to God and accepting that these down times are a gateway to HIS purpose and our profit.

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.





(0490 12 II 2008)

How to develop courage

God wants us to respond with courage when HE calls us to tackle something beyond our ability.


Meditate on the Word of God
We are to search for its meaning as if for treasure. With the Spirit’s help, we will understand the Bible and learn how to apply its wisdom to our situation.

Obey the Word.
As we contemplate God’s truths, they become imprinted on our minds and influence our actions. Scripture is meant to shape our thinking and cause us to follow biblical principles. The more we think God’s way, the more we will act like Him.

Trust in God’s promises
Joshua moved across the Jordan River towards Jericho because he took God at His word.

Develop fearlessness by recalling past victories.
Young David, the shepherd boy, did this effectively. His remembrance of God’s past protection gave him the courage to fight the Philistine giant, Goliath. (1 Samuel 17) Practicing these steps will empower us to focus on victory rather than defeat, reject others’ fearfulness, and obey God without alarm over possible consequences.

Joshua 3:1-17
Crossing the Jordan
Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it." Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.' " Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

(0489 11 II 2008)

The power of courage

To obey God requires courage. It is the firmness of spirit that could face crises without retreating.

Joshua led the nation into the Promised Land. God spoke to him three times, telling him to be strong and courageous.

Joshua responded affirmatively and built his bravery on two precious assurances.

God travels with us.
The Lord pledged He would be with the Israelites in the new land, never leaving or forsaking them. In Hebrews 13:5,He makes the same promise to us. In fact, the Lord travels with us in a far more intimate way—through His Spirit living within us.

God goes before us.
God promised to take care of the enemy before the Israelites arrived. They still faced battles, but He assured them of victory if they had faith and obeyed. Jesus has gone ahead of us to heaven with the spiritual battle already won.
Our redemption has been secured, our place in God’s family permanently established, and our heavenly inheritance guaranteed. While our earthly trials continue, they are temporary.

Joshua 1:1-9
The LORD Commands Joshua
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

(0488 10 II 2008)

Accepting God's solution

We may fervently call upon God but do not receive any satisfactory answer. We fail not because of God’s unwillingness, or inability to respond. We fail because we find the answer not satisfactory. If we come to God with a preconceived idea of how to solve the problem, we will not likely to get a true answer.

Read 2 Chronicles 20. Suppose King Jehoshaphat had decided that God could answer his prayer only by giving the army extra strength for the forthcoming battle. If Jehoshaphat’s soldiers had attempted combat, they would have lost Jerusalem.

Sometimes we don’t like God’s solution. We desire freedom from physical pain. We want the Lord to fix everything without requiring any effort from us. We fail because we are not willing to obey. When HE tells us how to resolve our problem, we must act just as HE specifies, or we will never be satisfied.

2 Chronicles 20:14-25
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful. After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendour of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures for ever.As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked towards the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no-one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value— more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.

(0487 09 II 2008)

Solving problems through prayer

Most of us focus on our problems or its perceived solution instead of focusing on God.
Read 2 Chronicles 20 and learn how the king magnified the Lord’s greatness, recalling for himself and his people many divine triumphs. In that way, he was able to bolster the Israelites’ courage and prepare them for whatever solution the Lord proposed. Jehoshaphat recognized that no problem is bigger than the God of the universe. The Israelite army was powerless against such an onslaught, but the king refused to give in to his initial fear and despair. “Our eyes are on You,” he pledged

We must first seek the Lord’s will and HIS best way to solve our problems. We do this through prayers. We must surrender this responsibility of problem solving when we come to HIM and pray as King Jehoshaphat did: “I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You.”

2 Chronicles 20:1-13
Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to enquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard and said: O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.
Power and might are in your hand, and no-one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it for ever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.' But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.

(0486 08 II 2008)

Christ centered confidence

When we trust Jesus, we have spiritual growth, personal achievement, peace and influence.

How to go about doing it ?

When we rely consistently on God, we will respond to difficult situations by seeking HIM for guidance and strength. As a result, we will experience the Holy Spirit’s presence, provision and power. With this comes
spiritual growth.
We become more capable to accomplish far greater than imaginable
We show a depth of patience and endurance
We may receive opportunities for leadership position
We may get satisfaction, pleasure and success in doing an unfamiliar task
We experience peace
We inspire others as they watch us achieve in unexpected ways, grow spiritually or display inner peace.

2 Corinthians 3:1-6
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?
Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant— not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

(0485 07 II 08)

Praying in Jesus' name

Jesus spoke to HIS disciples about praying and asking in HIS name and the power attached to it. “The Father will give you whatever you ask in My name” (John 15:16b ).

Through Jesus Christ, our sins are paid for, we are in a new family relationship, and we have unhindered access to God !

Praying in Jesus’ name states both our relationship with Christ and our right—through Him—to approach the Father directly

He has instructed us to come and ask for what we need. These words give us the authorization to enter the throne room of grace at any time and speak personally with the Father. To everyone who has received Jesus Christ as Savior, the Lord has granted the right to use His name.

Based on our kinship with Jesus, we have access to the Father and can come with Christ’s authority to make requests. But to use the Savior’s name, we must also agree with God’s purposes. Praying in the name of Jesus means we are asking in agreement with His character and will. We must it our priority to obey Him and carry on His work. We are to accomplish the Father’s will, not ours. By allowing His Word to abide in us, w will learn to pray in accordance with His plan.

John 16:19-33
Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child
has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no-one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. Then Jesus' disciples said, Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God. You believe at last! Jesus answered. But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 14:13
And I will do whatever you ask in my
name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

(0484 06 II 2008)

Discovering God's will

God wants us to reach our maximum potential. HE promises “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go” (Psalm 32:8).

However, discovering God’s will is a daily process of trust.


We learn God’s will by reading His Word. Scripture provides a comprehensive guide for any situation. There we find rules and commands that will lead to our success, as well as principles for daily application. Studying God’s Word is the only way for a believer to recognize His will. We discover God’s will through circumstances.

2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(0483 05 II 08)

Hindering God's will

To obtain God’s will, we must surrender ourselves totally to God. Influence of friends and ignorance of godly principles can affect our goal. Deliberate sin can also stop us. So is stubbornness.

Stubbornness grows not out of pride about our own judgment but out of doubt.
Stubbornness grows out of fear of what God may want us to do.

Romans 12:1-2
Living Sacrifices
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(0482 04 II 08)

Receiving God's will

Do you have a strong urge that you could not ignore ? We may have many different forms of compelling feelings and from many directions. If you have the feeling that God is working, we would not want to stifle that thought.

God also uses other ways to reveal HIS will. One of the many ways is through counsel. God uses other means to reach us, and one way is through someone near and close to us. (Proverbs 11:14; Titus 2)

Another way to discover God’s will is through our conscience. Through our experience, we should be able to determine quickly whether or not something is of the Lord.

We must bear in mind that no matter whatever means God uses to direct and instruct us, a sense of peace will always accompany our obedience to HIS will. When peace comes, follow HIS lead.

Colosssians 3:15-16

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

(0481 03 II 08)

Profiting from pain

Is suffering profitable ?

When faced with difficulties and pain, we mature spiritually. We make discoveries about ourselves after each trial as we experience our emotions, our strengths and weaknesses. We learn more about our faith, the Scriptures and opinions. All these reveal to us strengths and weaknesses and whether we boast of Christ or of our own.

We can profit from difficulties and pain by accepting God’s plan for us. Fighting or crying for a way out gains us nothing. Accepting means submitting ourselves to God and accepting that these down times are a gateway to HIS purpose and our profit.

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will
dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

(0490 02 II 08)

How to develop courage

God wants us to respond with courage when HE calls us to tackle something beyond our ability.


Meditate on the Word of God
We are to search for its meaning as if for treasure. With the Spirit’s help, we will understand the Bible and learn how to apply its wisdom to our situation.

Obey the Word.
As we contemplate God’s truths, they become imprinted on our minds and influence our actions. Scripture is meant to shape our thinking and cause us to follow biblical principles. The more we think God’s way, the more we will act like Him.

Trust in God’s promises
Joshua moved across the Jordan River towards Jericho because he took God at His word.

Develop fearlessness by recalling past victories.
Young David, the shepherd boy, did this effectively. His remembrance of God’s past protection gave him the courage to fight the Philistine giant, Goliath. (1 Samuel 17) Practicing these steps will empower us to focus on victory rather than defeat, reject others’ fearfulness, and obey God without alarm over possible consequences.

Joshua 3:1-17
Crossing the Jordan
Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it." Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.' " Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

(0489 01 II 08)