One major reason we ask for the lead is to avoid missing the way.
When there’s a lead, errors are avoided or minimized.
A lead gives us certainty of where we are going and which direction will help us achieve the end result– the destination.
Without a lead, we go astray.
We must ask/pray for the lead so that we don’t miss it.
And when you suddenly realize that you have been treading in the wrong direction, retrace your steps and head back in the right direction.
Happy new month of February, 2022.
By and by!
By and by when the morning comes;
All the saints of God are gathered home;
We’ll tell the story of how we’ve overcome;
For we’ll understand it better by and by.
This song is a reminisce.
Now, I believe I have a clearer picture of it.
A lot is happening in our world that we don’t understand, but when the Lord comes, no more confusion.
Everything hidden will be revealed. So many questions beg for answers, but the request for answers shall be granted. It’s a matter of time.
God will reveal His purpose, and His plans shall ultimately come to pass, and the finality of it all is when He comes.
Thank God!
Thank God I’m still here!
Thank God for the breath of life;
Thank God I’m not a victim of crime or gun bullet;
Thank God I do not lose anyone, although I don’t, by any means, wish that on anyone too;
Thank God for Peace;
Thank God for sound health,
Thank God for the past, the present, and the future.
And in everything give thanks. For in this, God is delighted.
Be Yourself!
Don’t stress yourself out trying to be another person.
You cannot!
Every attempt to live another person’s life causes heartache.
Why put yourself through the mystery of living another life that is not yours?
In the short run, you feel all the inadequacies, and in the long run, there is a lifetime of emptiness.
Free yourself and be yourself.
The life of man on earth 8.0 (shame and pain)
The man, Job, experiences shame, pain, and disgrace in the aftermath of the calamities that came upon him and his family.
Of course, he was unhappy, and he despairs for his life. Many of us are sad today due to reasons we can or cannot explain.
We all encounter difficulties and challenges daily.
Job vexed all his anger and bitterness. He even cursed the day he was born. He was sad and lost hope.
“Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? Job 3:11
He knew that if he had not been born, he wouldn’t have any trouble. And that is the truth!
Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest. Job 3:13
There’s a lot of trouble in life that many perspire and dread living.
What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. Job 3:25
It’s okay to express your emotions and let it all out. It’s okay to say what you want to say and let God know how you feel.
God understands, and He alone can fix many of our daily troubles.
So, turn to Him more than you have ever done before.
He will come and save you!
The life of man on earth 7.0 (the visit)
I have been writing about the life of man on earth. It is a series that delves into the life of Job.
Today, I continue with Job’s friends’ visit.
Job’s friends came to visit him after his calamities, and they were surprised at how they found him.
He was their friend, and of course, was a wealthy fellow. So, the condition they saw wasn’t a good one.
They cried and kept mute for days without saying anything.
There are good and bad sides to how Job’s friends responded to his new condition.
Sometimes, all you need to do to help someone is to say nothing. Keep your mouth shut!
You don’t know whether your words might hurt more or alleviate the problems.
Job’s friends tried to keep mute, but they could not sustain themselves for a long time before they start ranting.
We can learn to speak less and listen more.
These days, everyone wants to speak. Everyone wants to “be heard” There’s no crime speaking your mind, but in the multitudes of words, we often misspoke.
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. Proverbs 10:19
Lastly, entertain only friends who are going to lift you and not pull you down.
It is, for me, a daily decision because you cannot tell which friends are going to be nice to you “down the stretch” In a short time, most friends are cool, but not many cannot sustain themselves for a long time.
So, what type of visit are you entertaining today? What friends are you keeping?
The life of man on earth 6.0 (the discouragement)
Some people barely live their life, and many are almost giving up on life.
Trust me, I am right there with you, but Job was much more right there with you.
Job experienced the most bizarre situation in life when he lost everything in a day. Everything!
Job’s wife told him to “curse God and die” That’s his wife telling Job to give up!
Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job 2:9
I believe Job wouldn’t expect this elevated level of discouragement, but he wasn’t discouraged.
The bible says that Job did not sin against God despite all his calamities.
Life is not that easy.
You made every effort to succeed, but there are many challenges and discouragement easily set in. You are not alone.
Job’s friends did not help the matter. Instead, they make it worse. I know some friends are not encouraging in times of need. Job had a similar experience too. So, you are not alone.
David was so stressed because everyone that surrounded him was against him, but he encouraged himself. Encourage yourself too!
Jesus was also stressed out in His last days that he persuaded the disciples to pray. No, they didn’t! And the temptation was too much for them to bear as they all abandoned Him when He needed them most.
So, you are not alone; I am sure of this. Many people are going through what you are passing right now.
Be strong and take courage because there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Peace!
Trust in man or trust in God
First, talk to God, then to any man about your challenges (and that is if you need to).
Often, we want to help others, but we are incapable because we lack the ability or the means to help. However, God can do all things.
“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27
Jesus said that “with God, nothing shall be impossible. So, trust God to overcome those challenges and those lingering problems.
God will use different means to help you or send help to you, including man, but trust Him first and wait for Him to do so.
For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7
Man often fails to help, but we know that the supreme being is incapable of failure.
While trust in any man that can disappoint. While would you talk to any man about your troubles when you can speak to God?
Sometimes, people want to help but cannot often do so.
Your help is God, who has everlasting strength.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength Isaiah 26:4
The life of man on earth 5.0 (the real enemy)
The devil is real. Evil people exist, and terrible things do happen.
Good people often suffer. Many innocent people are in prison and jail for wrongful accusations.
In fact, good people suffer for being good. Imagine that!
Job suffered for being a righteous man in his time. The devil falsely and intentionally accused job.
Satan replied to the LORD, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. Job 2:4
Yes, the devil is the real enemy!
Satan has been an evil person for a long time. He hates everything God created.
He enjoys inflicting pain on people. He lies and steals.
He doesn’t have mercy on his victim. He doesn’t hear the cry for help.
Sin causes a lot of problems for man, but Satan is the magnifier of all evils.
He has some power because when he fell as an angel, he retained few angelic qualities.
He is a spirit. So, you can’t see him with your naked eyes. He can influence the mind through actions. If he can see a pattern, he capitalizes on it to influence subsequent behaviors.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
He cannot control you if you don’t allow it, but he can manipulate you if you allow him. He influences through lies, deceit, and fear.
So, the real enemy is not your neighbor or the next person on a bus or the train.
The real enemy is not your immediate family members or people from your village.
What he does is to poison people’s mind and makes them think and do havoc. So, since he is not in a physical form, he uses people to do his work. Evil people are influenced and used by the devil.
Your victory lies in aligning yourself to the supreme God.
Terrible things happen and await those who don’t believe in the saving work of God.
Job survived the devil’s schemes and onslaught, so can you.
The life of man on earth 4.0 (why terrible things happen to good people)
Good people live in the same world that evil/bad people live.
In my last post, I gave three causes of wickedness. They are sin, Satan, and evil people.
When God was about to punish Sodom and Gomorrah, he spared no one. The only reason he spared Lot and his family was Abraham’s intercession.
The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do Genesis 18:17
Abraham started talking to God about Lot and his family from verse twenty-three.
So, without impactful and continual prayers, terrible things and challenges do happen to good people all the time.
David is an example of how good people suffer. He suffered a great deal from enemies.
My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies. Psalm 6:7
Another example is Jesus. Jesus prayed to stay alive to complete his work on earth.
We are all going to face challenges in life, and terrible things do happen to good people.
Based on the examples I gave, the solution is prayers. David prayed, and Jesus prayed.
Although Job was a good man, he experienced the most bizarre situation in one day when he lost everything.
Deliverance came in the end. Your deliverance and help will come and will come quicker than you expected in Jesus’ name.
Commit yourself to more act of prayer by checking my prayer bank