Don’t let your circumstances have the final say….four reasons why!!!!

What is happening around you? What kind of environment are you living in? What are you being exposed to on a daily basis? I ask these questions because these things have an impact on you. They have an impact on the way you think and they have an impact on the way you view life. This is a constant battle I find myself in. It has always been a battle. The challenge is to not let your present circumstances determine your destiny. It’s ok if your present circumstances are positive, but what happens when it’s bad? What happens when everyone is talking negatively, and everyone is discouraged? What happens when your future looks bleak, or you THINK it looks bleak, what then?

Here are 4 reasons why you should not let your present circumstances have the final say in your life –

1. Just because things are not going well now does not mean your future is going to be the same. Your present circumstances are not forth coming attractions of your future. Things will get better, much better.

2. Your present circumstances have the potential to determine the kind of choices you make. Even if things are hard and you see no end to the misery make a choice to trust God. The fact is, there is an end to the hard times. Winters always end! Don’t let the “winter” you are going through right now determine and dictate what choices you will make. Step out, pursue what God has called you to do. Don’t shrink back, don’t fear. I have done the latter two a lot! Because things were hard and seemed bleak I thought my future was pretty much the same. But that is not the case. And this is the battle I fight constantly. God has an amazing plan for us and no matter what the enemy brings our way we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and what He has spoken to us.

3. The next thing I have found is that my present circumstances tend to dictate what I should expect! If things are hard and difficult don’t expect much I am told. Just get by. Don’t trust God for too much…….!

Please, don’t let your current circumstance determine what you expect. Maybe you don’t have the money you need but don’t let that stop you from pursuing what God has called you to do. Don’t allow your circumstances determine your expectations. Expect God to do great things in your life even if things are falling apart in your life. He will come through for you.

4. The last thing is so important. All the points I have mentioned are important but this one needs special consideration. Don’t let your present circumstances dictate your faith in God. Your present circumstances have a way of blurring God’s greatness. It’s hard to see God when things are crazy in your life. It’s hard to see God when nothing seems to be working. Don’t let your circumstances dictate your faith in God. Keep trusting in God. Don’t lose heart. God can be trusted. If everything fails your faith is the one thing that should remain. I have to make a conscious decision to trust God. Even when I feel discouraged, even when nothing seems to be working and even when things don’t look like they are going to change.

I hope this post helped you. In fact I hope it made sense to you! If not, please don’t hesitate to ask me for clarity where unclear or if you need to add something, please feel free to do so.

When I talk about present circumstances I am talking about the difficult times we go through, the hard times, the confusing times. I just thought I should make that clear. I pray your faith continues to be strong in the face of adverse circumstances. God wants us to trust Him because He knows the end. Things will get better, much better. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and winters always come to an end! It’s all because of God’s grace…..Amen

Rolain

A prayer about destiny and direction.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling – down barn; 

build me up again by Your word.

Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;

grace me with Your clear revelation.

I choose the true road to Somwhere,

I post Your road signs at every curve and corner.

I grasp and cling to whatever You tell me;

Proverbs 119:28  (The Message)

This proverb is my prayer. It’s my cry to God. I pray it will

give you hope as you read it and personalise it!

“Barricade the road that goes Nowhere”!

“I choose the true road to Somwhere”!

God has a “Somwhere” for each and every one of us.

It may seem like nothing is happening in your life,

it may seem like things are falling apart but,

GOD has a “Somewhere” for you!

Have a great day!

Rolain.

When we can’t see God’s plan for us……

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Luke 5:4, 5

There is a something I have been declaring to God for the past couple of days which says, 

I can’t see Lord! But I make a decision to trust You. 

I have come to a place where there are a lot of things that don’t make sense.A lot of things that are happening that I don’t understand. I don’t have control over a lot of things, a lot! I can’t see the whole picture. But even in these circumstances I make a decision to trust God. Like Peter who had been fishing for the whole night and caught nothing. Jesus told him to cast his net and even though he didn’t understand, he obeyed God. He couldn’t see the end result but he just obeyed. That is how I feel.  

You may be unclear of the future, or unclear about other things that are happening in your life but God is in control. He can be trusted. He sees everything. He sees the beginning and the end. When things get confusing, when things are unclear, you can either fret and panic or wait on God. You can trust God. He has a plan for you and even though you may not see the whole picture trust in Him.

Let us be like Peter and just obey. Let us be like Peter and just trust! 

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

God bless

Rolain

The things God is behind……

Easter is over but at the same time it’s not! How can we go on from here as normal? There are things that must change. yes there is reflection, but that reflection must translate into something meaningful. There has been so much revelation I have got from Easter. I will hold it in my heart and make sure that revelation is acted upon. Today is a new day. Today, the day after Easter marks a new way of living, a new way of thinking and a new way of doing things. There is victory and there is hope! Will it be hard? Yes! But I can’t live my life the way I lived it before Easter….I just can’t! There is too much that I have been shown. I am accountable for the revelation I have been given.

Don’t let Easter just be a holiday! It is more than that…..

Anyway, that was a side note. That was not the main topic. On Saturday I read a scripture that really got me thinking. It is from Judges 14:3, 4 and it says,

His parents said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among the girls in the neighborhood of our people? Do you have to go get a wife from the uncircumsised Philistines? 

But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the one I want – she’s the right one.”

(His father and mother had no idea that God was behind this, that He was arranging an opportunity against the Philistines. At the time the Philistines lorded it over Israel.)      Mesage.

As I read this passage a few things came to mind. Samson’s parent’s had no idea that Samson’s desire for a Philistine woman was part of God’s plan. He was behind that. But I think Samson had no idea as well. I don’t think he knew God gave him a desire for Philistine woman because it would lead to events that would lead to the down fall of the Philistines! He may have known, but I strongly think not.

But what does that mean? Could that mean there are things in our lives that are confusing and that look out of place that God is behind???

Samson’s parent’s must of been confused, and worried. But the fact remains, God was behind it. It didn’t seem like it, but He was.

God is behind a lot of things in your life. And it’s poosible you may not even have the slightest clue.God knew how He was going take down the Philistines. The parents didn’t. God knows how your life is going to take shape and you don’t but He want’s you to trust Him.

As I read this passage I was encouraged. Encouraged in the fact that God is in control of my life. Even with those things that don’t make sense at all. Now I know He is behind it all. Nothing is happening in my life just for the sake of happening. God is orchestrating all those things to meet an end, a good end!

That could be you. There may be things happening in your life that just don’t make sense at all! God may be behind it. Ask Him and seek answers. Did the parent’s eventually know the plan? I don’t know. They knew what the angel told them but did they know where their son’s desire would lead him too? Did they know it would lead to the deliverance of Israel? I don’t know. Let us trust God in the midst of confusing times. When things don’t happen as you expect, trust God! When something happens that confuses you trust God! He has a plan and His plan is always good.

Rolain.

I stood at the Cross…..

As I start I would like to share a statement that has been on my mind for the whole week. It has been something I have been meditating on and in a way it was God prepring me for Easter. I really believe Easter is a strong day for us and should not be taken lightly. A strong day where we can declare things, and refuse things, and affirm things and make decisions. This is the statement I have been meditating on, 

“The resurrection is our beacon of victory and hope”.

It really is. Anyway I was at church today. It was pretty quiet. Our Easter service is on Sunday and that is why there was no one at church. But at church we have a huge cross. I mean really huge. So I went and just sat there looking and meditating on it. Our cross has the nails and everything. It is a very powerful symbol. As I sat there a few things came to mind that I would like to share.

– The victory Christ experienced is the same victory He wants us to walk in.

– The Cross also signifies hope. When all was lost, when we were on deathrow,

He came and saved us. We have hope. No matter how bleak our situation may seem, there is hope for us.

There is no need to worry, or to be miserable because our lives are in His hands,

He has healed us

He has a plan and a destiny for us

His grace and mercy is always with us

He has forgiven us

He is guilding our every step

We are His children!

That is all I wanted to share with you. Happy Easter everyone and remember,

The Resurrection is our beacon of victory and hope!

Rolain

What a testimony we have……!!!

And so God gave Israel the entire land that He solemnly vowed to give to their ancestors. They took possession of it and made themselves at home in it. And God gave them rest on all sides as He had also solemnly vowed of their ancestors. Not a single one of their enemies was able to stand up to them – God handed over all their enemies to them. Not one word failed from all the good words God spoke to the house of Israel. Everything came out right.                Joshua 21: 43-45

“As I read this I realised something. Not one word failed from all the good words God spoke to the house of Israel.”

What a testimony of the God we serve. That was Israel’s testimony but it is also OUR testimony!

What God has planned and promised to you will come to pass. He will watch over it for you. On a daily basis He is watching over you making sure what He promised to you comes to pass! What a testimony we have!!!

Not one word He has promised you will fall to the ground. What He has promised will come to pass. God is good indeed!!

Rolain

Keep your word…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

 

God can’t stomach liars;

 

He loves the company of those who keep their word. Proverbs 12:22

 

How many of us keep our word to the people around us? I told a friend I would meet them but didn’t. God loves the company of those who keep their word…….!

If that is what the word says, let me ask another question. Do you keep your word to yourself? You word to yourself is just as important if not more important than the word you make to others! Keep your word to yourself. Don’t break the promise you make to yourself. God loves the company of those who keep their word….!

God can’t stomach liars; He loves the company of those who keep their word. Proverbs 12:22  (Message)

 

Rolain

 

The key to breakthrough is……

We need prayer in our lives. Prayer is the key to the breakthrough we are

seeking in our lives. But how do we pray for the breakthrough?

Luke 11 has the answer.

“Here’s what I am saying:

 

Ask and you’ll get;

 

Seek and you’ll find;

 

Knock and the door will open. 

 

Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. 

 

This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. 

Luke 11:9

It is that simple, actually too simple! But this is the thing. I have

had things I have asked for and sought which I still don’t have.

There are some things I have been waiting for weeks, months and years.

Are there things you have been praying for that you are still waiting for from God?

Has He forgotten or simply just ignored those requests? No!

The answer is in the story He tells before hand…..

“Then He said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of

the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend travelling through

just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand. 

The friend answers from his bed, don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my 

children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything. 

But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your 

ground, knocking and waking all the neighbours, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. 

Luke 11:5-8

There is a principle in this story that I totally believe in and apply. A principle that keeps me asking and stops me from giving up. The principle is this, Friendship is not enough at

 times when it comes to prayer,

“But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend….“

We have a relationship with God but that doesn’t mean He will hear us all the time. Sometimes we will need to be persistent! The friend gave the bread because of the persistence of the other friend!

There is a saying I have, Persistence will get you what friendship can’t. I even wrote a post about it some time ago. I can’t get into it right now but all you need to know is,

to get breakthrough you need to persist. Friendship will help at times but at other times we need something more.

The point is this. Be specific when you come to God in prayer. Be very clear. Ask, seek

and you will find. Then persist. If something doesn’t come through keep knocking,

keep seeking, and you will find! God is not trying to hide things from you. He has so

much in store for you. God bless.

Rolain.

It’s not God’s fault….!!!

What do you do when things don’t go according to plan in your life?

What do you do when what you were trusting God for doesn’t happen?

What do you do when it feels like God has abandoned you?

Do you think there are some instances where God is to blame for some of the
things that have not worked out in your life?

I have had to deal with these questions in my life. There have been times I
have blamed God. These are hard questions but questions which need to be
answered. As I had these questions God spoke to me through Joshua.
He had just come from the defeat of Jericho. God had given them a big victory. The
next town they had to attack was called Ai. It was a small town. Joshua 7:3
says,

And they returned to Joshua and said to him, Let not all the men go up; but
let about two thousand or three thousand go up and attack Ai; do not make
the whole army toil up there, for they of Ai are few.

It was supposed to be a sure victory but it wasn’t. They were defeated!
They had never experienced defeat before. They even experienced death which
was a new thing! Joshua 7:5 says,

And the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, for they chased them
from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and slew them at the descent. And
the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

To top that off, all the surrounding nations would now try and attack
Israel. They heard about all the miraculous things God did for them but if
they heard about the defeat at Ai they would surely come to destroy them!
Joshua acted quickly. He went up to God. Joshua 7:6-8;

Then Joshua rent his clothes and lay on the earth upon his face before
the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they
put dust on their heads.

Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, why have You brought this people over the
Jordan at all only to give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?
Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!

O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned to flee before their
enemies!

Joshua blamed God! There is no other way to put it. I am not going to try
and be euphemistic here. He blamed God…..But I understand, I have been
there. When things have gone so bad that you feel like God has abandoned
you, when you feel like God deliberately did something to hurt you. Have
you been there, or maybe you ARE there! I want you to know,

Joshua was wrong! God was not to blame for what happened. God did not want Israel to
be defeated. That was never in His plan. God is a good God who only has
good in store for us. The fault was in Achan. He went against what God had
told him to do. (Joshua 7:11)

This story raises a very important point. God is not to be blamed for what goes
wrong in our lives. His plan for us is ALL good. ALL GOOD!!! Yes that may entail
trials, and tribulation, and tests and so forth but God is not the author
of the pain, brokenness, disappointment we face in life. He has a destiny
for us. He has a plan for our lives and that plan is good. HE CAN BE
TRUSTED!!!

I don’t write this for the sake of writing a good post. This is what I believe. God is not

to blame. His plan for my life is good. Trials and tests will come but I must remember

that He is good and He is with me every step of the way. That goes for you as well.

No matter what you going through, He is with you and it is not His fault. He loves you

and He is only good. Everything He does stems from that!

God bless…

Rolain

 

Praise Him…..How??

I was reading my bible yesterday when I came across the most amazing scripture. God has created us to praise Him and I am sure you all have read a book or have been taught how to. I am qute confident you have the understanding on how to. But what I want to do is just add to that knowledge you have and how I am going to do that is copy what I wrote in my journal yesterday when I read the scripture.I truly believe it’s a significant scripture.

Hallelujah! 

You who serve God, praise God! 

Just to speak His name is praise! 

Just to remember God is a blessing – 

now and tomorrow and always.

Psalm 113: 1-3 (Message)

We were created to praise God. (Isaiah 43:21)

“Just to speak His name is praise”

(When I read this scripture yesterday I realised the power of His name. Just to SPEAK His name is praise! Whatever situation you facing you merely have to speak His name! What a wonderful and powerful thought!!!! Just to speak His name is praise.If you are confused, just speak His name. It doesn’t take 2 seconds to do but is so powerful. Speak His name constantly)!

– I need to speak His name as often as I can……

“Just to remember God is a blessing – now and tomorrow and always.”

– Remember Him and what He has done as much as I can. It is a blessing to me and it is blessing Him!

That is what I wrote in my journal yesterday. Let us praise the Lord. To speak His name is praise and to remember God is a blessing not just now, but tomorrow and ALWAYS…wow!     Amen.

Rolain