Be Repositioned

 Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said,  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible .” There are so many things we try do in our capacity and fail; which proves that we have limited capability. This though, is an indication that it is true that we were never meant to live life on our own, but to partner with God. Whilst we are limited to the physical, the natural, God is supernatural. He is in the spirit which gives Him an added advantage. Our knowledge is limited to the past and the present, however, God can even see to the future. This is even more reason why we should rely on God instead of our own abilities.  Therefore, a whole lot of things may seem impossible with us, but with God, ALL things are possible. This is why we need to put our trust in Him, not rely on our own understanding or strength (Proverbs 3:5). Trusting God can be hard sometimes, because you may not know what the outcome of something would be, but you basically do what...

 Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. We might be born in Christians homes, and assume that, by that, we are saved. No, the bible is clear that in order for us to enter the kingdom of God, we need to be born again (John 3:3). We need to confess with our mouths and be born again. Basically, we need to make that decision ourselves and build that relationship with God. What our parents and grandparents might have done (which is good), but does not count as a way to enter the kingdom of God, if it doesn't  include us making that decision for ourselves. We need to experience Christ for ourselves. Once we do, there won't be any doubt in our minds that His goodness and mercy is upon us, that He loves us and that He is with us and for us. "Surely" is basically confirming without having any hesitation. Surely His goodness and mercy shall follow me all my days. Now the question stands,...

 Proverbs 24:16 “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” We are the righteousness of God, through Christ- 2 Corinthians 5:21; hence we are not righteous as a result of our own doing, but because of Christ who knew no sin but became sin for us. Therefore, when the bible speaks of the righteous, you and I are included. In this case, the bible tells us that as the righteous, we may fall over and over again, but we shall never be defeated! We shall arise, no matter the circumstance. Falling or failing is part of the growing process, we are meant to celebrate victories where we have succeeded, but where we failed, we are supposed to pick ourselves up AND take note of the lessons we can learn from that failure. There's a saying that I like that it is better to fail as it means you are trying, than not to try where you are certain that you won't achieve anything. Also remember what the bible says about faith and put yo...

 Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. The Lord is with us and He is for us. No matter what we face, this is the reality that will never change. God promises to never leave us nor forsake us. This is an assurance  that the storms of life, have no match. Victory is already secured. Sometimes God confirms this before we even encounter difficulty, so that when the storm comes, we hold on to what God said first , this is what strengthens our hope. Which is why we need to recite correct things that God says, and not focus on the what the enemy could be whispering in our ears during difficulty, we should not focus on the storm but sail through  by  keeping our eyes on Him, He will take care of the storm. I remember an explanation  I heard about Noah's ark which amazed me. God instructed Noah on exactly how to build it, He asked him to put a window at the top of the ark (not on the sides). The e...

 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Never stop praying. Prayer is our communication channel, with God. We get to interact with Him, through prayer. We bring all petitions to Him, we bring thanks and come in agreement with Him, through prayer. It is part of our lives, more like a lifestyle. We stay in conversation  with Him to get guidance, where  we are not sure. Life is full of choices and to get the best counsel , we need to check with Him. Take Daniel for instance, in the book of Daniel in the bible. His life was put in danger simply because  of his faith in God, His belief system and His routine. Regardless of a decree by the king, for everyone  to worship only him (after he was advised by men that were jealous  of Daniel), Daniel continued with what he knew best- prayed 3 times a day. He prayed without ceasing, and that got him into trouble and was thrown into the lion's den. However, because God knew his heart, He knew Daniel was innocent and in fact, Daniel showed...

 Isaiah 26:4 “ Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock .” So so true. God is dependable, He is everlasting and faithful. We can trust Him with our lives. Picture this, you are in theater, an anesthesia  is about to be applied on you to perform an operation  on your body. Who  do you put your trust on, the doctors or God? I hope without any doubt the answer will be God. Humans are intelligent, however, their intelligence sometimes fail. Things do go wrong when they were expected to go right. They obviously have a limit. However, God can be depended on. He is our creator, He is the One who formed us in our mother's womb, imagine! He is the creator of every organ, in this case, is there anything hidden from Him that He cannot see or fix? His word is life. He doesn't  have to rely on the physical, the procedures or processes. He is supernatural. He's able to do that which we are not able to do for ourselves.  Yesterday  I discove...

 Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing!   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness  and streams in the wasteland. God is at work behind the scene. He is orchestrating  things, to work for your good. In the physical, it may seem opposite to what God says, but faith tells us that it is just a matter of time. Remember Jeremiah 29:11, that says " 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." Thus, the present might seem far from the future God speaks of, but faith tells us God is working it all out, He has a good plan for your future. All that God is asking of you in this case, is to believe . Believe God is at work for you; believe His plan is for your good; believe things will fall into place in His time; believe He will bring this plan to pass. God is a specialist of making a way, where there seems to be no way- ...

 1 John 4:4 You, dear children,  are from God and have overcome them,  because the One who is in you  is greater than the one who is in the world .  It is important to know who you are, or else the world will define it for you and that would cause confusion and chaos as different people would want/expect different things from you. But when God defines who you are, you can be assured that it wont change, no matter what the circumstances are. Also, you could find yourself struggling with something that you were not supposed to, had you know who you are. For example, as children of God, we have the greatest advantage ever- the Holy Spirit. He is our helper, teacher, the One who reminds us, our comforter, strengthener (John 14:15-26) and so much more. Meaning, we do not have to do life on our own strength, figuring things out on our own, when we have a helper. This is greatness at its best! So it is important to realize this fact and apply it in your own life, reco...

 Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able  to do immeasurably more than all we ask   or imagine , according to His power  that is at work within us... God is able! He moves mountains, He makes a way where there seems no way. God listens to our thoughts and our conversations, with others and even with our selves. He knows our desires and when the time is right, He blesses us. Many years ago, whilst I was still at high school, I used to play volleyball and we were blessed to have been chosen to go play against other  schools at the Wits University. This was a couple of days tournament and thus, they allowed us to sleep at the residence, that is used by the students (as it was over holidays). One thing that stood out from that trip, was the desire to want to pursue my studies after grade 12 at Wits. I was so inspired by what I saw during the tournament, it created in me a desire to be a student there. However, due to limited resources and Wits being far from my homet...

 Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Doesn't this take the pressure off you, knowing that God puts His desire in our hearts, which  is in direct alignment with His purposes? In this case, when God works in us, basically He transforms us, He changes our taste in things, so that everything we used to like but was not pleasing to God, will slowly fade away, whilst that which pleases Him, will somehow start appealing to us. That's awesome! My plan is to be in His will and to be in alignment with His plans for my life.  Romans 12:2 says " Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." Therefore, allow His work in you, to transform you to be the version that He designed you to be; this is the design that will cause you to be fruitful in the kingdom of God. H...

Proverbs 4:23 " Above all else, guard your heart , for everything you do flows from it. " As humans, our hearts are fragile, what happens in our surroundings, is easy to get to our hearts. People may offend, mistreat and speak ill about you; when that happens, it is mostly likely to hurt you. You might not have control over what other people do or say; however, you do have control of how you react to them. You can either allow the offense get to you or you can overlook it and simply take it to the Lord. This is an area I had been struggling with, where I'm dealing with people who are opinionated and critical, professionally and it was really getting to me. I was humbled that the Sunday sermon was specifically about that- dealing with critical and negative people. It was a blessing. What God says is that we must allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, to be able to deal with such people and also to cleanse us from the anger and bitterness, for which such encounters might have...

 Proverbs 10:22 (NASB) It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it. Today, I learned what this bible verse means, from someone's explanation . There are blessings  that come from God, which we all want and appreciate. However, there are some things that may come from the devil, disguised as a blessing which can turnout to be a curse. Or, in order for you to get that blessing, you have to sacrifice your soul, do something that is out of character, suck-up, backstab in order to get that. When this happens, then you must know it is not from God; refrain from it. The blessing of the Lord doesn't  come with sorrow, it is pure with no strings attached. What God will do, which we might not see what He is doing in the process, but when it eventually arrives, you will understand why you had to go through the process. Remember, God owns everything, He lacks nothing, and so when you find yourself lacking, don't think that God has ran out of resources ...

 Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. All the miracles that Jesus performed, He was able to, as a result  that God was with Him. The Holy Spirit lived in Him and powered Him to do the amazing things. this is the same Holy Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead after 3 days of crucifixtion! That was powerful. This verse tells us that the same power is the one that enabled Jesus to heal the sick, do good and bring relief to the oppressed and illtreated. Remember  when Jesus was given 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the multitudes, Jesus didn't  doubt that it was possible to feed them from such little food, but He believed the power of God could do exceedingly and above all that we can think and imagine. He broke the bread and look to God to do only that which He can do. And that's exactly what happened. More than ...

 Proverbs 16:1 NLT) We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer. Another version says we may make our own plans, but the Lord has the final answer. This simply means that we may make our own plans, of what we desire or wish for, but in the end, the Lord has the final say. Sometimes our plans may align with the will of the Lord, which is great; but at times our plans or wishes may be opposite to what the Lord has planned for you. In that case, our plans will fail, as the will of the Lord prevails always. I remember three years ago, I planned a career fair for two high schools in my hometown, where I made the necessary arrangements for the relevant learners to be put in the same venue; but, a day before, my plans fell flat where I couldn't accommodate  the learners from both schools. However, one school went ahead with us, that we can proceed in their classrooms and the other school could not accommodate  us. On that day, the Lord led me to this verse and...

 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 Pursue love , and  earnestly desire the  spiritual gifts, especially that you may  prophesy.  For  one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.   On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. Our focus will always follow what we desire. God wants us to pursue love, above all else. His nature and character is simply love. He is love, He has love and everything He does, is out of love. In the same way, God wants us to pursue love, in everything we do, we must do it out of love. The chapter before this one, 1 Corinthians 13, explains what is love. This showing the importance thereof. Secondly this verse shows us that we are to also desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. Other bible versions speaks of the desire to speak the word of God. This is one of the most helpful spir...

 Deuteronomy 1:7-8 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates.   See, I have given you this land.  Go in and take possession of the land the  Lord  swore He would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.” God was informing the Israelites to break camp and advance or move forward, because they had stayed too long on that particular mountain, whilst they were approaching the promised land. It was time for them to take over the land God had promised them. I believe in our own lives, there comes a time when God pronounces that we are ready for the next level, to take over and occupy that which He has reserved for us. Timing is everything and waiting for His guid...

 Romans 4:17 as it is written,  “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed,  who gives life to the dead and calls into existence  the things that do not exist . Our Father is excellent! His word is life, it is powerful, it has resulted to everything we see today. The same way God changed Abraham's name from Abram to Abraham, which means the Father of many nations and at that time, Abraham was already old and he didn't even have any children. God wanted him to be reminded every time they call his name, of what the Lord had promised him. Indeed, God blessed him with the son He promised and he was named Isaac. This proved the prophecy, where at the time when it was spoken, it didn't exist, but because God said it, the matter was settled and everything else had to line-up to manifest the promise God had made. In the same manner, God wants us to call those things that are not in existence, as though they were. Meaning, what...

 Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.   In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  Hearing the word of God and not putting it into action  and internalizing it, is void. James 2 says faith without works is dead. This means, when the Lord speaks to us, through the scriptures, we need to accept and receive the word for ourselves. In this case, Psalm 56:3, receives what God has already told us, that we must not be afraid, we must be courageous. Therefore, this is confession and confirmation, that what God has already said, shall be. This including what He already said that I must not be afraid and therefore I declare boldly that I will not be afraid.  Fear is the absence of faith. Faith says this is a potential danger for me, but I already know that I'm not alone, and this will not destroy me. It is having confidence on what you have not seen, but by believing  the One that spoke everything into existence, I also believe t...

 1 John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Another version says: greater is He that is in you that he that is in the world...This gives assurity that no matter what we may face, the One who lives in us, is far greater than that which is trying to get rid of us. When Jesus, resurrected and ascended back to heaven, He told His disciples that it is better that He leave, so they may receive the Holy Spirit who will be with them, help them, guide them at all times, wherever they may be. This is such a huge relief that no matter where I may be, He will be with me; but most importantly , He will equally be present with my loved ones as well, helping and protecting them. How amazing is that! Therefore, when the enemy throws fiery darts at you, don't look at your own strength, but look at the finished work of Christ on the cross. That it is done,...

 John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me . I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish . No one can take them out of my hand. Are you part of Jesus flock? Time for reflection...Jesus says, His sheep knows His voice and they follow Him. Do you follow the crowd or do you find yourself one against many? The gate to heaven is narrow, as it is the difficult one. I have seen this for myself that following Jesus can be hard, it calls for hard choices in life, but when you remember that He is the way, He is the truth and He is the life, you then pick up your cross and follow Him. I like what the second part of this verse says, it says they never perish (those that follow Jesus). That is very true. You can go through persecutions, difficulties, struggles but you will come out clean and smelling fresh; not smelling like fire that you would've come out from. In fact, the fire will be there but it will not consume you. Like God says, He prepares us by r...

 Matthew 10:16   “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be  wise as serpents and  innocent as doves. A few things to note from this bible verse. One, that God is sending us to the world. We all know that we are made different from one another, with special qualities that God deposited in us, for His plans and purposes that He will fulfill in and through our lives. So, where God has positioned you, know that it is no coincidence, there's a purpose you are fulfilling. Two, We are the sheep that is amongst wolves. We exhibit the qualities of our Father, being kind, compassionate, considerate, helpful, loving, patient etc. as we have adopted those from the One who created us. However, not everyone is a sheep like us, there are wolves, ready to devour anyone who isn't suspecting, someone who is too trusting and blind. This means, we need to go through whatever we are going through with our eyes wide open, as there might be some sheep like us but...

 Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. God says He has refined you in the furnace of afflictions. You are refined and as pure as gold! The afflictions and struggles, are the ones God used to remove any gunk and impurities from your life. A painful process  but in the end, it yields result. Just as the process used to refine precious metals like gold, silver, even diamonds, they undergo a hot and pressurized  process in order for them to be as clean and sparkling as they were meant to be. This is what God does to us. Two things we should  always remember  about God as our Father. He is the Porter and we are the clay (Jeremiah 18:6), He molds us as He sees fit, grinds and removes excess until a perfect structure is formed. Also, in John 15, we are told that God is the G ardener  and Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. God prunes the branches and cuts off the branches that do not bear fru...

 1 Samuel 17:45   David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,   but I come against you in the name  of the  Lord  Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel , whom you have defied. These were the words spoken by David, the shepherd boy when He was facing Goliath; one of the most powerful stories in the bible. David had courage to face the enemy, this courage was not based on his own abilities, but it was based on the trust that he had for God. He knew the One he served and the One that came through for him time and time again. Prior to this, the bible tells us that David had a fight with a bear and on another occasion with a lion. Both wanted to snatch his sheep but he killed them. Thus, David realized that God was with him, helping him fight these giants. God is our advantage in our lives, we don't face life on our own, we have the One who sees everything and who is able to do ALL things. It will be su...

 Matthew 18:12-14 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?   And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.   In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. We are the sheep and Jesus is our great Shepherd. He knows all His sheep and accounts to all of them. Should one be lost, He doesn't hesitate to go look for the one that is lost. In life, we can find ourselves lost and taken by the things of the world. Remember the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)? One of the sons of a rich man asked his father for his share of inheritance and left with it. He spent all of it recklessly and found himself broke and homeless. He had no food, no place to stay and this reminded him of home, how his father even treats ...

 Joshua 24:15   But if serving the  Lord  seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve , whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,  in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,  we will serve the  Lord .” But for me and my family, we will serve the Lord! Powerful words that were said by Joshua, the successor of the great Moses, who delivered the children of Israel from slavery. He spoke these words moments before he departed, after he had delivered on his assignment to successfully help them enter the promise land.  It is so important, to do an assessment of what is out there, what people do and follow and to scrutinize it for yourself  if that practice  is serving you or leading you to darkness . It could be something that has always been passed down from one generation to another; however, what is important, is to assess it for yourse...