Slow to speak

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We each have circumstances that raise our anger. Impatience and failure to understand are key drivers. We can become so cross with the Lord over our circumstances that we become offended with Him and His ways. We can become likewise with His people.

Yesterday I arose at three am to ready for a bus trip to Sindhulpalchok, northern Nepal. After a three hour journey we arrived in a major town and went to my accomodation. We were made wait, and wait. After having breakfast we went out to meet an elder of a local church where we were planning to show the Jesus movie. We then caught a taxi to a far away village where my Nepali friend had family. After meeting all the family I was shown around his land and visited a church his family had built on their land. There was no other church in the area.

After walking up a very steep hill we came to the village where we proceeded to go to local shops asking about human trafficking in the area. We discovered that the trade was alive and well. After some time sitting in a tea shop we returned to the family farm where we waited for hours until dinner time. After dinner I asked to go back to my motel. We went to the main road to wait for a taxi. It turned up with four youths inside. I said, “I am not going with four youths out for a joy ride!” We then waited another half and hour for another taxi and I finally made it back to my motel at 8:30pm hot and tired.

On th surface the day had been a waste of time, but in true Nepali style I was making connections and valuable relationships. To be annoyed with the process would rob me of those connections. We now know where to base our investigations.

Today starts at four am. We will attend church locally and then I am not sure what. I would be quite happy to return home. I will see what my Nepali friend has planned. As it is the planting season most of the locals in the village are crop planting for 12 hours a day. We cannot go to the schools as they are in exams. Therefore, the people we came to see are unavailable. We wanted to conduct education on human trafficking in the area. I am inclined to go home. We will see what God has planned.

Praying in faith

“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What things do we pray for? Finance, relationships, homes, and health. We may be particularly hurt by the way we are treated by family and want to see it resolve.

The interesting thing that Jesus then went on to say was: “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The day previous Jesus had cursed a fig tree and a Peter was pointing it out to Jesus, it was withered from the roots up.

Why was the fig tree so important? It was a tool to teach a message. If we believe God hears us when we pray and we pray in faith will we have what we pray for.

Sharing burdens

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse comes after the exhortation:

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Would you have thought that was sharing their burden? Probably not! We are not good at helping fellow believers who have fallen into sin, rather we tend to judge them and complain about them.

Therefore, in this new light, how can I share another’s burden? What can I do for them? I can talk, pray and direct, give.

What is the law of Christ? It is to love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus also said, “love one another as I have loved you.”(Jn 15:12) how did He love us? He gave His life for us. Amen!

Good judgement

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are parameters for the making of good judgement, it is not how I feel or what makes me happy, but rather what is right according to God’s standards.

Each day and every moment of the day we face decisions. Will I do what is good for me or what is right. How will I know what is right? I must base it on God’s word. If I do not read His word then I am failing to understand His ways. Reading proverbs daily is a good start, then the gospels and getting to know Jesus and His teachings pivotal.

In my flesh, all my own inklings surface and demand right of way. However, I am called to walk in the Spirit. Therefore, I must be in tune with what the Spirit says. The New Teatament tells me what the fruit of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, patience and self-control. These fruit will be evident in my life as I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

If I see: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,”(Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬) then I know I am in the flesh.

I must accept the reality of my behaviour and adjust it to follow Christ or I am lost. Thinking I am safe because I asked Jesus to be my saviour is not enough. I must make Him Lord. Amen!

Who is in charge?

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We rarely stop to think what am I thinking and with what am I thinking? We blunder on in the flesh. Yet, this scripture is encouraging us to stop and think.

Our sinful nature sees the wrong in others and our circumstances. It weighs everything on the scale of self. Whereas the spirit is far above and trusting in God alone.

As Christians do we realise we can tune into God’s Spirit and allow that to rule our thoughts? Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If this is true He is right here with us, fills all things with His presence, we just have to tune in.

What is the Spirit saying to you right now? What is God saying through Him?

Why not tune in! Amen!

Don’t worry

““So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In this chapter Jesus deals with money, the Lord’s Prayer, forgiveness, fasting and giving and anxiety. If we consider all that the chapter entails we gain a correct focus.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we seek God for finance, and relationships, we see Him go to work, as we practice forgiveness we see miracles unfold.

Do I have enough for today? If ‘yes’ then be grateful, if ‘no’ then pray. The verse ‘give us this day our daily bread’ comes to mind. All I need for today is in your hands Lord! Amen!

Liberty

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When the Spirit of the Lord enters our lives He sets us free from all manner of bondages, illnesses, fobias. Choosing to invite Him in is the single best thing we can do for ourselves.

Verse 16 talks about the veil that is over our mind before Christ and verse 18 tell us the glorious freedom we receive:

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are being changed into the image of the Lord. Think about that! Little old me am being changed into the likeness of God.  Now we know that we were made in His image because He tells us that in Genesis: ‘let us make man in our own image and likeness’ (Genesis 1:26). If we were made in His image then why are we being transformed into His image? Sin came through the fall of Adam. We now carry a sin nature in our flesh, therefore we need to be changed day by day into His image amen!.