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The Price of Love

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day the world has so romanticized with flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and a very unrealistic portrait of what love looks like. In fact, many people around the globe are feeling the pressure of outdoing themselves to celebrate the ones they profess to love. However, love is not always as glamorous as mainstream media portrays it. In December, I read a blurb from the book “Quiet Spaces for Christmas” and I will share pieces of this reading with you today as we celebrate this day of love.

Love is not painless. It carries with it the likelihood of being wounded. Every relationship has the possibility of hurt. You can love and not be loved back. The ones you may love may not be loveable. Words can be said without thought, regrettable actions that can’t be undone can be undertaken, all in the name of love. God is not immune to the price of love either. He too cannot love without the possibility of being hurt and He has been hurt. He lamented over the hardness of the heart of His people throughout the Old Testament (Psalms 81:13) and continues to grieve over the hardness of our hearts in this present age. God created us and loves us and yet throughout history, God has been maligned, misunderstood, ignored, criticized, and mocked. Still, He continues to shower humankind with His grace. He extends favour to each of us in countless ways. His mercies are renewed every morning. He is patient and persistent with His love. He did not stop loving when the price of love cost Him his only Son.

As followers of Jesus, we can expect to share in the cost of love. We are not immune to the heartache of rejection, persecution, misunderstanding, strained relationships or losses. These may come from our own family or friends whom we deeply love. In those moments, remember that God understands what it is to love and not be loved in return. So today as we celebrate love, not everyone will be celebrating the same way.

Today may not be a pleasant day for people dealing with the pain of rejection, heartbreak, distance, impending divorces, child custody battles, the loss of a loved one, etc. Here is my encouragement to everyone whether you are being wooed in the thrills of the day, or if today leaves a bad taste in your mouth:

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 37:23 NLT

God knows; He cares; He delights in every detail of your life- the good, the bad, and the ugly! There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus! Take a moment to share with Him how your day is going.

Yours Truly

P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

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Derailed- A Dream Deferred

Did you have certain goals for your life that have not materialized? Have you ever felt like the plans you had for your self and the outcomes of your life have been derailed? My whole childhood, I groomed myself to be a medical doctor. I graduated one of the top of my class from elementary school all the way to high school. I got accepted into two reputable medical schools, got recommended for partial and full ride scholarships to three countries outside my home country to study medicine, and actually started to pursue a career in medicine by virtue of one such scholarship. Then through a series of events, I switched my majors with a hope to find my way back into medical school. 17 years later, I have settled in another career and with each passing day my career as a medical doctor becomes a distant dream…a what could have been! I know I am not alone in having a dream or life plan be seemingly derailed. Let’s look at a story from the Old testament:

One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there. Terah lived for 205 years and died while still in Haran.

Genesis 11:31-32 NLT

Terah was headed for Canaan, which was God’s promised land for the people who would come out of Abraham, the Israelites. This was land that God describes later as a land flowing with milk and honey… and Terah was headed towards his set destiny but got derailed. He stopped in Haran and settled there and there he died. His dream of a land flowing with milk and honey died with him in Haran. End of story. I could end my blog post here… he died and so did the dream of Canaan. But thank God for redemption.

I was recently introduced to the concept of redemptive thinking through a 2 minute podcast I heard from Susie Larson. I am going to explore this concept more in another post in the near future. But what I want to say about this for now is redemptive thinking is about changing the way you think and it starts by believing that God is good. When you believe that God is good, you can also believe that He works everything out for your good and for his glory. The dream of Canaan appeared to have died with Terah but it was always in the heart of God that the Israelites would possess the promised land. However, so much had to happen between when Terah had this plan and when his descendants would actually live in that land- including a name change of Terah’s great grandson from Jacob to Israel. And with each passing year, this dream became more a distant past but one day this happened…

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:1-3 NLT

God put Abraham back on course towards the set destiny and plan! Funny enough, this dream was not Abraham’s to see fulfilled. In fact Abraham got to Canaan and there were people already there and so he had to move on. However, what Abraham had that Terah did not, was the blessing of God. God blessed him and his descendants and in so doing the dream even though was not fulfilled physically in Abraham’s lifetime, was fulfilled through his seed. The blessing of God ensured that God remembered Abraham long after he was dead and God fulfilled the promise of Canaan to him (Exodus 2:24). Abraham had a future and a hope and even though he died, the dream was preserved and fulfilled in its appointed time.

Many times we are so busy making and pursing our plans and desires that we forget to ask for God’s blessings. Other times, we forget that it is His plan for us that prevails despite our skilled planning. We forget that He is good and therefore His plans for us are good and are bringing us to His expected end… His vision of Canaan for us (Jeremiah 29:11).

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 NIV

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV

When Abraham went through Canaan, there was no mention of a land flowing with milk and honey. In fact, there was famine in the land and so he had to go to Egypt. Abraham’s version of Canaan was not God’s expected end for Abraham and his descendants. I say all this to say that our plans are not always aligned with God’s expected end for our lives and so sometimes a dream “derailed” or deferred is not necessarily a bad thing. It could be the best thing that ever happened to us. The key is to trust God like Abraham did and even when plans seem derailed, God can bring us to His expected end.

There are a few concepts that I have touched on briefly that you can spend time reflecting on: God’s purpose [will] vs our plans; the blessings of God; the function of appointed time in the fulfilment of our plans; and the goodness of God. I will end with some questions and encouragement for you: Has your life in recent times or time past felt like a winding road? Have things not been going smoothly as planned? Does your career path feel like it is all over the place? Are you feeling tossed about by the billows of life? Then may you find encouragement in this:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight [emphasis mine].

Proverbs 3:5-6 BSB
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Beyond the prodigal

Unveiling the Hidden Struggles of the Faithful Son in Luke 15– By John Owusu

In the very familiar Parable from Luke 15:11-32 – the Parable of the Prodigal Son- our focus is on the journey of the younger son, whose story of rebellion, repentance, and reconciliation vividly portrays God’s boundless grace. Yet, within this parable lies another, equally profound narrative – that of the elder son, a character who mirrors a different aspect of human nature and spiritual struggle. Let’s turn our attention to this often-overlooked figure and get a better insight into his struggles.

The elder son, steadfast and diligent, remains at home, toiling on his father’s land. His response to his brother’s return, however, unveils a struggle not with prodigality, but with resentment and entitlement. It’s a tale not just of a wayward brother, but of two sons, each lost in their own way, and a father whose love encompasses both. As we explore the elder son’s story, we are invited to reflect on our own spiritual journey. Through his eyes, we may uncover insights about grace, compassion, and the joy found in God’s unfailing presence. Let us open our hearts to these lessons, finding in them a deeper understanding of God’s love and our own path to spiritual growth.  Let’s delve right in.

I. The Elder Son’s Hidden Struggle  

In the shadow of the prodigal son’s dramatic story, the elder son’s internal conflict offers a different, yet equally important, spiritual lesson. Unlike his younger brother, the elder son is not guilty of wild living or squandering his inheritance. Instead, he remains at home, the picture of obedience and diligence. Yet, his reaction to his brother’s return reveals a heart troubled by deeper issues. 

Luke 15:28-30 captures the moment of his turmoil. When the younger son returns, the father throws a lavish celebration. The elder son, upon hearing this, becomes angry and refuses to join the feast. His words to his father are telling: “All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.” His sense of injustice is palpable. He feels overlooked, unappreciated, despite his faithful service. 

This is where the elder son’s true struggle lies – in his sense of entitlement and lack of compassion. He cannot fathom why his father would extend such grace to a brother who seemed to have forsaken everything their family stood for. His dedication to duty has blinded him to the essence of his father’s love. In his mind, love and reward are earned, not freely given. 

The elder son’s problem is one many of us can relate to. It’s easy to fall into the trap of equating our worth or spiritual standing with our deeds. We, like the elder son, might struggle to accept that God’s love is not a reward for good behavior, but a gift freely given. His story is a cautionary tale, reminding us that even the most dutiful can miss the heart of God’s grace. 

In our spiritual walk, it’s crucial to recognize this pitfall. The elder son’s attitude reflects a misunderstanding of grace – a fundamental aspect of Christian faith. It shows us that even in our faithfulness, there’s a danger of developing a spirit of entitlement, overshadowing the true nature of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. 

II. Spiritual Lessons from the Elder Son 

The elder son in the parable teaches us crucial spiritual lessons about entitlement, joy, gratitude, and the nature of God’s inclusive love. 

Entitlement vs. Grace: The elder son’s sense of entitlement is a stark contrast to the father’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Unlike earthly rewards that are earned, grace is a divine gift, unmerited and freely given. The elder son’s struggle to understand this mirrors our own challenges in comprehending the breadth of God’s grace, which extends beyond human notions of fairness and merit. 

Joy and Gratitude: In focusing on his sense of injustice, the elder son fails to appreciate the blessings around him. James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” His inability to find joy in his continuous access to his father’s wealth and presence is a reminder for us to recognize and cherish the blessings we receive daily. Psalm 16:11 declares, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy.” The elder son’s lack of joy reflects a heart disconnected from the true source of fulfillment – the father’s love. 

Inclusiveness and Forgiveness: The father’s inclusive love is a model for Christian living. Galatians 3:28 proclaims, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This inclusiveness extends to the elder son, despite his resentment. Similarly, the importance of forgiveness is underscored in Matthew 6:14-15, where Jesus teaches, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” The elder son’s struggle to forgive mirrors our own challenges in extending grace to others, a crucial aspect of Christian discipleship. 

III. The Father’s Unconditional Love and Grace 

The father in the parable epitomizes God’s unconditional love and grace. His reaction to each son’s actions reveals profound spiritual truths about God’s nature. 

Unconditional Love: The father’s love for both sons is unwavering and not based on their deeds. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” The father’s love, much like God’s, is proactive, reaching out to both the repentant and the resentful son. 

Forgiveness and Reconciliation: The father’s eagerness to forgive the younger son, symbolized by his running to meet him and the celebration that follows, highlights God’s joy in our repentance. Luke 15:22-24 illustrates this beautifully, as the father restores the younger son without hesitation. This unconditional acceptance is a powerful portrayal of divine forgiveness, which is not earned but graciously given. 

Generosity and Celebration: The father’s response – throwing a lavish party for the younger son – is a testament to the joy and generosity inherent in God’s grace. It’s a celebration of reconciliation, not past actions, mirroring the heavenly joy over one sinner who repents. 

Inclusiveness: The father’s grace is inclusive. He goes out to invite the elder son to the feast, demonstrating that his love and grace extend to both sons, regardless of their attitudes or behaviors. This reflects 2 Peter 3:9, where it’s stated, “The Lord is…patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 

IV. Steps Towards True Repentance for the Elder Son 

For the elder son to embrace true repentance, he had to undergo a transformation of his heart and mind in seven key areas and his journey is as relevant for us today as it was for him.

Recognize His Own Faults: The first step was acknowledging his bitterness and self-righteousness, i. e. understanding these feelings as barriers to a relationship with his father and brother. 

Empathize with His Brother: Developing empathy for his brother’s experiences helped him overcome resentment, which allowed him to see value in forgiveness and reconciliation. 

Accept His Father’s Love and Grace: Realizing that his father’s love was unconditional and not based on merit was crucial for his transformation. 

Celebrate His Brother’s Return: Joining in the celebration symbolized his acceptance and joy in his brother’s restoration to the family. 

Rebuild Relationships: Strengthening his relationships with his father and brother emphasized the value of family and connection over duty. 

Express Feelings to His Father: Honest communication about his feelings of being overlooked helped to clear misunderstandings. 

Reflect on His Blessings: Appreciating the constant presence of his father and the blessings he already had was key to his spiritual growth. 

Grasping the depth of our Father’s love for us is essential. At the heart of God’s intentions is the hope for everyone’s salvation and for all to gain an understanding of His Son, His precious gift to humanity, intended to draw all people to Him. Luke 15:11 tells of a father and his two sons. Each son’s choices significantly influenced their relationship with their father, yet the father’s love remained constant and unwavering in the face of their actions. While the missteps of the prodigal son are apparent, it’s just as crucial to consider how easily we might overlook our Father’s grace, mercy, and love. This is especially true when, like the elder son, we mistakenly believe our rewards are earned by merit, not granted through His grace. My prayer is that you will reflect on this and let God speak to your heart. 

Yours Truly

P.S. Thank you John Owusu for this very insightful post. John has been a long time reader of this blog and the owner of Revo Driving School in Alexandria, VA. He loves music and is part of the worship team at Word Performance Church.

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Identity- Our Sense of Self

My drive in life comes from a fear of being mediocre. That is always pushing me. I push past one spell of it and discover myself as a special human being but then I feel I am still mediocre and uninteresting unless i do something else. Because even though I have become somebody, I still have to prove that I am somebody. My struggle has never ended and I guess it will never end.

Madonna

I recently came across this quote from Madonna and how truly apt it is for many of us. Even without all the fame and acclaim like Madonna has, our sense of self, self-worth and desire to be “somebody” are insatiable. Towards the end of last year, I faced a lot of turmoil and upheaval at my place of work which led me to an identity crisis. Everything that I had come to believe about who I was and my motivations in life no longer made any sense. As I have searched for answers in scripture, reassuring words of loved ones, counselling, among others, one question has stood out for me: what have I based my identity on?

We go through life looking for the ultimate verdict that we are important and valuable and we look for that ultimate verdict in situations and people around us. Our identities become rooted in our accomplishments or in our failures. There is an invisible standard set for us either by ourselves or by others and we strive to live up to these standards each day. Our self-esteem is driven by whether or not we are able to meet the standards. So we fluctuate between high and low self-esteem because every minute our lives are on trial- some days we feel we are winning and other days we feel we are losing the trial. We judge ourselves and we allow the judgment of others to condemn or acquit us each day. But the truth is that trying to find self-esteem and build an identity by living up to a set of standards is a trap. I recently read a book by Timothy Keller, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness- The Path to Christian Joy, that shed light on a way to be free from the entrapment of this skewed view of self-identity. Using the example of Paul from 1st Corinthians 3:21- 4:7, Keller states:

When [Paul] says he will not let the Corinthians judge him nor will he judge himself, he is saying that he knows about his sins but does not connect them to himself and his identity. His sins and his identity are not connected. He refused to play that game. He does not see a sin and let it destroy his sense of identity. He will not make a connection. Neither does he see an accomplishment and congratulate himself. He sees all kinds of sin in himself- and all kinds of accomplishments too- but he refuses to connect them with himself or his identity.

All too often, we allow our accomplishments, achievements, shortcomings, or failures to be what defines us. If our accomplishments define us and something threatens that or we receive negative criticisms then we feel undone. If someone has been defined their whole life by a certain profession and then due to unforeseen circumstances like an illness, they can no longer practice in that field, their whole life falls apart. They ask questions like, “who am I if I am not a ________!” Similarly if someone has been defined by their material possessions and wealth and through a bad investment, an economic downturn, or fraud, they lose their wealth, it is game over. Today I offer a reassurance: THE ULTIMATE VERDICT IS IN.

Here is the ultimate verdict- the trial is over. There is no more condemnation for you if you are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). God does not care about who you are (accomplished or not) or what you have done (good or bad). Your performance does not lead to a verdict. The moment you chose to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, His righteousness was imputed to you. You do not have to perform to gain your identity. You have an identity as a child of the King of Kings and based on this identity, what you do will flow out of who you are. As my pastor shared in his sermon last week, Jesus loves you and accepts you for one reason and one reason only: You are His! Just as God once said of Jesus, He says of you: You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased. You do not have to impress yourself or anyone for that matter. You are already achieved! You are a son or daughter of the Most High King. You are loved beyond measure! You can go about your life doing the things you do, not to build up a resume or to look good. You are a doctor, a lawyer, a nurse, a street vendor, a cashier, carpenter, plumber, [insert what you do] not to feel better about yourself or to feel accomplished or to feel like “somebody”. You can strive for a better paid job or for higher education not because you derive your identity from that. You can let go of the anxieties, the disappointments of life, and the guilt because you do not find your identity in your accomplishments or failures. This is the blessedness of being redeemed.

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.

Psalm 107: 2 NLT/ BSB

Yours Truly

Resources: https://www.backtothebible.ca/product/the-freedom-of-self-forgetfulness/

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Accept or Reject?

Earlier in the month I shared with you that my mandate from the LORD for 2024 was to consciously and intentionally accept Him everyday; and almost everyday of this year so far, I hear or read something that reminds me of this mandate. For example, on January 6th, my daughter’s bible devotion was titled “choose” and the message was very interesting. The scripture was from Judges 21:25

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Judges 21:25 NLT

The devotional’s author suggested that the cliches “follow your truth” and “you do you” are not new at all! In fact rewind a few thousand years and the Israelites were living the “you do you ” life! Everyone followed their own truth and it was a godless and debased time in the history of the Israelites. Sounds familiar? Let’s fast forward back to 2024.

Yesterday my daily bible readings led me to the book of Isaiah, Chapter 1 to be precise, and here we hear God speaking to the Israelites about their choices. In their actions, words, thoughts, worship, service, they had rejected God everyday and God was telling them He was tired of being rejected! He was lamenting over Israel’s choosing to continue in their own waywardness and rebellion. They had turned their backs on the LORD (vs. 4). And their lives were a sight for sore eyes: they were physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually battered. As scripture described it, their heads were injured and their hearts were sick (vs. 5-6) and their worship which they thought might bring them closer to God rather became detestable to Him. The simple reason was this: they continued to reject God. Just before year 2023 ended, I heard a preacher say this, “If you keep saying “NO” to God and continue to reject Him, one of these days God will accept your NO and visit His judgment on you”. And guess what, that is exactly what God is saying to the Israelites in Isaiah Chapter 1:15. He says:

“When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen…”

Isaiah 1:15 NLT

But all is not lost for rebellious Israel and neither is it for us today. Our Redeeming God offers a solution. “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool…” (Isaiah 1:18 NLT). But there is a caveat: We have to choose to accept Him and everything He offers! Do you feel beaten down and battered by life? Are your prayers appearing to not reach God’s ears? God wants to settle you! But first start with some self-reflection, is there something that you need to settle with God? In what areas of your life are you rejecting Him? One of the ways we reject God is by being so busy with the hustle and bustle of life that we leave little to no room for God’s presence or power in our lives. Isaiah 5:12 captures this so aptly:

They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties- lyre and harp, tambourine and flute- but they never think about the LORD or notice what he is doing.

Isaiah 5:12 NLT

When it comes to accepting God, I have a lot to learn and given my mandate for the year, I am sure I am going to learn a lot about this. If you are further along on the journey of what it means to accept and choose Jesus everyday or if God is teaching you something about this in your daily walk with Him, please feel free to share with me, leave a comment, I am excited to learn from you. This year I plan to be intentional about thinking about God every day and to notice what He is doing in my life, among the people in my sphere of influence, and in the world at large. I want to pay attention to what God is saying and requiring of me. That is one of the ways I want to accept Him each day. How? I will engage with my readings each day and anticipate that God wants to tell me something from His word. I will pose questions to God as I read my bible and actively listen for answers throughout the day. I will not hesitate to pray for the things God lays on my heart or if people request prayer of me and excitedly anticipate God’s move in my life and in those of the people I pray for.

P.S. For those of you who are curious about my daily bible reading plan, I use the Olive Tree Bible app on my phone and this year I am following the 52-week bible plan, “A different Genre Each Day”. If you are looking for a reading partner, feel free to join me on this reading journey.

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Today is the Day!

Sometime in October of 2023, I went over all my goals for the year and realized I had fallen behind on so many of them (one of which was to post to the blog every week). Feeling discouraged, I decided that since too much of the year had passed to accomplish some of those goals, I would just wait till the new year and then start afresh. However, there was a scripture that kept tugging at my heart:

As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 

Hebrews 3:15 NIV

Today. Not next year, not next month, not next week, today! Many times, we take for granted that tomorrow is not guaranteed us and we put off for tomorrow what we can do today. January is a month where people push for change and it is a good time for change. Afterall, its the start of a new year! Many people just like myself will make new year’s resolutions and set goals for themselves to achieve through out the year and many of us will fall off the wagon of some of our resolutions before the month is out. Here are two thoughts on the matter- the first comes from my daughter’s devotional, and the second is a lesson from 2023:

First, before going through all the effort of trying to fulfill our goals whatever they may be, why not first slow down and submit them to God? Remember “in their hearts humans plan their course but the LORD establishes their steps (Proverbs 16:9 NIV).” God wants us to submit our plans to him- our wonderful ideas for a successful 2024 and ask Him what He wants to work on this January and Febrauary and every month thereafter. In doing this, you will find a satisfying journey with a Friend rather than an exhausting and lonely marathon to accomplishing your goals.

Secondly, if you start to renege on your goals- perhaps you have already missed a few days of your 365-day bible reading plan, or your exercise regime, or you have already fallen back into patterns and behaviours you were hoping to change this year, it is not too late to course correct. It is never ever too late to fix what is broken, to jump back into relationship with God, to take care of your emotional, physical, and spiritual health, to let go of that hurt or guilt, to forgive…today is the day. Although bright hope for eternity is promised us, another day on this side of eternity is not guaranteed to anyone.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4: 13- 14 NIV

So today is the day. Whatever it is that you are putting off, today is the day.

Yours Truly

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Hello 2024

At the end of every year, my husband and I spend time reflecting, praying, and asking God for a word or scripture that will guide our lives for the upcoming year; what we call our mandate for the year. Last year’s mandate was a very interesting one. It came from the book of revelations:

I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Revelations 3:1-3 NIV

With that mandate, I knew going into 2023 that it was destined to be an interesting and challenging year. What I did not know was that 2023 will be one of the longest years I had yet to experience! Although the days, weeks, and months flew by relatively quickly, the losses, disappointments, and failures I experienced in the year made each day feel so long and drawn out. Many times, it felt like what little I had left of my joy, peace,and sanity were being chipped at bit by bit and each of those times, the mandate was clear, “Wake up…strengthen what remains.” As I grasped dearly to promises and encouragements from scripture, songs, sermons, family, and well wishers, I was very cognizant of the first part of the mandate as well: “you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.” Throughout the challenges of 2023, I kept asking God to show me the areas of my life were my deeds were incomplete and boy did those trials show me! I learnt so much about myself and my relationship with God as everything and I mean everything I have come to know about God was tested. I trust that in this beautiful year 2024, I will have ample opportunity to share more details of the lessons from 2023.

2024 will be another interesting year. There will be more to learn but this time, I am ready. I am prepared to trust God through the process and relinquish the reins to Him. It will be a year where I will need to learn to listen and obey. The leadings and promptings of God will be such rich currency to navigate 2024 as the world plunges into a financial recession. As morality continues to decline both in the church and in the world, walking in step with God will be important as I continue to strengthen what remains. My mandate for this new year is as clear as day: God is asking that each day I conciously and intentionally make a choice to accept Him. What does this mean? I am sure I will find out this year won’t I?

Well, I look forward to each day of 2024 and I receive each day with joy and thanksgiving and with anticipation of what God has in store for me. My guiding prayer for 2024 is found in none other than Psalm 86

Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Psalm 86:11 NIV

And I pray this for you as I pray this for myself today and for all 366 days of this year (Yes, its a leap year…exciting!).

Yours truly

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My confessions: Anger

Sometime in 2021, I started to notice little things that annoyed me greatly.  Slowly, these things built up and I became indignant… and then angry. For the past two years, my anger has felt justified… Of course, I have been wronged by so and so person… how inconsiderate of them! For a period of time, I was even angry at God! But while I have  been harbouring and  justifying my anger for these many months, it has become like a canker that has eaten away at my peace of mind and has made it difficult for me to realize God’s purpose in my life.

For the past few months, I have been praying  and asking God to help me find my way back and a few days ago, I had a dream. In the dream, I saw someone I have been upset at for almost a year, who looked at me  in the eye and asked, “why are you so angry at me?” I thought hard and long and realized I was unsure of exactly what I was mad at. When I  woke up, I asked God (well if I am honest, I was probably just asking myself) to show me why I was so angry. And to my surprise God answered and this is what He told me:

Anger is a seed that grows and becomes a deciduous tree. It forms deep roots in the heart of a person and with each anger-inducing incident, the roots get deeper and then it starts to bear fruits. The fruits include resentment, malice, hatred, depression, anxiety, rage, and murder.  To illustrate, God reminded me of the story of the impure spirit in Matthew 12: 44-45 that finds a conducive environment and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself to come and occupy, making the final condition of the person worse than the first… anger works just like that. It starts as something small but if left unchecked, will slowly gain a foothold and occupy your heart; slowly pushing out the spirit of God from your heart and replacing the fruit of God’s spirit with its own fruits.

Anger in and of itself is not a bad thing, it has its good side too. It can be a very potent motivator but when we allow it to take control of us it becomes an inhibitor. That is why God admonishes in Ephesians 4:26-27, “In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are  still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Anger should run its course for a short period of time and then the issue must be resolved so the devil does not use that anger as a gateway into your heart.

So, what should we do when the time limit of anger is reached and the feeling of anger still persists? 1 Sam 15:11  gives us a clue: “Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the LORD all that night”. He recognized God’s sovereignty over everything and turned over the situation to God in prayer but he did not stop there. we read in verse 12 that he rose up early in the morning to confront King Saul (the object of his anger). After praying, Samuel took  tangible steps towards resolution.

 So, I asked God, “now that I am stuck in this funk of being angry all the time, how do I get out of it?” A good starting place is Psalm 51 (particularly verses 10-12):

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Confess the anger to God and ask for a renewal of His spirit in your heart. The spirit of God will illuminate the areas where anger has brought darkness and restore joy back into your life. God’s spirit will continue His work of restoration and renewal by manifesting His fruit in your heart. You will experience more love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23) in your life and the anger that has taken root will slowly start to dissipate. You will find that you will become more forgiving and will start to become more oblivious to why you were angry, allowing you to let go of any ill-feelings towards others. The fruit of the Holy Spirit will help you deal with anger at its very roots: the more love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control you have, the less angry you will become at people and circumstances. And one day, you will wake up and realize you are not angry anymore. This will take some work and a willing heart. That is why God admonishes us with these words:

“… walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (emphasis mine).

Galatians 5:16-21; 25 KJV

Keeping in step with God’s Spirit  is a daily affair. God’s spirit will help us know when to be angry and when to let go. The Holy spirit will help us set limits and healthy boundaries for our anger. His work is to ensure that our lives reflect Jesus Christ and if anyone knows when to be angry and when to relent, we have an example in God through the pages of Scripture. What those limits and boundaries are will vary for each individual and each circumstance but the constant will be that  it will be spirit-led!

I would like to conclude with a prayer for more of God’s grace to be even-tempered and spirit-filled. Here is a compilation of some scriptures that caution against anger for your reading pleasure https://www.bible.com/search/bible?query=anger

Yours Truly

Posted on by intentional4christ · 1 Comment

Obedience: A matter of the heart

This past month, I have been on a roll with the theme of obedience and today I share the lessons I have learnt on obedience by looking at four different biblical characters: Moses, Saul, Gideon, and the unwilling son. For almost a year now, I have been ruminating on the parable of the unwilling son and what the implication of that story might be. And as I have followed the Israelites on their journey to the promised land, this story seems to be more relevant.

The parable of the two sons can be found in Matthew 21:28-32. The gist of the story is of a man with two sons who told them to go work in the vineyard. The first son refused, but later obeyed and went. The second son initially expressed obedience, but actually disobeyed and refused to work in the vineyard. The son who ultimately did the will of his father was the first son because he eventually obeyed. As I have studied obedience from this parable and through the lives of the Israelites, my biggest lesson has been that obedience is about the heart. Actions matter, in fact what we do matter a lot! But the state of one’s heart is even more important than what we do. King Saul, the first king of Israel is a perfect example of this lesson.

God had instructed that all the nations that the Israelites conquered be completely destroyed (people and livestock alike) but when Saul defeated the Amalekites, he decided to spare their king, Agag and keep the choicest animals for sacrifice to God. One might hear this story and think it was noble thing that Saul had done but God was not pleased. He rebuked Saul sternly,

“What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams”

The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT and 1 Samuel 16: 7b NIV

Apart from the fact that the All-knowing God knew that one day, a descendant of King Agag named Haman would make it his life’s mission to wipe out all the jews from the face of the earth when he demanded the total destruction of the foreign nations, he was more concerned with the state of the heart of Israel’s ruler. A heart of obedience was a prerequisite for a long and fruitful reign (Deuteronomy 17:19). Saul’s grand gesture of saving the choicest livestock and sacrificing them contravened God’s edict and was in direct violation of the priestly mandate. His intentions did not matter, his actions even mattered less- because God saw his heart and he dishonored God in his heart and that cost him a great deal.

Moses was another person who dishonored God in his heart and it cost him greatly. Forty years had passed since the Israelites left Egypt to go to the land that the Lord had promised them. After camping in Kadesh, they ran out of water. When the people complained to Moses and Aaron, the Lord commanded Moses to speak to a rock so that water would miraculously gush from it. Instead of obeying the Lord, Moses chose to deliver an angry lecture to the people and then strike the rock twice with his staff. I have always wondered what was so bad about Moses hitting the rock with his staff when God had asked him to speak to the rock. Surely the Israelites deserved the stern rebuke! Why did his actions cost him the promise land even though the rock produced water? Well, scriptures clues us in that it was not so much about what he did as it was about his heart in that moment. Moses dishonored God in his heart and that spilled over into his angry outburst and actions. That is what God punished… the dishonor.

“…for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.”

Numbers 27:14 NIV

Many times, obedience is perceived with a “do not question; do as you are told” mentality. However, if obedience is more about the heart and less the actions, then there is opportunity to seek clarification and ask questions of God when we do not understand what is being asked of us. Gideon is a good example of this (Judges 6-8). I have been intrigued with the story of Gideon and how he appeared to question all of God’s directions without any repercussions. After carefully analyzing the story of Gideon, I conclude that even though he asked God to prove Himself over and over again, he never dishonored God in his heart through the process. His acts of questioning and clarifying were not acts of disobedience (dishonoring God in his heart) or blatant defiance and were actually welcomed by God. In this story, I see God respond to the frailty of humanity through tenderness. Gideon’s tests were designed to draw him into a deeper understanding of who God is and God indulged him.

An obedient heart may be one that has self doubt but says, “God, can you tell me some more about what you are asking of me?” “Can you show me what I ought to do and how I ought to do it?” An obedient heart may not always do the right thing but is quick to admit its wrongdoings and say “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.” An obedient heart may not be one that jumps for joy when asked by the Father to work in the vineyard but still goes any way.

My prayer for you and for myself is for a heart of obedience… and as our hearts respond in obedience to the King, may our actions follow suit.

Yours Truly

Posted on by intentional4christ

Obedience: An art and act of warfare

Now that is an unusual title isn’t it? As I have journeyed along the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land in my bible study, I have discovered nuggets such as the one I would be sharing shortly, along the way. The Israelites had now entered the promised land under the leadership of Joshua and had conquered much land to call home. However, the Israelites did not drive out all the pagan nations from the land. God allowed some of the nations to remain to teach the new generation of Israelites two things: first, the art of warfare and second, that their victory in warfare came from obedience.

These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.

Judges 3:1-4 NIV

Throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the elders who had seen the great things that God had done, the Israelites served God faithfully but there came a generation after who neither knew God or the things he had done for Israel (Judges 2:10). Now while that in and of itself is problematic and bears pause, that is not the focus of this topic. The people quickly fell into a pattern of idol worship and consequent suffering under the strong hand of raiders and nations who oppressed them. Every time they went out to war, the hand of Lord was against them just as He had sworn to them He would do and they were defeated.

Again and again, God raised up judges for them who saved them out of the hands of their enemies. And as long as the judge was alive, the people obeyed God but returned to their corrupt ways upon the death of the judge. This triggered a pattern of times of peace followed by times of oppression even though they were in the land God had promised them. As I studied the lives of the judges God raised for the Israelites and the many battles the Israelites fought in their first few years in the promised land, it became apparent obedience always led to victory and disobedience to defeat. The art of warfare- their secret weapon- was obedience. It was not a physical (carnal) weapon and yet a highly effective one!

Obedience is still an effective weapon for many seen and unseen battles in our lives today. The bible assures us of us this fact. Now pay attention to this scripture:

The weapons of our warfare are not weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 BSB

This scripture demonstrates obedience in action as an art and act of warfare. Even rogue thoughts, arguments, and presumptions that have been set up above the knowledge of Christ are torn down and held captive when obedience is at work. These strongholds, when submitted to the lordship of Christ are defeated just as the enemy nations of the Israelites were defeated and many times their strongholds torn down when the Israelites were living in obedience to God. In their obedience, they listened to and followed God’s plans in times of war even when the plan did not make sense. Shouting as they marched around a city, selecting men for battle based on how they drank water, falling in love with a Philistine woman as a battle strategy, regardless of how ridiculous the strategy may have seemed, the battle was always won because someone obeyed!

Last year, I went through a phase where everything felt like a struggle and battle. Many times, I felt God telling me to hold my peace and that he would fight for me. And did I listen? Of course not! I thought I had to take matters into my own hands and I kept spinning out of control until eventually I had spun myself into an intricate web of despair and defeat. I look back now and realize how obeying the voice and promptings of God not to say this or that, or to walk away, or to hold my peace etc. may have been an effective strategy to win the battles of 2022!

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you are in a fight of your life for things you should not be fighting for? Are you in the thick of a physical, emotional, psychological, or financial warfare? In addition to the many weapons in your artillery, add obedience and see God lead you into great victories! Here’s to winning our battles in the strength and might of the Lord with our secret weapon!

Yours Truly.