Category: faith

Growing up I always believed that church leaders weren’t tempted like us commoners. Understanding that temptation is common to all, provides a sense of solidarity. We are not isolated in our struggles; others have faced similar challenges and have overcome them. This knowledge can be a source of comfort and encouragement.

Today’s scripture highlights God’s faithfulness in our moments of testing and weakness. He knows our limits and promises not to allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. This doesn’t imply that we will avoid temptation, because to be tempted is not a sin, but it guarantees it’s possible not to give in. But if we do God will provide a “way of escape” that might come as an opportunity to remove ourselves from the tempting situation, the strength to say no, or the reminder of His truth in a moment of weakness.

Today, as you face trials and temptations, big or small, remember this promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Lean on God’s faithfulness. Look for His provision of an escape route and trust that He will give you the strength to endure every trial and temptation. Let this assurance mould your response to the tempter, knowing that with God’s help, you can overcome all of his attacks.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I know that the trials and temptations of this world I face come from the devil. Father, I pray that You give me Your armour and protection against him and all the temptations I face today. God, I ask that I stand firm in Your strength and not rely on myself. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

In today’s scripture the phrase “every spiritual blessing” encompasses an immeasurable wealth of grace and favour. These blessings are not earthly or temporary; they are eternal, rooted in the heavenly realms, and anchored in our union with Christ. They include redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, peace, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

These blessings are a testament to God’s love and generosity towards us. Our efforts or merit do not earn them but are freely given through Christ’s sacrificial love. We are invited to access and enjoy these blessings now, as a foretaste of the heavenly inheritance that awaits us.

Today, as we meditate on God’s truth, we can choose to live in the fullness of His blessings. Let’s embrace the richness of God’s grace, allowing it to shape our lives and perspectives. Every spiritual blessing in Christ is ours let’s live as heirs to this divine inheritance, demonstrating the beauty and richness of a life transformed by His grace.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, every good and perfect gift is a blessing from You and You have blessed me with so much. I ask that You use me to be a blessing to others who are in need or facing difficulties. Make me a channel of Your blessing, a channel through whom Your love and peace and joy and love flow out from You, through me, to others. May I be Your hands to bless others. May You guide my feet to places where I can go and be a blessing. May my speech be seasoned with salt so that I may speak words of comfort and encouragement and speak the truth in love. Give me the grace to be available when others are in need. In Jesus name, Amen.

With all that’s going on in this world, have you been wondering about God’s Kingdom? What it is, or where it is? The Bible says the kingdom of God is in the here and now, and thank God, we have a Kingdom that cannot be shaken! The Kingdom is simply God’s system and His throne. It’s His way of doing things. The Bible tells us that His Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

In God’s Kingdom, when you give, it shall be given back to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over – this is not only talking about money. In God’s Kingdom, you can have an abundance of peace and prosperity in your spirit, mind and body, no matter what’s happening around you. And just like the verse says, His Kingdom cannot be shaken! That means, if the stock market goes down, God’s Kingdom is still strong. If the housing market goes down, God’s kingdom is still strong. If gas prices go up, God’s kingdom is still strong!

Today, you can live in God’s Kingdom that cannot be shaken, no matter what’s happening here on earth. Begin to thank God today for His Kingdom. Thank Him for His system of blessing in every area of your life. As you obey His Word and worship Him with a grateful attitude, you’ll embrace His Kingdom and walk in the abundant life He has for you!

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28, NIV).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your Kingdom of peace that lives amongst us. Father, thank You for Your system of blessing in my life. I praise You oh God for Your Kingdom that cannot be shaken by the things of this Earth, the economy, the prime minister or manifesto, biological games, or people with demonic intent. God, I open my heart to You and ask that You reveal Your truth to me, so that I can live in Your ways all the days of my life, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

The one who rewrote the Batman comics, Doug Davidson, tells a story about the time he took his three-year-old with him to return a book to the seminary library. The child had never been inside before. As he shuffled into the vestibule, he stopped in his tracks. Before them hung an almost life-size crucifix. He watched his son’s eyes fix on Jesus’ twisted body, bleeding hands and feet. He had never seen such an image. In their Baptist church, the cross was empty, its Jesus had risen and ascended. For a moment, Doug considered taking the boy away to shield him from the violence statue, But it was too late.

Doug thought his son might cry. Instead, without taking his gaze from the dying Jesus, the child whispered a question full of sadness and great sorrow: Daddy, what happened?

Today on this Good Friday, we have become accustomed to empty crosses that have no meaning. Maybe It’s almost a point of pride with some Protestants not to exhibit Jesus’ bloody crucifixion, but to focus instead on the resurrection. And that’s good too. But empty crosses can also be evasive, shielding us from facing the violence inflicted on Jesus for our sins and the violent acts to do to each other – which is one reason Good Friday is important. It answers the question the kid asked Daddy, “what happened?”. It’s a day to sadly, sorrowfully and joyfully stare the complicity of a broken saviour in the face, as he dies in the worst way possible.

A Good Friday Reflection

What if I stopped in my tracks and gazed at the crucifixion? What if I stood still and took it all in? The pain, the horror, the confusion. What if I asked, and really wanted to know what happened?

“I am poured out like water, my heart is melted within my breast; my tongue sticks to my jaws. My hands and feet have shriveled; I can count all my bones.” Psalm 22:14-17 (NRSV, abridged).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, please answer my humble Good Friday prayer/question. What happened? I really want to know. Please show me and make your sacrifice real to me, in Christ name, Amen.

On this weekend, where the focus will be on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, joy – not sorrow – should be our spiritual response. Did you know that it’s God’s will for you to be joyful always? God wants you to be happy and carefree. He wants you to love your life no matter what your circumstances look like. When you have joy amid difficult circumstances, it’s evidence that you have faith and trust that God will bring you through.

In Christ, joy is strength. When you have His joy, you can stand strong, no matter who or what wants to crucify you. You may say, “I’m just not a real jovial person. I’m more serious. I never laugh much.” I realise God made us all differently, but you can experience real inward joy, which should externally make you happy and excited. So let yourself laugh and have fun, because that’s why Christ came and died. I read that the average child laughs over 200 times a day, but the average adult only laughs 4 times a day. What happened? We’ve allowed the pressures of life, stress and responsibilities to steal our joy.

Today, during this Holy weekend, decide to get your joy back. Decide that you will look beyond Friday’s problems, to Sunday’s resurrection and hope, knowing that God will see you through. Ask Him every day to fill you with His supernatural peace and joy, so that you can live in Christ’s strength and victory all the days of your life!

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I humbly receive Your Word today. Father, on this weekend, I choose to open my heart to You and invite You to fill me with Your joy and strength that the resurrection brings. Yahshua, thank You for showing me Your goodness and empowering me with Your grace. I bless You today for Your amazing sacrifice, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

The leaders saw that Jesus was attracting a large following. They did not know His true intentions. One thing was clear: to them, it was imperative that His influence must come to an end. The leaders just wanted to silence Jesus and add Him to the list of those who had been forgotten. At the cross they thought their strategy had worked. He had been abandoned by His friends. Few had been brave enough to attend His crucifixion. Soon, Jesus would be forgotten.

The leaders were shocked to learn that His body had disappeared from the tomb where He had been buried. Hallelujah! They developed a strategy to minimise any further disruption or attraction. They paid the soldiers who had watched His tomb to spread the rumour that His disciples had stolen His body. The rumour spread, but His followers learned the truth: He indeed had risen from the dead. Every effort to silence Him had failed, and He could not be forgotten.

Today, this story reminds us that God remembers. All the world may fade away. Our actions may be forgotten. We may be overlooked and taken for granted. But He knows everything. He knows when we have been faithful, and He keeps His Word. His plans are sure and He cannot be stopped by armies or governments, no matter how powerful. You can rejoice that God fulfils every promise. He rewards faithful servants who are good stewards of the resources they have been given and He never forgets!

“Some of the guards … reported to the chief priests all that had happened … they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.” (Matthew 28:11-13 NASB).

Let’s Pray

Emanuel, thank You for going through hell just for me. Father, help me to be a faithful follower of Christ, regardless of what others may say, or how unfashionable it is. God, my desire is to please and serve You till death. I pledge today to never allow You to be forgotten in this sinful life, in Jesus’ name! Amen.