The grip of anxiety

"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done"  Luke 22:42   NKJV

On our walk with Jesus to the cross this week, let us commence in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was the Messiah but, we must also remember that at this time He was still in human form. He bled and felt pain and also suffered fear and anxiety. Notice how He prayed to His Father to ask if He would take this cup from Him. We all do this. We find that we have certain things to do that we don't really fancy, so we wriggle a little. This reminds me of Moses when God had called him to go to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of bondage (Exodus 4). He tried his best to get God to change his mind. Be honest, we all do it.

Not Jesus though, He knew His mission and was totally ready to do it. However, this didn't stop the human blip that became so bad He began to sweat drops of blood v44. So bad in fact, that an angel had to attend to Him. At times like this, we tend to focus mostly upon the cross and the suffering Jesus underwent there. However, He suffered well before that with mind games - the devil feeding Him with all He would have to do and when He needed a friendly face, His disciples had fallen asleep.  He was on His own.

Jesus had carried the burdens of many people, had healed many and changed their lives forever yet, the way to the cross was all He had to look forward to. Think about what you have planned to do over the next few weeks. You don't really want to do some of them do you? But you will. You have the choice to do it reluctantly or willingly. Jesus was determined to carry out His mission willingly but hey, it was such a tall order and very scary.

This week, give the initial stages of the walk to the cross, some thought. Meditate on this and try and imagine everything that Jesus was going through at this time -  mind, will and emotions, His very soul was on fire with anxiety. Talk to Him, thank Him, praise Him and just be with Him. As you do this, you will be able to identify with Him.

More tomorrow!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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Fear and sleepless nights

"I awoke for the LORD sustained me."  Psalm 3:5   NKJV 

We saw yesterday that David was able to lie down and sleep. He had given everything to God so, there was no need to be concerned about anything. David had a great feeling of peace and calm and therefore, he could rest properly - totally shut off from the world of worry. God had sustained him, in other words, supplied him with the necessary supplies of life, encouragement and faith.

What about you? Are you getting a good night;'s sleep? Or do you lay in bed until the early hours of the morning wide-awake, just unable to shut off? Worries, fears and never-ending problems mount up and take their toll. The more we say we won't worry, we do, it just follows us naturally. For some of you, you may be dreading getting up in the morning. You may have something to do that you want to avoid. It may be too hurtful to proceed with it. The more you worry about it, the worse it gets. The fear of the next day could be anything: seeing the doctor for test results, going to court, your boss wants to see you, your child is in trouble at school and they want to see you. It can be anything. You can't avoid it, it is happening and you have to comply.

Where David was able to say, 'I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people' v6, you are thinking that you can't do this; you are dreading it. What was the difference here? David was really no different to you. He was flesh and blood and made great mistakes. In God's eyes, He loves you just as much as He did David. He was no favourite, so don't go thinking that. The difference was, David knew what he wanted and he knew how to get it - by appealing to God; by crying out to Him in prayer and worshipping Him until he was tired out. This was the difference. Where you internalise your problems because you don't want people to know about your business, David made it external by giving it to God. 

Where you may be dreading what tomorrow may bring, David had made a provision for this. He gave it to God. He reminded God that He was a shield around him v3 and he cried out to God and God heard him. So therefore, David was free from the problem, he was able to get the sleep that he needed, and so will you if you call out to Him. Yes, I know you're worried, God knows too, but, didn't God tell us not to worry? (Matt 6). So, you know what to do, give it to God at this moment - whatever it is. He will take this load and sustain you and see you through. Don't worry! 

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

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Be content and at peace

"I lay down and slept"    Psalm 3:5   NKJV 

So you have a dream and you have the faith to fulfil it. That is brilliant. However, don't expect everyone else to share your feelings. As soon as you mention it to anyone, especially in the church, you may get mixed messages. Some will not say much at all, others will be behind you but many will completely destroy your dream before its past the planning stage. There are dream killers and faith robbers wherever we go. Really, it is better not to mention it at all in the initial stages and then, as time goes on, reveal a little bit to people who you can trust. 

David had this. Let's face it, he made a few bad decisions and got himself into very hot water because of it. His very first attempt at sharing a plan was when he had decided to go up against Goliath. To many, it was a crazy thought. I mean, here was this skinny teenager with no real weapons or battledress going into a fight with a 9'6" warrior with a sword that probably weighed more than David alone. However, he was adamant, David knew it was his mission and nothing was going to stop him. He went into battle and had the victory. What made him so victorious? His reliance on God. Of course he recognised the dangers but, he recognised that God was with him and that was all he needed. 

You may be a Christian in a secular work place. If you mention your faith, sooner or later people are going to want to know more. This can incite you, and as you share more you may feel that the people are interested. They may be, but, then again, they may be thinking the opposite and that you are weird. This may lead to nasty comments about what you have told them and it can feel like the whole work place is against you. Try to speak about their interests instead of your own, put them first allowing them to see that you are normal after all. Let them take the floor instead of yourself. 

There is no need to water things down but, you can choose the right words about your faith and little by little they may begin to feel ok with you. Don't get yourself into such a state of affairs that you dread going there. At the time of this Psalm, David was going through a tricky stage of his life but, he kept his eyes on God and when he rested at night, he said "I lay down and slept" And so should you.. If you can't, you may have it wrong.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

 

 

 

'I will return for you'

"and we will come back to you."   Genesis 22:5   NKJV 

For another session, we are once again remaining on this verse. So let's see what we can dig out of it today.

Someone else said something very similar in the New Testament. Can you remember who it was? Yes, you're right, it was Jesus. Here's what He said:

'Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 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. 3 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. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know."   John 14:1-4. NKJV

   

What does this mean: 'Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me?' Jesus was sayng that it is time to put your whole trust in Me. Did you get that - time to put your whole trust in Jesus.' Because, be honest you haven't been doing this have you? It's easy to trust Jesus in the good times but when the bad times come, this can be difficult and we feel that we are not going to make it. Come on, Jesus said, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' Mark 4:35. The wind and the waves were violent and the disciples were panicking but Jesus meant to get to the opposite side of the lake. If He said it, why not believe it? It's the same here. Jesus is telling you to trust Him, to believe in Him and not be troubled. What part of that don't you understand. It is time to go on to maturity.

Jesus told the disciples this day that, He will return and take us to Himself - where He is. This is the Rapture, when He will come to receive His saints and take them to heaven (1 Thess 4:16-17. This will happen prior to His return to earth to establish His millennial kingdom. It will happen and it could be soon. Therefore, heed the word. The bible contains words of life, not nice stories, it is accurate and Jesus uses it to speak with us. LISTEN: 'Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.' Believe this word, He will return; He is coming back; make sure that you are ready. Basically, Jesus is saying, 'I will return for you'.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

 

 

 

Return to your Father

"and we will come back to you."   Genesis 22:5   NKJV 

I can't seem to be able to move away from the text that I gave you yesterday. God has not finished with this scripture, yet. So here goes with what He is telling me.

Many people throughout their Christian walk, tend to lose their way a little and like a lost sheep, they begin to walk by another route. Probably you may know one of them within your own family unit. It may also be you. Therefore, let's look at a well-known piece of scripture concerning this and pick the bones out of it. 

The Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is a great example of what backsliding is. He had itchy feet and wanted his inheritance paying to him and then he went off on a wild adventure. Initially, this was great. He had no one to tell him what to do, he was away from his jealous brother and he had a new life ahead of him. What could be better?

You know, that old saying, 'the grass is always greener on the other side' This is so true. We are almost on a high that we cannot see the problems that lay ahead - just pleasure. Many marriages fall apart just by this condition. It may seem a better life over the road, but nine times out of ten, it isn't and many people have found this out - painfully.

When the high living was taking place, the Prodigal was having a great time, friends, booze and every other pleasure. Sadly, many things come to an end rather quickly, and when this happened for the Prodigal, he had no money, nowhere to live and his friends deserted him. He was on the streets, down and out eating pig swill. But Luke 15:17 says something very important: 'But when he came to himself.' Six little words that were going to change his live. He came to his senses and thought: 'What am I doing?' 

And today, God's heart is breaking as He stands there looking for their return. You may be one of these. You used to go to church but, it was boring, too many rules and regulations and, sorry to say, hypocrites too. But just lately you have been giving this some thought and you are tempted to return. Sadly though, there is a price to pay - there always is. You will have to go back and see the same old faces that were there before. Yes, there will be the one's who whisper, 'I told you so. I wonder how long he will stay this time.' You will always find this attitude if you return. The Prodigal's brother was no different. The thing is, what is more important, Jesus or what someone may say about you? 

It's a big step to return to somewhere that you left. It can be like walking into a bar in the old cowboy films where when you walk in, the music stops and everyone stares. Let me tell you, 'Who cares?' These people will not be able to get you into Heaven, only Jesus can do this, so who are you going to back -  the loser or Jesus the winner?

Come on, dust yourself down, hold your head up high and get back where you belong

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

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Walking by Faith

"Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."                     Genesis 22:5   NKJV 

Abraham was devoted to his son Issac; he was the result of the promise that God had given to him - his own son. There had been much debate about the possibilities of Sarah becoming pregnant at her age. Initially, she had thought it quite funny. In fact, the Angel of the LORD had rebuked her when he stood before Abraham to announce the promise of a son. Sarah had laughed and he had heard her, even though she tried to deny it, he replied to her, 'No, but you did laugh.' (Gen 18:12-15)

When Issac was born to them, he was such a blessing. As time went on, one day God spoke to Abraham about sacrificing Issac to Him. We don't know how Abraham felt about this but, what we do know, is he was walking in faith. They went out one particular morning and Abraham left the donkey with the men who had gone with them. As he left, he said something quite profound: "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." (Gen 22:5). This was quite a strange thing to say, if he was going to sacrifice his own son. But, what it demonstrates is, Abraham's amazing faith in God. He knew that he had to make the sacrifice, but he also knew that they would both be returning to the men, later on.

Just look at the faith of Abraham as written in Romans 4:17-21:

17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;  18who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”  19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.  20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,  21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.  22And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

We are all called to walk by faith, not by what we can see (2 Cor 5:7). This faith was not only for Abraham. He was no different from you and I. He made mistakes - big ones, but, God honoured him and He will you as well. 

Today, what are you standing on faith for? If God is in it, don't give up, it will come or happen. But God cannot be rushed. We must let Him go at His own pace. No amount of manipulation is going to speed Him on.

Take a look at the highlighted areas in Romans and apply these to your own walk of faith. Sharpen your skills and don't doubt for a moment. Remember, believe and receive - doubt and be without. Keep pressing on, you're doing great!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

 

 

 

The Awe Factor

"Let there be light, and there was light"  Genesis 1:3   NKJV

In the beginning, the earth was: 'without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.' It doesn't appear to be the place that God - Elohim, would reign. But He was there, the whole Trinity was in fact: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. But there was someone else too - Satan. God would never create a place that was in such a state of disruption and chaos. Only Satan would do this and after their ejection from heaven, he and his demonic forces lived there.

It is interesting to read that the Holy Spirit was hovering over the face of the waters. Like a drone, He hovered there, checking everything, not missing a trick that the enemy had planned. This is why scripture tells us that: 'However, when He, the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will tell you things to come'  John 16:13. Whatever He sees and hears from God, He will reveal this to you. He is special to us and as you become more acquainted with Him, He will guide you to safety. Like He was at creation, He is today. He misses nothing and will guide you if you allow Him to.

So we have a formless place and all of a sudden, whether with a shout or a still, quiet voice, God said, 'Let there be light, and there was light' v3. And at that moment, God brought  light into darkness. And when He looked and saw the light He knew that it was good. This was good for God and all of us who belong to Him. It wasn't any good for Satan as he loves the darkness in which he can hide and creep into all situations. He would have to come up with another plan.

There was an 'Awe Factor' in that command that day. One in which, the earth trembled and paid attention to the fact that God is the boss. When you think about it, we often mooch about with the problems of the world on our shoulders and yet, the Holy Spirit is hovering around ready to help and lead us forward. If we ask Him, God only has to say a word and 'it will be'. 

Decide today that, you will never again be tossed about on the waves of your decision making. You have a helper and guide and someone, who when He speaks, the situation, has to react positively. He is your friend and He is for you, never against you. There are things that you are waiting on Him for, they will come if you don't give up. Just keep trusting Him.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2