GOD USES TIME TO HELP YOU GROW

Sunday, 28th February 2021

Isaiah 49:8a – At the right time I will hear your prayers. On the day of salvation I will help you.

At the right time, God can do anything instantly. In Isaiah 60:22b, God says, “I am the Lord, and when it is time, I will make these things happen quickly”.

God’s waiting room is sometimes the most difficult place in life. We’re in God’s waiting room when we’re in a hurry for something to happen but God isn’t. Maybe you’re in a hurry to graduate or get married or close a big deal. You’re watching the time get shorter and shorter, and you say, “God, there isn’t a whole lot of time left. This either has to happen now or it’s not going to happen at all.”

But God isn’t subject to time. Because He created time, He operates outside of time. That’s why the Bible says in Psalm 90:4 that a thousand years can seem like a day to God.

He uses time to test your faith and to build your character. While you’re working on your goal, God is working on you. And God’s much more interested in you than in what you’re trying to accomplish, because you’re not taking your accomplishments to heaven. You’re only taking your character.

A lot of times we think we’re waiting on God for something to happen, like a prayer to be answered. God says, “You’re not waiting on me. I’m waiting on you. I’m preparing you. I’m testing your faith and trying to mature you, because the blessing I want to give you is so much bigger than you can handle right now. Will you trust me?”

Delays can be part of God’s design, to teach you to trust him and to grow up in your character. Isaiah 49:8a says, “At the right time I will hear your prayers. On the day of salvation I will help you.” Not “might”.

God will hear and answer and help, when the time is right.

HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY

YOUR TIME IS IN GOD’S HANDS

Saturday, 27th February 2021

Psalms 31:14-15a – “I trust in you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands.”

When you fill your life with faith, fear goes out the back door. When things don’t happen on your timetable, the more you trust God, the less afraid you will be. In Mark 5:36, Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me”.

This is such a big message in the Bible that the phrase “fear not” appears 365 times. God wants us to get the message that we don’t have to be afraid because we can trust His timing.

Trusting God is the number one stress reliever in your life. The more you trust God, the more your stress is going to decrease. Another way to relieve your stress and demonstrate your trust in God is when you ask Him for something in prayer. When you do, don’t try to set a time limit or deadline on God’s answer. Leave the timing up to God.

To help your faith grow deeper, you need to pray a prayer like Psalm 31:14-15a: “I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands”.

You can use Psalm 31 as a prayer guide and tell God, “I trust you, Lord. You’re my God. My times are in your hands.” Practically, that means you probably have more to do today than you’ve got time to get done. So you ask God to help you sort it all out so that you can do what matters most and not worry about the rest.

You say to him, “I surrender my schedule. I surrender my calendar. I surrender my agenda. My times are in your hand, and that means I’m not going to fear. I’m going to trust you.”

HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND

DON’T GIVE UP

Thursday, 25th February 2021

Galatians 6:9 – Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

If things don’t happen right away or when you think they should, that doesn’t mean you should quit. You need to be diligent. You need to have endurance. You need to keep on.

The Bible says, “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Where do you feel like giving up? Maybe you feel like giving up on your marriage. It may seem like it’s just dead and going nowhere. Maybe you feel like giving up on your career. You’ve tried and tried and tried to make a difference, and it just isn’t happening. Maybe you feel like giving up on your dream or a goal. Maybe you feel like giving up on yourself.

But think about this. A thousand years before you were born, God knew you would be reading this today, and His message to you is simple: Don’t do it. Don’t give up.

Don’t ever give up. The tunnel seems incredibly dark right now, but there is always a light at the end. It may be just around the corner! You are known, you are loved, and you have a purpose. Don’t get tired of doing what is right. Don’t think what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Don’t think anyone would be better off without you. Those are lies from the mouth of the Devil himself. Remember what God has said about you. Remember that He wants to bless you.

Don’t give up. Look up. Look up to God. Find a spiritual family (a church and/or a small group) to help you through the tough times. Meditate on God’s Word for encouragement.

Never give up on God. He will never give up on you!

GOD’S POWER PROTECTS YOU

Wednesday, 24th February 2021

1 Peter 1:5 – And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation.

God is watching over you every moment of the day, just like a bodyguard would. Everything in life is Father-filtered. Even the hard times caused by your sin or others’ sin, God can still use for His good.

That means God’s power protects you: “And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation” (1 Peter 1:5).

When you find yourself in a situation where you feel hopeless, helpless, or powerless — that’s all a lie. You’re not hopeless, helpless, or powerless when you have God in your life. Maybe we need a little sign to remind us, “Protected by God.”

The word “protect” in 1 Peter 1:5 means garrison. It is a military term that refers to sending soldiers to a town in order to protect it. They garrison the town, staying there to guard it. In the same way, you are continuously guarded by God.

All you have to do is, in faith, trust God is there with His protection. In Him you have hope, in Him you have an ever present help, in Him you’re powerful beyond comprehension.

Chosen By God

Tuesday, 23rd February 2021

1 Peter 1:3-4 – All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance, an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

No matter what happens for the rest of your life, if you have a relationship with Jesus, God guarantees your future.

The Bible says, “Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance, an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:3c-4 ).

An inheritance is what you’re given because you belong to a family. Peter gives us five declarations that describe our inheritance in heaven:

1. Reserved: You need a reservation to get into heaven, and you can only make that reservation through Jesus. Once you put in your reservation, it can never be canceled.

2. Pure: Your inheritance isn’t fake. It’s the real deal.

3. Undefiled: Your inheritance can’t be corrupted. You can’t lose it ever.

4. Beyond the reach of change and decay: Your inheritance won’t wither, die, or lose its value.

5. Priceless: The value of your inheritance can’t be measured.

In fact, God has already written the final chapter of your life. If you’re a believer, you’ve got a reservation in heaven. You can trust in that. You can believe in that. You can place your hope in that.

Chosen By God

Monday, 22nd February 2021

1 Peter 1:21 – You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by His Spirit.

There are many people in our broken world asking why things don’t seem to go right so much of the time. They want to know, “Is there hope?”

You and I need genuine hope, not just optimism. Optimism is psychological. It’s based on the way you think. Hope is theological. It’s based on who God is and His relationship with you.

Optimism is positive thinking. Hope is passionate trusting.

The book of 1 Peter is a letter of hope. Peter wrote it to Christians who were suffering persecution in the Roman Empire. He said one reason we can have a radical hope is because God chose us before we chose Him.

Your salvation is no accident. Long before you chose God, He chose you. It was His idea. Before God even created the universe, He decided He wanted to create you.

You were chosen according to the purpose of God. He has a purpose for your life. He wants to make you holy for heaven.

Understanding this simple truth can give you hope.

The highest honor you will ever receive is this: God invites you to spend eternity with Him.

And it’s why we can have hope, no matter what’s going on in our lives.

HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK

Wow Mercy

Saturday, 20th February 2021

Romans 12:19 – “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give room for God’s wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Sow mercy and you will receive mercy. Sow mercy and mercy will follow you. Sow mercy and mercy will overtake you. Choose to sow mercy and you will reap mercy.

Choose to saturate your words with mercy. Let mercy consume your heart. Let mercy consume your language. Let mercy overtake your conduct. Let your heart reflect the Mercy of God.

Let mercy invade your home. Be merciful when you have the authority to retaliate. Romans‬ ‭12:19‬ says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give room for God’s wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Let the Lord repay. Let the Lord fight for you. Let the Lord stand on your behalf. Exodus‬ ‭14:14‬ says, “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Hold your peace, sow mercy, and let the Lord fight for you.

The Lord is for you. When the enemy tries to steal your joy, choose to sow mercy, hold your peace, and let God lead your path.

“The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: but I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John‬ ‭10:10‬).

HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND

Choose Forgiveness

Friday, 19th February 2021

Mathew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.

Forgive your brother. Forgive your sister. Forgive those who have come up against you. Forgive your enemies. Forgive those who have set themselves against you. Forgive those who have spoken against you.

Clear your heart. Clear your mind. Clear your thoughts. Forgive those who have intentionally set themselves to sabotage your destiny. Jesus Christ forgave those who were crucifying Him. Though your enemies may come to crucify your flesh, choose to surrender to Christ and forgive those who have come up against you.

Let it go. Whatever “it” is, let it go. Choose to let the past go. Choose to let the pain of the past go. Choose to forgive and move forward. Choose to surrender to Christ. Let your Heart reflect the merciful and compassionate Heart of God.

Forgiveness is a choice. Forgiveness is intentional. It’s important to forgive those who have offended you. Offense corrupts the character and soil of your heart. It’s your choice — you can choose to stay in a place of bondage or you can choose to forgive and free your heart from the chains of the past.

Forgive those who have come against you. Forgive your enemies. Forgive those who have abandoned you. Forgive those who have forsaken you. Forgive quickly, freely, and often.

Mercy and forgiveness are brothers. Choose to show mercy when others have wronged you. Choose to show grace to those who have offended you. Choose to forgive and let the past go. Don’t let the chains and yokes of the past taint the soil of your heart. Holding on to past trespasses will ruin your harvest. Choose to show mercy and allow God to lead your heart.

Let mercy reign richly in the ground of your home. Let love reign richly in the ground of your family. Let grace reign richly in every aspect of your life. Let mercy overflow in how you choose to handle business. Let mercy flow in how you handle the heart of others. It’s your choice. Choose to sow mercy.

How To Be Merciful

Thursday, 18th February 2021

Luke 6:36 – Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Yesterday, we saw 3 ways in which we can show mercy towards one another. Today, we will continue by looking at 4 additional ways in which we can be merciful towards one another.

4. Be kind to those who offend you.
You’ve got to be more interested in winning people to Christ than in winning an argument. Jude 1:22-23 says, “Show mercy to those who have doubts. Save others by snatching them from the fire of hell. Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives”.

5. Build bridges of love to the unpopular.
This is what I call premeditated mercy, because you intentionally build friendships with people who don’t have friends or who are not accepted at work or in society.

When the Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with tax collectors and other unpopular people, Jesus said, “‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Matthew 9:13).

6. Value relationships over rules.
Romans 13:10 says, “Love fulfills the requirements of God’s law”. If you want to show mercy, put people before policies. Put their needs before procedures. Put relationships before regulations. Choose love over law._

7. Be patient with people
Change isn’t spontaneous, it takes time. It involves a lot of unlearning and relearning. We need to be patient with one another. 1 Peter 3:9b says “Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”.

One major characteristic of mercy is patience. God is a merciful God because He is always patient with us, not wanting us to perish but that we will come to repentance. Being merciful towards others will bring them to repentance.

How To Be Merciful

Wednesday, 17th February 2021

James 3:17 – The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy.

Mercy is like a diamond; with multiple faces. Today we’re going to look at how we can show mercy, because I guarantee that learning how to be an agent of mercy will transform your relationships.

1. Help anyone around you who is hurting.
You cannot love your neighbor as yourself without being merciful. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it”. God is not simply watching what you do. He’s watching your attitude: “[When you] show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:8d).

2. Give people a second chance.
When somebody hurts us, we normally want to get even or write that person off. But the Bible says, “Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

3. Do good to those who hurt you.
Mercy is giving people what they need, not what they deserve. Why should we do it? Because that’s what God does with us: “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because [God] is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36).

Tomorrow, we will look are four more ways in which we can be merciful.