Be Repositioned

 Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God created us for a particular purpose in mind, that fits His bigger plan. His plans are for our good, ones to proper us and give us hope and a future.  What purpose does God have for me? You may ask. We find an explanation in Jeremiah 1:5 that says: “Before I formed you in the womb   I knew   you,  before you were born   I set you apart;  I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” This tells us that before we took our first breath, God had already  set our destiny before us, He called us for a particular purpose, an assignment that He has given us to fulfill. He appointed us- this means, the position that God gives you, is not decided upon only now, it was long decided and it was settled. Weather  others feel you don't qualify for it, it doesn't matter. The one who appointed ...

 1 Peter 1:2-4  "You who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:  Grace and peace be yours in abundance .  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,   and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade . This inheritance is kept in heaven for you..." We have been chosen and made holy through the blood of Jesus, that has given us the grace and peace in abundance. This peace, as Jesus said in John 14:27, is not like the one the world gives (that we can lose anytime and can be conditional), peace that He gives allows us to still thrive and have joy even when the storms are raging. That's the peace we have been blessed with. Furthermore, through  t...

 John 15:15-17   I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.   You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.   This is my command: Love each other. Jesus came to show us the way, to reveal the Father to us and yes to be a living sacrifice for us. He taught us everything, to be kind, loving, compassionate, to put our Father's business first, to forgive and more. Through all this, He felt the close bond that He saw us as His friends. That He doesn't see us as mere servants, but friends. Furthermore, He reminds us that we didn't choose Him but He chose us. God chose and called us by name, whilst we were in our mother's womb and He gave us a destiny, an assignment that we...

 Matthew 7:15-19  Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.   By their fruit you will recognize them . Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?   Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.   A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.   Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire . This was a warning given to the children of God to be very careful of false prophets (which we see these days). As described, some come wearing sheep skin pretending to be innocent and called to teach the word of God, only to find that they are there for their own agendas. This verse further tells us of how to tell which is which. This you will see by the fruits they bear, similar to fruit trees, you tell wat type of a tree it is by the fruit it bears. The apple tree will produce app...

Isaiah 35:5-6  T hen will the eyes of the blind be opened  and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer,  and the mute tongue shout for joy.  Water will gush forth in the wilderness  and streams in the desert. Do you believe in miracles? The bible is full of miraculous stories; which shows us the power and might of God. I believe   miracles still happens even today. We just need to pay attention and recognize them. We all have moments that were out of the ordinary, where we didn't  see a way out. Weather it is healing, a breakthrough in a particular area, deliverance from a situation or condition, advancement /promotion that was undeserved, an appointment into a position where you were less qualified, making it by an inch from being involved in a car accident, and more. Isaiah 35 reminds us that when God steps into our situations , miracles happens. Those things that are set and fixed, unchangea...

 Isaiah 54:9-10  “To me this is like the days of Noah,   when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.  So now I have sworn   not to be angry   with you ,  never to rebuke   you again.  Though the mountains be shaken  and the hills be removed,  yet my unfailing love   for you will not be shaken   nor my covenant of peace be removed,”  says the   Lord , who has compassion   on you." God made a promise to Noah, after the destruction  from the greatest flood ever. He promised not to destroy the living things in that manner, He even sealed the promise with a rainbow! Whenever we see the rainbow, we are reminded of that promise; and since that day, God has kept His promise, earth has never been overcame by a flood, ever.  With that in mind, God is making you and I a promise that He will never be angry at us, that  His unfailing love for us, will never be shaken o...

 Exodus 3:7-8  The  Lord  said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.   So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. The children of Israel suffered for many years, being enslaved by the Egyptians. God saw their cry, pain and suffering and when the time was right, God took a stand and declared their release from bondage. God rescued  them by His power from slavery to a land flowing with honey and milk- the promised land!  One might ask why did God allow them to go through this and we  might not have a definite answer , but through His character , we know that He doesn't allow His precious childre...

 Isaiah 45:5-7  I am the  Lord , and there is no other;  apart from me there is no God.  I will strengthen you ,  though you have not acknowledged me,  so that from the rising of the sun  to the place of its setting  people may know   there is none besides me.   I am the   Lord , and there is no other. I  form the light and create darkness,  I bring prosperity and create disaster;   I, the  Lord , do all these things. The Lord has no equal and He has no rival. Everything belongs to Him. Psalm 24:1 tells us that the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. All creation, is a wonder, it is evidence that He is who He says He is, that He is mighty and powerful. From the rising of the sun, to the sea and its creatures, the stars, the trees, the mountains, humanity  and everything, is evidence of His good works and intelligence. With all that said, He still has time to concern Himself about us, love us, care...

 Psalm 84:11  For the  Lord   God is a sun   and shield;  the   Lord   bestows favor and honor;  no good thing does He withhold  from those whose walk is blameless. God is our everything! The sun represents light and heat, which makes life possible. A shield  represents protection, cover from danger. Therefore, we can count on Him to be our guide, to show the way and be the source of life. We can also count on Him to be our protector, just like our earthly parents become protective of their offspring , we can expect the same thing from our Heavenly Father. Furthermore, He is the One who gives or presents favor  and honor  to His children; this gives His own an advantage that no one can question or take away. Life would be difficult without such benefits. The bible tells us that our Father will never withhold any good thing from us, if it's something that is good, fitting and needed, He will never withhold from us. Eve...

 Isaiah 54:1-4  “Sing, barren woman,  you who never bore a child;  burst into song, shout for joy,  you who were never in labor;  because more are the children   of the desolate   woman  than of her who has a husband,”  says the   Lord .  “Enlarge the place of your tent,  stretch your tent curtains wide,  do not hold back;  lengthen your cords,  strengthen your stakes.  For you will spread out to the right and to the left;    your descendants will dispossess nations  and settle in their desolate cities.  “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.  Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.  You will forget the shame of your youth  and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. When God steps into our situations, change is bound to happen, breakthroughs  happen. He turns mourning into dancing, tears into joy and so on. Go...

 Hosea 2:15 I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.  God is a God of restoration. In this bible verse, we learn that God restores vineyards, this representing of livelihoods, sustenance  and provision. I believe this is the case with our lives, that which the enemy has stolen, will be return 100 fold. Joel 2:25 says: " I will restore  to you the years  that  the swarming locust has eaten,  the hopper,  the destroyer, and  the cutter,  my great army, which I sent among you." I have to believe that God is in control, that He sees what was stolen by the enemy and that He will restore every single one of them. Furthermore, where a heart was troubled, by whatever situation, the Lord will bring hope. He will turn anxiety, doubt and fear to strength and hope. Let us hold on to what He says.

 1 John 4:18-20  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear , because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  We love because he first loved us .   Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. Come to think of it, where there's love, there's freedom, security and no judgement. That's why this verse says there's no fear in love. If you know you are loved by your heavenly Father, you will then be able to relax and just be, as you are secured and are covered. This is a boost to our confidence. Furthermore, we are told that we love because God first loved us. Look at the sacrifice God made for us, that He gave-up His Son to save us all because He loves us. Ours, is a response to the love we see and feel from Him as He loved us first. Now God challenges us and s...

 Matthew 5:14-16   “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.   Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.   In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. It's a beautiful  message indeed. God calls us the light. Remember Jesus is the light. And God is three in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Hence, when Jesus ascended, He left us with the Holy Spirit, that resides within us. Ultimately, the light of the Holy Spirit shines through us. And God says do not hide yourself, don't hide who you are. Let your light shine through, so that others may be drawn to you, which is actually they will be drawn to the One that lives in you.  This is so, as you do good things for others or in general, doing right even when no one is looking. God enables you t...

Esther 8:3-6  Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.   Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.  “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.   For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” We are reminded of a bold act by the Jewish   young  lady by the name of Esther who married king Xerxes and took an opportunity  she was afforded to plead the case of her fellow Jews not to be destroyed; which in its own was a risk she was willing to take. Her boldne...

 Songs of Songs 2:11-12  See! The winter is past;  the rains are over and gone. F lowers appear on the earth;  the season of singing has come ,  the cooing of doves  is heard in our land. Winter is a harsh season, where everything is dull and the chills are unpleasant, certain activities are restricted or not ideal etc. Thus, in this bible verse, the rough season of our lives s likened to the winter, where things could be difficult, things not going our way, struggles, pain, unpleasant circumstances. However, the Lord reminds us that He is faithful, He would never leave us in those winter chills forever , it can never be winter throughout the year; time will come where spring comes forth, and plants start blossoming, birds starts singing and we start enjoying the weather again. Same with our lives, we could never be in a struggle forever , no matter the type of struggle. Psalm 37:25 says :" I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteou...

 Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NLT) Then the  Lord   said to me,  “Write my answer plainly on tablets,  so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.  This vision is for a future time.  It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,  for it will surely take place.  It will not be delayed. Write the vision down, that's an instruction from the Lord. Whatever God placed within you, that which is a burning desire, a wish, a goal you are striving for, or change you would like to see, put it down. God says dream big! Remember we serve a mighty God, who is not limited by anything, who controls the universe, so don't limit Him. He says dream big and put that dream down. The act of writing it down, is more like a confirmation, that it is not just a wish, that may or may not materialize, but more like a commitment; an act that God sees and can bless. With this, it's more like you are comin...

 2 Corinthians 5:12  God made Him who had no sin  to be sin  for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. This is so powerful and humbling. On the cross, God put our sin and shame on Jesus, so we may be forgiven and made righteous. That was an act of pure love of God for us; that He would take His beloved Son, who had no sin and let Him be crucified so we may be free from sin and shame. What an honour it is to be a child of God! This shows us that we do not need to be hard with ourselves regarding our weaknesses, we need just call on Him to help us where we are weak. We are not perfect, holy, but through  Jesus, we are the righteousness of God.  Through this, we are forgiven, we are made whole, we are healed, we are saved, we are victorious, we are loved and cared for by the Most High. May this act be a reality in our lives, that we remember how precious we are to Him, how much we are loved. Acknowledging this and appreciating it, is all...

 Psalm 18:27-28  You save those who aren’t proud.   But you bring down those whose eyes are proud.   Lord , you keep the lamp of my life burning brightly.   You are my God. You bring light into my darkness . God sees people's intentions, their thoughts, their motives and actions. He is able to judge every act if it is sincere or has ulterior and based on this, God is able to tell who is humble and who is proud. Pride is not a  character that we can associate God with. It is therefore our responsibility to watch it to ensure we don't fall into that trap. He encourages us to be humble, in everything. Thinking less of ourselves but recognizing the power that is at work within us, that it is the One that help us do what we do, to achieve what we are able to achieve. It is ultimately His grace that gives us an opportunity and victory even when we don't deserve it. Failure to do so, the bible tells us that God humbles the proud. We then need to repent a...

 2 Kings 6:15-16   When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my Lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.  “Don’t be afraid,”   the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more   than those who are with them.” We are reminded here that when trouble comes, God should be our first port of call, our go to place to seek advise and get guidance. In this passage the children of God were under attack unexpectedly and they needed to act. In such situations, it is easy to give in to fear, particularly when you feel outnumbered, when the enemy seems to have an advantage over you. However, we need to remember that greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world (1 John 4:4); by default that puts you in the majority. Remember God is powerful and is able to do the impossible. He is able to do all things, thus, with Him by our side, we are victorious. Romans ...

 Philippians 4:8-9   Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.   Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me— put it into practice . And the God of peace will be with you. In the world that we live in, where information is at our finger tips, with a lot happening, particularly bad and depressing things, what does God have to say? He says we  should focus and keep our minds on what is noble, praiseworthy, lovely, right, pure, excellent. Our thoughts  should be channeled on the positive things, no matter the storm. Storms will come and go, but we must never let the storm get inside us and take over our lives. This doesn't  mean that we shouldn't recognize what's happening , but this means we must not dwell on the bad stuff. There's a saying that talks abo...

 Deuteronomy 28:1-4  If you fully obey the  Lord  your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the  Lord  your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.   All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the  Lord  your God:  You will be blessed   in the city and blessed in the country.  The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Obedience is key in the kingdom of God. As His children, God expects us to follow His lead and remain obedient to His commandments and guidance. We've seen with the great women and men in the bible, where God gave them instructions that when they follow them, they found favour and blessings in so doing. Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy gives us a glimpse of the blessings God promises when in obedient to His commandments, but also curse...

 1 Chronicles 16:8-12  Give praise to the  Lord , proclaim his name;  make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praise to him;  tell of all his wonderful acts.  Glory in his holy name;  let the hearts of those who seek the  Lord  rejoice.  Look to the  Lord  and his strength;  seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done,  his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, A grateful heart is always pleasing to the Lord. Show gratitude by remembering the good that the Lord has done for you, big and small. Don't take the glory for yourself, if it's within your power to do so, acknowledge His goodness, tell the nations of His works in your life. We are told not to focus on the past but to look to the future; the only exception is when you look back to see how far you have come. Recognizing the blessings and remembering that if He was able to do ...

 Matthew 13:16  But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.   For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.  “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:   When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path .   The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.   But since they have n o root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.   The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the w orries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word , making it unfruitfu l.   But the seed falling o...

 Psalm 60:12   With God we will gain the victory,   and He will trample down our enemies. Victory is guaranteed, with the help of the Lord. He is our protector and helper; nothing is too difficult or complex for Him.  Ephesians 6:12 says: " For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Therefore, God is able to fight such principalities and gain victory. We need to partner with Him, for He is mighty and He is for us, He sees everything; He even declares that the battle belongs to Him (Deuteronomy 20:4). It is for that reason that we ought to rejoice, for the Lord has secured the victory for us.

 Isaiah 41:13  For I am the  Lord   your God  who takes hold of your right hand   and says to you, Do not fear;  I will help   you. The Lord is gracious and understanding. He is our very present help in time of need. He takes hold of our hands and direct us. Just like as a child walking in a busy and possibly dangerous area, it is truly comforting for that child to have their parent holding their hand tight, which ensures that nothing will happen to them. It is the same way with our heavenly Father, who tells us that He is holding our hands! Thus, we need not have to fear. Life can be full of bumpy rides, that can lead to an anxious heart, worrying about this and that but that is not the plan God has for us. On a number of bible verses, we are told not to be anxious or worried about anything. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. It is clear that fear comes from the enemy- do not fal...

 Psalm 116:2 Because He bends down to listen,  I will pray as long as I have breath! It is comforting truth to know that God takes keen interest on us, that He is always listening out to hear us. This forms part of the relationship we have with Him, where we can come boldly to His throne, with a grateful heart and bringing our requests. This remembering that God encourages us to have a grateful heart, as no matter the circumstances, there's always something to be grateful for, life being one of them. This recognizing the role He plays in our lives, before we even bring our burdens to Him, which He encourages us to (Matthew 11:28). Psalm 100:4 says   Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. Thus having a heart posture that honours Him, that glorifies Him for who He is in our lives. That He is the alpha and omega, our very present help. Worship and praise His name at all times.

 Isaiah 11:2-3  The Spirit  of the   Lord   will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom   and of understanding,   the Spirit of counsel and of might,   the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the  Lord — and he will delight in the fear   of the   Lord .  He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,  or decide by what he hears with his ears;  but with righteousness   he will judge the needy,  with justice   he will give decisions for the poor   of the earth.  He will strike   the earth with the rod of his mouth;  with the breath   of his lips he will slay the wicked. These were the words said about the king of Israel that will come from David's bloodline. I believe these are the same characteristics we should be praying for, our own leaders, in every sphere of life. For God to give them the spirit of understanding and knowledge; that they would delight in the fear of the Lord. Tha...

 Luke 16:10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,  and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. God is strategic, He equipps  and strengthens us along the way. He also puts us to a test,through different circumstances, on the lookout to see what will our approach be, how we'll deal with different circumstances. He also tests us with what He entrust us with, such as resources. If for example you are given some money, He checks how you spend it. If you'll be reckless with it or if yo u'll be responsible and do what's right. What the verse shows us,is that if God can trust you with little, He can trust you with more. Colossians 3:23 do everything as though you are doing it for the Lord, not human masters.