In God’s Strength

When I choose to live with God, my day is brighter. Many little events make up a day, and when these build up tension it makes for a stressful day; However, without the strain of stress, the day can be enjoyed.

God has designed and created each day. We are called to be thankful and enjoy the gift! Psalm 18:24 says ‘This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.‘

The life lived with God and with His strength is far more bearable. In Matthew 11:30, Jesus says ‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.‘ Jesus takes the burden we should bear and instead gives me love, joy, peace and hope! How can I, with this great gift, choose to carry my burdens? If I choose to live with shame, guilt or sin, I am rejecting God’s gift.

Today I choose to live for God and take the gift of today, giving all my burdens to Jesus.

Rest in God’s Presence

As I was kneeling by my bed listening to worship music, I felt refreshed. I felt the power of God gently flowing into my body, slowly filling me with peace and love. I love this feeling!

You can find peace and rest in God’s presence. If life is too busy, too stressful, or too intense, stop for 30 minutes and focus on God. He will fill you and give you strength to keep going.

Exodus 33:14 says ‘And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”’ In this verse, God is speaking to Moses. God reminds him he is not alone. With God’s presence, rest is found.

Run to Win!

Tonight after a successful night of bible study I was highly motivated. I went to the gym and started thinking. As I lifted weight after weight, I realised at that moment that no single event in my life determines my future. I have to decide every day if I want to run or not. I choose whether to win or lose.

I cannot put my trust in myself, nor can I sit back and do nothing – faith without action is dead. Every day brings new opportunity, and each successful day builds onto the previous ones.

If you are discouraged by what life has dealt you, move past it by kneeling by your bed and praying! Next time life is too much, go back again and pray. Tomorrow may be even harder than today, but again, pray.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.‘

Don’t give up.

Finding Peace

I was in the middle of a lecture at university when I realised I had an assignment that was due 11:00 am that morning! I knew I missed out on those marks already. “How could this happen?” “How could I miss such easy marks?” “I’m stupid.” Voices in my head started yelling at me telling me I am not good enough. However, in the middle of these voices, I had peace. I knew that no matter what happens, God is with me.

It can be so easy to live a life filled with stress, anxiety, fear or doubt. Voices will try to discourage and bring you down when you make mistakes. The better way to live is with peace; it is very freeing! It’s like a bubble of protection is around your heart keeping you safe.

How can this peace be found? Keep your mind and heart with God (daily devotion and prayer achieves this.) Isaiah 26:3 says ‘You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.‘ You will know when your trust is in God because no matter what life throws at you, peace remains.

Love That Never Fails

I was struggling with depression. I found every day hard to manage. I believed in God but didn’t know Him. One night I was alone in my bed. I started praying to God. “God, if you’re real, help me.” All of a sudden, I felt love so powerful I can’t describe it. Every little thing faded away into nothing. All I felt was love!

Are you struggling with depression? Are you finding each day hard to manage? Pray to God and ask Him to give you more love. He is very caring and would love to hear you ask Him!

James 4:8 says ‘Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.‘ Rather than being distracted by everything around me, I choose to draw near to God and meet Him where I am.

What are you filled with?

At around the age of 18, I went to one night of a youth camp. A guest speaker was preaching about being filled with God. Afterwards, I knelt for prayer and just started crying out to God, asking Him to fill me. As I was kneeling people began praying for me. The feeling of God filling me intensified. After a little time, I started to feel normal again and thought that must be it. I thought God filled me, but He had more. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said ‘Caleb if you want more, press in harder.’ I started praying again, and tears continued to flow even more freely. After repeating this process four or five times, I was a wreak. I looked terrible! (I know because I went to the bathroom after and looked in the mirror. I was shocked at how bad I looked!) I had given everything I had to God. At that time, I felt so close to God I could feel every little uncaring comment and each rude remark. I felt all my senses on high alert, each one pouring love. I have never felt closer to God all my life. There has never been a time before or after that has been even close.

How hungry are you? Are you willing to put everything out there? Are you ready to surrender everything to God and trust Him to fill you, or are you too busy? Do you want a life-changing experience, or are you comfortable with your current relationship with God?

Revelation 3:20 says ‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.‘ In this verse, Jesus is talking. He desperately wants a relationship with you! Regardless of your current position with God, if you open your heart, even more, God will respond.

Not Quite According to Plan…

Last night I led the discussion for a bible study. To say it didn’t quite go to plan is an understatement. By my measures, it was a complete failure! There was no flow, no depth, no participation. After the night was over and everyone left, I talked with the other leader and discussed what went wrong. What we discovered were many reasons that all added up. In the end, though, we decided not to let it get to us. The experience especially shook me, but I had to get over it! Life is not perfect, but God and His love for me is! My worth is not found in how well I lead, but God’s love for me!

Jeremiah 29:11 says ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.‘ God has plans for me, and He does not restrict them because of one failure.

Luke 12:6-7 says ‘Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.‘ God sees exceptional value in me, but not only me; His love is for everyone!

I am encouraged that God loves me just the same, and no matter what other people think, that will never change. God’s love is not just for me, though; it is for everyone!

Surrender

When I was in school, I liked to follow the path of least resistance. This path is simply choosing the most comfortable option for every decision. When I should have studied, I chose to read a book, or play outside, or talk to family, or do anything but study. The problem is, this behaviour made me undisciplined. Later in life, I would have to face this problem.

It is always convenient, but not beneficial to pick the path of least resistance. Why do you think fast food exists? The most comfortable choice always looks very appealing. The life God has for me does not have much in common with the path of least resistance. This life, one filled with love, is not easy to follow. Every day I choose to surrender myself to God. I accept what His plan is for this day.

Galatians 2:20 says ‘I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.‘ Surrendering each day may not be easy, but it is worth it.

I now live by faith in Jesus!

The Good Shepherd

When I was in high school, my teacher asked me what I aspired to do when I grew up. I wanted to make a lot of money, so I considered training to be an astronaut, a mechanic or an IT professional. The problem was, these careers were all my idea of success. They were good ideas, but not necessarily God’s idea.

Ten years later, I am praying every day that God will place his desires for me in my heart. I ask that He leads me and directs my path. I know I will never find fulfilment and meaning by chasing my dreams. The world tells me to do what makes me happy, but the problem is that what makes me truly happy is not what I want to do, but rather, what God wants me to do. I only find real purpose in God.

Psalm 23:1 says “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This verse brings me peace because it reminds me to trust in God as he leads me on the path He set for me.

Choosing the Narrow Path

When I was a boy, I found many ways to test my parent’s patience. I examined the boundaries while trying to find a new way to be entertained. One day I thought it would be fun to ‘prank call’ the police. Afterwards, I thought nothing of it until an officer came and visited the residence to find out what happened! As it turned out nothing was wrong, he left.

Now I am older I know not to create false alarms just for fun, but sometimes I find myself looking for the next fun thing. I know I don’t live for pleasure, but the way of this world is to live this way. As a Christian, I need to choose the narrow path of discipline, love, compassion and following God.

Matthew 7:13-14 says “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.“