The Benefits of Forgiveness in a World of Grudges

Why forgive? What’s in it for me? These are questions that I’ll be dissecting in this blog through a spiritual and mental health lens. The questions spring up from a common mentality within humans from all backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity, upbringing, or any other classifying factor. So, continue reading to learn of the benefits of forgiveness and if one should forgive others.

A World of Grudges?

Yes, our world is mainly a world of grudges. Our world is not in its prime state and people often struggle with forgiving those who do wrong. We often find ourselves saying things like “Don’t get mad, get even,” or “I’ll show you a piece of me.” And sadly, this is what the world considers as “natural,” or “normal.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 King James Version (KJV)
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The Bible drives home the fact that many in this world are blind. And the Bible says that the “god of this world” has blinded them.

This title is just another label for the devil, a being whose wickedness and bitterness blinds the hearts of those who have not yet witnessed the love of Christ.

However, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who made this world and designed your very DNA, is the one who loves you.

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He came down in the flesh as Lord Jesus Christ and was led to crucifixion by jealous, hypocritical religious leaders who hated Lord Jesus for healing the sick, loving the scum of the earth, and saving the damned.

Furthermore, your hell met Jesus Christ at the cross so His Heaven could meet you when you allow Him into your life as Lord and Saviour. And after three days in burial, Lord Jesus Christ rose again, victoriously conquering death in your place.

The Benefits of Forgiveness

Accepting Lord Jesus Christ means He forgave your sins, so why not learn from Him how to forgive your debtors.

Colossians 3:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Plus, it’s not like forgiveness is without benefits. Forgiving others does benefit you and that’s the truth.

One might ask, “Well how does forgiving the rascal help me?”

Here’s how…

Forgiveness allows you to preserve relationships that might turn out helpful in the future.

Psalm 133:1 King James Version (KJV)
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Forgiveness pleases God as God is forgiving.

Colossians 3:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Forgiveness grants you the chance to imitate your Heavenly Father.

Ephesians 5:1 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

Forgiveness relieves you the burden of bearing a grudge, and grudges are an opportunity for the devil to harm you.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Remember, the benefits of forgiveness I just listed are only a fraction of the many reasons to forgive others. I just listed the ones I could think of at the moment. Nevertheless, I hope that the last reason especially caught your eye.

As the truth is that holding grudges is an opportunity for the devil (Satan) to wreak havoc in your life.

That is why in the above Bible verse, Paul decided to forgive everyone. This doesn’t mean you have to trust people you’ve forgiven which I talk about in this post. But, Paul did not want the devil to take advantage of any unforgiveness.

Motives of the Heart

So, if someone hurt a loved one of yours, or embarrassed you in some way or manner, just let it go. Also, I am not belittling their mistakes or your loss, but, I am recommending forgiveness for your sake.

Again, this does not mean you need to trust the person you’ve forgiven, it just means you need to let go of the grudge you hold against him/her.

And, now, I want you to change the way you think. If you’re forgiving others for your own benefit, that’s good, but, if you’re forgiving others because you understand God’s love for them and you want to share with that lost person the forgiving love of God, that’s admirable.

1 Corinthians 16:14 World English Bible (WEB)
14 Let all that you do be done in love.

However, whatever the motive behind your forgiveness, the main thing is that you forgive the person. I was just offering a tidbit of advice if you’re ready for it.

2 Corinthians 3:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Therefore, relieve others of the sins they’ve done unto you and make the decision to forgive others. You don’t need to feel anything out of your forgiveness, you just need to decide to forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 King James Version (KJV)
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Transfigured by the Starter of Heartbeats

Closer than Ever

Change. It is such a lovely thing to change for the better. When you recognize your faultiness, it is so wonderful to improve. Now, there are those of you who suffer from depression, anxiety, addiction, mental health disorders, and a list of other things. But, no matter the suffering or issue, there is always a solution. And to experience change in all its glory, I invite you to be transfigured by the starter of heartbeats. Continue reading to find out what this all means.

Who is the Starter of Heartbeats?

Before talking about anything concerning the thought of change, I must introduce you to the starter of heartbeats. Believe it or not, no one knows the precise second or detailing of time when your heart first began to beat within your mother’s womb. Nobody knows!

Think about it… Your biological parents, your doctor, your closest friend, your spouse, your romantic interest, and every other individual, except one, knows not the first heartbeat that echoed in your mother’s womb.

Job 31:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

The starter of heartbeats is the only one who does know your first heartbeat. And that being is none other than God, Himself. I can only imagine the care He invested into you when He made you in a unique but lovely way. He ignited that human heart of yours into being, He knows you to the most intimate detail. It is only God who knows you better than you know yourself.

And I strongly hold onto the belief that God came down as Jesus Christ to Earth as a human being to die on the cross as a sacrifice for you. He suffered the penalty for your sins so that when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you would not have to pay the penalty in hell. Instead, His blood on the cross allows us full freedom to be with Him in Heaven.

And only Jesus Christ lost His heartbeat to give you new life and new meaning. A purpose although new, was His plan before time began. That is why three days after His crucifixion, Jesus’ resurrection means so much. His resurrection means your heartbeat will always belong to Him.

Jeremiah 10:6 King James Version (KJV)
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

How to Experience That Transfiguration?

Continuing on, God designs your heart beat in such a way that it never stops beating. It’s working it’s hardest to keep you alive.

There is such importance which emanates from your life because God wants you alive so badly. Your life is significant and if you want to ever remind yourself of that, just feel your heartbeat, it constantly works hard to keep your precious life going.

Now, when you know your life is so precious, you must realize who He says you are. In the Bible, it talks about how Jesus Christ takes three of His closest disciples to witness His transfiguration.

Matthew 17:1 World English Bible (WEB)
17 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.

Upon further examination of the scriptures, one sees that Jesus Christ does this after six days from the end of the previous chapter. This signals the seventh day, a day of rest as God declares it in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 2:2-3 King James Version (KJV)
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

So, Jesus wants you to rest on His grace and when you do that, He fully reveals Himself to you. He revealed Himself in all His power and glory to His disciples during the transfiguration

Now, to be transfigured means to be transformed into what you really are! It is like unveiling what you really are.

Matthew 17:2 World English Bible (WEB)
He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.

And when you rest in His grace, transfiguration’s a matter of time. He will unveil who you’re supposed to be, to you. You are a spiritual being and God created you for His purpose.

What Does It Mean to Be Transfigured?

This means that when you rest on God’s unfailing grace and realize that you are His beloved child, there is nothing which can stop you. It is so important to know that you are of His blood and that He loves you.

In the stormy situation when it is easy to become frantic or worried, learn or at least practice your trust in God. Lay your hand on your chest and remember that God started that heartbeat, He’s not going to let anything destroy it or cause it worry!

Romans 8:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The verse above says that we should know this hence why the verse starts with “And we know.” It says that God will ensure our bad situation or good situation will end up blessing us in the end. And you’ve got to know that you are according to His purpose.

His plan for your life is the only way you will ever have some true meaning. Without Him, there is no purpose. With Him, you’re full of purpose.

So, in conclusion, rest on His grace, and witness the transfigured Christ in your life. I can only imagine how it feels to see the transfigured Christ in all His glory and splendour living in us. That is why we can be transfigured, too. Being transfigured by Him means that we change into who we are supposed to be.

When people see us, they should see someone who is living for God’s glory, who’s mental health is blessed and secured by God, and they should see us as loving people.

We should not be scared of God or what He has in plan for our lives, we should only respond to Jesus’ caring words, and understand that we are His beloved children. Let us be transfigured and understand how God really sees us!

Matthew 17:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.

How to Resist the Temptation of Anger

Self-centered anger is often a temptation. And there are a lot of people out there, well-meaning people, who think it okay to remain angry. But for the sake of your mental health, I believe it is more important to deal with your anger. Anger can be a very dangerous thing with any person and has ruined countless lives throughout history. So, to find out as to how to resist the temptation of anger, continue reading.

Is It Really a Temptation?

Now, anger is a spontaneous emotion, usually. It is something you can’t always control. If someone does something which really upsets you, then, you get angry immediately. And a lot of the time, anger is not a bad thing. I’ll talk about the positive side of anger in the next subsection.

But, what I am mostly talking about in this post is the negative side of anger. This type of anger is when you are upset at an individual and you remain upset for a long time. It’s the type of anger which you label as a grudge. Another type of bad anger is the anger that causes you to do things which God does not like. These things include making derogatory remarks or assaulting the offensive individual.

Romans 14:23 World English Bible (WEB)
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

And whenever anger leads you to do something which you know God doesn’t like or something which manifests your self-centered behaviour, it is a temptation. The decision to indulge in that temptation or to resist its appeal is up to you. Even more, the decision you make, reveals your priorities. Do you prioritize yourself or God? Whatever you do which is apart from faith, is wrong in God’s eyes. So, clearly, doing something out of anger with evil intentions is as far apart from faith as you can get.

I can tell you right here and now that God prioritized you over His anger. He came in the flesh as a human being, Jesus Christ. And with the authority to call down legions of angels capable of annihilating any trace of human existence, God allowed Himself to be tortured and crucified by people who hated Him. And why is that? It is because His love for you and me is more powerful than anything on the face of this planet! I talk more about it in this post.

That is why I plea to you to accept God’s love, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour where He will enter your life to transform it.

Romans 10:9 King James Version (KJV)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Godly Anger

Moreover, I will grant you this. The Bible says if someone angers you, don’t act out your anger. And by the end of the day, get a hold of yourself. Ask God to give you the grace to calm down by the end of the day.

Ephesians 4:26 World English Bible (WEB)
26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.
Psalm 4:4 Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,

Make sure you don’t do anything outside of what you know God wants you to do. God does not want you to hurt others or to say mean things. He wants you to love people. But if you can’t love that person at the moment, at least forgive that person. Forgiveness is just a choice where you decide to let go of the debts that person owes your conscience just as God forgave you.

Now, there’s a type of anger which is not sinful. This type of anger is godly anger. It is when you are angry for the sake of others or for the unjust things people do to God’s kingdom.

So, if someone is abusing another person, that will naturally anger you because God loves people. Or if someone is mocking God or harming His creation such as the environment, that should also anger you. However with all these things, make sure it doesn’t cause you to sin in retaliation just as the above Bible verse says.

John 2:13-17 World English Bible (WEB)
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. 16 To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”Psalm 69:9

So, in the example above, Jesus was full of zealous anger. Jesus Christ grew angry when people were being corrupt and selling things for profit in God’s sacred temple. This type of anger is good, it is not a sin to be angry when angry because of your faith in Christ Jesus. But even with this, God knew what He was doing.

2 Corinthians 5:21 World English Bible (WEB)
21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In verse 15, it says Jesus made a whip of cords to throw over the tables, this shows that Jesus planned what He was going to do and was doing it with purpose. He did not kill anyone or do anything which is rash. He manifested His righteous anger without sinning as we should do if our righteous anger is incurred.

How to Resist the Temptation of Anger?

In conclusion, how is it that you must resist the temptation of bad anger? It is only through Christ Jesus. When someone offends you, give it straight away to God. Ask Him for the grace to forgive and just don’t act out your anger. Allow God to calm you.

If you know yourself as an angry person in general, then put your selfish anger to death. Remember that when Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and for me, your selfish anger died with Him, too. Now, it is not in you to be an angry person.

Colossians 3:5 World English Bible (WEB)
Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Surrender yourself alongside your pride, to God, and remember that you are a child of God who He loves. That is your identity. The Bible does not call you an angry child of God, it calls you a beloved child of God.

Ephesians 5:1-2 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

Therefore, let God’s love and His Holy Spirit transform you. Soak yourself in the Word of God and really get to know Him. If you are tempted to do something out of anger, remember that Jesus Christ loves you and that you should forgive others as He forgave you of all your mistakes.

Luke 23:34 King James Version (KJV)
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Finding Meaning Where To Least Expect It

Finding meaning in Jesus Christ

Everyone wants to find meaning in life. Purpose is fundamental to how people work. The means as to how to do something is exponentially easier when one knows the purpose behind what’s being done. Our mental health is wired to have a purpose; without purpose, we collapse. But, what seems to be the obvious answer to many is very deceptive and can make a wreck out of the one who actually believes it. That is why this post will be talking about finding meaning, so, continue reading to find out.

Where Meaning Seems to be Obvious

I want you to ask yourself, “Where do I find the purpose to live?” Lots of people live for the sake of pleasure. Another group of people go through life for the purpose of enlightenment and finding out what’s within themselves.

Furthermore, some other examples of this mentality could be that many find purpose in their friends and friendships. Others find meaning in their spouse or children. Whereas others find meaning through helping people who are struggling and through altruism. But, to all the above answers as to how to find meaning and purpose in your life, those answers are incorrect.

The Missing Piece in Your Life

If life was a jigsaw puzzle and you were a child trying to finish it, each one of those answers which I listed above would seem to fit as the last missing puzzle piece, but, in the end, it would never really fit.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 World English Bible (WEB)
17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

You would find that each one of those puzzle pieces would be too round or too little or too long, yet, not one of those pieces would fit in as the last missing piece. No matter how hard you pushed them into the puzzle, it would just not fit!

And the frustrating truth is… the jigsaw puzzle never came with all the pieces. Maybe there was some defect but whatever happened, that missing puzzle piece never came with the puzzle. So, what do you do? You call the man who designed the puzzle and he delivers the last puzzle piece which was supposed to be part of the box. And he gives it to you.

That’s how life is. You will never find meaning in the things you do, in the people you love, or the pleasures you seek. Purpose never came as part of what you can do. Only the one who designed life, can give you what you know is missing.

And the one who designed the puzzle of your life, is God. When you call on Him, when you call on Jesus, He will answer and He will satisfy you with a life full of meaning! You were never meant to find meaning in yourself; your meaning is outside of yourself, it’s in Jesus.

Romans 10:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Joel 2:32

Jesus Christ is your missing puzzle piece!

Finding Meaning Outside Yourself

So, I urge you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and as your Saviour. When you call on Him, you will find meaning because only He can fit that purpose to live. He made you and He formed you in the womb. He knit you together and knows your strengths along with your weaknesses.

Psalm 139:13-14 World English Bible (WEB)
13 For you formed my inmost being.
    You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to you,
    for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
    My soul knows that very well.

God designed you and He made you for His purpose. You must accept Him if you want to find true meaning. He not only formed you but He took your sins and your mistakes and received the punishment for them when He came in the flesh as Jesus Christ. That is why He was beaten, crucified, and rose again after three days. It was all for you. I talk more about it in this post.

Above all, know that He loves you.

Psalm 139:17-18 World English Bible (WEB)
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is their sum!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
    When I wake up, I am still with you.

His thoughts for you are more than there are grains of sand!

And when God is thinking about you, He is thinking about how to guide you, how much He loves you, and anything good He can possibly think for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 King James Version (KJV)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Therefore, finding meaning is only in the hands of God. Your purpose is in nowhere else other than the love of God which should drive and guide you. He is the answer to your why. And if you know your why, you can accomplish almost any how.

The Implications Behind Finding True Meaning

So, now that you know your why, let’s discuss the how. How do you go about living your life now that you know Jesus is your purpose? Well, enjoy your freedom as a child of God!

And by freedom, I mean freedom from your past, freedom from your guilt, freedom from vanity, and freedom to enjoy God as your Heavenly Father.

Romans 8:13-15 World English Bible (WEB)
13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

The word “Abba,” which is used in the above Bible verse is a term of deep affection from a child to his or her father. It’s like the English way of saying, “Papa,” or, “Daddy,” which means God wants you to be close to Him.

At the same time, this reminds me of another Bible verse. It reminds me of one of the 2 other times, this term is mentioned in the Bible.

The Redeeming Blood of Jesus Christ

Mark 14:36 World English Bible (WEB)
36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

When Jesus was at the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to the Heavenly Father. Now, one thing to understand is that Jesus is God in the flesh. And He did this so that we could learn from His example as to how to live victoriously as children of God.

Also, prayer is not asking God for things. Prayer is communion with God. And Jesus, being God in the flesh was in communion with God the Father.

Now, getting back to the point, when Jesus used this term, He was expressing how He felt that taking the cup of suffering was too much for Him to bear. However, He did not stray away from the will of God the Father. He stuck to what God willed as His mission.

Furthermore, God did not answer His own prayer for your sake and this was so that one day when you call God as “Abba Father,” He would be able to answer your prayer. That is why as He prayed this, He sweated blood so that the blood of Jesus would redeem that promise of God to answer your prayers as your Heavenly Father.

Luke 22:44 King James Version (KJV)
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

So, now that through suffering on the cross and receiving your hell, Jesus Christ has given you the same privilege to call to God as, “Abba, Father,” you must also ask God to use you for His will. He will guide you, but, always remember that God loves you very much.

In conclusion, finding meaning is only possible if you live with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Enjoy your life with God because He is your missing puzzle piece.

Follow God’s path…

By Andre Wijesekera

Loving The Invincible and Invisible King of Heaven

Harvest Time

Loving God should be simple, right? He’s wise beyond words, He’s all powerful, He’s infinitely good, He’s the founder/upholder of justice, and more… But, things aren’t so simple. Many of us cannot reconcile the God of the Bible with morality. Many, in fact, see the King of Heaven as wicked, resulting in many who view God as a tyrant. Then, there are those who are indifferent. They either consider themselves as non-religious or as people who have nothing to do with God. And finally, there are those of you who believe in the God of the Bible. However, you might’ve grown up in Church with no actual love for God or you just believe the Bible, but, you can’t feel any type of affection for an invisible God.

To Those Who Hate The King of Heaven

Let’s start with those of you who absolutely hate God or at least the God of the Bible. First of all, why? If there’s anything specific, please let me know in the comments, maybe I can address that. Otherwise, let me give the best which God can give in a subsection of 300 or less words.

From my experience, those who abhor God usually are misinformed about certain situations in the Bible. They accuse God of things like… “God orchestrates evil in this world,” or something along the lines of “God sends people to hell.” These strange ideas about the God of the Bible originate from misunderstandings, bad experiences, and false doctrines.

Now, with the first claim that God orchestrates evil and suffering to happen in this world, it’s a matter of misunderstanding or bad experience. God did not cause sickness, death, natural disasters, or any other conduit to tragedy. He makes that very clear in the following passage.

John 10:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

The sad things we witness today come from the devil or “thief” as Jesus said in the above scripture. The devil is the one who brought all evil into the world when Adam and Eve ignored God’s warning so that they may eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I talk more about this in another post.

The Judge Who Paid The Bail

To deal with the second claim that God sends people to hell, let us delve further into what He says about the topic. He says in the following scripture that hell was not made for humans.

Matthew 25:41 World English Bible (WEB)
41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

But, when people reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, they reject their spiritual parachute. All people sin no matter how great the sin, whether it’s lie or rob. So, God who is all-just is obliged to judge people. Just think about it; you’re standing in the divine courtroom and you’ve lied probably a thousand times, you’ve been jealous here and there, and you haven’t acted like a saint at all. What’s God going to do about it! Someone has to be punished because He’s perfect and by nature, He must punish you for all your sins.

But, what did God do? He took the punishment on the cross… on your behalf. So, when you accept the bail which God paid for, you can be saved from hell. But, if you reject Jesus Christ, then what can God do?

He’s done all He could, He suffered the crucifixion, rose again, made sure all of it was written in the Bible which you have in your hands, He’s made available blogs such as this blog to explain Him to you, and more. It is now up to you to accept His salvation.

For Those Who Are Indifferent

Next off, I’m going to talk to those of you who are indifferent. Indifferent means to not be concerned at all. So, you might be saying “God has nothing to do with me.” If that’s you, hear me out.

You may feel like God has nothing to do with you, but, that cannot be so, because God cares about you very much. You may give very little thought to God, but God thinks the world of you, quite literally.

Psalm 139:17-18 World English Bible (WEB)
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is their sum!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
    When I wake up, I am still with you.

God’s thoughts of you are more than there are grains of sand in the world. You try thinking as many different things about somebody, you’d never get close to God’s number even if your thoughts were negative. God thinks good of you and He thinks of the good to bless you with.

He loves you a lot, and I believe it’s only a matter of time before you fall in love with Him. The truth is that God should matter to you, He’s the one who made you, He designed you so that you would feel emotions like love, compassion, kindness, and more. If He designed you to be a personal being, then, He must also be a personal being. And He makes it very clear in the Bible that He wants you to know Him and to be in a relationship with Him.

Ephesians 3:19 King James Version (KJV)
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge
, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

God seriously loves you. The Bible says that His love even transcends conventional wisdom which is why we sometimes cannot fathom how much He loves us. That is why He died on the cross to receive your punishment for all the mistakes you’ve made in life.

He wants you to accept His gift of salvation and to live a life of fulfillment. But that road to fulfillment starts with Jesus Christ.

For Those Who Believe The King of Heaven

Finally, to those of you who believe in Jesus as the King of Heaven, it is clearly evident throughout scripture that there’s an expectation to love God.

Matthew 22:37 World English Bible (WEB)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’Deuteronomy 6:5

To love God, first know that God sees you as loving Him when you listen to Him. As soon as you listened to His Word to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, God started seeing you as a person who loves Him. By the way, when Jesus says “man,” He is talking about women, too, it’s similar to how the word, “mankind” refers to all of humanity.

John 14:23 World English Bible (WEB)
23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.

So, in the spirit, you already love Jesus. It is just that maybe you have not yet had the opportunity to manifest or express that love to Him.

Communion With The King of Heaven

Anchored in Christ

In that case, you should do what David did and what Jesus advises. You should seek God’s heart. David sought God’s heart through writing psalms (songs to sing to God) and prayer.

Acts 13:22 World English Bible (WEB)
22 When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

Jesus said that when you seek the Kingdom of God, He will add everything to you. So, just spend some time to read His Word and find out what God has in store in His Kingdom.

Matthew 6:33 World English Bible (WEB)
33 But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

When you spend time with God in His Word in light of His grace and pray to commune with Him, God will lead your heart to manifest the love which you have for Him. Therefore, spend time with the King of Heaven in the way you best can and let Him to do the rest. After all, it’s His love for us which is what brought us to Him in the first place.

1 John 4:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

The King of Heaven

By Andre Wijesekera

The Raw Power of Godly Encouragement

Oftentimes, people do not appreciate or value the gift of encouragement. It is such a wonderful tool that can open up a door for hope. All throughout the Bible, there are cases where encouragement acted as the deciding factor for success. If you learn the incredible power of godly encouragement, it will change your life for the good!

Encouragement in the Old Testament

First, let’s define godly encouragement. Godly encouragement is when someone (which can include yourself or God) motivates you and points out that there is hope regardless of the situation because God is with you.

Now, the first instance in which God introduces encouragement into His wonderful Word is in the story of Joshua. When Moses prepares Israel with a lengthy speech, he talks about how he is not to enter the promised land and so, God appointed Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. It is in these moments that God instructs Moses to encourage Joshua for the mission which Joshua has ahead of him.

Deuteronomy 1:38 World English Bible (WEB)
38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Joshua became responsible for leading a nation. I know you may have some pretty serious stuff going on in your life; but, leading an entire nation is quite the challenge! So, God wanted Moses and everyone to encourage Joshua which goes to show the importance of encouragement from God’s perspective. Now, keep in mind the Hebrew word for, “Encourage,” in this passage is, “Chazaq,” (I’ll be referencing this word later on).

This situation relates to you in that if you are expected to do something that seems nearly impossible, you need godly encouragement.

But, what if there’s no one to encourage you?

When There’s No One to Encourage You

God is so fair and so careful that He makes sure that His Word is sufficient for you. And so, God has provided us with an example of a person who did not need anyone to encourage him.

1 Samuel 30:6 King James Version (KJV)
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

The snippet of scripture above reflects on the time when the Amalekites robbed all of David’s possessions and wives; God knows what they were planning to do with all they had stolen! David’s men turned against him as they became upset that the Amalekites stole all they owned.

So, what do you do when it seems as if the whole world’s against you! You do what David did; you encourage yourself in the Lord your God!

Sometimes, you cannot rely on other people to encourage you. It is a sad but true fact and God knows that. You must learn to encourage yourself. That’s what it takes to be a king. And David was in such a horrible situation.

I mean think about it; his own people were going to kill him and bad guys took all he had. David was in a very, very tough situation during the time of this scripture. But, he still trusted in God and encouraged himself. If you’re in a situation where the stakes are high and you don’t seem to have any hope, encourage yourself in the Lord your God just as David did.

So, in the course of the passage, we read that David sought God’s guidance and God strengthened David along with his army to take back what was stolen from them.

1 Samuel 30:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

When you’re at wits’ end, you cannot encourage yourself in pride or selfish ambition, no, you must encourage yourself to trust the Lord your God just as David did. You must trust in Jesus who is the Lord your God. He is the God of David.

Also, as a side note, the fact that David married more than one person was never God’s ideal picture of marriage. But, God makes it clear in the New Testament that marriage is to be a holy covenant between two people.

Godly Encouragement and the Cross

Psalm 27:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

The above scripture written by David through the inspiration of Holy Spirit says to wait on the Lord and to be of good courage.

Now, when it says to be of good courage, the Hebrew word within the scripture is, “Chazaq,” which is the same word that was used when God told Moses to encourage Joshua.

Thus, this psalm is telling us to simply wait upon the Lord; encourage yourself in what He’s done for you and He will strengthen your heart with the courage to face your situation. That is the key to godly encouragement. It unlocks the courage within yourself to face the Goliath in your life.

If you cannot encourage yourself, ask God to encourage you; ask God to strengthen you. God will answer you; he will not let the situation eat you up. If hell’s against you, then remind it that Jesus already bore hell for you.

Romans 15:5 World English Bible (WEB)
Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

When you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you so that He could bear your sins, your shame, your loss, your suffering, and every hell centered thing in the planet belonging to you, He transferred His strength, peace, grace, and Holy Spirit to your spiritual account. If you have His loving Holy Spirit living within you, there ask Him as the God of encouragement to encourage you.

Even if you can’t encourage yourself, God will encourage you for Holy Spirit is also called the Comforter. He will strengthen your heart as David wrote in the Psalm.

John 14:26 King James Version (KJV)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In your time of distress, He’s there to comfort you because He loves you very dearly. And remember you have even better privileges than those in the Old Testament so enjoy your relationship with God.

Therefore, do not ever lose hope. Remember to ask God to strengthen your heart and so, encourage yourself in Him. Remind yourself that your God is big, that your God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords; remind yourself that He loves you and that He is always with you.

Joshua 1:9 World English Bible (WEB)
Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”

Death’s Defeater is Your Defender

Jesus is death's defeater

The most feared of humanity’s enemies is and always has been death. All people can relate to how death has robbed them of loved ones and how it can really traumatize. But, today, I am introducing someone who made death tremble 2000 years ago. His name is Jesus Christ; He’s your defender and death’s defeater. No human could have conquered death so God decided to do the job, Himself. And this post will remind you that you have nothing to fear, including death.

Death’s First Cameo Appearance

First, let’s start off with where death first makes its unwanted appearance in the narrative of man. Adam and Eve (first humans on Earth) now inhabited a fallen world, a consequence they brought upon themselves through mutinous disobedience despite God’s warning. They bore two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain was a man who grew vegetables and fruits whereas Abel cared for the animals.

Now, Cain grew jealous of Abel since Abel pleased God with his animal sacrifice while Cain’s vegetable offering did not please God. So, God warned Cain to not listen to sin, otherwise, it would get the better of him.

Genesis 4:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”

But, instead of heeding to God’s voice and offering an animal sacrifice, Cain murdered his innocent brother, Abel. He let sin obtain its desire.

Genesis 4:8 World English Bible (WEB)
Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

Now, why am I talking about this? It is because you ought to know the mother of death. Death’s mother is Sin. Death entered this world when sin entered this world, and God is fully aware of this troubling fact.

James 1:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

So, lust or ungodly desire brings forth sin, then, sin brings forth death. You may ask why do people die of sickness or natural disaster if all death is a result of sin? But, even that traces its lineage back to the lust, the evil desire within Eve when she saw that the forbidden fruit was good to the eye. Once she committed the sin or great act of disobedience by eating that fruit with her husband, sin brought forth death into the world and that is why any person from their lineage can die from sickness or natural disasters.

But, where is the solution?

Death’s Defeater is Life, Himself

John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Let me explain to you why He can free you from the fear which death brings. It is because of the cross, when the same story of Cain and Abel manifested itself once again in human history.

Cain hated the righteous Abel just as the people hated the righteous Jesus and so, they murdered Him. This time, when their lust was achieved by crucifying God in the flesh, Jesus bore the full brunt of sin. However, unlike Abel, He did not stay dead.

Matthew 28:5-6 World English Bible (WEB)
The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.

When Jesus died on the cross, it was the people’s sin that brought forth His death. It was the sin of Adam (who represents man hence why his name literally means man), which Jesus suffered the punishment for by dying. Since Jesus was the second Adam (according to 1 Cor 15:26), and he obeyed Father God unlike the first Adam, He brought forth something more powerful than death. This power is life, this power is the resurrecting, life-giving power of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 World English Bible (WEB)
21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

This is why death does not hold the last laugh, rather, the last laugh belongs solely to Jesus as He is death’s defeater.

1 Corinthians 15:55 World English Bible (WEB)
55 “Death, where is your sting?
    Hades, where is your victory?”See Hosea 13:14

What This Means for You?

This means that death is already defeated. Since we believe Jesus defeated sin, we ought to be consistent and believe that He defeated death, too. You do not need to fear death, anymore.

Psalm 91:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 I will satisfy him with long life,
    and show him my salvation.”

God made this promise to those who love Him. When you place your trust in Jesus, God will see you as if you love Him, even if your heart is not in that direction at the moment. And He says that He will satisfy you with long life.

Now, how long does that mean? Well, it means as long as it takes to satisfy you. Just use that life to seek Him and to know Him more intimately. Let Him show you His salvation, His work on the cross, and resurrection; then, you can enjoy the full benefits of His salvation.

In conclusion, do not fear death. Do not be anxious over death. Death should be anxious about you because Jesus conquered death and you’re His offspring. Remember the story of how Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. If Jesus brought people back from the dead, His power in you should not be restricted. I’ll leave you with what Jesus said to Martha when she reminded Jesus that there’s a stench in Lazarus’ grave.

John 11:40 King James Version (KJV)
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

I wonder what resurrection miracles we’d see if we only believed that Jesus truly is death’s defeater.