Troubled times

"But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain".  Psalm 3:3-4  CSB

Perhaps all of us have encountered, troubled times, especially when we are carrying out the work of God. Even, just the fact that we are Christian, can invite arguments or heated discussions from people who do not understand or just want to argue about: 'If God is Loving, why does He etc?' Just the fact that we come under attack, confirms that we are making some ground for God. The enemy leaves us alone when we are no threat to him. However, when we are moving forward in the Spirit, he has to do something to prevent us going any further.

Therefore, he has to take action and one of his tactics is to promote criticism from fellow Christians. If you're a church leader, the criticism may come in the form of, finding fault in your teaching, your sermon; that you should have done this or shouldn't have done that. Criticism may also come from family, friends or even neighbours. Or, you may even receive persecution from management at your place of work. It is all sent to wear you down and it is difficult to contend with. This can lead to a feeling of hopelessness.

Notice what David says in verse 3, 'But you, LORD, are a shield around me,' A shield is a piece of armour that is carried in battle for protection. In times of trouble, God is the one who encourages us to lift up our heads and it's like He says, 'Come on - stand, we can do this.' Just a cry to Him and He hears us from heaven and goes into action on our behalf. And He gives us total peace and contentment together with total refreshment.

He holds us up and helps us to withstand the attack. We can confidently declare that THERE IS NO FEAR HERE v6. Why? Because we are surrounded by God's protection. But if we show that we are fearful, this opens up the way, for the evil one to get in and torment us. Therefore, we need to come back to what God has provided for each of us - our own personal armour that we need to put on every day:

*  The Belt of Truth A belt is the foundation of the armour, holding the sword and breastplate.

But also, Satan is the father of lies, so we speak the truth which he can't stand against

*  Breastplate of Righteousness The breastplate guards the heart, the source of the soldier's life. Righteousness, from God, protects the spiritual life of the Christian

*  Feet protected by the gospel of peace The soldier's heavily, armoured sandals gave him traction and security. Therefore, our peace with God, through Jesus Christ, gives us the security to face our enemies

*  The Shield of Faith The shield, covered in heavy leather and soaked in water, extinguished the flaming arrows of the enemy. Faith in God's promises deflect and extinguish Satan's lies

*  The Helmet of Salvation This helmet protected the soldier's brain. This protects the Christian's mind from doubt, fear and worry and anything that torments.

*  The Sword of the Spirit This sword is different to the soldier's one. This is the word of God

In addition, we pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers and requests, staying alert.

We have everything we need when we go through troubled times. As long as we are clad in the Armour of God, with God beside us as well, we are well equipped for victory. 

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

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

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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Stop trying to do God's work

"But when all goes well for you, remember that I was with you."  Genesis 40:14  CSB

Joseph, who had been in prison now, for about 11 years, saw an opportunity for release from 

the dungeon he was in. Both the cupbearer and the baker had had dreams and Joseph, because of his gifting in this area, interpreted the dreams for them. The baker's dream was daunting, showing him that he would hang in 3 days. However, Joseph showed the cupbearer that he would be restored to his role as chief cupbearer..

Joseph, realising that this could be an opening for him to gain freedom, asked the cupbearer to remember him when he was before Pharaoh. Joseph was trying to solve his own problems, but,

let's face it, wouldn't you if you were in a similar position and you saw a glimmer of hope to gain freedom? The problem is, God must come first; throughout his life, Joseph had received God's favour in all he did. Now, he was trying to work his own ticket to freedom.

The thing is, doing things your way, will never work. There may be initial success but, it will be short lived and second best compared to how God could do for you. No matter how hard you try, you cannot promote yourself; if you try, it may be flawed with problems. Joseph had placed his trust in the cupbearer and it didn't work and was very costly for him, resulting in him having to be in the dungeon a further 2 years. (41:1). We should always be mindful of the Scripture in Jeremiah 17:5 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength'. 

In a way, Joseph was using his kindness towards the cupbearer as a leverage to mention him to Pharaoh. He was obligating him. Manipulation is something that crops up quite a lot in situations. We can use manipulation as a tool for getting people to return our kindness to them. One can almost hear Joseph's plea to the cupbearer: 'But when all goes well for you, remember that I was with you. Please show kindness to me by mentioning me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison. 15For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews,  and even here I have done nothing that they should put me in the dungeon.' Joseph was asking him to repay the good deed. There is no mention of how Joseph felt when he realised his pleading hadn't worked and he would have to remain in the dungeon.

When we find ourselves in similar situations, we need to keep a tight hold on resentment because, it can poison the soul. Little did Joseph know that his time would come in 2 years.

This time it would come from the hand of God. And it is the same for you. You have been waiting for God to work on your behalf. You may have helped people solve their problems but your's, remain unmet. Replenish your faith in Jesus because your time, may be just around the corner.

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

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

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 

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The Two Ways

"1How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! 2Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,  but the way of the wicked leads to ruin".  Psalm 1. CSB

There are two ways that a person can live, and this determines if they will enter heaven at the end of their lives. Verse 1-3 describes the happiness of one who walks with Jesus and knows they are in God's will and that their destination will be heaven one day. It describes a life where a decision has been made to dedicate and belong to God. There is a determination to delight and meditate on the Word of God.

Verse 4 describes the 'Wicked' (unbelievers who do not belong to the covenant). This verse describes them as chaff - the dried husks surrounding the kernel, that has to be separated from the grain by winnowing so that it can blow away. This is done by beating the stalks and throwing them up in the air so this can happen.

People who come to Jesus for salvation, such as ourselves, don't need the chaff beating from them. Jesus has already cleansed them from all unrighteousness and prepared them to follow Him. This is the difference. It is rather like being at a T junction On the sign, one way says The Road to Heaven, the other, The Road to Hell. We can either go to the left or take the righthand turning. The route you take will determine your fate, and will also make you wish that you had listened properly to the Sunday School teacher or the preacher you saw that time in church and totally ignored what was said.

No one can make this decision for you, it is totally in your hands. It is a major decision and one in which you may want to discuss with someone who you know is 'Born again'. However, don't leave it too late. You never know when the end will come!

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

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

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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You don't belong here

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."  John 17:16   CSB

When we become Christians, our lives change for the better, we'll never be the same again. Obviously, some things within us take a little time to comply with our new self and, some things may take a life time. But, we are not what we used to be.

Tony Evans writes: 'A ship belongs in the water, but the water doesn't belong in the ship. You are to be in the world, but the world should not be in you.'  When you come to believe in Jesus, you belong to Him and situations change. Whereas you first belonged to the world, the day you signed up to the kingdom of heaven, you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and you now belong to Him.

Therefore, things have changed. The things you did when you belonged to the world, rather like water should not be in the ship, you should cease living as if you belong to the world. You have moved on; you have changed directions. 

There needs to be changes, you can't have both. But it doesn't mean that you should lock yourself away from everyone and have nothing to do with people. No, there is life out there and, Jesus wants you to be a part of it. 'Yes, but I shouldn't go into a pub any longer, should I?' Why not, just because you are a Christian now, doesn't mean that you should not enjoy yourself. And anyway, unbelievers are there aren't they? Didn't Jesus go where unbelievers went? What about the tax collectors He associated with? What about Mary Magdalene and the many others. Jesus was after changing lives. An evangelist is lost within a church full of believers. He or she, are after the unsaved, so they go where they will find them. The difference is, when you go into a pub, you should go as an ambassador of Jesus - not acting as some unbelievers do, getting drunk out of their head. You are there as a witness and even though your visit there may be uneventful, the people have witnessed that you are 'normal' and this for them, is a step forward.

So get it right, you are not of this world, you are now part of Jesus. Go where Jesus used to go to meet with, and associate with unbelievers. However, let them be changed by your presence, not you being changed back into there's.

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

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

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 

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Are you a Forgiver?

"For if you forgive others their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.15But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offences"                     

                                                                  Matthew 6:14-15  CSB

This scripture is common to us all, we all need some help in this area. RT Kendall quotes from his book - Total Forgiveness, 'The first principal of total forgiveness is, that we tell nobody 

what 'they' did to us'.  As soon as someone has done us a wrong, we feel like we want to share this with a trusted friend. But, this is not the way to address this issue, because, it pretty soon gets on the gossip train and appears on News at Ten later on. (You know how gossip works). The problem is, it is difficult not to act in this way; we have been severely hurt or wronged and the world should know about what this person has done to us. The world doesn't have to know at all; only Jesus needs to know as you share this with Him and agree to forgive them. Failure to do this, can get us into grave circumstances with Jesus Himself. Let's not forget that He told us: 'Do not judge, so that you won't be judged'. 2 'For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use'. Matt 7:1-2. 

So be very careful here.

Do you know that the only place bitterness can live is in your memory? The only power it can have over us, is the power we give it. And what's more, if we don't forgive then God will not forgive us for our daily sin either. Holding  grudges are always a problem where unforgiveness is concerned. Someone may have done you a wrong lately. The thing is, every time you see this person, it reminds you of what they did to you. Alternatively, the wrong may have happened years ago and they have may have moved away, seemingly, not punished for the wrong they did to you. However, your memory reminds you periodically and even though you don't see them any longer, you still feel bitter just at the thought of it all. You may have psychological conversations about them in your head, and this proves that the grudge is still there, rooted so deep. 

Be honest with yourself, isn't it time that you let this go? The guilty party may never know that you are feeling the way you are; they've moved on and, to be brutally honest, so should you. Why? Because it is holding you back. God can't use you while you're feeling the way you are. In a way, you are being a hypocrite, pretending that all is well when, it isn't. The best thing that you can do, is to give it to Jesus right now. If you agree, pray this with me:

Lord Jesus, you know the hurt I/we felt when ...................hurt me/us some time earlier. Lord, I/we have held a grudge against them; I/we have judged them and spoke out about them and I/we have refused to forgive them. Lord, I/we repent of this right now and as I/we forgive them, I/we ask that you will forgive me/us. In Jesus' name. Amen

Now you are forgiven, so move on.

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

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

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 

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When you don't want to do, what God wants

"Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from Me — nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”   Luke 22:41-42  CSB

It is, or should be, about God's will, not our own. RT Kendall writes about the times when, 'What you don't want, but God wants, is what you'll get.' Let's not forget that that when we accepted Jesus into our lives, we agreed to do His will, not our own. We gave Him charge of our lives. So, it is not unreasonable when He overrides our will for His own. Asking God for that special thing you require or would like and, finding that He doesn't answer this can be disheartening. But, isn't that what Jesus did with His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane? “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from Me — nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”  

Oftentimes, we ask God for something we want and, He gives us something that we don't want, but what He wants. When things are like this, we have to accept His will. Jesus was asking for what He would have preferred - freedom from this task. He agonised over approaching His death on the cross and the effects of His Father's wrath on Him. But, He was prepared to do this and go to the cross. He knew it must be done to take the victory over sin. But what a struggle He had.

Paul echoed Jesus' thoughts in 2 Timothy 4:16: 'At my first defence, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.' Paul knew how Jesus must have felt at that time - no friends because they had all deserted Him; everyone against Him, abusing Him and shouting cruel words. Even God at that time, cast His eyes aside because of all the sin that Jesus was having placed on him. But Jesus, knew His Father's wishes and He carried them out to the full.

When you have asked Jesus to be your Saviour, it is no hardship to surrender your will for His. Sometimes, it may feel tough when we desperately want things our way. However, the rewards far outweigh the hardships that we may have to undergo at those times.

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

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

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

Where is your hope?

"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 6my God!   Psalm 42:5-6. NLT

Are you discouraged and sad today? Why is that? Is there any particular reason for it? Sometimes when God doesn't come up with the goods that we want Him to, it hurts and it disappoints us; we have unmet expectations. This all leads to us falling into depression and sadness. We can become upset and feel let down. But, hold on, when we asked Jesus into our lives, we didn't bargain with Him that we will follow Him as long as He gives us what we want. We didn't did we? No, we were only too pleased and the happiest we have ever been. He never promised that he would give us all we hoped for, did He? No, He just said, 'Follow Me'.

The best way to address the way we feel, is to admit this and look upward towards God. It is hard to deal with something that you don't acknowledge. It is far better to release the pent up feelings to God and tell Him you're 'down in the dumps'. Don't focus on your disappointment, focus on the One who can change this - Jesus. Our scripture today, tells us to 'put our hope in God'. Now this word 'Hope', is not the word that the world uses; it is 'Biblical hope'. It is not wishing, like, 'Oh, I really hope so.' God is not into wishing, He is into good, solid, reliable hope; the type that has confidence built into it. This type of hope is never inferior to faith but, it is an extension of it. So when we biblically hope, we are trusting God 100%.

Therefore, don't be discouraged; what good will that do you? Don't be discouraged, be encouraged. The devil will always turn God's word around. If you say 'Life' he will say 'Death'. Furthermore, everything you believe or say, the devil will twist it into the opposite. This is why RT Kendall says, 'Try to imagine what the devil will do and then, do the opposite.' Of course, this can be difficult at times but, it is worth trying to figure it out.

At the end of the day, if you are going to put into practice what we have been looking at these past couple of days - shouting praise and making a joyful noise to God, you can bet that the devil is not amused and he is going to get you anyway he can. But don't let it stop you praising God or quoting scripture out loud, do it all the more but, remember to put you armour on (Eph 6)

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

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

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