He’s not here; He’s Risen!
Happy Easter!
Matthew 28:5-6 NIV
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Jesus, the savior, is not a dead man. He’s no longer among the dead. He is among the living.
You cannot find Him here, the angel said. Why?
Because He has risen! Hallelujah!
The disciples and those whose hopes are displaced initially now can rejoice the lamb that died is alive again. The power of resurrection brought Jesus from the grave. And now, we can live again.
Now, we have hope, not only in this life but in the life to come. We are not miserable people wandering this world, but we are confident that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will work in us and quicken us into glory, and this world will have no place in us anymore.
We will live together with our risen God forever and ever.
Amen!
It’s all about winning
You’d better be on top of your game because the world is not going to accept a sorry for your failure.
“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”
Talking to God like a friend– the dialogue
In my previous post, I emphasized that God is not a mysterious being that you cannot approach neither is He hidden in a place that you cannot come near.
I said that He is your friend and also your heavenly Father. So, be free to say it all.
He hears everything.
I also said that those who spend more time talking to God acquire depths of His understanding and His ways and must be respected and revered. The reason is that they represent God and are often His messengers.
Lastly, I said Avoid distraction! We often focus on talking to people at the workplace and different places in our lives and usually give them undivided attention. Give God your heart and mind.
In my final post, I am saying that you should turn your conversation into a dialogue. Wait on God intermittently to hear Him speak a word to you. Be keen on what He is going to tell you.
Look for insight into His word. There are possibilities of scripture flashing through your mind. Take a pause and search the word as it comes alive in your mind.
As you talk to God, He is also willing to speak to you. So, allow Him to say something to you too.
God is closer than we can imagine, and He is willing to engage in a conversation with us.
The closer we are to God, the better our relationship is.
Talking to God like a friend– how can I?
In my previous post, I stated that God is approachable. You can come to God and be yourself. You can use every word available, and you need not be careful of expressing yourself in God’s presence.
How can we do this successfully? The question is like saying how can I be a good friend of God, or at least His “buddy”?
First, you need to try and know Him and His ways. You cannot be a good friend to anyone without knowing them.
The best way to understand God is through His words. Learn His words, and you would have known a good chunk of who God is.
Develop a new habit of talking to Him every time, especially using your mental faculty (mind), is a great thing.
Avoid distraction! We often focus on talking to people at the workplace and different places in our lives and usually give them undivided attention. Give God your heart and mind.
You can avoid distraction by turning distraction to your notepad. Yes, turn distraction to your notepad! Whenever you remember anything or something that tries to catch your attention, write it down while you are talking to God, but never leave the presence of God.
Don’t stop talking to God even if you are distracted. After a while, you would train your mind to focus when you are with God.
Lastly, even if you don’t know what to say, the bible says that the Spirit will help us pray. The Holy Spirit understands God and can communicate with Him clearly than we can. So, He will help our minds say things that our mouth cannot utter.
Sometimes, He will help you speak in different languages called “tongues”
In all, you will know God more when you talk to Him often like a friend.
Give it a try!
Talking to God Like a friend– there are levels
In my last posts, I made it clear that anyone can approach God. Anyone can talk to God at any time. You can use simple words and communicate your minds and feelings to Him.
God listens to every word, and you need not be careful to say what is on your mind when you go to pray.
Remember Hannah when she asked God for Samuel. She prayed passionately, expressing her thoughts and feelings. So, do not forget to tell it all when you pray.
However, there are levels to this approach. Different people approach God in different ways.
Some spend few minutes talking to God, and some spend hours and even days talking to God. God deals with individuals differently.
Moses spent days on the mountain talking to God one on one. Jesus often woke up early before others to pray, and Paul spent days praying, admonishing the believers to keep on praying.
The takeaway from this is that those who spend more time talking to God acquire depths of His understanding and His ways and must be respected and revered. The reason is that they represent God and are often His messengers.
Therefore, I believe it is foolishness to disrepute His messengers and shepherds.
If indeed they are called by God, they’re most likely operating at a different level than you are, and when you disregard them, you are simply saying that God, I disagree with what you are doing.
The way a one-year-old toddler communicates is different from the way a full-grown man does.
There are levels to talking to God.
Talking to God as a friend– use every word
In my last post, I stated that God is not a mysterious person and that He is approachable.
Today, I am saying that when you talk to God, say every word that you can.
First, I have to explain that God often comes to our level of understanding to give or explain things to us. He does this for clarity purposes– so that we’re not in the dark or confused.
So, when you approach God, you mustn’t try to be “Mister Right”. “Mister Right” don’t get anything from God.
Say what’s on your mind. Voice your concerns. Don’t reserve or mince your words. Remember, the bible says “make your requests known unto God.”
Ephesians 6:18 says “…..with every prayer”, and prayer is talking to God. So, we can say that — with all talking to God.
Therefore, when you talk to God, say what’s on your mind just the way it is. Say everything and don’t reserve.
He’s your friend and also your heavenly Father. So, be free to say it all.
He hears everything.
Talking to God as a friend
God is not a mysterious being that you cannot approach neither is He hidden in a place that you cannot come near.
God has appealed several times that we should talk to Him. Moses was so close to God that he “saw” the rear back of God. He talked to God directly.
God is a Spirit which means He is everywhere because He is Omnipresent. Therefore, He can hear you whenever you call.
We miss a lot when we do not talk to Him about our needs and desires. We can talk to God about anything and everything because the bible says “make your request known unto God.”
You can use the same energy you use in whining and complaining to talk to God the same way you talk to a friend. He is near to hear you.
The Blessings 4.0
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
An incredible God, capable of doing incredible things, will perform abundant works in our lives abundantly because of His power that is at work in our lives.
Amen!
Peace–Evidence of right choices
When God created the world, He saw that He did the right thing. He saw that all He had made were good. He was happy.
The evidence of peace is not the absence of problems or chaos, but it is an indication that you are moving in the right direction.
We make choices every day and every time.
We do not need to experience Peace at every decision, but we need this indication especially when we make major decisions in our lives.
Sometimes, we just need to be at the right place at the right time. We do not need to make a decision for this to happen.
When you make the right choice, you can know. Watch out for the presence of inner peace. Yes, it is “inner peace” because it comes from within.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
If your heart and mind are troubled, then something is wrong with your choices and decisions.
Sometimes, you might need to pray about it to God.
You also need to wait after praying because you cannot rush a decision after you have prayed.
Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
At the end of the day and time, God might just drop something on your mind, and instantly, you will know that you are on the right track.
If you are on the wrong track, God may cause you to suddenly lose interest.
This is not holistic as God speaks to people differently, but Peace of mind is one of God’s methods of communicating His will to man.
Most of the time, it is in a still small voice.
The Blessings 3.0
Psalm 23:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
The Lord is capable of taking care of my needs. He is the Shepherd, and I am the sheep. He will take care of (me) His sheep.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
The Lord has the best intentions. He put me in the right, perfect place. I have the Right Placement.
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
I am at rest. There is Peace because God is in control.
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”
I know I might have troubles, and there might be problems all around, but I am confident that God will not leave me nor abandon me.
“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.”
Do I need to worry about what other people think about me or my status?
I’d rather quake for lack of God’s presence in my life than the presence of a man with contempt.
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”
God’s blessings come to me naturally every day of my life. His blessings follow me.
Yes, it follows me.
Amen!