The prize

“Isn’t it obvious that all runners on the racetrack keep on running to win, but only one receives the victor’s prize? Yet each one of you must run the race to be victorious. A true athlete will be disciplined in every respect, practicing constant self-control in order to win a laurel wreath that quickly withers. But we run our race to win a victor’s crown that will last forever.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭TPT‬‬

At present the France Olympic Games are in progress. Althletes are running, swimming and entering their field of expertise. They may win a medal that over time will gather dust. However, the Christian runs in a race for a heavenly and eternal prize. They discipline themselves to be present even when ill, they is no room for the faint of heart. Us Christians have the same disciplines upon us. We must show up and be engaged when tired, when feeling ill. 

Smiths-Wigglesworth, the great healing evangelist in the early 1900 was reputed to be suffering with gallstones, yet he turned up, preached and conducted lengthy meetings. Smith had grit, he was a man of faith and deteemination. Pastor Bill Johnson has grit, even when he had a very sick wife, who eventually died from cancer, he was a church preaching. He was not going to submit to the enemy of his soul.

We cannot be timid in our faith. Today, after only three hours sleep, I am going to college as it is where I must be. I have a work to do and cannot be slack in it.

Strengthen those tired hands and feet and keep going! Amen!

Far more

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭TPT‬‬

What can God’s miraculous power do in me? Far more than I could ask or think. For greater is He that is in me that he that is in the world ( 1 John 4;4).

I have be blood-bought, rescued, made holy by Him. As I abide in Him He fills me with His dreams and leads me into greater exploits. Dreaming great dreams in Him are an adventure.

He is mighty and able to do far more than I ask or think! Amen!

Mighty power

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭TPT‬‬

What is ‘all this’? Paul says:

“And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.”Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Not bad! In fact very good! Supernatural strength I claim. I have a full day ahead of me that will culminate in a Bible study here at my house tonight. I am loving college and my teacher is a very loving soul. My fellow students are a delight, one Chinese and one Japanese. Neither speak much English, yet here we all are learning Nepali. Nepali will be our common language.

On Sunday afternoon my friend Chelle and I did a nature walk through virgin bush. It was wet, humid and leech filled. We had to move quickly so as to avoid the leeches. Nonetheless I scored eight. The pace and the rugged terrain left me with an injured left knee. I claimed healing and walked uphill claiming healing. It kept hurting and so we caught a taxi. I spoke over it, I said, ‘I did not do any major damage, that a rest and hot packs would cure it, it did!’ 

Our confession rules us! We are children of God and we must act like it! Amen!

God’s mighty strength in me is there to use and boldly do so. God’s power is mighty to save! Amen!

Knowing the word

“Recite this scroll of the law constantly. Contemplate it day and night and be careful to follow every word it contains; then you will enjoy incredible prosperity and success.” Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This was God speaking to Joshua. We can see God wanted him to know the word. He wants us to know our bibles also. When we know our bibles and what it has to say about a matter and if we flow what it says, we will have success in that matter.

Jesus taught us how to resolve matters with others: go to them first, then others, then the church if not resolved. We don’t do this faithfully. I found myself determined to do this but because I delayed I spoke to another person about it first. Wrong! Today I spoke to that person and resolved the matter. I should have done it sooner! 

Another thing we must be careful of is others warning us about people. Unless I see the problem with my own eyes I refuse to listen to others, and when I see for myself I confront, and determine the truth. 

Problems with others can distance them from our affections and when another comes along who is closer, we divulge. The answer is prompt action to resolve with the person we have a problem with.

above all else, pray, pray, pray! Amen!

This generation

“There is a generation rising that considers themselves to be pure in their own eyes, yet they are morally filthy, unwashed, and unclean.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This is a warning. If we think we are clean but do the things Jesus said not to do, we are deceived. If we judge we will be judged. If we criticise we will be criticised. If we hate we will be hated. However, if we love we will be loved in return.

Jesus though He was reviled did not return the behaviour. He prayed, ‘father forgive them for they know not what they do’. 

Father forgive us our impurity, our sin that so easily deceived us into thinking we are pure. Cause us to come to You and seek Your righteousness and not be content with our own crafted in deceit. Amen!

Let go of the wounds

“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.”Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭TPT‬‬

People wound us, and we wound people. The important thing is we forgive and are forgiven. If we say the Lord’s Prayer we cover both. ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive others their sins’.

I’ve returned from a blissful weekend away with a girlfriend who is similar in many ways. The Lord blessed us both. We both returned to a life that can create conflict. However, for both of us forgiveness must be first as is prayer for those who wound us.

Wounds can come unexpected but they come through things others say and so, that is life. May we always be prepared to love and forgive. Amen!

Strip it off

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We all have fleshly tendencies unless we are walking in the Spirit. Judging and complaining are two that are common. I find myself doing these unless I am mindfully aware of my conversation. I don’t like them in others and therefore others must not like them in me. They are not helpful and can lead to offence and separation of friends.

We then have routines playing or in our minds of what we can say to the person who has caused us grief. What happened to praying for the people and trusting the Lord for the outcome?

Yesterday I found myself stuck here. I repented and prayed. I have a young Nepali paying  out guilt on me because I will not attend his fellowship group, telling me I do not care or love he and his wife. As ai don’t like to hurt people this is playing on my emotions. I talked this over with my American friend as she has lived in Nepal for sixteen years. She explained how things work. I do care for them and pray for them but will not be obligated to do what they want as I know where it will lead. Rather than me working out the answer I went to God and prayed. Peace came.

I will continue to pray. This man is God’s son and He is the best Farher! Amen!