Keys to living a happy and radiant life everyday

The Lord is saying to you today: 

"There's a fresh release of My power to destroy and break every yoke of sorrow right now. Receive the joy that comes from Me. Sorrow is being destroyed. Joy is taking over. For I am giving you a new lease of life. I am turning a brand new chapter in your life." 

The Lord says further: 

"As you receive this power to break free and walk in the new freedom that I've given you, do not look back. Let go of those past. Let go of those regrets. Let go of those disappointments. Let go of those bitterness. Let them all go. And look to Me. For I have new things that you have not known yet, as you look ahead of you." 

Psalm 30:11 (NLT) says, 'You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.' 

You may have gone through a time of mourning or sorrow (whatever it is, and different people may be in different situation), or you may have been trapped in your past, but God has a good news for you today. The power of sorrow is being broken! Declare that you are now set free! 

You can receive the joy of the Lord right now. The joy of knowing the Lord is greater than all your sorrows on earth. The joy of knowing the Lord is here to restore and heal you. The joy of knowing there is new hope and purpose ahead of you. Amen! 

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) says, 'Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' 

When you have the joy of the Lord in your life, you will have the strength to look ahead and to carry on in your life. You will have a new vigor. You will look forward to what's ahead of you!

Nehemiah wasn't just giving the people a mere suggestion. He didn't mean to say, "Hey, it's up to you whether you choose to stay in your sorrow, or you choose to receive the joy from the Lord." Instead, it was actually a command from the Lord. You see, God places great importance to your joy. He wants you to keep your joy, stay in your joy, and not lose your joy. 

If you look at the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 that says, 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control', you will see how important joy is. It comes second only after God's love that never fails. 

The word 'joy' here is 'chara' in Greek. It can mean 'great delight'. In the context here, it means 'delighting greatly in the Lord'. Another meaning of 'chara' is 'exceeding joy and gladness'. In other words, you have the exceeding joy and gladness inside of you. It is genuine. It is not a facade. It is not fake. And this exceeding joy and gladness inside of you is reflected in the cheerfulness outside of you, i.e. your countenance. 

That's why Philippians 4:4 says, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice.' Notice the word 'rejoice' here is mentioned not just once, but twice. It shows the emphasis. 

The word 'rejoice' here is 'chairo' in Greek, from the same word 'chara' that you saw just now. 

What's the difference between 'chairo' and 'chara'? 'Chairo' is the verb, while 'chara' is the noun. It means 'to rejoice' is the verb, and 'joy' is the noun. Both these words 'chara' and 'chairo' come from the same ancient Greek root word 'char'. Interestingly, this word 'char' is also the root for the word 'charis' meaning 'grace' and 'favor'. 

As you can see here, all these words are inter-connected. In the context of what God is saying to you today, to rejoice is the result of having the joy of the Lord inside of you, knowing that God's face is shining upon you, and you are now living in the richness of God's grace and favor. It's from the inside-out. 

In short, when you know that God's grace and favor is with you, that He is for you and not against you, that His love for you never fails, joy begins to arise inside of you. And it shall be reflected outside of you!

You may ask, "So how do I keep this joy?" 

Let's go back to Philippians 4:4. It says, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice.' 

This word 'always' is so important in Philippians 4:4. What's the meaning of this word 'always'? It is 'aei' in Greek. It means 'always', of course. It also means 'a continued duration' or 'a regular practice'. Let's focus on the third meaning here. What is 'a regular practice'? There's an adage that says "practice makes perfect". There's a truth in it. It means the more you practice on something, the more you'll be good at it. In the context here, the more you practice joy, the more you'll be good at it! 

You may ask, "But how do I practice joy?" 

The answer lies in the word 'practice' itself. What is 'to practice'? 'To practice' simply means 'to do something again and again'. And that's exactly what apostle Paul meant when he wrote Philippians 4:4. To do something again and again! Rejoice in the Lord as your regular practice! Rejoice in the Lord again and again! 

Beloved of God, you can change your life today. Take joy in knowing who you are in Christ. Take joy in knowing that God has loved you with an everlasting love. Take joy in knowing that God's grace and favor is super abundant in your life. Take joy in knowing that God has not forgotten you, and has good thoughts and plans for you, no matter what you've gone through in your past. Amen! 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Words from the Lord: "Time to clean up!"

I have a dream from the Lord the other day. In the dream, I saw many believers of God and ministers of God, including myself, being brought into a huge mansion. The mansion has many rooms. The mansion is huge and with a huge compound surrounding it. Each individual is assigned into each of the rooms. These are all Christians, both believers and ministers alike. I saw myself being assigned with one room too. However, each of these rooms in the mansion were full of dirt and dust, and needed some cleanup before it could be inhabited. It seems like everyone with no exception has to do some cleanup for the respective room given to each of them. 

When I woke up from the dream, I initially thought it's the mansion in heaven that God talks about in the Scripture. But then I realized it's not. I mean, how can the mansion in heaven be full of dirt and needs cleanup? So, this is not talking about heaven. This is talking about what's happening here on earth. 

The dream was so real. As I woke up from the dream, I prayed and I asked the Lord, "What do all these mean?" 

That's when I heard the Lord saying, "Tell My people: It's time for a cleanup!"

The Lord said further: "Spiritually and physically! Individually and corporately! The church and the ministry on earth needs a cleanup! In every level and in every area! Not just as a body, as a church, or any form of ministry, but on a personal level!" 

Here's the interpretation to the dream, and I know there's an urgency to it. The huge mansion here is the house of the Lord on earth as a whole. It means there's no exception. The many rooms and compartments are the different expressions and branches of Christianity on earth. But right now, there seems to be a lot of dirt, dust, and uncleanness all over. God is speaking metaphorically. And God says it's time for a cleanup before it can be inhabited. It's time to clean up whatever that has contaminated the rooms and the house as a whole.

Definitions of 'cleanup': 

1. The removal of dirt, untidiness, or corruption from a place or a situation. 

2. The sanitizing, washing, and purifying of something. 

3. The purging, reforming, rectifying, and straightening up of something. 

Before the greater glory of the Lord comes, the Lord says, "Now is the time for a cleanup!" 

As I prayed further, the Lord showed me Jeremiah 17. Jeremiah 17 begins with the Lord God talking about the uncleanness among God's people. This includes idolatry in any form. It doesn't just mean a physical idol, per se. Idolatry may even be elevating man in the place of God. It may be hero worshiping. It may be pursuing man's fallen ways instead of God's ways. In other words, not putting the Lord God as the first and highest place, or in the rightful place, in how we do things. Of course, this is very subtle. In the outward or on stage, everything may look good. But the Lord is looking in the inside. 

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited."'

In the context of what God is saying today, these verses can apply both spiritually and physically, inward and outward, inside of us and outside of us. 

Prophet Jeremiah pictured this 'shrub in the desert' as weak and dry that's about to die from drought. From the outside, this shrub may look good and fine. But in the inside, it's actually dead and futile. This is a 'picture' of those who trust in man (or man-made ways) instead of the Lord (and the Lord's ways). This 'shrub in the desert' is a 'picture' of what's dying, drying, and unsustainable. 

So, this is a call to clean up! Let the Lord search our hearts and show us what to clean up. Let the Lord wash our hearts and wash our hands. Inside of us and outside of us. Or whatever that we put our hands to do. When I say this, I say this with the fear and the reverence of the Lord. I'm saying this to myself too. No one on earth is exempted, and no one on earth is an exception, no matter what position we hold on earth. 

The Lord has spoken. He desires cleanliness and holiness. He desires a pure heart whom He will not turn away. He is indeed preparing for His coming glory! 

This is not a message of condemnation. But this is a message of restoration and hope. This is a message of preparation for what's coming. The coming glory of the Lord! 

Let's get back to Jeremiah chapter 17. Look at the contrast here in Jeremiah 17, if God's people begin to turn away from their uncleanness and man-made ways, and turn to God (and God's ways). 

In Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." 

Here, prophet Jeremiah referred the man who trusts in the Lord to be like a tree planted by the waters, whose leaf is green, and will not cease yielding fruit. This is exactly what God wants you to walk in, in this season, and going forward. 

In Jeremiah 17:14 (NKJV), prophet Jeremiah said, "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved. For You are my praise." 

The word 'heal' here is 'rapha' in Hebrew. It can mean 'mend, cure, repair, make well, make whole'. The word 'save' here is 'yasha' in Hebrew. It can mean 'help, rescue, deliver, preserve, defend, set free'. 

As you surrender your life to the Lord and submit to Him, you receive both 'rapha' and 'yasha'. Yes, in every sense of these words. This is the promise of God for those who look to Him and submit to Him. 

From the Scripture here, God's heart is always about restoration, renewal, healing, and hope for His people. That's what Jeremiah 17 is pointing to us. So right now, beloved of God, let restoration and healing take place. If we are willing, God will be more than willing. This is His assurance for us.

And if we are willing and we heed God's message for us, blessed are we, because God's light is going to shine so bright in each of us, and we shall arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord is coming upon us! Hallelujah! 

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel

Words from the Lord: "God is turning things around from crisis to clarity!"

God wants to tell you this:

"This is the month I am turning your confusion to clarity, and your crisis to breakthrough! What is 'gloomy' and 'grey' shall be turned to 'blue skies'! Do not lose heart therefore, for I, the Lord, am still working behind the scenes, and even in ways that you know not of yet." 

God says further:

"Look to Me and keep trusting in My plans and destiny for you. Do not look at those crises and confusion, but look to Me who is Sovereign and Almighty. For I am the Lord your God, and there is no other." 

In Isaiah 45:22, the Lord says, "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." 

The word 'saved' here is 'yasha' in Hebrew. This word has a broad meaning. It can mean 'delivered, rescued, helped, preserved, defended, avenged, set free'. 

Beloved of God, as you look to Him, He will know how to deliver you, rescue you, help you, preserve you, defend you, avenge for you, and set you free! 

The word 'crisis' can mean 'an unstable, dangerous, difficult, or crucial situation that one is facing'. 'Crisis' can also mean 'a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in one's life'. 

Maybe you too are facing a crisis at the moment, or maybe you are in a state of confusion about a situation, not knowing what is happening and not knowing what to do. Take heart. The Lord your God is not dead. He is still very much alive in your situation. He is saying to you that He is visiting you right now. He will know how to bring clarity to you. Many things will become much clearer. And He will know how to give you the breakthrough that you need.

Your part is to keep trusting Him and keep looking to Him, and have patience. Endure. Persevere. Do not give up. 

The word 'clarity' can have three major meanings: 

1. Being free from any form of confusion or ambiguity.

2. Clearness as to the understanding or perception of certain matters. 

3. The state of being clear in one's spiritual eyes of understanding.

Ephesians 1:17-19 (NKJV) says, 'That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.' 

Let this power of God fill you right now. Let this power of God set you free from whatever crisis, confusion, or limitation that the devil (or the enemy) puts against you!

One example in the Scripture is in the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis.

In Genesis 39, Joseph was sold by his own brothers, and he was taken to Egypt to become a slave. Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites. Joseph was then falsely accused of seducing Potiphar's wife, and was thrown into the prison!

In other words, it was a crisis for Joseph. He was also probably in a state of confusion as to why all this happened to him. 

Maybe you too are in a situation where there's just no breakthrough in sight. You just cannot see any form of breakthrough in your life at the moment. You feel bound. You feel limited. It's like as if there's a 'lid' over your head. You cannot break that 'ceiling'. You are bound by the limitations that people around you (or the enemy) put against you, and you are now feeling trapped. 

Whatever it may be, be encouraged, because your help is at hand. The Lord is here. The Lord is here to 'yasha' you. To save you. To deliver you. To rescue you. Yes, even to avenge for you. As long as your heart draws near to the Lord who is Almighty and All-knowing, you need not fear. 

In Genesis 40, in spite of all the external 'darkness' in the prison that Joseph experienced, Joseph continued to walk with God. Even though in the physical realm, he was imprisoned, but in the spiritual realm, God was doing something in his life. God was working behind the scenes. God was preparing Joseph for something greater!

One day, when Pharaoh's butler and baker had dreams that bothered them greatly, Joseph was able to interpret their dreams. You see, God can open doors for you in ways that you cannot imagine yet. And that's what happened to Joseph! 

Fast forward two years later, when Pharaoh himself had a dream and a subsequent dream, and no one could interpret those dreams, that same butler remembered Joseph. The butler told Pharaoh about Joseph, and Joseph successfully interpreted Pharaoh's dreams. 

You see, Joseph had a spiritual understanding and perception that no one else in Egypt had. Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord!

Genesis 41:37-39 (NKJV) says, 'So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you."' 

Joseph knew it's not him. It's God. It's God who worked in him. It's by the Spirit of the Lord. Pharaoh then promoted Joseph to be second only to himself over all of Egypt. The unthinkable happened! From a slave to become a prime minister! From crisis to breakthrough! From confusion to clarity!

The same it is for you. God's plan be accomplished for you! God's purpose be accomplished for you! God's destiny be accomplished for you! God's will be done for you! 

Declare by faith that you are set free! Lift up your hands towards God, and declare that your 'yasha' is at hand! You are being set free! You are being delivered! The Lord's help has come! You are free from any 'limitation' or 'bondage' set by the enemy against you! You are free from any form of confusion or crisis that the enemy has caused you to be in! You are free to be who God wants you to be! You are free to walk into your breakthrough and victory, going forward! Hallelujah!

I declare by faith that God has taken away all those 'gloominess' around you! God has given you the clarity! God's light has come, and this light is now shining upon you! Amen! 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel