What are you Focusing on?

Focus (noun)
1.
the centre of interest or activity.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Last night I had a dream, I woke up this morning and couldn’t remember what it was. And I have no wisemen and magicians like Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar to issue an order to help me recollect my dream. So during my devotional time, I was trying very hard, digging into my memory bank to recall the dream. However the Holy Spirit interrupted my thoughts and said to me “I am here, why not focus on me, I am more important than the dream”. Suddenly it dawned on me that my devotional time, which I should have spent in fellowship with the Lord, I was being distracted by what I thought was more important, immediately I switched my thoughts and began to receive His thoughts for me for the day.

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Sometimes when I read reports of what is going on in the nations of the world, the conflicts and wars, murders, lack of direction exhibited by young people, I feel very sad. One day as I was thinking about these events, the Lord asked me to change my focus. He led me to:

Isa 6:2-3 (NKJV)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”

The whole earth is full of His glory, not was full or going to be full, but present continuously full of His glory!  
When we see things from His perspective, we would have no choice but to rejoice.
Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Syrian army. Elisha’s servant was afraid, but Elisha asked the Lord to open the eyes of his servant and he saw things from a different perspective, which gave him courage.

2 Kings 6:15-16 (NKJV)
15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

We see this severally in the life of Jesus and his disciples. They had 5000 hungry men, excluding women and children who had just listened to Jesus’ message. A young boy had only five loaves and two fish, which could have been his lunch for the crusade he attended. But from heaven’s perspective, it was more than enough to feed the crowd. Jesus was not distracted by the problem or challenge. He lifted up His eyes and gave thanks; broke the bread and His disciples distributed the supply. At the end of the day, they had twelve baskets left.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to always see things from your perspective. Grant me grace to remain calm and trust you that you are in control of everything. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Count it all Joy

James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Last week Wednesday, I boarded the public bus to the office, the weather looked okay from the bus stop, but there were so many people at the bus stop and the traffic was heavy. I eventually got on the bus, well dressed for the crucial meeting I had in the office. Some few kilometres to the office, it started to rain heavily and I had no umbrella, I prayed quietly in my heart that the rain should stop, it did, but by the time I alighted from the bus, it started showering again, I was drenched in the rain.

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On arrival at the office, I sat at my desk, ready to change my flip-flops – I usually put my work shoes in my bag. To my surprise, I couldn’t find my work shoes, I had forgotten it at home. Here I am preparing for a meeting with pink flip-flops! I quickly asked a friend if she had some spare work shoes and she said she had taken it home. 

The meeting was to start by 2:00pm, so I had ample time to do something, as I was busy thinking about what to do, I remembered there was a store that sells shoes close to the office. I quickly walked down to the store and got myself a beautiful pair of black sandals that did the job for the day! (Hallelujah!)

In all these I see the hand of God guiding me that day, I was drenched in the rain without an umbrella, I forgot my work shoes at home, yet the Lord helped me figure out what to do and before the meeting, my wet clothes had dried. Initially I had began to feel distressed by the events of that morning, but I chose to rejoice inspite of it all and it was as I rejoiced that I remembered the store close to the office.

How we handle distressing circumstances in our walk with the Lord matters, we must choose the path of joy over complaining and murmuring or wearing a long face!

Prayer

Lord I asked that you grant me grace to rejoice in every situation. In Jesus Name. Amen.

The Lord is my Strength

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV)
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.

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Last night, as I lay on my bed, meditating on God’s goodness the Holy Spirit began to quicken these words in my heart, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”, “when I am weak, then am I strong,” “for my strength is made perfect in weakness”.

Two weeks ago, I had some health challenges. During this period I felt very weak and my productivity level was low. I’m much better now and I thank God for healing me, but the energy is returning gradually, I wish it can happen faster…

Well, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Apostle Paul, who was left for dead after being beaten up by the Jews, yet in that state he was connecting heaven (Hallelujah!) The enemy meant it for evil, but it worked out for good! 

2 Cor 12:2-10 (NKJV)

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I’m learning to draw from God’s strength, but I’ve come to realise that His strength is made perfect in our weakness, when I am weak, then I am strong. Let the weak say I am strong.

In our walk with the Lord, there will be times, when we become faint or tired, but the word of God says that during those times, we should wait upon the Lord.

We wait upon Him by spending time in His presence, seeking His face and fellowshipping with Him.

As we wait upon the Lord we exchange our weakness for His strength, then we mount up with wings as eagles. In His presence is FULLNESS (not half measure)of joy, No matter where you find yourself, don’t let anything steal your joy, look to Him, meditate on His goodness because the joy of Lord is your strength. 

The Lord is my strength!

I cannot be boxed into a corner

Romans 8:37-38 (NKJV)
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today I want to talk about God’s power to save us in the midst of challenging circumstances. Our attitude to seemingly insurmountable obstacles should be that of faith and praise to God, for we are more than conquerors.

The Bible is full of stories that show God’s power at work when His people are faced with helpless situations. When Jesus was crucified, the enemy did not know that it was all part of God’s plan for redemption, as is written:

1 Corinthians 2:8 (NKJV)

8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

I can tell you that all things work together for good for those who LOVE the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

Two stories I would like to share from the Bible.

Israel had recently defeated the Arameans in a mountain battle. 

1 Kings 20:22-23

"Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, 'Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.' Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, 'Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they."

The enemy said that the God of Israel was a god of the mountains, but if they fought the Jews in the valleys they would defeat them. 

I Kings 20:28

"Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, 'Thus says the Lord, "Because the Arameans have said, 'The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,' therefore, I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord”

No matter what the enemy tries to tell you, God is God of the mountains and He is also God of the valleys. He has not stopped being God because you happen to find yourself boxed into a corner. 

Another story in the Bible that shows that God is sure to make a way for His children is seen in the parting of the red sea. When the Lord sent Moses to deliver the children out of the land of Egypt, they came face to face with the red sea and behind them was Pharaoh pursuing hard after them.

Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV)

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

God did the unthinkable as He always does, He asked Moses to stretch his rod, and the red sea parted. The same red sea drowned Pharaoh and his army. The Lord gave them victory and they didn’t have to fight!

Whatever it is your facing today that looks like you’ve been boxed into a corner like the saying goes: “in between the devil and the deep blue sea”, the Lord will make a way for you, just like He did for the children of Israel, both “the devil and the deep blue sea” would be dismayed at what the Lord will do. For He is well able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. Maintain an attitude of faith and praise to the Lord and He will come through!