Trusting God When Things Go Wrong - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) September 1, 2023

When things are going well, it is easy to shower God with praise and more devoted time studying the Bible. However, when things aren't working out, many have a hard time loving Him. Our faith dwindles and it becomes difficult to trust Him.

And yet, we are told to thank Him in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are called to trust Him especially when things go wrong hence His instruction to cast our burdens unto Him (1 Peter 5:7).

But how? How does one, in fact, trust God when things have gone wrong? Especially someone who once had a good rapport with Him?

It all boils down to a choice each of us has to make. A choice to trust and believe in Him through the good times and the bad. Joshua was frustrated when his army went into the City of Ai and was defeated, leaving 2000 of them dead. Keep in mind the Lord had told him in Joshua 1:5 - Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will always be with you; I will never abandon you (GNT).

So how did Joshua react to God when things went wrong?

He went to the Lord and sought understanding on what happened. He went in humility, having torn his clothes and sprinkled ashes upon himself - a sign of deep sadness among his people. He chose to look to God instead of walking away from Him.

Just as Joshua did not abandon his God when things went wrong, so also did God not abandon him. The Lord revealed what caused the defeat - the disobedience of one man, Achan. He'd taken things from Jericho though the Lord commanded the Israelites to leave Jericho with no plunder for themselves.

Following Joshua's example, we can't go before the Creator prideful or even angry but instead with deference recognizing He is the God above all gods. We must also keep in mind that the reason Joshua could continue to walk with the Lord was because God had a track record with him. Joshua had seen God do the incredible and he respected that. He knew that God was still to be trusted despite the disappointing defeat.

Each of us can make a similar choice to trust God in the heat of our disappointment by not abandoning Him. Instead we must go right back to Him who has promised to never abandon us, a commitment that He's made to all His children. After all He promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

It isn't easy but we must all remember our Jericho Moments - those times where God showed up and showed out on our behalf. We must also focus our gaze on God even when things have not happened the way we expected or prayed for. That is the time to not walk away from Him. It is the time to approach Him with praise, acknowledging that He is perfect and we are not. We can then pray for divine understanding and guidance.

May Joshua's experience remind us that we can still trust God when things go wrong. Joshua did just that and after obeying God, him and his army completely destroyed the City of Ai. They went on from there to witness many more of God's miracles. All because they placed themselves at God's mercy, despite a big defeat and trusted Him to be the way to bring redemption and victory.

To learn more, please read

1. When Things Go Wrong

2. Trust God

The Peace that surpasses all understanding - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) August 29, 2023

"Peace that surpasses all understanding." This is a term many Christians have heard of and, on some level, comprehend what it means. That peace arises in the moments where a person somehow is not bothered or worried, despite the chaos brewing around them. That peace is evident when, for some inexplicable reason, a person can sing and dance even as things fall apart. Someone looking in from the outside would see such a person and think they were crazy. They'd wonder how and why the person with peace isn't freaking out.

The peace of mind that surpasses all understanding is a great gift to have and it is one each of us can receive from the Father, no matter what's going on. He's actually told us how in Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. That unexplainable peace that sits in a person's heart makes them rest the way Jesus was able to sleep on a boat in a storm. And to get it, we have to meet the stated condition - we have to put our fears and anxieties to the side then place our requests before God with thanksgiving. Then, we shall receive the peace of God and it will guard our hearts and minds, helping us resist the devil and all the weapons it has formed against us.

This is one of the reasons why satan attacks people with the arrows of doubt and fear. It wants God's children to think that their Father can't show up in the tough moments. It wants those who believe in Jesus to think some problems are too big for the Almighty. And yet, here's what God said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 32:27 - Jeremiah, I am the Lord God. I rule the world, and I can do anything (CEV). When satan attacks and it feels like all the walls are closing in, it hopes that we'll turn our attention away from the Lord and only see how large the challenges are. The devil does not want us to apply Philippians 4:6 because then, we'll have the peace of God and will no longer submit to its schemes to terrorize us and keep us anxious about...well, everything.

And we must remember that God is building us up - molding us - for His purpose. Part of the reason He allows us to face issues is to toughen us up and give us the necessary spiritual skills and muscle to not fall for the devil's wicked schemes. This means, God will take us through experiences where we learn how to put our anxiety and fears to the side, shifting them out of the way so we can present our petitions with a clear head and ample praises to Him. We've got to let the Lord take us through those valleys of life and trust that He will ultimately bring us up to the mountain peak. It's not easy and most people don't want to sign up for such an experience. However, when we remember that God did this with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (in Egypt), Moses, Joshua, David, Naomi and Ruth, Daniel, Esther, Mary (mother of Jesus), Martha and her sister, Mary (the sisters of Lazarus) as well as so many other men and women of God, we've got to submit to God's plan and purpose. Even if it will hurt.

1 Peter 5:10 - But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm (CEV).

We must let God have His way with us so that we emerge as the well-trained children who when faced with anxieties can push them aside, get on our knees, and pray with thanksgiving to the Lord. Then, we will receive the peace that surpasses all understanding. This shall be our portion, IJMN, Amen.

Let It Go - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) August 25, 2023

Most of us are doing things that hamper our prayers. We're watching things, listening to things, and pondering on things that are detestable to God. Then we wonder why our prayers aren't being answered.

Now if we didn't know better then that would be somewhat of an excuse. However, we do know better and yet we continue to let our flesh rule over us, causing us to ignore doing what we know God likes while doing the opposite.

We have to make a sacrifice and put the desires of our flesh into submission so that the desires of God can flourish in us. We have to choose to not watch pδrn and not listen to highly suggestive songs that trigger the flesh to want certain things such as fornication, drug consumption and more.

We have to choose to not indulge in that content that causes us to criticize, gossip and/or use crass and foul language. We have to not buy that snack that always leads us to overindulge and thus not treat the temple of God, that is our body, well.

The truth is, it is hard to quiet our flesh. Even Paul, one of the great apostles of Christ, admitted to this in Romans 7:15 - I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Sound familiar? I confess that this describes me more often than I care to admit.

If you feel the same, then thank God for His grace. He sent Jesus to die that we may each be unshackled from the chains of sin, guilt and shame. Through Him we can live free from the activities, ideas, and other things in this world that want to keep us from living for the Lord.

Let us each step into the cocoon of God's grace and undying mercy. Know that He has the power to set us free of ungodly behavioral cycles. Ask God for forgiveness for the things you do but quickly don't feel good about. Those things you do regularly or irregularly that leave you not feeling happy about yourself. The behaviors you regret because you know or suspect God doesn't approve of.

God loves you and will forgive if you genuinely repent. And when you ask Him for help to get free of these behaviors, He will arise to do just that. Of course, the enemy of your soul - satan - will do everything to keep you bound and make freedom seem like it's more trouble than it's worth. But remember that satan is a liar and that God is faithful. If you take it one day at a time, trusting God to get you through, that's exactly what He will do.

So what are the things you do that you know don't please the Lord? What are the things you're not certain about? Let's talk about these things and stand on the rock that is Christ to get free and enjoy the fullness of life that God said is our portion.

God bless you and see you at noon for fellowship.

Please consider reading the following old posts:

- Plumb Line - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) September 22, 2020