Why you shouldn't be worried or anxious about your future

God wants to tell you this: 

"Don't allow yourself to regret or think about what could have been or what should have been. Trust in Me for your future and trust in My timing for your life. I am still in control. All things will eventually work out for your good. I still remember My plans and destiny for you. These plans are always and will always be the best for you." 

Trust God that He knows what He is doing in your life. 

Imagine an artist drawing a masterpiece. At first, you do not know what he's drawing. You cannot figure out what he's drawing. You may be asking, "Does the artist know exactly what he's doing?" or "Does the artist have any idea what he is up to?" Of course, if he is a good artist, he already has an idea! 

It is the same with God. God is in the midst of drawing a masterpiece, a great artwork in you. Soon you will know the full picture. And it's going to be good! But you've got to believe. 

Maybe there's no open door yet for you. Maybe there's no breakthrough yet for you. Maybe nothing significant seems to be happening in your life right now. Or maybe some things you've wished for have yet to happen or are delayed. 

Be patient. God sees all that. He is still very much alive in your situation. Your breakthrough will come!

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) says, 'Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord.' 

Two times it's written here: "Wait, wait."

This word 'wait' here in the original Hebrew is interesting. It's not like what you understand this word 'wait' in English. This word 'wait' is 'qavah' in Hebrew. In our context about waiting on God here, it can mean 'to gather (strength) from the Lord, to look patiently to the Lord, to collect (strength) from the Lord, to bind together with the Lord (like two ropes binding together)'. 

Do you know this word 'qavah' actually comes from the word 'qav' in Hebrew, meaning 'rope' or 'cord'? 

Imagine you are a rope or a cord, and you are binding together with another rope or cord, a much stronger one. That's a picture of God and you! God and you. You and God. Binding together! Nothing's going to be able to cut it off. That's what it means here by binding together two ropes. In your weaknesses, He is your strength. He is going through it together with you!

So, no matter how cruel this world may be, God is with you! He is 'binding together' with you! He is going through all this with you! 

This psalm was written at a time David was going through a difficult patch of time, and he was in great distress. He was being hunted by King Saul. He was on the run. King Saul wanted to kill David, even though David didn't commit any wrong. In fact, David won a victory for King Saul. But King Saul wanted no threat to his throne as king. King Saul wanted to finish him off!

Instead of losing hope on God, David learned to 'qavah' and trust in the Lord his God. He believed this time of danger and persecution would finally end. He just had to wait things out. Of course, little did he know that this was also part of God's training in his life to prepare him for something greater. 

Beloved of God, the same it is for you. The Lord is preparing you for something greater! So, as you 'qavah' or wait on the Lord, it's not like nothing is happening. The Lord is in the midst of strengthening you! The Lord is doing something inside of you! The Lord is strengthening you in many ways. 

Why? So that when your eventual success or breakthrough comes, you are ready, and you will not fall under the "weight" of that success. In other words, you're up to it. You're up to the new heights that God is bringing you to! 

So beloved of God, trust that God's timing is always the best for you. God knows the perfect moment to act in your life! 

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Trusting God for divine protection

In recent days, I've been dreaming about some people whom I know, and I saw them either heading towards danger or already in danger. Each time, I woke up to take authority and pray to prevent any evil or danger from happening to them.

For you as well, beloved of God, pray and believe also for the Lord's divine protection be with you, your loved ones, and whoever the Lord has put in your heart to pray for. 

Now, don't get me wrong. Not that at other times you don't pray for divine protection. But what I'm saying is this is a very important and crucial time to pray. Why do I say so? Because I heard the Lord saying these words: 

"Pray! A crucial time to pray! Be watchful and be alert to your surroundings! For the power of darkness has begun sending many cohorts to cause harm to My people. It is happening all around the world. But fear not! Look to Me for your divine protection and angelic protection. For I am your shield and your covering. I will lead you under the shelter of My wings." 

Psalm 91:1-4 (NKJV) says, 'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge...' 

In Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV), the Lord says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me." 

The word 'weapon' here is 'keliy' in Hebrew, and it literally means 'an apparatus or equipment (e.g. an artillery) to consume and destroy', from the word 'kalah' in Hebrew, meaning 'to consume' or 'to destroy'. 

The devil comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. But beloved of God, fear not! Because the Lord is assuring you that nothing that tries to consume or destroy you shall be able to do so. You know why? Because you are a beloved and a servant of the Lord, and your righteousness comes from the Lord!

In Isaiah 43:1-2 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame scorch you." 

How reassuring! As a beloved of God, whether you are on the land, at the sea, or wherever you are, the Scripture says the Lord will be with you. Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At all times! The Lord will know how to protect you and shield you from any form of evil or danger, and from whatever that tries to "drown" you or "scorch" you, as long as you look to Him and put all your trust in Him! 

Psalm 121:5-8 (NKJV) says, 'The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand... The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in, from this time forth, and even forevermore.'

You see, there's no exception here. All evil means all evil. In other words, the Lord preserves you from all kinds of evil and all kinds of danger. And no matter how strong the power of the enemy or the power of darkness may be, the Lord your God is greater than all these! 

Your 'right hand' speaks of your 'stronger hand'. It also speaks of your 'working hand'. In other words, the Lord is protecting all the works of your hand. The good works that you do with your hand!

Psalm 18:2-3 (NKJV) says, 'The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies.' 

So, call upon the Lord, and look to Him. Because He knows very well how to save you and deliver you from any form of evil and danger that is conjured up by the enemy. Amen! 

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your protection and for Your angels whom You've sent to guard us. We thank You for leading and guiding us under the shelter of Your wings. We look to You and we call upon You. We come to You, our fortress and our shield. We thank You for the Holy Spirit that continuously guides us and leads us. We thank You for the Scripture promises that we have confessed and declared today. We take You at Your Word. We believe every word that You have spoken through these verses. Yes, we believe even for our loved ones and for all those whom You have put in our hearts to pray for. In Jesus' name. Amen!"

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Receive peace in the midst of the 'storm'

The Lord says: 

"Receive My peace in the midst of the 'storms'. Look to Me, no matter what you are going through or what you see happening in the world around you. For I am still in control. I am a sovereign God. My perfect will be done. Be not shaken. Be afraid not. Be anxious not. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you." 

No matter what 'storm' you may be facing at the moment, be it 'storm' in your family, 'storm' in your health, 'storm' in your finance, 'storm' in your workplace, or whatever 'storm' you may be facing, take heart, because the Lord is releasing His peace upon you and inside of you. 

In John 14:27, Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." 

No one and nothing can take away this peace of the Lord from you. The peace that the world cannot give to you, but that comes only from the Lord. This peace stays in you. This peace reigns in you. This peace is greater. This peace overcomes whatever 'storm' or 'turbulence' that's happening in and around you. Amen! 

Isaiah 26:3-4 says, 'You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.' 

If your mind is stayed on the Lord, He will keep you in perfect peace. So, no matter what you may be facing, trust in the Lord who is your everlasting strength. What does 'everlasting strength' mean here? It means He is like the Rock that cannot be shaken. Ever! He is the Rock of all ages - in times past, now, and forevermore. Amen!

So, set your mind on Him, and let your mind stayed on Him, instead of on the issues or troubles around you. 

The word 'peace' here is 'shalom' in Hebrew. So, 'perfect peace' means 'perfect shalom'. This word 'shalom' can mean 'peace (in every sense of this word), safety, wellness, wholeness, welfare, health, prosperity, favor'. As you can see here, it has a broad meaning. 

This word 'shalom' comes from the word 'shalam' in Hebrew, meaning 'to be completely safe and secure'. You know what this means? This means the peace of the Lord that you receive from Him makes you completely safe and secure, no matter what the 'storm' may be around you! 

By the way, when we say 'storm' here, it means 'anything that is disturbing', 'anything that is troubling', or 'anything that is tumultuous'.

What are the 'storms' around you at the moment? What are the 'storms' that you are facing at the moment? 

Look to the Lord. Receive His shalom peace. Receive His perfect peace. Set your mind on Him. And trust in Him that He is still in control, and He will somehow work things out for you. Amen!

Philippians 4:6-7 says, 'Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.' 

What is the meaning of 'peace which surpasses all understanding' here? It means 'peace that goes beyond what the human mind can fully grasp or comprehend', or 'peace that transcends any rational thought and emotional turmoil'. 

And whenever you see no peace around you, what do you do? Pray! Pray the perfect will of God over the situation. Pray that the peace of the Lord will reign over the situation. Yes, pray even for the situation that you see in the world, that God's perfect will be done. Amen! 

Philippians 4:8-9 says, 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, this do, and the God of peace will be with you.' 

The word 'meditate' here is 'logizomai' in Greek, and in the context here, it means 'to think the same (as how God thinks)'. In other words, think as He thinks. Think the way He wants you to think. Think the way the Scripture teaches you to think. Be of the same mind with His mind! Be on the same wavelength with Him! 

This word 'meditate' here can be a cross-reference to Isaiah 26:3 that says you will have perfect peace if your mind is stayed on Him, and you trust in Him. Trust in Him that He is still in control. Trust in Him that He knows how to work things out for you. Indeed, He has the solution to all your situation!

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How to live a worry-free life?

The Lord says: 

"The enemy has been causing My people to worry a lot recently. Worry about the future. Worry about finance. Worry about income. Worry about career. Worry about ministry. Worry about health. Worry about what is to come. Even worry for family members. Take authority and bind whatever causes you to worry. Cast all your cares and concerns to Me, for I am the Lord who cares for you. I see the end from the beginning. I hold your future in My hands. Look to Me and trust in Me therefore, and everything's going to be alright." 

What is the definition of 'worry'? 

It can be defined as 'to feel (or cause to feel) anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems'.

But I have a good news for you. You can live a life that is worry-free. If you have the Lord with you, nothing is impossible to Him. You can believe for that. 

So, what is the 'antidote' to 'worry'? 

You use 'the sword of the Spirit', i.e. the Word of God! You use this 'sword' to 'slay' any worry and every form of worry. 

How do you do that? You meditate on God's Word. You think about God's Word. You fill your mind with God's Word. You speak out God's Word, so your ears can hear. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). 

So, learn to say 'no' to anything or anyone who speaks otherwise to you. This is not about denying reality. But rather, this is about surrendering your situation to the Lord and let His Spirit lead you and guide you. There will be a way. There will be a way out for you. God will see to it that this will happen, somehow, someway, even beyond what you can imagine or think of. 

Let's go to John 14:27 now. No matter what you are facing at the moment, even if no one understands what you are facing, Jesus is saying this to you: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Interestingly, just one verse before that, in John 14:26, Jesus says: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." 

Because the Holy Spirit is here to help you, you need not fear or be troubled, whatever your situation may be at the moment.  

Now look here in Mark 4:35-38. 'On the same day, when evening had come, He (Jesus) said to them (the disciples), "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"' 

In Mark 4:39-41, 'Then Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"' 

Who say Jesus doesn't care about your situation? Jesus cares. So, don't let anyone speak you out of it. And if He can calm the storm (which no human can), is there anything impossible for Him? 

You see, nothing technical about today's message. Today's message is simple. It's about faith. Simple faith. What is faith? Faith simply means 'a believing heart'. A heart that trusts in the Lord. 

Let's go on to 1 Peter 5:6-7 now. This same Peter was in the storm, and he witnessed Jesus calming the storm right before his eyes. No wonder he could write these words in 1 Peter 5:6-7. 'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him (Jesus), for He cares for you.' 

To cast your care upon the Lord involves you humbling yourself under His mighty hand. In other words, not to be too proud to think that you can do it on your own. 

In fact, to worry means the person is not believing that God can take over and take care of the situation. 

So, worry is a form of pride. Why? Because when a believer feels anxious, he is convinced that he must solve the problem (or the situation) with his own strength (or ability), instead of trusting the Lord. 

Let's look at Matthew 14:25-27 now. 'Now in the fourth watch of the night (about 3 am in the morning), Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!". And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I. Do not be afraid."' 

In Matthew 14:28-31, 'And Peter answered Jesus and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So Jesus said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Peter, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.' 

Here, you see the same Peter again. You and I know that it's impossible in the natural and physical realm for humans to walk on water. But here, Peter did it. However, Peter was soon affected by the wind that was boisterous. Peter began to feel anxious and afraid. Instead of looking straight unto Jesus, he looked at his left and right. And that's how he began to sink. 

So beloved, it is the same with your situation. Do not look to the left or to the right. Rather, look at the Word of God! Look at who He is in your life. Look at what He says to you in your life. Amen! 

Your God is a supernatural God! In other words, He is above the natural and physical realm. We humans may think logically from the physical realm. But your God is above this realm. He is a supernatural God. In other words, He can make things happen to you supernaturally. He is your miracle-working God. 

That's why, no matter what situation or problem you may be facing at the moment, there's nothing that's impossible to Him. If you look to Him and put all your trust in Him, He will know how to make a way for you, even where there seems to be no way. 

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." 

What's the background of this verse? You can read from Matthew 6:25 all the way to Matthew 6:33. 

Here, Jesus was talking about not to worry about tomorrow; not to worry about this or about that; not to worry about what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, etc. He was saying that we should not be like those in the world, as if God doesn't exist. But rather, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things that we ever need shall be added unto us. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you are to run away from your responsibilities. I'm not saying you cannot plan. By all means, you can plan ahead - the next 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, even 10 years or beyond. But what I'm saying here is not to worry. Instead, let God be God. Let God's hand guide you and bring you, as He wills. Not your will, but His will be done. He has your best interest in His mind. He will never lead you into dead-end road or into trouble. He will always lead you into something that is of hope and of future. Amen! 

Let us pray: 

"O Lord God, we let go of all our worries and anxieties to You. We cast all our cares and concerns to You, for You are the Lord who truly cares for us. Indeed, You see the end from the beginning, and You hold our future in Your hands. Your plans for us are always good, that gives us a hope and a future. We therefore look to You and put all our trust in You. We declare by faith that everything's going to be alright, as You have spoken today. Amen."

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Words from the Lord: Be of good cheer!

Let's look at one example in the Scripture how someone faced a crisis, and yet he has learned how to be of good cheer! 

In Acts chapter 27, the writer of the Book of Acts, Luke, wrote an account of how Paul and several other prisoners set sail for Italy. Paul needed to go to Rome to appeal to Caesar, because certain Jewish leaders from Jerusalem made serious accusations against him, accusing him of a crime against the Jewish laws, against the temple of God, and even against the Roman government. 

Several days into the journey, the ship that Paul was in struggled with great difficulty due to the adverse weather condition. The weather had become dangerous for sea travel because it was late in the fall (autumn time), and Paul then spoke to the ship's officers, "I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on - shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well." However, the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship's captain and the owner, rather than to Paul. 

You see, as winter approached, the weather became more dangerous for sailing. Paul, knowing the season and conditions at that time, and with the wisdom that he received from the Lord, advised them not to go on, lest there may be shipwreck, loss of cargo, and even danger to their lives. But the captain and the owner of the ship didn't heed what Paul said. Apparently, it's not to their advantage to not to continue in this journey, due to the loss of time, because to them, time is money. That's probably what they were thinking in their minds. So, in spite of Paul's warning, the captain of the ship continued on the journey.

True enough to what Paul had warned, the weather later changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength blew their ship further and further to the open sea. As gale-force winds battered the ship, the crew even had to throw the cargo overboard in order to save the ship from sinking! 

Luke wrote an account how this terrible storm raged for many days, and even blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. In other words, all these crew in the ship were at their wits' end. They were thinking they're all going to die! 

Acts 27:21 in fact says no one in the ship had eaten for a long time, probably because they were too frightened, or they were so seasick (due to the high waves). Of course, they were worried and anxious, thinking that the ship's going to sink! 

But look at what Paul said in Acts 27:22 (KJV), "And now I exhort you to be of good cheer! For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship." 

Those in the ship must have thought Paul was going crazy at that time! How could he say, 'Be of good cheer' when all hope seemed lost and they're all going to die? But one thing they didn't realize is this: They didn't know that Paul was a man who know his God. Paul was a man who know what his God can do, even against all odds. In fact, Paul even had an encounter with an angel who encouraged him, and in turn, Paul encouraged others on board!

So, in the midst of all these, Paul became like a light to all of them, even though he was only a prisoner on board. His words became the beacon. His words became the source of encouragement. His words brought hope to all on board in the midst of the tempest. He even encouraged them to eat something, and they did. At that point of time, Paul became the 'de facto leader' on board, even though he was just a prisoner waiting for trial! 

Let's wrap up Acts chapter 27 now. One fine morning, as they persevered and hung on to what Paul had said, they finally saw a bay with a beach! That's good news of course! Eventually, all 276 persons on board the ship escaped to safety (in the island called Malta), and not even one life was lost, just as what Paul had declared and prophesied! Hallelujah!

Beloved of God, no matter what crisis you may be going through at the moment, be encouraged that He is still God, and He will know how to make a way for you, even against all odds. Nothing is impossible to Him. I declare that your darkest night is behind you, and a new dawn has begun for your life. Amen! 

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Shaken by what's happening in the world right now? Fear not!

The Lord says: 

"This isn't the time to look at your left or at your right. This isn't the time to pattern after this or that in the world. But be patterned after Me. My ways are higher. My ways will not fail. When no one else in this world can help you, look to Me. When the system and structure of this world fails you, look to Me." 

We are living in a very precarious world at the moment. Anytime, the world financial systems or the world economic systems can fail. You have seen some banks have even failed. You have seen how the cost of living keeps rising in many places.

But I tell you what, do not allow yourself to be shaken. There is help for you. God has a way out for you. He will give you the strategies to ride out these times; not just to survive, but to thrive as well. So, fear not! Because He knows how to help you and show you a way!

Let's go straight to the Scripture now. 

In a time like this, remember Psalm 121 written by David.

Psalm 121:1-2 says, 'I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence (where) comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.' 

Where does our help come from? Our help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth! The word 'help' here is 'ezer' in Hebrew. It comes from the word 'azar', which means 'to surround, to protect, to aid'. Therefore, the Lord is saying He is the Lord who surrounds you, protects you, and aids you. He will surround you in the midst of the turbulence, He will protect you, and He will come to your aid in a time like this! 

This same word 'ezer' can also be found in Psalm 46:1-3, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.' 

These verses isn't just literal, i.e. geologically; but it can also be symbolic of say, the financial systems or the economic systems of this world, or whatever system that is man-made that has infiltrated into this world! 

Notice it's written in Psalm 121, 'I will lift up my eyes to the hills'. I used to think the psalmist was referring to any hill or any mountain on earth. But no! He was referring to 'the holy hills of Jerusalem'. 

What do these 'holy hills' symbolize? These 'holy hills' symbolize 'where the presence of the Lord is'. For the record, there are seven hills that surround Jerusalem, i.e. Moriah, Bethsaida, Scopus, Olives, Opel, Zion, and Calvary. 

Let's look at one of those holy hills, Moriah. What is the significance of Moriah? It was here that King Solomon built the first temple. It was also here that Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac as burnt offering, and the Lord provided him a ram, instead of him having to sacrifice his own son Isaac! 

To deepen our understanding, let's go to Genesis 22:13, 'Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering, instead of his son.'

Notice the words 'lifted his eyes' here? This is very interesting, because David (in Psalm 121) 'lifted his eyes' too! So, both David and Abraham 'lifted their eyes', and in the context here, 'lifted their eyes' to the Lord and to what the Lord's doing!  

In Genesis 22:13, notice also there's this ram caught in a thorny bush. Who does this 'ram' speak of? Jesus! When He was about to be crucified, the soldiers put a crown of thorns on his head. So, if the 'ram' here speaks of 'Jesus', then the 'thicket' ('thorny bush') speaks of 'the crown of thorns'! In other words, Jesus wore the crown of thorns, so that you don't have to wear it! It means He has carried away all your pains, whatever these may be, not just in your spirit, soul, or body; but even financial or economic pains!

Here in Genesis 22:13, the Lord has shown a way for Abraham. It is the same for you as well. The Lord will know how to show you a way in a time like this! Your part is to look to Him!

Genesis 22:14 then says, 'And Abraham called the name of the place The-Lord-Will-Provide (YHWH Yireh)...' 

So, take heart. The Lord will know how to provide for you. If you need wisdom, ask and you shall receive. The Lord will know how to provide for you His divine wisdom. You will know what to do and how to go about in a time like this. If you need revelation from the Lord, ask and you shall receive. The Lord will know how to provide for you His divine revelation. You will know where you should be heading to in a time like this.  

So, lift your eyes to the Lord! Just as David lifted his eyes to the holy hills of Jerusalem! Or just as Abraham lifted his eyes, and there was a ram caught in a thicket!

So far, we have looked at the Old Testament. How about the New Testament? In the New Covenant, the Lord has also promised you 'help'! Who is this 'help'? The Holy Spirit! That's why it is so important to have a deeper and deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, communing with the Holy Spirit, and receiving from the Holy Spirit. 

In John 14:16-17, Jesus said, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." 

You see, this Holy Spirit dwells with you and lives in you! He is 24/7, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all the time, now and forever; as long as you do not reject Him!

The word 'Helper' here (or 'Comforter' in King James Version) is 'Parakletos' in Greek. It can mean 'Advocate'. In other words, 'the One who is for you'. That's what Advocate is. He is for you. He is not against you. Why? Because you have been made righteous through Christ. You have received this gift of righteousness through what Jesus has done for you on the cross. It can also mean 'Consoler'. He is your Consoler or Comforter in a time of crisis, in a time of need, in a time of turbulence, or in a time of trouble. You can count on Him! It can also mean 'Intercessor'. The Holy Spirit will know how to intercede in your situation, take over your situation, and turn things around for you! 

In John 14:26, Jesus said further, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." 

Not only the Holy Spirit is your Helper, He is also your Teacher! And He reminds you of all things that the Lord has spoken to you. 

The next verse is John 14:27, and Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 14:27 should be read in the context of John 14:26. In other words, because the Holy Spirit has been sent to you, and because He is your Helper, He is your Teacher, He is your Advocate, He is your Consoler, and He is your Intercessor, therefore let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!

This Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of shalom peace. This is the peace that the world cannot give to you. This peace can only come from the Lord! 

Let's go to the book of Romans now.

Romans 8:26-27 says, 'Likewise the Spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit) also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.' 

There can be times we don't know what to pray, or we don't know how to pray correctly. Or maybe we sense certain danger or 'un-peace', and we don't know what to do. I tell you what, just pray in the spirit. Because praying in the spirit is praying in the perfect will of God. As you pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit will intercede, will take over the situation, and will prevent certain evil (or danger) from happening.  

Notice 'the Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses'. It means whenever you feel weak, whenever you do not know what to pray, or whenever you do not know what to do, the Holy Spirit can help you!

The word 'help' here is 'sunantilambano' in Greek. This word 'sunantilambano' carries the meaning of 'two persons working together in partnership to get the job done'. It means the Holy Spirit (the Person of the Holy Spirit) and you as a person, both of you in partnership to get the job done (or to get a situation settled)! 

Very interestingly, this word 'sunantilambano' can be divided into three parts:

- 'sun' = 'in partnership with, in cooperation with'. 

- 'anti' = 'to come against (in this context, the enemy)'.

- 'lambano' = 'to take hold of, to claim, to receive'.

So, these three words, joined together, becomes 'sunantilambano'. In other words, 'sunantilambano' means 'in partnership and cooperation with the Holy Spirit, combining together with the Holy Spirit to push away the enemy, so that you can take hold of your inheritance that God has meant for you or promised you.' Wow!

Let us pray. "O Lord God, we thank You for the insight to what the Holy Spirit can do in our lives. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is our Helper. With the Holy Spirit dwelling with us, there's nothing to be afraid of in this world. We receive now the shalom peace. Just as Jesus has said, let not our hearts be troubled, and let not our hearts be afraid. So, whatever happens in the world, even when the systems or the structures of this world may fail, You O Lord will not fail. We look to You. We pattern after Your way. Because Your way will not fail. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Click here for the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel

Your 'winter time' is coming to an end!

The Lord says: 

"My child, your 'winter time' is coming to an end. Your darkest time is coming to an end. The 'rain cloud' is gone and it's now time for rejoicing and a new hope. Whatever you have gone through during your darkest time, I see it and I understand it. It's time to wipe your tears away and look to Me. There is a new hope for you." 

Indeed, your 'winter time' is coming to an end! It's a time for rejoicing! It's a time for a fresh new hope! No matter what you've been going through in recent times, even in your darkest of times, the light from the throne of God has started to shine on you! These are His words for you right now.

I believe the Lord isn't talking about the Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere geographically, i.e. the winter season in this physical world. But rather, He is talking about the 'spiritual winter' that many of His beloved have been going through in recent times. 

What is a 'spiritual winter'? It can mean in a particular season, many things may seem to be dormant and inactive in one's life, or nothing significant seems to be happening in one's life. We all go through such a time at different seasons or stages in our lives. But take heart, beloved, because the Lord has spoken today that your 'winter time' is coming to an end! It's a time for you to rejoice! It's a time for you to look ahead with a fresh new hope! 

In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord says: "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand."

In Isaiah 41:13, the Lord says: "For I hold you by your right hand. I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you.''' 

What does 'right hand' signify here? It's a hand of blessing. It's a hand of strength. It's a hand of authority. In the Scripture, 'right hand' therefore signifies blessing, strength, and authority. All these have been released to you in this time and season. Receive by faith!

In Isaiah 41:17-18, the Lord says: "When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground."

In Isaiah 41:19-20, the Lord says further: "I will plant trees in the barren desert - cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means - that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it."

Maybe you have been crying out to the Lord recently. Maybe you have been going through the darkest of nights recently. Maybe you have been going through some very difficult challenges in life recently. But I tell you what. Your cry has been heard by the Lord.

In Psalm 56:8-9, David wrote: 'You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.' 

The word 'tossings' here is 'node' in Hebrew. It can mean 'troubles' or 'aimless wanderings'. Here, David wrote that the Lord saw all that he has gone through. The Lord saw all his tears, and even kept it in His bottle! The Lord's bottle! Whether this is literally or symbolically, it speaks of the Lord remembering all of David's tears. 

Now, it is the same with you, because you too are the beloved of God. The Lord remembers all your tears, and He is keeping all your tears in His bottle! In other words, He remembers all that you have gone through, and He understands all that you have gone through. 

Indeed, nothing escapes the eyes of the Lord. Maybe you have been disadvantaged, you have been cheated, or you have been betrayed by some people in this world. But rest assured the Lord will know how to turn things around for you and reward you, even in ways unimaginable to you.

Now, this psalm, particularly these two verses, are beautiful words written by David. And he knew what he's writing. Why? Because he has gone through a lot in his life, and yet, he has also tasted and seen the faithfulness of God through it all. You name it: Distress. Discouragement. Lost hope. Humiliation. Betrayal. Slander from people. Jealousy from people. Conspiracy against him. He has gone through all that. 

Yet the Lord actually gave him this assurance that He knows all that, He sees all that, and most importantly, the Lord's with him. 

So beloved, if you are like David, and you think no one on this earth understands you, the Lord understands you. He has not forgotten all your pains, your griefs, and your disappointments in your life. He remembers every single tear that you've shed in secret, and even in your darkest of nights. 

You can trust Him in this assurance, because He is (and will always be) a faithful God to you. And you can be assured that He will also know how to set you free from whatever the problem or situation that you may be facing recently. Amen!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Do not be afraid to face your future!

The Lord says:
"Do not be afraid to face what comes in your future! Fear not, for I am your Miracle and your Provider! I will know how to provide even in the midst of famine or uncertainties! I will know how to shield you from the fiery darts or arrows that come against you! Look to Me therefore, and look not at what is around you!"

Indeed, in times like these, look to Him, and look not at the troubles around you. John 6:16-21 (NLT) says, 'That evening Jesus' disciples went down to the shore to wait for Him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but He called out to them, "Don’t be afraid. I am here!" Then they were eager to let Him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!'

Just before that, John 6:8-13 (NLT) says, 'Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. "There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward He did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told His disciples, "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted." So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves'.

People of God, from the Bible verses above, know that Jesus isn't just your Miracle-worker, but HE IS your Miracle! And Jesus isn't just your Provider, but HE IS your Providence! When you have Him, you have everything you ever need on earth! This Miracle lives in you, and this Providence lives in you! He is your all-sufficient God and you don't need to look anywhere else, because He is more than enough for you! He can even redeem your lost time, and bring you to your 'destination' in spite of the storms and rough seas around you!

The Lord says further:

"This is a key time to guard your 'spiritual windows'! Guard your spiritual eyes and ears! Do not allow your 'windows' to be intruded and compromised by the enemy! Guard what you see, and guard what you hear! Take authority over the spiritual atmosphere around you, and bind the spirit of fear!"

In perilous times like these, here are some of the questions people in the world often ask:

- "Will I still be needed in my company/organization?"

- "Will I still be needed in the job market?"

- "What does the future hold for me?"

- "Do I have enough for my retirement?" 

- "Will I end up sick and lonely in old folks' home?"

- "Will I be abandoned by my children in my older days?"

- "Will I get scammed or cheated in my later years?"

And the list goes on.

If left unchecked, 'fear' can 'paralyse' us. So, what do you do when you are overwhelmed by atmosphere of fear? Or what do you do when you are afraid to face your future (or what comes in your future)?

- Know that your God isn't dead! (1 Corinthians 15:20)

- Don't allow fear to 'seep' in. Trust God! (Proverbs 3:5-6)

- Take authority in Jesus' name! (Luke 10:19)

- Bind the spirit of fear, and nullify those works of darkness! (Matthew 16:19)

- Cover yourself with the blood of Jesus (Psalm 91:3-6).

Some may ask, "But what if I've made a bad mistake in my life?"

In 2 Kings 4:38-40 (NLT), the Bible says, 'Elisha now returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. One day as the group of prophets was seated before him, he said to his servant, "Put a large pot on the fire, and make some stew for the rest of the group." One of the young men went out into the field to gather herbs and came back with a pocketful of wild gourds. He shredded them and put them into the pot without realizing they were poisonous. Some of the stew was served to the men. But after they had eaten a bite or two they cried out, "Man of God, there’s poison in this stew!" So they would not eat it'. 

People of God, like that 'young man', we all (at one time or another) make mistakes in life (due to ignorance, immaturity, or lack of knowledge) and end up in a 'poisonous' or 'precarious' situation. But look what happens next. In 2 Kings 4:41 (NLT), the Bible says, 'Elisha said, "Bring me some flour." Then he threw it into the pot and said, "Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat." And then it did not harm them'.

You see, a miracle happened then and there: The 'flour' healed and neutralized the 'poison'!

What does 'flour' symbolize here? JESUS! And how is flour made? When grain gets crushed! 'Flour' here is therefore a 'picture' of Jesus (the grain offering) being crushed! He was 'beaten' and 'crushed' when He died for you on the cross! Isaiah 53:5 (NLT) says, 'But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed'. He is the remedy to your 'poisonous' or 'precarious' situation! And He is here to turn things around for you, even if you think you've 'blown it' and made a bad mistake in life! Take heart therefore. 

By the way, 'Elisha' (or 'Eliyshuwa' in Hebrew) means 'God of supplication (riches)'; from two words, 'El' meaning 'God'; and 'Shuwa' meaning 'supply, miracles, riches' or 'freedom from trouble, fear, worry'. The good news is your 'pot of stew' need not be wasted, and your 'pot of stew' need not be 'poisonous' any more! The same God who performed miracles and turned things around those days is the same God in your life today. Just trust Him, look to Him, and let Him in, and everything's going to be alright! Believe and receive by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

A time to let go of your baggage!

The Lord spoke these words:
"This is the time to let go of your baggage! Let go of those ungodly things! Let go of those issues that encumber you! Let go of those burdens and weights that bog you down! Cast all these to Me, for I am the Lord who cares for you! Look to Me, and I will show you the many new things that you know not of yet!"

The definition of 'baggage' in this context here is 'an issue, a matter, a burden, a weight, or a hindrance regarding your past that adversely affect your current life'. Hebrews 12:1-2a says, 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...' Here, the word 'weight' is 'ogkos' in Greek, and it can mean 'a burden, a hindrance, or a heavy load'.

What are the 'baggages' that you still hang on to?
- Spiritual baggage (whatever sin, idolatry, uncleanness)
- Emotional baggage (bitterness, hurt, emotional wound)
- Mental baggage (thoughts/memories/mindsets that aren't useful)
- Physical baggage (clutter/junks in your house/room)
- Relational baggage (toxic relations)
- Habitual baggage (bad habits/addictions)
- Debt baggage
- Sickness baggage

Some people become miserable or self-centered, and they would blame it on the past (or some people of the past), saying, "I am this way because of how that person abused/mistreated/did so and so to me." But beloved of God, whatever your past may be, let it go, and do not hold on to it. The Lord loves you and He wants to do a new thing in your life. For you readers, I want to declare that you are not 'over the hill', but there are greater things that He wants to show you, moving forward. The best is still to come! Isaiah 43:18-19 says, 'Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert'. Indeed, to Him, nothing is impossible, and He will make rivers in the desert for you!

There are times we will never be able to understand why some things happen in our lives, or why we have to go through some 'valleys' in life. But there's one thing that we can always believe, in that 'all things will work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28). In Philippians 3:12-14, the apostle Paul wrote, 'Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus'.

God can make you forget your toil!
In Genesis 41:51, the Scripture says, 'Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil."' We all know that Joseph had gone through much and had suffered much. He was thrown into the pit, sold as a slave by his brothers, falsely accused of having an affair with Potiphar's wife, and was eventually thrown into the prison. But the Lord was still with him, and instead of getting bitter, he got better. Through those years, the Lord worked in his life, changed his life from the inside out, and the time for God's greater works in his life finally came. Having successfully interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph rose to power in Egypt, and that's when to him was born his first son, and he fittingly called the firstborn 'Manasseh'. This name 'Manasseh' in Hebrew simply means 'causing to forget', from the word 'nashah', meaning 'to forget, to let go'. Notice in this verse also, it's God who had made him forget all his toil. The word 'toil' here is 'awmawl' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'grievances, misery, pain, sorrows, trouble, weariness, labor'. Beloved of God, He can cause you to forget all your 'toil' too, and He will know how to turn things around for you, if you look to Him and put your trust in Him. Amen!

What does it mean by being blessed of the Lord?

Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper'.

The word 'blessed' here in Hebrew is 'esher', literally meaning 'happiness'. It comes from the word 'ashar', and in the context of the Scripture here, it can mean 'to be happy, to be right, to go forward, to be guided (by the Lord), to be led (by the Lord)'. That is to say 'Happy, right, going forward, guided by the Lord, led by the Lord' is the man who chooses not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but rather, his delight is in the Word of God!

Notice the words 'walks', 'stands', and 'sits' in Psalm 1:1? These are verbs, i.e. 'words used to describe an action'. You see? The above verbs speak of the choices you need to make, for example, to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly.

People of God, choose not the way of the ungodly, but choose to delight in the Word of God instead! And that's how you shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatever you do shall prosper!

The Lord spoke these words recently:
"Do not look at the 'parched and dry lands', but look to Me and trust in Me, for I am the Source of the rivers of water in your lives."

What does 'parched and dry lands' mean here? The Scripture says in 2 Peter 3:6-7 (New Life Version), 'Long ago the earth was covered with water and it was destroyed. But the heaven we see now and the earth we live on now have been kept by His word. They will be kept until they are to be destroyed by fire. They will be kept until the day men stand before God and sinners will be destroyed'. Going by the verses here, the world we live in isn't going to get any better, and we all know it. But in spite of this, there is hope, and this hope only comes when we look to God and trust in God!

Indeed, this is an even more crucial time to keep looking to the Lord and keep trusting in His Word, no matter what happens to this earth, and no matter how 'parched and dry' this world has become, both spiritually and physically. Those who keep looking to Him and keep trusting in His Word are blessed ('esher') people!

There is another Hebrew word for 'blessed', and this word is 'barak'. You can find this word in Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) that says, 'Blessed ('barak') 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 (worried) in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit'.

The word 'blessed' (or 'barak' in Hebrew) here can mean 'benefit, abundance, honor'. The word 'honor' here is very interesting, and you can say that 'to be blessed is to see God honoring you and God honoring whatever you put your hands to do'! So, not only do you have the 'benefits' and 'abundance' of every good thing that He wants to give you, the Lord also knows how to honor you, and that is, when you put your trust and hope in Him!

The expression 'will not fear when heat comes' (or 'will not see when heat comes' in KJV) means you who put your trust and hope in the Lord will not be affected by the heat ('parched and dry times' on earth), and you will still be yielding fruit (and your leaf will still be green), no matter what happens around you. That, my friend, is the state of being blessed of the Lord!

I end this article with Psalm 34:8-10 (NKJV) that says, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'.

The power of giving thanks

The Lord spoke these words:
"There is power in giving thanks! This is the time to give thanks for your answer, even in the midst of your problems, challenges, or troubles! There is no problem too difficult for Me! Look to Me, and give thanks in advance for the better things ahead of you. For I am close to those who put their trust in Me!"

We have been taught to give thanks for the good things that have happened to us. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is a good thing to do. But the Lord wants us to take one step further, that is to give thanks for the better things that are coming! Jesus did that while He was on earth! He gave thanks in advance, and Lazarus was raised up, even after being dead for four days! (John 11:41) He gave thanks in advance, and the multitudes had more than enough to eat, even with just the initial five loaves and two fish! (John 6:11)

So, people of God, go ahead and give thanks for the better things ahead of you! You don't see it happening yet, but this is the time to thank your way to better things to come! Give thanks for His divine health, whatever your health condition is at the moment! Give thanks for His supernatural providence, whatever your financial situation is at the moment! Give thanks for His wisdom and favor, whatever project or mission He has called you to do, going forward! And begin to walk in it by faith!

The Bible says in Nahum 1:7 (NLT), 'The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him'. The expression 'is close to' here is 'yada' in Hebrew, which can mean 'knows, recognizes, answers, cares for'. In other words, no matter what problem or trouble you are facing at the moment, the Lord knows, recognizes, answers, and cares for you!

To put it simply, He ALREADY has an answer for you! Your part is to give thanks in advance for the answer that's coming! And never limit how He is going to work it out for you!

Let's go to the book of Nahum now. At one time, in the days of prophet Nahum, no nation had been able to stand against the Assyrians. They had great military might, and they were greatly feared by the surrounding nations. In fact, they had overthrown some nations, and they were now setting their sights on Judah!

People of God, you and I are like the 'Judah' of today, a people whose praises are to the Lord. 'Judah' in Hebrew means 'praise', whereas the 'Assyrians' speak of 'the problems, challenges, or troubles' that come against you.

But thanks be to the Lord our God, because through prophet Nahum, the Lord brought comfort to Judah, and pronounced judgement on Assyria! Nahum 1:13 (NLT) says, 'Now I will break the yoke of bondage from your neck and tear off the chains of Assyrian oppression'. By the way, the name 'Nahum' ('Nakhuwm' in Hebrew) means 'comfort'; from the word 'nakham' meaning 'to comfort, to console'.

You see, invincible as the Assyrians were, only our Lord is TRULY invincible! He is all-powerful and He rules over all the earth, and of course over all the problems, challenges, or troubles that come against us! In this, we give thanks to the Lord; for He is great, and greatly to be praised!

Nahum 1:8-9 (NLT) says, 'He will sweep away His enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue His foes into the darkness of night. Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow; He won't need to strike twice!' Notice the Bible says it is the Lord who will sweep away His enemies, and it is the Lord who will pursue His foes! Not you and I! Because the battle belongs to the Lord. Our part is simply to put our trust in Him, and thank Him for the victory!

So, people of God, go ahead and give thanks for your coming victory and breakthrough! Declare it by faith upon all those areas (of your life) that have come under the 'Assyrian oppression'! The Lord loves you (His children) and will be with you; but He opposes those who attempt to hurt you. And the good news is He is never too busy for you, because He is all-present! This is your time to give thanks to the Lord, because just as He had done for Judah in Nahum's days, He will do the same for you today. Amen!

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV): The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.

The word 'ordered' here is 'kuwn' in Hebrew, meaning 'appointed, established, set up, prepared, fashioned, ordained, guided, directed'. Indeed, the steps of a good man are 'appointed, established, set up, prepared, fashioned, ordained, guided, and directed' by the Lord, and He delights in his way! 

If there's any psalm that is a 'must-read' as you begin this new year 2017, it's Psalm 37. Take some time to read this whole psalm and let the Lord minister to you. This psalm was written by David in his old age, having gone through much and 'seen it all' in life. In Psalm 37:25, he wrote, 'I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread'. 

This psalm addresses the problem of evil (and evildoers) we all face on this earth, and how we (the righteousness of God through Christ) respond to it. This psalm also addresses some questions people often ask: 

"Why do wicked people seem to prosper and good people seem to suffer?" , or 

"Why do the bad guys escape scot-free and having a gala time, but the good guys seem to be deprived of what they deserve?"

Some might even ask, "Where then is justice? Is there no justice on this earth?"

I was praying in the Spirit the other day when the Lord suddenly spoke these words: 

"Tell My people if they have been a victim of 'injustice', this is the year I am going to bring justice to them. Look to Me, for I am the Lord of justice. Like slaves being treated with injustice, this is the year I am going to set many free." 

In Psalm 37:28, David wrote, 'For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints...' So, people of God, if you have been a victim of 'injustice', be it in the workplace, in your family circle, or anywhere else, let the Lord comfort and assure you with His words today. David himself had been a victim of 'injustice', and he certainly knew what he was writing here. 

In Psalm 37:1-4, David wrote, 'Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good. Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart'. 

The direct opposite of 'delighting' is 'blaming'. This is a time to stop blaming yourself or blaming God (for whatever 'injustice' that had happened to you), but instead look to Him and feed on His faithfulness. Psalm 37 was written to assure you that your current situation is only temporary, and that the Lord will know how to reverse it for you. He is our sovereign God and He is a God of justice. So, take heart. 

The word 'evildoers' here is from the word 'raw-ah' in Hebrew, which means 'to spoil, to do wickedly, to do mischief, to break into pieces'. It speaks of 'people who try to break you into pieces by their deeds', or 'people who are out to harm you (physically, mentally, or emotionally) out of their own insecurity, jealousy, or hatred against you'. 

Let's look now at what David had gone through. After a great victory over Goliath the Philistine, and having won some great battles, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, and they said: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." These made Saul (who was the king then) very angry, and the saying displeased him. So Saul eyed David from that day onwards, and he began finding ways to kill David (1 Samuel 18:6-30). David had to run for his life, and into the wilderness. 

In the wilderness, David had the opportunity to kill Saul who sought to 'finish him off', but he spared Saul's life, not once, but twice (1 Samuel 24:1-22, 1 Samuel 26:1-25). 

Now who's the 'bad guy' here? Saul! 

And who's the 'good guy' here? David! 

Yet, 'status quo' remained for a time, and while Saul went back to his comfortable palace, David went back to the rugged wilderness! Speaking of personal 'injustice' on the part of David!

So, how did David respond in such a time of 'injustice'? In Psalm 37:5-6, David wrote, 'Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday'.

Saul eventually ended up tragically (1 Samuel 31:1-10), but David ended up as a king who reigned forty glorious years! (2 Samuel 2:1-7, 2 Samuel 5:1-5)

In Psalm 37:7-9, David wrote further, 'Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret - it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth'. 

The word 'wait' here is 'qavah' in Hebrew, and it means 'to bind together (by twisting, like a cord), to join together, to gather (together), to collect, to look patiently, to look with expectation'. This same word 'qavah' is also found in Isaiah 40:31 that says, 'Those who wait ('qavah') on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint'. As you can see here, this 'waiting' is not a passive 'waiting'.

People of God, as you 'join together' with the Lord and as you look patiently to Him in these 'evil days', know that the Lord is with you (just as He was with David), and know that you too will begin to inherit what the Lord has meant for you to inherit here on this earth! 

And of course, just as David's steps were being ordered by the Lord as he faced the many adversaries and evildoers in his days, let the Lord also lead, guide, and direct you every step of the way, as you walk into greater (and greater) victories and open doors this year. 

Note: From Psalm 37, we can therefore learn to:

1. Submit to the Lord and His perfect timing (Psalm 37:1-11);

2. Trust in the Lord that He is sovereign and in full control (Psalm 37:12-26);

3. Depart from evil and stay righteous in the Lord no matter what (Psalm 37:27-40)

Psalm 37:39-40 wraps up this psalm with these words: 'But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them (set them free); He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save (rescue, aid) them, because they trust in Him'. Amen.

A lifestyle of worship

I heard and released these words from the Lord on December 4, 2016:

"This is a month to dedicate yourselves to Me in worship. A lifestyle of worship! A lifestyle of worship! In all that you are, and in all that you do, worship Me!"

Don’t get me wrong. Not that at other times, you don’t worship. But this is a key month to dedicate yourselves to Him again in worship.

In John 4:23-24, Jesus says, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 

The word 'worship' here is 'proskuneo' in Greek, and according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it means 'to kiss (like a dog licking his master's hand)'. Other definitions of this word 'proskuneo' are 'to prostrate with a kiss' and 'to prostrate oneself in reverence and adoration'.

By the way, 'to prostrate' can be defined as 'to lay oneself flat on the ground face downward, especially in reverence and submission'.

Two times the Lord said, "A lifestyle of worship!", and I knew He had wanted me to write about this today. And so here am I, O Lord, at Your service!

I am fascinated by this particular definition of 'proskuneo': 'to kiss (like a dog licking his master's hand)'. If you have a pet dog, you'd know what this means. To the dog, you are like the world to him! To the dog, you are 'the leader of the pack', 'the master', someone whom he would look to and put his fullest trust!

With this illustration above, we can now understand better the very essence of what 'worship' ('proskuneo') is, in the context of your relationship with the Lord your God: Like a dog licking the master's hand, you look to Him (your Master) and put your fullest trust in Him (your Master) in all that you are, and in all that you do! 

Contrary to what many people think, worship isn't just in songs and melodies. Worship is a lifestyle! For those in worship ministry, your lifestyle reflects your ministry, and not just in your singing of songs, or playing of musical instruments. As someone who has been involved in worship ministry, I must admit that no doubt musical skills are important, but without a heart and lifestyle of worship, all these skills will become nothing before God. People may be impressed by your musical skills/talents, but God isn't.

Note: The Oxford Dictionary defines 'lifestyle' as 'way of life of an individual or group'; and Dictionary.com defines it as 'a way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group'.

Today, I want to introduce two words for 'worship' that you can find in the New Testament. First, 'proskuneo' (which I have explained above), and second, 'latreuo'. The second word is found in Philippians 3:3 written by the apostle Paul: 'For we are the circumcision, who worship ('latreuo') God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh'. The word 'latreuo' here in Greek means 'to minister (unto God), to serve God, to render service (unto God)'.

The apostle Paul then continued writing: '...If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eight day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith...' (Philippians 3:4-9, NKJV)

In the context of the verses above, 'latreuo' can therefore be defined as 'to minister (unto God), to serve God, to render service (unto God), without putting confidence in the flesh'. In other words, not by one's own ability, but God's ability!

The apostle Paul (who was entrusted by the Lord to write half of the whole New Testament) understood what true 'worship' is! He was living a lifestyle of worship through and through! The Bible never mentioned him playing musical instruments! But that doesn't mean he wasn't a worshiper of the Lord! Singing songs? Okay, the Bible mentioned that before! Not in a worship conference, or on stage in a worship service, but you know where? Inside the jail, together with Silas, and in the midnight hour! (Acts 16:25-26) Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he sang hymns to God! It just came naturally to him, even in the 'darkest' of hours! He was living a lifestyle of worship from the inside-out! Not a facade, not for show, but a 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' before the Lord!

You see, you don't have to be in worship team/ministry to be a worshiper! But if you are in worship team/ministry, all the more you are to live a lifestyle of worship! Not just in songs and music, but in every facet (aspect) of your everyday life!

In all that you are, worship Him!

'Proskuneo': Looking to Him and putting all your trust in Him.

'Latreuo': Ministering unto Him and rendering service unto Him, putting no confidence in your own flesh.

For instance, my writing ministry is a form of worship unto the Lord. I did it upon the instructions (blueprints) given by the Lord, and just wanted to bless the Body of Christ unconditionally. I have never expected people to start writing to me and ask if they can use my materials. But many did!

People of God, in all that you are (i.e. 'called to be'), 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' Him!

In all that you do, worship Him!

'Proskuneo': Looking to Him and putting all your trust in Him.

'Latreuo': Ministering unto Him and rendering service unto Him, putting no confidence in your own flesh.

The same it is with those many years of sowing seeds of God's love and kindness among the youths/college students in our (my wife and I) earlier years in full-time ministry. We did it upon the instructions (blueprints) given by the Lord, and just wanted to avail ourselves to care for these young people unconditionally. It was done as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). We have never expected anything in return, and we have never expected these young people to remember us later in their lives. But some did!

People of God, in all that you do (i.e. 'called to do'), 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' Him!

The Lord knows how to reward you! 

Yes, even if you have not expected it, and you just wanted to render your unconditional service unto Him as a sweet aroma of worship (Philippians 4:18), be it in your time, your energy, your giving of finance, etc. Because He is a good God, and He loves to give you every good thing (Romans 8:32, Psalm 34:10), even in ways you have not imagined, or even if you never realize it. Colossians 3:23-24 says, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily (with an abounding heart), as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ'. Ephesians 3:20 says, 'Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us'. 

And just as the Lord had spoken to Abram those days in Genesis 15:1, He is also saying these words to you who 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' Him: "Do not be afraid, ... I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Let it be so! Hallelujah!