"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:9-10. NKJV
The word 'Refuge,' can also be interpreted as, being a safe place, a shelter, protection and a place of relief. In other words, it can be known as a hiding place. At times through our lives, we have all needed a place to hide. For some this may be from different kinds of abuse. For others it may be a hiding place from being bullied. A refuge is usually a safe place where one can take time out from the rest of society for a while, until there has been some kind of change to circumstances. A study of Psalm 46 gives us a very good insight of God's care and protection of His people.
We do not always need to go running into a hiding place for protection. If we need this, God provides it. Oftentimes, we just need some space, a time to get away from the cares of the world and take some time out. Where better than to allow God to take us to this place. Psalm 91:1-2 give us a more deeper understanding of God's care and protection for us:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust."
Psalm 91:1-2. NKJV
Where is the secret place? Basically, it's where God is. It is the place where you go to seek Him in your quiet time, that place where you feel safe and encouraged. This can be anywhere but it must be a place where you can be alone with Him and seek some friendship, love and encouragement from Him. Note that when we are with Him, we abide under the shadow of His wing. (Psalm 91:4). Psalm 31:20 says, 'You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence, from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.'
At times, life can be hard. People may become far too demanding of us; and may also say unkind words about us - words that are not true but are said in such a way that people believe them. These are the times that when we need to seek God in His secret place - His sanctuary and pavilion.
Psalm 91 gives a great insight into the safety of abiding in the presence of God. May I encourage you to take some time out and study and meditate on this Psalm. There is so much to be gained by going through it and it will most certainly give you an understanding of just how much God wants to protect and take care of you. It is also a Psalm of warfare as it gives you promises that you can stand on and oppose any evil that may come your way. Take a look at these three verses from the Psalm:
"Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your way - " Psalm 91:9-11 NKJV
Whether you're battered and bruised from what life has given you or you're just needing some time out - in need of refuge - let me encourage you to call out to Jesus; determine to spend quality time with Him on your own. Get into the secret place and let Him build you back up, piece by piece until you're ready to go out again and fulfill the commission that He has placed upon you.
Every Blessing
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
This is a blog that centres on Jesus Christ - my Lord and Saviour. My aim is to describe how He has helped over the years, together with offering daily teaching and encouragement
Saturday 30 November 2019
Friday 29 November 2019
Does your mouth need a service?
"But I say to you that, for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.' Matthew 12:36. NKJV
Our words matter. They either do good or do a lot of damage. Proverbs 18:21 says, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.' We will reap what we sow. If we sow bad words, word that cause hurt and upset, we will be judged at the end of the day. But actually, things will not go well for us before that, because we will be in a place of unrest, a place where God cannot bless us fully until we repent, if at all. A closer look at this verse shows that, when we speak life, we're speaking about God's perspective on the issue. When we speak death, we're declaring defeat and constant complaint. We need to make our words productive.
Many people speak what they want to without considering what they're about to say first. Once it's out in the open, it's too late. We may see the news as it discusses the latest case of violence or theft and look at the people involved in a judgemental way. 'They need to get a job instead of filling their minds with violence from watching endless videos. This is where they get all this violence from,' we may say. There may be some truth in this but we are not called to judge. Actually, we don't know the circumstances; where they've come from and judging a person before they've been declared guilty is not the way forward. Racial hate is on the increase and God is not pleased. There is enough violence in this world without Christians standing on a soap box, until they have the facts. Yes, we need to make a stand for justice, but firstly, God would want us to find out the whole story before we rush in saying all the wrong things,
'Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.'
Ephesians 5:1-2
We do well when we consider what Jesus would do in any given situation. Oftentimes, things come at us so quickly that we hardly have the time to process what is happening. To shoot our mouths off in an example such as this, without at least giving the matter a thought, let alone prayer, is the wrong thing to do. This is why we need to be in charge of our mouth. We also need to root out what is happening in our heart, because this fills our mind and our mind feeds the mouth with words. If the heart is not right, it is feeding the wrong stuff to our minds and our thought-life becomes a volatile tool. This volatile tool, if not serviced well can run out of tune with what the Holy Spirit wants us to say. When this happens, words of death are spoken - words that kill and destroy and damage any type of chance of introducing Jesus into the matter.
Ask yourself this question: 'Am I in control of my mouth - what I say?' Don't just brush over the question. Put it before God, meditate on it and allow the Holy Spirit to give you an MOT. If you pass, you can drive on. If you fail, you need some type of repair and Jesus is a great mechanic. As you submit to Him and allow Him to carry out some work on you, in no time at all, you'll be back on the road.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Our words matter. They either do good or do a lot of damage. Proverbs 18:21 says, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.' We will reap what we sow. If we sow bad words, word that cause hurt and upset, we will be judged at the end of the day. But actually, things will not go well for us before that, because we will be in a place of unrest, a place where God cannot bless us fully until we repent, if at all. A closer look at this verse shows that, when we speak life, we're speaking about God's perspective on the issue. When we speak death, we're declaring defeat and constant complaint. We need to make our words productive.
Many people speak what they want to without considering what they're about to say first. Once it's out in the open, it's too late. We may see the news as it discusses the latest case of violence or theft and look at the people involved in a judgemental way. 'They need to get a job instead of filling their minds with violence from watching endless videos. This is where they get all this violence from,' we may say. There may be some truth in this but we are not called to judge. Actually, we don't know the circumstances; where they've come from and judging a person before they've been declared guilty is not the way forward. Racial hate is on the increase and God is not pleased. There is enough violence in this world without Christians standing on a soap box, until they have the facts. Yes, we need to make a stand for justice, but firstly, God would want us to find out the whole story before we rush in saying all the wrong things,
'Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.'
Ephesians 5:1-2
We do well when we consider what Jesus would do in any given situation. Oftentimes, things come at us so quickly that we hardly have the time to process what is happening. To shoot our mouths off in an example such as this, without at least giving the matter a thought, let alone prayer, is the wrong thing to do. This is why we need to be in charge of our mouth. We also need to root out what is happening in our heart, because this fills our mind and our mind feeds the mouth with words. If the heart is not right, it is feeding the wrong stuff to our minds and our thought-life becomes a volatile tool. This volatile tool, if not serviced well can run out of tune with what the Holy Spirit wants us to say. When this happens, words of death are spoken - words that kill and destroy and damage any type of chance of introducing Jesus into the matter.
Ask yourself this question: 'Am I in control of my mouth - what I say?' Don't just brush over the question. Put it before God, meditate on it and allow the Holy Spirit to give you an MOT. If you pass, you can drive on. If you fail, you need some type of repair and Jesus is a great mechanic. As you submit to Him and allow Him to carry out some work on you, in no time at all, you'll be back on the road.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Thursday 28 November 2019
Nothing is impossible
"being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was able to perform."
Romans 4:21. NKJV
When you look at some issue that is massive, it can look so immovable; so impossible to negotiate that we can be tempted to give it up as a bad job. Don't do that!
God told Abraham that he would father a child (Issac) in his old age. Sarah just laughed at the idea. Let's face it, Abraham was getting on for a 100 years old and Sarah nearly 90; it must have seemed an impossibility for this happen at their age. But Abraham believed.
Just a look at Romans 4:17-22, we see Abraham get into a position where, 'Contrary to hope, in hope believed.' (V18), 'And not being weak in faith,' (V19), 'He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,' (V20), 'but was fully convinced that what He had promised, He was able to perform.' V21).
You may say, 'Yes, but Abraham was a friend of God, it was different for him.' No, it wasn't, he was the same as you and believe it or not, you are a friend of God's too. 'No longer do I call you servants for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends..' (John 15:15). You are a friend of God as well so believe it.
Supernatural hope (biblical hope) overcame natural hope. We serve a God who gives life to the dead and calls the things that don't exist as though they do! (V17) And He expects us to operate in this same kind of faith; to see things differently; to speak out things differently. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, 'For we walk by faith not by sight.' Again, 2 Corinthians 4:18 comments, 'while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' We look at things through the eyes of faith because the natural things are subject to change. In other words, we call things that do not exist as though they did. (V17). And that is faith and this is the way God expects us to live.
We should never consider our limitations or what people may say to negate our faith or what is around us trying to intimidate us. We should press on keeping our eyes on God and speaking the Word of God - the Words of faith. Where sickness is concerned, we need to speak to that sickness and make it get in line with God's Word that says by the stripes of Jesus we were healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Speak to the problems and mountains that you will face in the same manner too, all of course, in the Name of Jesus.
Receive your healing; receive your blessing; receive that promise that God has given, that dream that God placed on your heart some time ago. Be careful though of the dream-killers; the ones who will try to convince you that God doesn't work this way; that you have heard wrong. Keep pressing on in belief. Be careful though, if you get involved in sin - you come out of God's presence - you may lose what you have achieved. Stay in the presence of the Holy Spirit and get you bible out' seek Him; pray to Him, praise Him. Focus on Him, not the problem. Tell God how big and wonderful He is, that is praise.
Don't forget your angels. They are around waiting for you to get into position, when you are and speak the Word of God, POW! - they will step in and help you as you praise God. Remember Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They were in stocks in a filthy dungeon. But instead of moaning and groaning, they sang and praised God. The result was, their chains fell off. God had spoken - the angels had obeyed and they were set free. And so will you be too.
God has given you all you need to get on and do the job, so position yourself for victory!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Romans 4:21. NKJV
When you look at some issue that is massive, it can look so immovable; so impossible to negotiate that we can be tempted to give it up as a bad job. Don't do that!
God told Abraham that he would father a child (Issac) in his old age. Sarah just laughed at the idea. Let's face it, Abraham was getting on for a 100 years old and Sarah nearly 90; it must have seemed an impossibility for this happen at their age. But Abraham believed.
Just a look at Romans 4:17-22, we see Abraham get into a position where, 'Contrary to hope, in hope believed.' (V18), 'And not being weak in faith,' (V19), 'He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,' (V20), 'but was fully convinced that what He had promised, He was able to perform.' V21).
You may say, 'Yes, but Abraham was a friend of God, it was different for him.' No, it wasn't, he was the same as you and believe it or not, you are a friend of God's too. 'No longer do I call you servants for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends..' (John 15:15). You are a friend of God as well so believe it.
Supernatural hope (biblical hope) overcame natural hope. We serve a God who gives life to the dead and calls the things that don't exist as though they do! (V17) And He expects us to operate in this same kind of faith; to see things differently; to speak out things differently. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, 'For we walk by faith not by sight.' Again, 2 Corinthians 4:18 comments, 'while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' We look at things through the eyes of faith because the natural things are subject to change. In other words, we call things that do not exist as though they did. (V17). And that is faith and this is the way God expects us to live.
We should never consider our limitations or what people may say to negate our faith or what is around us trying to intimidate us. We should press on keeping our eyes on God and speaking the Word of God - the Words of faith. Where sickness is concerned, we need to speak to that sickness and make it get in line with God's Word that says by the stripes of Jesus we were healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Speak to the problems and mountains that you will face in the same manner too, all of course, in the Name of Jesus.
Receive your healing; receive your blessing; receive that promise that God has given, that dream that God placed on your heart some time ago. Be careful though of the dream-killers; the ones who will try to convince you that God doesn't work this way; that you have heard wrong. Keep pressing on in belief. Be careful though, if you get involved in sin - you come out of God's presence - you may lose what you have achieved. Stay in the presence of the Holy Spirit and get you bible out' seek Him; pray to Him, praise Him. Focus on Him, not the problem. Tell God how big and wonderful He is, that is praise.
Don't forget your angels. They are around waiting for you to get into position, when you are and speak the Word of God, POW! - they will step in and help you as you praise God. Remember Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They were in stocks in a filthy dungeon. But instead of moaning and groaning, they sang and praised God. The result was, their chains fell off. God had spoken - the angels had obeyed and they were set free. And so will you be too.
God has given you all you need to get on and do the job, so position yourself for victory!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Wednesday 27 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 8
"For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen."
Matthew 6:13. NKJV
This is the final major topic in our prayer outline:
DIVINE PARTNERSHIP - Praise God for sharing His Kingdom, Power and Glory with you.
God is willing to give His children the best and wants us to share our lives with Him. In John 14 we read:
'Let not you heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also'. John 14:1-3
Jesus is actually preparing a place for us to live in Heaven. It must be a magnificent place because He has been preparing this for over 2000 years. Note the word, 'Mansions'. Have you ever thought that you would live in one of these? Well you will! When He has finished the preparations, He will return to us and take us there. This will be in the End Times - the end of the age. People have been talking about this for many years but it is getting close. One only has to look at the state of the world right now - terrorism, wars, abuse, floods, earthquakes, people stabbing people and beheading them. Total evil, bloodshed and hurt. There will have to be the rise of the anti-christ firstly, but with all of this chaos and pain, even that may be just around the corner. Kenneth Copeland said very recently that, 'We are in the end of the end times,' and I believe it.
But, Jesus will take care of all bible-believing, born again, Spirit-Filled Christians wherever they are. He is sharing His Kingdom with us. He has also shared with us His Power - 'But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you’. Acts 1:8, then, ‘Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' Luke 10:19. He is also sharing with us, His Glory: 'So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.' 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT. Wow, look in the mirror and you'll be looking at Jesus. You are a mirror-image.
There is some question as to whether this doxology is in the original manuscript. Some theologians believe Matthew wrote it; others believe that it was added by a scribe at a later date. There will always be debates about whether this is right or the other. The way forward, I believe, is that it should be accepted that it was in the original text and believed to be what Matthew meant to say. Until God says different, that is what I believe is the right route to take here. Don't forget that there is a thief about (John 10:10). He will rob us of every gem that God gives us if we allow him to. Don't let him. Stand on the Word of God.
We have now come to the end of our study of the Lord's Prayer. There is so much more to reap from this text and I encourage you to meditate on it and expound the scripture until you feel that you have squeezed the life out of it. When you feel this, you'll be wrong, because it is a Living Word and there is no end to it.
Be very Blessed
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Matthew 6:13. NKJV
This is the final major topic in our prayer outline:
DIVINE PARTNERSHIP - Praise God for sharing His Kingdom, Power and Glory with you.
God is willing to give His children the best and wants us to share our lives with Him. In John 14 we read:
'Let not you heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also'. John 14:1-3
Jesus is actually preparing a place for us to live in Heaven. It must be a magnificent place because He has been preparing this for over 2000 years. Note the word, 'Mansions'. Have you ever thought that you would live in one of these? Well you will! When He has finished the preparations, He will return to us and take us there. This will be in the End Times - the end of the age. People have been talking about this for many years but it is getting close. One only has to look at the state of the world right now - terrorism, wars, abuse, floods, earthquakes, people stabbing people and beheading them. Total evil, bloodshed and hurt. There will have to be the rise of the anti-christ firstly, but with all of this chaos and pain, even that may be just around the corner. Kenneth Copeland said very recently that, 'We are in the end of the end times,' and I believe it.
But, Jesus will take care of all bible-believing, born again, Spirit-Filled Christians wherever they are. He is sharing His Kingdom with us. He has also shared with us His Power - 'But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you’. Acts 1:8, then, ‘Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' Luke 10:19. He is also sharing with us, His Glory: 'So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.' 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT. Wow, look in the mirror and you'll be looking at Jesus. You are a mirror-image.
There is some question as to whether this doxology is in the original manuscript. Some theologians believe Matthew wrote it; others believe that it was added by a scribe at a later date. There will always be debates about whether this is right or the other. The way forward, I believe, is that it should be accepted that it was in the original text and believed to be what Matthew meant to say. Until God says different, that is what I believe is the right route to take here. Don't forget that there is a thief about (John 10:10). He will rob us of every gem that God gives us if we allow him to. Don't let him. Stand on the Word of God.
We have now come to the end of our study of the Lord's Prayer. There is so much more to reap from this text and I encourage you to meditate on it and expound the scripture until you feel that you have squeezed the life out of it. When you feel this, you'll be wrong, because it is a Living Word and there is no end to it.
Be very Blessed
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Tuesday 26 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 7
"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13. NKJV
Our sixth major topic in our prayer outline is:
POWER OVER SATAN: Pray a hedge of protection about yourselves and your loved ones as in Job 1:9-10 and Psalm 91, and verbally put on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:13-18)
The term, 'And do not lead us into temptation,' has been misinterpreted a few times by people who are unaware of what it really means. Let's set the record straight, God will never tempt us or lead us into temptation:
'Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God", for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone".
God will never lead us into temptation, neither will He tempt us. However, He will allow us to be tested. Trials come our way and God provides every way for us to overcome them. Let us not forget, that Jesus was actually led into the wilderness to be tempted (Read Matthew 4:1-22). Actually, in the New Testament, the word for 'temptation,' was often meant to be 'tested,' However, from the devil's standpoint, this was an enticement to sin. From Jesus' standpoint, it was a challenge from Satan to test God's sovereignty and plan. The devil probably felt that he could excel over Jesus in His weakness. He offered Him things that could well have seemed quite intriguing. However, Jesus passed this test.
It is the same with each one of us, trials will come our way and oftentimes, God will allow this. As Jesus did, we need to overcome these trials or tests with the Word of God - 'It is written', before they turn into temptations, We have great comfort in God's Word at this time, because He will not allow us to be tested or tempted beyond what we can stand:
'No temptation has overtaken you except, such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.' (1 Corinthians 10:13'
An Amen is called for here, I feel! God is faithful and watches over us, cheering us on to overcome but if things get too tough, He has a rescue plan. Isn't that good? Each and everyday, we need to ask God to protect us and our family and all that we have and will be doing. Psalm 91 is a great place to start. Place a hedge of protection around yourself and your family. Also, remember to put on the armour of God. Some may say there is no need to do this as it is already on. Forget that, and get dressed properly, each day. Read Ephesians 6:13-18 every day and ensure that you are protected. It's no use going out to your day, getting into problems and then realising that you are not protected with the armour. Put it on!
Don't forget that the devil will continue to fire his fiery darts at you, wherever you are and whatever you're doing. Stand up man or woman of God and go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and get the day's job done.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Our sixth major topic in our prayer outline is:
POWER OVER SATAN: Pray a hedge of protection about yourselves and your loved ones as in Job 1:9-10 and Psalm 91, and verbally put on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:13-18)
The term, 'And do not lead us into temptation,' has been misinterpreted a few times by people who are unaware of what it really means. Let's set the record straight, God will never tempt us or lead us into temptation:
'Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God", for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone".
God will never lead us into temptation, neither will He tempt us. However, He will allow us to be tested. Trials come our way and God provides every way for us to overcome them. Let us not forget, that Jesus was actually led into the wilderness to be tempted (Read Matthew 4:1-22). Actually, in the New Testament, the word for 'temptation,' was often meant to be 'tested,' However, from the devil's standpoint, this was an enticement to sin. From Jesus' standpoint, it was a challenge from Satan to test God's sovereignty and plan. The devil probably felt that he could excel over Jesus in His weakness. He offered Him things that could well have seemed quite intriguing. However, Jesus passed this test.
It is the same with each one of us, trials will come our way and oftentimes, God will allow this. As Jesus did, we need to overcome these trials or tests with the Word of God - 'It is written', before they turn into temptations, We have great comfort in God's Word at this time, because He will not allow us to be tested or tempted beyond what we can stand:
'No temptation has overtaken you except, such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.' (1 Corinthians 10:13'
An Amen is called for here, I feel! God is faithful and watches over us, cheering us on to overcome but if things get too tough, He has a rescue plan. Isn't that good? Each and everyday, we need to ask God to protect us and our family and all that we have and will be doing. Psalm 91 is a great place to start. Place a hedge of protection around yourself and your family. Also, remember to put on the armour of God. Some may say there is no need to do this as it is already on. Forget that, and get dressed properly, each day. Read Ephesians 6:13-18 every day and ensure that you are protected. It's no use going out to your day, getting into problems and then realising that you are not protected with the armour. Put it on!
Don't forget that the devil will continue to fire his fiery darts at you, wherever you are and whatever you're doing. Stand up man or woman of God and go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and get the day's job done.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Monday 25 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 6
"And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." Matthew 6:13. NLT
Our fifth major topic in our prayer outline is:
GOD'S FORGIVENESS - 'AND FORGIVE US,' You need God's forgiveness and you need to forgive others. Daily set your will to walk in love and forgiveness.
Think about the worst thing that you have ever said or done to someone. As a Christian, did you ask God to forgive you? If you did, He has. Think back to the worst thing that someone did to you or said to you. Have you forgiven them? If you have, then God will forgive you your sins. If you haven't, then neither will He forgive you yours. It cannot be any clearer. It is set in stone and can't be brushed aside. You may say, ‘Yes but you don't know what happened to me, it was awful.' It probably was. But if you don't forgive the person, no matter how awful it was, you will not be forgiven yourself. We can't pussy-foot around with God. He is true and He means business. Jesus Himself said:
'If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.' Matthew 6:14-15
I suppose that we can all think back to the times when we have been devastated by someone when they hurt us so badly. Some people's lives have been ruined to a degree by the volume of hurt that they have suffered. You may be one of these people. Really, the only way forward is to let the hurt go, by forgiving the person who did this to you. What you do, is release the hold they have on your life - your thought life. It will only lead to bitterness, if it hasn't already. Just a mention of that person's name and it transports you back to that time and you re-live what happened. That is no way to live. God does not want that for you; but you have the answer. You must forgive in order to survive. This is God's law. It's hard to believe, but He loves that person as much as he loves you. That's unthinkable to us but it's true. And because of this, you are keeping yourself in bondage to this memory and the hurt it caused. Also, because God wants forgiveness, He can't bless you the way that He wants to until you release that person by forgiving them.
I know its difficult but, as we forgive the other person, we give God the chance to deal with this situation. Don't worry, He will handle the situation for you, but not in the way you would do. He's more loving and understanding and believe me, the person will not get away with it. But that is none of your business. Your business is to forgive and then move on to a better life free from the anxiety of it all.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Our fifth major topic in our prayer outline is:
GOD'S FORGIVENESS - 'AND FORGIVE US,' You need God's forgiveness and you need to forgive others. Daily set your will to walk in love and forgiveness.
Think about the worst thing that you have ever said or done to someone. As a Christian, did you ask God to forgive you? If you did, He has. Think back to the worst thing that someone did to you or said to you. Have you forgiven them? If you have, then God will forgive you your sins. If you haven't, then neither will He forgive you yours. It cannot be any clearer. It is set in stone and can't be brushed aside. You may say, ‘Yes but you don't know what happened to me, it was awful.' It probably was. But if you don't forgive the person, no matter how awful it was, you will not be forgiven yourself. We can't pussy-foot around with God. He is true and He means business. Jesus Himself said:
'If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.' Matthew 6:14-15
I suppose that we can all think back to the times when we have been devastated by someone when they hurt us so badly. Some people's lives have been ruined to a degree by the volume of hurt that they have suffered. You may be one of these people. Really, the only way forward is to let the hurt go, by forgiving the person who did this to you. What you do, is release the hold they have on your life - your thought life. It will only lead to bitterness, if it hasn't already. Just a mention of that person's name and it transports you back to that time and you re-live what happened. That is no way to live. God does not want that for you; but you have the answer. You must forgive in order to survive. This is God's law. It's hard to believe, but He loves that person as much as he loves you. That's unthinkable to us but it's true. And because of this, you are keeping yourself in bondage to this memory and the hurt it caused. Also, because God wants forgiveness, He can't bless you the way that He wants to until you release that person by forgiving them.
I know its difficult but, as we forgive the other person, we give God the chance to deal with this situation. Don't worry, He will handle the situation for you, but not in the way you would do. He's more loving and understanding and believe me, the person will not get away with it. But that is none of your business. Your business is to forgive and then move on to a better life free from the anxiety of it all.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Sunday 24 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 5
"Give us this day our daily bread" Matthew 6:11. NKJV
Our fourth major topic in the prayer outline is"
GOD'S PROVISION - 'GIVE US' Jesus the need meeter, told us to pray daily, asking Him to supply all our needs.
Jesus encourages us, to daily ask for our needs to be met, not our 'greeds'. Therefore, this reinforces the need to pray The Lord's Prayer on a daily basis, but not as a ritualistic prayer but as an offering of worship to Him, an intimate moment in His presence. He will then make sure that we are looked after.
This part of the verse has been misinterpreted in several ways over the years. One of the most common was that it was associated with Holy Communion. There may be a certain truth to this but in general, it is a request where we ask our Lord to supply the food and other such things that we need for the day. This is a prayer that God will answer.
It shows that Jesus is anxious to take care of us in every way. It is a personal thing but covers every believer in general. It shows His heart. Remember how concerned He was when a massive crowd were following both Him and the disciples and He was wanting to ensure that they had enough food so that they would not go hungry: 'And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude , and He was moved with compassion for them' Matthew 14:13-21.
His compassion never fails and He is interested in each and every one of us. Let us not forget that He tells us not to worry about what we will eat or wear (Matthew 6:25-34). He takes delight in supplying all we need. He encourages us to put Him in such a place in our lives that we will know, without a shadow of doubt, that what He tells us, He means and He will fulfil His words.
Get into the daily habit of bringing The Lord's Prayer into your daily routine. Further, get into the habit of trusting Him like you never have before. You can work for 20 hours a day, every day, but never achieve what God wants to give you each and every day. You see, He gives us peace, whether we receive it is up to us, but it's on offer all the same, everyday. He offers us protection. We can't earn peace and protection, Jesus gives it to us freely every day.
The term 'Give us', is not some greedy request. It is our request to Jesus to give us what He has promised. And he loves to do so.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Our fourth major topic in the prayer outline is"
GOD'S PROVISION - 'GIVE US' Jesus the need meeter, told us to pray daily, asking Him to supply all our needs.
Jesus encourages us, to daily ask for our needs to be met, not our 'greeds'. Therefore, this reinforces the need to pray The Lord's Prayer on a daily basis, but not as a ritualistic prayer but as an offering of worship to Him, an intimate moment in His presence. He will then make sure that we are looked after.
This part of the verse has been misinterpreted in several ways over the years. One of the most common was that it was associated with Holy Communion. There may be a certain truth to this but in general, it is a request where we ask our Lord to supply the food and other such things that we need for the day. This is a prayer that God will answer.
It shows that Jesus is anxious to take care of us in every way. It is a personal thing but covers every believer in general. It shows His heart. Remember how concerned He was when a massive crowd were following both Him and the disciples and He was wanting to ensure that they had enough food so that they would not go hungry: 'And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude , and He was moved with compassion for them' Matthew 14:13-21.
His compassion never fails and He is interested in each and every one of us. Let us not forget that He tells us not to worry about what we will eat or wear (Matthew 6:25-34). He takes delight in supplying all we need. He encourages us to put Him in such a place in our lives that we will know, without a shadow of doubt, that what He tells us, He means and He will fulfil His words.
Get into the daily habit of bringing The Lord's Prayer into your daily routine. Further, get into the habit of trusting Him like you never have before. You can work for 20 hours a day, every day, but never achieve what God wants to give you each and every day. You see, He gives us peace, whether we receive it is up to us, but it's on offer all the same, everyday. He offers us protection. We can't earn peace and protection, Jesus gives it to us freely every day.
The term 'Give us', is not some greedy request. It is our request to Jesus to give us what He has promised. And he loves to do so.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Saturday 23 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 4
"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Matthew 6:10 NKJV
The third major topic in our prayer outline is:
GENERAL PRIORITIES - Your Kingdom come. Declare that His Kingdom priorities shall be
established, in yourself, your loved ones, your church and your nation.
This part of the prayer asks for the establishment of God's rule in our lives, our situation and in the age to come. God's will on the earth today.
RT Kendall wrote in an email:
'There is no rebellion in Heaven; likewise there will be no rebellion in us when we say, 'Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.'
There is much rebellion, hurt bad feeling, abuse and whatever else in this world today. However, as Christians God wants us to establish righteousness wherever we are. A good starting point is in this prayer. If we declare that God's Kingdom priorities are the way forward for us, then this is what will be established. We are declaring that we are living for God. There is no rebellion, hurt, bad feeling, abuse or whatever else in Heaven, so when we say, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, this is our decree.
There is no swearing or cursing in Heaven so there won't be in our life as we say, 'Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'. It is the same with other things that are in our lives, such as anger, criticising and judging people. Then of course, the things that can so easily trip people up, like porn, adultery, homosexuality and any other things that the Holy Spirit flashes up. Getting into this part of the prayer and deciding that we mean business with God, has got to be a positive step in our walk with Him.
So, let us determine that whatever happens, we will endeavour to establish God's righteousness in all we do, say and think. It's like the old cliché, 'Would Jesus do this or say that?' That used to make us pull up in our tracks. Therefore, as this is totally from the mouth of Jesus, make it count for Him and your walk.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Matthew 6:10 NKJV
The third major topic in our prayer outline is:
GENERAL PRIORITIES - Your Kingdom come. Declare that His Kingdom priorities shall be
established, in yourself, your loved ones, your church and your nation.
This part of the prayer asks for the establishment of God's rule in our lives, our situation and in the age to come. God's will on the earth today.
RT Kendall wrote in an email:
'There is no rebellion in Heaven; likewise there will be no rebellion in us when we say, 'Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.'
There is much rebellion, hurt bad feeling, abuse and whatever else in this world today. However, as Christians God wants us to establish righteousness wherever we are. A good starting point is in this prayer. If we declare that God's Kingdom priorities are the way forward for us, then this is what will be established. We are declaring that we are living for God. There is no rebellion, hurt, bad feeling, abuse or whatever else in Heaven, so when we say, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, this is our decree.
There is no swearing or cursing in Heaven so there won't be in our life as we say, 'Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'. It is the same with other things that are in our lives, such as anger, criticising and judging people. Then of course, the things that can so easily trip people up, like porn, adultery, homosexuality and any other things that the Holy Spirit flashes up. Getting into this part of the prayer and deciding that we mean business with God, has got to be a positive step in our walk with Him.
So, let us determine that whatever happens, we will endeavour to establish God's righteousness in all we do, say and think. It's like the old cliché, 'Would Jesus do this or say that?' That used to make us pull up in our tracks. Therefore, as this is totally from the mouth of Jesus, make it count for Him and your walk.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Friday 22 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 3
"Hallowed be Your name." Matthew 6:9. NKJV
The second major topic of our prayer outline is:
GOD'S PRESENCE - 'HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME'
Enter His presence through praise and call Him Father because of Christ's atoning blood.
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and Bless His name.' Psalm 100:4-5
We should always enter into God's presence with a sound mind, not with an arrogant intrusion.
Hebrews 10:22, tells us, 'let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.' In other words, we need to continuously draw near to God with a blameless heart and faith.
Hallowed be Your name, is like saying, 'Let Your name be held holy.' This enables us to give to God the unique place which His nature and character deserve and demand. The Greek word for Hallowed is hagios which is usually translated as holy. But the basic meaning is 'different,' or 'separated'. Something that is hagios is different from other things, Therefore, the petition, 'Hallowed be Your name,' means Let God's name be treated differently from other names. In other words, let God's name be above all other names.
The English word for this is reverence. God deserves to be reverenced. Martin Luther asked, 'How is God's name Hallowed among us?' His answer to this was, 'When both our life and doctrine are truly Christian’. Therefore, this means when our all is submitted to God. When we pray, 'Hallowed be Your name,' we need to mean it, otherwise it just becomes another ritualistic phrase of repetition, which is based on following others, not Our Father. We need to pray The Lord's Prayer daily if possible and allow it to be a fresh, thoughtful commitment to the Almighty God. After all, this is a sacred devotion of our feelings to God.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
The second major topic of our prayer outline is:
GOD'S PRESENCE - 'HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME'
Enter His presence through praise and call Him Father because of Christ's atoning blood.
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and Bless His name.' Psalm 100:4-5
We should always enter into God's presence with a sound mind, not with an arrogant intrusion.
Hebrews 10:22, tells us, 'let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.' In other words, we need to continuously draw near to God with a blameless heart and faith.
Hallowed be Your name, is like saying, 'Let Your name be held holy.' This enables us to give to God the unique place which His nature and character deserve and demand. The Greek word for Hallowed is hagios which is usually translated as holy. But the basic meaning is 'different,' or 'separated'. Something that is hagios is different from other things, Therefore, the petition, 'Hallowed be Your name,' means Let God's name be treated differently from other names. In other words, let God's name be above all other names.
The English word for this is reverence. God deserves to be reverenced. Martin Luther asked, 'How is God's name Hallowed among us?' His answer to this was, 'When both our life and doctrine are truly Christian’. Therefore, this means when our all is submitted to God. When we pray, 'Hallowed be Your name,' we need to mean it, otherwise it just becomes another ritualistic phrase of repetition, which is based on following others, not Our Father. We need to pray The Lord's Prayer daily if possible and allow it to be a fresh, thoughtful commitment to the Almighty God. After all, this is a sacred devotion of our feelings to God.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Thursday 21 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 2
"Our Father in Heaven'. Matthew 6:9. NKJV
To emphasise the strong, intimate meaning of the term, 'Our Father,' William Barclay gives a wonderful example set in Roman times:
'There is an old Roman story which tells how a Roman emperor was enjoying a triumph. He had the privilege, which Rome gave to her great victors, of marching his troops through the streets of Rome with all his captured trophies and his prisoners in his train. So the emperor was on the march with his troops. The streets were lined with cheering people. The tall legionaries lined the streets' edges to keep people in their places. At one point on the triumphal route, there was a little platform where the empress and her family were sitting to watch the emperor go by in all the pride of his triumph. On the platform with his mother, was the emperor's youngest son, a little boy. As the emperor came near, the little boy jumped off the platform, burrowed through the crowd and tried to dodge between the legs of a legionnaire and to run out on the road to meet his father's chariot. The legionnaire stooped down and stopped him. He swung him up in his arms, 'You can't do that boy,' he said 'don't you know who that is in the chariot? That's the emperor. You can't run to his chariot.' And the little boy laughed down, 'He may be your emperor,' he said, 'but he's my father.' That's exactly the way the Christian feels towards God.' Copyright William Barclay.
Instead of, 'My Father,' God made this prayer personal to each one of us. The words, 'I, me or mine,' are not in the prayer. Jesus in life replaced these type of words with, 'We, us and ours'.
Even if we matter to no one else, we matter to God. He has given us back our self-respect. Did you get that? No matter what you have done, or been involved with; no matter how badly you may have messed something up or made a fool of yourself, Our Father in Heaven, has given you back your self-respect. You haven't had to earn it, He's given it to you, freely.
Tomorrow, we'll look a little closer at The Lord's Prayer. Have a great day!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
To emphasise the strong, intimate meaning of the term, 'Our Father,' William Barclay gives a wonderful example set in Roman times:
'There is an old Roman story which tells how a Roman emperor was enjoying a triumph. He had the privilege, which Rome gave to her great victors, of marching his troops through the streets of Rome with all his captured trophies and his prisoners in his train. So the emperor was on the march with his troops. The streets were lined with cheering people. The tall legionaries lined the streets' edges to keep people in their places. At one point on the triumphal route, there was a little platform where the empress and her family were sitting to watch the emperor go by in all the pride of his triumph. On the platform with his mother, was the emperor's youngest son, a little boy. As the emperor came near, the little boy jumped off the platform, burrowed through the crowd and tried to dodge between the legs of a legionnaire and to run out on the road to meet his father's chariot. The legionnaire stooped down and stopped him. He swung him up in his arms, 'You can't do that boy,' he said 'don't you know who that is in the chariot? That's the emperor. You can't run to his chariot.' And the little boy laughed down, 'He may be your emperor,' he said, 'but he's my father.' That's exactly the way the Christian feels towards God.' Copyright William Barclay.
Instead of, 'My Father,' God made this prayer personal to each one of us. The words, 'I, me or mine,' are not in the prayer. Jesus in life replaced these type of words with, 'We, us and ours'.
Even if we matter to no one else, we matter to God. He has given us back our self-respect. Did you get that? No matter what you have done, or been involved with; no matter how badly you may have messed something up or made a fool of yourself, Our Father in Heaven, has given you back your self-respect. You haven't had to earn it, He's given it to you, freely.
Tomorrow, we'll look a little closer at The Lord's Prayer. Have a great day!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Wednesday 20 November 2019
The Lord's Prayer Part 1
"Our Father in Heaven," Matthew 6:9. NKJV
Note here, that Jesus didn't say, 'My', but 'Our.' The title of Father is much more intimate than the original name of Yahweh or Jehovah, which the Jews recognised God as. The Jews felt that 'Father', was too intimate, but not Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote:
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying 'Abba Father'. Galatians 4:6
We have been adopted into God's family and we are His sons and He is Our Father. God provided our son ship through Jesus and assures us of it through the Spirit. Abba is the intimate Aramaic term of Father. Jesus used this Himself. Therefore, we can recognise God - Our Father as Our Daddy.
The Lord's Prayer is recognised as a prayer outline and has seven major topics. The first one is:
THE PATERNAL NEED - 'OUR FATHER'.
When we pray this, we can expect all of our needs to be met by the loving kindness of Our Father.
When we stop and consider this - just who God is, the creator of the universe and yet through His Son Jesus, He is Our Father - Our Daddy. It also shows us the heart of Jesus. He had every right to say, 'My Father', but He chose to share this privilege with each one of us.
And there is no need to feel insecure that Our Father is in Heaven and Jesus, the Son of God is at His right hand. We're not alone because Jesus sent the Comforter, the Helper:
'Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the helper (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.'
John 16:7. NKJV
It's never God's intention that we be alone. The Holy Spirit was sent to us, to dwell within us and be our helper; our power and our joy until we go to be with Our Father in Heaven, one day.
Until then, draw on His love, His Power, His joy, His comfort and His direction each and every day.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Note here, that Jesus didn't say, 'My', but 'Our.' The title of Father is much more intimate than the original name of Yahweh or Jehovah, which the Jews recognised God as. The Jews felt that 'Father', was too intimate, but not Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote:
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying 'Abba Father'. Galatians 4:6
We have been adopted into God's family and we are His sons and He is Our Father. God provided our son ship through Jesus and assures us of it through the Spirit. Abba is the intimate Aramaic term of Father. Jesus used this Himself. Therefore, we can recognise God - Our Father as Our Daddy.
The Lord's Prayer is recognised as a prayer outline and has seven major topics. The first one is:
THE PATERNAL NEED - 'OUR FATHER'.
When we pray this, we can expect all of our needs to be met by the loving kindness of Our Father.
When we stop and consider this - just who God is, the creator of the universe and yet through His Son Jesus, He is Our Father - Our Daddy. It also shows us the heart of Jesus. He had every right to say, 'My Father', but He chose to share this privilege with each one of us.
And there is no need to feel insecure that Our Father is in Heaven and Jesus, the Son of God is at His right hand. We're not alone because Jesus sent the Comforter, the Helper:
'Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the helper (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.'
John 16:7. NKJV
It's never God's intention that we be alone. The Holy Spirit was sent to us, to dwell within us and be our helper; our power and our joy until we go to be with Our Father in Heaven, one day.
Until then, draw on His love, His Power, His joy, His comfort and His direction each and every day.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Tuesday 19 November 2019
It's time for healing
"they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover." Mark 16:18. NKJV
People are being healed all over the world at this very moment. Someone, somewhere has taken Jesus' words and laid their hands on some sick person and they have been healed. Hallelujah, that is amazing. This is what the scripture means, to lay on hands on the sick and pray that they will be well. It was not a time-limited thing. It was not meant just for the disciples and apostles, but for every bible-believing person throughout the world.
Then if that is the case, why are some healed and some not? Many times, we have all prayed for someone and they have not been healed. This may have led some people to shy away from this type of ministry, to avoid disappointment or embarrassment; and that is very understandable. From time to time, we have all received prayer for healing and not really felt that any, significant thing has happened. We don't have the answers for some of these occasions, but we should never, shy away from praying for people.
A closer look at this scripture, reveals some interesting facts. If we look at the King James text - old and new, we read: 'they will recover.' Now this brings a whole new meaning to being healed. Where some versions read that the person will be healed, this is not always at the very time that prayer takes place. Many people have felt - pray-er and sick person, that as soon as hands are laid upon them, then a miracle will take place and they will be instantly healed. Yes, that can be the case, many times. However, not all the time. When it feels like nothing has happened, don't give up - again, pray-er or sick person, there may be a delay because of a recovery time. When a person goes into hospital for surgery, before returning to their ward, they go to the recovery section until they wake up. When they have been checked over, that is the time when they return to the ward. However, there is still a recovery time to undergo, before they are well and back on their feet. The NIV says something similar, this reads: 'they will get well,' again, this is not instant. They will have to undergo a recovery time.
So therefore, this may explain, on occasions, why there is no visible, instant healing. A person may have to go through a recovery time, but as each day goes by, they become stronger and stronger, until they are healed, totally.
Never fear, or become disillusioned when you receive prayer and nothing seems to happen; give it time and something will. My own healing was not instant, it took place overnight while I was asleep, and even then, I was not totally well. However, over the course of the next few hours, total healing came. I had to go through the recover time. And it may be the same for you, too.
Again, if you pray for someone to be healed, refuse to become discouraged. You've done nothing wrong. There is no particular formula except, 'In the Name of Jesus.' Wait for the recovery period:
People are being healed all over the world at this very moment. Someone, somewhere has taken Jesus' words and laid their hands on some sick person and they have been healed. Hallelujah, that is amazing. This is what the scripture means, to lay on hands on the sick and pray that they will be well. It was not a time-limited thing. It was not meant just for the disciples and apostles, but for every bible-believing person throughout the world.
Then if that is the case, why are some healed and some not? Many times, we have all prayed for someone and they have not been healed. This may have led some people to shy away from this type of ministry, to avoid disappointment or embarrassment; and that is very understandable. From time to time, we have all received prayer for healing and not really felt that any, significant thing has happened. We don't have the answers for some of these occasions, but we should never, shy away from praying for people.
A closer look at this scripture, reveals some interesting facts. If we look at the King James text - old and new, we read: 'they will recover.' Now this brings a whole new meaning to being healed. Where some versions read that the person will be healed, this is not always at the very time that prayer takes place. Many people have felt - pray-er and sick person, that as soon as hands are laid upon them, then a miracle will take place and they will be instantly healed. Yes, that can be the case, many times. However, not all the time. When it feels like nothing has happened, don't give up - again, pray-er or sick person, there may be a delay because of a recovery time. When a person goes into hospital for surgery, before returning to their ward, they go to the recovery section until they wake up. When they have been checked over, that is the time when they return to the ward. However, there is still a recovery time to undergo, before they are well and back on their feet. The NIV says something similar, this reads: 'they will get well,' again, this is not instant. They will have to undergo a recovery time.
So therefore, this may explain, on occasions, why there is no visible, instant healing. A person may have to go through a recovery time, but as each day goes by, they become stronger and stronger, until they are healed, totally.
Never fear, or become disillusioned when you receive prayer and nothing seems to happen; give it time and something will. My own healing was not instant, it took place overnight while I was asleep, and even then, I was not totally well. However, over the course of the next few hours, total healing came. I had to go through the recover time. And it may be the same for you, too.
Again, if you pray for someone to be healed, refuse to become discouraged. You've done nothing wrong. There is no particular formula except, 'In the Name of Jesus.' Wait for the recovery period:
"So let's not get tired of doing good. At just the right
time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.'
Galatians 6:9. NLT
Keep on praying for the sick and hurting
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
Monday 18 November 2019
Don't forget to pray
"(16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. NKJV
Prayer is communication with Our Heavenly Father. With prayer, we praise and worship Him and speak intimately to Him. We also ask Him for protection from evil forces.
Psalm 91:2-4 says, (2)'I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him I will trust. (3) Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the Fowler and from the perilous pestilence, (4) He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings, you shall take refuge.'
Hence, as we ask Him, He places a hedge of protection around us to protect us from enemy attack. But for this to happen, we have to ask Him, we have to pray. William Barclay quotes a Rabbi as saying, 'He who prays within his house, surrounds it with a wall that is stronger than iron.'
The Jews were committed to prayer and had regular times for this. Many of the prayers could be repetitive and of a ritualistic nature quoting rigid prayers over and over again. Some may have just gone through this ritual because of an obligation. William Barclay further comments, 'As Christians there are many occasions when we do precisely the same with the prayer which Christ taught us to pray.'
The Lord's Prayer should always be prayed from the heart, never as a formality that we first learnt at school.
Even our quiet times with God may fall into a kind of formalism, where we pray from a list in a rigid and ritualistic manner. We need to pray in the Spirit and avoid the risk of repetition. Don't forget that prayer is a two-way conversation - us and God. We need to wait and give time for Him to speak to us.
On your next quiet time, why not just sit in the quietness of your prayer-cupboard, before God and just listen for His voice and leading. It may take practise and be difficult to leave the prayer list out for a time. But it may lead you to a deeper place with your Father.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail
Prayer is communication with Our Heavenly Father. With prayer, we praise and worship Him and speak intimately to Him. We also ask Him for protection from evil forces.
Psalm 91:2-4 says, (2)'I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him I will trust. (3) Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the Fowler and from the perilous pestilence, (4) He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings, you shall take refuge.'
Hence, as we ask Him, He places a hedge of protection around us to protect us from enemy attack. But for this to happen, we have to ask Him, we have to pray. William Barclay quotes a Rabbi as saying, 'He who prays within his house, surrounds it with a wall that is stronger than iron.'
The Jews were committed to prayer and had regular times for this. Many of the prayers could be repetitive and of a ritualistic nature quoting rigid prayers over and over again. Some may have just gone through this ritual because of an obligation. William Barclay further comments, 'As Christians there are many occasions when we do precisely the same with the prayer which Christ taught us to pray.'
The Lord's Prayer should always be prayed from the heart, never as a formality that we first learnt at school.
Even our quiet times with God may fall into a kind of formalism, where we pray from a list in a rigid and ritualistic manner. We need to pray in the Spirit and avoid the risk of repetition. Don't forget that prayer is a two-way conversation - us and God. We need to wait and give time for Him to speak to us.
On your next quiet time, why not just sit in the quietness of your prayer-cupboard, before God and just listen for His voice and leading. It may take practise and be difficult to leave the prayer list out for a time. But it may lead you to a deeper place with your Father.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail
Sunday 17 November 2019
SAD
"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - my Saviour and my God." Psalm 42:5. NLT
There are so many occasions when we feel extremely tired; so down in the dumps; irritable and just seem to have lost our get up and go. There can be a a great darkness over us that takes away any positive feelings we have, and replaces it with a 'Can't be bothered attitude' Now this may be depression. Many men of God suffered this on occasions - King David and Elijah spring to mind.
Periodically, we can begin to feel this way and no amount of prayer seems to lift this on a permanent basis. We need to consider what has been happening to us over a set time. We can often pinpoint where things seemed to go wrong. However, there are times when we can't.
If you're feeling this way at this time, sit and reflect on how your life has been over the past few months and how you have been coping. There may be an obvious answer to this. However, you may be one of the many who go with the weather. This affects some, especially when it is persistent rain and one can't get about without getting saturated, time after time. It may be the seasons that are affecting you. Many people, as soon as the clocks go back and the darker evenings come upon us, their feelings become lower than normal. The organisation MIND discuss this in detail. Here is an excerpt:
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that you experience during particular seasons or times of year. Depression is a low mood that lasts for a long time, and affects your everyday life.If you have SAD, you'll experience depression during some seasons in particular, or because of certain types of weather.It's common to be affected by changing seasons and weather, or to have times of year when you feel more or less comfortable. For example, you might find that your mood or energy levels drop when it gets colder or warmer, or notice changes in your sleeping or eating patterns.But if your feelings are interfering with your day to day life, it could be a sign that you have depression – and if they keep coming back at the same time of year, doctors might call this seasonal affective disorder or 'seasonal depression'.If you have SAD, you might experience some of the signs and symptoms below. But it's different for different people, and can vary season to season, so you might also have other kinds of feelings which aren't listed here:
There are so many occasions when we feel extremely tired; so down in the dumps; irritable and just seem to have lost our get up and go. There can be a a great darkness over us that takes away any positive feelings we have, and replaces it with a 'Can't be bothered attitude' Now this may be depression. Many men of God suffered this on occasions - King David and Elijah spring to mind.
Periodically, we can begin to feel this way and no amount of prayer seems to lift this on a permanent basis. We need to consider what has been happening to us over a set time. We can often pinpoint where things seemed to go wrong. However, there are times when we can't.
If you're feeling this way at this time, sit and reflect on how your life has been over the past few months and how you have been coping. There may be an obvious answer to this. However, you may be one of the many who go with the weather. This affects some, especially when it is persistent rain and one can't get about without getting saturated, time after time. It may be the seasons that are affecting you. Many people, as soon as the clocks go back and the darker evenings come upon us, their feelings become lower than normal. The organisation MIND discuss this in detail. Here is an excerpt:
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that you experience during particular seasons or times of year. Depression is a low mood that lasts for a long time, and affects your everyday life.If you have SAD, you'll experience depression during some seasons in particular, or because of certain types of weather.It's common to be affected by changing seasons and weather, or to have times of year when you feel more or less comfortable. For example, you might find that your mood or energy levels drop when it gets colder or warmer, or notice changes in your sleeping or eating patterns.But if your feelings are interfering with your day to day life, it could be a sign that you have depression – and if they keep coming back at the same time of year, doctors might call this seasonal affective disorder or 'seasonal depression'.If you have SAD, you might experience some of the signs and symptoms below. But it's different for different people, and can vary season to season, so you might also have other kinds of feelings which aren't listed here:
- lack of energy
- finding it hard to concentrate
- not wanting to see people
- sleep problems, such as sleeping more or less than usual, difficulty waking up, or difficulty falling or staying asleep
- feeling sad, low, tearful, guilty or hopeless
- changes in your appetite, for example feeling more hungry or wanting more snacks
- being more prone to physical health problems, such as colds, infections or other illnesses
- losing interest in sex or physical contact
It may be that the way that you are feeling at this moment, is because of SAD. If so, a visit to your GP may be the answer. Many Christians have suffered from some type of depression on occasions; for some it is ongoing. It is nothing to be ashamed of. You may feel that because you're a Christian, you shouldn't feel this way. If you do, then you are very wrong.
Make a quality decision to put this right. God will help - big time, but occasionally we have to admit we need professional help. If this is you, don't put it off, go for it, TODAY!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Saturday 16 November 2019
Thoroughly Blessed
"Seek the Kingdom of God, above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 NLT
As we saw from our reading yesterday, seeking God first has great benefits. Solomon told us in Proverbs 3:5-6, 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.' (NLT)
These two verses are so important to our daily lives. By putting God first, 'above all else', and living a righteous life, it will bring us many benefits, as God gives us all that we need. I stress the word, 'need.' God knows what is best for us - what will bless us and what will bring us to ruin. He will only give us what will bless us. However, just like a loving parent, who wants to make his child happy, God will give us blessings. We may not ask Him for a particular thing, because it may fall into the 'want' category but He knows we would like it and that it would be such a blessing for us. Therefore, because of His love for us, on occasions, He may just add a blessing to our day.
I have lost count of the times that this has happened to us and no doubt you have too. You see, He loves us and watches over us throughout the day. As we ask Him for directions - should we go here, do this particular thing or make a particular decision about a most important issue, He will happily show us the way. In Psalm 32:8 (NLT) we read,'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.' Note that on all three of the readings that I have mentioned, that the emphasis is upon us. We have to 'Seek and Trust.' In other words, we have to go to Him first. He expects us to seek and ask Him and when He advises us, trust that He is right and do what He says.
Our own thinking can lead us the wrong direction time and time again. Our thoughts can be so convincing and often, despite advice from people, we can rush into a particular project and 'POW', it can go pear-shaped. We must take control of the over-active thought life that takes us over periodically. God is never wrong - never! We frequently are. Quite often, we are convinced that this is the right thing to do and instead of waiting on God, as he tells us to, we follow our own direction.
It is time to make some adjustments. We need to think differently and the only way we will do this, is to seek the direction of our Commander in Chief - Jesus. He knows the way because He is the way. And that is all we need for a successful future.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
As we saw from our reading yesterday, seeking God first has great benefits. Solomon told us in Proverbs 3:5-6, 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.' (NLT)
These two verses are so important to our daily lives. By putting God first, 'above all else', and living a righteous life, it will bring us many benefits, as God gives us all that we need. I stress the word, 'need.' God knows what is best for us - what will bless us and what will bring us to ruin. He will only give us what will bless us. However, just like a loving parent, who wants to make his child happy, God will give us blessings. We may not ask Him for a particular thing, because it may fall into the 'want' category but He knows we would like it and that it would be such a blessing for us. Therefore, because of His love for us, on occasions, He may just add a blessing to our day.
I have lost count of the times that this has happened to us and no doubt you have too. You see, He loves us and watches over us throughout the day. As we ask Him for directions - should we go here, do this particular thing or make a particular decision about a most important issue, He will happily show us the way. In Psalm 32:8 (NLT) we read,'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.' Note that on all three of the readings that I have mentioned, that the emphasis is upon us. We have to 'Seek and Trust.' In other words, we have to go to Him first. He expects us to seek and ask Him and when He advises us, trust that He is right and do what He says.
Our own thinking can lead us the wrong direction time and time again. Our thoughts can be so convincing and often, despite advice from people, we can rush into a particular project and 'POW', it can go pear-shaped. We must take control of the over-active thought life that takes us over periodically. God is never wrong - never! We frequently are. Quite often, we are convinced that this is the right thing to do and instead of waiting on God, as he tells us to, we follow our own direction.
It is time to make some adjustments. We need to think differently and the only way we will do this, is to seek the direction of our Commander in Chief - Jesus. He knows the way because He is the way. And that is all we need for a successful future.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Friday 15 November 2019
How to achieve intimacy with God
"(13) And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-14. NKJV
It is time to become serious with God. Time is running out. He could return to this planet any day. Would you be ready? Jesus knows our make-up. He knows what we think, before we even think it. He knows our heart. He knows what makes us tick. He knows our thoughts to other people and He knows what we do when we are on our own, when no one else is around.
He knows all of this and yet, he adores us and can't get enough of us. Why? because He is totally sold out for us. We're on His mind 24/7. What about you? Is Jesus on your mind 24/7? Are you totally sold out for Him?
We become sold out for God when we become serious about Him. Verse 13 tells us, 'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.' In other words, when we live for Jesus wholeheartedly. When He becomes the most important person in our lives. When we seek Him in this way, we will find Him and spend more intimate moments with Him than we have ever spent before. As we reach for this intimacy, note in verse 14, that His word tells us that he will bring us back from our captivity. Captivity for us today, may be some kind of bondage or persistent habit that we are involved with that we find difficult to give up. As we truly find God, he promises to free us from this captivity and take us home.
Heaven is our ultimate destination, but until we achieve this, it is time to turn our lives around and begin to really live for Him. This means, taking Him to the supermarket with us. He's interested in this. Try taking Him into the garden; to that football or rugby match, that musical concert or when you're playing the drums, guitar or any other instrument. He's great company when you're fixing things around the home and on a walk He flourishes. Speak out loud to Him, don't worry if people can hear you. Anyway, in this day and age of technology, people are speaking remotely on their mobile phones out in the open all the time. Whatever you do or wherever you go, remember, Jesus is totally interested. If you never thought this, then involve Him and you'll soon recognise this fact. There is no need to ever be alone again, because He wants to spend every moment with you.
Seek Him wholeheartedly and you will find Him
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Jeremiah 29:11-14. NKJV
It is time to become serious with God. Time is running out. He could return to this planet any day. Would you be ready? Jesus knows our make-up. He knows what we think, before we even think it. He knows our heart. He knows what makes us tick. He knows our thoughts to other people and He knows what we do when we are on our own, when no one else is around.
He knows all of this and yet, he adores us and can't get enough of us. Why? because He is totally sold out for us. We're on His mind 24/7. What about you? Is Jesus on your mind 24/7? Are you totally sold out for Him?
We become sold out for God when we become serious about Him. Verse 13 tells us, 'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.' In other words, when we live for Jesus wholeheartedly. When He becomes the most important person in our lives. When we seek Him in this way, we will find Him and spend more intimate moments with Him than we have ever spent before. As we reach for this intimacy, note in verse 14, that His word tells us that he will bring us back from our captivity. Captivity for us today, may be some kind of bondage or persistent habit that we are involved with that we find difficult to give up. As we truly find God, he promises to free us from this captivity and take us home.
Heaven is our ultimate destination, but until we achieve this, it is time to turn our lives around and begin to really live for Him. This means, taking Him to the supermarket with us. He's interested in this. Try taking Him into the garden; to that football or rugby match, that musical concert or when you're playing the drums, guitar or any other instrument. He's great company when you're fixing things around the home and on a walk He flourishes. Speak out loud to Him, don't worry if people can hear you. Anyway, in this day and age of technology, people are speaking remotely on their mobile phones out in the open all the time. Whatever you do or wherever you go, remember, Jesus is totally interested. If you never thought this, then involve Him and you'll soon recognise this fact. There is no need to ever be alone again, because He wants to spend every moment with you.
Seek Him wholeheartedly and you will find Him
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Thursday 14 November 2019
Seek the giver, not the gift
"When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face LORD, I will seek.'
Psalm 27:8. NKJV
On occasions, we can treat God as if He is some kind of Glorified Santa Claus, by continuously asking, 'Lord, give me this,' and 'I need this Lord, please let me have it.' But God is much more than this. Yes, He gives to His children but only what He believes we need. Praying to win the Lottery, no matter how nice that may seem, is not one of those needs,. This falls into the category of 'wants.' 'Yes, but I could do so much with that amount of money; people would be so blessed as I gave to them.' No amount of justification will change God's mind with this one.
God expects us to work whenever that is possible. The Apostle Paul makes this very clear in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10. Verse 10 reads, 'If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.' You can't get it any plainer than that, can you? We should all be willing to support ourselves and our families. It's true, that through certain circumstances beyond their control, some people can't work - for a time. However, many can and should.
The Apostle Paul and many other people in ministry throughout the age, have worked to support themselves and their ministries. It is always helpful when a minister is supported financially by a church or body, but many aren't and they have to take jobs in order to manage.
As we read in yesterday's reading, God wants us to seek Him first and His righteousness. He then promises to take care of us. Seeking Him is seeking the giver, not the gift. The gifts come as we become close to Jesus - the giver. As we become sold out to Him, He commits Himself to taking care of every issue. I once heard one famous minister say to God, when the church had a very large bill, 'Lord, this is Your department - Your bill, not mine. I'm going home to get some rest and see my family. I know You'll take care of it. And God did. It may sound rather ostentatious for the minister to talk this way to God. But, this was the relationship that he had with God. Both him and his church, were faithful in their work; they trusted God for everything and their faith was rewarded. This is the way God wants us to be. Totally reliant on Him.
As we seek the giver and not the gift, placing Jesus in the driving seat, we will be blessed, time and time again. Try it!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Psalm 27:8. NKJV
On occasions, we can treat God as if He is some kind of Glorified Santa Claus, by continuously asking, 'Lord, give me this,' and 'I need this Lord, please let me have it.' But God is much more than this. Yes, He gives to His children but only what He believes we need. Praying to win the Lottery, no matter how nice that may seem, is not one of those needs,. This falls into the category of 'wants.' 'Yes, but I could do so much with that amount of money; people would be so blessed as I gave to them.' No amount of justification will change God's mind with this one.
God expects us to work whenever that is possible. The Apostle Paul makes this very clear in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10. Verse 10 reads, 'If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.' You can't get it any plainer than that, can you? We should all be willing to support ourselves and our families. It's true, that through certain circumstances beyond their control, some people can't work - for a time. However, many can and should.
The Apostle Paul and many other people in ministry throughout the age, have worked to support themselves and their ministries. It is always helpful when a minister is supported financially by a church or body, but many aren't and they have to take jobs in order to manage.
As we read in yesterday's reading, God wants us to seek Him first and His righteousness. He then promises to take care of us. Seeking Him is seeking the giver, not the gift. The gifts come as we become close to Jesus - the giver. As we become sold out to Him, He commits Himself to taking care of every issue. I once heard one famous minister say to God, when the church had a very large bill, 'Lord, this is Your department - Your bill, not mine. I'm going home to get some rest and see my family. I know You'll take care of it. And God did. It may sound rather ostentatious for the minister to talk this way to God. But, this was the relationship that he had with God. Both him and his church, were faithful in their work; they trusted God for everything and their faith was rewarded. This is the way God wants us to be. Totally reliant on Him.
As we seek the giver and not the gift, placing Jesus in the driving seat, we will be blessed, time and time again. Try it!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Wednesday 13 November 2019
Giving to receive rewards
"(1) Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in Heaven." Matthew 6:1-4. New Living Translation
The Pharisees made a great show of giving alms. They were always wanting to look good in the eyes of other people. This is why Jesus said, 'they have their reward.'( v2) The reward that they received was admiration from people, which really gave them nothing at all. The reward we seek is the one from Our Heavenly Father.
If we stop and think about it, what we do for others and what we give, goes unnoticed; but does that matter? If God sees what we do, that is all we need. He is the one that will reward us, not this world. However, if we give to the church or to a particular project or person, and announce this fact with the sound of trumpets, then that is the only reward we will receive - people's admiration, not God's.
You see, God doesn't want us to be all puffed up with pride and acting in a totally pious way. He wants us humble - 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble, so humble yourselves before God.' (James 4:6-7 NLT)
God wants us to use our money and our time, sensibly. With regards to our money, it is His in the first place, we gave Him our life and that means everything. So therefore, we need to give Him His share - a tithe which is usually a tenth of our income. From thereon, what we give to people, as a seed, we can expect a harvest from. 'But this, I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.' (2 Corinthians 9:6) This doesn't mean that if we determine in our minds to give £100 believing that we will receive back a harvest of say, £1000. It doesn't work like that; that is a business deal, the way the world would operate. We are on Kingdom Business and God will reward us with a harvest if we give humbly on a seed time and harvest time basis.
We don't give to receive; we give to bless and when God sees this, He opens the flood gates of Heaven's blessing towards us. That is God's reward, not the world's. What we need to remember is, without God, we would have nothing. He is our resource; He is our life; He is the one who walks with us on a daily basis taking our hand when we become hurt and frightened. He is the one that matters and that is all.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
The Pharisees made a great show of giving alms. They were always wanting to look good in the eyes of other people. This is why Jesus said, 'they have their reward.'( v2) The reward that they received was admiration from people, which really gave them nothing at all. The reward we seek is the one from Our Heavenly Father.
If we stop and think about it, what we do for others and what we give, goes unnoticed; but does that matter? If God sees what we do, that is all we need. He is the one that will reward us, not this world. However, if we give to the church or to a particular project or person, and announce this fact with the sound of trumpets, then that is the only reward we will receive - people's admiration, not God's.
You see, God doesn't want us to be all puffed up with pride and acting in a totally pious way. He wants us humble - 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble, so humble yourselves before God.' (James 4:6-7 NLT)
God wants us to use our money and our time, sensibly. With regards to our money, it is His in the first place, we gave Him our life and that means everything. So therefore, we need to give Him His share - a tithe which is usually a tenth of our income. From thereon, what we give to people, as a seed, we can expect a harvest from. 'But this, I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.' (2 Corinthians 9:6) This doesn't mean that if we determine in our minds to give £100 believing that we will receive back a harvest of say, £1000. It doesn't work like that; that is a business deal, the way the world would operate. We are on Kingdom Business and God will reward us with a harvest if we give humbly on a seed time and harvest time basis.
We don't give to receive; we give to bless and when God sees this, He opens the flood gates of Heaven's blessing towards us. That is God's reward, not the world's. What we need to remember is, without God, we would have nothing. He is our resource; He is our life; He is the one who walks with us on a daily basis taking our hand when we become hurt and frightened. He is the one that matters and that is all.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Tuesday 12 November 2019
Window in the Wall
"(33) but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands"
2 Corinthians 11:22-33. NKJV
Paul had suffered many things because of his faith; probably more than the average Christian could ever suffer. He was very humble and considered that his sufferings were the only things that he could boast about - not that he had undergone sufferings for Jesus, but that, in his weakness to alter this, God considered him blessed and rescued him, time and time again.
Paul was writing about the time that he was in Damascus, not too long after his conversion. He had been preaching about Jesus and the governor had his troops guarding the city to catch Paul, so that the only way out, was to be let down the wall in a basket, something that Paul regarded as a weakness.
This wasn't the first time that this type of thing had happened. Rahab, had helped the spies to escape by letting them down a wall too. (see Joshua 2:1-15.)
God is the great escape planner. He can provide for us, a way of escape at any time of the day or night. he can rescue us from issues with work-related problems, health-related problems, marital-related problems, financial-related problems and a host of other things too. He is wonderful at providing a window in a wall.
On many occasions, He may leave us in a position that we don't wish to be in. This is not because He doesn't want to help us. It is because there is a learning point that we have to master first. Think of Daniel, he had been cast into a lion's den - not the sort of place that anyone would wish to go. King Darius had not had a choice over this matter as it was a matter of law. That night, Darius had little sleep and early in the morning, rushed to the den to see if Daniel was ok. He was. God had sent an angel to shut the lion's mouth's and no doubt, Daniel had had a better sleep than Darius had.
Time and time again, we read about how God has provided a way of escape for His people, whether it be a window in a wall, an angel providing assistance or guards having their eyes closed so that a bible smuggler can get through the checkpoint to give out God's Word to people in need. At times, God turns up to show us the way. At other times, we need to look for that window in the wall opportunity; but one things for sure, God will be there for us when we need Him.
Perhaps you are in a place or situation at this time, that you don't wish to be. This is not a time to panic. It is not a time to start blaming people, or even God. It is a time when you need to pray, be alert and watch and be ready for when God provides a way forward. Whatever it is that is bothering you at this time, don't give up on God but trust Him, and be patient. He doesn't rush in when we want Him to. He waits for the right moment; that right window in the wall opportunity. This is why you need to be ready. That opportunity will come!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
2 Corinthians 11:22-33. NKJV
Paul had suffered many things because of his faith; probably more than the average Christian could ever suffer. He was very humble and considered that his sufferings were the only things that he could boast about - not that he had undergone sufferings for Jesus, but that, in his weakness to alter this, God considered him blessed and rescued him, time and time again.
Paul was writing about the time that he was in Damascus, not too long after his conversion. He had been preaching about Jesus and the governor had his troops guarding the city to catch Paul, so that the only way out, was to be let down the wall in a basket, something that Paul regarded as a weakness.
This wasn't the first time that this type of thing had happened. Rahab, had helped the spies to escape by letting them down a wall too. (see Joshua 2:1-15.)
God is the great escape planner. He can provide for us, a way of escape at any time of the day or night. he can rescue us from issues with work-related problems, health-related problems, marital-related problems, financial-related problems and a host of other things too. He is wonderful at providing a window in a wall.
On many occasions, He may leave us in a position that we don't wish to be in. This is not because He doesn't want to help us. It is because there is a learning point that we have to master first. Think of Daniel, he had been cast into a lion's den - not the sort of place that anyone would wish to go. King Darius had not had a choice over this matter as it was a matter of law. That night, Darius had little sleep and early in the morning, rushed to the den to see if Daniel was ok. He was. God had sent an angel to shut the lion's mouth's and no doubt, Daniel had had a better sleep than Darius had.
Time and time again, we read about how God has provided a way of escape for His people, whether it be a window in a wall, an angel providing assistance or guards having their eyes closed so that a bible smuggler can get through the checkpoint to give out God's Word to people in need. At times, God turns up to show us the way. At other times, we need to look for that window in the wall opportunity; but one things for sure, God will be there for us when we need Him.
Perhaps you are in a place or situation at this time, that you don't wish to be. This is not a time to panic. It is not a time to start blaming people, or even God. It is a time when you need to pray, be alert and watch and be ready for when God provides a way forward. Whatever it is that is bothering you at this time, don't give up on God but trust Him, and be patient. He doesn't rush in when we want Him to. He waits for the right moment; that right window in the wall opportunity. This is why you need to be ready. That opportunity will come!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Monday 11 November 2019
Christian Love
"(43) You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'
(44) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (47) And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? (48) Therefore, you shall be perfect just as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48 NKJV
You may ask, why does Jesus demand that people have this love? It is because such love as this makes men and women, just like God. When we achieve this, we will be perfect. However, Jesus is not speaking here about the type of perfection we are used to. For us to reach this type of perfection is impossible.
There is a Greek word for perfect which is teleios. To give an example, a man who has fully grown is teleios, which is different from a half-grown youth. The man has reached his maturity. A student who has reached the finishing line of their studies at Uni, is teleios, whereas a new student just starting out, as no grasp of it yet. They still have two or three years to go to reach this.
In the Greek, a thing is perfect if it has fully realised the purpose for which it is planned. So, as we have the love that Jesus demanded - as we achieve it - we have teleios and we are the 'perfection' that Jesus spoke about here in v48. We have fulfilled the purpose for which we desired.
William Barclay puts it this way, 'The Greek idea of perfection is functional. A thing is perfect if it fully realises the purpose for which it was planned, designed and made.'
The world's idea of perfection, is just too impossible to reach. People strive and walk over other people to try and achieve this type of perfection. Actually, the root of 'Perfectionism' is fear. People don't realise that while they are striving to achieve a particular goal they are stressing out if someone beats them to it, or if they can't fulfil what they're attempting the way they feel it should be achieved. A perfectionist lives in fear of not being able to reach what their particular target is and they will spend wasted time attempting to get there; to be the best.
If that is you, Jesus does not want that type of perfection. He wants us to love people as He does; in other words, for us to be like Him. It's attainable, but it takes willpower, dedication and the ability to shrug off persecution, bad-feeling and abuse from those who are our enemies at this time. To win them over - if that is possible - we need to show them just how Jesus is, and that starts with loving them, no matter what.
So latch on to the Greek version of perfect - teleios- because that is what Jesus was discussing here.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
(44) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (47) And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? (48) Therefore, you shall be perfect just as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48 NKJV
You may ask, why does Jesus demand that people have this love? It is because such love as this makes men and women, just like God. When we achieve this, we will be perfect. However, Jesus is not speaking here about the type of perfection we are used to. For us to reach this type of perfection is impossible.
There is a Greek word for perfect which is teleios. To give an example, a man who has fully grown is teleios, which is different from a half-grown youth. The man has reached his maturity. A student who has reached the finishing line of their studies at Uni, is teleios, whereas a new student just starting out, as no grasp of it yet. They still have two or three years to go to reach this.
In the Greek, a thing is perfect if it has fully realised the purpose for which it is planned. So, as we have the love that Jesus demanded - as we achieve it - we have teleios and we are the 'perfection' that Jesus spoke about here in v48. We have fulfilled the purpose for which we desired.
William Barclay puts it this way, 'The Greek idea of perfection is functional. A thing is perfect if it fully realises the purpose for which it was planned, designed and made.'
The world's idea of perfection, is just too impossible to reach. People strive and walk over other people to try and achieve this type of perfection. Actually, the root of 'Perfectionism' is fear. People don't realise that while they are striving to achieve a particular goal they are stressing out if someone beats them to it, or if they can't fulfil what they're attempting the way they feel it should be achieved. A perfectionist lives in fear of not being able to reach what their particular target is and they will spend wasted time attempting to get there; to be the best.
If that is you, Jesus does not want that type of perfection. He wants us to love people as He does; in other words, for us to be like Him. It's attainable, but it takes willpower, dedication and the ability to shrug off persecution, bad-feeling and abuse from those who are our enemies at this time. To win them over - if that is possible - we need to show them just how Jesus is, and that starts with loving them, no matter what.
So latch on to the Greek version of perfect - teleios- because that is what Jesus was discussing here.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Sunday 10 November 2019
He supplies all we need
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory, by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19. NKJV
Are you ever amazed at how God supplies all we need? In my life, there has been many times when I have felt that I am paying out more than I'm taking in. Do you know what I mean? Add to this, tithing and we can begin to become quite anxious. I've even heard people say, 'I can't afford to tithe, I'd never be able to manage.' Really, the answer to this is that, we cannot afford not to tithe.
Years ago when my wife and I were first saved, I read about tithing and how we are robbing God, in a Christian magazine. I was horrified. We had young children to bring up; bills were coming out of our ears. It was quite stressful. I felt, that the Christian writer was out of line to write such a thing and I determined in my mind that I would not read any articles penned by him, again.
The thing is, we can't hide from God, can we? Under conviction, we began to give a tithe out of our hard-earned, small income. From that moment. even though I almost went white overnight, God never let us down. we always had enough, more that enough at times. You see, it's God's money in the first place and as soon as we accept that fact and start giving to Him, he takes care of all we need.
Jesus Himself said, 'But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.' Matthew 6:33. When you think about it, it all comes down to trust; how much we trust Him, how far are we willing to go for Him. As He went the ultimate distance for us, it really means that we should trust Him with everything; not only our money, but our lives, our health, our families; all of it.
He has given you everything you will need in this life. Some things and people, may have been taken away, but He still gave you that joy in the first place. So therefore, determine to give Jesus the first place in your life. You'll never regret it.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Philippians 4:19. NKJV
Are you ever amazed at how God supplies all we need? In my life, there has been many times when I have felt that I am paying out more than I'm taking in. Do you know what I mean? Add to this, tithing and we can begin to become quite anxious. I've even heard people say, 'I can't afford to tithe, I'd never be able to manage.' Really, the answer to this is that, we cannot afford not to tithe.
Years ago when my wife and I were first saved, I read about tithing and how we are robbing God, in a Christian magazine. I was horrified. We had young children to bring up; bills were coming out of our ears. It was quite stressful. I felt, that the Christian writer was out of line to write such a thing and I determined in my mind that I would not read any articles penned by him, again.
The thing is, we can't hide from God, can we? Under conviction, we began to give a tithe out of our hard-earned, small income. From that moment. even though I almost went white overnight, God never let us down. we always had enough, more that enough at times. You see, it's God's money in the first place and as soon as we accept that fact and start giving to Him, he takes care of all we need.
Jesus Himself said, 'But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.' Matthew 6:33. When you think about it, it all comes down to trust; how much we trust Him, how far are we willing to go for Him. As He went the ultimate distance for us, it really means that we should trust Him with everything; not only our money, but our lives, our health, our families; all of it.
He has given you everything you will need in this life. Some things and people, may have been taken away, but He still gave you that joy in the first place. So therefore, determine to give Jesus the first place in your life. You'll never regret it.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Friday 8 November 2019
'You know where I am!'
"(4) And you know the way to where I am going" John 14:1-6 NLT
How many times do we hear this from well-meaning people when we are having a difficult time? How many times do we say it to others whom we talk to when they are going through a bad time?
About one out of ten people take up this offer. The others don't, mostly because, 'I don't want to bother them or be a nuisance. They probably don't really mean it anyway, just trying to make me feel good, that's all'. It's true sometimes. Some people listen to problems but feel inadequate or unqualified to help out. So they speak a few words of comfort, pray for the person and say, 'You know where I am'. Not everyone is like this though. many are willing to hear people's problems again and again. So if someone has said this to you just lately, you won't know until you try and take up their offer.
Thomas, a deep thinking man, one of Jesus' disciples, questioned Jesus about what He had said. He wasn't being rude, he was being honest and wanted clarification to untie his confusion. (v5) Jesus reassured him by saying, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.' (v6) Note that Jesus didn't say, I'll show you the way; but I am the way. He didn't promise to teach the truth, but that He was the truth, and He didn't show them the secrets of life, but said that He is the life. As the disciples and and us seek Him and spend time with Him, all of this will become apparent. He is everything and has everything. He is all we need but we need to press into Him, then we will get to know Him much better.
People say, 'You know where I am if you need me', then we need to take up this offer they have made; just the same as we need to understand fully where Jesus is and what He is offering us, where He is going and what life is like, serving Him, and live life full of Him. He has told us, that one day He will return and take us to where He is. At the moment He is getting it ready for us.
Until then, when we say to people, 'You know where I am if you need me', why not follow this up via a text or a telephone call. Just the same as we need to accept the offer of help at times, it is good to give our help to others, when we can.
Until Jesus returns, we have ample time to do this.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
How many times do we hear this from well-meaning people when we are having a difficult time? How many times do we say it to others whom we talk to when they are going through a bad time?
About one out of ten people take up this offer. The others don't, mostly because, 'I don't want to bother them or be a nuisance. They probably don't really mean it anyway, just trying to make me feel good, that's all'. It's true sometimes. Some people listen to problems but feel inadequate or unqualified to help out. So they speak a few words of comfort, pray for the person and say, 'You know where I am'. Not everyone is like this though. many are willing to hear people's problems again and again. So if someone has said this to you just lately, you won't know until you try and take up their offer.
Thomas, a deep thinking man, one of Jesus' disciples, questioned Jesus about what He had said. He wasn't being rude, he was being honest and wanted clarification to untie his confusion. (v5) Jesus reassured him by saying, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.' (v6) Note that Jesus didn't say, I'll show you the way; but I am the way. He didn't promise to teach the truth, but that He was the truth, and He didn't show them the secrets of life, but said that He is the life. As the disciples and and us seek Him and spend time with Him, all of this will become apparent. He is everything and has everything. He is all we need but we need to press into Him, then we will get to know Him much better.
People say, 'You know where I am if you need me', then we need to take up this offer they have made; just the same as we need to understand fully where Jesus is and what He is offering us, where He is going and what life is like, serving Him, and live life full of Him. He has told us, that one day He will return and take us to where He is. At the moment He is getting it ready for us.
Until then, when we say to people, 'You know where I am if you need me', why not follow this up via a text or a telephone call. Just the same as we need to accept the offer of help at times, it is good to give our help to others, when we can.
Until Jesus returns, we have ample time to do this.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Did you think you'd blown it?
"(15) Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" John 21:15-19. NKJV
Have you ever felt that you've blown it - big time? I mean, have you ever said or done something and you think God won't forgive you, this time, because you've gone too far? This must have been the way Peter had felt when he denied Jesus three times, to save his own skin. He was heartbroken that he had let Jesus down in such a way, especially when he had told Jesus that he would lay down his life for Him. (John 13:37-38).
Peter was a broken man and although he still hung around the other disciples, there was no real spiritual flow from him. He had gone from being, Peter the Rock to just plain Simon Peter and this was the way that Jesus addressed him when He had been resurrected. Three times he asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter answered, 'Yes Lord, You know that I love You'. The type of love Jesus asked Peter this question in the first two times, was in Agape love, the highest expression of love. Peter answered in Phileo love, an expression of friendship. This was all Peter had at this time, and Jesus knew it. On the third time that Jesus asked the question, He met Peter at his level and asked the same question in Phileo love. Peter was grieved when he heard this again and this caused the Holy Spirit to speak through him when he answered, 'Lord, you know all things; You know that I love You.'
Jesus met him where he was, came down to his level. built him back up again and once more he was Peter the Rock, with a list of instructions, to feed the lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep.
When we have messed up big time we need to remember that, Jesus knows our heart. He knows that our intentions are not to walk away from Him but to serve Him the best way we can. However, occasionally we get it wrong, and that's where you may be at this time.
Listen, Jesus knows your name; he knows your heart and he knows that you are sorry. Accept His forgiveness and let Him build you back up and set you back on the road again.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Have you ever felt that you've blown it - big time? I mean, have you ever said or done something and you think God won't forgive you, this time, because you've gone too far? This must have been the way Peter had felt when he denied Jesus three times, to save his own skin. He was heartbroken that he had let Jesus down in such a way, especially when he had told Jesus that he would lay down his life for Him. (John 13:37-38).
Peter was a broken man and although he still hung around the other disciples, there was no real spiritual flow from him. He had gone from being, Peter the Rock to just plain Simon Peter and this was the way that Jesus addressed him when He had been resurrected. Three times he asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter answered, 'Yes Lord, You know that I love You'. The type of love Jesus asked Peter this question in the first two times, was in Agape love, the highest expression of love. Peter answered in Phileo love, an expression of friendship. This was all Peter had at this time, and Jesus knew it. On the third time that Jesus asked the question, He met Peter at his level and asked the same question in Phileo love. Peter was grieved when he heard this again and this caused the Holy Spirit to speak through him when he answered, 'Lord, you know all things; You know that I love You.'
Jesus met him where he was, came down to his level. built him back up again and once more he was Peter the Rock, with a list of instructions, to feed the lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep.
When we have messed up big time we need to remember that, Jesus knows our heart. He knows that our intentions are not to walk away from Him but to serve Him the best way we can. However, occasionally we get it wrong, and that's where you may be at this time.
Listen, Jesus knows your name; he knows your heart and he knows that you are sorry. Accept His forgiveness and let Him build you back up and set you back on the road again.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Thursday 7 November 2019
How do you see things?
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7. NKJV
When we look at something - sickness, lack, loneliness, injustice or whatever, we are tempted to believe that this is the way it is; there will be no change at all. But are you open to the fact that you may be looking at things through the world's eyes, not by God's. Our scripture tells us, 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' Is that just a throwaway statement that the Apostle Paul wrote just to fill the space on a page? No, it is fact!
Let us back up to Chapter 4:18. This reads:
When we look at something - sickness, lack, loneliness, injustice or whatever, we are tempted to believe that this is the way it is; there will be no change at all. But are you open to the fact that you may be looking at things through the world's eyes, not by God's. Our scripture tells us, 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' Is that just a throwaway statement that the Apostle Paul wrote just to fill the space on a page? No, it is fact!
Let us back up to Chapter 4:18. This reads:
'While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.'
Jerry Savelle quotes this verse as,"Subject to Change'. Think about that for a moment. If we walk by faith and not by sight, then the things we see - bad stuff, sickness, hurt, trouble and all the rest, are subject to change. How? By prayer and what we confess.
If we say, 'I've lost my job, I'll never get another one like it,' then you probably won't. If you confess sickness upon yourself or others, you or they, will remain sick and so on. We must change how we look at things and what we say about them. If your child is not doing very well at school, confessing, 'He's not academic, he'll never do much in life', then he probably won't. The child needs faith-filled words putting into him, not doubt.
Proverbs 18:20 reads, 'A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth'. What we confess, we get. What we see, happens. We need a mindset that Jesus had, that things are subject to change.
Take it on board that you can walk by faith, not by what you are seeing. What you see and hear about is subject to change. After all, you were!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
Wednesday 6 November 2019
What if?
"But Moses protested again, 'What if they won't believe me or listen to me?' 'What if they say, "The LORD never appeared to you?" Exodus 4:1. NKJV
'What if?' This phrase appears to be widely used by many people throughout the world. This phrase is used by people who worry about certain things. They become anxious because they are being asked to do, something that seems to be a mammoth task - alien to their thinking.
Mose here, was no different. God had commissioned him to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go. This had caused all sorts of excuses to come to the surface from Moses. 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?' (Ex 3:12) 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent,' (Ex 4:10) Excuse after excuse. What if this and what if that. Moses had a great fear - a Specific Phobia which can be an irrational and unreasonable fear about doing a particular thing, a thing that one will attempt to avoid at all costs.
Many of us can relate to this at some time in our lives but if it is a common part of a person's life, help may be required to overcome this. Counselling and prayer are a great remedy but worries and fears such as these, can take some time to work through. The 'What if?' is very similar to the, 'But.' They both flag up reasons why something shouldn't or cannot be done. It may just be an excuse because someone doesn't want to do a particular thing. But there may be a deeper root to it and discussing this with someone may help find what the problem is.
Anxiety is associated with a lot of worries and 'What ifs'. What if I lose my job, how will I pay the bills? What if I can't find another job? What if I go to uni and fail; I'll look stupid? What if I go on holiday and get burgled? Or what if the car breaks down? Worry, worry, flap, panic.
I feel that we all may go down this road from time to time but for some people, the anxiety is massive and can cause a lot of problems.
It's difficult to stop worrying if you are a worrier. It's not easy to control the fear when we have to go somewhere or do something that is scary. But try and remember that Jesus tells us not to worry (Matthew 6:31). His Word also tells us to cast our care upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). Therefore, write down the things that are a worry and look at each one of them seeing if there is an easy solution. Often, the things we worry about never happen anyway. The things that seem stubborn - the ones causing anxiety, hand over to Jesus and try and leave them there. It really is the only way but it is a winning formula.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
'What if?' This phrase appears to be widely used by many people throughout the world. This phrase is used by people who worry about certain things. They become anxious because they are being asked to do, something that seems to be a mammoth task - alien to their thinking.
Mose here, was no different. God had commissioned him to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go. This had caused all sorts of excuses to come to the surface from Moses. 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?' (Ex 3:12) 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent,' (Ex 4:10) Excuse after excuse. What if this and what if that. Moses had a great fear - a Specific Phobia which can be an irrational and unreasonable fear about doing a particular thing, a thing that one will attempt to avoid at all costs.
Many of us can relate to this at some time in our lives but if it is a common part of a person's life, help may be required to overcome this. Counselling and prayer are a great remedy but worries and fears such as these, can take some time to work through. The 'What if?' is very similar to the, 'But.' They both flag up reasons why something shouldn't or cannot be done. It may just be an excuse because someone doesn't want to do a particular thing. But there may be a deeper root to it and discussing this with someone may help find what the problem is.
Anxiety is associated with a lot of worries and 'What ifs'. What if I lose my job, how will I pay the bills? What if I can't find another job? What if I go to uni and fail; I'll look stupid? What if I go on holiday and get burgled? Or what if the car breaks down? Worry, worry, flap, panic.
I feel that we all may go down this road from time to time but for some people, the anxiety is massive and can cause a lot of problems.
It's difficult to stop worrying if you are a worrier. It's not easy to control the fear when we have to go somewhere or do something that is scary. But try and remember that Jesus tells us not to worry (Matthew 6:31). His Word also tells us to cast our care upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). Therefore, write down the things that are a worry and look at each one of them seeing if there is an easy solution. Often, the things we worry about never happen anyway. The things that seem stubborn - the ones causing anxiety, hand over to Jesus and try and leave them there. It really is the only way but it is a winning formula.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Tuesday 5 November 2019
See the real picture
"(1) Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. (2) Think about the things of heaven not the things of earth." Colossians 3:1-2. New Living Translation
A photographer uses light and dark to produce excellent images. If it is too light or too dark, depending on what he or she are trying to create, it may need a little post-processing. Normally, the image would need to be focused properly, not too sharp and not blurry, unless this is planned. At times, filters can be used to produce a sky that isn't as blue as required or grass as green as would be liked or whatever else is required for the image. Composition is a major requirement all the time so that the eye can see what the photographer is attempting to produce. Finally at the end of the shoot, the photographer may enhance the image in post-process, to give it that added attraction.
This can be a wonderful analogy of our Christian walk. We want to walk in the light, because that is where Jesus is, and yet occasionally, we will push our luck and be tempted to try the dark side of life. We need to be careful here. The world would have us to walk the way it does, but we are different, we belong to Heaven not to this earth. This is just temporary for us before we receive the bigger picture.
We need to focus our sights and our thoughts on Jesus and what He requires from us. We need to get the clear picture of where we are going and what we are doing each and every day. We may have to change who we hang out with and where we go for entertainment. We all need to relax and chill out, but we need to edit this so that we are not at risk of compromising our faith.
Filters enhance a photograph and at times, help the viewer to see what isn't really there, such as a very dark sky when it is really quite light. In the same way, we need to keep a check on our walk - where we go, what movies we watch, what bars we visit etc. We need to be aware of what is there. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to : 'Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.' Don't let it be you!
Composition is important. It allows us to fill the picture with what should be there and what shouldn't. It helps us to get rid of the clutter that ordinarily is not needed. It is the same with our lives - our picture, there are things that are just a clutter. They need discarding so that your picture - your walk with Jesus, is a prize winner.
At the end of the day, don't try to put into your picture what shouldn't be there. Be yourself; be you - not a copy of someone else. God created you as you, not a photo-enhanced, out of focus, over-exposed composition of some other Christian.
Make your life what it is, not what it isn't.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
A photographer uses light and dark to produce excellent images. If it is too light or too dark, depending on what he or she are trying to create, it may need a little post-processing. Normally, the image would need to be focused properly, not too sharp and not blurry, unless this is planned. At times, filters can be used to produce a sky that isn't as blue as required or grass as green as would be liked or whatever else is required for the image. Composition is a major requirement all the time so that the eye can see what the photographer is attempting to produce. Finally at the end of the shoot, the photographer may enhance the image in post-process, to give it that added attraction.
This can be a wonderful analogy of our Christian walk. We want to walk in the light, because that is where Jesus is, and yet occasionally, we will push our luck and be tempted to try the dark side of life. We need to be careful here. The world would have us to walk the way it does, but we are different, we belong to Heaven not to this earth. This is just temporary for us before we receive the bigger picture.
We need to focus our sights and our thoughts on Jesus and what He requires from us. We need to get the clear picture of where we are going and what we are doing each and every day. We may have to change who we hang out with and where we go for entertainment. We all need to relax and chill out, but we need to edit this so that we are not at risk of compromising our faith.
Filters enhance a photograph and at times, help the viewer to see what isn't really there, such as a very dark sky when it is really quite light. In the same way, we need to keep a check on our walk - where we go, what movies we watch, what bars we visit etc. We need to be aware of what is there. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to : 'Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.' Don't let it be you!
Composition is important. It allows us to fill the picture with what should be there and what shouldn't. It helps us to get rid of the clutter that ordinarily is not needed. It is the same with our lives - our picture, there are things that are just a clutter. They need discarding so that your picture - your walk with Jesus, is a prize winner.
At the end of the day, don't try to put into your picture what shouldn't be there. Be yourself; be you - not a copy of someone else. God created you as you, not a photo-enhanced, out of focus, over-exposed composition of some other Christian.
Make your life what it is, not what it isn't.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Monday 4 November 2019
Logs and Splinters
"Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." Matthew 7:5. NLT
Jesus used a rather humorous example here so that it may be more memorable. The example of a man with a log in his eye trying to remove a speck in someone else's eye, would have been rather funny, as it can be now if we think about it. However, He was making an important point here; at times we can go about fault-finding but overlooking our own short comings. This is why Jesus mentioned the term, 'hypocrites'. Hypocrisy, is something that we can all become involved with. We are generally more tolerant to our own sin than we are to the sin of others.
We may have the capability of noticing someone we feel has great sin in their life. The people that we criticise or 'judge,' are no different to ourselves because what they are doing, we may be doing also but no one knows, except us. We may consider our sin as just a splinter in comparison to the log in this other person's life. But, don't forget, splinters, if left untreated can fester and become really painful causing lots of suffering.
Therefore, let us consider the splinter and put it into biblical terms. If a person has a certain sin in their life and leaves it without getting any help and prayer, they can find themselves in a place where that particular sin has become so great, that they are being ruled by it. It has become out of control. This can be sexual sin which can lead to adultery, homosexuality or pornography. Or it may be gossip, where a person tells other people things that they have been entrusted with. There are a host of different things that one can become involved in and without help, it will just become worse.
How do we measure sin? Sin is sin in Gods eyes. In the eyes of the law, unlawfulness covers a penalty and that penalty may be a fine or a prison sentence. That is the law and we must abide by this. In God's eyes, sin has no measurement. There really is no sin that is greater than the other, the same as a lie being, 'its only a white lie.' A white lie is a lie the same as sin is sin. There really is no measurement.
Therefore, a splinter is just as big as a log. Possibly the only difference being, that the splinter may not be seen at first. However, as we have seen, if left it will come to the surface.
If you've a splinter, get it attended to before it becomes much bigger.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Jesus used a rather humorous example here so that it may be more memorable. The example of a man with a log in his eye trying to remove a speck in someone else's eye, would have been rather funny, as it can be now if we think about it. However, He was making an important point here; at times we can go about fault-finding but overlooking our own short comings. This is why Jesus mentioned the term, 'hypocrites'. Hypocrisy, is something that we can all become involved with. We are generally more tolerant to our own sin than we are to the sin of others.
We may have the capability of noticing someone we feel has great sin in their life. The people that we criticise or 'judge,' are no different to ourselves because what they are doing, we may be doing also but no one knows, except us. We may consider our sin as just a splinter in comparison to the log in this other person's life. But, don't forget, splinters, if left untreated can fester and become really painful causing lots of suffering.
Therefore, let us consider the splinter and put it into biblical terms. If a person has a certain sin in their life and leaves it without getting any help and prayer, they can find themselves in a place where that particular sin has become so great, that they are being ruled by it. It has become out of control. This can be sexual sin which can lead to adultery, homosexuality or pornography. Or it may be gossip, where a person tells other people things that they have been entrusted with. There are a host of different things that one can become involved in and without help, it will just become worse.
How do we measure sin? Sin is sin in Gods eyes. In the eyes of the law, unlawfulness covers a penalty and that penalty may be a fine or a prison sentence. That is the law and we must abide by this. In God's eyes, sin has no measurement. There really is no sin that is greater than the other, the same as a lie being, 'its only a white lie.' A white lie is a lie the same as sin is sin. There really is no measurement.
Therefore, a splinter is just as big as a log. Possibly the only difference being, that the splinter may not be seen at first. However, as we have seen, if left it will come to the surface.
If you've a splinter, get it attended to before it becomes much bigger.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Sunday 3 November 2019
Re-focus and Move On
"(13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God, in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-13. NKJV
Paul was having his struggles and he wasn't there yet, but he was not going to let anything stop him from fulfilling the work of Christ and then, later on, receiving the prize - being with Jesus forever.
Life can be difficult at times. Even though you're a Christian, it does not hide you from what is happening around you. Things may come your way and floor you and you're left with a, 'Why?' There's no answer to this question at times. Things happen. As a Christian, people may lose their jobs, their house and their marriage may fall apart. There may be much more that happens but they all have to be faced and worked through. Sadly, for some, they may lose their partner - wife or husband, or perhaps other family members. There's no words that can bring comfort to these times. But as time goes on, there comes a realisation within, that something must be done in order to survive - it's an in-built thing.
The Apostle Paul speaks here about four areas that may help:
No 1
Press on. In other words, don't give up; find a way to keep going. Soldier on and keep right on to the end of the road.
No 2
Forget the past - that is the hurtful stuff. Don't think about the hurt that has been caused you. You can't change it, whatever may have happened. Don't drag the hurtful part of the past up; it slows down your progress and growth.
No 3
Take the happy memories with you. These keep a person going and are a treasure to hang on to. Let go of the bad ones, that is the pain of it all - there's life out there and God wants you to live it. Let go of the pain and grab the new.
No 4
Re-focus your thoughts about the future. Test new areas and seek your goal. Have a target to work towards and take a step forward.
None of this is easy but it is essential to ones survival. This is what Paul was discussing. He said, he was not there yet but he would keep on pressing on and that is what you need to do.
Obviously, it depends on what has happened in your life; what pain has been inflicted upon you.
Loss of a job or house can be devastating but, with time, can be resolved. Loss of someone very special takes much more time.
Whatever you may be going through at this time, there is a way forward but take one step at a time - don't rush; take one day at a time. However, try and begin to realise, within your spirit, that as you press forward, Jesus will take your hand and never leave you.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Paul was having his struggles and he wasn't there yet, but he was not going to let anything stop him from fulfilling the work of Christ and then, later on, receiving the prize - being with Jesus forever.
Life can be difficult at times. Even though you're a Christian, it does not hide you from what is happening around you. Things may come your way and floor you and you're left with a, 'Why?' There's no answer to this question at times. Things happen. As a Christian, people may lose their jobs, their house and their marriage may fall apart. There may be much more that happens but they all have to be faced and worked through. Sadly, for some, they may lose their partner - wife or husband, or perhaps other family members. There's no words that can bring comfort to these times. But as time goes on, there comes a realisation within, that something must be done in order to survive - it's an in-built thing.
The Apostle Paul speaks here about four areas that may help:
No 1
Press on. In other words, don't give up; find a way to keep going. Soldier on and keep right on to the end of the road.
No 2
Forget the past - that is the hurtful stuff. Don't think about the hurt that has been caused you. You can't change it, whatever may have happened. Don't drag the hurtful part of the past up; it slows down your progress and growth.
No 3
Take the happy memories with you. These keep a person going and are a treasure to hang on to. Let go of the bad ones, that is the pain of it all - there's life out there and God wants you to live it. Let go of the pain and grab the new.
No 4
Re-focus your thoughts about the future. Test new areas and seek your goal. Have a target to work towards and take a step forward.
None of this is easy but it is essential to ones survival. This is what Paul was discussing. He said, he was not there yet but he would keep on pressing on and that is what you need to do.
Obviously, it depends on what has happened in your life; what pain has been inflicted upon you.
Loss of a job or house can be devastating but, with time, can be resolved. Loss of someone very special takes much more time.
Whatever you may be going through at this time, there is a way forward but take one step at a time - don't rush; take one day at a time. However, try and begin to realise, within your spirit, that as you press forward, Jesus will take your hand and never leave you.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Roll it over to the Lord
"Commit your works to the LORD and your thoughts will be established" Proverbs...
-
"But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birt...
-
"Behold, I AM coming quickly. Hold fast what you have that no one may take your your crown." Revelation 3:11 NKJ... -
4 January 2019 Difficult days can be good days 1 Peter 4:12 says "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which...