Can you play chess?

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."  

                                                                                  Ephesians 6:10   NKJV 

Chess is a strategic game for two players each possessing 16 pieces, which are placed on a checkered  board. It can be described as a battle between two kings and their kingdoms. There are strict rules to adhere to and a strong requirement to look ahead, planning your moves and attempting to foil the enemy's intention of winning the battle. Once the king is in 'Checkmate', he has no further places to go and the battle and game are over.

In a way, chess can be likened to our Christian walk with God. We need to acknowledge that, what we are involved with is not a game but a battle - God against Satan. We are Soldiers of the King and so, are key pieces that can make a big difference in the world that we live in.

Obviously, we are not the King, Jesus is, but we are strategic soldiers in His army who are determined to help win this battle for our King. The Christian life is a battle and there are strict rules that we must adhere to in order to succeed.

Our battle plan is drawn up by Jesus Himself. He has strategically placed each one of us in key positions. This can be where we live; what our jobs are and how we live our lives. We must stick to the rules, otherwise our enemy, Satan will obtain a foothold that he can use against us and bring us down. This is why we need to live sin-free lives as best we can. When we fall into sin, which we will, we need to be quick to repent so that we are still in the running to win the race, obtaining th prize.

Planning is essential and we do this by having regular meetings with Jesus. We need to recognise the traps that we could fall into. RT Kendall says, he thinks about what Satan would have him do and then, he does the opposite. I like that. It is not our job to win this Spiritual battle - Jesus will do this. Our part is to remain strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We do this by being obedient and faithful to Jesus and always attempting to walk in the Spirit each day. So learn to play Spiritual Chess!

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Scars and Wounds

"For I will restore health to you, and heal you of your wounds', says the LORD, 'because they called you an outcast saying, 'This is Zion; no one else seeks her."  

                                                                               Jeremiah 30:17   NKJV 

When we have been through ongoing battles, we carry scars and wounds for a long time They heal with time but, we can be tempted to re-visit them occasionally. Don't do this! Once God has dealt with something, it is finished.

The scars and wounds we carry, are mostly the emotional type; we just can't believe that someone would hurt us so badly and, the pain goes deep. We can have sleepless nights as the video keeps playing back what we have been through; and we have psychological conversations with the one's who have been responsible for our hurt. Be careful here, because it can be so easy to judge the person. Remember, we have given it to God and He will repay, not us.

Yes, the person, may have hurt us, in fact, maimed may be more appropriate because they have attacked our minds. We may have felt be-littled, a person with no rights or authority, but hey, that doesn't matter, it's under the blood now, Jesus has fixed it. It is now recovery time.

When we are in recovery, it signifies that we are not yet, fully fit. There is a need for rest and recuperation. This doesn't mean that we stop the world and get off, taking some time off from life. It means we are still susceptible and we need to take slower steps. This may be where you are today. You've been through a war zone but God has rescued you. Now He wants to re-build you, so let Him.

One lesson that you have learned is, the faithfulness of God. It may not have seemed like it at times, but He was with you every step of the way. Now, He is still with you and His Word to you is, 'Be still and know that I AM God'  Psalm 46:10. The means, take your hands off the helm and relax; for a while, stop being a 'hands on' person. It is time-out for you while God builds you back up,

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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At just the right time

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don't give up."                        Galatians 6:9    NLT

Can you remember when you were a small child and the excitement of Christmas morning? After almost a sleepless night, you would wake up very early and see if your presents were either in your room or, round the tree. It was a most exciting and joyful time and you would shout, 'He's been' (referring to Santa) to whoever were listening, usually your very tired parents.

When God arrives and changes your situation as you've asked Him to, it is a similar feeling. The joy and the blessing; the relief and the freedom that you receive are amazing. God loves times like this, after all, He's a loving parent.

Yesterday we looked at Galatians 6:9 in the NKJV. Today, let's read the same passage in the NLT version as above. It means the same but the wording is slightly different and gives it more clarity. Where the NKJV reads, 'in due season, we shall reap', the NLT reads, 'At just the right time we will reap.' This tends to make more sense - it comes alive. Think about it, at just the right time, Santa Claus bought your presents - the one's you had been waiting for. In just the same way, Jesus Christ, at just the right time, brought you answers, solutions, provision and blessing to your life.

We can't get away from the fact that there is a waiting period. Mostly, as a child you had to wait for your presents - but they came. In a similar way, is Jesus bringing you a blessing, a provision that you had been praying about. All the fretting, worrying and heartache is over. Jesus has sorted it!

For those of you who are reading this and are still waiting, 'don't give up' because your burden-release, your prayer pleas and cries for help are coming in. In just a little while, you too will be leaping for joy because the King of kings has been and brought you a blessing. 

But it must be, 'at just the right time'; not your time scale, but Jesus'. He knows best and He is in control and He won't let you down.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Things will get better

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."                                         Galatians 6:9   NKJV

You may have been going through difficult times just lately and, when this happens it's hard to believe that things will get better; but they will! Remember what King David wrote in Psalm 23:4, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.' This verse doesn't only address the subject of death but, any difficult experiences in life. It's comforting to know that God (the Shepherd) doesn't go before us or behind us, but He goes with us, 'For You are with me'. God intends to get us through the difficult times and He takes our hand and leads us.

With that positive note in mind, we need to realise that during the time it takes God to change matters, we need to stay afloat. This is not the time to give up and sink, not at all. There is also a promise within our text for today that reads, 'we shall reap'. Note this; it doesn't say, 'We might' or 'there's a possibility things may get better.' It doesn't say that, it says, 'we shall reap'. Therefore, instead of sinking, Jesus has thrown us a life line. Rather like if you were drowning and someone threw you a rope, you would need to grab it to survive; Jesus has thrown you this promise, grab hold of it.

The sun will shine again in your life. Where it may be a gloomy existence for you at the moment, God is moving and His intention is to take you with Him. So, 'Do not lose heart' v9. When you lose heart it is like you are empty, there appears to be nothing left to live for. 'What's the point?' The point is, you are special to Jesus; you may not feel like your are, but it's a fact. Why else should the King of kings call you His friend? (John 15:14-15). Why would He do that unless, He considers you special. He also said, 'These things I have spoken to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world  John 16:33. Notice, He has overcome the world and that includes your difficult situation. They're history so, just accept that things will get better!

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Keep your cool

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."   

                                                                                        Proverbs 15:1   NKJV 

This is an incredibly important area to manage. We can either blow the situation out of all proportions, or we can pour peace on a difficult situation. Warren Wiersbe comments:

'Our words can bring peace instead of war, calm rather than chaos. This verse isn't advising us to compromise the truth and say that what's wrong is really right just to avoid conflict or confrontation. Rather it's counselling us to have a gentle spirit and a conciliatory attitude even when we disagree with others. This can defuse the situation and make it easier for us to settle the matter peacefully.'         The Warren Wiersbe Study Bible, Thomas Nelson NKJV 

It's not so much what we say but how we say it that prompts various responses. Word can either have life-giving or death-producing results. One's tone of voice makes all the difference. This is why Solomon's wise counsel recommends a soft answer in response to someone's wrath.

Think back to a past example you have had. Play the video back and pinpoint certain aspects of how you may have acted or said things differently. A little basic psychology can help in these situations:

SITUATION    What is happening? What is being said? What can you do about it?

EMOTION      How does it make you feel, anger to hurt? Will reacting in a negative way help?

RESPONSE  This will be determined by how you have dealt with the previous two  

Of course, this is easier said than done and requires a quick reaction on your part; not quick to respond but quick to make sense of what is happening. This is why James tells us to to be: 'Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath' (James 1:19). 

At the end of the day, we are not called to be walked all over but, we are called to bring about the peace of Jesus wherever we are (Romans 12:18 NKJV).

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Use your time wisely

"making the most of the time, because the days are evil."   Ephesians 5:6    CSB 

'Yes, I'll do that in a minute, it's on the list'. Do these statements sound familiar? These statements made in reply to someone who is relying on us, are rarely carried out. There is always something else that crops up and the requests for help go unattended.

Ask yourself a question, 'If Jesus were to ask you to do a particular thing, would your answer be the same? It's doubtful. What about the neighbour who asks for help, in your, 'want to please' mode, the neighbour would probably come off best. It's easier to say this within your own household, to your wife or husband. Why is this? Because you no longer need to prove anything. When you first met, nothing was too much trouble, you would probably have swum the ocean to please them if you could. But, when you've been together for a long time, the desire to please wanes; familiarity takes over.

If this is happening in your marriage, put an end to it - now! If you don't, there may come a time when you wish you could please them but, they are no longer around. Use your time wisely, it is over in a moment. Think back 20 years, it may seem a long time when you say it but when you consider what your were doing then, it can feel like it was only yesterday.

What are the things you are putting off? Why not get around to them today. You'll be surprised at the response you will get from your partner because they will feel so blessed by it all. It will also make you feel good as well.

Thank goodness God is not like this. Can you imagine asking Him for something and receiving the answer, 'Yes, I'll do that in a minute; it's on the list?' I know it can feel this way when we ask God for something but, there is no chance He is like that at all. He hears and responds; His priorities are always right. Perhaps He is wanting you to do the same and do that task today, while you still have the time.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Let Your fire burn within me

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You."  

                                                                                                     Psalm 51:12  NLT 

We have times that we feel we have nothing left to give, we are exhausted and need a re-fill of God's Spirit. If you feel this way, perhaps you have been doing too much in your own strength. Don't forget Jesus said, 'without Me you can do nothing' John 15:5. Everything you do in your own strength doesn't carry the anointing that it does when in the strength of Jesus (2 Corinthians 12:9). Subsequently, we run out of steam and the joy fades.

Don't worry, we all do it from time to time. It comes from a desire to do everything right, almost to perfection. Someone once said that the root of perfectionism, is the fear of failure. The perfectionist attempts to do everything right; to have everything in place - rather like OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. They go to great lengths to avoid judgement and criticism because they are so scared of failing. The problem is, they can never meet the full potential of perfectionism and, are candidates for burnout.

Avoid this at all costs. You can do all things, as long as you do it in God's strength (Philippians 4:13). Doing things in His strength, takes the pressure away and opens the way to joy - the joy of the Lord which He offers in Nehemiah 8:10. This way opens up the joy of God's salvation - that wonderful feeling you had when you first became a Christian.

Psalm 92:10 says, 'But my horn, You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil.' The word 'horn' is defined as strength and notice God can exalt this strength to the likeness of a wild ox. That is some strength. It is reinforced by the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, which in turn means you have been reignited with the fire of God.

Stop trying to be perfect, you'll never make it on your own. Anyway, God already thinks that you are perfect and that, is all that matters. Just ask God to reignite you in His Spirit according to Psalm 92:10. The fire will come!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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