Tag Archive: strength


Are You Tired?

Today marks another Labor Day holiday in the United States. In celebration of this holiday, there are many people who have toiled and labored at their jobs, in the churches, in their communities,  as well as for their families and friends.

Speaking of labor, moreover, sometimes you have become weary and overburdened with a lot of cares and troubles that accompany this life. However, whether you are in the United States or another part of the universe, the Master of the universe is able to give you rest.

Jesus encourages you, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28).

In light of this encouragement, you do not have to carry your burdens alone, if you are tired. Jesus is there for you, if you seek Him to help you lighten your load.

God's help

Jesus Loves You

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I am a healer?

If you never had to pray, how would you know that I am a deliver?

If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an over-comer?

If you never felt sadness, How would you know that I am a comforter?

If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I am a for-giver?

If you knew all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you were never in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you were never broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had problems, how would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what I went through?

If you have never gone through the fire, then how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things without you going through anything to get them, how would you learn to appreciate them?

If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?

If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect, then what would you need me for?

Love, Jesus

Whenever you are doing what God has called you to do, it is important to rely on His strength, His grace, and His power to complete your task. You will become frustrated if you try to make things happen on your own strength instead of relying on God. God is the author and finisher of His plans (Hebrews 12:2), and you must not try to take the place of God if you expect things to work out.

In Colossians 1:26-27, Paul reveals a mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations… Christ in you, the hope of glory. In other words, there is something that people of the past didn’t know—it was hidden from them, a mystery to them—but Paul is now revealing that mystery to us: Christ lives in all who believe in Him! No longer is God just with his people—God now lives in his people!

Also, note that it is Christ in you that’s the hope of glory—not Christ and you.

Paul then continues by saying that he labors and works for the gospel, but all of his labor is really done by Christ’s power, which so powerfully works in [him] (Colossians 1:29).

If you’re trying to labor without Christ’s power at work within you, then your labor will be frustrating and in vain. You need to stop trying, and start dying to self so that you may be alive to Christ’s power.

Struggle and frustration occur when you try to do God’s job by your own strength—rather than relying on Christ’s strength, which is at work in you.

Contributed Christ Notes

Why Do I Feel Discouraged?

Sometimes the storms of life are raging so rough, and the heart easily gets discouraged. However,  as the song writer sings:

“No matter what storm clouds may rock this ship of mine, the light of my Savior will lead me safely through the night. Though my ship may be rocky and my sails may be torn I shall rest in the eye of the storm.”

Sometimes the bills are mounting, and the tribulations  seem like they won’t go away, but in Matthew 6:31-34 Jesus reminded you:

31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jesus is clearly encouraging you that tomorrow has so much worries of itself, and it is already sufficient, so stop worrying about it, as you have too much on your plate. But instead leave tomorrow in His hands, and seek Him, and His Kingdom first, and everything shall be given unto you. So when the storms of life begin to rage, and you begin to feel discouraged, remember that Jesus is a provider and a deliverer!

 

Hold on to God

Christianity Is A Hard Task

Q: I am a young man battling with my Christian faith. Growing up, I was the only one in my household who had a difficulty converting to Christianity as I did not want to conform to the morals and standards of the Christian journey because I found that life boring. However, I began attending church regularly in my late teens. I found myself getting closer to God, especially through my exciting Sunday school classes. The classes were engaging and fruitful. The teacher was the main reason the class was so real to me and uplifting. He portrayed Christ-like qualities, and knew how to express and share the joy he found in the Lord. He went the extra mile to guide me and helped with my decision to be baptized. I was now on the right path, ready to fulfill God’s purpose for me. I believe God placed him in my life. He was an excellent example to how to follow Christ.

I moved to a different parish because of my job, and while there, I found it difficult to find a church. I kept in touch with my old Sunday school teacher, especially when my Christian journey got rough. It is a rough journey. I am trying hard to keep the faith, but that changed one night.

While on vacation, I went out with my non-Christian friends. I had a few drinks too many, and we ended up at a strip club. I felt guilty the entire time I was there and wanted to leave. But when I decided that this place was not for me, I noticed a familiar face in a corner of the strip club. To my amazement, it was my old Sunday school teacher! I immediately walked over to him where I pushed away one of the women. I didn’t have the strength to utter any words. He quickly grabbed my hand and took me outside, trying to formulate some kind of explanation, but failed. He was the one person I could count on to make sure I was doing what was right in the Lord. Now, I am lost and confused and I do not know who I can trust or believe in. How do I find my way back to Christ?

A: The arm of flesh will fail you, so you dare not trust your own. Your Sunday school teacher is not perfect, just like you. He struggles with temptations similar to your struggles. In fact, it is part of human nature to struggle with temptation for the rest of one’s life. Failure to meet the standards of God does not mean one is not a Christian. It means one has fallen short of the Glory of God. Sometimes, we even rebel against God’s will. God is always willing to forgive our failures and sins. God wants erring human beings to be sorry for their wrong actions and pledge to do better.

PUT CONFIDENCE IN GOD

Your confidence should not be in any preacher or Sunday school, but in God. You will need the support of others in the Christian journey. You need to engage in spiritual exercises of meditation, reading of the Bible, prayer and alms-giving. This will make you stronger to continue the Christian walk.

Don’t condemn your Sunday school teacher because you saw him at the strip club. It is better to try to understand him and encourage him to walk the straight and narrow path.

All the best on your spiritual journey.

Courtesy of the Editor (Jamaica Gleaner)

Do you fear that life will be a constant struggle and you will continue to live in poverty for the rest of your life? Have you been trying different methods to obtain a financial breakthrough, but kept failing?

Lonely-man

Have you been worried that you might get sick, lose your home, lose your job, lose your spouse, get a divorce, lose your profit in a business, and be stabbed in the back by whom you trust? Or that you won’t get married, have children and fulfill your dream of a career? Or you or your children will not amount to any success? The list of scenarios could be much longer than this; nevertheless, let’s get to the matter at hand.

Life is short, you need to enjoy it while it last. God does not want you to walk by fear, but by faith. I used to be in that situation years ago, where I was looking about a specific business, and instead of trusting God, I got worried. Conversely, I realized that ‘worry’ only caused me to get sick and weak, and disallowed me to move forward in the path that God has laid out for me.

Over the years, God has put me through several severe test, which allowed me to prove Him and increased my faith in Him. In fact, while here on earth, Jesus could not do any mighty work, if the people did not have faith in Him. It doesn’t matter what God has promised you, you have got to believe to receive!

In recent time, for reasons I cannot specifically disclose at this time, I was working towards a major project that God has already promised me two years before. I have seen this project materialized in a dream, and God has shown me that He will help me to accomplish this dream. For the same reason, when I got to the point where everything would be materialized, the enemy reared its ugly head. You see, when you get to a point in your life when you will accomplish something great, and Satan knows that your breakthrough is imminent, that’s the time when he works the hardest to plant lies and seeds of doubt in your mind. Why? Satan knows if he plants lies and seeds of doubt in your mind, then your faith will be weakened, and you won’t please God for Him to reward you.

There are certain dreams that you have to accomplish in your life, that God sometimes require your physical help here on earth, while He works supernaturally in heaven. Although this may be true, if you become weak, fearful and doubtful, then you won’t be able to carry through effectively, hence thwarting the plans that God is helping you to accomplish.

All things considered, I again proved what I need to do, in order to have the blessings and plans of God accomplished in my life.  In the final stage of this major project when the enemy reared its ugly head, I was getting weak and contemplating what to do. Granted this, I have a picture frame that I bought sometime earlier, because it contains a scripture that I gave my mother-in-law on her death-bed, minutes before she departed this earth. This picture frame has been hanging in my house for about two years untouched. Admittedly, the very day when this major project would be materialized, and I was getting weak and in contemplation from all the exhaustion of working towards the fruition of this project, I cried out to God, and I heard a loud thud! I hurried out to the living room to see what it was, and lo and behold, I saw the picture frame flat on the floor, unbroken! The scripture on the picture frame is:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Well, seeing this, I said, “Lord, I hear you.” I persisted and pressed through by faith, and this major project finally came to fruition that very day!

Given these points, what I have learned through my years as a Christian, if you do not have faith, it is impossible to please God, and if you can’t please Him, then He can’t reward you. For you to get any breakthrough in your life right now, you have got to act through faith, and not only so, because faith without work is useless. You will have to play your part. At the same token, you have got to press!

With that being said, stop believing the lies of the enemy today. There’s something that you have to accomplish, of which you believe won’t be materialized, because you are doubting God. I am not sure who I am speaking to, today. To put it briefly, stop doubting God, and step out in faith right now, to claim that which the Lord has promised!

Amen!

with faith you can move mountains

 

Exodus 14When you have done what you can, God will do what you can’t.

Falling In Love Again With God

What does it really mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are you longing for the Lord to do a great thing in your life and in your heart?

As the world celebrates Valentine’s Day, it’s wonderful to show your love and appreciation to those around you, but it’s even greater to fall in love all over with God again.

ILoveGod

In Psalms 63:1-4, David had that thirst for the Lord. He wanted that oneness with God, and to share his love with Him. He said, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirst for thee, my flesh long for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”

In order to see God’s power and glory, you must have that closeness with Him. I know you don’t share certain special things and secrets with people you are not close to, do you? It’s the same for God. When you pour out your love to Him, and thirst for Him; He will show you His power and glory. However, He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).” So to love God, is not only to love Him with your lips, but to show Him, by seeking Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

God bless you all!

“Who Are You, Lord?”

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