Focus on Him, not the waves…

Life can be really tough right and what makes it worse is when we focus all our energy and attention on

the problems we are facing. We worry, stress out, fear, panic and fret as we dwell upon all the problems

we face but there is a better way.

I was stressing out this week. Things were not going well and I was panicking and anxious but I remembered

Peter.

In faith, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water but as he was approaching the

Lord the word says he began to be aware of his surroundings (the enormous waves and the wind)

and became frightened and began to sink. (read Matthew 14:27-30) 

 

“Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, 

O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

Matthew 14: 27-31

 

As long as Peter set his gaze upon the Lord he walked on water but when he took his eyes off the

Lord and focused on what was happening around him he began to sink and I know that’s what

was happening to me. But the Lord wants me to keep my eyes on Him in the midst of the trouble that

comes my way.

What are you focused on today?

Are you focused on your problems more than the Lord?

 

Consider  Psalm 91:14, 15:

“Because he has focused his love on Me, I will deliver him. I will protect him because he knows

my name. When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him in his distress. I will 

deliver him, and I will honor him.” 

 

The enemy would like us to get our minds off Christ. he doesn’t want us being victorious. he loves

it when we are in bondage, in fear, anxious and stressed.

But the Lord wants us to be free. He wants us to receive the answers and solutions we need to

the problems we are facing.

Let’s stop focusing on the waves. Let us focus on the Lord no matter how terrifying the storm is.

He is bigger than any storm we will ever face and that is why He wants us to focus on Him!

Bless you, friends…

 

Rolain

 

A time of endurance…

“So Moses and Aaron gathered all the elders of the Israelites. 

Aaron told them everything that the Lord had told Moses. 

Then Moses did the miracles for all the people to see. So the 

Israelites believed. They heard that the Lord was concerned about them

and had seen their troubles. Then they bowed down and worshipped

Him.” 

Exodus 4:29-31

 

The Israelites were in bondage for a really long time. Things had been really

difficult for them. So when Moses and Aaron told

them that God was concerned about them and had seen their troubles they must have

been encouraged.

 

But the hope they had quickly disappeared when the pressure intensified. The joy, the hope,

the faith they had was replaced with doubt, fear, and anxiety. They were not patient with the

Lord. They wanted the deliverance to happen that very instant.

 

“As they were leaving the meeting with the king, they met Moses and Aaron. 

Moses and Aaron were waiting for them. So they said to Moses and Aaron, “May the 

Lord punish you. You caused the king and his offices to hate us. You have given them 

an excuse to kill us.”

Exodus 5:20, 21

 

That story spoke to me today. We need to endure as we wait for God’s promise

to materialize in our lives. His promise for our lives, our families, and our countries will be

contested against by the enemy. There is no way he is going to just sit and let you

stroll into what God has promised you. he is the adversary and by the very nature of

that name he opposes and fights against everything good that God has prepared for us.

 

The Israelites thought it would be a walk in the park but it wasn’t. They had to trust God with

all that they had. They had to believe His word was true. They had to endure.

God’s promise was true and He would deliver them and they needed to understand that no matter

how bad things got.

 

“He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant. His feet they hurt with fetters;

he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into iron. 

Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true until the word of the Lord tried and tested him.”

Psalm 105:17-19

 

When the promise seems like a fantasy we must keep trusting, we need to endure. His promise

is true, it will come to pass. The Lord is not a man that lies. His word is sure and if He promised

it will come to pass.  Difficulty doesn’t mean the promise won’t come to pass.

There is nothing that can stop the word of God from coming to pass.

Hold on in the storm. Endure, put your faith in Him.

He will fulfill what He promised you.

 

Bless you, friends…

 

Rolain

 

Patience in the fire……

“And I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up My
hand and swore that I would give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
and I will give it to you for a heritage. I am the Lord [you have
the pledge of My changeless omnipotence and faithfulness].

Moses told this to the Israelites, but they refused to listen to Moses
because of their impatience and anguish of spirit and because of their
cruel bondage.”
Exodus 6:8, 9

 

This verse spoke to me this week. In the midst of crazy battles this scripture spoke to me.
The Israelites had a word from YAH but they refused to listen to Him
because of their impatience, anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

The fact they were impatient spoke to me because in the midst of storms
and trials we need to be patient. It’s not an easy thing to be patient when you are in a fire.
In the trials I am facing in this season I am have been challenged to be patient.
Patience is important because it reflects our faith in YAH’s ability to bring us through the storm.

No matter what you going through be patient. He will carry you through the storm soon enough.                                                     He will deliver you most definitely.
Let’s look at one more scripture that brought everything into perspective for me concerning being patient,

“Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exalt and triumph in our troubles and
rejoice in our sufferings knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce
patient and unswerving endurance.
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity).
And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.”
Romans 5:3-5

Amazing right, or crazy depending on how you see it! Exalt and triumph in your troubles!
Rejoice in your sufferings!
It’s really hard to do if I am to be honest. The pressure can get so much that rejoicing
is the last thing I want to do but one thing is clear from reading this scripture,
YAH has a plan in the storm. The enemy has a plan too, to destroy but not YAH.
He is thinking about growth, blessing, new levels, maturity, endurance and so much more….

We need to change how we look at trials and challenges. We don’t need to be afraid. YAH will bring us

through. He is at work for our good.

 

Bless you

 

Rolain