Remember Not to Forget, Make Him Your First

Just a while ago, I had a fellowship with the Young Professionals Ministry of my Church. As Young Professionals just like everybody else we are really busy all the time (that's what we think) that sometimes we unintentionally forget the most important thing in Christian life. Sometimes we can't help but get so overwhelmed with our work or even with our ministry especially if we're aiming excellence and if we're running after a deadline. I am guilty of this at times and maybe you are too.

The Word of God that was preached during that fellowship was taken from Rev. 2:4,

Revelation 2:4 (New International Version)

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your FIRST LOVE.

Reflection:

This verse is a great reminder for everyone of us. Sometimes we get so stressed out from managing things, meeting deadlines, and working really hard that we can't even remember to pray and ask God for guidance. When we hit our beds, we can't even open our Bibles to read a verse or two because we're so tired and we need to sleep right away thinking that God would maybe understand. But let me show you the preceding verses before Revelation 2:4,

Revelation 2:2-3 (New International Version)

²I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Examine how excellent these people are. They are hard working. They don't tolerate evil acts and they're persevering. What else can you look for? Everything is just so Ideal. But God even though knowing these great things they're doing has this to say:

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your FIRST LOVE

How sad can this be?

For those who are working: we may get all the Salary Increase and all the Promotions and Accolades as rewards for our hard work and commitment to our work but have we maintained our Love Relationship with our God? Have we even remembered to pray, thank and praise Him?

For those who are committed to a ministry: beware of the saying, "Busy expanding the Kingdom but has forgotten the King". We may set up the most excellent programs, plans and events to do what we have been commissioned to do but if we forget to fellowship with the one we're working for, God is still not satisfied.

What is God telling us?

Seek God first and all these things shall be added unto you as well. Don't be overwhelmed with the situation you are in, or with the problems you're trying to solve, or the great task ahead of you, Cling on to the King and he'll surely direct your paths. Make him your First Priority! Make him your First Love! Make Him the first person you talk to when you wake up. In every success, make Him the first person you thank. In every failure, make Him the first person you run to.

Remember not to Forget the main reason why we're here. Make him your First!

God Bless you more!

Father's Love Letter to You

It's the weekend!
I'm hearing Yipee! and Woohoo! Me too I'm glad it's the weekend and tomorrow is Sunday! I can go to Church again and have fellowship with my brethren. As David had said, " I rejoice with those who said to me, let us go to the House of the Lord".

Before that, let me leave you with this video: "Father's Love Letter". It touched right through the deepest portion of my heart and I'm sure it will move you as well.

"Father's Love Letter to You"

Pray the Prayer of Jabez

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NKJV)
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers,
and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain".
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,
Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!
So God granted him what he requested.

Reflection:

You may not have heard of Jabez as a Bible Character. He's not famous like the Patriarchs, the prophets or the apostles but his life is worth studying and learning from.

Jabez?

Jabez is Hebrew word which means PAIN, SORROW or TROUBLE (Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary). During those times your name is what you are (e.g. Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and many more) which means Jabez was pre-destined or "called" by his own mother to be a PAIN to others. Can you imagine how disappointing that is when people dread you because you might cause them pain? How about you? What have you been called to do?

How did Jabez react?

Jabez did not allow his name to dictate how he would live his life. He cried to the Lord to change his destiny and God granted him what he requested.

PRAYER OF JABEZ Defined

Bless me Indeed = In Bible translations, INDEED means there's no hint of disbelief! This prayer is not the usual request for blessing but a fervent request with strong faith that it will happen.
Enlarge my Territory = In those times, when you have a larger territory then you're more powerful than the rest. This prayer is asking God for Expansion of your Influence and Success financially, in your work life and in your personal life.
That your Hand be with me = This prayer is asking God to lead us in everyway everyday. It's a declaration that we cannot continue living without his Hand guiding us.
Keep me from Evil = This is where we denounce all the negative things other people have said and confessed against us. This is where we depend on God to be kept from evil. This is where we focus our minds on what He's saying and not what others are saying.

WHAT IS THE LORD TELLING US

People may have named and called you immature, childish, stupid, idiot, dumb or any bad thing from the past. It may or may not be true, it doesn't matter. You can do what Jabez had done. Don't allow others to dictate what will happen in your life. Cry to the Lord and pray the PRAYER of Jabez and GOD will grant your request as he has answered Jabez.

God Bless you!

Stop Worrying! God knows your Needs!

Matthew 6:31 - 34 (New International Version)

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Reflection:

Everyone worries just about anything. It can be as big as where to get the payment for a loan or as petty as what to wear to a party. Some people worry about what other people think about them. Some even worry whether their gadget is up to date. How about you? What things do you worry about? Appearance? Status?

So what if we worry?

We worry because we look at what we can do and not on what God can do through us. Worrying is an act of disbelief, mistrust and doubt on God's sovereignty and power! He said through the prophet Jeremiah, "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27".

What the Lord Promises

The Heavenly Father knows what you need even before you ask Him. Yes, you read it right! He already KNOWS what you need. Here's what he's saying in the preceeding verses:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Trust in him in everything!

Furthermore, if we choose to pray, read the Bible, be a blessing to others and do something for God instead of spending time worrying then God will add ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED FAR BEYOND YOU CAN IMAGINE.

God Bless You!

Trust The Lord with All your Heart

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New King James Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Reflection:

There are times when we feel like everything is just so complicated and is starting to be out of our control. These things happen when we do things on our own. When we decide and make choices based on our logic and wisdom. Solomon, the wisest man ever lived said "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12". This only means our own decisions mostly are not dependable.

What is the Lord telling us?

Learn to let go and let God which means in every decision, plan or choice seek God's will first before proceeding. It also means, whatever situation you are in or circumstance you're going through ACKNOWLEDGE Him. Acknowledging Him means believing that all these are part of His God's plan for you.

God Bless you today!