God‘s will for you in Christ Jesus!!!

Scripture Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Do you know that it is God’s will for you to be joyful always and to be able to give thanks in all circumstances?

Are you always joyful and giving thanks? Are there any issues that you are facing right now that’s causing you to lose your joy? Are the circumstances that you are facing so difficult that you are unable to give thanks? Or are you just lazy to give thanks and proclaim the goodness of God??

If you are losing your joy, I suggest that you need to pray continually until you see the breakthrough in your mind, heart, soul and spirit where you begin to thank God for all that he has done for you. When you press in and pray to the Lord continually, even in the most difficult situation, I believe the Lord will help you overcome the difficult situation in your mind. Then you will find the assurance that the Lord will deliver you and fill your heart & soul with His peace. As the Lord’s peace fills you, your spirit will rise up in thanksgiving. Before you know it, you will discover again the Joy of the Lord!

In simple words, we just have to put in CONSCIOUS EFFORT to pray continually and to give thanks DAILY. We need to recognize that all good things come from the Lord and it is not by coincidence or through our own efforts that we can gain them. Once you become more positive, naturally you’ll be too engrossed in giving thanks that the JOY of the Lord just naturally overwhelms you.

Don’t think,
Just do it!!

Praise the Lord and make music to Him!

Scripture Reference: Psalm 108:1-6

We all love music. Music has become part of our everyday lives. How has music become part of your life? When you face battles in your life, do you PRAISE the Lord and make MUSIC to Him? Or do you start to make NOISE??? (whining, grumbling, etc…)

As I meditate on God's word today, I came to realize that many of us do not sing and make music to the Lord enough everyday. I remember that when I was in my university days, I used to take my guitar and sing to the Lord whenever I was free. I also remember that it was through many such times that the Lord revealed many things to me and it was then that I received ideas on how to handle some of the difficult moments in my life.

I remembered the story of how King Jehoshaphat defeated the armies of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, as mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army. As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir and defeated the enemies of Judah.

My dear friends, learn to make music and sing to the Lord. Praise Him in the midst of whatever situations you are facing and you will find the Lord fighting the battles for you in your lives. The next time you find yourself wanting to grumble or whine about the situation you are in, pause and sing to yourself this verse:

“My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.”(Vs 1)

Let us BREAKOUT by praising the Lord and making music to Him!!!!

Fear Not, Trust in the Lord

Scripture Reference: Mark 4:35-41

In today's Scripture reference, Jesus asked His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (V 40)

This question keeps ringing in my ears as though Jesus is asking me the same question right now. In this month of January, I will be away from the country for quite a number of days and I cannot help but worry about how my wife and children would do in my absence for the next 2 weeks. As I seek the Lord in my devotion today, I was reminded to trust in the Lord and to commit all my concerns to Him.

There were so many times in which the Lord has helped me overcome many trials and difficulties. How can I be so worried? It is not that we cannot be concerned about our loved ones, but I felt that the question my Lord is asking me right now is this, "William, do you STILL have no faith?"

The issue is, how much do I really believe that God will take care of everything for me? If I truly trust Him to He will watch over me and my loved ones, then I should have no fear… In 1 Peter 5:7, the bible tells us to “Cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us.”

Are you worried or troubled over certain issues in your life (eg: your studies, your career or even your future) which may be causing you to fear and lose your peace?"
Even as you pray and surrender these issues unto the Lord, I’d like to remind you of God’s promise to us in Jer 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Let us breakout together from our fears and trust in the Lord; so that we will find Victory in our Lord Jesus. I would like to encourage you to "FEAR NOT, but trust in the Lord!”