There Is More To Your Story

“The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands;

the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving

gifts among men, even among the rebellious that the Lord God may dwell there.”

Psalm 68:17, 18

The first thing I want to say after reading that amazing verse is that you have victory.

The Lord went out and conquered. He was victorious over all His enemies and because

of that we have victory.

The word says he led out a host of captives.

Who were those captives? Sickness, poverty, anxiety, fear you name it.

He defeated them all and because we are His children victory is our portion.

But at times it seems like the enemy is so strong. It seems like he is winning from

every direction. Where ever we turn we seem to be losing BUT..

The same thing happened to Jesus.

The devil thought he had won over him when He was crucified.

End of the story he thought.

Victory he thought.

But he was so wrong. There was still more to the story, much more.

Jesus defeated death and rose again and saved us all!

So no matter how bleak it seems, remember there is more to your story.

It’s not over yet, no even close. The devil may seem to be winning at the moment but he doesn’t

have the final say.

Jesus does and He has defeated all your enemies!

Bless you friends

Rolain

The truth about failure

 

How do we respond to failure?

What kind of mindset do we adopt after we fail?

How we respond and the kind of mindset we should have when failure comes is so important

if we are going to grow and learn.

There is a train of thought out there that goes along the lines of, failing makes you a failure.

But is that true? Do our failures make us failures?

No it is not true. As long as we live on this earth we will have to deal with failure,

we will make mistakes, but those things do not need to dictate who we are as people or

what we are going to accomplish.

 

One of the most important questions we need to ask is, how does Jesus see us even though we

fail and make mistakes?

For the answer to that question we are going to look at Peter.

As you know he was a disciple of the Lord and loved him much. But one day before Jesus was

to be crucified, Peter was told he would deny the Lord.

Peter obviously denied it and declared his devotion and that he was ready to die with the Lord.

But as we all know Peter denied the Lord. He messed up big time. He failed Jesus and it seemed

like all was lost. How can anyone bounce back from that?

Imagine the headline in the newspapers the next day,

PETER DENIES JESUS!!

 

But let’s focus our attention on an interesting passage of scripture,

 

“Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,

Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:31

 

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him!

But instead of abandoning him or washing His hands of him, Jesus prayed for him and encouraged him.

Peter’s failure did not change the way Jesus saw him. It did not change the Lord’s plans for his life.

And this is important for us to understand. Even when you fail and make mistakes the Lord is with you.

He hasn’t abandoned or disowned you. Failure doesn’t mean the end of you.

It wasn’t the end of Peter.

 

It seemed like Peter’s story was over when he failed but we all know how powerfully he was used

in the creation of the early church. He was instrumental in the building of it.

And that’s how good the Lord is. Don’t allow your failures and mistakes to stop you in your tracks.

We are to grow and learn from our failures but never to stop and die.

Jesus has amazing things in store for you in the midst of failures. So because you are a son and daughter

of God you are not a failure but a victor and that’s the best news! 

 

On one last note, if you would like to get a copy of my devotional, click here. 

Blessings to you friends!

 

Rolain

 

Is it game over for us?

“Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, 

that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 

Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means

of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body.” 

Acts 4:10

 

“Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead” 

 

Peter and John’s statement to the high priest and Sadducees spoke to me. The enemy’s

plan was to destroy Jesus and it seemed like he was able to carry out his plan when

Jesus was crucified but that’s not what happened. Just when the enemy thought he was victorious

God intervened and changed the narrative. Jesus was raised to life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The enemy who seemed to have won, lost and lost in a spectacular fashion.

 

Like I said earlier, this spoke to me because when it seems like the enemy has the upper hand

he really doesn’t. God has a plan for us and that plan is of victory.

It may seem like the game is over and the enemy has won but it’s not over and he hasn’t won,

not by a long shot.

It may appear hopeless but keep trusting God. He will turn your bleak situation around.

Joseph experienced this truth in such an amazing way. This is what the word says about him,

 

“And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into 

slavery in Egypt; but God was with him, 

and delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and won him goodwill and favor and wisdom

and understanding in the sight of Pharoah, King of Eygpt, who made him governor over Egypt

and all his house.” 

Acts 7:9, 10

 

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. His situation was hopeless indeed. There were no relatives

in Eygpt, everyone spoke in a foreign language, and he was a slave so that meant he was treated like an

animal. The game seemed like it was over. It seemed like the enemy had won.

But the Bible tells us that “God was with him.”

And because He was with him Joesph was delivered from all his distressing afflictions. What the enemy had

planned for him came to nothing. The Lord saved him and turned his situation around.

And that’s the God we serve. He is helping us in the most difficult of situations.

He will always reverse what the enemy is trying to do. What the enemy has planned will not come to pass

in our lives. This is not the time to give up. We need to keep trusting. God will save us even when it

seems like victory is nowhere in sight. He will save us when things are at their worst. We are not defeated.

So if you are in a place where you feel like there is no hope and no chance of things turning around know

that God will turn things around in your life.

He can be trusted.

Bless you, friends!

 

Rolain

 

He wants us to win…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

I had this thought today that I needed to share with you.

It brings YAH joy when we win, when we are victorious. He wants to see us win.

He is not happy when we in pain, losing, failing, in despair.

He wants us to be victorious, to prosper, to succeed.

Paul as he neared the end of his life made a bold proclamation,

 

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 

Now, a crown is waiting for me. I will get that crown for being right with God. 

The Lord is the judge rightly, and He will give me the crown on that Day.” 

2 Timothy 4:7

 

The Lord gave Paul the victory. He helped Paul to win and that is why he spoke so boldly.

The Lord wanted Paul to win and the enemy wanted him to fail, but never succeeded in derailing

him. Paul would fall yes, but the Lord lifted him up. He never stayed down. The Lord was

with him in those times that felt like he had lost.

We are not alone friends. The Lord’s desire is for us to win, to be victorious.

Don’t be discouraged. The Lord is on your side helping you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Blessings to you friends….

 

Rolain

Everyone has a bad day but…..

Everyone has a bad day and that’s a fact we need to live with. It’s a part of life.

The past couple of days has been pretty rough. There were things I was dealing

with which were not fun. The challenges I was facing got me discouraged about

my life. What made it worse was the fact I couldn’t do anything about it in my own strength.

I needed the Lord to help me or I really was in “trouble”!

 

After speaking to my friend who encouraged me I sought the Lord for peace

and help. As I waited on Him I believe He spoke to me…… watching Masterchef Australia (my

favorite cook show.)

 

One of my favorite contestants was in a pressure test which wasn’t good. That meant they were

in the bottom three and had to fight to stay in the competition. There is no contestant that

wants to be in a pressure test. It’s difficult and the chance to be kicked out is very high.

The contestants who are in the pressure test wear a black apron which doesn’t help the situation

I think! (But that’s just me, they could think it’s cool!)

Anyway before they started their test one of the judges said something that blew me away.

I don’t remember his exact words but he said something to the effect of,

 

“Every past champion has been where you guys are. Every champion has worn the black apron.

Every champion at one time or other has been in a pressure test.”

 

That was profound and what I needed to hear. Every winner had a bad day in the competition.

Every winner faced elimination at one time or more in the competition.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for them!

That revelation really encouraged me.

There will be “black apron” moments in my life but that doesn’t mean I am done for. I don’t need to panic

and worry in those times because YAH is with me and He will bring me through the difficult times.

 

We all have bad day’s friends but don’t let it lead you into thinking “this is

the way things will always be”  because that’s not true. Things will get better.

There are so many real life examples but for this post I will use Peter. He denied the Lord. Things must

have been really bad for him. John 21 it tells us that Peter went fishing with a few of the other disciples.

Things were so bad for him that he went back to his old profession. I can only imagine how he felt after he

denied our Lord.

To make it worse that day, they caught nothing! (John 21:3)

Things were bad but to cut a long story short Yeshua showed up and gave Peter and the other disciples

new hope. He reaffirmed Peter’s purpose,

 

“The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me? He said, “Lord, you

know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. “

John 21:17

 

Peter had a really bad day but Yeshua forgave him and reinforced his calling.

Know this;  “your bad day doesn’t jeopardize YAH’s call on your life”

A bad day is exactly that, a bad day.

The danger we make is thinking there is more to the bad day. That’s what I was doing

before my friend spoke to me. That was a lie.

The Lord will bring you out of whatever you are facing.

He wants you to accomplish the things He created you for and yes, there will be confusing times and days

you fall but that doesn’t change anything. The Lord will help you accomplish everything He called

you to. (I am speaking to me as well)

Bad days are a part of life but remember to always turn to the Lord in those days.

He will help you through the worst of times and bring you to a place of peace, joy, and blessings.

Blessings to you friends.

 

 

Rolain

 

The enemy’s goal for you….

When Saul and his troops heard the Philistines challenge, they were terrified and lost all hope. 

1 Samuel 17:11

 

Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech. 

1 Samuel 17:16

 

As I read this during my quiet time God spoke to me. This is what the enemy does. His goal is to terrify us and make us lose hope. Without hope we are truly lost. When we are terrified we are crippled unable to stand and fight! God cannot work with people who are controlled with fear. He wants to break the fear off our lives. I am one of those people. One of those people who is fighting fear. I know God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind!

 

Look at what the enemy does once the Israelite army is terrified and have lost hope.

 

“Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech.”

 

The enemy is not content with terrifying you for a day. He wants you terrified as long as he can! He doesn’t want you to ever live with hope. He wants you to constantly live in fear, terrified! He is crazy…..! He will do all he can to discourage you, tear you down, destroy your dreams. He will do anything. Morning and evening for forty days! It’s crazy to think that would work but it did.

Look at the kind of effect it had.

 

“While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him.

The Israelites to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant – totally frightened.”

1 Samuel 17:23, 24

 

You would think the army would get tired of the same old challenge. But the fact is, they didn’t. We look at them and wonder how they could be so scared but the fear was real for them. Goliath was a giant! I would freak out if I saw a giant. Goliath was not only a giant but a trained one, ready for battle!

 

When I read the story everything made sense. There is something I am about to do but I have been attacked with fear. What if I fail, what if I heard God wrong, a lot of people are saying don’t do it but this is something I believe God wants me to do. These are the things I am constantly struggling with in my head. But I know the reason now. The enemy wants me to lose ALL hope! He wants me terrified, so terrified that I disobey God, so terrified, that I am not effective.

 

The armies of Israel dressed for battle everyday for 40 days only to cower away in fear. They were not fighting, just fearing and out of hope!

That is what the enemy wants for you. Has fear crippled you? Have you lost all hope in God because that is what happened?! They lost hope in God. The enemy succeeded.

We can’t let the enemy win. God has so much for us to do. He wants us to win. He wants us to hope in Him. He wants us to trust in Him.

 

Rolain