Why Did You Choose God?

“No matter what comes my way, I will follow God.  No matter what the enemy brings my way, I will still stand for God”. 

These are words that most of us speak so carelessly without counting the cost.  Through the years and especially this year, I have learnt the hard way that those words are precious and should not be spoken lightly.

Jesus asked Peter, "do you love me?"  He asked him, why aren’t you leaving me like all the others?  Peter said, ‘Lord I love you, I will follow you even to death’.  He said, "who should we go to? You have the words that bring life.  We have nowhere to go".

I am sure Peter meant every word when he said he loved Jesus.  I am sure in his heart, Peter meant every word.  Matthew 26:33-35. Peter with all his heart desired to be faithful to God but when things begun to get tough and complicated with his life hanging in the balance, he said “I don’t know the man’’  Matthew 26:69-75.

When we are faced with too many challenges and we are at the place where we feel the most hurt, that is when our self preserving instincts kick in, and at that moment, surviving becomes our priority.

Peter at that moment didn’t remember how he boldly declared, ‘I will follow you to death’.  He had the right kind of heart and he did love God.  Peter knew Jesus was the one spoken off by the prophets. He had been with Jesus for 3 years. He knew Jesus personally but in that hour, that precious dark hour, when all he could see was death, pain and torture, he chose his life over that of his beliefs.

It is so easy to promise everything when we haven’t been stretched to the limit of our endurance, but when we have reached that limit when we feel the rope is about to break, when we have hit rock bottom and there is no more sand to sink into and nowhere else to turn, what will we say?.....to be continued

Written by Aba Dadson







WHAT IS NEXT?

Twisted Truth

Genesis 3:1-6 

Satan convinced Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He told Eve what she already knew, as the tree was indeed called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen 2:9 and Gen 3:5.  

Yet he presented the skewed truth to Eve, making it so appealing that Eve was not only tempted, but gave in to the temptation.  Too often we feel that when the enemy attacks he will tell us lies. He does not always come with the truth, but neither does he always come with a complete lie. He comes with the negative and makes it sound so good we lose sight of why it was bad in the first place. Have you ever heard of the saying; ‘the lust of the forbidden’? That is how the enemy operates.  The enemy took what God had said and played on it on Eve's mind, twisting God's word to mean differently, and making sure that everything God had said was taken out of context and abused.  

Eve’s mistake was her failure to stand on God's Word. To be convicted of it. She recognised the words the devil spoke, but she did not realise that what he said was meant for evil and not for good. And that is the same mistake we make today.  We see the package and how attractive it is but we never stop to question or think about it. We take it and accept because it appeals to us.  We have lost our sense of right or wrong and we have taken everything that seems good to the ear. But if we are to excel and stand for God then we have to understand that it is about one thing only, OBEDIENCE. Taking God at His word and doing what He says and not what we think looks right. 

Written by Aba Dadson




















WHAT IS NEXT?

God our Orderly Creator!

Genesis 1-3:6

From Genesis 1-2:3 emerges the picture of a God who is creative and orderly.  He spoke everything that we see around us into being. We realise from verses 1-3, in chapter 1 that God spoke to a formless dark world. He spoke life and light into it and this makes me know that He is a God who gives life and light to us, irrespective of the state that we are in. 

If He can take nothing and make beauty and light out of it, then your case is not hopeless. Whichever state or stage you are in right now, God can create new beginnings for you. He is a God who is able and willing to do so.

He is also orderly. He creates everything step by step. He takes one thing and works on it one step at a time.  And afterwards, He pauses to take stock of what He has done, to ensure it meets His standards - Verse 10b of Genesis chapter 1. 

Everything He created, He provided for. The sea, He gave fish, the air and skies He gave birds. The ground He gave trees and animals. And finally created man (vrs 26 chapter 1) to have dominion over everything. To man He gave everything He had created. 

God’s wish for us is that we rule over everything He created, Gen 1:26. He gave us every good thing including marriage and gave us a command to increase and fill the earth and be master over it. Gen 1:26-28.

Written by Aba Dadson

WHAT IS NEXT?

Women of faith

A woman of faith, who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

In Hebrews 11:35, we read about how through faith, women received back their dead, raised to life again. When women, wives and mothers rise up in faith and in prayer, they are able to bring to life dead situations.

Just as hens roost their eggs to bring them to life with new chicks, so do women of faith roost over dead situations with prayer and words of faith until they quicken them alive.

In 2 Kings 4:17-37, the Shunammite woman acted with so much faith, uttering words of faith - 'it is well,' when all was not well. Through her act of faith, her dead son was brought back to life.

Women have the God given power to give life to dead situations if they will arise in faith, and in prayer. A praying woman in my opinion is to be feared because she births many new beginnings and ends many old episodes. May women answer the call to join with Jesus and through faith bring life to many things and to many people. 



WHAT IS NEXT?

Eyes that cannot see

Numbers 22:21-35

Balaam had eyes but he could not see the angel with the drawn sword because his heart was not in the right place.

Jeremiah 5:21,23

Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,

who have eyes but do not see,

who have ears but do not hear:

But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts;

they have turned aside and gone away.

When our hearts are bent on having their own way in spite of God' s beckonings, we turn rebellious and stubborn, and thereby shut our eyes and ears to whatever God is showing or saying. We become wise in our own eyes, but foolish and senseless before God.

God who uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, especially those who are wise in their own eyes, used a donkey talking, to bring Balaam to his senses.

Do not wait for something foolish and embarrassing to bring you on your knees before God. Choose to fear God. Choose to see! And choose to hear. It is a choice to be obedient to God. A choice to put God first and to obey Him.

Saul had eyes but could not see. It took a bright light blinding him, and Jesus rebuking him in order for his eyes to open. Choose to fear God. Choose to see! And choose to hear.


WHAT IS NEXT?

Where is your heart?

Eyes that see what God is showing are usually eyes with their hearts in the right place. 

Abraham saw the ram because his heart was in the right place. He was at the place of obedience to God's voice. He had humbly set off to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God's command, even to his own detriment. As a result, God opened his eye to see a ram he could sacrifice instead - Genesis 22.

Moses saw the burning bush because his heart always beat for the Israelites.  He felt their pain and wanted to see them free. God caused Moses to see His wonder in order to send him off to set the Israelites free. The heart of Moses was at the right place. 

When Stephen was being stoned to death, his heart was after Heaven, so he saw the heavens open.  The widow Anna who fasted and prayed continuously for the birth of the Messiah beheld baby Jesus, because her heart was after Jesus. 
Luke 2:36-38 

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 




WHAT IS NEXT?

The Reprobate Mind

Numbers 22:21-35

Balaam was on his way to Balak who wanted Israel to be cursed. Balaam had previously been warned by God not to go to Balak, but he persisted and finally God said he could go.

Have you ever been in a situation where you have persistently wanted your way and got it anyway? That was what Balaam did. He got his way, to God's displeasure.  God gave in after consistently saying no to Balaam, and yet with Balaam coming back again and again to ask.

When we know what God wants , and yet cunningly try to get God to support our wrong way, eventually we would give in to illusions.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

Romans 1:28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

Never get to a place where you make up your mind before you seek God, and where you try to twist God's arm to endorse your selfish ways. God is a patient God, but when we insist on our own ways and do not regard His instruction and direction, He will permit us to live deceptive and illusional lives, with depraved and reprobate minds, and having consciences like that seared with a hot iron.

This is a pityful state where one begins to see wrong as right, and right as wrong. May God have mercy on us, and help us to acknowledge Him in all our ways so that He can rightly direct our paths. And may we be willing and obedient to His will.

WHAT IS NEXT?

The Pruning process

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

We are called to bear fruits, and for our fruitfulness,  we must remain in Jesus, in God. Without Jesus, who is the vine we cannot bear fruits.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. 
John 15:1-4

Just as Jesus cursed the fig tree to wither because it bore no fruit, so will the Father cut us off if we are fruitless. And when we are bearing fruits, the Father would prune us to bear even more fruits.

The pruning process could be painful. We may feel a tinge of agony as God shapes our character, or as we go through the fire in preparation for our calling. We may face isolation and be deserted.  But all of these, God will allow that we may bear more fruits.

If we endure the pruning process to the end, our fruits shall increase. If we curtail the pruning process, we harm our own fruitfulness. Joseph endured his pruning process to the end. His fruits of bringing deliverance and help to Egypt, Israel and many more surrounding countries were lasting.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.


WHAT IS NEXT?

The pangs of childbirth

When a woman is pregnant, and goes through labour to give birth, we often describe the child as the fruit of her womb.  When a woman takes seed, that is, gets pregnant, it is expected of her to take the pregnancy to its full term and then have a baby, that is for her body to relieve herself of the seed that has become a fruit - the fruit of her womb.

Likewise, God's children have seeds in them that have to be born. There are seeds in Zion that ought to bear fruits. Zion must have her children!
Isaiah 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed,she  brought forth her children.   

For Zion to have her children, her seeds must become fruits. The seeds of Zion need rains to germinate. It is God that sends rain to Zion. Therefore Zechariah directs us to : Zecharaiah 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.

The Lord assures Zion of rain, abundance rain, and a bountiful harvest :

Joel 2:23-24 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain (Autumn rain) moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, (Autumn rain)  and the latter rain ( Spring rain) in the first month. The threshing floors will be full of grain, And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.

Deuteronomy 11:14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil

Leviticus 26:4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.

Hosea 6:3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

The Church of Christ is Mount Zion - Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly- and she has been travailing ( praying), so she is about to give birth to her children. The Lord is sending rains of revival. It shall be a great downpour with both the former and latter rains falling, to bring forth grain ( fresh Word and revelatory messages) as well as win more souls ( grain represents the harvest of souls). The church shall also have new wine and olive oil ( a downpour of God's anointing and power.)

Therefore let us push in expectation (Hosea 6:3) of this great harvest - the children of Zion! The imminent revival to hit Zion will be a combination of old revivals and a new one. It shall be awesome, like nothing we have seen or heard before, with a great, great harvest, Amen!

WHAT IS NEXT?

Neither Do I condemn you.

John 8:11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you,"Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

The above words that Jesus uttered to the woman who was alleged to have committed adultery and was going to be stoned, are the best words a sinner could hear. As men, mortal and sinful, we do falter. It is a good thing to acknowledge our sin, and to repent. But it is dreadful to be consumed by guilt even after repentance,or to feel condemned not knowing the way out.

Jesus was revealed to save us. His salvation removes the label with the words - "GUILTY" from us. Revelation 12:10-11 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

The blood that Jesus shed for us has given us victory over guilt and condemnation.

Romans 8:1-2 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. We have been set free from sin and all its condemnation, and from the wages of sin - death. We now have life, and even life eternal through God's Spirit.

Whenever you feel so accused and unaccepted into God's family, know that the accuser of the brethren is at work. You can find relief and comfort in the Blood of the Lamb. For through the blood, there is forgiveness of sin - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace, Ephesians 1:7

All the accusers of the woman alleged to have committed adultery were without sin themselves. When Jesus suggested that ' he who was without sin should cast the first stone,' none of them was able to. This is because 'for all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.' Through Jesus we can take off the cloak of the guilty, and adorn ourselves with garments of righteousness, as we savour the soothing words - "...neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." 

WHAT IS NEXT?

The Holy Spirit

I was aware of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit at a very tender age. Knowing about someone is very different from having a relationship with the one. I had come into a personal relationship with Jesus at the age of twelve, and renewed my faith when I was seventeen years old. I knew at that age that God could talk to us, because I did commune with Him.

Jesus desires that everyone in Him would know the Holy Spirit and open up to His teaching, guidance, conviction and protection. In John 14:16-17, Jesus assured His disciples - "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

When Jesus physically left the Earth to be seated at the right hand side of His Father, He left us with an advocate - But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative--that is, the Holy Spirit - he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26

I was introduced to the Holy Spirit when I read a book about Him. I learnt that He had a personality, and feelings, for example He could grief. I learnt that He was our teacher and guide in this walk of faith, And if we engaged with Him, He would show us all that we need to know and do. He also empowers us to do what we have to do.

I remember the joy with which I embraced this, and the difference it brought to my life. The Holy Spirit if we draw close to, can guide us away from danger. He can tell us things about to happen and throw light on things that has happened in the past, as well as give meaning to what is happening now. 

If we desire to work for God, then we need the Holy Spirit, for He can convict those we minister to of sin, righteousness and judgment, to bring them into repentance.  As well us empower us with His gifts to use in ministering to souls. As Jesus put it - "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment  - John 16:7-8

WHAT IS NEXT?

The Son

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Jesus stands at the doors of our individual hearts, and knocks. Whoever hears and opens the door for Him, accepts Him in as Lord and Saviour. It is He that does the calling, our part is to do the answering.

Revelation 3:20-21 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

I remember when Jesus knocked on my door. I was a young girl who was very active at my local Catholic church. I was part of the children's department while growing up, and used to participate in a Christian TV show. I was working for the Lord in my own little way. I remember a neighbour of mine trying to introduce me to Jesus, but I was not interested because I did not understand what she was driving at, as I believed I was a Christian.

Then I went to a boarding school as a teenager, and remember how a group from abroad visited my school and in a passionate way, through songs, drama and preaching, shared the Gospel in a way I had never heard before. It was thrilling, and I could not stop crying. I asked Jesus into my heart. It was like a window opened in my dark room. His joy flooded in!

It was a roller coaster journey as I had my ups and downs as a Christian, and even grew cold for some years. But Jesus is faithful, He always left the 99 sheep in search of me. And then He introduced me to a very special friend, the Holy Spirit.

WHAT IS NEXT?

The Father

I grew up with a very loving biological father who made me feel so special and wanted. However, as a young girl growing up, I heard lots of stories of a fearful God who would throw into hell anyone that was sinful. This set the pace for me to be somehow scared of Him. I served Him out of fear than love, afraid I may incur His wrath, and hence be sent to hell.

As I spent time with God, reading my Bible, I was drawn to the depth of wisdom I got from God's Word. In those days my favourite books were the Psalms and Proverbs. All this while, I felt empty and in need of something, that I could not lay a finger on.

God the Father, loved me and saw my searching heart, so He drew me to Himself, and revealed His truth that for God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting  life - John 3:16.

Jesus said : "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me - John 6:44-45

My perception of the Father has changed. Yes, He is to be feared because He is God Almighty, Holy and worthy of praise. But He is also love - 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

God's love for all men is real. He loves us enough to have allowed Jesus' unbearable suffering for our salvation. He wishes that all men would repent so He would lavish on us the good things He has in store for us in His Kingdom. 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


















WHAT IS NEXT?

Supernatural Change

  Aram had besieged Samaria, and as a result there was great famine.

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”

The king replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?” Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?”

She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.” 

2 Kings 6: 26-29

How worse can a situation get? The people of Samaria were so famished that some had resorted to cannibalism.  God however was able to change their story.

What is your story? Do you feel as if it is impossible to get a happy ending?  Does your situation seem impossible?  Do you feel there is no way out?

Hold on! God of all possibilities can change your story. He is not only able to change your story,  but he is also willing to change your story.

Elisha declared upon Samaria - “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekeland two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Kings 7:1

   Elisha's words seemed impossible. But the God of wonders through four lepers saved Samaria from Aram. All this happened in the span of 24 hours.  2 Kings 7:2-15

    2 Kings 7:16 Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of the finest flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, as the Lord had said.

    Likewise, your story is changing for the better. The impossible is becoming possible. God shall make a way where there seems to be no way. Simply believe and trust in His Word. Do not try to figure out how He shall do it. Just be still and know that He is God.







WHAT IS NEXT?

At Peace with One's Enemies.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

God used Elisha to reveal the war strategies of the King of Aram so that Israel was saved from her. This angered the King of Aram, who investigated, and when he found out about Elisha's expositions, he sent an army after him. 2 Kings 6 : 8-17.

Elisha who worked for God, and was aware of God's support for him, prayed and asked that his enemies be struck with blindness. The Lord answered his prayer. He led them into the territory of their opponents, prayed again for their eyes to be opened. To which God granted, then Elisha urged the King of Israel to show them kindness. 2 Kings 6: 18-22

In Proverbs 25:21-22, we are advised - If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Because Israel's ways pleased God, and because she showed the army of Aram kindness, Aram was at peace with her.

2 Kings 6:23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Things Unseen.

One can get so engrossed in his or her surroundings and be oblivious of all that is going on around him or her.

Likewise you can focus on your little world and take your eyes off the bigger world. You can be consumed with what you perceive and see, and leave out realities that you fail to perceive or see.

Elisha's servant had his eyes on what he could see - an army approaching them.  He was frightened and consumed by this distasteful sight. 

2 Kings 6:15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

There is an unseen world that God has hidden from mortal men. It is in the spiritual realm. Things on this physical earth have a spiritual bearing in the spiritual world, and vice versa.

Elisha, whom God frequently used was active spiritually and by God's grace could perceive spiritual occurrences. He therefore replied his servant - Don’t be afraid,” “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes,Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 
2 Kings 6:16-17

God reigns over things that are seen (visible) and over things that are unseen (invisible). For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16

There are things that we cannot see that affect our lives. Therefore men ought to pray and not faint. For we are fighting an unseen battle.

Do not limit your life to what you physically see. Tune in to God via his cordless link - prayer. And the God to whom things unseen bow to, would protect you from what is seen and unseen.




WHAT IS NEXT?

The Overtaking Grace

Matthew 20:16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

When God's grace comes upon you, and He shows you favor, He is able to catapult you from grass to glory.

In Matthew 20, we learn of the landowner who hired workers to till his land. Some were hired far earlier than others, and yet he paid everyone the same. This story is likened to the Kingdom of God.

God can cause one who is trailing behind in life to catch up with those who are way ahead, and to even overtake them. Joseph, a slave of Potiphar,  overtook his master and became Lord over him.

God's anointing that caused Elijah to run ahead on foot, and still overtake Ahab on a chariot is still at work today. 1 Kings 18:46 Then the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.

When God's power fills and backs you, you become first in every race.
It doesn't matter where you are in the race. Like those that tilled the land in Matthew 20, you could be early or late, but your reward will be the same. That means that in the end, you shall have the same benefits and privileges as those leading you.

You may be starting out late in marriage or in your career, but in the end, you shall not lack any good thing in every area of your life. So much so that your lost years shall be redeemed and not show at all.

Your time and chance is now! An overtaking anointing is available to God's own.  God shall order the footsteps of His own into their wealthy place.

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. Ecclestiastes 9:11








WHAT IS NEXT?

The Other Side

When God is on your side, it doesn't matter what is happening to others. Your story would be different. 

In Genesis 26, we read about how Isaac sowed in a land of famine and reaped a hundred fold - Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.

It did not matter that on the other side, there was famine and lack. A different law applied to Isaac because the Lord had appeared to him and told him - “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.

God proves faithful to His own. Similarly, when God was about to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, He plagued the Egyptians with various 
Plagues but exempted Goshen, where His Children, the Israelites dwelt.

God is not limited by the laws of the Earth. He chooses to do what pleases Him. He made the Israelites walk on dry land in the middle of the Red Sea, but caused the Egyptians to drown on the same pathway.

God is doing the same for His Children in this day and time. We shall experience abundance in drought. He shall make a way where there seems to be no way - Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19



WHAT IS NEXT?

He Hears!

There are times that it may feel like God has forgotten about you, and that your cries and struggles do not reach the ears of God. 

The Israelites had been enslaved for over 400 years by the Egyptians.  In their pain and toil they had made endless calls to God. But it seemed as though God was not listening to them.

God sometimes appears as though He is not listening, but the Bible assures us that - The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry. Psalm 34:15

God finally sent physical help, and His deliverance was awesome. Egypt finally realised that there was a God in Israel.

Exodus 3:7-10 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 

And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.  So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

It doesn't matter how long it takes. When God finally turns up, He makes a grand statement. So wait patiently for the Lord.








WHAT IS NEXT?

A Safe Place

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

As we walk with God, it is His desire that we experience the safety that comes with associating with Him. 

Noah was a righteous man, so when the Lord decided to destroy the Earth, Noah found safety in God. Noah loved a Supreme being called God, and kept His precepts.  This Great Being and name brought him through the floods.

Lot was saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because his uncle pleaded with God. Wherever a righteous man is located, the name and person of God saves them.

God saved the Israelites from some of the plagues that engulfed Egypt because they knew God. God is a constant friend that is ever present on our day of trouble.

When we go through trials , the Lord is still close and keeps us safe. Even in death, the righteous is safe - Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. Psalm 16:10

May you everyday experience the safety and friendship that God gives.



WHAT IS NEXT?

From Sunrise to Sunset

God cares about His children and never takes His eyes off any of them. We are all very important to Him, and are engraved on the palms of His Hands.

Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. 

When the Israelites left Egypt, by day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.Exodus 13:21 

In the wilderness, God ensured that His children had manna each morning, and a double portion before the Sabbath so they could rest on the Sabbath and still have food. Exodus 16. 

Also, for forty years in the wilderness, God looked after his own so that they could use the same clothes and shoes for forty years, without them wearing out.
Deuteronomy 8:4 For all these forty years your clothes didn't wear out, and your feet didn't blister or swell.

God cares for you. He never sleeps nor slumbers so He can watch over you. He watches you from sunrise to sunset. Bask in this love and do not worry or fret about tomorrow.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Staying Real!

God knows our hearts and minds even before we make it known to Him. Nothing is hidden from the Lord God, so we must never pretend before Him. It is unnecessary and laughable!

A father brought his son with a deaf and mute spirit before Jesus to be delivered. Initially this father had approached the disciples of Jesus, and asked them to deliver his son of the evil spirit, but they could not.

Being disappointed, he told Jesus in Mark 9:22 -  "....But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

Jesus thereby answered - 23“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus.“Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Jesus repeated the words of the man - "If you can." This is because He knew there was more to his statement . This father had already faced a big set back - the disciples were unable to deliver his son. "What if Jesus was also not able to deliver him," he may have thought. Uncertain and skeptical, he kept it real and replied:

24Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

He gave a very honest reply. His faith was wavering and he needed Jesus to help him to even have faith. Are we truthful like this man? Do we approach God in spirit and in truth, unveiling our true state and feelings? Or do we pretend before God? Acting up as though all is well, and yet sinking so low and deep.

Although God already knows our thoughts and hearts, He requires our honesty because He has given us our free will and wishes we will freely come to Him in our true state, and with honesty commune with Him.

Learn to unmask before God. Come naked at heart. Come as you are. No false fronts and fake attitudes. Be real!

WHAT IS NEXT?