Seeds of Wisdom
Low self-esteem is a common issue in various problems like teen suicide, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and marriage breakdown. It stems from a lack of self-worth and a poor estimate of oneself. This issue often begins in youth when we receive messages that we are not okay, such as being called names, failing in school, or causing trouble between parents.
In Colossians 2:15, Paul illustrates the triumph of Jesus on the cross over all the power of Satan by making a public show of it. Therefore, we have power and dominion over every force of darkness because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Through the cross, we have victory over the power of the enemy.
On Good Friday, it is important to remember the power of the cross and the Lord’s sacrifice. The cross symbolises God’s saving power, allowing anyone to receive forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice. This forgiveness is available to the worst sinners, making no one beyond the reach of God’s saving grace.
In Zechariah 4:7, we encounter the profound concept of grace: “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!'” This verse encapsulates the transformative power of God’s grace, turning seemingly insurmountable obstacles into pathways of blessing and victory.
In the realm of time, God’s interventions are perfectly orchestrated, illustrating His sovereignty as the on-time God. Lazarus’s story vividly portrays this truth, showcasing Jesus’ ability to step in precisely when needed, regardless of the circumstances. As we delve into Lazarus’s resurrection account, we witness Jesus defying natural limitations with His timely intervention.
In life’s journey, we often encounter moments of deep exhaustion, faced with challenges that seem insurmountable, draining our strength. Yet, it is precisely during these difficult times that the promise of Scripture shines brightly – those who patiently wait for the Lord will find their strength restored.
In Genesis 18, we find Abraham interceding for the city of Sodom, pleading with God to spare it from destruction. This powerful prayer serves as a timeless example of our privilege and responsibility to pray for our land and its inhabitants. Abraham boldly approached God on behalf of Sodom, acknowledging God’s justice while also appealing for mercy (Genesis 18:23-33).
Amid pain and adversity, Jabez refused to accept the limitations placed upon him. Despite being named “Jabez,” which means “pain,” he turned to the God of Israel with a bold prayer, believing in the power of God to transform his circumstances. Jabez’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 4:10 reflects his desire for God’s blessing, protection, and provision.
In the vast expanse of creation, there is no corner where God’s presence does not dwell. He is the All-Seeing God, intimately acquainted with every detail of our lives. As modern-day Christians, it is easy to forget that we cannot hide from His gaze. He sees all, knows all, and weighs the intentions of our hearts.
In life’s darkest moments, it is natural to feel overwhelmed, questioning if you have the strength to endure. But take heart, for God has given us a promise: He will not allow us to face more than we can bear. Let this assurance anchor your soul, knowing that you will go through, strengthened by His unfailing grace.
The Bible tells us that we are to seek, love, serve and trust God passionately. Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart as unto the Lord and not unto men.” God wants us to love him passionately, with all of our hearts but many have lost their passion for God and in their service to Him.
Passion is a key that energises you to do what you do without weariness and with the energy and courage to see the desired result no matter what. Passion gives you drive, energy and hope even when things seem not to be working the way they should. A man who is not passionate cannot succeed in anything because he cannot stand the test of life when the going gets tough.
The name of Jesus covers all human needs of peace: peace of mind, emotional peace, physical peace, national peace, tranquillity, rest, quietness, and everything that makes for life fulfilment. This name guarantees the elimination of everything that disturbs you and your progress. Various kinds of fears eat many people up from the inside.
When we pray to God in faith, we will see the miracles in our lives – we must simply believe that the prayer is already answered as we pray. Jesus said: “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”
You are not strong until you find it easy to pray. The issue with prayer is not first about VOLUME or QUANTITY but CONSISTENCY in the presence of God. Many Christians almost always want to replace praying with church activities, but prayer is a function of your spirit. If your spirit is weaker than the assignment you are carrying, you will collapse easily and soon disappear out of sight.
In the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, David, armed with just a sling and five smooth stones, faced the giant Goliath. His confidence stemmed not from his own strength, but from his unwavering trust in God’s power. In 1 Samuel 17:45, he declared, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts.”
Prayer shows our dependence on God which causes him to intervene on our behalf. We see two examples of this in 1 Chronicles. Firstly, in the life of Jabez. “Now Jabez was more honourable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” The name Jabez given to him by his mother when she was in pain was not a blessing as Jabez means “He Will Cause Pain.”
Prayer is the key to seeing our nation experiencing revival and coming to Christ. God is looking for believers who are prepared to stand in the gap for our nation and pray for God to bring revival. Healing and salvation to the lives of people in our nation. When He does, we can expect Him to move in a mighty way.
In life, we often face hurts and offences that challenge us deeply. Yet, amid our struggles, Jesus remains our faithful healer, ready to mend our broken hearts. Prayer serves as our lifeline, connecting us intimately with God and nurturing a relationship filled with trust and closeness. Jesus is ever-present, offering healing for our hurts and offences.
Many blessings flow out of us having a strong and consistent prayer life. We maintain peace in our hearts and lives (Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 26:3-4). We gain wisdom and direction for our life to help us to make good choices that are in line with God’s will and best plan for our life (Proverbs 16:3, John 16:13, James 1:5). We see God’s supernatural provisions and favour.
The name, Jehovah Rapha, caters for our health and healing and provides immunity and immunisation against diseases. He is the Lord of our health. Healing is a miracle of God to restore your body or parts of the body that are diseased or missing due to inborn errors, assaults, and accidents. One of the critical battles people face is the battle against sicknesses and diseases.
Your words are your creative emissaries, therefore, use them well. After prayer work, you are to move to hard work. Then, the next thing is faith work which is “mouth work.” As you work physically, let your mouth also work. Do not ever catch your mouth working against God because God created a voice-activated system when He created the universe.
God created man for intimacy and fellowship. When you make that your priority, all other things will flow from that. God did not make man to live without Him; He made man for fellowship. Your prayer life is a way of building an altar and environment of fellowship that brings intimacy with God. You cannot be inconsistent in your prayer life and build intimacy with God.
Our God is a man of war, and He does not lose a battle. When He steps into a battle with you, He takes over. He told Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20: 15, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” For God to fight for you, you need to enter into a genuine relationship with Him before you can secure His commitment to fight for you.