Devotional Snippet:Encouragement

I'm currently reading the book,Ministry of Healing and it's been a blessing.Jesus loves you and I friend.This morning I read two chapters for my morning devotion.All I can say is,make time for God.There is encouragement in reading God's Word-even when weary and at the blink of giving up,the Word of God always impresses the heart and the fainting spirit is changed into joy and encouragement.In fact,the reason Jesus was able to live a holy life and be a blessing to mankind is because He spent time communing with God before the day's work and after ministering to others.The statements below have blessed me and I pray they bless you too :).Join me as I read Ministry of Healing.

"In a life wholly devoted to the good of others, the Saviour found it necessary to turn aside from ceaseless activity and contact with human needs, to seek retirement and unbroken communion with His Father. As the throng that had followed Him depart, He goes into the mountains, and there, alone with God, pours out His soul in prayer for these suffering, sinful, needy ones"-The Ministry of Healing,Chapter 3:With Nature and With God,p.58

"All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God. In them is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practices; and they need to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God. Amidst the hurrying throng, and the strain of life's intense activities, he who is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men's hearts."-The Ministry of Healing,Chapter 3:With Nature and With God,p.58

"Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness, cast themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate Saviour. Look not to self, but to Christ. He who healed the sick and cast out demons when He walked among men is still the same mighty Redeemer. Then grasp His promises as leaves from the tree of life: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. As you come to Him, believe that He accepts you, because He has promised. You can never perish while you do this--never. "-The Ministry of Healing,Chapter 4:The Touch of Faith,p.66 

"When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask; but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "-p.70 

" The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15. He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord "telleth the number of the stars;" and yet "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:4, 3.

Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be open for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon your Burden Bearer.
Circumstances may separate friends; the restless waters of the wide sea may roll between us and them. But no circumstances, no distance, can separate us from the Saviour. Wherever we may be, He is at our right hand, to support, maintain, uphold, and cheer. Greater than the love of a mother for her child is Christ's love for His redeemed. It is our privilege to rest in His love, to say, "I will trust Him; for He gave His life for me."
Human love may change, but Christ's love knows no change. When we cry to Him for help, His hand is stretched out to save.
"The mountains may depart,
And the hills be removed;
But My loving-kindness shall not depart from thee,
Neither shall My covenant of peace be removed,
Saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee."
Isaiah 54:10, A.R.V."
-The Ministry of Healing,Chapter 4:The Touch of Faith,pp.71,72

Don't stay on the ground

There's been times when I've fallen to sin and I'd feel so discouraged and ashamed.But what keeps me going is knowing I have an advocate who  is 'able to cleanse from all unrighteousness' and extends the invitation to me,saying,"confess your sins"(1 John 1:9).

So,even if you've fallen into the sin of harbouring evil feelings towards others,or you've fallen into fornication or you've stolen or you're struggling with an addiction,God is able.There is NO habit that God can not take us away from,even if it's a sexual sin,pornography,or drugs.In fact,Jesus died to save us 'from our sins'-meaning he died so that we can be free from the bondage of sin.So,bring your sin to Him-even if it's 'red as a scarlet' because He is able to make you 'white as snow'.

It's not plain-sailing but it is possile because 'what is impossible with man,is possible with God.' Last year,I had a problem with TV-as I spent the whole year at home and I didn't have much to do away from the house.Initially,I'd go to the library everyday or I'd stay in 'my' room.But after sometime,I fell.It got bad to the extent where I'd watch TV till the early hours of morning.I'd even miss my devotion and fail to do Sabbath preparations in time.

I prayed and I made a decided choice to not  ever watch TV.And guess what?I happen to stay in a room with a TV set and a roommate who's very fond of TV.At first I'd watch it,but there will be something that would clash with God's principles-so I ended up hating it.Now,I cannot stand watching TV and I feel sad on behalf of those who watch it.Yes,it passes time;but not in anything resourceful(but ofcourse national geographic is resourceful).Instead,you end up having to fight over impure thoughts or images you've seen.And I thank God for helping me.

I can go on counting other things the Lord has helped me to let go off-like secular music etc.My point is,God is already willing to help us from our sinful ways;it all depends on us.We have to make a decided change not to sin again.To avoid situations that will place us in the same sin.

Get up,Jesus is still your advocate!Ask for forgiveness and leave the sin today.Jesus told the adulterous woman to 'go and sin no more'.The reason Jesus commanded it is because He knew it's do-able and she(we) could do it.And nowhere in the Bible do we find an account of her caught in sin again.

Jesus is able to do the same for us,he is able to present us "spotless and without blemish" only as we work together with him and we make a decided effort not to give in;only as we subject every thought,word,action to God's will.

"His biddings are enablings!"

COMFORT FOR A WEAK SOUL :-)

What we fail to tell others when one accepts Jesus in his/her life is,life won't be a fairytale.But in the midst of discouragement,heartache and pain,Jesus will be there to bring comfort and "peace that passeth all understanding".In fact,as I was reading this week's Sabbath school lesson I realised that as christians,we should expect suffering.We are not immune to it,but we've got strength to withstand it.Which reminds me,Scripture has all these promises that bring comfort to the soul,and for me,there are two verses that do that for me:


1 Corinthians 10:13

New International Version (NIV)


13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.


Isaiah 26:3

New International Version (NIV)



3 You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.

JUST AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR A SOUL FEELING DISCOURAGED

The past few months haven't been easy for me.I've been facing a lot of doubtful moments;but through it all,I was comforted by the Holy Spirit through God's Word .

He reminded me:
Dissappointments,heartache,failure,tears,weariness,sickness,doubt,spiritual drought will come,BUT these are not reasons to give up .He went on to remind me how God led the Israelites as a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud during the day,providing manna from Heaven.He reminded me how God opened the red sea for them and kept their clothes over a period of 40 years.

I was reminded of how God led Abraham,provided for Joseph and Daniel in foreign Lands, kept Jonah inside the Belly of a fish,how he kept Noah in the ark and how he saved Lot during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.


He went on to remind me how Jesus fed multitudes with 2 loaves and 5 fish,how Jesus restored sight to the blind,health to the sick,sound to the def .How Jesus turned ordinary water into unfermented wine.How he restored the life of the alduterous woman in John 8:1-11 ,and quenched the thirst of the Samaritan woman(John 4:5-32)

And He quoted Jesus' words “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) and my peace was restored .
He went an extra mile of reminding me "what is impossible with man,is possible with GOD"~Luke 18:27.In fact,He reminded me of a conversation that took place between Jeremiah and God,where God asked,"Is there anything too hard for me?"~Jeremiah 32:27 and an answer came forth " Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.~Jeremiah 32:17

And lastly,those who trust in the Lord cannot be moved~PSALM 125:1 !
Yes,trials will come.You might be going through one now:but Jesus said: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."..Remember,dear friend,''With Jesus in the vessels,you can smile at the storm"
What's even more comforting,Jesus went through every trial and even more,so he knows how we feel.In fact,He's the ONLY One who really know and can relate to everything we go through "16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[a] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."~Hebrews 2:16-18.
And Isaiah 53 even paints the picture clear !

Be blessed and spend much time in prayer and study of God's Word for this is where strength comes from :).