A Piece of Advice for Young Men

Stop looking for the perfect woman.

The perfect woman does not exist, so stop looking for her. Hollywood has lied and taught you wrongly (Proverbs 7:21–23). If you hope to be married, better to spend your energy developing your own godliness and maturity. Become a better husband (1 Corinthians 16:13), rather than shopping for a better woman.

Your future wife, perfectly fit or not, will never give you the wholeness that only comes from Christ. If you are looking for a wife to make you feel complete, to be fully known, or to give you security, you will put too much pressure on your marriage and you’ll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you both know who you are in Christ, you will have the right foundation for a good marriage.

If you’re already married, you know by now that you didn’t marry the perfect woman. Don’t keep looking for the perfect woman (Proverbs 18:22; 19:14), as though you missed her. That lie comes from Hollywood too. That kind of thinking fails to trust God’s sovereign goodness (Proverbs 6:27–29). Love the wife he has given you, and don’t be a fool (Proverbs 5:18)!

10 Things young people can do for God.

Here are ten things that you can do to serve God and gain life’s greatest blessing:

(1) OBEY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

Christ commands us to believe in Him (John 8:24), to repent of our sins (Acts 2:38), to confess His name (Matthew 10:32-33), and to be baptized into Him for the remission of our sins (Romans 6:3-6). Study Tape # 46, “How Can a Man Be justified With God?”, for further information about this most important step. Every young person who can understand these commands should obey them. There is nothing you will ever do that will mean so much to you in coming years.

(2) KEEP THYSELF PURE (I Timothy 5:22)

If you like a real challenge, the challenge of conquering our own will is life’s greatest, for sin is easy. Besides the personal satisfaction that moral purity brings, it brings also the blessings of God (Matthew 5:8).

(3) BUILD A CHRISTIAN PERSONALITY

True greatness 14,es in spiritual things. Emphasize prayer, study, and righteousness, and they will bless you. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul”‘ (Matthew 16:26). Those who follow Christ learn how to do good unto all men, even their enemies. Their lives radiate the beauty of his way (Matthew 5:14-16). Christianity brings peace with God, peace with others, and peace within.

(4) LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST

Christ has commanded His disciples to take the gospel to everyone. You can be a soul-winner. And nothing enlarges one’s faith and spiritual capacity like teaching the lost.

(5) GET A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

You CAN get a Christian education if you really want to. Your doing so will help you in a thousand ways. A Christian college education will help you to be the best and most productive citizen possible in God’s kingdom.

(6) PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A DECENT PROFESSION

The New Testament strongly commands honest and honorable work (I Thessalonians 4:11,12). The Christian life is not that of a parasites but one of industry and service.

(7) BUILD A CHRISTIAN HOME

Next to obeying the gospel of Christ, the greatest favor you will ever do yourself is to build a Christian home. When you marry, MARRY A CHRISTIAN.

(8) PREPARE FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP

The church needs every competent leader and teacher that it can get. Develop your talents for Christian leadership by the sincere and zealous practice of spiritual responsibilities. Be USEFUL in the Lord’s service.

(9) ENCOURAGE AND HELP OTHERS

Everyone bears a burden. When we help bear other’s burdens and encourage them in Christ’s walk, we fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

(10) BE FAITHFUL THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE

(Read Revelations 2:10) Many perils will beset your pathway. Temptations and disappointments came to the Lord and they will also come to you. And all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer some persecution (2 Timothy 3:12), but God calls us to a life that man cannot destroy and to treasures that are eternal. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Keep your faith and it will keep you. There is great potential in your life. May God bless you as you develop it in His service.

How to Stand as a Christian and overcome sin?

Each one of us as soon as we become a Christians we instantly enter warfare, the battle against good and evil. Before we all became a Christian it was much easier for us to engage in sinful activities (depending on our parental upbringing), however when we became Christians we now have to acknowledge certain guidelines of behavior, for example, before we became Christians we could engage in sexual activities when we choose, but when we became a Christian we no longer can engage in such activities outside of marriage.

The bible let us know that the kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent we should take it by force (Matthew 11: 12). This simple means that to do the will of God takes determination, vigor, persistent and commitment. It’s simple not an easy road. However, the bible let us know that God will not give us more than we can bear neither will he let us walk on a road that he himself never travels on. Therefore we can rest a sure that God will help us to overcome no matter what challenges comes our way. If we are tempted, he will provide away of escape for us so that we will not fall into sin. However, the question now is, if I am a Christian, How do I stand?

Here are some steps in standing for God

  1. Realize first of all that we are all humans and there are times that we will fall, but it’s important for us to know that we can get back up, dust the dirt off of our garment and try not to fall again (1 John 1:9;2:1). When we make a mistake or sin against God we can go boldly before the throne of God and ask him for forgiveness (Hebrews 4:16). I don’t care how far you have fallen, God is waiting to forgive you and take you back in his loving arms.

However, it is important for us not to continue in sin by being presumptuous. Being presumptuous means knowing that the thing is wrong but we continue doing it because we can seek God for forgiveness. This should not be. To repent means to change our wrong behavior, e.g. if you tell a lie and repents your repentance means that you have acknowledge the sin and will try your very best not to tell another lie, with all sincerity.

  1. Fast, pray and read the Word of God often- Fasting and prayer will give us the strength we need to stand and cause us to grow closer to God. The closer we get to God the more strength we will gain to live holy and the better our relationship will be with him. Jesus said that some things that we will face can only be handle through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21) and said of his disciples that they will have to fast when he is no longer with them (Matthew 9: 15), why? Because they will need to fast often so they can stand.
  2. Hang out with people who can strengthen and motivate you- As human beings we are social beings, and what that means is that we need each other, we need to socialize in order to survive. However, we have a choice in who we keep as friends or keep as mere acquaintances and whose voice we hold in high regards. It is very important that if we want to stand by the word of God then we should seek out people that will strengthen and motivate us. Even if the person is not as strong as you are but the person is seeking after God, iron sharpens iron, we should still befriend that person.
  3. Be committed – This Christian walk requires us to be committed. The bible said that the kingdom of God suffers violence and this violence cause men to PUSH their way into the kingdom (Matthew 11: 12), to stand for God is not a simple walk in the park; it requires vigor, courage, commitment, perseverance and self-motivation. The only way we are going to enter the Kingdom and abide in the Word of God we got to have a made up mind. We have already started on this road, yes it is ruff and we will get some ‘bruises, along the way, but we MUST BE COMMITTED TO STAND AGAINST ALL ADDS, NO MATTER WHAT!!
  4. Don’t allow your peers to discourage you- Most of us will agree that our greatest motivator is often not the word of God, but our peers (persons around us). Although we acknowledge that God should be the one we listen to, we sometimes allow the people around us to dictate to us how we should think and behave instead of the Word of God. We are surrounding by entertainment industry (movies, music’s) encouraging us to go against God’s word using people who we can relate to and our own age. This is a snare of the enemy. If we don’t fast, pray, and read the word of God often, be committed and hang out with peers or persons that will encourage and motivate us to follow the word of God, then sadly we will not stand firm as a Christian.
  5. Feast your mind upon things of God- There is a slogan that says ‘you’re what you eat’ this is also true for our spiritual life, whatever you feed your mind upon, that is what will direct your life. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceive; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”. If we constantly feed our mind upon sexual things then we will not be able to stand, we will become weak and fall into temptations.

My encouragement to you is to feast your mind upon things that are pure, of good report, things that will uplift and strengthen you.

Being a Christian is not an easy road to walk on, but God said that he will not leave us alone. We do not have fight this battle alone and we do not have to be backslider, but we can stand on the Word of God.

What is your views on how we can stand as a Christian and overcome sin? Please share your thoughts or comments with us by leaving a comment below.

4 Ways Fasting Will Bring You Closer to God

Believers want to grow closer to God. It is not always an easy pathway as our lives go through the usual ups and downs. Growing your relationship with God is a life’s journey. There will be times in our lives when we feel ourselves drifting away from God, especially when things are not going well. Fasting, reading the word of God, and praying will give us strength and help us grow closer to God.

Some of the many benefits of fasting are that it:

  • Enables you to concentrate more on the spiritual world when you consciously give up worldly pleasures
  • Leads to a greater intimacy with God by denying our carnal nature
  • Helps you refocus on God when life gets too busy

The bible has many examples of people who grew closer to God by fasting. Barnabas and Paul prayed for God’s direction and fasted (Acts 14:23), Hannah fasted when she prayed for a son (I Samuel 1:7), and Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days before starting his ministry (Matthew 4:2).

Helps Us Hear God

For those who want to grow closer to God and hear when he speaks to them, fasting enables you to enter into a space without chaos and distraction. By not focusing on eating and giving your body a rest from digestion, you can become more sensitive to God’s voice. Food is not only necessary for our physical health, it is actually a form of pleasure in life. When we make the conscious effort to avoid food while we fast, we are denying ourselves one of our physical comforts while we focus on God. This teaches us to be self-disciplined, is an act of faith, can sharpen our awareness of the presence of God, and will improve our ability to clearly hear what he is telling us. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Cleanse Your Body and Soul

Fasting is common for both religious and health reasons as it can rejuvenate your mind, body, and soulby:

  • Leading to more self-discovery: When you fast, you are taking away part of your daily routine giving you time for self-reflection
  • Improving brain function: Fasting boosts the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF.)
  • Teaching self-control: By fasting, you are showing yourself that you can have control over your life and can be successful
  • Learning to be grateful: When you break your fast, you can celebrate and be grateful for a period of time where you showed persistence and gave yourself time to self-reflect and connect with God

Fasting provides us the opportunity to remember the spiritual connection we have with our bodies. When we don’t eat, we are giving our digestive system a rest. This also allows our spirits to be detoxed.

Learn to Pray From the Heart with the Right Motives

Jesus said: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6:7). Prewritten repeated prayers will not bring you closer to God. Your goal is to develop a distinct, heartfelt, and personal relationship with Him. The more you focus on praying, the more sensitized you are as a result of fasting, the better you will be able to talk to and hear God with a grateful heart and a concern for things outside of yourself. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

More Energy and Focus for Prayer

When we eat, our body has to work to digest the food. This takes energy. We might also be preoccupied about what to eat, when, and where. When we fast, we don’t have to think about food, our body has more energy because there is no food to digest, giving us more strength and time to devote to praying.

Eating food is obviously a necessity but it never fully satisfies you because you will get hungry again and need to eat. When you are fed from your relationship with God, you will never be hungry or thirsty again. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

Peace With Your Emotions Spiritually

An emotion is what drives us to take an action- it can either be reactions to the events in the environment or things inside a person. In simple words, a person’s thoughts, behaviors and physical reactions influence emotions. It is quite capable of driving one crazy and putting their values on the back seat. When emotions take over, you are overwhelmed by stress or anger and you end up implementing decisions that are completely against the biblical values.

The raging anger and fear provoked by emotions is a roller coaster ride that might lead you to crash and land in heaps of trouble. So if you are wondering whether or not you can get back on track, we will let you know that with god by our side we are never alone. Our faith in god will be the light at the end of the tunnel and with him by your side you will rise above negativity and find peace with your emotions.

Below listed are five ways God will help your emotions:

Stay True To Yourself

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect Will of God.” – Romans 12:2

It is often seen that you try to ignore your feeling of being sad or hurt. After all, no one wishes to feel pain, but it is rather a wrong take when it comes to emotions. One must not suppress their emotions; they should rather embrace it. This will allow you to be more focused on solving your issues, despite the varying emotions.

Darkness can appear to be strong, but your belief in God and the biblical truth will more likely make you win the battle. Accepting the fact that you are hurt or depressed is difficult, which is why make it a habit of reading the Bible and meditating on the words you read. Being truthful to yourselves is important if you wish to tackle every obstacle in your way to happiness.

Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind and god’s truth will guide you in the times where your emotions mislead you. Every day, ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind. Then God’s truth will come to your mind in any situation where your emotions are shouting at you to make a certain choice. Read the holy book in the times when things go wrong or your emotions are playing tricks, as they will remind you of what’s really true, so you can make decisions from an accurate perspective. Let truth and faith be your guide when dealing with emotional turmoil.

Take Some Time out

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – Mark 6:31

With the constant work, there are going to be times when you are low, or days where you cannot muster up smile. This is the right time for you to take time out and have control over the emotions. Focus on prayers and devotion to God that will ensure that your emotions are not spiraling out of control. Do not let your feeling have an upper hand. At times when you are overwhelmed by your feeling, take a moment to stop and by means of praying.

Try to identify the emotions that you are experiencing at that moment. For instance, figure out why you’re feeling fatigued or stressed and try not from feeling so. Put an end to unhealthy and impulsive behaviour by taking time out by simply stepping out of the situation and studying it. Gain a wiser perspective on everything that is happening around you by being aware about yourself and your emotions. When your emotions are in check you are highly alert and there is barely anything that might go unnoticed by you.

Honesty

“Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”- Psalm 112:5

Being honest does come with price, considering it can bring you face to face with many uncomfortable emotions you feel. As humans we are so prone to denying, ignoring or suppressing emotions that troubles our conscience. The example of jealousy is easily the one most of us can relate to, considering at some point of our lives we have forgotten that god loves us all equally and been comparative over the material happiness. We are sure that anyone who preaches the Jesus, has been deeply embarrassed and ashamed for feeling jealousy. It has been known that no one likes to admit jealousy, which is why it is of importance that you deal with this envious emotions that can distort your perceptions on your life. Let us be examples of a God of truth and life by living lives of integrity and truthfulness.

Be Fit

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – Corinthians 6:19-20

We often forget to invest time to maintain our physical health and we always forget that it is indeed linked to your emotional health. Keep your body the healthiest you could because if your body isn’t feeling well, your emotions can be difficult to manage.

When your body is tired you will notice that you are quite snappy or hunger drives you to worry too much, but you feel better immediately after eating. God has designed body, mind and spirit as such that they work together. Remember, you cannot win an emotional battle if you aren’t physically fit.

The only way you can make peace with your emotions is if you learn the art of balanced life. Ask God to help you develop healthy physical habits that will nurture your body, mind, and spirit. Give your body the best attention you could, eat nutritious foods, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep on a regular basis. The more physically stable you are, the more emotionally stable you can be.

Learn From Your Emotions

“Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered” – Hebrews 5:8

God often uses emotions as a tool to teach, which is why learn lessons that you are taught through your emotions. Love is the essence and emotions are the very gift from god. Emotions are constantly changing as per changing circumstances and if you are not thinking from spiritual perspective there are high chances that you will misinterpret them.

Learning is important part of your life, so pray for guidance every day. God will help you discern the messages he sends you through your feelings. The Holy Spirit is your teacher who communicates with you, guides you in every step and is there by your side.

We insist that instead of reacting to your emotions, take the wiser approach. Which is to respond to these emotions with the purpose of learning and growing closer to God in the process. Throughout your life, you will be dealing with spiritual attacks that come at you through your emotions. All you need to do is rely on the Holy Spirit and there is hardly any battle you will not conquer.

Halleluyah!

6 Types of Blessings & Curses

The book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 is the primary scripture in the Bible that deals with blessings and curses. There are literally millions of people #living on the earth at this very moment that are under a curse. The general reasons why people are either blessed or cursed is obedience, or failure to obey the word of #God.   “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth…..if though wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God…. that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee”- #Deuteronomy 28:1, 15). We can therefore conclude that when we obey the word of the Lord, then he will bless us; however, when we are disobedient, he will curse us. There are 6 types of blessing and curses that we can deduce from Deuteronomy 28, these are: 6 #Types of Blessings

  1. Exaltation. The Lord promised #the children of Israel that if they should hearken or listen and obey his commandment, then he will exalt them above all the nations upon the earth. When you obey the commandments of the Lord as written in the Bible (remember we are not under #the lawbut under #grace, therefore we need to obey the commandments that comes under grace in the New Testament), he promises that he will exalt you wherever you go. Everyone will see that the hands of the Lord are upon you.
  2. Prosperity. The Lord promised the Children of Israel that when they obey his commandment then “blessed shalt thou be in the field….and the fruit of the ground, and the fruit of thy cattle… blessed shall be thy basket and thy store….The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee”-Deuteronomy 28:3-5, 8. This promise is being made to each one of us today. The Lord has promised us that he will make us prosperous if we walk in his commandment. You will never lack.
  3. Victory. The Lord said unto the Israelites, “The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways” (vs. 7). When you walk in the fear of the Lord people will rise up against you but their counsel shall not stand because “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…”- Isaiah 54:17
  4. Head and not the Tale- The head is the part of the body that makes the decision, while the tale is dragged around. God is not promising you that he will make you the boss of your company or head of government, but what he is telling you that he will exalt you and people will come to you instead of you going to them for advice and blessing. He will set you up and you will be respected by even your enemies.
  5. Fruitfulness. Children are a heritage from the Lord (Ps 127:3) and is therefore seen as a blessing. The Lord has promised that the woman womb will be fruitful (Ps 128:3) when you obey the Lord. One of the things that is very noticeable with the Israelites is that the #men had a lot of children.
  6. Health. Sickness is not of God (though at times he will afflict you with sickness when you do not obey the Lord). When you obey the Lord he will not allow sickness to have free reign in your life. If he does it is to build you or to prove a point in your life. Many people are sick because of their action, for example they consume too many sweets.

6 Types of Curses in the Bible They are 6 #types of curse in the Bible, these are:

  1. Humiliation
  2. Barrenness- The opposite of fruitfulness is barrenness. One of the reasons why many #womencannot get pregnant is because a curse exists in the family or specifically on her life, or that of the husband. Additionally, some of the complications women are having that prevents them from having a baby are caused from a curse in the family. Perhaps the man of the woman committed a sin or did something that caused the Lord, or #Satan, to curse the womb of the woman. Or the cause of her barrenness could be that of a generational curse in the family.
  3. Sickness of every kind. One evidence of the Children of Israel being curse is when sickness is upon the land, “The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured. The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. At midday you will grope about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.”- Deuteronomy 28:27-29

Many people are suffering from sickness because there is curse in the family or upon their lives. If you or someone you know is always suffering from a particular sickness and there seems to be no cure or the sickness getting better, then the sickness is caused from a curse that needs to be broken. Moreover, it is not natural for anyone to always getting broken legs, meeting in accidents etc. Unless this curse is broken then the sickness will continue.

  1. Poverty and failure. It is not the will of God that his people live in poverty, poverty or lack is not for the children of God. If you are always working but can’t seems to make ends meet no matter what you do, or you never have enough then you may be under a curse.

There are some people that are always broke, always in debt and always lacking. Today they are on top, but tomorrow they are on their face. It does not matter what they do or how much money they received each month, they always lack. I do agree that at times the Lord will test your faithfulness or bring you through a process of lack, but this is not forever. If you are always ‘going through a process’ then your process may be caused from a curse. Additionally, if everything you put your hands to fail, then something is seriously wrong. No one always have bad luck or failure.

  1. Defeat. When the Children of Israel walked contrary to the will of God, God would at times allow their enemies to come upon them and defeat them. You can know you are under a curse when people are always fighting against you and succeeding, especially when you are innocent. It is not natural for people always to fight against you and win, if they do then you need to take a check of your life.
  2. Tale and not the head. If the head is the one that makes the decision, then the tale is the one that is always following or being drag along. God does not expect or create us to always be beneath others but he wants us to be above. If people are always stepping on you and your always be dragged along, then your life may be under a curse.

In your spare time please take some time to read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy 28. If you believe your life is under a curse, then you need to break the curse. I will post in another article the things that can bring you under a curse on how to break them. Have anything to share? I would love to hear from you. Please subscribe if you like this article and also share it with your friends

How To Be Like Daniel

Most of us, if not all, have grew up either hearing or have read the story of Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, in the book that is named after him in the bible. Daniel along with his friends along with most of the people of Judea were taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar when they rejected God. However, when everyone was turning to idolatry, Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego found favor with God and men because they stood for God.

Now we all have heard the story, but wouldn’t you want to be like Daniel? Many of us heard the story but very few of us really stop to think about the different attributes and characteristics of Daniel. Do you want to know the attributes and characteristics of Daniel that made him so special? Well keep reading.

Characteristics of Daniel

  1. Daniel stood up for God even when others were not. Even though Daniel was a captive (slave) in a new country without the temple of God in sight; and even though his fellow Israelites were turning away from God and following the idol worshipping practices of Babylon, Daniel did not forget that the all-seeing eyes of God where watching him, neither did he forget the law of God that was taught to him while growing up. Additionally, he and his three friends decided that they will not compromise their relationship with God by eating the kings food and drink the king’s wine as it was food that was offered unto idols (Daniel 1:3-8). Because of their uncompromising behavior, God gave them favor in the eyes of the person who was set over them who yielded to their request of eating only pulse and water. The result? They looked much better in appearance than those who eat that which was from the king’s table. Moreover they were chosen to stand before the king (Daniel 1:17-21)

Lesson Learnt:

Do not allow the system of the world to influence you to sin against God or to compromise your relationship with him. If you stand for God then he will not let you down but will give you favor in the eyes of even your enemies. Is there anything God will not do in his righteousness for his people?

  1. Daniel developed a close relationship with God and as a result God could have used him to interpret the writing on the wall when Belshazzar was king of Babylon (Daniel 5). Some scholars believe that the wise men of Babylon (astrologers, Chaldeans and the soothsayers) could have read the writing on the wall as they understood languages, and were well educated, however, only an uncompromising man of God who knew God as the revealer of secrets, through daily communion with him, and allowed himself to be use by God, could have both read and interpret the writing on the wall.

Lesson Learnt:

Man (and woman) was created in the image and likeness of God, because of this God aches for his creation to develop an active line of communication with him, and to develop a close and personal relationship with him. It is the will of God to be active in the lives of his creation. Because Daniel developed a close relationship with God and allowed the Lord to use him, he was elevated to the position of the 3rd ruler in Babylon under the kingship of Belshazzar.

[tweetthis]God aches for his creation to commune with him, and he with them[/tweetthis]

  1. Daniel did not allow the dictates and system he was put in to stop him from having a daily fellowship or walk with God (Daniel 6). Due to the fact that Daniel was favored by both God and man (even by King Darius) and that an excellent spirit was found in him, the princess (Administrators) in Babylon got jealous and thus wanted to destroy him. To do this they, they used the very thing they knew he would never stopped doing, praying three times everyday, and went to the king asking him to make a degree that for three days no one should make any supplication to any god or man except to the king, the consequence of disobeying this command would be a night in the lion’s den. What did Daniel do when he heard about the degree? Instead of bowing to the decree of the king as soon as Daniel heard the decree he went up as usual in his room and prayed (Daniel 6:10). His enemies seeing what Daniel had done had him thrown into the lion’s den thinking that this would be the end of him. Isn’t it amazing how much God blesses and protect those that follow and obey him? God seeing the unjust treatment meted out to Daniel intervene by sending an angel to close the lion’s mouth.

Lesson Learnt:

There will be times when men will want to dictate how you should worship, live your life and how or who you should worship. It will be at these crossroads in our lives where our faith will be tested. God is depending on each one of us to stand for him despite of persecution and tribulation we may go through; even to the point of death. We must know and worship God for ourselves; it is he that hath created and redeem us. Because Daniel stood for God he was delivered from out of the lion’s den and his enemies were destroyed. Not only this, but the king and all the people in King Darius kingdom knew and worship the true and living God, all because one man decided that he will not compromise his relationship with God but will continue to seek and worship God (Daniel 6:19-28)

  1. Daniel was persistent in prayer and fasting (Daniel 10:1-4). When Daniel saw a vision from the Lord he went to the Lord in prayer and fasting seeking him for answers. On hearing Daniel request, God sent an angel with the answer immediately, however, Gabriel the angel who was sent to give Daniel the interpretation and understanding of the vision was resisted by the prince demon in the country for 21 days. Despite of this delay, for 21 days Daniel fasted and prayed to God. It was Daniel continual prayer and fasting that helped the angel to win the battle against the prince demon of Persia and Daniel was now able to received the answer to his request.

Lesson Learnt:

I must hasten to say that no one can withstand God from giving someone a message unless He God allows it to happen. Sometimes when we pray our answer(s) are blocked by the prince of the powers of the air and God is expecting us to fight for our answer in prayer and fasting. We should not relent in prayer and fasting as God is expecting us to fight against the enemy; we cannot expect the angels to fight all alone on our behalf. Heaven and earth MUST agree for anything to happen upon the earth. Many times we miss our breakthrough, blessings or answer not because God deny our request, but because we were not persistent enough for what we ask for. The devil will always tries to block, delay or stop the will of God for our lives and it is up to each one of us to use the weapons God gave us to fight. What are some of these weapons? Prayer, fasting, using the blood of Jesus, and commanding the enemy. God has given us the power over the enemy, it is therefore time for us to use what he has given us.

  1. He prayed for his people (Daniel 9). When Daniel understood the captivity of his people and their sins, he went to God in prayer and fasting, not only for his sins but also for the sins of his people.

Lesson Learnt:

As a people we should not only pray for ourselves; but we should also make petition and supplications for our fellow human being (1 Timothy 2:1; Philippians 4:6). We all need each other, as a result, the bible said we should bear each other’s burden (Galatian 6:2). I strongly believe that we could have won much more victories in our lives if each one of us were praying for each other’s well-being and blessings, not only for ourselves. Why should we expect angels to help us if we won’t even help each other by praying a simple prayer for one another?

  1. Last but not least, Daniel tried to live holy life and obey God. With all the accomplishments of Daniel outline in the book of Daniel, if he wasn’t obedient to God and living holy he could not have been blessed by God. Daniel had an excellent spirit and found favor with both God and man because he did that which was pleasing in the sight of God.

Lesson Learnt:

There is blessing in obeying and living for God. “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.”- Proverbs 16:7 (BBE)

When you remain true and faithful to God even in the midst of your enemies who were sent to destroy you, God will bless you, he will even use your own enemies to bless you like he did with Mordecai and Haman (Esther 5:13-14; 6:6-11). There will be many things that will come to distract us from serving God, but God is depending on each one of us to choose him above everything else, even if you are persecuted and hated, and even if you are the only one standing for Him. There is a blessing for those who do not compromise their relationship with God and serve him with a true heart. Do not forget that even when your friends, family, or church family is not seeing you, that God is always watching. Finally, when you follow the principles of the bible you too, like Daniel, will develop an excellent spirit

The account of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego?

Answer: The amazing story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three young men defying the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar and thrown into a fiery furnace, has captured the hearts of young children as well as adults for centuries. Recorded in the third chapter of Daniel, the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego provides believers today with strong and lasting lessons.

For their refusal to obey the king’s decree to bow down to the idol, three charges were brought against them. They paid no heed to the king and his commands, they did not serve the king’s gods, and they refused to worship the golden statue the king himself had set up. The penalty for their actions was death. Their response to the king was profound:

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:15-18).

We cannot but be astonished by their faith in the one true God. At the very outset, their response in the moment of trial confirmed three things: their unswerving conviction of the God of the Bible, their confidence in the God who is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do, and their faith as revealed by their reliance upon the only One who had the power to deliver them from evil. Their acknowledgment of God over the world’s most powerful king resulted in God’s supreme power being revealed to unbelievers. Their faith demonstrates that God is able to deliver us from our own problems and trials.

As believers, we know that God is able to deliver. However, we also know that He does not always do so. Romans 5 tells us that God may allow trials and difficulties in our lives to build our character, strengthen our faith, or for other reasons unknown to us. We may not always understand the purpose of our trials, but God simply asks that we trust Him—even when it is not easy. Job, who endured incredible pain, almost insurmountable agony, and suffering, was still able to say, “Though He may slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15).

We also know that God does not always guarantee that we will never suffer or experience death, but He does promise to be with us always. We should learn that in times of trial and persecution our attitude should reflect that of these three young men: “But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:18). Without question, these are some of the most courageous words ever spoken.

Jesus Himself said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Even if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to suffer a horrible, painful death in a burning oven, they refused to abandon God and worship an idol. Such faith has been seen innumerable times throughout the centuries by believers who have suffered martyrdom for the Lord.

Nebuchadnezzar was astonished that the fire did not consume Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He was even more amazed when he saw not three, but a fourth person with them: “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25 NKJV). The point here is that, when we “walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), there may be those times of fiery persecution, but we can be assured that He is with us (Matthew 28:20). He will sustain us (Psalm 55:22; Psalms 147:6). He will ultimately deliver us. He will save us … eternally (Matthew 25:41, 46).

The chief lesson from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is that, as Christians, we will never be able to bring the world to Christ by becoming like it. As did these three men, so should we in revealing to the world a higher power, a greater purpose, and a superior morality, than the world in which we live. If we are put before the fiery furnace, we can reveal the One who can deliver us from it. Remember the powerful, yet comforting words, of the apostle Paul:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Our hope when experiencing illness, persecution, or pain lies in knowing that this life is not the end—there is life after death. That is His promise to all those who love and obey Him. Knowing that we will have eternal life with God enables us to live above the pain and suffering we endure in this life (John 14:23).

What is Your Purpose in Life?

Have you stopped lately to consider what the true purpose for your life is? Only as you understand and embrace your life’s purpose, you become the best you can be. Then you will have the greatest positive impact on the people in your sphere of influence.

When you know your purpose, it gives meaning to your life every day. John Maxwell, international leadership coach, explains that you find yourself when you discover your purpose. On the other hand, he points out that based on Mark 8:34, you lose yourselves when your purpose becomes bigger than yourselves.

In seeking to find and achieve your God-given purpose, consider the need not just to dedicate yourself to what will give the greatest fulfilment in your life, but also to something that is greater than yourself. Of course, the greatest course is to understand and follow God’s plan for your life and this is anchored in The Cross: Jesus’ Divine Exchange.

Of course, this decision will take courage and dedication, and you also need a road-map to guide on your way. So take this seven-step journey that could help you to align your life to the great plan God has for you.

Step 1: Be Determined to Find God’s Purpose for Your Life
God has the purpose for your life and the roadmap to reach it. In fact, the plan that God has for your life is greater than you can ever imagine! You would want to pursue it because you want all that your loving Father has in store for you.

In his best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren explains that knowing our purpose gives meaning to our lives. He points out that each of us was made to have a life of meaning, and with this meaning comes significance and hope.

Begin by asking God to show you his plan for your life. You might not get the whole picture of what he has for you at one time. It is far too big! But as you open your heart, little by little he will unfold it to you. Then, as you move forward, ask God to guide your steps clomid cena. These instructions from King Solomon are very insightful and helpful:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

Do you really want to achieve purpose beyond yourself? Then seek it with all your heart, as Jeremiah 29:13 instructs. Yes, God has a good plan for your life, but to experience and achieve it, you need to cooperate with him. Don’t settle for less than what he has for you, go for greatness! This is not about becoming famous, it’s life with meaning that touches the lives of others.

Focus Verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

Focus Activity: Spend some time and prayerfully consider your present stage of life (teenage, young adult, mid- adult, and so on). Then write down what you believe God wants you to move purposely into.

Prayer: “Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael, thank you that you have a good plan for my life. Today, I ask you to me open my eyes to see it. I trust you to guide me every step of the way. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”

Maximizing Your Youth

“You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; you have to answer to God for every last bit of it” (Eccl 11:9 TM).

You can’t be young twice. The devil knows this very well and that is why he is catching human beings in their youth. He knows that if he can catch them young, he’ll be able to disciple them for evil thereby frustrating the purpose of God for their lives.

But God has His own plan for youths. He knows that the most potent stage of a person’s life is his or her youth and God wants to give everyone a vision to be pursued in life. Both God and the devil are interested in you as a youth. There is a battle that is going on over your destiny as a youth. Satan is contending with God over your life but you have the power to overcome (1John 2:14b). Will you allow satan to win or will you yield your youth, the most important stage of your life, to God?

God wants you to pour your youth into your destiny and not to waste it on pleasure or vanity. Life is too short to be wasted, and too important not to be invested in what God has created you to do on the earth. You don’t have to waste your life doing wrong things under the pretext of youthful exuberance. Focus on God’s purpose for your life and pour your life into it. Divert your youthful energy into productive ventures.  British prime minister and writer, Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), says, “Almost everything that is great has been done by youth.”

But it’s sad today what the devil is doing to youths all over the world especially in our nation. Satan is giving youths wrong focus in entertainment, drug, cultism, sexual immorality and all forms of crime. But these are not what God created these fearfully and wonderfully made youths to do on the earth. (Ps 139:14). God couldn’t have wasted His time to create someone to become a prostitute, drug addict, cultist or kidnapper. No, He has a better purpose in mind but satan has perverted the destiny of a lot of youths giving them wrong focus very early in life. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11 NKJV).

Avoiding life of vanity

The clock of your life is ticking; you have a duty to discover and pursue God’s purpose for your life as a youth and stop being deceived by the fantasy of life that satan is peddling. “My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned to me” (Acts 20:24 NLT).

Your youth isn’t to display your beauty around and engage in nudity. Young lady, how long do you think, you’ll remain a beauty queen? The Bible says, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised” (Prov 31:30 NKJV). No matter all the cosmetics in your vanity-case to look young and beautiful, you won’t get younger. Why don’t you invest your youth in what won’t make you regret when you’re no longer young? Why won’t you live your life as a youth such that later when you reflect on your youth, you’ll be happy?

Paul told Timothy: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim 4:12 NKJV). I say the same thing to you: Don’t despise your youth with ungodly lifestyle and don’t let anyone despise it by luring you to do what is evil; don’t let anyone entice to live a life of sin (Prov 1:10-19).     

Youths are often deceived to think that they must first live their lives to do the wrong things, which they call enjoying themselves, and later in life they can come back to do more serious things meant for those more mature in age. What a lie of the devil! Who tells you that you must first waste your life in “infantile indulgence” (2 Tim 2:22 TM) – youthful lusts – before you begin to find your way back to God later in life? Today is your day! Don’t continue to sow seeds of regrets. That sin you say you’re enjoying now, will rob you of real enjoyment later in life.

Roadmap For Maximizing Your Youth 

Let me share with you briefly some key points that should guide you to live a great life in your youth.

1.Love the Lord with devotion; follow him and his purpose for your life. And the starting point is to give your life to Jesus – be born again in your youth. The rich young ruler in Luke 18:19-23 loved his wealth more than following Jesus, and he went into oblivion – no mention of him in the Bible. Before you finish reading this message, I shall be inviting you to be born again. Make sure you surrender your life to Jesus. Eccl 12:1. “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living” (NLT). That chapter goes ahead to list some things you won’t be able to do when you’re old. Remember your Creator now while you’re young. Solomon warned that you may do whatever you like in the name of enjoying yourself as a youth but you’ll face God’s judgment one day (Eccl 11:9-10). Whoever lives in pleasure is dead while he or she lives (1 Tim 5:6).

2. Worship the Lord in your youth. Offer yourself in entirety to God as a living and holy sacrifice (Rom 12:1). Sing to the Lord, adore him. “…She shall sing there as in the days of her youth…” (Hos 2:15 NKJV). Don’t worship the devil. Start worshiping the Lord in your youth and continue till old age (Psalm 92:14).

3. Obey God’s Word from your youth and avoid evil. The people of Judah didn’t obey God from their youth (Jer 22:21). The same was true of the children of Israel. You must not emulate them.

Avoid anything you’ll be ashamed of later in life or that will bring disgrace to you. Don’t enjoy doing now what won’t make you enjoy in your latter years. “I turned away from God, but then I was sorry. I kicked myself for my stupidity! I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days” (Jer 31:19 NLT). Remember that there are consequences for all actions of man.  Eccl 11:9 says God will bring a young man into judgment for how he lives his life. And that also includes a young woman.

4. Keep your body holy – don’t abuse your body; don’t let anyone defile you in your youth. Beware of sexual sin. Your body is the temple of God; don’t defile it (1 Cor 3:16-17). Flee youthful lusts (2 Tim 2:22). Beware of what you eat; don’t destroy your body with alcohol, drug, junk food, etc. These are associated with different ailments that affect humans; they will defile your body too. Ezek 4:14 says, “… Indeed I have never defiled myself from my youth till now…” (NKJV). Let this be your testimony too. If you’re already exposed to any of these, stop today and secure a healthy future for yourself.

5. Submit to God’s discipline. Lam 3:27 says, “And it is good for the young to submit to the yoke of his discipline” (NLT). The yoke of discipline includes His commandments and correction. Obey God’s commandments and embrace His corrections. His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt 11:29-30). Follow God’s teachings and leadership to enjoy true rest in life.

6. Grow up; don’t be complacent, lazy or at ease. Are you growing up in Christ or you’re growing old? Don’t just grow up in age but grow up spiritually. Psalm 144:12 says, “That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars” (NKJV). “Grown up” there means flourishing. “May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants…” (NLT). 1 Sam 2:26 says the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men. According to Luke 2:40, the Child Jesus also grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Your growth should also be all round.

Jer 48:11 says, “Moab has always taken it easy – lazy as a dog in the sun. Never had to work for a living, never faced any trouble. Never had to grow up, never once worked up a sweat” (TM). Woe to them that are at ease in Zion (Amos 6:1). Don’t live for pleasure. Some things are better done when you’re young.

7. Live your life such that no one will despise your youth. Paul told Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1Tim 4:12 NKJV). What is your manner of life now? Is it something worth emulating? Looking at the way you’re living your life, will responsible adults respect you and recommend you apoteksv.se/?

8. Make your youthful energy and strength available to God while you’re young. Don’t yield your strength to the devil. The days are coming when you won’t be as strong as you’re now. That is the time Ecc 12:1 calls the evil days. Prov 20:29 says the glory of young men is their strengths, so invest yours now in profitable and productive ventures.

9. Choose your company wisely. This is important whether the company has to do with business, social, marital or any other. Success in life is determined by, among other things, the quality of the collection of relationships you have. Wrong relationships in your youth will only ruin your life. Prov 12:26 says, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (NKJV). The company you keep determines a great deal what comes into your life and what you become eventually. Prov 13:20 says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (NKJV).

10. Pursue your God-given dream. Don’t be idle. Invest your youth in the pursuit of God’s vision for your life. I’m not talking about an illusion. Don’t just live to earn a living. You’ll never know fulfillment or joy unless you discover and pour your life into what you were created by God to do in life.

11. Use your God given power of imagination positively from your youth. Somebody has rightly said that the most powerful nation on earth is “I-m-a-g-i-n-a-t-i-o-n.” God Himself tells us early in the Bible the power of human imagination. He said about the sons of men building the Tower of Babel, “nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (Gen 11:6 KJV). And you can use your power of imagination either positively or negatively. Gen 8:21 says, concerning man, that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Let not this be God’s testimony concerning you. According to Luke 1:51, God scatters the proud in the imagination of their hearts. Don’t deploy your power of imagination to pursue evil.

12. Prayerfully choose a spiritual father. You must know who your spiritual father is. You should know your spiritual father’s house in your youth and stay there just as you do your biological father’s house (Num 30:3, 16). This relationship has obligations and benefits on both sides. Don’t wander about without a spiritual father’s input into your life but be careful not to make a wrong choice.

13. Get married and have children in your youth. The youths I’m talking about are youths that are mature for marriage spiritually, physically, emotionally and even financially and don’t have the gift of singleness (1 Cor 7:7).

Mal 2:14-15 speaks of the wife of your youth and Joel 1:8 speaks of the husband of her youth. Prov 5:18 talks about rejoicing with the wife of your youth. According to Psalm 127:4, children born in one’s youth are like arrows in one’s hand.

Unfortunately, when some youths who are mature for marriage are supposed to marry and start their own families, they waste their lives thinking they’re enjoying life engaging in serial sexual relationships – fornication. They think settling down in marriage will rob them of enjoyment! What a delusion! I’m not talking about the serious ones who’re still genuinely trusting God for a husband or wife. The Lord shall answer such people and put an end to their waiting.

Conclusion: Dear young lady, young man, let your desire in your youth be satisfied by God – don’t pander to drug, sex, alcohol, cultism, etc. These will never give you true satisfaction. Psalm 103:5 says,“He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!”(NLT). Renew your strength always in GOD, not in DRUG! Follow the roadmap above, and your youth will be unmistakably maximized.

 TAKE ACTION!

If you’re not born again, you need to make yourself ready for eternity. I urge you to take the following steps:*Admit you’re a sinner and you can’t save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start to attend a Bible-believing, Bible -teaching, soul-winning church. There you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: “Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent and confess my sins. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God.”

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