What’s the deal with fear?

I was deep in thought thinking about how I was going to make it.

Wondering how the bills would get paid.

Wondering how my life would turn out in the midst of such opposition.

As I thought on those things fear gripped my heart. I was afraid.

 

But it was at that exact moment that I realized something about fear.

 

Fear was not going to tell me everything would be okay.

 

I should expect no encouragement from fear. It is not an option thinker. All it thinks and

sees is negative. It’s not optimistic.

It will never direct me to God in any situation.

It wants me paralyzed.

It wants me to fail.

It doesn’t want me to see God.

It wants me hopeless and discouraged.

 

Fear chooses to forget God in difficult circumstances.

It can’t love, it can’t trust, it can’t hope.

It focuses on the worst possible outcome in any situation we face when it knows there is a better

outcome in God.

Fear ALWAYS sees the negatives in everything and CHOOSES to ignore the positives.

Or in other words, it chooses to see the dead ends, the failure, the death and refuses to see

light at the end of the tunnel, the hope, the answer!

 

And that is why we can’t listen to fear. As I let fear grip me, all I thought about

were the negatives.

 

But the truth of the matter is that there was another option.

There was a better and more positive outcome if I allowed my faith in God to take the lead instead of fear.

Let me rephrase that, there IS a better and more positive outcome…

 

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), 

but (He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind

and discipline and self-control. 

2 Timothy 1:7

 

As we walk out our faith in God, fear will always try to get in the way. It will try to disrupt the faith

we have put in God. Let us fight against fear no matter how long it takes.

This battle can’t be won in our own strength. We need God’s help to show us the areas we

have allowed fear to dominate us. We need His help to overcome Fear so we can move forward

in what God has for us.

The Lord is with us in this fight and leading the charge!

Bless you, friends.

 

Rolain

 

 

 

Watch what goes in……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

contaminate:

to soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association

 

Today I will be talking about the contamination that happens in our hearts. We really do need to be careful

what we hear, who we hang out with, what we watch, what music we listen to….

Because it’s through those things we can contaminate ourselves.

 

Let me share a story with you of something that happened this week;

I was with some people who were speaking really negatively about a situation concerning the country.

The more the conversation went on the more uneasy I became. I could literally feel the fear creep in to me

as they spoke. I wanted to get out of there but I didn’t. I stayed. (wrong choice)

 

There is so much in this world that can contaminate and pollute our hearts so we must be on our guard

at all costs (Proverbs 4:23).

What are you listening to on a daily basis?

Who are you hanging out with?

What are you watching?

 

It’s hard to hear Yeshua’s voice when your heart is corrupted. It’s especially difficult to move in faith

when fear has entered your heart.

It’s hard to pray for healing when all you have filled yourself with, is words of death.

Stay away from toxic conversations. Reduce the amount of news you watch or read if that’s what gets

you out of peace?

Stay away from things that make you fearful and terrified, anxious and worry.

Those are the things that contaminate and pollute.

Guard your self at all costs!

 

Bless you

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do you believe what you believe?

Whether we like to admit it or not, our beliefs play a very big role in how our lives turn out.

But as I thought on this a bit more I realized something very important, something that has

changed the way I look at beliefs.

 

We were not born with beliefs! 

 

That was an ah-ha moment for me. The light switched on!

We were not born with beliefs. We were not born with the idea of not being clever enough, or not rich enough,

not handsome or pretty enough and so on. We picked up those beliefs, we inherited them, we made a choice to

integrate them into our lives, the positive and the negative.

We don’t have to live with outdated beliefs about ourselves, life and the other things we deem as important.

The toxic beliefs we have picked up can be changed by YAH’s grace. You don’t have to live with toxic beliefs

any longer. There is an opportunity for change.

 

We didn’t know better and accepted and believed certain things but think about Gideon for a bit with me.

He had some toxic beliefs, outdated beliefs about himself.

 

“But Gideon answered, “Pardon me, Lord. How can I save Israel? My family group is the weakest in 

Manasseh. And I am the least important member in my family.” 

Judges 6:15

 

Someone told Gideon he was the least important. He accepted what people said about him and his

family at some point. He wasn’t born with those beliefs.

But thank YAH for His grace because He came and changed the negative beliefs Gideon had by using

him to deliver his people!

We need the Lord’s help friends. There are beliefs we have picked up that we don’t even know we have.

The Lord can shine the light and expose those beliefs.

Watch who you listen to. What are you accepting as truth about yourself?

Whose words are you accepting as truth for you?

These things all matter when it comes to adopting the right beliefs.

Blessings to you…..

 

Rolain

Where does your validation come from??

As humans we crave applause, attention and acceptance.  We

want to be validated but how far will we go to get it?

As I talk about validation I really need to talk about self esteem

because in my eyes these two things are linked closely together.

When we esteem ourselves highly the less we look to man to

validate us.

 

One of my mentor’s described self esteem this way, self esteem

is your estimation of your own worth!

 

How much value do you place on yourself?

Do you esteem yourself highly?

 

People may have their own opinions about

you but you should value yourself highly. You should be your

biggest fan no matter what.

But what should your estimation be based off? What is your

measure?

The word of God should be your measure!

God knows the truth about you so seek out what He says about

you.

His word has so much amazing truths to declare to you about you….

 

Be real about your shortcomings but be wise how you approach

them. Tearing yourself down is probably doing more

damage than people’s negative  words to you!

 

So like I said, be honest with yourself. When you make a mistake

admit it but correct yourself in a way that still

maintains your value. I was really bad at doing this. I used to tear

myself down badly. I thought that was the right thing to do

but I was wrong. No matter how wrong I am God would NEVER

tear me down so why do I think it’s okay??

We all sin so it’s natural to speak negative. We don’t need to put

much effort into speaking and thinking

negatively. It’s hard to NOT speak negatively. It’s hard to NOT

gossip. It’s hard to NOT think negatively.

We have to be very intentional and deliberate about being positive

and encouraging and we need help!

 

We need affirmation, we need encouragement, we need support but

is that the main drive behind everything we do?

 

^“But when He was in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, many

believed in His name [identified themselves with His party] after

seeing His signs (wonders, miracles) which He was doing.

But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because

He knew all [men];

And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man

[needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself

knew what was in human nature. [He could read men’s hearts.]”

John 2:23-25

 

Jesus didn’t seek validation from man. He was content because

God validated Him!

 

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. 

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of

God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. 

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love;

with Him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16, 17

What just happened there? Jesus was being validated!

He wasn’t looking for applause or encouragement from man,

He came to accomplish the mission He was given by God!

 

We need to be careful when it comes to who we look to for

validation.

Man never created you, God did so He is the only one qualified

to tell you who you really are.

Your best friend may know you better than the average person

but that doesn’t mean they know the real you.

It may be argued that your family knows you best but it’s just

not true. They know you better than anyone else but they still

don’t know the real you.

God is the only One who knows you in and out!

You can’t even trust your own assessment of who you really

are because once again, you didn’t create you, God did! So stop

with the “this is the way I am” statements because your

assessment is not 100% accurate.

 

Think about a house for a minute. Let’s say you are selling it.

It would be crazy asking a friend or random

stranger to tell you what the value of the house is. You have to go

to the real estate agency to get an accurate value.

Stop letting people tell you what your value is.

Today you have an opportunity to make a decision.

Just because someone sees you one way doesn’t mean that’s

who you are. (that’s really good news!!)

That’s the way they see you and not the way God sees you.

Because we are flawed we see in part. No one sees perfectly,

just God, remember that.

You don’t have to confine yourself to the perceptions of others.

You can break out of that.

You can decide to be the person God has created you to be. Let

Him show you who you really are. I believe there is so much to

still discover about ourselves. If we stop at, “this is the way I am” or

believe someone’s assessment of who we are then we limit

ourselves. If God really created us (which He did) surely there is

more right??

Surely there is more to us than what people see? !!!!

 

And on that note I will stop here.

If you are struggling with a low self esteem and you need to talk to someone click on the

link below.

 

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/i-need-someone-to-talk-to-about-my-problems-but-where-do-i-turn/

 

Bless you friends!

 

Rolain

Can you count the stars…?

“And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and

said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars – if

you are able to number them. Then He said to him, so shall

your descendants be.

And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained

steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to Him as righteouness

(right standing with God).

Genesis 15:5, 6

 

I love this scripture and I really love how God works. I love how God

is always trying to make us see more. Abram had left what he had

always known to follow the Lord. The Lord had told him to

pack up and leave to a place unknown. Did Abram know what

was waiting for him? I seriously doubt that.

Before God called him did he have a vision for his life? He probably

did but I don’t think it was as big as what God had planned.

And that is why God had to take him outside. He had to give him

another picture. It’s interesting to note how many times God kept on

telling Abram about his purpose…..He didn’t just tell him one time!

 

The picture Abram had would not help him walk

in God’s amazing promise. So God took him outside and showed

him something outrageously beautiful if there is such a thing!

God showed him something which was naturally impossible. It

was impossible, plain and simple. But that didn’t stop God.

As I read this I can see how God did this for me. I didn’t have the

right picture before I became a Christian. I had another picture,

a picture created by the abuse that went on in the house, a picture

carefully crafted by everyone who didn’t see God’s amazing plan.

They thought they were being nice, they thought they were

been realistic, some thought since they knew me better than

the majority they could tell me what my life would be like. But

it was all lies and I didn’t even know it. ………

 

“You are not going anywhere in life”

“You don’t have what it takes to make it in this world”

“You are so dumb”

“Look at where you grew up”

“Abused people don’t have a future”

“Don’t dream big”

 

On and on it went. But I was young and no one taught

me to say no to what was being said. I didn’t know better so

I agreed with everyone…..Every single negative word became

a part of me and every negative word formed the “picture”.

 

Then I became a Christian. I still had the messed up “picture”.

It dictated everything in my life. It dictated what I was to expect

in life, which wasn’t very much. It dictated what kind of friends

I should have. It dictated the kind of life I was to pursue!

 

But God intervened and showed me another picture. At first I

rejected it. Lies….It was all lies! Someone was trying to set me up

again. But God persisted and took me “outside and showed me

the stars and told me to count them if I could……..”

Over time I began to believe Him. It was crazy but how could I

not believe?

Changing the “picture” was the most painful thing I had to ever

endure. It tooks years and years of pain and even tears. But

God in His grace persisted and kept on showing me “His”

picture and I am forever grateful. Am I there yet? Not by a long

shot but the picture has changed drastically and continues to….

 

Friends, God has a better “picture” for your life. He wants

to show you the most amazing things if you let Him. Ditch the

old picture that told you how much of a loser you were, that

told you how ugly you were, that told you how insignificant you

were, that told you you had no future, that made you aim as low

as possible just in case you failed…..!

 

God has a better picture for your life and He is inviting you

outside to look at the stars and count them if you can……

The old picture can be changed. The enemy has lied to you

and has done something crazy. He has made you believe that

the old picture is the truth!

He has made you believe that the old picture is the real you!

He is dead wrong friends!

 

God’s picture is stronger than any picture the enemy can

ever fabricate. That is what he has done. I looked up the

definition of fabricate and this is what I found:

 

Fabricate – invent something in order to deceive.

synonyms -forge, falsify, fake, counterfeit, make up and invent

 

Crazy right?!!

 

My hope is that you will understand the ‘picture” can change.

Your truth can change. There is another picture, God’s

picture. There is no other picture that can compete to His

picture. All other pictures must bow down to His. He loves us

with everything within Him. He has only the best reserved

for us. Let’s stop listening to the lies of the enemy.

As I end I will leave you with a very simple but powerful

truth,

 

There is more…….

 

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

The Key to Keeping Your Life….

There is so much power in our words but do we believe that? We are so cavalier with our words at times but is that really scriptural? We think it’s OK to speak negative at times but is that what God wants from us? No it’s not! The wise man doesn’t just read the word, he applies it. He looks at various ways at how the word can be applicable and does it. What I am trying to get at is this, you have power in the words that you speak. I will be bold is saying that it is not okay to speak negative some of the time!!!  Its not scriptural!! The word is full of guidance on how we are to speak. There is a time to be firm, there is a time to shout, there is a time to be angry, there is a time to say whats on your mind but we are not called to speak negatively!! Things may be hard and difficult and it’s OK to acknowledge that but don’t stay there. The last word is what matters!! I can say that I am in a mess but I can’t stop there, I need to stop at the answer, God!! We are not called to be negative and our words have power. God wants us to be very careful about what comes out of our mouth.
Your breakthrough in any situation is linked to the words you speak!! What are you speaking??
Let us look at some scripture to back up what I was saying about God not wanting us to speak negatively.

From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hands shall come back to him [as a harvest].
Proverbs 12:14

A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
Proverbs13:2

He who guards his mouth keeps keeps his life, but he who opens  wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 13:3

You have the power of life and death in your mouth. You cannot afford to speak negatively. God does not want you to speak negatively. Will you listen to Him?
I like the last chapter I shared. He who guards his mouth guards his life!! He who doesn’t will come to ruin!!! Its that clear….
God is calling you to guard your life and it happens when you determine not to speak negatively!!! Bad things happen and it’s OK to acknowledge those things but don’t let them influence the way you speak!!
Watch your words, guard your life.

Rolain.

Don’t let That Word Escape!!!

I had a bad day the other day. I couldn’t put my finger on it at first but then the light came on. There is this girl I like but I have been told not to pursue her.                                                       I would like to think of myself as a fairly confident guy, but when all these words were being spoken I was discouraged. Negative thoughts began to overwhelm me until I made a decision to stop being interested in this girl! Crazy right!!!

It is very hard to just stop being interested in a girl especially if you like her. Now here is the point of my post. God began speaking to me about the words I have been speaking over myself in this peculiar situation. They were negative and they were making things worse. As I was contemplating all this I heard a podcast from Pastor Joel Osteen. He was speaking about the power of our confession. Here are a few things he mentioned:

–          You cannot talk defeat and expect victory.

–          Negative words can keep you from God’s best.

–          The promises of God are delayed at times because of our words.

–          We are prophesying negatively over our future when we speak negative.

 

You cannot talk defeat and expect victory. That is so true but I was doing that and so many other people do that. To expect victory we need to speak victory. So after that I stopped speaking negatively over my situation. What are you speaking over your life? The other thing I realised was how easy it was to speak negatively when I was down. I thought I was doing the right thing by talking myself down but that is not what God wants. He wants me to have the best and only the best. It is not an admirable trait to have, if you talk down on yourself.

 

Watch your confession. Watch what comes out of your mouth because you are creating your world with your words!

 

God bless.

What Does Your Tomorrow Look Like?

What is the difference between you and the next person? What is the difference between someone who drives around in an expensive Range Rover Sport and you? What is the difference between a family that travels to the best resorts in the world every holiday compared to a family that are struggling to make ends meet? What is the difference between a person who stays in a penthouse in a high priced suburb compared to someone who stays in a shack in a poor part of town?
What is the difference between a teenager who gets accepted into the best universities and the teenager who is struggling to get accepted at any university?

Believe it or not but there is an underline similarity in all these cases. I live in a place that overlooks one of the most expensive penthouses in the city. So one day as I was sitting and staring at it I started thinking, why am I here and not there? Why are the people who stay at the penthouse, at the penthouse and not here or anywhere else? Why do they drive the cars they drive which are very expensive and why am I struggling to buy a car?

The reason is simple but hard to come to grips with. My mentor taught it to me. I remember the first time he highlighted it, I was rocked. I tried to think of other reasons which I, did find. But he taught me this was one of the main reasons I was were I was. The reason is, in the way I think compared to the way they think! And that is the underline similarity between all those cases I mentioned in the beginning. And because the way we think is different our expectations are different. Thier expectations in life are higher compared to my expectations. Let me give you an example of how that works.
There is a guy who thinks about travelling all the time. He reads magazines on travel and he watches travel network. He is totally obsessed with it. What do you think his expectation is? Travelling! On the other hand we have another guy who is thinking of failure in his business. He worries and complains that things are not going his way. He losses all hope that it will get better. What is his expectation? Failure.
I hope that illustration has helped you to understand how our thinking can determine our expectations.
And please understand what I am saying. I am not saying bad things happen to people because they think wrong. We live in a broken world and because of that we cannot escape brokeness. What I am trying to show you is that you have a part to play in the story of your life. And the way you think is one of the main things that will determine where you are tomorrow. Just thought to make myself clear on that.

Which boat are you in? What does your “tomorrow” look like? What you think about today will determine your “tomorrow”. And remember that the difference between you and someone who is crazy successful is in the way you both think. Begin to change the way you think.
I will end this post with two scriptures:

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverance and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
Philippians 4:8

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Proverbs 23:7

Rolain.P