Don't Give Up!

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

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A famous actress once said, “If you have made mistakes there is always another chance for you...you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.” When adversity comes, our first reaction is to give up, roll under a rock because it is such an easy choice but anyone who grew up with step parents would tell you that is not the smartest to do. If you have to crawl under a rock, you might as well be dead. You have to keep fighting. Besides, the word of God urges us not to give up for God is on your side. “The battle is the Lord” 1 Samuel 17:47

Like many before us, we are face with challenges that we cannot begin to understand but we have to accept them by faith and turning them over to the Lord. We cannot let our situations keep us from trusting God. Most people use the word “trust” without fully understand its meaning. Trust incorporates many things from knowing God’s will to not understand His decisions, to completely rely on His wisdom and His unconditional love for us. When adversity come you don’t wait to die, you call on the Lord, you get in the word and claim victory in Jesus name. You certainly cannot give up. God always has a reason for the things He allows in our lives. He is preparing us for a future which He alone knows. We accept by faith that everything happens in our lives for His glory. We cannot allow the setbacks we encounter to get us down, we should instead learn from everyday life as well as the inspired scriptures that success only comes through perseverance, by keeping on and getting up each time we are knocked down. We must learn to persevere.

When trouble comes, just imagine yourself sitting on your father’s lap and tell Him everything. Unlike your earthly father, god will listen. He will not get tired of you, nor will be upset if you call on him in the middle of the night. I promise He will listen. He is the God in the daytime and the night time. He is a reliable father, nothing is more important to Him than your well-being. You can count on Him and you can talk to Him anytime.

Let’s pray together:
Father God, thank you for your promise to never leave us alone. Thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to die for us, and it is in His name that we pray that you will teach us to trust you and to love you. Help us learn to turn to you in time of trouble. Don't let worry and fear take us away from your good plan for our lives. Help us hang on and never give up. We love you and thank you in Jesus name. Amen.

Praise the Lord!

Closer to God..............

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. Hebrews 11:7

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Friend, we must walk with God and not the other way around. God created us to freely choose Him. It is expected of us to walk with God but not forced upon us. The Bible tell countless stories of people who walk with God and how their lives were transformed. If we would just walk with God daily, Spend in prayer, Praise and worship instead of complaining and make an effort to live holy lives and sharing the good news of Christ with the dying world, you and I would go a long way pleasing God. Our objective is to please God by living a life pleasing to him. I can't even tell you how many times I have asked God to show me His glory by doing whatever I needed. I prayed, fasted, begged God to do certain things in my life and in return I would promise Him my devotion forever. In reality, I should start living the promise and God will meet me and not the other way around. As children of God through our Savior Jesus Christ, we do not have to beg God for anything because 2 Corinthians 1:20 says "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." What a fool I was! I didn't understand God yet. It is through my walk with Him that He gradually reveal Himself and He continues to do so today.

Walking with God is actually one-sided. It is always His way or no way. We do not get to bargain or choose how to walk. God is the One who dictates the rules.God is Spirit and He requires those who walk with Him to do so in Spirit and in truth. Walking with Him involves us getting in agreement with Him and not Him with us. He is Sovereign whereas we are nothing without Him. You and I must long for God. We must strive for a closer walk with God. We must pursue the things of God. We must focus on things of above because that is where our father lives. To walk with God the way Enoch walked and the way Jesus walked requires that we simplify our lives. The pursuit of material things often keeps us from walking with God. To walk with God requires that we do His will no matter the cost. It demands that we forget ourselves and it entails an attitude of submission. When Christ was facing the loneliest time, greatest and deepest agony, He was submissive to His Father. He is our example. Like Him, we must submit to God and we will know the greatest victory.

Praise the Lord!