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Reading the Word of the God Who Lives

Reading the Word of God

Reading is a very important part of life. When driving, you must be able to read signals and road signs. But, if you’re doing a math test, you must know how to read certain equations and symbols. It is almost inevitable for you to read at some point of the day. That’s the way we communicate to each other. And there is this one book which I believe is tremendously helpful if not momentous to enjoying a mentally healthy lifestyle. So continue reading to see the benefits of reading the Word of God.

Is It That Important?

I propose that reading the Word of God is essential to addressing the needs of all of the aspects of your life. Now, I can only imagine the sheer number of people who might disagree with such a bold proposition.

And even you may be asking, “Is the Bible really necessary to satisfying all the needs of one’s soul?”

Before I respond to that question in this subsection of the post, I must first tell you that I understand the sincerity of such a response. And it indeed does seem a bit arrogant to claim such importance for one religious book. So, I understand where you’re coming from.

However, we are not talking about just a religious book. We’re talking about a book that claims to originate from the very inspiration of the living God!

2 Timothy 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

And if it’s right, then according to what it says, God has given it quite a lot of power!

Hebrews 4:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Furthermore, the Word of God has a bunch of testimonies to back it up. There’s been countless people I’ve known who have been positively changed from what they read in the Bible. Just a few examples of people impacted by the Word of God include Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr, William Wilberforce, along with more.

And I believe the reason for that change, is the constant hinting or describing of the good news of Jesus Christ.

What It’s All About!

Moreover, the Word of God gives us a closer look at the heart of God. And I don’t know anything better for one’s mental health than knowing the heart of God! The heart of God changes you, informs you, overwhelms you, and interestingly, redefines your perspective.

Reading the Word of God teaches you that the living God is interested in you. And reading the Word of God shows Him that you’re interested in communicating with Him. It shows that you value Him and that you care about what He says. Certainly, God will not ignore your sincerity and He will reward you for seeking Him if you do seek Him.

Matthew 7:7-8 King James Version (KJV)
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

When you read His Word, you will find some sort of reference to the history-altering event of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Even before Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you and me as I talk about here in this post, there were references to the blood of the innocent lamb shed for the people’s protection during the Biblical Exodus, prophecies in the Book of Isaiah, and more.

John 8:58 World English Bible (WEB)
58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM. Exodus 3:14”

And the message of the Bible is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. If you accept this message, I guarantee you that your will not be disappointed. As when you accept Him and His atoning sacrifice, you allow Him to carry your burdens, you allow Him to save you from everything that endangers you. You allow Him to give you mental peace, physical health, and a prosperous destiny.

1 Corinthians 2:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Reading the Word of God in Enjoyment

If you’re just starting to read the Bible, I would strongly advise you to start with the New Testament. This is because reading the Old Testament of the Bible requires a knowledge of the New Testament since it is sometimes hard to spiritually discern what God is saying if you do not fully understand His grace.

1 Corinthians 2:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Another thing to remember when reading the Bible, is to let go of pride. Reading the Word of God relies on one’s dependence on Holy Spirit to teach you. It is a time when you humble yourself before Him and seek Him as a child would seek his or her father.

Matthew 18:2-4 World English Bible (WEB)
2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them 3 and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Even more, it is essential to read the Bible with enjoyment. Make the process enjoyable. When you read the Bible, you could use highlighters or write notes as you study it. Or you could type your notes into a notepad app as I do. Look for ways to have fun while reading the Bible whether aloud or silently. This will help to reinforce your reading of the Bible as an enjoyable habit.

And finally, set some time to read the Word of God. If you must, wake up 10 minutes earlier than you usually do, so you can read God’s Word.

In conclusion, make it a priority to read the Word of God. It will be a blessing to you and the pages you read will be a series of stairs that lead you closer to His glorious heart!

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Confidence in What the King of Kings Can and Will Do

The Key to His Heart!

The power of confidence is quite entrancing. These days, many motivational speakers and authors develop ways to develop confidence. But, what if you were to place your confidence in someone much bigger than you. That’s going to be the topic of this post as we learn where to put our confidence in, and as to how that should connect to our mental health. Continue reading to find out more.

Toxic Confidence

First of all, it is absolutely necessary to know that overconfidence can be extremely toxic. And by extremely toxic, I mean that it can come to the point of being disastrous to one’s relationships, leadership, spiritual life, and mental health. How?

Well, if you’re confident in yourself and start stroking your ego, people will find you displeasing to work or live with. No one likes someone who is confident in none other than themselves.

Proverbs 16:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Another thing with overconfidence or confidence not used properly is that sometimes the truth is that it cannot solve all problems. And confidence can get you nowhere as long as you are repeating motivational mantras and recalling the last five seconds of an inspirational YouTube video.

Confidence in yourself cannot deal with overcoming sickness, it cannot deal with your character, and there’s a list of other things which it cannot do. Confidence in yourself cannot deal with the things outside of your control.

Isaiah 40:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

And this thought can be very, very sobering. However, do not misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying that you should hate yourself or that you are completely incapable of doing anything worth doing.

I am only emphasizing on the scary delusions which people download into their mindsets when reading motivational books, watching motivational videos, or attending motivational seminars dealing with confidence. One thing I’ve noticed from all of this, is that people entertain themselves with all these things and nothing meaningful ever changes in their lives!

Proverbs 16:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Sadly, if you are one of those who idolize confidence, motivational speakers, and self-help books, I promise you that one day, you’ll realize that it was all meaningless. So, I want to save you the time, with this post.

Please, don’t go down a path that leads to nowhere!

Confidence in Jesus Christ

Furthermore, confidence relies upon a decision. If you put your confidence entirely and solely upon yourself or another individual, your life depends on the capabilities of that person.

Proverbs 23:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

And you, as a human, cannot escape the weaknesses, limited resources, disadvantages, and blind spots infused into your being, no matter how hard or valiant the effort.

But, there is a being who is superior to you in character, resourcefulness, advantage, wisdom, and almost every other comparable trait. Even more, this being cares about you, and wants to be part of your life.

The being I’m talking about is the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. He is the God who came down to Earth in the form of a human being to die on the cross so that you would not receive the punishment for your failures. And three days later, He rose again to declare you as a new creation once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

2 Corinthians 5:17 World English Bible (WEB)
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

If you limit yourself to you, there is a cap on the possibilities of where your life’s headed. However, when you limit yourself to God, there is no limits as to where He can direct you. That is why, my proposition is to invest your confidence into God so that you are guaranteed to reap a blessed life.

Proverbs 16:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Beyond Your Control but in His Jurisdiction

Therefore, put your confidence in Christ Jesus. I have seen lives changed because they made this decision. In fact, my life has changed due to this decision. And there have been times where God intervened in my life for my own good.

The thing is that confidence in yourself can only do so much. But it definitely cannot change things like sickness, financial opportunities, or any other factor out of your control. On the other hand, confidence in God does make it possible for Him to change any factor in your life. It does not matter how far away that factor is from grasp of your influence.

2 Corinthians 12:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Paul the Apostle penned the Holy-Spirit inspired scripture, above. He said that he’d take pride in His weaknesses so that God would answer his weaknesses with God’s unlimited capability. And Paul’s mission was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, God did give Paul the strength to spread the gospel, and even now, 2000 years after Paul’s death, God’s words penned through Paul’s hands continue to transform the hearts of people around the world.

Proverbs 14:26 King James Version (KJV)
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Read the above proverb. It says that when you fear the Lord, and that means to respect and acknowledge Him, your children (if you have any) will be safe. Again, whether your children are safe or not is out of your control and no amount of self-confidence can change that, but, confidence in God’s faithfulness will ensure the safety of your children.

In conclusion, be confident, but be confident in God who has made you a new creation. Be confident in that His finished work on the cross saved you. And be confident in His promises such as protection, wisdom, prosperity, health, along with more.

James 4:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

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The Best Life You Could Possibly Imagine

Many of you believe your life is not ideal, let alone “the best” life you could ever imagine. But, that is why this time on Latter Rain, the post will be discussing what “best” truly means and as to how we should perceive our own lives. Because the way you make use of your own life is imperative to your mental health and every other aspect of your life. So, continue reading to learn more.

A Choice to Make

The “best” life you could possibly imagine is often far from what we actually imagine. Our imaginations often host a multitude of possible scenarios which we so yearn to be ours. But, our lives usually don’t end up the way we envision things. That’s just the way life works.

Some issues we face in life are the results of our failures whereas other challenges come our way regardless of the actions we take. Again, that’s just the way life works.

However, in this post, I propose the idea that your life can at any point of time become the best life you could possibly imagine. Now, I know that is a difficult notion to believe wholeheartedly. Nevertheless, this is what the Christian worldview supports.

It is your choice to make, as to whether you want the best life you could possibly have, or if you want something less than that. It is up to you.

So, let the scriptures do the talking. During Jesus Christ’s ministry, as He was walking with His disciples, He came across a man born blind. And Jesus’ disciples ask Him a very odd question.

John 9:2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

The reason as to why this question is so ridiculous and yet, captures human nature so well, is because it deals with judgement and irrationality. Concerning judgement, people want to assign a blame to a particular being when dealing with a mess, hence the question. Concerning irrationality, how in the world, could a man commit a sin so that he is born blind? If he was born blind, he did not even have a chance to commit a sin to earn him the blindness!

Continuing on, let’s see Jesus’ response to this question…

Shifting Gears from Earth to Heaven

John 9:3-5 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

As it turns out, no person is responsible for the man’s suffering. His condition is not divine retribution for an error on his part or his parents’ part. Instead, Jesus says that the works of God should be revealed in him.

So, does Jesus mean that He (God) made the man suffer blind his entire life just so He could heal him? I don’t think so. I think this man’s blindness is traceable to the fall of Adam and Eve, the fall of humanity where mankind opened the door for sickness to ravage mankind.

But, Jesus, being God in the flesh, made it His mission to reverse the curse. He went about healing the sick, delivering the captives, and forgiving the sinners. He was revealing His love and these were the works of God which were being made manifest.

We should not look at the mess in our lives and play the blame game. Instead, we should realize the model Jesus Christ left for us. He said in verse 5, that He is the light of the world while He is in the world. And the role of light is not to find out why darkness is darkness, its role is to light up its environment, to eliminate the darkness. So now, our responsibility is to be the light He calls us to be.

Matthew 5:14 World English Bible (WEB)
14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.

The Best Life in Front of Us

If you really, really want to find a reason as to why bad things happen, then assign it a new purpose. Say to yourself that the purpose for your mess is so that God can clean it up and be glorified. That’s what Jesus did.

John 9:3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him.

The last thing God wants to do is to play the blame game. Humans are very fond of that particular game because of the wicked human heart.

Jeremiah 17:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Thus, how do you be the light Jesus called you to be, when your heart is desperately wicked? The solution is to surrender your heart and all its desires to the Lord Jesus Christ. All you need to do is to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart (to redeem it) that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour.

Now, something I did not mention earlier was that the religious leaders did not like it when Jesus healed this blind man. They missed the entire picture and these same people later on, urged the Roman government to execute Jesus in the most inhumane way, crucifixion.

Matthew 27:35-36 World English Bible (WEB)
35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,36 and they sat and watched him there.

And even though, Jesus, being God, could have stopped it, His crucifixion was part of His mission, so that as He died and rose again, His life could enter you and the divine punishment for your mess ups would be on Him, instead. Now, His light is in you. I talk more about it in this post.

Matthew 5:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Therefore, don’t exhaust your brain with the various reasons as to why you or someone else is suffering. Instead, seek your Heavenly Father, and love Him. If you want a reason for your temporary suffering, then make it a purpose that God will intervene and make some good come out of it. And just be the person who, like the formerly blind man, worships Jesus in appreciation, admiration, and love for being the compassionate God He truly is. A life with Him is the best life you could possibly imagine!

John 9:35-38 World English Bible (WEB)
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”
37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”
38 He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped him.

By Andre Wijesekera

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Stepping Out of a Traumatized Past Into the Now

Restoration is in Christ

The daily price we pay to stay in the moment is sometimes all too high. And for those of you who are suffering from a vividly painful past, you are not exempt from the joys of life. That is going to be the topic of this post as we explore PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and as to how one should overcome it. So, to find out what it takes when stepping out of a traumatized past, continue reading.

The Pain Behind the Trauma

PTSD is a real issue in a our society. No doubt about it. When people go through painful and horrifying experiences, it does, at times, leave a scar. And that’s the thing about mental health; it’s just as real as your physical health. So, I believe that God cares for your mental health just as much as He cares for your physical health.

3 John 2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

God outlines the importance of your soul. And your soul is your mind, will, and emotions which includes your mental health.

Continuing on, these mental scars come in the form of things like PTSD. Now, PTSD is a disorder where people see hallucinations or dreams reminding them of their terrible experiences, or where people avoid socializing so that they do not encounter anything that might trigger memories about the painful event. Overall, it’s a terrible disorder that induces anxiety because of horrible experiences.

The things that tend to cause PTSD within people are really terrible events such as the following: natural disasters, military conflicts, assaults, accidents, and more.

And so, I do acknowledge that there is a deep pain or terror that lies behind the issue of PTSD. People go through things God never meant for them to ever go through, as human beings.

God never intended for these things to occur. We live in a fallen world, and in a fallen world, there is pain.

So, if you’re suffering from PTSD, I cannot understand the pain you’ve gone through as I do not know it or have probably not experienced it, but, I do know that your pain is real. Your hurt is real. But, there’s a way out of it, there is a solution.

The Weight of Trauma; the Height of Suffering

Now, I believe the solution is Jesus Christ. I did say I cannot understand the pain you’re experiencing as it does not relate to my own experiences. But, there is one who does understand how you’re feeling. God understands your pain, more than you think He does.

He not only knows it out of his omniscience, but He knows your suffering out of His experience. He knows the grit and heart-pounding terrors which you have experienced. He’s felt it all. Whatever sexual abuse or military battle or car accident haunts your memory, is a pain which God relates to.

He does not deny your pain, He does not ignore your pain, He feels your pain.

Isaiah 53:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

If your experience is something out of hell, Jesus’ experience is out of a deeper hell than that. He was physically beaten, stripped out of his clothes, scourged, had to carry a wooden cross up a hill, and was then pinned to the cross with nails in His hands and in His feet. He can relate to your hell, but, you will never be able to relate to the extent of hell which He endured. It is beyond human imagination to suffer a fate worse than His.

Furthermore, Jesus is God, who came to Earth in the form of a fragile human being to redeem/save humanity. And a symptom of PTSD is the stress or anxiety one feels when remembering a traumatic event. But, I believe Jesus was experiencing a form of PTSD before His traumatic experience even happened.

That would be because He is God and He knew every single detail that would outline His suffering the next day. And when He remembered the future should He choose to save us, He started sweating blood. And sweating blood is a medical condition where people experience severe stress. So, Jesus felt severe stress or anxiety about the suffering He was going to endure, on the night of His arrest.

Luke 22:44 World English Bible (WEB)
44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Stepping out of the Trauma

Jesus knows how you feel. You can be sure about that. But, is stepping out of a terrible experience possible? Are you capable of stepping out of PTSD? The answer to these questions is a resounding “yes.”

Jesus does not have PTSD, now. He did what He did with a purpose. And He accomplished it. That purpose was to experience our hell, so, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, He saves us.

John 19:28-30 World English Bible (WEB)
28 After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

Jesus recognized how His pain ended, and how His pain had a purpose. And three days later, He rose again victorious and alive. He rose again so that you would also have the benefit of a resurrection where you are a new, whole creation.

Romans 6:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

But now, in the case of your life, how do you step out of a traumatized past? You give it to Jesus.

Remind yourself that you are not the product of your experiences, but instead, you are a child of the Living God! When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, He makes you His redeemed child. You are a beloved child of God.

Furthermore, enjoy your family life. Let God walk you each step of the way through your path to recovery and restoration.

Overall, when it comes to stepping out of your trauma, recognize Jesus’ immense suffering, realize that He rose again victorious, and surrender your pain to God. He is there with you, pray to Him to heal you and read His Word in pursuit of the life-changing truth of Jesus Christ in our lives. Paying a price to enjoy every moment of your life, is not yours to pay, Jesus already paid for it. Therefore, through Christ Jesus, stepping out of your pain is not impossible.

By Andre Wijesekera

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Brokenness in the Eyes of the King in Purple

Jesus crucified for me

The focus of this post deals with the issue of brokenness. It is quite easy to adapt the belief that restoration is impossible. And that leaves many of us in brokenness or despair. Those who see themselves as permanently broken cannot progress from their depressed state. That is why we’ll be exploring a new angle on the mental health issue of depression, and despair, in this post.

The Purple Robe

To approach this issue, I must start at the cross. In the landscape of the Biblical narrative, there is one event that ties EVERYTHING together. That event is the cross of Calvary where Jesus Christ was crucified.

Jesus Christ is God and He came down to Earth in the flesh as a human being with one purpose in mind. His purpose was to provide an atoning sacrifice for mankind. You see, humanity is flawed. And we have all sinned or done something which isn’t right.

And so, to accept an imperfect, far from godly-natured, beloved people into God’s presence in Heaven, is impossible without an atoning sacrifice. That is why Jesus Christ made it His mission to experience the hell which we deserve, on the cross.

Now, pharisees and religious leaders pressured the Romans of that time, to crucify Jesus. They could not help but be jealous of His perfect nature, and persisted in the belief that they are good enough to enter Heaven, all by themselves.

They detested change, and so, the same devil who tempted mankind in the garden of Eden, inspired a hellish hatred within the hearts of the people. But, God used that hatred to His advantage as the devil could not understand how Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for those who are lost.

And so, it is with this premise, that I want to introduce the below scripture to you.

John 19:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

The Brokenness Behind the Crown of Thorns

So, as the above verse now states, Jesus stood on the platform after a cruel scourging. And as He stood, He wore a crown of thorns embedded into His skull, along with a purple-dyed robe.

Furthermore, the verse offers quite a few surprises to those willing to dig deeper. I looked at the HELPS Word Studies on the Greek word used for “purple” in this verse. The Greek word used for “purple,” transliterates as “porphurous.”

The interesting part of this word study is the conclusion that porphurous is a word describing a purple-reddish dye or cloth. So, this purple cloth was a mix between purple and red. And in the culture of that time, purple symbolized royalty. Whereas, red represents His sacrifice, His blood shed for you.

Even more, I believe God is communicating to us a message through this scripture. The message is that He let himself become physically BROKEN for you and for me. And to further emphasize His brokenness, I must call to remembrance a verse from the Old Testament of the Bible.

Numbers 4:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 “They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.

In the time of the Old Testament, the priests were responsible for taking away the ashes from the altar after a burnt offering. Then, they’d spread a purple cloth over the altar. God instructed more steps as to how they should conduct the burnt offering. But, for the sake of this post, I am referencing only this scripture from the chapter.

Nevertheless, I believe God was instructing Israel to do this seemingly strange act to symbolize the way in which He’d come to actually atone for us, permanently, as Jesus Christ. He was symbolizing how He’d be in ashes as the burnt offering when He wore a purple robe.

His instructions would serve as a prophetical image of the future, one-time, burnt-offering sacrificed for the people who’d choose to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The Living God Among Us

And so, if you haven’t already, I urge you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. But, the point of this examination of the scriptures is to really carve a proper understanding of the brokenness of Jesus at the cross.

As I mentioned earlier, many of you are suffering from depression, despair, brokenness, and more. You might just even feel like you’re in ashes. And I sense a very similar vibe through the picture painted of Jesus in the scene of His crucifixion.

Jesus became physically broken. He was in ashes. And He died, He actually died on the cross. But, that’s not the end of the story. After three days and three nights, Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. He physically resurrected.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 King James Version (KJV)
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

What am I getting at, then? I’m getting at the vivid picture of His resurrecting power! You may feel dead and in ashes, but, there’s always a chance to rise. I am declaring to you that there is life in the Christ.

You may have an excuse to despair or to sulk in depression, maybe it’s some kind of terrible experience or it could even be as petty as a mood swing. But, that’s why the cross is about dying to one’s self. And by dying to one’s self, I mean to put an end to the beliefs or mindsets which ruin your life.

Put depression to death, put negativity to death, put fear to death, and put the selfish appetites or behaviours to death! Furthermore, as Christ rose again, so also you rise again. You are a new being in Christ Jesus, and not even depression can stop you from being the child of God who Jesus loves.

Romans 6:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;

Therefore, Jesus Christ calls the brokenhearted to Him. He does not delight in your suffering, He delights in you realizing that you are His child. And that you’ve always been His from the day He let those rusty nails pierce Him to a cross, and even before then, in eternity, when your lovely image pierced the tender heart of His imagination.

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Reflecting on What God Has Made!

Jesus is the Latter Rain!

The importance of reflecting on one’s self is very significant. There is no telling in the results of an individual who reflects on how they can improve. In fact, many of the issues we face today, such as the stigmatization of mental illnesses or the guilt-laden youth, arise from a lack of self-awareness and self-reflection. And even the Bible supports reflecting and being aware of one’s condition, as it guides us to do it in the right way. Because anything good done in the wrong way could end up in unnecessary disaster.

Self-Awareness in the Bible

It is quite apparent when reading the Word of God, that when God uses people, they tend to be self-aware. And what self-awareness really means is that a person is capable of analyzing where they’re at in life, and that they understand who they are in the context of their situation.

An example of this from the scriptures is Peter, who is one of the twelve apostles of the early Church.

1 Peter 1:24-25 King James Version (KJV)
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

As you can see from above, Peter was aware of his state. He recognized that we are all people, and as with all people, we are immensely fragile.

Psalm 103:14-16 World English Bible (WEB)
14 For he knows how we are made.
    He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass.
    As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone.
    Its place remembers it no more.

Furthermore, King David, another significant character from the Bible recognized his status when compared to God’s status. He acknowledged himself as grass compared to God, and was self-aware even as the King of Israel. And so, when you are aware of how fragile and how small you are in comparison to God, you start to realize that life is not only about you. It’s about the One who created you.

You may be the toughest person on the planet, with a cold heart, an unbreakable will, and a stubborn attitude, but you are still a human being. Nothing less, and certainly, nothing more!

Reflecting on the Fragility of Man

After world wars, civilizations rising, societies crumbling, and all the likewise, God stands tall above it all. He is the God who blessed Abraham, He is the God who delivered Israel out of Egypt, and He is the God who came to Earth in the flesh as a human being to die on the cross at the hands of His own people, both for you and for me.

Romans 5:17-18 World English Bible (WEB)
17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins and died a cruel, hellish, death, but, after three days, He rose again victoriously so that your salvation would be justified. And I urge you today, if you have not already, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

I cannot imagine a better outcome in my life, if I had not accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Why? Because there are countless times from the day of my birth to the day I write this blog where God has intervened in my life only to bless me and to guide me. He is my Lord because my life belongs to Him, and He is my Saviour because He paid a heavy price to save me.

Once you’re aware of that, there’s meaning in your life. You’re not just a random product of time plus matter plus chance. Ultimately, with God in the picture, you become a sacred being.

So in the example of your case, you must ponder where you’re at in life. You can ask yourself, “Am I happy with where I am in life?”

If happy, do you believe your life has any meaning and can you justify that? I believe the only coherent justification to a life with meaning, is only possible through Jesus Christ. If you’re unhappy with your life, or mental health for that matter, why? And, how can you fix it?

As I said earlier, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Whether happy or unhappy, read the Word of God and commit yourself to prayer. God will hear you, and He cares for you. And as you walk with God, you will feel a comfort and love like never before. So, be aware of your limits as a human being, but recognize also that God still cares for you!

1 Peter 5:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Self-Reflecting in the Bible

Now, if self-awareness is the bread, then, I’d say self-reflection is the butter. Self-reflecting is identifying what you’ve done wrong and as to how you can improve yourself.

This is very different from guilt. In fact, self-reflection relies on conviction whereas guilt relies on condemnation. Now, the only one who can really convict you, is Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 World English Bible (WEB)
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

And Holy Spirit is the spirit of God (Jesus Christ) who comes to guide you and lead you once you accept the atonement work of Jesus. He does not condemn you, but, He does convict you.

Godly conviction, furthermore, is when God aids your heart in identifying where you’ve gone wrong and as to how you should do better. On the other hand, condemnation is a fallen nature which punishes your conscience for the ways you’ve erred.

John 16:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;

So, throughout your life, allow Holy Spirit through prayer and through reflection on the Word of God to convict and correct you so that your life and mental health aligns with His love. This is the self-reflection which God wants. Spending your time reflecting on Him allows you to improve and to make yourself more like your Heavenly Father.

Therefore, trust God that He forgave you, and through time spent with Him, you will face a life saturated with blessings. God’s very spirit will guide and convict you to be the best person you could possibly be. And be aware of yourself in God’s eyes, don’t be proud, but, be humble and have faith in the love of God in Christ Jesus. The key to self-reflection or self-awareness is in reflecting on the love of God.

By Andre Wijesekera

Posted on

Recognize Yourself in the Grand Weaver’s Picture

Life is full of changes!

The reality and society in which we live in, is driven by a variety of factors that are totally out of our control. There are some things you just cannot stop or change. And these changing factors can lead us to feel as if we’re out of place. Whether it be in your workplace, your home, or any other environment, it is very difficult to feel as if you don’t fit in. And to deal with that, the topic of today will be on how to recognize yourself in the bigger picture.

Who’s the Grand Weaver?

Life is not just a combination of chemistry, biology, physics, and chance. It’s more than that. There’s intention and design to how we work and to how the world works. It was not random.

I believe that someone weaved all of this together. Hence why I call Him the Grand Weaver. For me, I can only see Jesus Christ as my Lord, God, and Saviour. The reason being, is that He’s kind, He’s wise, He’s my guide, He cares for me, He sets a line between what’s right and what’s wrong, and He orchestrates everything with purpose.

Colossians 1:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.

More specifically, there is purpose in you, there is purpose in me, there is purpose in the cross, and there’s purpose in everything that He initiates.

Even more, the Grand Weaver, God Himself, is not excluded from what He orchestrates. He’s always at work, in fact, 2000 years ago, He came in the flesh as Jesus Christ to die on the cross on behalf of you, so that the punishment of your weaknesses, mistakes, and sins would be upon Him as the Lamb of God. After three days, He rose again, and now, He is known as the Lion of Judah!

Revelation 5:5 World English Bible (WEB)
5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

Therefore, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. That’s the best thing I’ve done in my life and I’ll never regret it. And the same goes for you, it’s the best thing you could possibly do. I talk more about it in this post.

But, the point is that you are part of a tapestry weaved by the hands of the very living God. This does not mean your sufferings are initiated by God, there are multiple reasons why we suffer at times, yet, God is never responsible for unjust suffering.

However, God, being as good as He is, desires to weave your life into a good life, and He will mend out the sufferings until they become part of the beauty of His tapestry, until they turn out for your good!

Psalm 104:24 World English Bible (WEB)
24 Yahweh, how many are your works!
    In wisdom, you have made them all.
    The earth is full of your riches.

So, your first step is recognize and acknowledge the Grand Weaver.

Recognize Yourself as He Does

Now, the next step is to recognize yourself as God does. Unfortunately, many people don’t have a good view of themselves. You ought not to compare yourself with others. You should not compare your physical appearance with those in magazines or with other people.

Deuteronomy 5:21 World English Bible (WEB)
21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Furthermore, you should not compare yourself with other people with greater academic ability or financial power. If you compare yourself with others, it will only be disadvantageous for yourself, because it will never allow you to recognize what God has given you.

As a matter of fact, God never intended for us to compare ourselves with others in any way or manner. Moreover, the same God who made you, also made everyone else. And He has assigned different purposes along with different plans for each and every one of us.

You must recognize that He has given you something unique to do, so, do everything that you do for His glory.

He sees you as His. And that’s all which matters. As the famous poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde, said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken!” At the same time, I do not quote this to state you can do whatever pleasures you, as that is not the you who God intended you to be.

So, remember this, God has assigned a unique identity to you with your own personality and strengths. Trust God with everything you’ve got and recognize that you are part of His tapestry.

1 Peter 4:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

Recognize Yourself In Him!

As said in the introduction, our world is full of changes. And there are many of you out there who feel like the times are changing too fast. Technology is developing, it’s impossible to keep up with cultural trends, and more.

As a matter of fact, this can be a serious issue as it affects many people, today. People who served in the army know how painful it is to fit in modern society, especially after all they’ve faced in harsh environments for lengthy period of time.

Obviously, life is not easy. But, if you have that feeling of loneliness, as you experience different but extreme changes within your environment, I want you to know there is one constant through it all.

In a life full of variables, there is always this one constant. That one constant precedes all the variables. Your relationships may change, your workplace might change, and even you might change, but there is one who will never change.

Isaiah 41:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.
    I will strengthen you.
    Yes, I will help you.
    Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

Moreover, that one constant is God. He is with you through the storm and through it all. Subsequently, you don’t need to feel lonely, just be still, and know that you are never alone. He is with you through all of the changes around you.

Hebrews 13:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Enjoying the Beauty of the Grand Weaver’s Tapestry

So, take a step back, and soak in the beauty of His tapestry. As God, the mastermind behind it all, weaves your life into His big picture. Be what He calls you to be, love others and love Him with all of who you are.

Matthew 22:36-40 King James Version (KJV)
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Furthermore, your life should not center upon self-esteem, it should center upon how much you esteem God in you. He is the Grand Weaver, and every relationship, every person, every gift that He puts in your life is a blessing to thank Him for. And each situation He provides for you, is an opportunity to show that God-given love to others, to not act selfishly, but to act out of sacrificial love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 World English Bible (WEB)
4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

In conclusion, do not forget His kindness, but instead, count your blessings, and commune with Him. Read the Word of God (start with the New Testament first, because that’s what He says to you as part of His Church), discover what He says about you, and spend some time in prayer.

Luke 11:11-13 World English Bible (WEB)
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

By Andre Wijesekera

Posted on

Acceptance and Tolerance of That Which Is Sacred

Give it to God!

Sacredness and humanity is something that goes hand in hand. But, how do you view yourself? We often talk about issues dealing with how people view others. Yet, we mustn’t forget that to enjoy a good life, you must first deal with how you view yourself and inner-acceptance. Food-eating disorders, low self-esteem, and many mental health issues which our society faces, relate to how a person views himself or herself. So, to find out what’s the right way to deal with the matter, continue reading.

What is Sacred?

The acceptance of that which is sacred first starts with what you define as sacred. To be sacred means to hold a divine purpose. And so, do you hold a divine purpose? Has God willed your life into being?

These are all valid, thought-provoking questions which one must answer in order to live a life worthwhile. I believe God assigns everyone a divine purpose. And God created you with the intent of you bearing His image, to represent Him.

Genesis 1:27 World English Bible (WEB)
27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

You are sacred. I placed a period directly after the previous sentence because it is a fact and there’s no way to argue the contrary. God intends for you to be in His image because you are a sacred individual.

Now, just because you hold divine purpose, doesn’t mean that whatever you do is divine. In fact, your lifestyle might be as far apart from divine purpose as the East is from the West. But, there is a way to come back to your divine purpose.

When mankind rejected God, the devil found a way to ruin mankind’s perception of its own sacredness. You could read more about that in Genesis 3 of the Bible or in this post.

Thank God, He (God) came in the flesh 2000 years ago as Jesus Christ and died on the cross to take your sins and my sins upon Himself so that He may restore us to our divine purpose and in His image; after 3 days, He rose again to fully justify your salvation.

So, if you haven’t already, please acknowledge with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour.

The Hideous Made Beautiful

Furthermore, there are those of you who hate your physical appearance or hold what many people and psychologists call a “low self-esteem.” This is why many people, especially women, seem to hold eating-disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

Anorexia is when one has a severe fear of gaining weight even when unhealthily skinny. And bulimia is when someone binge eats unhealthily but then tries to purge what they ate, or fasts for a while through unhealthy means.

Now, scientists and doctors relate the causes of such eating-disorders to a combination of biochemistry and environmental factors. Whatever the cause is, I know this is a fallen world where things don’t function the way God intended them to. And what I need… is a solution.

I believe that solution is, in the case of people with eating disorders, in taking your eyes off magazines along with media that limit a person’s worth to their physical ideal, and to realize that God loves you just as you are, physically. And to really drill the right idea into your head, read the Bible (start with the New Testament) and commune with Him.

If you want to be physically healthy and fit, then follow a proper, healthy, nutritionally-sufficient diet and exercise at a moderate level. Just don’t forget that God loves everyone, fat or skinny, poor or rich, black or white, and He will always considers you as sacred.

Colossians 3:9-11 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

Jesus is the key to a healthy lifestyle!

When in Christ, there is no factor by which one is worth less than another. You are all created for God’s glory in the way God calls you to be. So, read the Bible, pray, and worship Him. When you do that, you will automatically renew what you know of His image so that your life will closely resemble His perfection. There’s power in acceptance of who you are in Christ Jesus.

Acceptance of the Temple of God

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 World English Bible (WEB)
19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

There’s a stark reminder in the Word of God that you do not belong to yourself. When you make a paper airplane, does that paper airplane belong to itself or to you? It belongs to you, and in the same way, God made you and He owns you. You were never supposed to belong to yourself. It’s just not possible to live a life of purpose in a life not surrendered!

Your body is sacred and holy to God. It’s a living temple which His Holy Spirit inhabits. Moreover, I can argue that not only are you sacred but that you are sacred on top of sacred. You are the pinnacle of sacredness of all creation to God.

And that’s because God made the animals and all nature, for your existence, which He subjects to you. So, those things are sacred, but they are sacred because they were made for you! Thus, making you a divine purpose of purposes.

Genesis 1:28 World English Bible (WEB)
28 God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Surrender your everything to God before it’s too late!

Even more, whether you look good on the outside or not to yourself, God is pleased with you when you surrender your physical being (alongside your entire self) to Him. If you want to be healthier, you can workout and eat healthily, but, do it for the glory of God, not out of fear or unhealthily obsessive conditions.

1 Samuel 16:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.