QUE SERA SERA?

WHAT WILL BE WILL BE? 

When I was pregnant with my first child, I imagined how she would look and whom she would grow to become.I had great dreams for her and mentally planned her life, desiring wonderful things for her. Great was the joy in my heart when I beheld her for the first time. The word of God teaches me in PSALM 139 VERSE 16 that God acted in a similar way before I came into existence - 'Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written. The days fashioned for me. When as yet there were none of them,' If indeed God had already prepared and written down our days before our very existence as depicted in the Scriptural Psalm above, do we then have any control over the circumstances of our lives? Is the Spanish saying true - que sera sera? That is, what will be will be. Should we simply fold our arms and watch God's future for us unfold, regardless?

God promises us a positive and good life in Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. God's promises are yea and amen(2 Corinthians 1:20). They are definite and accurate. In the Book of Numbers 23 verse 19 we are reminded that 'God is not a man that He should lie nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said it, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?' Whenever you find yourself in a contrary situation to God's promises, do not sit unconcerned, nor feel helpless. Take a cue from the following Biblical characters and take control of your life through the grace of God.  

HEZEKIAH : When the Prophet of God declared to King Hezekiah to put his house in order as he was going to die, Hezekiah did not simply accept this as inevitable. Rather he prayed and altered the course of his life through the grace and mercy of God. God as a result of his prayer added fifteen more years to his life. 

( Isaiah 38 verses 1 to 20) 

 

HANNAH: In the book of 1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 1 Hannah who was childless was reviled by her rival. However she changed her status through fervent prayer and by making a vow unto God. As a result of this , the story of her life changed for the better as she bore a son, and fulfilled her vow to the Lord.  

SHADRACH,MESHACH AND ABED-NEGO: When we are faced with adverse situations where our very lives are in danger unless we compromise our faith, we must remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who refused to bow and worship King Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold. They were punished to death in a fiery furnace. The furnace was so hot that the men that accompanied them to the furnace died as a result of the heat, but praise God, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego survived and came out unscathed. God preserved their lives because of their loyalty, faithfulness and expression of faith in God. (Daniel chapter 3). Having faith in God in troubling times and refusing to compromise your stand as a child of God can change the course of your life, and bring about your subsequent deliverance.

 

ESTHER: In the Book of Esther chapters 2 to 8, the Jews were being persecuted , and were even going to be killed, however Queen Esther, Mordecai and the general Jewish community fasted and revoked the death verdict on their lives. Sincere fasting to God can alter your life's happenings for your good. From the above we have learnt through Biblical characters that we can alter the course of our lives through prayer and fasting, through the sincere making of vows unto the Lord, and also by simply standing loyal to God, not compromising on our faith. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says " He has made everything beautiful in His time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." 

God is ever knowing, He has made us aware of our end - that His plans for us are good, to bring us hope and take us to an expected end. We must embrace this and do all we can in our capacity to bring this to pass. However, we are only human and may not know all of what is in store for us from the beginning to the end of our lives. In spite of this , we must not compromise, but continue in faith in God. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego , we must be bold to declare that our God is able to deliver us, and even if He does not, we would not serve other gods nor worship other images. We are co-workers with God(1Corinthians3:9), so must not sit unconcerned with our life's episode, let's join hands with God and make our lives a living testimony!

THE NOBLE CHARACTER

STUDYING GOD'S WORD 

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11 

The above is a description of the people of Berea in the book of Acts. In my mind's eye, I can see the Bereans seriously taking notes of whatever Paul and Silas taught them, most probably oblivious of their surroundings, save the teachings they were keenly listening to. I imagine that upon reaching home, the people of Berea went right away to their desks, presumably piled with books and scrolls on the Law. They eagerly perused its pages to ascertain the truth in the teachings they had received from Paul and Silas. They made references as they read, cross checked every little detail if it were in line with God's Word. What a meticulous way to seek God! The Bereans wanted to know God for themselves, and basically were a perfect description of what the Psalmist described in Psalm 119: 15-16 -" I will meditate on your precepts, and contemplate your ways. I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word." 

The Bereans , I believe were careful about the things of God, and took practical steps to build a relationship with Him. They did not totally depend on a man's words, but instead searched for God's. This earned them the title of being noble. In contrast to the character of the Bereans is that of a Prophet in the Book Of 1Kings 13, verses 1 to 29. This Prophet actually heard clearly from God an instruction not to eat anything whilst on a Godly errand, and also to use a different route when returning from his errand. However, an old Prophet managed to dissuade this true Prophet of God from obeying God to the letter. Unfortunately, the true Prophet fell for the lies offered him by the Old Prophet, and died as a result. Even though he was a true sheep following the Shepherd, he was unable to identify a wolf in sheep's clothing who beckoned him to a path only used by wolves, and alas, he was devoured!

As Christians, we must ensure to study to show ourselves approved of God, good servants rightly dividing the Word of truth. We have an obligation to listen for the Shepherd's voice, as He has cautioned us that 'His sheep hear His voice and follow.' We cannot throw caution to the wind and follow every line of doctrine, or be gullible to swallow every teaching that we hear. Behold there are many false teachings and preachings going on. Many wolves in sheep clothing have woven their way into the flock of God. We must henceforth stay alert by studying God's Word, praying and by deliberately building a relationship with the Holy Spirit. For Jesus said the Holy Spirit will be our teacher, and guide us into all truth.(John 14:26 and John 16:13) Like Paul, we must be able to confidently say -'I know whom I have believed in.' 2timothy 1:12. And like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the Book of Daniel, we must know what God requires from us, and stick to doing just that. 

When Satan tempted Jesus Christ, the devil cunningly and wrongly used scriptures, attempting to sway Jesus from God His Father. However, Jesus knew the scriptures and identified the flaws in the devil's declarations. He therefore did not fall prey to the devil's temptation. Likewise, we must open our eyes and ears to God's Word, and glow in noble clothings.

PRAYER

Men ought to pray and never faint ( Luke 18:1) 

God never minces words. Every word spoken from the mouth of God is consequential, and for a purpose.He is a God that thrives on principles, a God of order! Jesus Christ His beloved Son whom He sacrificed for the good of mankind, has reconciled man to God and has given all men the passport to commune freely with God. Now we have been assured that we can come boldly to the throne of Grace to receive mercy and grace in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) 

Are you in need of grace? Grace to receive salvation, deliverance, healing, favour...call it what you want. Are you in want of mercy? To conquer a challenge; to overcome a difficulty; to move on from what seems like a dead end? It is available to you, but through prayer. God has great and wondrous things in store for you as a child of God. But not until you call out to Him. He declares in Jeremiah 33:3 -" Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." Though God has great blessings for us, we have not yet tapped into them because we have refused to call out to Him. There is a condition to this promise - a call unto prayer!

Prayer is a priviledge to carry, as a song writer wrote. We forsake the goodies of this priviledge , bear needless pain and forfeit peace when we refuse to pray. Many of us are standing behind closed doors, waiting for diverse breakthroughs, yet funny enough we may not be praying. This can be likened to opening a closed door without its appropriate key. The key to many closed doors in our life is prayer. Jesus taught that we should knock and the door will be opened for us. The act of knocking is an act of prayer. Are you in any form of bondage or danger? Prayer can deliver you! When Peter was locked away in Prison, it was the fervent prayer of the Saints that set Him free - Acts 12: 5-17. For surely the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much - James 5:16 b. 

As the body of Christ, do we want to see more miracles? Are we dying to walk in supernatural power? Then we must pray. Prayer fills our spiritual tanks with oil empowered by God's Spirit to enable us do exploits for and in the name of God. We need God's anointing to do greater things than Jesus did, but not until we offer ourselves unto prayer Nevertheless, God doesn't want us to come to Him in prayer whilst still holding on to filthiness. He wants us to come broken and with a contrite spirit - Psalm 51:17. Let us draw nigh to God, and He shall draw nigh unto us. Your miracle is a prayer away!