The Illusion Of Strength

“The king is not saved by his great army;

a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

The war horse is a false hope for salvation,

and by its great might it cannot rescue.”

Psalm 33:16, 17

There is a tendency at times to try to go through life on our own. We try to show God we

got everything under control. We think He is impressed with our show of power, intelligence

and wit so we “power through” life when we should be looking to Him for strength.

You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders and think it’s cool but it’s not.

In the world, showing how strong, independent, powerful you are is celebrated. We see this

in terms like “self made man or woman” But it’s not so in God’s kingdom.

He wants you to trust Him. He wants you to give up control and let Him take the steering wheel.

Surrender to Him in faith. Let Him do the heavy lifting.

I was working on a project recently and was getting frustrated and overwhelmed. As I stopped

to see what was going on I realized I was going at it in my strength. I never asked God for help.

I repented and asked Him to help me. I stopped trying to figure things out on my own and started

praying more and seeking His guidance.

He wants us to rely on His strength, not our strength.

Turn to Him for help always.

“He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those

who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

Psalm 147:10, 11

Bless you friends

Rolain

When you don’t know what to do…

“After this, David inquired of the Lord saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? 

And the Lord said to him, Go up. David said, To which shall I go up? 

And He said, To Hebron.”

2 Samuel 2:1

 

When David was faced with a difficult situation he sought the Lord. He sought the Lord for

answers whenever he could. He rarely did his own thing and seeking the Lord was why he

succeeded. 

He never boasted to be the most intelligent or strongest. His confidence was in the Lord and it showed

in how he dealt with problems. 

When he didn’t know the next step to take, the direction he was supposed to go or when a problem was

bigger than him he ran to God for help and answers.

 

I was encouraged by that. What happens when we are in over our head or when we are out of ideas?

What do we do when we are confronted by troubles that threaten to stop us dead in our tracks?

Do we look to people or to God?

 

Going to God should be the first thing we do. He will help us no matter what we face.

Going to God made a difference in David’s life.

Going to God gave him victories wherever he went.

Going to God gave him the answers he needed.

 

When you go to the Lord for help, He will step in and help you. Situations will change,

and problems will be solved when God gets involved.

 

The word is simple today.

When you don’t know what to do, ask the Lord for help.

When you need help against a powerful enemy ask the Lord for help.

Don’t try to do it on your own. The Lord is with you.

 

“David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver

them into my hand? And the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver [them] into 

your hand.” 

2 Samuel 5:19

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

Written in a book.

“My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and 

curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region

of darkness and mystery].

Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever

they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.” 

Psalm 139:15, 16

 

“and in Your book all the days of my life were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there

was none of them.”

 

I love this!!  Your life is not random. The events that happen are not accidental. The Lord took care

when He made you. There was thought, there was effort, there was intent.

When your life gets crazy and you have no idea what is happening know that YAH knows everything

about your life. There is nothing that happens in your life that catches Him by surprise, nothing!

He is in control of everything. All your days have been written in His book.

 

I am so encouraged to know all the days of my life have been written by Him. Even when I can’t

make sense of what’s happening the Lord knows and that makes the difference.

When I am overwhelmed or discouraged about the way things are going the Lord knows.

When I seem to be at a dead end, there is actually more journeying to be done.

The Author of my story loves me and is good so I don’t need to panic or fret.

He has the best in mind for me.

 

Turn to Him in your confusion. Call out to Him when things don’t go according to plan.

He wrote all your days in His book. Not some but all!

So the darkness you in now will change. The problems you have will be solved. The questions, the

concerns and the pain will be fixed and answered. The Lord is not done with you yet.

His plan for your life is amazing so trust Him with it…..

Blessings to you friends…..

 

Rolain

 

 

 

He leads us on purpose……

“Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps 

you take to get there.”

Proverbs 16:9

There is one fact we can’t deny, the Lord is directing our every step. I look at where I am and where

I have been and can clearly see the Lord’s hand in where I am now. I could have never in a thousand

years planned where I am now. I shudder to think where I would be today if I was left alone to direct

my own steps.

But I can also see countless times I fought, scratched, shouted to go the way I thought was right,

because the Lord’s way didn’t seem to be the best, the times I thought He made a grave mistake.

At the time it didn’t make sense, it was confusing and frustrating but the Lord kept urging me to trust

Him even when I didn’t understand what He was doing. We can trust His leading.

Let’s look at the word for a bit and go deeper into a story that shows us how the Lord leads our steps.

From the time of Yeshua’s birth to His death and resurrection, the good news was only preached to the

Jews. After His death his followers reached out to His chosen people, the Jews. No one saw the bigger

plan. Yeshua had died for everyone and not just the Jews so He needed someone – Peter.

“Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.”

Acts 9:32

This was important because in Lydda, Peter healed a man who was paralyzed and was bedridden for 8 years.

When he healed the man the word tells us everyone in Lydda and Sharon  turned to the Lord (Acts 9:35)

Peter being in Lydda was important because in a nearby town of Joppa a woman named Dorcas who was well

known by the community died. The disciples in Joppa heard Peter was in Lydda and since it was so close

they sent for him. (Acts 9:38)

Side note: Peter may have had no idea why what was happening was happening but the Lord did. There was

something much bigger going on that Peter wasn’t aware of. But as the Lord directed Him, he followed obediently. 

Let’s move on.

Peter arrived in Joppa and brought Dorcas back to life. (Acts 9:40) which was amazing. Peter may have thought

that was why he had come to Joppa which was partly true but there was more. Something much bigger,

something that would impact the world. It’s while Peter was in Joppa that we hear of Cornelius the Roman

centurion who was visited by an angel and was commanded to send for Peter.

Peter goes without reservations and sees the “Gentiles” receive the Holy Spirit like the Jews!

The way of salvation was now officially opened to the “Gentiles” and Peter was instrumental in that happening.

He was obedient to the the Lord’s leading. He never complained or grumbled. He trusted!

Don’t take Lord’s leading lightly. You are where you are for a reason. Stay humble, be obedient, trust

that He knows what He is doing. He sees the bigger picture and we don’t but that’s okay because He has

our best interests at heart. We just need to trust Him and know He would never led us to destruction.

There is a purpose in His leading, there is love in His nudging.

Bless you friends.

Rolain

No matter how hard things are, the Lord has a plan.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Joshua spoke to the men who had spied out the land. Joshua said, ‘Go into the prostitute’s

house. Bring her out. And bring out all the people who are with her. Do this because of the

promise you made to her.

So the two men went into the house and brought out Rahab. They brought out her father,

mother, brothers and all those with her. They put all her family in a safe place outside the

camp of Israel.”

Joshua 6:22, 23

 

Rahab’s life was going one way before the spies came. She was a prostitute and as you might

of guessed, she was welcomed by some and rejected by others!

Her life must have been hard I can imagine.

But despite what people saw YAH saw something entirely different.

She had made so many mistakes with no way out but that was all about to change.

The Lord had a plan for her life and despite her past, her mistakes, bad decisions and people’s

opinions of her that plan was completed.

YAH turned her life around in a way no one could ever imagine.

 

The word today is simple;

YAH has a purpose for your life, full stop!

Don’t let your past hinder what YAH has planned for you.

Don’t let the opinions of others stop you from trusting the Lord for something amazing.

Don’t let your current situation deter you

Rahab was a prostitute. In the eyes of everyone around her she wasn’t much but not so in

the eyes of YAH. He saw something different.

The Lord sees you differently to what man sees.

It doesn’t matter if you not strong enough, smart enough, rich enough and so on,

the Lord has something amazing planned for you.

And that’s all I have to share today.

Bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

Living life in your own strength…..

“Moses told [the Lord’s] words to all the Israelites, and they

mourned greatly.

And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of

the mountain, saying

Behold, we are here, and we intend to go up to the place which

the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.

But Moses said, why do you transgress the command of the Lord

[to turn back by way of the Red Sea], since it will not succeed?

Go not up, for the Lord is not among you, that you be not struck

down before your enemies. “

Numbers 14:39-45

 

The twelve spies had got back from scouting Canaan and

ten of the twelve brought back bad news. Joshua and Caleb

where full of confidence that God could bring them into the

promise land but the other ten thought otherwise. Anyway

after the news Israel in it’s entirety complained and grumbled.

Talk of going back to Egypt was going around and the people

were about to stone Joshua and Caleb when the Lord intervened!

 

They would not inherit the land God promised them because

of their lack of faith. Their children would be the ones who

would enter the promise land.

Anyway to cut a long story short, the people were very sorry

for how they reacted and decided to take up their weapons

and take the land God had given them. Moses told them it

was too late and they had to turn back but they thought it a

small feat to attack the Canaanites and Amalekites.  So off they

went without Moses and the ark of God (His presence) and

lost! (Numbers 14:44, 45)

 

The Israelites took for granted God’s presence with them.

They thought they could storm the Canaanites in their own

strength but they were dead wrong. It was because of God

they were able to destroy nations stronger than themselves!

 

This Sunday I was reminded who is really in control. Like

the Israelites I forgot who was really in control. I had become

proud. I forgot the reason I do all I do is because of His grace

and mercy on my life. There is no other reason behind it. I am

able to teach because He enables me to!

 

“My glory is great because of His aid”

 

That sums up everything.

The reason I write, the reason I am

able to teach, the reason I am where I am is because of Him.

It’s not because I am smart or because I “know” people!

It’s not because I grew up in the right neighborhood.

It’s not because I am eloquent and so on and so on….

 

I am able to do all that I do because of God. It’s all Him!

Without God I would lose. The enemy would win hands

down.

My enemies in the natural ARE stronger than me and I could be

extinguished if I was alone. But I am not alone!

The Lord is with me and He is the reason I win, He is the

reason I succeed. He is the reason I am still here.

 

We need God friends. I hope you realize just how much you

need Him in your life. He does so much and at times we can

take it for granted. We can think it’s because of our strength

but it’s not. He is the One who has carried us this far.

The Israelites thought their strength was enough but they

were so wrong! They needed God desperately if they were

ever going to enter the promise land.

As I close I want to encourage you to always seek His guidance.

He is the reason we win and He is the reason we are alive.

Don’t forget that friends!

Bless you

 

Rolain.

 

 

 

 

 

When you don’t know what to do…….

 

I have come to a realization! What I thought God had planned for me is not what God has for me!! I have been holding on to something I thought was from God but really originated from my own mind! This week I surrendered that plan to God which means I don’t know what God has for me in the next season of my life! I have nothing to fall back on. It’s all or nothing! It’s crazy because I felt secure because I had a plan. I was confident and had no fear. But everything has changed. It has all changed because of something a friend said to me a few days ago:

“The best position your heart can be in, is where you don’t know what to do!”

At first I was like, what????? But upon further meditation I realised how deep that statement was. It is in that position that we get on our knees and seek the Lord for answers and clarity!

It is in those times of “I don’t know” that God shows up!

We grow the most in those times because we are desperate for answers and direction.

“Desperation is a native language in heaven”……,.

 

The best example that comes to mind is found in 1 Samuel 1. We are introduced to a women named Hannah. She didn’t know what to do. The Lord had not given her a child and she was being ridiculed by her husband’s second wife Peninnah. How hard it must of being. Her pain drove her to tears constantly! What was she thinking? Did she have it altogether? I don’t think so. But in the midst of her pain, in the midst of “I don’t know” she sought the Lord and the Lord heard her!

Remember this:

The best position your heart can be in, is where you don’t know what to do!

If you know everything why would you need God???

If everything made sense all the time would you really need God???

If God showed you everything He had planned for you and I mean everything would you still seek Him???

I realised something, not knowing is not a bad thing. In fact if we are to grow in God we need MORE of those times! I am now in a place where I don’t know what to do or where my life is going but I know God is good and that is what matters. I trust Him to guide me! Even though I don’t know, He knows!

If you are confused about some things in your life, if you have no idea what the answer is to what you are going through then turn to Him! He allows us to have those times so we can seek Him and get deeper into Him! He is so good……..

Rolain

P.S      Please pray for me as I will be traveling to Botswana tomorrow! I will be in Gabarone for a music tour with my church. We will be there for about five days. I truly believe God wants to show me something new and everytime I travel is an opportunity to see. So I want to see what He wants me to see. This is a time to get refreshed in His presence because I will be in a different place! Please pray I have a safe journey. And pray I will be impacted by being in Botswana! I would really appreciate your prayers!

 

 

Oh no….I lost the ‘list’!!!

“You don’t know what you want” were the words ringing in my ears after speaking to a friend this past week. The words were a bit harsh but he was right. We were talking about relationships and the challenges I was facing finding the One. Have you written your “list” he asked? Off course I did. I wrote the “list” a long time ago.

“The list, for those that don’t know is when a single man or woman writes about the attributes and character of the man or woman they want. It’s a very specific list of things you want.  (Is she tall, short, athletic, adventurous, is he funny, caring and so on?)”

But as I recited to him the things on my list something shocking happened……..There were things I wasn’t sure about anymore!! I was undecided…..! I began to panic, what was I going to do? Was I double minded because if I was the word says, “a double man is unstable in all his ways and he can expect nothing from God”!

But upon further thought I realized why I was unsure. As I have matured and grown in the Lord and met and interacted with a lot of women there are things I have come to appreciate that I never did when I was younger. Upon further thought I came to another conclusion:

If the woman I wrote about all those years ago has changed doesn’t that mean the woman I write about now is going to change as I continue maturing? To take it even further, does it mean its pointless even compiling a list when I don’t even know myself that well?? A list is important, this I understand. It is so important to have an idea of what you want. This is one area where you cannot be clueless! But this is my point; the “list” can’t be all we go by. The “list” is flawed because we as humans are flawed. Only God knows what you really need! It’s okay to have a guide line for what you want. That guide line is the “list” but don’t let it be your final measuring line!

So here I am with an idea of what I want. It is very detailed but at the same time it’s not. There are things I can’t come to a final conclusion about but I am trusting the God who knows me better than anyone else in this world. I don’t have to worry about an incomplete list because God the One who created my wife will bring her to me and she will be everything I expect and even more. I pray she is not exactly as I picture her because that means God has succumbed to my low and flawed view of the “one”! I pray that is not the case. I want the woman He has for me, not the one I have created for myself!

Rolain.

What Does Godly Character Look Like??

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joesph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant [through the power] of the Holy Spirit. 
And her [promised] husband Joesph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.  Matt 1:18,19

As a man this passage really speaks to me  and I will show you why. This post is directed towards  single men but if you are married or if you are a single woman please feel free and read through as well. If you have any points you would like to add please feel free to share…….  🙂

The first thing to understand is,
– Mary under law was supposed to be stoned. Joesph was her promised husband but they were not married yet. She had not been with him yet. So the fact that she was pregnant meant she was unfaithful (we know what really happened) which meant death.
– Joesph did not know she was pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit so he could of lashed out at her because he was hurt. He could of embarrassed her and shamed her as payback. That is what any other man would of done in the same situation but he didn’t.

As young men preparing for marriage we can learn from Joesph. He was a man of character. He protected Mary even though it looked like she did him wrong.
We as men are called to protect. Don’t wait till marriage to learn, start now in your friendships with the opposite sex. Are you protecting the women in your life? You do that by your actions. Are you watching how you speak to them or are you watching your thoughts towards them? Are you encouraging them in the way of the Lord? These are some of the ways we can protect the women in our lives. I would just like to clarify something. The job of protection falls on the dad. You as a friend can protect her to some extent but it’s her family’s role. Let’s carry on….

– He was a man of integrity and character. In this time of singleness you need to build your character. Without character you cannot accomplish anything great. Allow God to build godly character in you.

– Joesph was a humble man. He didn’t allow pride to dictate how he responded to Mary.

-In the verse 20 we read how the angel of the Lord spoke to him about Mary. God was involved and that showed me that God is interested in who we are to marry. He is not just sitting and watching from afar, no. He is involved. Allow Him to come and take control of that area of your life. He wants to be involved!!!!

That is what I have to share for you men. I pray God will open your eyes to see the heart of Joesph as He did to me. I want to be like Joesph. A man who is humble and who protects and who trusts God.
I pray the same for you.

Rolain