The feeling of being loved

"I in them and You in Me that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved me."

                                                                                                           John 17:23.  NKJV

Everyone likes the feeling of being loved. The majority of people want this, together with being liked and popular. It's a normal reaction. But sadly, that is not always the case and for some, it's easy to begin to feel a little insecure, especially when you're ignored or not chosen for a particular task.

Today's text is an extremely profound statement, in fact, it is amazing. Just stop and think, the God who created the universe and sent His one and only Son to save our souls, actually loves us as much as He does Jesus.

God said to me on 9th November 1999, 'If people would grasp and believe this truth, it would revolutionise their whole life.' And it is true. Just stop and meditate on this fact for a moment or two. It has the potential to blow you away. Dare to believe it.

One of the big things that the world suffers from, is insecurity. We need to feel that we belong and that we are valued. If not, it can mess us up completely. When we're insecure, we can walk into a room and see a bunch of people laughing and joking and we can convince ourselves, they're talking about us. On occasions, this can be true, but many times it is our own imagination running wild. 

Insecure people find it hard to believe that someone loves them because they're always looking for an ulterior motive. At some particular time in their life, they were hurt badly and they've grown to believe that this is life and nothing will ever change. Just looking at a social worker's  caseload   would prove my point here. Their whole life is built around mistrust and this can cause problems in future relationships.

Most of the time, the things that an insecure person struggles with, are lies from the devil and there is a need to stop believing these lies. However, there may be a root buried deep within a person that needs prayer, in order to be set free from it's clutches. 

If this is the case for you, bring this before Jesus right now. Seek the help of a trusted friend if possible but if not, come to Jesus and begin to grasp the fact that God loves you as much as He does Jesus, and He wants you to be free. Why not say this prayer with me:

Lord Jesus, please break the power of insecurity in my life. I realise that I am loved dearly, so I ask for Your help in delivering me from this place of hurt, doubt and confusion. I forgive anyone who may have hurt me so much that it made me feel this way; and I receive Your love and blessing from this moment. I am free.

In Jesus' Name. Amen

 Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

God doesn't use empty words

 "So shall My word that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

                                                                                                              Isaiah 55:11.  NKJV

God never uses empty words; His words are backed by faith and full of power. God's Word, 'Seals the Deal'. His promises and plans are as sure of fulfilment as the fact that it rains and snows. (v10). The rain and snow water the earth, bringing refreshment for the crops to bear fruit, giving seed to the sower. Note this, it accomplishes what it is sent to do and it's the same with God's Word.

Smith Wigglesworth used to say, 'If God said it, then I believe it and that settles it.' He trusted that God's Word was the final authority. God doesn't speak empty words, or 'Just talk'. When God speaks, His Word accomplishes His intended purpose. It never fails. 

If God has told you something, then it will come to pass accomplishing what it was sent for. Therefore, if God tells you something, then get in place for this to happen. Look for example at Noah. God told him to build an ark in the middle of dry land. On completion, he was to fill it with his family and two of all creatures. It must have appeared ridiculous to many people but to Noah, God had spoken and he would obey. True to His Word, the great flood came and only those who were in the ark survived. The others perished. God's Word never fails.

Some things that God tells us can appear quite strange at first but as we trust Him, He gives us more awareness of the situation and then it comes to pass. It really comes down to our faith, this is when we're tested. But we serve a 'God who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist, as though they did.' (Romans 4:17). Faith really is the only way to live because, 'Without faith, it's impossible to please God.' (Hebrews 11:6). 

There's a world full of unbelievers and God loves them. We need faith to reach them, to speak with them and to pray with them. God has called you to bring people into the Kingdom. Yes you! (Matthew 28:19-20). This is our mandate and it can't be ignored or altered. Yes it's true, some are pastors, teachers and evangelists, but we're all called to tell people about Jesus. People need healing, setting free from demonic possession, loving and much more. God has sent His Word out, so grasp hold of your mandate that His Word will not return empty.

We're in Team Jesus. Speak to whom you can about Him; pray with them, even if it's in the street. If you are obeying His Word, it will accomplish what it is sent to do. You may not see the harvest, but healings will happen, lives will be saved and changed, all because, you believed and obeyed.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

Contentment

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. (12) I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or with little.                                                                                      Philippians 4:11-12.  NLT

True contentment can be called a source of satisfaction in which happiness and peace reside. Here, Paul is saying how he learned to live with nothing and with everything. He had learned the art of true contentment.

Many people today are desperately searching for some form of contentment. Some seek it in  nice houses paid for by highly paid jobs and every conceivable luxury to accompany this. But deep down, are they really content? Other people, work all hours under the sun just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Many are content, but many aren't.

Bob Gass comments, 'When your contentment is based on status or possessions, it can be taken away in an instant. But when it's based on your relationship with Jesus, nothing, absolutely nothing, can rob you of it.' You see, the contentment that the world seeks is built on riches - what size is their bank balance, the size of their house and what top of the range car they're driving at this time. This very comfortable life style can be so temporary. As we see now, with the Covid 19 pandemic, businesses are folding on a daily basis and there are more redundancies and threats of losing homes than there has been for many years.

There is no contentment in placing our trust in worldly things. People who do this are building their houses on sand. When flood and high winds of life come along, their house may collapse. However, who builds their house on the rock (Jesus), withstands all that is thrown at them. (Matthew 7:24-27). 

There is only one true source of contentment and that is in Jesus Christ. He is the only one that can truly satisfy our need. What's more, when we put our trust in Him, He takes care of us. Yes, it may be difficult at times, with many struggles. But Jesus never promised that it would be plain sailing to follow Him. He suffered, so we can expect to suffer as well, at times. But one thing He did promise us was eternal life. As Christians, we will live forever with true contentment.

Are you a Christian who is struggling at the moment. If so, keep going because your success may be just around the corner. Don't give up now, you may miss it. The tide's coming in with your ship on the water. Things will change for the better. Just keep your eyes on Jesus. He won't let you down. 

Sit and rest a while in His presence. Be quiet and let Him talk to you instead of you doing all of the talking. You will be blessed by what you hear!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

The Pessimist

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."              Philippians 4:13.  NKJV 

A pessimist has a tendency to stress the negative or unfavourable or to take the gloomiest, possible view of things. This person habitually sees or anticipates the worst or is disposed to be gloomy. Their motto can be, 'Whats the point, it'll only go wrong.' Let's look at further examples:

'How will I ever be able to do that, it's too much of. task?'

'I could never go to university, I would fail.'

'I'm not going to apply for that job, I'm not qualified enough and even if I was, I'd never get it.'

'If I buy a house then lose my job, how will I pay the mortgage?'

I can't, I can't, I can't. If this is you, turn this around so that you know and believe Jesus Christ will enable you to do anything He asks you. Nothing is impossible for Him who believes. Let's face it, Jesus wouldn't lead you to do something if He didn't think you were capable.

Many Christians are pessimists and doubt their own worth. Thomas fell into this category a little. One thing you shouldn't do however, is beat yourself up feeling that you have no faith. You have a measure of faith that is appropriate for the task Jesus has for you. Therefore, if He leads you to do a certain thing, He will give you the faith to accomplish this. (Romans 12:3).

However, at times, we look at something and are tempted to think, 'I can't do this,' and you're probably right. On your own you can't (John 15:5). But with Jesus on your side, you can perform great things. Bob Gass says: 'How many times does something look impossible simply because you think it is?' Did you get that? You think it's impossible and so it becomes impossible. We have to change this mentality, but how?

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, 'We walk by faith, not by sight.' We have to learn to look at situations through the eyes of faith. It is too overwhelming otherwise. How do you think King David killed Goliath? He was around ten feet tall, a mountain of a man, but with faith, it was no problem for David. Even though he was only a little guy, he claimed the victory.

The pessimistic mentality has to be put to death and replaced with one of optimism and faith. You can do what you feel God is calling you to do. You can, because your friend, Jesus, says you can. So stop listening to the negative lies of the devil and get built up in the Holy Spirit.

You have a faith-filled job to do!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

The Entertainer and the People Pleaser

"Then Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."

                                                                                                                    Exodus 4:10  NKJV 

Insecurity rules in a lot of us. We often feel the need to hide behind other people because, we either feel that we're unworthy, or too inadequate for the job in hand. We may also have been put down by people so many times, that we have lost our confidence. 

In this passage, we see Moses trying to wriggle out of what God has planned for him. The reference to, 'Slow of speech and slow of tongue,' may have referred to the fact that Moses had some sort of speech impediment, possibly a stutter, and this made him feel embarrassed.

Some of us play the 'Entertainer,' role. We feel that we must put on a show for people in order to be accepted. Deep down, it may be the last thing we want to do, but our damaged ego forces us on. This may be the result of being an only child; one in which we had to entertain ourselves because there was no one else to associate with.

Then there are the, 'People Pleasers.' Lovely people who feel they must do this and that, in order to feel accepted. This type of person can end up wearing themselves out and still not reach the realms of acceptability with certain people.

Note God's response to Moses in Exodus 4:11-12, 'So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or, Who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? (12) Now therefore, go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."

STOP RIGHT THERE! God made you the way He wanted you to be. Not like anyone else, but just like you. You were born an original, don't die a copy. Discover who you are in Jesus; put yourself into His hands and watch what He can do.

'Yes, but you don't understand,' you may say. And that is true, I don't understand because God made you the way you are and if that's good enough for Him, it's certainly good enough for me, and so it should be so for you as well.

There's no need to entertain people any longer and there's no need to be a people pleaser either. Put all of your energies into serving God and don't let the enemy discourage, devalue or destroy you any longer. 

You are so special that Jesus died in your place. He sees the potential in you and he can see something in you that has never surfaced before. There's a seam of gold waiting to shine through and if you allow Him, Jesus will bring it into being.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

Outrageous and Awesome

"Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."                                     Jonah 1:17.  NKJV

Some people refuse to believe that such a thing could have happened, and they attempt to explain it some other way. But it did. We're called to believe Jesus, therefore, we must believe in His Word. It is infallible. If we don't believe such things, how will we ever believe the mighty things that God will do?

This piece of scripture shows the awesomeness of God, together with His compassion. Jonah, through disobedience, was thrown into the raging water because he was considered a jinx. He should have been heading to Nineveh but decided to take a sailing trip to Tarshish instead.

However, rather than being angry with Jonah, God prepared a great fish to swallow him up in the water and eventually vomit him up on dry land. Amazing. Now there are some anomalies here for us to discuss. God may have created a special fish or even a modified whale to meet this task. That in itself is amazing. God changing the norm of things to meet His needs, which actually He does on a regular basis. He is never limited as we are. We are dealing here with the God who can make blind eyes see and vice versa when we need His protection, such as bible smuggling in non-Christian countries.

The next anomaly is, how did Jonah breathe being trapped inside the belly of this great fish for 72 hours? That in itself, is a miracle - an unexplainable event. God likely chose that Jonah stay inside the fish for three days and three nights because that was the time ancients thought someone needed, to come back from Sheol, which was the inner part of the earth, the grave away from God's presence, a place of darkness to which the dead go. This was later referred to as Hades when the scriptures were translated into Greek. It was an intermediate place for a person's spirit, not the eternal abode. Jesus confirms this event and uses the incident to describe the time He would be, 'in the heart of the earth', preceding His resurrection (Matthew 12:40).

All of this shows just how awesome God is. He can do what He chooses to do. So why do we limit Him? He will ensure that we do what He has called us to do and will go to great lengths to do this. Think for a moment, if God did all of this for Jonah even though He was disobedient, imagine what He would have done for Him if He had obeyed. And it's the same for us. 

What is God asking you to do? No matter how dramatic or scary it may be, do it! Grasp hold of His awesome power. He is your rescuer, your friend, your provider and your guide. He holds the key to your success. Yes, some of the things He may ask, may sound unbelievable but trust Him and get on with it. He has prepared something for you and it's exciting and wonderful. Can't you feel the hairs on the back of your neck sticking up? Outrageous times are ahead!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

Cast it over to Jesus

"Cast your burden on the LORD and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."                                                                          Psalm 55:22.  NKJV

When we give our problems to Jesus, He will respond! The definition here for the word, 'Sustain,'  means to supply, support, hold up, protect and defend. God will support, nourish and provide for any person who acknowledges that the burden of cruel treatment is one that only the Lord can handle. We need not fear because Jesus can handle any problem or difficulty we face.

Whatever you may be going through at this time, is no problem for Jesus to handle, as long as you give it to Him. He can blow it away in one breath and will not let you be 'shaken' (moved)  v22) by it. When a problem comes along, it can shake us into a panic and then, fear begins to kick in. Psalm 56:3-4 says, 'Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (4) In God (I will praise His Word), In God I have put my trust. I will not fear, what can flesh do to me?' In other words, we need to face fear head on by giving it all to Jesus. We  can quickly release concerns and worries to Him, who wants to carry them for us.

When someone has wronged us, it is so easy to fly off the handle and take charge of it ourselves. When we do, God sits back and watches the mess we're making for ourselves. This is not the way to go. God's way is for us to cast it all over to Him and allow Him to handle the problem. A word of caution here - when we give something over for God to sort for us, we must not still hold bad feelings in our heart. If we do this, we're hanging on to it, thus, still involved. God's Word tells us, 'Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.' (Romans 12:14). This is so difficult when all we want to do is go and rip the person's head off; but we need to bless them. Then in Romans 12:17, it says, 'Repay no one evil for evil'. In v19-21 it further reads, 'Vengeance in Mine, I will repay - do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'

I like what Dr Oswald J Smith says in his book, The Passion for Souls, 'No Attack - No Defence'; and it is well worth adopting this method.

I Peter 5:7 reads, 'Casting all your care upon Him for he cares for you.' In other words, transfer the pain of betrayal, gossip, false accusations and the like, over to Jesus. Transfer them by uploading them to Him. He's very responsive to this and WILL handle it fairly and properly. He won't let you down. Don't attack anyone by words or deeds and there is no need to defend yourself either. Your Lawyer, Jesus Christ has brought justice to all cases placed in His hands. He will for you as well. However, you must do it His way, not your own!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com