Author: Godinterest

The best way to explain faith, is to explain what it is not. It is not positive thinking. It is not believing or praying for something hard enough that you will it into existence. That is not faith; that is presumption. Specifically, it is the assurance that God will do what He has promised. He has never promised to spare you from illness, heartache, or death. But He has promised to redeem you when you die and take you to be with Him forever.

One day I was talking to a couple who were suffering the pain and heartbreak of infertility. They had prayed and prayed that God would give them a child. They had gone through expensive treatments, and nothing worked. They said, “We believe that whether or not God gives us a child, God is going to use our experience to help and encourage others who are going through this issue”. They ended up leading an infertility support group in our church.

Today, this infertile couple exercise faith. Not faith that God would give them a child, in fact, He never gave them a child but great faith that God would use their pain and struggle for good. Faith that, as 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others”. That is what God has promised to do. He has not promised to take you out of your problems right now, but He has promised to use you to encourage others. That is what biblical faith is: an assurance that God will do what He has promised and what is best according to his will. Remember, faith is not just positive thinking or praying for something hard enough that you will it into existence. It’s all about trusting God no matter what…

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, take my heart, my desires, and my life and transform them to make me a stronger follower of Yours. Father, I want to grow in my relationship with You, but I need to trust You more for that to happen. So, help me on my journey, help me to connect to You more. I need you, God, oh how I need You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

With the European championship coming up next month, I was reminiscing over the last one which saw England lose to Italy. Before bed, I watched the highlights of the match. I already knew how the game would end. I knew which team had won. While I’m watching the highlights, however, I didn’t get discouraged, sad and down when Italy fell behind, because I knew the end result. I didn’t get uptight when they couldn’t get a second goal. Why? Because that wouldn’t change the outcome. I was totally at peace. Why? I already know the result – Italy would win. As an Italian supporter that day, the truth is that the further behind we fell, the more excited I got, because that meant the big comeback was on its way. I couldn’t wait to see it all over again.

Throughout the rest of the year, God has promised us victory. I have read the back of the book and we win. We know the final score and the enemy is defeated. Hallelujah! You may go through disappointments, like Italy after falling behind. At times it seems like you’re far behind spiritually, but you’ve got to remind yourself, “God holds my future in the palm of His hands. He already knows the outcome. God will never be defeated!”.

Today, like Italy, expect a comeback. You’re going to come out of this better and stronger than ever before! Remember, God knows how it ends, and it ends in peace, joy and victory in every area of your life! Get excited about the second half of the year. Trade in your sorrows, we have already won. All we have to do is stay on the winning side. God won’t lose. Don’t give in to the enemy’s lies and shortly you will be celebrating.

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done…” (Isaiah 46:10).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, how awesome You are! Thank You for declaring victory over my life. Father, thank You for allowing me to be on the winning side. I choose to trust Your Word, even when I don’t understand, because I know we win. Hallelujah! I trust that Your promises are good and sure, and we have won by faith in You. God, when discouragement comes, when I fall behind, I won’t feel down, because I know I will come bouncing back in Jesus’ Name, and that my end shall be in victory. I receive this today, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses the truths about life, death, and resurrection. He describes “the sting of death,” which is sin. It is an analogy that highlights the pain and finality that sin brings into our lives, much like the sting of a bee, painful and sometimes fatal. This sting is empowered by “the law,” as the law of God makes us conscious of sin, heightening its effect and the inevitable reality of death.

In today’s verse. Paul isn’t dwelling on death as a defeat of humanity; instead, he is setting the stage to proclaim the victory provided through Christ.  Just a few verses later, he exclaims, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This message for us is both a sobering reminder of the gravity of sin and a call to embrace the victory over sin and death that Jesus offers. Considering this truth, we are encouraged to live, not in fear of death’s sting, but in the joy and freedom of the victory that comes from our faith in Christ.

Today, as believers, we have the assurance that the power of sin and the fear of death are conquered. This leads us not into a life of complacency, but into active, purposeful living, fuelled by the victory that is already ours through Christ. Knowing this, we can live courageously, fully, and righteously, inspired by the victory that nullifies death’s sting and breaks the power of sin.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for being my resurrection and life, in whom I have hope of eternal life. Father, thank You for giving me victory over sin and death, and for setting me free from the fear of death and dying. In Jesus name, Amen.

We as Christians have the same calling, and that’s to be disciples. Jesus says, “Follow me,” and “make disciples”. He calls us to take the good news of God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. God’s great purpose, as the last book of the Bible indicates, is that people from every tribe, nation, people, and language will one day praise Him.

We are often tempted to exempt ourselves from God’s great plan by saying, “I’m not called to be a missionary”, as if that excuses us from being fishers of people. We are willing to claim God’s promise of abundant life but not His promise to become his witnesses who make disciples.

Today, perhaps God has given you a heart for a ministry near your home that blesses your neighbours. Fantastic! But millions around the world do not follow Jesus. Whether you’re a child, a young person, or an adult, will you ask God if he is calling you to be a missionary? We must give our all to enable people around the world to know God. He has given us these radical promises: “All authority … has been given to me”, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”. Let’s be radically occupied with ways to make his glory known at home and around the world.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, you never wavered from your calling to bring salvation to the whole world. Father, help me to be faithful as I hear your call to be a fisher of men. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Today’s verse is a solemn reminder that our actions and attitudes can deeply affect our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

If you are a parent, you understand the difference between being angry at your children and being grieved by your children. It is one thing when your kids make you mad; it is another thing when they break your heart. When they anger you, most of the time the problem can be corrected quickly. But when they grieve you, it can create a wound that takes days, weeks, months, or even years to heal.

The word, “grieve,” is a love word. You can only grieve someone who loves you. You can anger your enemy. You can aggravate or irritate a stranger. But you can only grieve someone who loves you. We talk a lot about the love of God, and God is love. We talk a lot about the love of Jesus… “Jesus loves me this I know”, but have you ever thought about the love of the Holy Spirit?

To grieve the Spirit, is to cause sorrow or distress to the very presence of God within us. This can occur in various ways:

Today, let us examine our lives for areas where we may be grieving the Holy Spirit. May we seek to cultivate a relationship with the Spirit that is marked by obedience, repentance, and a deep desire to honour God in all we do.

Let’s Pray

Do you worry? Some of us worry about paying the monthly rent or mortgage. Some of us worry about the choices our children are making. Others are anxious about the big decisions we must make about our future. With all the concerns in life, can Jesus be serious when he tells us not to worry?

While we will never know a life without concern, Jesus assures us we can know a life without worry. He points out that worry, any manner of pace-the-floor, can’t-sleep-at-night fretting, is not helpful because it changes nothing. Worry doesn’t add a single hour to life; it doesn’t solve a single problem. Worry isn’t helpful because life is more than our worries make it out to be! Followers of Jesus are called to live for so much more than the fleeting things we worry about.

Today, Jesus reminds us that worry isn’t necessary for a child of God. Your heavenly Father knows precisely what you need when you need it and your heavenly Father is good. The same God who paints the flowers of the field and tends the birds of the air, holds every part of your life in his nail-pierced hands. The same God who loved you so much that He went through the hell of Calvary for you, loves you too much to leave your life to chance. Don’t worry! God is in control!

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, you hold the vastness of the universe and the intricacies of the smallest molecules in your hands. Please help me to trust in your perfect care for me, so that I may be free to build my life in you. In Christ’s name, Amen.