GLORIOUS GRACE! - 90

Ecclesiastes 3:11 - He has made everything suitable for its time

Nothing happens to you by accident when you seek God in your life. Even a “chance” meeting with someone is part of His plan to set in motion His blessings in your life.

Such was the divinely arranged meeting of the Shunammite woman and Prophet Elisha. She had a “miracle child” even though she was barren and her husband was old. (2 Kings 4:8–17) A few years later, her son fell seriously ill and died — Elisha raised her son back to life. (2 Kings 4:18–37)

When God is the one orchestrating the events in your life, neither lack nor danger nor destruction can affect you. When famine hit the land, the Shunammite woman’s family did not suffer because through Elisha, God had told them to leave the land. (2 Kings 8:1–2)

God can place you at the right place at the right time. The Shunammite woman returned to Shunem after the famine had ended. She then decided to appeal to the king of Israel for help to regain her house and land, which had been illegally acquired by others during her absence.

The king wanted to hear all about the miracles performed by Elisha. This gave the Shunammite woman the opportunity to share first-hand with the king how Elisha had raised her son from the dead. The thrilled king then ordered the restoration of her house and land, including all the proceeds of the field from the day that she had left until then. (2 Kings 8:3–6) The Lord had timed and set up everything beautifully for her!

Thought for the day!
God can also make all things beautiful in its time for you. As you involve Him in your daily life and trust His love for you, you too will see Him lead and place you at the right place at the right time to enjoy His blessings.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 89

3 John (1) : 2 - Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.

You have seen much and done much with God by your side. You have prayed all kinds of prayers too. So what would you place as top priority when you pray for people?

When the apostle John wrote 3 John, he was probably the only disciple of the original 12 who was still alive. And now, after all he had heard, seen and experienced, the apostle John prioritized, above all things, health as well as holistic wellbeing. He knew the Lord’s heartbeat.

The apostle John was the one who leaned on the Lord’s bosom on the night of the Last Supper. And I believe that there on Jesus’ bosom, he must have felt the heartbeat of the Son of God — that loving and compassionate heartbeat which had caused Jesus to go about “doing good and healing all” (Acts 10:38). In fact, two-thirds of Jesus’ ministry on earth had to do with healing the sick.

Jesus had prioritized divine healing during His earthly ministry. And Jesus, who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), will do the same for us today. His heart still beats for us. He will never miss an opportunity to do good to us, to heal us of our broken body, emotional scars and weary spirit, and to bless us!

Thought for the day!
The Lord wants and will always want health and wholeness for His people "just as it is well with the soul" 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 88

Luke 5:4 - When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

God wants to bless you — big-time! It was for this reason that He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” The deep is where you will find a whole lot of fish. You won’t find them near the shore in shallow waters. But to launch out into the deep is to move away from the comfort of the shoreline.

God wants you to break away from your comfort zone and step out in faith to do what He has put in your heart. It may be something simple, but which you have never done before or only dreamt of.

Now, our Lord Jesus who said, “Launch out into the deep…” also said, “…let down your nets for a catch.” Notice that He used the plural “nets” and not the singular “net”. God wants to give you more than what you need. His dream for you is bigger than anything you can ever dream of. Dream big and God will exceed your dream because He delights in giving you exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

God wants to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. He did it for Simon who was astonished at the size of the catch of fish. (Luke 5:9) But it was not until Simon launched out into the deep that he ended up with the net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish. (Luke 5:6–7) You, too, will be astonished at your catch when you step out of your comfort zone and launch out into the deep with the Lord!

Thought for the day!
Break away from your comfort zone and step out in faith to do what God has put in your heart!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 87

Luke 2:10–11 - But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

If all is silent and dark in your life now, and you feel like you have been left out in the cold, just know that Jesus came to be your Saviour at such a time as this. Because, "to you He is born" ... That's very personal!

He was not born in the comfort of a warm, cosy room, but in a cold manger. Jesus was born very quietly, so quietly that the Bible says that only a group of shepherds came to Him, while the rest of Bethlehem slept. (Luke 2:6–9). Like manna falling quietly from heaven in the Old Testament, the true bread from heaven came quietly. It was a silent night, but that was not all.

Jesus was also born during the darkest time in Israel’s history. Israel was under the tyrannical rule of the Romans. It was during this time, when everything was so dark, that Jesus was born. Yes, He will come to you even in the darkest period of your life.

On that cold and silent night, the shepherds were afraid when the angel of the Lord stood before them and announced the glad tidings of great joy. But He was not a judge or law-giver who was born. He was a mighty Saviour. He came to save His people.

Thought for the day!
He came to save you and me personally. So even if you are in a cold, dark period of your life, don’t be afraid—the Saviour has come and He will save you!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 86

Psalm 127:2 - It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.

Are you one of those who have trouble sleeping at night? God “gives His beloved sleep”. Who are His beloved? You and I! Because we are in Christ, we are His beloved. (Ephesians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)

God says, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows…” In other words, it is pointless to worry and lose sleep because the truth is, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

So let God be the one who builds your career and watches over your financial investments. Let Him be the one who guards your health, marriage and children. Don’t worry and stay up late as if you are the source of the blessing, or the one who has the power to make things happen and save the situation. No, God is the one and He says to you, “My beloved child, throw that care to Me and go to sleep.” And while you are sleeping, He is working on your situation. He, who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3–4), works the night shift for you as you sleep!

Let God take over. But when we actually do, casting all our cares, anxieties and worries once and for all into His hands, we will see how He cares for us affectionately and watchfully. (1 Peter 5:7) We will see Him taking care of our problems and working things out for good. (Romans 8:28)

Thought for the day!
Trust your Father’s love for you. Cast your cares on Him and have no more sleepless nights

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 85

Psalm 91:14 - Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.

Jesus was in a house in Bethany when a woman came to Him with an alabaster flask containing very costly fragrant oil. She poured the oil on His head. (Mt 26:6–7) This woman loved the Lord.

But those who were present considered what she did a great waste because the oil could have been sold for an amount equal to one year’s wages, and the money given to the poor instead. Even Jesus’ disciples were indignant and asked her, “Why this waste?” (Matthew 26:8)

But Jesus defended her, saying, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me.” (Mt 26:10). Not only that, He accorded her the highest honour when He added, “Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her." (Mt 26:13)

Many kings and rulers have come and gone. Their great acts have faded from the memories of men. But what this woman did for Jesus is still told today around the world as a memorial to her!

When you get a revelation of how much Jesus loves you, you will act out of love for Him, and though others may see it as a waste of time, energy or money, He will defend you and deliver you from your critics. He will also set you on high. Your ministry will become powerful and life-changing. You will be highly esteemed; you will be prominent and highly successful. And it will not just be a job that you have, but a position of influence to impact many lives.

Thought for the day!
When you set your love upon Jesus and act out of love for Him, He will defend, deliver and set you on high!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 84

Psalm 103:4 – who (the Lord) redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy

Four women indicated in the genealogy of Jesus (Mt 1:1–16) (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba), were women who had questionable backgrounds. Yet, it was from the line of these women that the Messiah came, being born of the Virgin Mary.

So what is God telling us? He is telling us that He is greater than our sins—where sin abounds, His grace abounds much more (Romans 5:20). His grace is greater than our sins, so that even when the world disqualifies us, He can qualify us, by His grace, to receive His blessings!

God is also saying that He is a God of many chances. These women’s stories show us that even when our troubles are of our own making, they are neither final nor fatal. When we turn to Him, He will turn our situations around until we see His glory upon us!

Finally, God is saying that He is a God of supernatural favours. Even when all our earthly positions fade out, the moment we turn to Him, He will find ways to turn our bondages into blessings.

Don’t look at your natural circumstances and be discouraged. Trust the One “who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy”

Thought for the day!
Trust Him who qualifies the disqualified! When we return to Him, He can qualify us, by His grace, to receive His blessings! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 83

Job 5:19 - He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you.

This poetic language does not mean that God will only deliver you six times. It just means that as you keep believing God’s promises of protection, after some time, you will come to a place where no evil will touch you!

God will deliver you from all your troubles. (Psalm 34:19, 2Timothy 4:18) But deliverance is actually not the best that God has for you because it implies that you are already in some trouble, from where you will be delivered. God’s best for you is the place where no trouble or evil can touch you. And with His help, you will come to that place.

So when trouble comes, God does not want you to be discouraged. The devil is afraid of seeing God’s promises in your heart for even one second because he knows that it will lead you to a place where no evil will touch you. That is why he plants negative thoughts in your heart.

He will do so by telling you, “Look, your child is sick. Where is God now?” You must not respond by saying, “Well, I guess it does not work. Maybe God’s promises of deliverance are not for my family.”

No, you must continue to stand on God’s promises. Say, “The previous flu my child had did not stay. God promises me deliverance and He did deliver my child then. So I will live life believing His promises of deliverance because His Word is true. And I will come to a place where no evil can touch me and my family!”

Thought for the day!
Keep believing God’s promises of protection and come to a place where no evil will touch you!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 82

Exodus 14:15–16 - Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground.

The problem with us today is not that we are not praying. We are praying. But many of us are praying desperate prayers. We are praying, “God, help…God, please…God, do something about my problem!”

God does not want you to pray pleading prayers all the time. He wants you to use the authority He has given you to pray powerful prayers, to boldly command and to “stretch out your hand” and see miracles happen.

When Moses stood before the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit, the Bible tells us that he cried out to God. But God told him, “Why do you cry out to Me?”

There is a time for you to cry out to God and there is a time for you to use your authority. God told Moses, “Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your staff (rod), and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.”

The “rod” you have today is the name of Jesus. As you command in the name of Jesus, your “sea” will open and you will go on dry ground through the midst of your problem.

Do you realize that Jesus did not say, “Go and pray for the sick”? He said, “Go and cure the sick.” (Mt 10:7-8). (Mt 10:1; Lk 10:9). Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore…” (Mt 28:18–19; Jn 20:21; Mk 16:17-18; Lk 10:19; Ps 91:13).

Thought for the day!
God wants you to go and use the authority that He has given you. And as you go, miracles will flow and follow! Go ahead, in the name of Jesus!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 81

John 11:41 - Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

Jesus lived a life of thanksgiving. He always thanked His Father for what He had and for always hearing Him when He prayed. That was how He released miracles in His life.

In the story of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1–13), Jesus’ attitude was one of thankfulness. He took a little boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish, gave thanks and had them distributed. He gave thanks for the little that was there and the little multiplied. Not only did the people eat as much as they wanted, there were 12 baskets full of leftovers!

When you give Him thanks for being your provider and the source of your supply, in spite of the little you have, your little will become much, with leftovers!

The raising of Lazarus, who had been dead for more than four days, was one of Jesus’ greatest miracles. And He accomplished this by saying, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” He did not see the situation as hopeless and impossible. He thanked His way to an awesome miracle.

The next time you find yourself praying, “God, please do this for me! Please give me...” stop! Instead, say, “Thank You God, for hearing me. And because You have heard me, I thank You that I have what I asked for.”

Thought for the day!
When you thank God, the little that you have will multiply. Your impossible situations will turn around to reflect God’s provision. And resurrection life will flow into you! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 80

Hebrews 4:9 - So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God

In the healing of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–16), Jesus knew that the man had been flat on his back, for 38 years, unable to do anything for himself or others, no matter how hard he struggled.

In the case of the woman oppressed with a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:10–13), Jesus knew that the woman had been bowed over for 18 years. And in that condition, she saw very little that was beautiful in life, only the dusty ground, dirty sandals and bruised feet.

They would have had a very poor sense of self-worth. They must have struggled for so long to get back to their routine, only to be disappointed each time they tried. It was then that Jesus came and extended His offer to turn their situations around. And when they embraced His offer, they received the miracles that they had sought for so long.

You too may have been struggling to get back on your feet, or to lift yourself out of the problem that has painfully weighed you down. You have attempted to do whatever you could, hoping that it would amount to something, but you have been frustrated time and again. God wants you to cease from all your struggling and accept the offer He extends to turn your situation around.

God’s Word says, “There remains a rest for the people of God.” The day you cease from your own labouring and striving, and rest in the work of Christ, will be the day you receive your miracle.

Thought for the day!
God wants you to cease from all your struggling and accept the offer He extends to turn your situation around. Be at peace. Be still and know that He is God. (Ps 46:10; Also see Mt 11:28)

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 79

Ephesians 3:19 - know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Consider thanking God for giving us Jesus. For when we see Jesus on the cross, we see the love of God overcoming every problem for us. It should cause us to say, “Thank you, Jesus! I love you, Jesus! I worship you, Jesus! Bless you, Jesus! Hallelujah!”

And as we worship and celebrate the love of Jesus in our lives, we will find ourselves changed, and we will see the mighty power of God displayed for us and through us.

No one can truly enjoy living in this world without God’s strength in his life, God’s favour in his work and relationships, God’s protection for him and his family, God’s increase in his finances, and God’s health and healing for his body. And no one can survive emotionally, socially or physically without God’s tender touch, loving presence, sweet assurance in times of need.

As you feed on Jesus’ love for you, you will be filled with the fullness of God. Like David, God’s anointing will begin to operate powerfully in your life. (1 Samuel 17:32–37…).  And when you encounter spiritual lions, even the devil himself—when he comes like a roaring lion against you, your loved ones or your possessions (1Pet 5:8)—you will grab hold of his mouth and tear him apart!

Thought for the day!
Feed on Jesus’ love for you, through the Word of God and be filled with the fullness and power of God to tear your spiritual lions apart! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 78

Romans 8:35 – Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Tribulation, distress or persecution cannot stop your heavenly Father’s love from working on your behalf. His love for you is bigger and stronger than your financial woes, marital problems or health concerns. And when God’s heart of love moves for His beloved, He opens doors that no one can shut and He makes a way when there seems to be none.

Even during lean times, you will never find the righteous forsaken. (Psalm 37:25). Can famine or recession stop God’s love from providing for His beloved? No! So don’t think to yourself, “I must provide for my family. If I don’t, who is going to take care of them? How are they going to survive?” God wants you to know that His love will continue to provide abundantly for you and your family.

What about the deadly pestilences such as bird flu, swine flu, and mad cow disease, natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes, or terrorist bombings? These things cannot devour you because His love will protect you and deliver you out of these. (Ps 91). You will enjoy His protection when you are conscious that you are His beloved, without being ensnared in the guilt trap.

Thought for the day!
Remember, God’s love is greater than the effects of all the evil put together and we always win in the fight of life not because of our love for Him, but because of His love for us! Be conscious of His love and faithfulness towards you. (Jer 31:3)

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 77

Isaiah 41:10 - do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

It is easy to say, “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!” when times are good. It is easy to believe that God loves you when you are on the mountain top enjoying the sunshine. But what happens when you are down in the dark valley surrounded by your enemies?

Perhaps today, you are in the valley of marital, financial or bodily trouble, and you are asking, “Where is God?” He is right there with you. The God of the valleys says to you, “For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand”; it is I who say to you, "Do not fear, I will help you." (Isa 41:13)

When King Jehoshaphat was surrounded and outnumbered by his enemies, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and what he said to the king is found in 2 Chronicles 20:14–17.

What King Jehoshaphat did next was brilliant. He acted with wisdom from on high. Instead of putting his commandos in front, he put worshipers in front! What did the worshipers sing? They sang of God’s love for them—“Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever.” And God utterly destroyed their enemies! (2 Chronicles 20:21–23).

It is not the trials that make us strong, but our responses in those trials. The devil wants us to respond by asking, “Where is God?” But God wants us to respond with faith in His love for us. We are more than conquerors not because of our love for Him, but through Him who loves us. (Romans 8:37)

Thought for the day!
Whatever valley you are in today, don’t be afraid. God is there with you strengthening and upholding you. Just sing of His love for you and let Him fight your battles for you!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 76

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

If you are facing a challenge right now, know that you have a standing invitation from your heavenly Father to come boldly to the throne of grace to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

The phrase “help in time of need” means that you get healing when you are sick, provisions when you are in lack, children when you are married, restoration in relationships, favour when news of job cuts or bad prospects are rife…

You can come boldly because you come to God by the merits of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and not by how you have lived your life, not by your merits. When you have failed and need mercy, God’s Word assures you that you will find mercy when you come boldly to God. Mercy means that you don’t get the bad things you may deserve, such as condemnation, poverty, failure, loss…

And mercy is not the only thing that you will obtain when you come boldly to God. You will also find grace. Grace means that you get the good things that you don’t deserve... may be health, protection, anointing, favour, good success and life more abundant.

So come boldly to the One who loves you passionately, unconditionally and with an undying love. He has wisdom far beyond that doctor you highly respect, that lawyer you greatly honour and the best experts you can consult. His ways are higher than those of the so called professionals. He “calls into existence the things that do not exist.” (Rom 4:17).

Thought for the day!
Come boldly to God who knows everything about your situation and has a solution to bring it into existence for you. Receive His mercy and grace!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 75

Matthew 8:3 – He (Jesus) stretched out His hand and touched him (the leper), saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

The leper must have heard or seen from a distance, (since he was not permitted to be in public places by the law), how Jesus had healed the sick. So he had no doubt that Jesus could heal him, but he was not sure if Jesus would. He said to Jesus, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Mt 8:2). He was confident of the power of God, but not the love of God for him.

Like the leper, maybe you don’t have a problem believing that God can give you your miracle, since He is Almighty God. But you are wondering if He will do it for you. Let Jesus’ actions and answer to the leper settle this question once and for all. He stretched forth His hand, touched the leper and said, “I do choose; be made clean.” And immediately, the leper was healed.

Notice that Jesus touched the leper. He could have healed him from a distance with just a spoken word, like He had healed some others. So why did He touch the leper? Jesus knew that for many years the leper had been cut off from his family and society… So Jesus touched him to make him feel loved and accepted. His touch was His love language to the leper.

Can you see God’s heart of love here? That is how He loves you! The day that you come to know God’s heart of love and believe that He wants you blessed more than you want to be blessed, is the day that you receive your miracle!

Thought for the day!
Have a glimpse of God’s heart of love, and you will believe that God is not only able, but also willing to make you whole!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 74

Galatians 4:6 - And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father”!

Have you ever realized that God was never known as “Father” until Jesus came to earth and revealed Him as such? In His prayer to His Father, Jesus said, “And I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26) What name was Jesus referring to? It was the name “Father”. If there was anything close to Jesus’ heart, it was to introduce God as “Father” to us.

In the Bible, Jesus said, “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:31–32) Once, He said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11)

Jesus wants you to always have this image of God in your mind—that He is your Abba, Father. Why? Because He wants you to know that there is nothing more important or too insignificant for the Father when it comes to His children.

A splinter piercing one’s thumb may be a small thing, but there is nothing too small for you when it concerns your child because if it affects him, it affects you too. Now, no matter how old you are today, you are still God’s child, so don’t think that your problem is too small for God.

Thought for the day!
If something is important to you, it is important to your Abba, Father! Always remember that He is your Abba, Father! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 73

1 John 4:16 - And we have known and believed the love that God has for us…

You may know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you, but do you believe it? It is one thing to know about the love that God has for you, but another thing to actually believe it in your heart.

It is one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it is another thing to believe that the sun is still shining even though we don’t feel its warmth and all we see is darkness. Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a tough time. But God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of your problems and that He is wholly on your side defending and taking care of you.

When you feel unworthy because you have just gone wrong for the umpteenth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still has no condemnation for you. (Romans 8:1). So come boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace. (Hebrews 4:16)

Know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner (Romans 5:8) at your worst and ugliest, how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Thought for the day!
If God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully? 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 72

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

There are Christians who are called by God to be doctors. But among them are those separated from their mothers’ wombs for the healing ministry. They are passionate about seeking cures to alleviate the sufferings of humanity.

Likewise, there are Christians who are called by God to be teachers in secular schools. But among them are those separated from their mothers’ wombs to be Bible teachers. What gives them tremendous fulfilment is seeing lives saved and transformed under their teaching.

The apostle Paul (Saul) knew that he was called from his mother’s womb. (Gal 1:15). He had a misguided passion for God though, as he was persecuting the church, until he had his encounter with Jesus. (Acts 8:3, 9:1–6)

Now, don’t think that your calling has to do with your qualifications, abilities, or achievements. You were called from your mother’s womb by His grace.  And since He has given you a calling, ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern the desires that He has placed in your heart for Christ, the passions that drive you in life, and fulfil your calling and destiny in Christ!

Thought for the day!
You are not an accident with no destiny. By the grace of God, you have a special calling and a great destiny in Christ! That is why He gave you the gift of life. Get to know your calling for Christ!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 71

Isaiah 46:4 - even to your old age I am he, even when you turn grey I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Jesus became our kinsman when He was born into this world as one like us. And He became our Redeemer when He paid with His life and blood at the cross to redeem us. Jesus gave Himself to us “as our restorer of life and nourisher of our old age”. (Ruth 4:15).  When the restorer of life is in our lives, what we have lost can be restored. (Joel 2:25−26).

That is why when Moses died at the age of 120, his eyes were not dim and his natural vigour was not diminished. (Deuteronomy 34:7). Caleb, at 85 years old, could still drive out the giants from the land. God had literally nourished his body and made it strong for war. (Joshua 14:11). Abraham and Sarah were certainly rejuvenated in their old age by God, giving birth to Isaac in their old age. (Genesis 17:17; 21:1-7).

God is outside of time and your faith in Him brings you into this timeless zone. There, what the years have stolen will be restored. And even as your years increase, you will not grow weak and weary because the restorer of life and nourisher of your old age is in you!

Thought for the day!
With Jesus the nourisher of our old age in us, our bodies can be gloriously renewed even though we advance in our years.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 70

Matthew 1:23 - "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

Are you conscious of His presence every day? When you are conscious of His presence every day, you will experience a peace that gives you rest, joy inexpressible in your spirit and a power that nothing in this world can offer. In fact, you will begin to be peaceful like Jesus. You will speak and behave like Him. This is because you cannot be in God’s presence without His beauty, love, peace, power and glory rubbing onto you.

But how do you practice being conscious of God’s presence? You practice God’s presence when you see Him with you in whatever you do and wherever you are. And you can be sure that His presence will bring clarity of thought and wisdom to you. You will find yourself flowing with great and sound ideas. Consider this when you are going for an interview!

Perhaps you are going for surgery. Well, visualise the Lord in the operating theater with you, guiding the hands of the surgeons. Your worries will dissipate because nothing can go wrong in the Lord’s presence.

If you are in the middle of an argument, see the Lord standing within earshot. Your words will change and your body language will become more reconciliatory as you see Him right there with you, extending His grace to you. There will be a restraint which is not borne of willpower, but which comes supernaturally when you know that the One who loves you and watches over you is with you.

Thought for the day!
When you become conscious of God’s presence in your life, worries and fears will have no foothold in your mind. You will see Him maximizing your joy and fun, and guiding you in what you say and do!