Perspective

I’m learning to replace what I don’t yet know about the future, with what I do know about God.
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Come to the Table

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

(Revelation 3:20, KJV)

I will talk about the Table today, friends. But let me start with the door.

When we open the door of our hearts to receive the Lord, He enters in and from that moment on, we are His home, His very own dwelling place. A lifestyle of communion – intimacy, fellowship and family has been ushered in and we are no longer orphans, but cherished Sons & Daughters in the family of God.

We belong at the Table.

The Lord’s Table.

The Lord himself spreads the Table out for us and offers us a seat. We each have our own reserved space and unique place at the Table. There is a six course meal for each child of God every single time we go to Him as He calls us close to dine full at His Table.

As I eat, I recognize that my portion is entirely mine and your portion is entirely yours. Mine does not take away from yours, and yours does not take away from mine. What is mine is mine, and yours – yours.

The place that is in the Father’s heart for each child is equally unique. The place He has in His heart for me is uniquely mine and only I can ever take it. And the same holds true for you, my friend.

The place that He has in His heart for you is uniquely yours too.

This pattern of wholeness plays out not only in the matter of our identity as God’s very own children, but also in the realm of our destiny. We each have a unique gift mix and set of skills, talents and abilities that God spins together in His masterplan for our lives. For His plan for every single one of us is as unique as is our design.

God is a Master Creator, and He paints as He wills, with our best interests at heart, on the canvass of our lives. He made us, redeemed us and only He can use us for His glory in the right way.

The value He places on each child of His is infinite, and at our best, I do not think we can even comprehend it. But what I am learning is that what we cannot comprehend, we can always trust simply because we know who our Father is.

Our Father sits at the Table and calls His children together to feast in fullness. Here at the Table, there is no striving to be more for each child is aware of their own unique significance in the Father’s eyes. They know that they are the apple of their Father’s eyes, and the grand setting of the Table is only a revelation of that great love.

Here at the Table, there is no comparison or competition. Each child sits enthroned at the Father’s right hand as royalty. They not only know their own value, but also that of their neighbour. Any need to be ‘better than’ is done away with as each child is secure in the Father’s Love, and is only motivated by how well they can love one another in response.

In fact, the level of internal security within the hearts of God’s children is so intact that they are looking around to see who they can share their extra portion of fresh oranges and strawberries with!

There is truly no dearth at the Father’s Table.

For this is a place of abundance of resources and generosity of spirit.

Jealousy and envy have no share at the Table either. The abundance of love and the supply of riches is so extravagant that there is a remarkable internal rest among the children of God here. They are dining full at their Father’s Table and know deep within their hearts that what is for them, is only for them.

They know that their Father does not compromise on His love, His power or His faithfulness. He is a man of honor who keeps every word he speaks. He has written the screenplay of their lives in the blood stained ink of Calvary, and is going to supply them with everything they need to walk in the fullness of who their Father has created and called them to be.

Here at the Table, every Child of God’s story is copyrighted by the Lord. It’s script is uniquely written for each and its set to the soundtrack of authenticity. God did this so that each child of His would have the blessed privilege to discover what it is that the Father has for them – what it is that has their name on it.

God will never deliver our mail to our neighbour. He is faithful, and will always deliver our goods to the right address, in the right way and at the right time. And quite honestly, truth be told, He doesn’t need our help in manifesting our destiny. He only needs our obedience.

Children at the Table therefore, have a revelation that any manner of strategizing and striving to fulfill their destiny is not needed. Let me repeat myself here –

They know who their Father is.

A deep experience of their Father’s Love, His impeccable nature and character has assured these children that their Father is faithful. He is worthy of their complete trust and come what may, He will never leave them nor betray their confidence. On the contrary, He promises to richly reward their faith in Him. So they wholeheartedly comply because they trust that He who promised is faithful.

In response to the outcomes of victory that their beautiful Father has promised them, these beloved children have decided to give themselves over to the power of the process that their Father has laid out for them. They know where their hope and strength lies, and they press in more and more.

Not to accomplish more or accumulate more.

No.

They press in to know Him more. Their beloved Father who is so worthy of it all.

And the funny thing is that the more they press in to know their Father, the more secure they get. Eating full and drinking deep, they are both – completely satisfied yet longing for the more of Him.

For their thirst for the things of this world has been replaced with an appetite for the Kingdom.

They know the value of dining full at the Father’s Table where their portions are always to the point of overflow. They are content in what they receive and no longer distracted by the temptations of the world. In fact, should they find themselves wanting, they look only to their Father.

A counterfeit won’t do for these blessed ones, for they have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

And the Good News for us here is that we are those children.

Yes.

You and me.

We are these blessed children that are called to sit at the Table for we are the absolute desire of the Father’s heart. It is us who get to dine full here, feast on the abundant supply of His riches in glory and find ourselves both – completely satisfied yet longing for more.

Because every need we have is met only in Him and He never disappoints.

So the next time we are tempted to feed on the lesser things of this world, whether its the snare of worldly validation, vain glory or selfish ambition, may we do but one thing.

May we take our seat at the Table.

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Seeking Truth

The Word of God is both, a skillful scalpel and a mighty sword.

Talking of God’s Word today friends. Speaking of which, I humbly realise that no matter how much we say, it will never be enough.

But I told Jesus I’d try.

Thanks for your time.

Let me start with the story I believe He laid on my heart last evening as I began to churn with creative ideas for this post. If you have spent some time studying God’s Word, you may be familiar with the story of Elijah and the widow of Zaraphath recorded in 1 Kings 17. If not, no sweat. I’ll break it down for you.

Ready?

Elijah, friends was a prophet of the Lord in Old Testament times. When the nation of Israel became rebellious and idolatrous by worshipping gods other than Yahweh, the net result was not only moral decay but also the inevitable circumstantial consequences that followed their disobedience towards the Lord.

Led completely astray under the leadership of Ahab, an extremely evil king; Israel found itself in grave trouble. That was when Elijah stepped onto the scene and prayed for the Lord to shut up the heavens to get the people to a point of realisation and repentance so that they could be restored.

So what culminated as a result was a drought which lasted three and a half years. Even at great personal cost, Elijah put the purpose of God at the center of His life and persevered to see Israel turn around.

Israel eventually did and the drought was lifted. But that’s not the point of this story.

The point of this story is the power of God’s Word.

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

(Isaiah 55:11, NKJV)

During the drought, Elijah was supernaturally supplied with food and water. The Lord sent him to a place where Elijah drank from a brook while God arranged for ravens to bring him bread and meat in the morning + evening.

However, the brook soon dried up.

But the good news is that the provision of the Lord did not.

The Lord commanded Elijah to go to a place called Zaraphath where God said He had already commanded a widow to supply him with food.

I am sure Elijah must have been surprised at this because widows in that time were presumably poor. Yet, how often do we see God provide instruction in a way that perhaps makes no sense in the given moment?

A test of faith.

Elijah’s story testifies.

Zaraphath was devastated by the onslaught of drought and famine. Starvation threatened the lives of people. These were indeed some desperate times, friends. And to top it all, God decides to send Elijah to a poor widow for provision.

Elijah at this point I believe summoned all his courage and asked the poor widow who did not even have enough firewood and was found by him collecting sticks.

Yet, Elijah did as he was told.

As the poor widow told Elijah that all she had was only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug which she was preserving for her last meal to be had with her son, preparing thereafter to die; Elijah audaciously interrupted her plans.

He told her that before she could cook a meal for herself and her son, she would first make a loaf of bread for him.

It was a request, actually. A very bold one.

What prompted him to say this, I hear you ask.

The Word of the Lord.

“For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.'”

(1 Kings 17:14)

God promised Elijah a never-ending supply of provision from a tiny jar of limited flour and a tiny jug of limited water.

And so it was.

“For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”

(1 Kings 17:16)

Friends, whether I see it in the case of Jesus multiplying the two fish and five loaves of bread in the New Testament so much so that there were twelve basketsful of provision even after the crowd had eaten, or in the case of Elijah and the widow of Zaraphath in the Old Testament having more than enough to fill their stomachs even in the midst of an impossible drought and famine situation; one truth stands out to me:

Our limited resources when entrusted into the eternal hands of our Multiplying Master become a superabundant supply of God’s riches.

For our limitations are His opportunity.

All we need is a Word from the Lord.

Because the Word of the Lord goes forth like a mighty sword to manifest that which He has spoken and pull down strongholds that are contrary to His will.

It is designed and anointed to contradict, challenge and change the state of our circumstances.

Till our circumstances are brought into alignment with His will.

For His will is revealed through His Word.

Our part, friends in God’s story is to believe, receive and steward His Word.

For this is what God says to us,

“Open your mouth with a mighty decree;
I will fulfill it now, you’ll see!
The words that you speak, so shall it be!”

(Psalm 81:10, TPT)

Father God encourages us to speak His Word, friends.

To boldly declare it as a mighty sword in our mouth that is able to pull down strongholds in oppositional circumstances till our circumstances begin to align with the truth of that which He has spoken and the realm of His Kingdom is made manifest.

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

That is what God’s Word does in the context of our circumstances. But what about the condition of our hearts, friends?

Our inner world matters.

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

(Romans 10:9)

God’s Word, friends falls first on the ground of our hearts. So it is important that our hearts be soft and supple so that they can easily receive and believe what He is desiring for us to hear and implement.

But that is really not how we start with Jesus.

Because above all else, Jesus invites us to come to Him, just the way we are. Bound and shackled up. Shamed and discounted. Hurt and heartbroken. Hard and bitter.

He doesn’t really care how much of baggage we are dealing with, as long as we are willing to humbly surrender it all to Him and watch Him do what only He can do.

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit”

(Zechariah 4:6)

For the Lord is famous for taking the broken and fragmented pieces of our lives, and weaving them all together in the masterful way that only He knows to, ultimately resurrecting a master piece from the inside and out so that it brings glory to His Name.

Well known evangelist, Christine Caine often says,

“Your history does not define your destiny. You can start bad and finish good in and through a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Our God is truly a miracle working God, friends.

He takes our brokenness and gives us wholeness in exchange. He translates our pain into purpose and brings beauty from ashes. He heals the anger and bitterness in our hearts by teaching us to forgive. He promises us justice as we agree to put our trust in Him. In fact, the Bible calls him the Restorer of Broken Dwellings. So it shouldn’t surprise us when He starts with first holistically healing and restoring the broken condition of our hearts, minds, bodies and souls for New Testament says that now we are His holy temple, the habitation of His Spirit.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

We are now His beloved children, holy and blameless in His sight. And guess what every good father cares about when it comes to His kids?

Their peace, their joy, their hope.

And anything that interferes with the kind intentions of God is dealt with.

Foremost of which, are the lies that we have believed, friends which affects the ground of our hearts.

Yes. It’s true.

Lies that we have believed about the nature and character of God. Lies about ourselves and our identity in Him. Lies about the world that we are called to touch and transform.

Lies designed by the enemy to keep us in deception and bondage.

But Christ came to set us free.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

(John 8:36)

So where do we turn to receive Truth that is able to set us free, remains a valid question.

The Word of God.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

(Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

God’s Word consists of Truth that are words anointed by His Holy Spirit, possessing the power to pierce and heal with the surgical precision of a scalpel.

It completely counters the lies of the enemy, reveals the authentic heart of God and brings His children into the light.

The light of the true nature and character of God, the light of our true identity in Him and the light of the truth about the world we are called to touch and transform.

The Aramaic language calls it, “noohrah” – the revelation light of God as well as the glory light of Christ.

This is the light of God, friends that pierces the dark, dismantles lies, reveals Truth and sets the captives free.

The light of God which sees us as a chosen people, a royal priesthood and a holy nation – forgiven and redeemed as the righteousness of God in Christ.

The light of God which deems us radically loved, fully known, carefully understood and deeply valued as the very family and household of God.

The light of God which draws a line in the sand through the blood-stained path of Calvary and demarcates between the counterfeit roar of the enemy (fear or intimidation) and the holy roar of the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Perfect Love which casts out all fear and breeds inner rest, deep assurance and complete security).

Psalm 36:9 says it well,

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

The power of the Word of God.

Both, as a skillful scalpel and a mighty sword.

Where can you apply the Truth of God’s powerful Word today, friend?

His Name is Jesus

It happened again.

I rose up from my bed on a perfectly positive note. My spirit soared with expectation that confident hope inspires.

“Life is good.”

As I looked out the window, a perfectly clear blue sky greeted me. I smiled back and waited for Sharon’s response.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

As I waited, the clock slowly rearranged it’s arms from an intelligible V at 11 a.m to a flat L at 3 p.m to an inverted L at 6:15 in the evening.

Still no response.

With worst-case scenarious racing through my head, I take a moment to anchor myself.

“Take heart, she must be unusually busy.”

Nervously fidgeting around my cell phone, I scroll down my list of contacts to see the number of missed calls against Sharon’s name.

Resolving to believe the best about the situation at hand, I put my cell phone down and walk across the room. Pulling the curtains back, I feel the rays of the scarlet setting-sun reassure me that all will be well.

The next day.

It happened again.

Maybe you can relate.

Friends, I know I am not alone when I say that this is a rather challenging time that we find ourselves in. Human relationships seem fractured and circumstances, uncertain. Yet, there remains a Rock that we can safely continue to stand and build upon.

His Name is Jesus.

I have personally never felt more grateful for the stability of Christ than right now. He is both, the answer and the anchor to our souls. In the midst of circumstances and relational dynamics that keep changing, it is His unchanging Presence and Promises that provide a firm foundation for us.

Yet, what seems to be dawning upon me with increasing clarity as I journey on with the Lord is that the fact that we have put our faith in God does not exempt us from pain, suffering or disappointment. Rather, it gives us access to the tools we need to walk victoriously through it.

Psalmist David said it like this,

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

(Psalm 23:4)

Sometimes friends, the only way out is through.

Through the heartbreak. Through the sickness. Through the divorce.

Not over, not under; but through.

So how do we process the pain, suffering and disappointment that will remain an inevitable reality as we walk through our own valley with the Lord?

I believe with all my heart that we have two voices in our lives that seem to want to write the narrative of our story.

One is the voice of fear, and the other is that of Love.

God’s Word urges us to choose life. But for us to be able to effectively and intentionally do that, we must know how to discern the difference between the two.

“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

(Romans 12:9)

Simply put, fear will have us believe the lies of the enemy, but Love will patiently introduce us to God’s Truth.

The truth of who God is towards us in terms of His heart, His nature and His character; the truth of who we are in Christ, and the truth of what we can possess, both spiritually and naturally, in and through a relationship with Him.

Our inheritance.

Fear will have us cower in the face of disappointment. It will sabotage our responses and cause us to lower our expectations to match the level of our experience, as opposed to helping us elevate our experience to match the level of expectations that our faith in Christ inspires.

Love empowers us to do the latter.

Love encourages us to walk in the supernatural infusion of faith, hope and joy. He meets us where we are, and receives the two fish and five loaves of bread that we have to offer Him. He stoops down in the dirt and picks us up. He leads us to His red lettered words of life and prompts us to choose well.

His Name is Jesus.

He informs us that our past no longer has the authority to imprison us because He died to set us free. He lifts our countenance up to His face and beams in our direction. He reveals our royal stature as sons and daughters of the King of glory, and then commissions us to serve. He pulls us close when we hurt, and gently whispers,

“I will heal you.”

His Name is Jesus.

He makes a way where there is no way and goes before us. He works miracles in the hearts of men and turns the tide of the battle around. He fights for us in the unseen realm and tells us to just be still. He is our loving father, beloved saviour, dread champion and the Lord of all.

His Name is Jesus.

He is a promise maker and a promise keeper. He takes up the space in our hearts that is dry, parched and thirsty and fills us up till we overflow. He says things like, “I will never leave you nor forsake you, because I love you.” He is truly like none other and stands in a class all by Himself.

His Name is Jesus.

He is the way, the truth and the life. He is perfect in Love and casts out all fear. He reveals truth, inspires hope and gives joy unending. He shatters the strongholds of darkness and sets the captives free. He is a strong deliverer in times of trouble and promises to satisfy us with the fullness of His salvation.

His Name is Jesus.

He takes the mess that we find ourselves in and starts rewriting our narrative with the blood-stained ink of Calvary. He speaks words of comfort and strength, and gives us a ear to hear. He helps us discern the lies of the enemy from the Truth that He has spoken over our lives and lovingly nudges us,

“Choose life.”

He exposes fear as a poor counterfeit, and cheerily brings in the divine echo of Love in our midst. He heals our disappointment and gives us delight instead. He surrounds us like a shield and renews our strength. And in His Light, we see light.

For His Light distinguishes between that which is counterfeit, and that which is authentic; that which is fear and that which is Love; that which is a lie and that which is the Truth; that which is death and that which is Life.

So I turn my ear towards Him, friends.

“Choose Life,” I hear Him say.

Do you?

Just so you won’t forget.

Dear Beloved,

You are an intricate part of me that I wove into being even before I laid the foundations of the Earth. I think about you all the time, and am always working on your behalf. I understand that the circumstances of this life may want you to believe otherwise, but the Truth is that even circumstances are only tools in my Hands to invite you to come closer and go deeper. As you learn to abide in My Love, you will find yourself living above the state that is simply circumstantial, and with one touch of Heaven, susceptible to easily crumble so it can be raised up into the newness and wholeness that was always my original design and intention towards you, My Child.

I am Love, and therefore you are My Beloved. I loved you at your worst, and your best will not move me either. So, I invite you to lay down the burden of performance and simply rest in me. I will lead you beside quiet waters where you will find a refreshment of your spirit and a renewal of your soul. In stillness, you will hear my beautiful voice again and the sound of Love resonating with your spirit will cause to find the strength you need to soar again. You will mount up on wings as eagles, for that is the life I have planned for you.

As you come and surrender to me the cares that try and weigh you down, I will fill you with a peace that surpasses understanding. Your heart in alignment with mine, and your steps in sync with mine will pave the way for a walk with me that will leave you in astonishment, wonder and awe. I will sensitize you to the beauty of the gifts I have already surrounded you with and you will marvel with gratitude. Your rejoicing in the simple things of life will cause a softness in your heart that will allow me to pour even more of My Love into you.

It is My Joy as Your Father to restore and redeem every part of your life as you come to me. I will recreate all things as though nothing was lost and fill you with a joy that comes from another world. You will morph into someone who is content in all circumstances because you have encountered The One who transcends all circumstances. Your joy in knowing me will surpass any challenge that seems to dim your view and passion for life.

I will give you a new perspective on the times and seasons that you find yourself in. This perspective shall flow from The Throne Room of Grace and the very things that daunted you, will blossom into opportunities for you to transform into a more loving, kind, bold and courageous version of yourself. You will no longer run away from what seems to be unknown, but rather embrace the tide of the unknown as you trust in Me to teach you how to surf through it all.

So, even though you do not know what the future holds, rest in the knowledge and the faithfulness of The One who holds it. I have engraved your name on the palm of My Hand and the thoughts that I have towards you are to prosper you and bless you with a confident hope for the future. Walk with me, Beloved and I will show you the way.

Love you more than most,

Your Heavenly Father.

Travelling well.

“We never have to be anxious about our future, because as we are travelling, it is unraveling.”

The other day, I was a bit anxious about my future as I pondered that its something always uncertain. We never know what lies ahead, but I realized that I do know The One who does know. So, I decided to spend some time with Him. I took my Bible and went downstairs in the cool, evening breeze and sat on something that looks like a ledge. God is the Source of all comfort, and as is the norm with Him, He came through. Let me share what He revealed,

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.” (Matthew 6:25-26. MSG)

When I first received my copy of The Bible, nearly eleven years back, it was the section on “Do Not Worry” that captivated me the most. Truly, if God cares even for the birds of the air, how much more does He care for us? Little by little, I read on and God kept speaking. The next few years were defining as I met Jesus and couldn’t resist but surrender to a Love that promised me more than I could imagine. As I look back at my journey, it never ceases to amaze me.

The Word of God informs us that He cares so much for us that He sent Jesus to die a gruesome death on The Cross at Calvary to prove it. His resurrection paved the way for us to receive The Holy Spirit, who is our guide at all times. He is our inner compass. He is the one who can help us navigate the issues of life in the best possible manner. Slowly but surely, information became revelation. Since then, I may have my moments of doubt or anxiety, but I know that I am forever changed for The Love of God has left me dumbfounded.

As I write, I realize the futility of anxiety. We may feel it, but it does not have to define us. What defines us is Who made us in His own image and even before releasing us into this world, made plans to prosper us and give us a hope. He does not reveal all things at once, for what would we need faith for then? On what grounds would we cultivate our relationship with God? What conversations would we have? How would we learn to stand, to wait, to listen, to yield, to obey? How would we grow and develop in wisdom and stature? Would life really be interesting?

I don’t think so. I think what makes our life meaningful and interesting is our relationship with Our Creator. I think His big plan was to enable us to walk this journey with His Precious Son, Jesus who would anoint us, guide us, comfort us and be in constant fellowship through The Spirit He has given us. The Holy Spirit gives us revelation knowledge, but He does that only one step at a time. Staying in step with Him has taught me to remain tethered to Jesus and be sensitive to what HE is doing, as opposed to what we want to see happen. All His promises are ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen,’ but they all come with a process attached, for it is in the process that we get to become more and more like Him – which is the big plan!

Though it is quite futile to worry about a future, that God, in His Infinite Wisdom and Agape Love, has prepared for us even before laying the foundations of The Earth; yet, in our human frailty, we still do. It is comforting at such times to remind ourselves of something that is commonly used, but never ceases to lose the potency of,

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, NIV)

Friends, the blessing is already prepared. It is us who are being prepared for the blessing. Whatever God has called us to, laid on our hearts and given us an insatiable passion to believe for; He will certainly bring to pass. The process, however, is what He needs us to partner with Him in – something which is a joy and a privilege. I often think it’s like watching my Father work and build, I simply get to lay the bricks.

This sentiment paints a sublime picture of fellowship where we travel together on this beautiful journey called life. If there is anything more beautiful, it is this. With Jesus, we get to travel with lightness, freedom, peace and joy for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He never puts more on us than we can bear. It’s not in His nature for He is the Lover of our souls. His Words come to mind as I continue,

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NIV)

It is abundantly clear that God’s main purpose is to bring about an authentic heart and soul transformation, in and through a relationship with Christ Jesus, so that we can have the character and stature necessary to fulfill the call that He has placed on our lives, a call that needs us to encounter Jesus as Love so we can be love; as Grace so we can be grace, as Mercy so we can be mercy to the world that is around and about us, a world that we are called to touch and transform, but only to the extent that we ourselves have been.

The roles we have in our lifetime, whether we are parents, teachers, artists or entrepreneurs; serve as platforms for our Purpose to manifest. The degree to which we can do justice to this sacred privilege that comes guised as Purpose depends on how well we travel with Jesus. In my experience, the more I remain conscious that The God of Eternity dwells in my midst, the more I am assured that, as Christine Caine so aptly puts it;

“The same God who saw me this far is the same God who will see me further still.” (I think I paraphrased it!)

Looking back at my journey, I now see His miracle working power at work throughout my life. I am sure that if this resonates with you, then together we can resolve that the next time we feel anxious or uncertain of what lies ahead, all that we have to do is look back. Look back at the times that He moved mountains, parted seas, broke down the gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. Look back with awe, wonder and astonishment at His Majesty, and allow the profound sentiments that thus emanate to linger on in our deepest crevices, till we know beyond a shadow of doubt, that we never have to be anxious about our future, because as we are travelling, it is unraveling.

Slowly, but surely.

Blessings.

It is all in the “Who.”

“I never have to worry about the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ as long as I have my eyes fixed on the ‘Who.'”

I think I may have lost count of the amount of times I have wrestled with the ‘what’ is God going to do, both now and next, and ‘how’ will He bring it to pass. Needless to say, these are not some of my proudest moments, but real all the same. In my human frailty, I have been wrought up with anxiety over the future, but each time I have been stilled by The Voice that lovingly reassures, “do not worry.”

As God’s children, we are all called and chosen. We each have been uniquely designed, strategically gifted, powerfully anointed, intentionally positioned for such a time as this, and purposefully packaged. The Word is the only thing that can bring light and dispel darkness. So, I will share what Our Father Himself has to say about us,

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

God made us on purpose, for a Purpose. He has endowed us with distinctive gifts and talents to serve our generation. He has established from Eternity the “good works” that He intends for us to walk in and fulfill in our lifetime. I love the fact that He uses the term “walk.” This informs me that as we walk with The Lord, we will unwittingly find ourselves walking in these good works that are our Promise through The Eternal Covenant in Christ Jesus. God does not intend for us to figure things out, when He has graciously blessed us with a Person to follow who will reveal what needs to be revealed, when it needs to be revealed. God does not expect us to strive in our own strength, when we are called to surrender; and He certainly does not want us to be consumed with worry, when we can be renewed, affirmed and encouraged by His Truth,

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Undoubtedly one of the most popular and widely appropriated pieces of Scripture, Jeremiah 29:11 is as simple as it is profound. I believe what God is asking us to do first and foremost is to trust, trust that He has plans to prosper us. Should we find one plan fail, it is not the end of the world because He is well able to reveal and manifest another in its place simply because Isaiah 55:11 assures us,

“so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Friends, His Word can never return unto Him void. When He speaks, He creates. His plans for us are good, and it is from the abundance of our relationship with Him, that the rest follows. The more we allow Him to develop us on the inside, the more we are able to discern His Voice that directly catapults us into His plans and purposes, not just for us, but even those that are connected to us. He may speak through His Word, impart revelation through His Holy Spirit, forge connection through a person or simply envelop us with His Presence and let Love do the talking. Simply put, He has a million ways to reach us. All that we need to do is trust His leading, guidance and wisdom.

At this point, I feel led to share another profound Truth. At times, we may find ourselves in seasons that we can’t quite seem to understand. We have been faithful and fruitful, and still find ourselves thrust into the wilderness. Be encouraged, friends! This is a season that mandates strong faith which is the only thing that will enable us to one day, look back in retrospect, and marvel at what all God has done IN us in order that He may work THROUGH us, a process that leads us directly into the plans of God for our lives, in order for the Purpose to be accomplished.

Even Jesus was led by The Spirit into the wilderness, but He withstood every test and temptation; remaining firm and steadfast in the Truth of who He was and whose He was. This needs to be our stance too. At times when the world seems to be swirling or rather still, we can rest in the assurance of our Identity in Him, while simultaneously seeking Him to reveal the purpose of that which we find ourselves in. It could be a season of pruning, of purification, of refinement, of learning to exercise our authority as believers, of waiting upon The Lord, or anything that He chooses to reveal. One thing that I do know is this: He will never put us through something, if He doesn’t intend to bring us out of it better than we were before. It would benefit us to join our confession with that of Job,

“But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”

For this to truly emanate from the very depths of our being, it is imperative that we know The One we are walking with enough to be able to trust Him through the fire and the flood. A deep enough revelation of The Cross only goes to say that He who has secured Eternity for us, will He not also take care of all that pertains to our lives while still here on Earth? The question is not of Hs Faithfulness, but perhaps, ours.

I have of late had to walk through a rather unexpected season of my soul. Things shifted circumstantially, but only so that He could work internally. Looking back from where I am now, I am eternally grateful. Simply because I know Jesus better. I know Him as Immanuel – God WITH us. Not only has He shouldered me all the way, He has enabled me to cultivate a depth of intimacy with Him that nothing else can compare to. He has been Faithful to reveal Himself with such Glory, Splendor and Majesty; that it has birthed in me a brand new awe of “Who” He is.

He is both, a bolt of lightening and a warm sunrise; the beauty of the morning dew and the fury of the fiery flames; the soft cooing of a dove and the thundering roar of a lion. Neither words nor worlds can contain Him. He can come as a mighty rushing wind, or a gentle, soft breeze. Simply because, He has been revealed as both, the Lamb of God as well as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

He can come at unexpected times and in unexpected ways to do the unexpected, but only to bring about an expected end. He is good, He does good and He works all things together for our good and His Glory. His Power and Might no mind can fathom, yet He humbled himself and came as a man so we could find ourselves in Him, and make His Story our own. He became obedient to God even to the point of death, and that too a rather gruesome one, but God took Him through only because of a plan and Purpose so great that even two thousand years later, it is saving, changing and redeeming millions of lives in our world. By The Spirit of God, Jesus rose again and because He did, we cannot remain where we are.We can be faithful where we are, in the confident assurance that on the other side of crucifixion, there always is a resurrection. There is always another plan. There is always a greater purpose.

Suffice to say, friends, that we really have no need to know or understand the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of things, as long as we have our eyes fixed on the ‘Who’ who is above ALL things.

Selah.