Hold on

 “When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” Luke 7:19 (NIV)

There are times when those things that once seemed so clear become a source of despair. John had baptized Jesus; he had declared, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world!” John had seen the dove descend from heaven and heard the voice of the Father affirm His love for Jesus. But now as he sat in prison separated from the world, doubts crept in.

When we find ourselves in dry places and nothing seems to be happening, it is so easy to doubt the calling of God on our lives. I love Jesus’ response - He didn’t launch into a detailed argument of why He was the Messiah nor did He try to convince them with words – He acted: “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard”. (Luke 7:21-22).

Jesus recognised that sometimes words aren’t enough, sometimes all the arguments in the world can’t provide the clarity that action can. Jesus knew how John was feeling and He immediately responded by practically demonstrating His love and power. He knew where John was and He knew exactly what John needed to bring him confidence and comfort.

Wherever you are today – Do not let go in the darkness those things that you were so sure of in the light. God sees you and He knows exactly what you need – He will act.

He is faithful

 "Only fear the Lord and serve Him fatefully with all your heart…" 1 Samuel 12:24a

In modern society faithfulness and constancy are often thought to have been downgraded to being mere aspirations. Commentators talk about the ‘throwaway society’ where nothing lasts longer than the time it takes someone to get bored and move to the next thing.

Samuel encouraged God’s people to remain constant and faithful to the God who had never let them down through all the years in the wilderness and as they took possession of the Promised Land.  The fear he spoke of was about respecting God’s power and authority, the same power and authority that could give them the freedom to trust and serve Him for whatever lay ahead.

Many of you reading this will have been committed Christians for many years, some for only a few weeks and some of you are still wondering if this is all really true.  Today God wants to remind you that He’s not going anywhere.  He is faithful and constant – you can rely on Him completely to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Take a moment to reaffirm your commitment to Him and be recharged for the week, months and years ahead or take that first step into a deeper relationship with Him.  You’ll not regret it.

Enlightened eyes

 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Eph 1:18-19a

God has a plan for your life. You have been called to a hope that is sure and certain. Sometimes it may not seem so clear and for some you can’t see it at all.

Paul here prays that the believers in Ephesus would have their eyes flooded with the light of the truth of who they are in Christ and the hope that this brings.

God has chosen you, He lavishes His grace upon you and He has prepared a glorious inheritance for you. His incomparable power is at work in you and He lives in us. Sometimes this world can fog our vision; life gets in the way and the eyes of our heart become darkened.

There is hope, not because you want to be an optimist, or you will it to be so, but because the perfect unchanging all powerful God has placed His love upon you and you can be confident that He has a plan for your life.

Pray today that God would flood the eyes of your heart with light – that your vision would be unhindered to see the hope to which He has called you. You are His child!

Our great quest

 “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” Phil 3:8

Paul’s passion was for his life to be all about Jesus. His life’s goal was to get to know Jesus better – this he placed above everything else. Everything he had achieved, everything he had done he viewed as worthless – he considered them garbage compared to knowing Jesus better.

Make knowing Jesus the focus of your life. Let this be your greatest quest, to place knowing Jesus above all the ‘stuff’ that will clutter your week. Spend time looking at Him, linger in His presence.

Look at Jesus and see God’s love for you. Look at Him on the cross and see the lengths to which God has gone to make you His.

Knowing the reality of God’s love changes the perspective of everything you will face today. Whatever you are going through, whatever lies ahead - first look at Jesus. Look at Jesus and see His heart for your life. Look at Jesus and be reminded that you are precious to Him. Look and see that no matter what you do or where you are – His love will reach you there.

The gift of joy

 “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”1 Peter1:8-9

Last week Candice Payne went viral with her Chewbacca mask! It would have been hard for anyone to watch her video without feeling a huge sense of Joy and laughter!

For anyone who hasn't seen it- Candice treated herself to a Chewbacca mask that made noises as you moved its mouth. She wanted to enjoy the mask before her children saw it and so videoed herself in the parking lot! Whenever Candice saw her reflection she couldn't contain herself and had so much fun!

It made me think of how much our Father desires to see us full of Joy. That ridiculous joy, and uncontrollable laughter...as a mother, I know there is no better thing than to see our children in fits of giggles. And yet when we ask ourselves, there are probably few people we allow ourselves to be silly on front of. We all have inhibitions, I know that at home in my living room with my kids I would act different to how I would on front of others and so I loved watching Candice as she embraced the joy she was feeling. Our Father wants us to be joyful. He wants our Joy to be infectious and make others curious. Candice called this video "it's the simple things" and so it is.

The news that we have in Jesus' death and resurrection for us should make us happy...joyful. And yet so many people's experiences of Christianity are miserable.

I later went on to watch an interview of Candice and discovered she was a worship leader and that she had always known God has given her a call. And I couldn't help but feel that maybe this Chewbacca mask was part of it! Giving those watching a taste of Joy, a gift from the Father. The "normal" and the spiritual colliding.

Abundant life

 “...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10,

Are you living the abundant life Jesus came to give you? You may not have the biggest house or newest car, but God promises abundant life for you. His abundance goes way beyond the things we can see in the natural. It means that you can have peace in the midst of a storm.

You can have joy when things are uncertain. You can have hope when circumstances seem hopeless. You can live and enjoy life to the fullest every single day because you have the Creator of life on the inside of you.

Sometimes it is easy to look at this verse and think, “God is going to give me abundant life some day.” But the truth is, God wants you to have abundant life TODAY. Ask Him to show you His abundant favour, blessing and peace. Focus on Him and let Him show you His abundant life — today!

Father, I know that You want the best for me. Thank You for Your promise of abundant life on this earth. Show me your ways so that I can be a blessing every where I go.

God's peace.

"Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints." – Psalm 85:8.

Peace is a commodity that can only be found with time spent seeking God. The world can't offer us peace because it has nothing in which to place its hope, trust and security. Kingdoms come and go. Leaders move in and out of power. Our only constant is God. He has been, is, and forever will be the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of all. All authority has been given to him. He governs the change of seasons. He thwarts the plans of our enemy. And he longs to offer total and sustained peace to all who place their hope and trust in him.

Isaiah 26:3 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Our God has peace in store for us in every situation if we will choose to keep our mind stayed on him and trust him. The world says that peace can only come when you've worked your fingers to the bone and have finally attained all you want. You can only have peace when you have enough money, friends, the right job, or the right spouse. You can only have peace if friends, family, and bosses like you. God's way is to draw you into himself and offer you peace in the midst of your circumstances. He doesn't want you to wait until everything gets worked out before you can have rest—he's offering you rest right now.

He never changes

 "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever". Hebrews 13:8

I love to check the weather app everyday. I even plan to do my washing by what it says. However I constantly surprise myself when I get disappointed by its lack of accuracy.
I plan days out because the day before it has shown a bright yellow sun and then I wake up to rain!
How can they be so wrong at times?

So many things we pin our hopes on are fragile and unreliable. Even in relationships we find ourselves getting disappointed with our spouses, kids, families and friends because they fail to live up to our expectations or they break promises. In life this will happen because not one of us is perfect and there will be many bumps for us to negotiate as we walk with people through situations.

But this should never alter how we relate to our Heavenly Father. He is the exact opposite; He is the one who is constant and consistent. He is unwavering and secure. His love and his promises to us remain the same, His commitment to us will not waver based on our performance it's based on his finished work.

When you feel shaken by others allow Jesus your rock to steady you today. We're all looking for certainty and for things working out for us like careers, house sales or finding the right partner. If you are securely anchored in his love your future is the safest it could ever be.

Don't limit your dreams

 “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians3:20-21 (The Message)

When we review our life experiences we are tempted to limit our expectations – of ourselves, of others and of God. I recently watched a documentary where young African girls were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. They wanted to be doctors, teachers, nurses and lawyers. You then saw their external circumstances; living in shacks, struggling to get a decent education, not enough food and water and dealing with desperate family circumstances. I wondered how could they dream that big? Shouldn’t they just ‘manage their expectations’ and save themselves disappointment down the line?

God is not looking for you to settle – He’s encouraging you to dream dreams and blossom.

It’s not easy to dream when you feel it’s all up to you, but this verse reminds us that it’s God who can do anything. He’s the biggest dreamer there ever was. He’s been the inspiration for thousands of years of poetry, music, art, scientific innovation and social change. Wilberforce, the driver behind the abolition of slavery fought vested interests and overwhelming opposition because he dared to dream and trusted God to make the change in men’s hearts – and it happened!

Don’t limit your dreams to fit your circumstances – dream big because God can do anything!

Relationship not religion

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me…learn to flow in the unforced rhythms of grace” Matthew 11:28-29 (MSG)

Religion has a real knack for wearing you out. Keeping up appearances, working hard and trying you tick all the boxes to ensure God’s blessing is tough work. In a world where activity is equated with success and the workaholic obsessive is held up as a role model, the idea of stopping, resting and going with the flow is like jumping from a plane without a parachute.

Jesus presents a completely counter-cultural view of life and religion. He invites us to look at things differently, to stop straining, stop trying to force it and start resting in Him. Rather than deciding to ‘take up the slack’ when it looks like God has taken His eye off the ball, learn to flow in the unforced rhythms of grace. Let go of feeling like it is up to you and learn to rest in the knowledge that God’s grace has it covered.

Trust in Him and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly; that’s not religion– it’s relationship.

It's not your job

 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Tim 1:6-7

I have often read this verse and thought that I need to live more powerfully, love more and stop being so timid and fearful of others. But here the focus is not on me but on the effects of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Power, love and self-discipline are products of life in the Spirit.

When we are filled with God’s Spirit we live a life that does not focus on the external, where we see people and circumstances differently. When we live from the inside out, the Spirit of God gives us a sound mind – a mind that is stable, a mind that has the ability to see things as they truly are and to respond appropriately.

Rather than being fearful or thinking that I just need to get through, I see a life of victory, abundance and blessing and this gives me confidence and hope to live for God. You cannot produce the fruits in your life – God does. He brings about the changes – our calling is to live in the Spirit and to interact with the world from that place.

Be encouraged, it is not up to you to see your life and the lives of other changed – that’s God’s job, all you need to do is to fan the flame of His gift in you.