God Doesn’t Stay In a Box!

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built.”

1 Kings 8:27 ASV

God is so big and cannot be contained. Even Solomon the wisest man on earth acknowledged this truth.

He knew that the temple he built could not contain the God of the Universe.

We know God is big but do we REALLY know it?

The way we see God is determined by the way we have been conditioned in the past. That can be by people close to us, TV, news, books we have read and so much more.

But that needs to change. We need the limitations broken because God is crazy big.

This week I cried out to Him to break the box I have put Him in. There are so many big things I am trusting Him for and I feel like there are limitations I have put on Him. Sometimes we put Him in a box without even knowing it.

But, God doesn’t not stay in a box.

The only way we can break the negative conditioning about God’s bigness and greatness is by immersing ourselves in the Word of God which is the Truth. We need an increase of God’s presence in our daily lives because this is the thing, God is big but our view of God is small at times. So when we consume more of His Word and get into His presence our perception of God begins to get bigger, it begins to grow.

We need to reprogram our minds with the Word of God.

God wants to perform miracles in our lives but if we only see a weak, powerless and feeble God then how is that going to happen? Remember the Israelites and what they said when they arrived to the land God promised them?

“Let’s go at once to take the land, he said. We can certainly conquer it!

But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are! So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought too.”

Numbers 13:30-33 NLT

God doesn’t stay in a box. He is crazy big, He is the God of the universe and nothing is too big for Him. There is nothing He can’t do.

God break the box we have put you in and the limitations we have put on You!

Show us your greatness and awesomeness anew again!

Amen

Bless you friends

Rolain

A new year…….

Hi friends!!!!

It’s good to be back! I hope the year has started well for you

and I hope you are expecting some big things to happen to you

and for you! I have been “AWOL” because our church goes on

a Daniel fast at the start of every year.

But this year my pastor challenged

us to stop social “media-ring” during the fast…..   🙂   So I

decided to stop posting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter but

I realised if I was to stay off those social media sites I couldn’t

post anything on wordpress because my posts would appear on

those sites and I would be unable to respond for three weeks.

That is why I haven’t written anything until now.

 

I was glad I was still able to follow you guys though. I was

truly blessed by your posts…..

 

I am really excited about what God has in store for me this

year. In 2015 (December) I went to God with my 2016 calender

and told Him to fill it. I have plans for this year but I am still

limited in my thinking and that is why I asked Him to fill it.

He is great and mighty and not bound by what I am bound

by. He is not limited by what I am limited by and that is why

I am excited about this year. He is the One who is in control and

He is the One who is directing my steps.

I want to share a scripture that has really ministered to me

in this new year. I came across it as I read Brian Houston’s new

book Live, Love, Lead!

 

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you

to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in.

The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t

small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as

plainly as I can and with great affection.

Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

2 Corinthians 6: 11-13

 

I love this verse. There is a “wide-open, spacious life” 

God has planned for me…..for us!

And we can’t allow small thinking and small dreams to hinder

the wide-open, spacious life God has for us!

The truth is this, God has a wide-open, spacious life for you. Don’t

believe anyone who says otherwise. His intension is to bless your

life. It’s not because you did something right. It’s not because

of anything you have done. It’s all Him! It’s all Him friends!

It’s because He loves us that He blesses us.

 

My life is not small! God has so much more in store for me than

I have imagined for myself and the same is true for you!

He has more of Himself He wants to reveal.

There is so much He wants to teach.

Like I said, this is going to be a great year!

Have a great day friends…..

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

What two men prayed…..

The Pharisee stood [ostentatiously] and began praying

to himself [in a self-righteous way, saying]:

God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men –

swindlers, unjust (dishonest), adulterers – or even like

this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all

that I get.

But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would

not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his

breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be gracious, be

merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am!

Luke 18:12, 13 (AMP)

 

The year is about to end and as it does I want to touch

on a few things I think we need to reflect on before we get

into 2016. The word I am about to share has really been

on my mind for some time. This word brought attitudes

to light, attitudes that were not of God.

 

Just because you think you are humble doesn’t mean

you are humble. This is the kind of erroneous thinking

I had. But this scripture blew that out of the water.

I thought I was humble but truth be told, I was proud!

I couldn’t see it because my pride was cloaked in a

false sense of humility.

 

But to walk in the plan God has for us we need to be

humble! The tax collector was a perfect example of

what it meant to be humble.

I think humility is being able to stay small in our own eyes!

It’s having the wisdom to see that God is in control and

understanding that without Him we are lost.

Humility strips every selfish thought and idea we have.

Humility puts off our own strength and puts on God’s.

Humility doesn’t take pride in it’s own wisdom but

looks to the Lord for true wisdom!

 

The Pharisee stayed big in his own eyes. He saw himself

as more in his own eyes, as very important, while the tax collector

stayed small in his own eyes!

Who are you in your own eyes?

 

Please understand what the tax collector did and didn’t do.

He didn’t talk negatively about himself. He didn’t tell

God how useless and pathetic he was. He didn’t tear himself

down. That is not humility.

He knew he was a sinner in deep need of grace and mercy!

I hope you notice the difference. Stop the negative self talk.

It’s not biblical.

 

It’s so important we stay “small in our own eyes”.

Let us look at another passage of scripture that will help

us understand this truth:

 

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and

he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s

name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem.

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as

his father Amaziah had done.

He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed

him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God

gave him success.

2 Chronicles 26:3

 

God had a plan for Uzziah. Actually, He had great plans for him.

Like Uzziah, God has great and amazing plans for us. But look

at how the story changed……

 

But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.

He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple

of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 26:16

 

The priests were the only ones allowed to burn incense but

because Uzziah was proud (failed to remain small in his own

eyes) he never walked in the full promises of God!

God had made Uzziah powerful but he failed to realise

that.

When I start thinking I can’t do certain things because they are

beneath me or I am too important to do them

or if I think I should

only do certain things because I am important, that is a good

indicator I have become

proud. God wants me to walk in everything He has for me

but pride will destroy that very quickly!

 

Let us be like the tax collector. He remained small in his own eyes

and because of that the Bible says he went home justified!

 

My desire and prayer is that I walk in true humility, that

I stay small in my own eyes for the rest of my life!

Stay small in your own eyes!

God bless friends……

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

The man in chains……

Paul was one of the greatest apostles that ever lived. He was

a man who obeyed God 110%, no make that 150%, actually make

that 200%……I think you get the picture!  🙂  When I read the

life of Paul I am challenged by his obedience. Let’s look at the

things he accomplished because he was obedient.

 

He got to share the gospel with Felix who was Governor at

the time. He was a man who had lots of influence. 

Read Acts 24:10-26

 

Paul shared the gospel with King Agrippa and his wife

Bernice. God brought Paul before powerful men

and women to share the gospel.

Acts 25 and chapter 26

 

By the way he carried himself and his faith in God,

Paul was able to minister to the Roman soldiers

Read Acts 27:42, 43

 

Because of his obedience Paul ministered to a whole

tribe on the island of Malta.

Read Acts 28.

 

During imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote a lot of

the books in the new testament. It is said he wrote,

Ephesians Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

After imprisonment it is said he wrote Hebrews,

Titus, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.

 

Now for the crux of the matter. I will share a scripture that I

believe is the key that opened the door to all the ministry he did:

 

After several days of visiting, a prophet from Judea by the name

of Agabus came down to see us. He went right up to Paul, took

his belt, and, in dramatic gesture, tied himself up, hands and feet.

He said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: The Jews in Jerusalem

are going to tie up the man who owns this belt just like this and

hand him over to godless unbelievers.”

When everyone heard that, we and everyone there that day

begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going to

Jerusalem. But Paul wouldn’t budge:

Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene

and making it even harder for me?

You’re looking at this backward. The issue is Jerusalem is not

what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the

Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that?

Acts 21:10-13

 

Wow right…..Paul had an understanding of obedience. He knew

being obedient allowed Jesus to work through him. And because

Paul was obedient, Jesus did a mighty work in him and through

him!

 

Let’s bring this principle home. God has a plan for each and

everyone of us but we can only walk in that plan when we are

obedient! That revelation hit me hard! I am in a situation where

I have a decision to make. I can either be obedient even though

it’s difficult and uncomfortable or disobey! But the word is very

clear, Jesus works through our obedience!

He has this amazing, uncomprehendible (if there is such a word)

plan for us. It’s just to big to fathom. I don’t think Paul knew all

that God had in store for Him but he simply obeyed, and

trusted! We need to do the same……

I want to live a life of obedience to God and I ask Him to

help me. I rebel a lot and I fight and push back but He wants

me to obey. He wants us to obey!

Will you learn a lesson from the man who lived a life of obedience?

Rolain

 

 

I challenge your faith……

 

And it has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, do have pity on us and help us. And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes! At once the father of the boy gave [an eager, piercing, inarticulate] cry with tears, and he said, Lord, I believe! [Constantly] help my weakness of faith! (‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭22-24‬ AMP)

“But if You can do anything, do have pity on us and help us.” 

Not a bad request I must say. The man was being modest.
Maybe he thought His prayer was too much, maybe he thought
Jesus couldn’t heal his son. Whatever the reason he didn’t
see the need to be specific, precise and definite in his request.

Jesus on the other hand saw things differently and He challenged
the man’s faith. Jesus was not cool with “maybe’s and if’s”…..
He wanted faith! After challenging the man’s faith, the man cried out
to the Lord, “help my weakness of faith”!!!

I can relate to this story so much. How many times I have been
afraid to be specific in my request, maybe because I was scared
I would not get what I asked for or I thought Jesus would say no!
But this is the thing, Jesus wants us to be specific!
We either believe God or we don’t, it’s that simple!
It’s either, “Lord heal my son” or “if you can, please heal my son!!”

I have two friends who have been trusting God to go back to
university. It’s been a battle for them. There were times it looked
like God was not going to come through for them, there were
times it seemed like everything was lost but as I write this post
one of them has already left for school and the other friend is leaving
sometime next week!!! What a faithful God we serve!

Your faith in God is not misplaced, when you put your trust in God
He WILL come through for you, He will answer you. The times of
testing will always come, the times of trial will always come but we can
trust Him.

“Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!” 

Don’t be afraid to trust in the Lord fully! Don’t hold anything back.
He is waiting for you to believe in Him. He is waiting for you to
trust in Him fearlessly! Step up your faith in Him. No matter
how hard it gets trust in Him! As you do that, no matter how long
It takes, He will answer you! That is the best news in the world! Don’t you think so…..😄

Rolain

 

 

Why You Should Run To God…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

I, even I, am the Lord, and beside Me there is no Savior.  Isaiah 43:11

I have been thinking about this scripture today. What a bold statement don’t you think??!!  This is the Lord speaking and He is very sure about Himself!!! He is the Lord and beside Him there is no Savior! According to God, we have no other Savior…..There is no one worthy enough to get called “help’. There is no one who has the qualifications to be our Savior! It’s futile looking at anyone else for help. Everything else is a fake. There are a lot of things in this world that promise help but the truth is, God is our only Savior! I don’t know what you are going through but you need to know that God is the only One who can solve your problems. He is the only One who can protect you. He is the only One who can save you! Amen.

Rolain

 

Who’s Story is This?

Who is this story really about? Is this life about what I am doing or is it about what God is doing through me? Is it about what you are doing and what you want or is it about the amazing things God is doing through you?? My life, our life should be about God. It should be God’s story! This story should not be about what I can do in my own strength but about what God is doing because I trust in Him completely!!!!

Rom 4:1-3 – says,” Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own.” (MSG)

Abraham trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own. God is not impressed with our masculinity and our show of strength! He hates it!!! He wants me to rely on HIS strength…..
There are times that I thought God was so impressed with my macho-ness but He was not.

The word says “Abraham entered into what God was doing for him and that was his turning point”.
Am I focused on what I am doing to make things right in my life or am I focused on what God is doing in my life because that is so much more important?!
This life is not about me but it is up to me. This life is about me trusting God in every single area of my life.
It is only by “trusting Him to do it” that gets me set right with God, and not on any other grounds!!

Another thing to note is in Rom 4:18 which says: When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. (MSG)

Are we living our lives on the basis of things we see we can’t do instead of looking at the things God said He would do and is doing? Are we avoiding things in our lives because they seem to be out of our reach, too extravagant and impossible to attain instead of bringing those things to God and trusting Him to make a way??? Are we going around saying what we can have and what we can’t have because we are the ones judging what is attainable or not attainable instead of running after what God said we can have no matter how outrageous it is???!!!

The conclusion is this, “Abraham was declared fit before God because He trusted God to set him right!
He knew his life was God’s story and not about him!
There needs to be a mindset change. God is the One who is making me right. I don’t have the power to do that. God is first and I am second!!! God is in charge, not me. We are second and God is first!!! This is His story and not our story!!!!

God bless.

Rolain

This Is The God We Serve!!!

God is so great and amazing and we ought not to forget that. We need to have things that constantly remind us of this truth. I was reading the Word of God this morning and I came across another amazing passage. It talks about God’s great faithfulness and mercy. Be encouraged as you read it.
I wrote about the Israelites in one of my previous posts and I will continue in this one because this passage of scripture writes about them. We can learn a lot about God from their story. We can also take encouragement from them. So let us continue.

They refused to obey, nor were they mindful of your wonders and miracles which You did among them; but they stiffened their necks and in their rebellion appointed a captain, that they might return to their bondage [in Egypt]. But You are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and of great steadfast love; and You did not forsake them.
Nehemiah 9:17
– We know this story too well. It is when the spies are sent out to spy out Jericho. When they get back to camp the ten spies tell the other Israelites they don’t stand a chance against the giants in the land. Joshua and Caleb are the only two spies who tell the people that they can conquer the land. Anyway the people believe the ten spies and decide to go back to Egypt. Please understand that they were at the door of the promise land. All they had to do now was step in. But they didn’t. They failed in their faith to God. But even in the midst of all this God did not forsake them. This is the God we serve!
He is ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great steadfast love toward us. He will not forsake us.
God will not forsake you. He cares for you. You may think God has had it with you but He is with you. You may think He has had enough of you because of your sins but He will not forsake you.

Let us look at another verse.
Even when they had made for themselves a molten calf and said, This is your god, who brought you out of Egypt, and had committed great and contemptible blasphemies,
You in Your great mercy forsook them not in the wilderness; the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day to lead in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night to light the way they should go.
Nehemiah 9:18,19

Are there things in your life that are gods? There is only one God and He created the universe. He is Jehovah, the God Almighty. I was shown how I made a certain thing in my life a god. It was a hard reality for me. I realised it had to stop. I had to stop exalting this other thing above God. It has been hard but I keep looking to God for help. But as I was on this journey I thought God had abandoned me. I was so wrong. God is with me and He will never forsake me. God never forsook the Israelites when they made the golden calf. Instead, He kept directing them. He protected them as they travelled. When they realised the error of what they were doing and came to Him, He forgave them. And it is the same for you. God will not forsake you. Confess your sin. It doesn’t help to hide your sin. He is gracious and merciful towards you.

I will stop here but there are many more stories about His mercy and graciousness. Remember, He will not forsake you.
This is the Great God we serve!!!

Rolain.P