Getting Acquainted With Quietness
Let us not fall into the traps of avoiding quietness, but seeing from Jesus’ example that getting away from the “noise” is a necessity, just as He goes to desolate places and up mountains to pray alone. When we start enjoying our quietness with the Lord, we can search the depths of our souls, hear God’s voice, constantly reexamine ourselves and go back to our daily living, leaving no foothold for Satan to work on us through the “noise”.
Beware Of Misrepresentation By The Media
Recently, a lady pastor was slammed by netizens for a post she made about helping believers overcoming sexual temptation. While the whole message was essentially about holiness and purity, a suggestion made by her about how sisters can dress modestly, were met with very provoking and nasty comments from readers. Thereafter, the online media came in with misrepresented reporting. As believers, how should we view this whole incident? How should we make calibrated judgment on what the liberal media is reporting?
Pruned By The Gardener
The way God works in each of us is creatively different and subjective. But the heart of it all is the same, He loves you, He prunes you, lest you be entangled by more accumulation of temptations and worries that drag you away from having an eternal mindset set on things above as a child of God should.
A Hard Look At Ravi Zacharias’ Sex Scandal
Recently, the Christian world has been shaken by the sex scandal of the much renowned and revered Apologist, Ravi Zacharias. There are questions arising from his fall, and many have tried to derive perspective with regards to the matter, for all good reasons. While it is not new to see such things happen, how should we, as Christians or people who have built our faith from Ravi’s teachings, find reconciliation with such a devastating news?
Growing More God-Reliant In Faith
We, by our human nature, have a tendency to rely on something. However, unless our reliance is placed in the Lord and Lord alone, we will be met with many hurts, troubles, disappointments and unnecessary issues, because when we, who are limited, rely on another limited source, we will not be satisfied and fully assured.
The God Who Reveals And Intervenes
Amidst the past one year, we look to scientists, governments, economists, or any so called great renowned figures who could shed some lights or point the way. Yet, it is the God of heaven who reveals and intervenes. Let’s return to the Bible to receive a discerning mind about what is happening in the world today.
Our Waymaker
“God will make a way.” Yet, when we are right in the middle of being stuck or in the ditches of life, these words seem to feel limp and lifeless. However, if we are unsure or still seeking out God’s way in our lives now, know that we are already on His path and there is surely goodness in His leading as we test and affirm His purposes and our spiritual needs over our worldly needs.
Ordeals are to Drive Us to God, Not to Sin
Often, during trials and ordeals, people tend to fall into a deep sense of self-pity, which may in turn lead them to justify that it is alright for them to indulge in certain sins to relieve themselves. They feel God should understand why they are being a bit loose to gratify their desires, as life is too hard for them. Now, this is a very dangerous mindset. Our ordeals should not be the basis to justify our sins, but they are opportunities for us to cling closer to God and trust Him more.
It Takes Time
It is a wonderful thing to pursue a God-driven spiritual life, to progress in areas that God has prepared for us. But let us always firstly take time to test and approve with the Lord, to be guarded by His leading, so that we will not easily panic should there be “stormy waters”. Take time with the Lord first.
Guilty Of Self Idolatry?
The Bible warns us that during the last days, people will be “lovers of themselves…rather than lovers of God”. It correctly points out our tendency to love ourselves above God. Even among churchgoers today, we notice a subtle trend of self-worship taking a form of “Christian consumerism”, where Christians think that church exists to serve them, rather than God. Instead of asking “Is God pleased with me?” or “How can I live for God?”, people are more concerned with “What can God give me?” While we should love ourselves, we need to note that our love of self can become destructive, if we consider the “self” as more important than God.
