Category Archives: rivers of difficulty

Through Christ Jesus we are overcomers

Leave a reply

Dear all,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians1: 3
Word:  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

Thought: Look up to Jesus When we look at the world around us it’s so discouraging. Wherever and whatever we see are filled with chaos and confusion. Today you might be facing a discouraging situation that is holding you up from moving on. Leave the situation in the hands of the Lord and cling to the promise the Lord gave to Joshua as your promise. We pray that you will be like the singing little bird sitting peacefully on top of the tree amidst the roaring storm. Look up to Jesus; He will give you the strength to overcome any raging storm you are facing. Through Christ Jesus we are overcomers.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Word of God

Leave a reply

Dear all,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians1: 3

Word of God: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 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. Isaiah 55: 10 – 11
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Heb 4: 12 -13
Thought:

God is in the business through His people to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. God often shapes people with personality characteristics, experiences, and training that prepare them for his purpose, and usually, the people have no idea what God has in store for them. Remembrance of the Word of God equips us to make the right choice, those choices have eternal consequences or benefits. Getting the big picture is a reminder, about how important this life is and eternity, is a result of our choices in it.

Reconciliation!

Leave a reply

Dear all,

May God give you more and more grace and peace.

Word: So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we “Come back to God”. II Corinthians 5: 20

Thought:  As believers of Christ Jesus, we are Christ’s ambassadors, sent with His message of reconciliation to the world.

How well are we fulfilling our commission as Christ’s ambassadors?

What is God’s purpose on Earth?

Leave a reply

Dear all,

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13

Word: Gen 1: 27 says “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Thought: What is God’s purpose on Earth?

We are God’s image bearers. We are the aroma of Christ Jesus wherever he leads us. When we hold God’s hand we might leave it, but if He holds our hand He will not leave. This is the successful history of our forefathers those who walked humbly with Him on this Earth.

Pass the Legacy On to the upcoming generations! 

Do you put God’s Word into action what you have studied?

Leave a reply

Dear all,

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13

Word: – Listening and Doing

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21

Thought:

It is important to listen to what God’s Word says, but it is much more important to obey it and to do what it says, We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible Study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. The secret of Spiritual growth is a strong commitment to right belief! 

Do you put God’s Word into action what you have studied?

Difficulties Vs Strength and sustainability

Leave a reply

Dear all,
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13

Word:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8: 28-30

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A28-30&version=NIV

Thought:

In Christ Jesus, we have a better joy, a higher and lasting joy to cure depression or tension.  Submit yourself and draw constantly from his power. When you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. Take heart – in all things. God works for our good if we love him and are called by him (Romans 8: 28-30). Thank God, not for your difficulties but for the strength and sustainability he is building in you through the difficult experiences of your life. You can be sure that God’s perfect love will see you through.

Your strength will equal your days. Deuteronomy 33: 25

To make ready a group of people to meet our LORD Jesus Christ.

Mastering ourselves

Leave a reply

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thought:

In Judges 16, Samson’s lack of self-control and humility was on full display as he made a series of poor choices, sleeping with a prostitute, sharing secrets with the enemy, and being proud of his strength. Eventually, God left Him. We run the same risk when we haven’t mastered ourselves from doing what our flesh or the world wants us to do. Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 9:27 goes so far as to say that he made his body his slave to prevent himself from being disqualified as he is preaching the gospel to others. To each person, making their body their slave could mean different things, but one thing is for sure, it will push us out of our comfort zone. We should strive to push our boundaries to master ourselves for God’s glory and avoid disqualification from attaining eternity with God.

Word:

1 Corinthians 9:27

No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Prayer:

Lord, give us the strength and endurance to master ourselves. Strengthen our weaknesses for Your glory. Amen.

Godly Optimism

Leave a reply

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thought:

As Christians, when our faith is strong, we tend to be optimistic because our hope is in the living God who holds our future. Joshua and Caleb came across a situation where they could have easily been discouraged by the nature of the land and its powerful people or by the bad report of the other spies or by the grumbling of the Israelites. Despite such circumstances, Joshua and Caleb gave a positive report and urged Moses and Aaron to proceed to the promised land. Their confidence was from the fact that God was with them, and in reality, the world will try to bring our hopes down, we also have to be confident in whatever future God holds for us and if He holds it, nothing can change it.

Word:

Numbers 14:8-9

If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey! Don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will devour them like bread. They have no protection, and the Lord is with us. So don’t be afraid of them.

Prayer:

Lord, our hope is you, the true and living God. we want to abide in You all the days of our life. Give us the strength and wisdom to live out the plans You have for us. Amen.

Marriage: Love & Respect – True Joy and Peace, that is from God!

Leave a reply

Dear all,

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thought:

 People of the world might suggest several things for a joyful marriage. Some of them might sound good and feel good but the Bible is clear on the roles of a husband/wife in a marriage and upon following, it can lead to the best marriages in terms of true joy and peace, that is from God.

Word:
Ephesians 5:21-33 (Also refer 1 Peter 3:1-7)
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Prayer:
LORD, thank you for the institution of marriage, help us to fulfill the roles you have given us. Help us to imitate the relationship of Christ and Church in the marriage. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Submit to all Authority

Leave a reply

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ.

Word: 1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

Thought:

Human authority can be upper management at the workplace or local/national governments. In any case, they aren’t always believers themselves. But in all cases they are appointed by God and thus we should submit to them, this doesn’t necessarily mean we agree with them, but we are called to be humble and respectful to them. Grumbling, gossiping, being disobedient and hateful are some ways we fail in being submissive. When we find it hard to live under any authority, we just need to pray and ask God for endurance through it rather than react to their wrongdoings.

Prayer:

LORD, We know You appointed all authority, therefore help us to be submissive to them and we pray that you bless the authority and provide them with wisdom and strength to lead the people and make decisions as per Your will. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.