“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. ” (KJV) Proverb 21:1

For a very long time, I have been praying over my heart and the hearts of the people that are very dear to me. I have seen amazing results and for what it's worth, I can testify for a fact that this verse is true. So, I ask myself the same questions, I haven't still received the answer I want from the Lord: Why am I still doing this? Why return to the mud from which I was just cleansed? How long will I continue with this - one step forward, 10 steps backwards?

But today, God is reminding us to start the new year with the solid reminder that He holds the heart of all men. Whatever expectations you have for the year must be submitted into his hands. God is by this saying; child, give me your struggles and go to sleep. How he will work out your heart to achieve that expectation is solely on him. Indeed, the how belongs to God.

Sometimes, He may need to reroute us in the middle of very progressive progress to ensure that our ultimate goal for the year and life is achieved. I know they can bring unexpected heartaches but he is the balm we need along the way to completeness in Christ.

Beloved brethren in the Lord, in this year, let's stop questioning how God is going to achieve the impossible in our lives. Let’s not forget, that's what He specializes in. If we ask Abraham, Hannah, Mary, Lazarus among the few crowds of witnesses we know, they will surely testify of his faithfulness.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Amen (Romans 8:28).

Remain in Him || More

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (NIV) John 15:4

I sought understanding into what it meant by remaining in God until my mind was brought to the illustration of a baby in the mother's womb. Even though the life of the baby is different from the mother's life, the baby's life is totally dependent on the mother's. It receives life, nourishment and protection from the mother. One cannot touch the baby without first touching the mother. The baby cannot go anywhere without the mother. And likewise, the mother carries the baby along wherever she goes.

This is the relationship we have with God if we remain Him. He being the mother and us being the baby. Dear reader, continue reading the word God, pray, worship and fellowship with the brethren. By these, you remain in Him "for in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" (Acts 17:28)

A Controlled Life || More

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. ” (NIV) 1 John 5:11-12

Society or the world today may place limits on us; our family, background, the nation where we live, our education, job description, business, or finance could place limits on us. But we must understand that the Christian life that we have been called to is a life without limits. It is the life that our Lord Jesus has brought us to. Bible says He has brought us from the powers of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 1:13).

We must refuse to be limited by the challenges of this world; the numerous sins in this world must not prevent us from doing what is “Christianly” acceptable by God. If people refuse to do good, we as Christians must do good because that is the life that Jesus taught us. The Bible tells us that during His time on earth, Jesus went about doing good. We must tame nature as Jesus did in his time because we know that all things work together for good for them that love the Lord and have been called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).

This is the life that we were called into as Christians, coheirs with Christ Jesus; therefore nothing can and should limit us in a world where abnormal things are now considered normal. We can’t allow the devil to blindfold us and deceive us into believing that we are disadvantaged, because we are not. As we openly confessed Him before the entire world and accepted to carry our cross daily, we manifest Christ in us. Remember carrying the cross is not easy – our leader and friend, Jesus, proved it – however one thing is sure He was victorious in the end and so shall we be. That is what He promised us, “surely we have overcome this world” (John 16:33).

Let us keep this in mind; our ability to succeed in this deteriorating world is from God; that means it is unlimited.

Walk in a New Life|| More

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (KJV) Proverbs 3:5-6

How often do we wonder about the greatness of God in our lives or have thoughts of His Omnipotence? It may be seldom given our era of economic hardship and perverse generation. However, God always desires man to search and know Him more so that God can direct mankind in all aspects of life. Yet man has sought his own means to struggle through this perishable world.

The Proverbs of Solomon reminds us that if we surrender everything of ours to God, He directs our paths, though the road may be slimly or sketchy. We are, therefore, entreated to give our all to God by presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1). Man, by nature is inherently proud but if we allow the LORD to rule our hearts, He shall lead us to victory.

There are three things that easily destroy man: Pride, Lust, and Anger (Proverbs 11:2, 1 John 2:16, James 1:19-20). Let us, therefore, make every endless effort to ward off these vices and allow God to rule our hearts. When God directs our paths, we live a life full of joy, happiness, peace, patience, long-suffering, kindness and love (Galatians 5:22).

May God open our hearts to understand Him and crave for Him the more so that He directs our path.

Learn to follow|| More