How to see God when life is difficult.

What problem are you dealing with today? What is getting you stressed, anxious and fearful?

As children of God we know the answer is to call on God but it’s harder said than done.

We live in a world that’s full of negativity. A world that doesn’t acknowledge a Savior.

A world that promotes bad news in every facet of life.

It’s not hard to find hopelessness, negativity, discouragement and the list goes on.

And the trap we keep falling into is accepting all that negativity. We accept a truth that’s made up and a truth

that is not a truth.

 

We need to be very careful what we are feeding our selves with today. The enemy’s goal is to destroy our

faith in God. If he can do that he can do his work which is to kill, steal and destroy.

But there is a way to fight his devices and it’s found in Mark 5.

There was a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. She had spent all she had on doctors but

was getting worse. Her situation was bleak. For twelve years she was in pain with no hope of healing.

She just kept getting worse but one day she heard about Jesus.

 

The words tells us,

“She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched 

His garment. 

For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.” 

Mark 5:27, 28

 

The circumstances around her were bleak but when she heard about Jesus things changed. She had faith in

Jesus and changed her confession. She charged her environment with faith using her words.

We are surrounded by so much negativity but we don’t have to accept it as our reality. Jesus is

our answer.

We can change the result with our words. Instead of letting fear, hopelessness and anxiety determine

our situations we can inject faith in those situations and see God move and do the impossible.

The woman kept saying. 

We need to charge our environment with faith so much that we begin to see victory, and breakthrough.

We can’t let the negativity and hopelessness in the world steal our faith in God.

No matter how bad things get there is always breakthrough and deliverance because God is with us.

The enemy doesn’t want us to see God as the answer.

 

Put your faith in God today. Charge your environment with faith.

Faith in God is what will get you through the hard times.

Faith in God’s ability will bring you the deliverance and healing you need.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

 

He was abandoned by everyone!

“Be diligent to come quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, 

having loved this present world, and he has departed for 

Thessalonica-Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 

Only Luke is with me. “

2 Timothy 4:9-11

 

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord

repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, 

for he has greatly resisted our words. 

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. 

May it not be charged against them. “

2 Timothy 4:14-16

 

How hard it must of been for Paul. He had been abandoned by

so many people.

He was on the Lord’s business and people kept leaving him left,

right and center!

I don’t think it was easy for him.

 

I think we can all think of a time where we have been let down.

It could of been by a family member, a friend, or a co worker.

Whoever it was, it wasn’t fun. It’s hard actually.

 

But that’s what happens when we put our trust in man.

But that goes two way.

I can remember countless times I have failed people. No

matter how hard I tried I still failed them.

What is the answer then?

 

Paul didn’t have one person abandon him, he had several people

abandon him and oppose him! How did he deal with it?

 

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the 

message might be preached fully through me, and that all the 

Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the

lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and 

preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. 

To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! “

2 Timothy 4:17-18

 

When Paul was abandoned by his friends and co workers he

didn’t go into a panic attack. He didn’t send “hate mail” to

the people who abandoned him. Instead, he looked to God

to help him.

And the Lord helped Him and delivered him out of the mouth

of the lion.

The Lord remained faithful to him. Even when man failed him,

the Lord remained faithful. The Lord was by his side.

The lesson I want to get across is this,

 

People will fail us, and we will fail people but our

trust and dependence should be on God always!

What happened to Paul had the potential of sending him

into depression and so much more but he knew Who turn to.

The problem for us begins when we put all our hope and reliance

on man.

The only person we should totally depend on is God.

I am not saying abandon your relationships with everyone

and do everything on your own.

I am saying, understand that people will fail you and you will

fail people.

Depend entirely on God.

He will never let you down.

 

*Do you feel abandoned, thrown aside and ignored but you need someone to talk to.

Click on the link below for help*

 

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/relations/what-to-do-when-youre-feeling-neglected/

 

Bless you friends.

 

Rolain

When my faith is weak.

“As He came near Jericho, it occured that a blind man was

sitting by the roadside begging.

And hearing a crowd going by, he asked what it meant.

They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. 

And he shouted, saying, Jesus, Son of David, take pity

and have mercy on me!

But those who were in front reproved him, telling him to

keep quiet;

yet he screamed and shrieked so much the more, Son of

David, take pity and have mercy on me!”

Luke 18: 35-39

 

I needed to be reminded of this story today.

There is something

I need to get done soon and I thought I had put my faith

in God concerning this “thing” but I was wrong.

This “thing” I am trusting God for is big and it has a time

limit on it.

I thought I was trusting God but in my heart I had already

made a decision.

In my heart I had told myself God wasn’t going to answer my

prayer! I know…..crazy!

 

But this morning in my quiet time God used the scripture I

shared to speak to me.

The blind man was told Jesus was passing by.

But when he shouted out for Jesus attention the crowd

reproved him and tried to silence him.

The crazy thing is this, they knew the man was blind. If there

was anyone that needed a miracle that day it was the blind man

but the crowd tried to keep him silent. They didn’t want him to

see again! That’s cold…..!

 

I didn’t know it at the time but I was the blind man. I had

a need I was looking to God for but there were voices telling me

to give it up. The voices told me I wasn’t going to get what I

requested. I would rather not pray and pursue God for what

I needed. Dissapointment was sure I heard. The voices

were subtle.

I thought I was trusting God but there were

all these other things going on.

 

I don’t know how it happened but I let unbelief and doubt

sneek in. They corroded my faith and I didn’t even know it.

But like the blind man I must not give in to the negative

voices around me.

Those voices are not of God.

I can’t throw in the towel.

Yes, it seems impossible

Yes, I have nothing in my hands at the moment

Yes, there doesn’t seem to be an answer but…….

 

God will come through. He won’t let me down.

 

The blind man screamed and shrieked for his healing.

He refused to be silenced by the voices.

 

That’s faith!

 

You may be in my shoes but I want to assure you that God

is faithful. Don’t give in to the negative voices. Don’t be rational.

Faith is anything but rational.

You must fight to stay in faith.

Because in the end God will come through for you.

 

As I end I would like you to think about something with me.

 

Are you still walking in faith or have you succumb to the

voices telling you why that “thing” won’t happen?

Have you listened to the lies that say, God will not answer

your prayer so stop praying and stop believing, just give up?

 

Take a bit of time to reflect on those questions. Allow the Lord

to show what’s really happening.

 

God bless you friends!

 

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

 

 

What Does It Mean To Follow Jesus??

 

But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and leave the dead [in sin] to bury their own dead.
And after He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
And suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping.
Matthew 8:22-24

As I was reading this passage of scripture something caught my attention. The word says, after Jesus got into the boat, His disciples got into the boat and suddenly there arose a violent storm! Not just a storm but a violent storm. Why did Jesus go on to the boat then? In fact why did He allow the disciples to follow Him onto the boat?? I am sure He knew a storm would come. They could of stayed on  land until the storm passed but instead He went on to the boat! The disciples had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
It is not easy following Jesus. A lot of people think it is but it’s not! Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee a pain free life. In fact it might mean more challenges and more trouble but why???

The answer is found further down in the scripture I shared. The disciples were freaking out. They thought they were in mortal danger!!! (Matthew 8:25)
And that is the thing about this walk we have chosen. The danger is real. The trials are real. The troubles we face can take us out! As the disciples thought they would die so it is with us. But Jesus had a plan. He wasn’t taking them into the storm for the fun of it. He wanted to teach them something. He wanted them to learn something.

And He said to them, Why are you timid and afraid, O you of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and wonderful calm (a perfect peaceableness). Matthew 8:26

Jesus equated their fear and timidity for a lack of faith!!! Very interesting….They were not over reacting when they were asking Jesus to save them. The storm was real, the boat was sinking so one would think their reaction was totally normal but no, Jesus equated it to lack of faith!!!!
In the storm we need to trust God. He is the ONLY One who can get us out of it. The only One!!
Your foreboding and anxious thoughts and your fear are showing Him how much you DON’T trust Him!!
Fear is a natural response to danger but how we respond when fear comes is important.

I want you to know, Jesus is with you in the storm. He wants your faith. Will you stop looking at the magnitude of the storm and turn to Him in faith? He will save you. He wants to strengthen your faith in Him. He is good. He does not allow storms into our lives for the fun of it. He has a plan.

Rolain

Putting Worry Behind Us.

I know I have spoken about worry in previous posts but it just keeps on surfacing in my life, and it is one thing that a lot of Christians struggle with.
In one of my posts I mentioned that worry was negative goal setting because when you worry you are focusing on the bad thing and not thinking of the solution. You are in effect goal setting negatively!
But I want to go deeper than that today. Worry is a sin!!!

Let that sink in for a bit. We sin when we worry. You might have a legitimate reason for worrying but to God it is sin!
-Being worried if you will get married, that is sin,
-worried that something bad will happen to your kids, that is sin,
-worried that God won’t come through for you, that is sin,
-worried that you will get evicted because the rent has not being paid, that is sin,
-worried that God will abandon you, that is sin,

The list goes on and on. What are we worrying about? God wants us to take all these worries to Him.
God is a gracious God and that is why He is patient with us but He desires us to grow. He wants us to learn that we can trust Him.

When we worry we become double minded. We don’t focus on but on the problem. God wants us to be steady. James 1:6-8 puts it perfectly.

⁵ If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of ^[b]the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

⁶ Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

⁷ For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,

⁸ [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

When you doubt it opens the door to worry. They are very closely related. If we are to put worry behind us we need to make a decision. Would you like to join me in a little exercise? What we will need to do is think of EVERYTHING we worry about and after we have done that we will put them on paper. I would advise you to write them on two pieces of paper.

Once you have done that you will put a date on them and then burn the one paper. Bring all the worries you wrote down to God and surrender them to Him. The burning of the paper is symbolic of surrendering all your worries to God. Whenever a worry comes up from today, you will refer to the other paper you have kept to remind you that the worry doesn’t have any power over you.

God wants us to trust Him and not to worry. He is able to provide for us fully. Will you trust Him? Will you put worry behind you?  Worry is a sin. Doubt is a sin. Decide today to live a life of faith…..

Rolain

3 Lessons From King David About Destiny.

Is there a set formula to accomplishing your destiny? There was a time when I thought there was but the truth is, there is not. I know that is a bold and definite conclusion but I will show you why. I don’t believe there is a set way because we are all different. God made us unique and our callings are unique. I do believe there are universal things that we need to heed if we are to accomplish our calling and I also believe there are things we can learn from people that have gone before us but to say there is one specific formula to reach our destiny is where we err.
In this post we are going to look at King David. He had the call of God on his life and I believe we can learn a lot from him concerning destiny.

1 – The first thing we learn from King David is, he was a worshipper. He loved worshipping God. He knew he was called and he never forgot who was in charge. Worship does that. When we worship God we are delaring God is in charge. King David was not afraid to worship. He was passionate about worship.

Are you a worshipper? Do you love worshiping God? Is it a part of you? On the road to our destiny we need to remember that worship plays a big part in our lives. Worship is a very important key to accomplishing your destiny because it keeps your focus on the One who is really in control of your destiny! Worship was more than a “thing” King David did. It was a lifestyle! Worship for us needs to be a lifestyle. No one had to tell him to worship because it was a part of him. Is that the case with us?

2 – King David always knew who to turn to when he sinned. He wasn’t proud like Saul who denied his sin. Instead, he would confess his sin. He didn’t get it right all the time but when he realised where he erred he would ask God to forgive him.
We need to be open and transparent with the sin in our lives to God. Are you like King David who would confess his sin or like Saul who would try and hide his sin?

3 – King David was someone who trusted in God. He only read a few incidents where he tried to do things on his own but in the overall picture of his life, King David was someone who trusted in God wholeheartedly. We can see it in how he carried himself with Saul. He never took matters into his own hands. He waited on God to vindicate him. It was the same with Absolom and it was the same with Goliath. David had complete trust in God.
We need to trust God as well. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Trust is a key ingredient in context to destiny and life in general. God’s calling on your life is beyond what you can fathom in your natural understanding and that is where faith comes in. Faith in God will help you achieve what seems “unachievable” because by faith you will be able to see God who is the One  directing you and guiding your every step.

And those are the three things that will help you on the road to your destiny. I am so very confident that God’s plan for your life is real and is in motion.  I pray these steps will help on your journey. God bless.

Rolain.

 

 

Rolain.P