Do you sometimes wish you could return the day? Just get a refund or a credit for another day 😄 😅
You think, “Hey, Day, I see you. You’re what the Lord made so you’re good, but I’m not down with you like that. I do not feel like rejoicing and being glad in you.”
That was me today. I wanted an exchange for a brand new sparkly one, complete with enhancements and favourable circumstances. I was over today before it even started!
So what do you do when that happens? You’ve decided today is a write-off. What next?
Well, here’s a recipe I’m trying:
Start with discernment
Recognise that what you’re thinking and feeling is natural but also comes from a broken place. It’s coming from your flesh – that part of all of us, our mortal bodies, which is inconsistent with God’s will and design. It places comfort, relief and pleasures at very high and detrimental levels yet accomplishes nothing. John 6:63 tells us that the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
Add copious amounts of grace
We’re called to show grace, not just to others, but to ourselves. Be kind and compassionate with yourself. Show yourself some love, mercy and forgiveness (Romans 12:10, James 2:13).
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Show up anyway
Decide to show up despite whatever is happening then find ways to do so. This photo popped up on my radar this morning just when I needed it and I think it’s very spot on and on-brand with giving oneself grace in showing up:
Ask for help
Let’s be honest, sometimes you do your best and find it still falls short. Ouch. Lucky for us, we have a Helper to assist us (John 15:26) and therefore we can do all things through Christ who gives us courage and strength.
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
So ask God for help and ask people, too.
Garnish with joy and gladness
This one is a difficult one when the going gets tough. Yet this is exactly what Jesus commands. He gives us peace that passes understanding and joy that transcends less-than-ideal days. Philippians 4:4,7 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
It’s midday now, and this recipe has been working for me. I think it’s actually turning out to be a good day after all. I’m glad I didn’t write it off.
What about you? What do you do when you feel like throwing the day away 🚮 ?
When I first got saved, I began noticing changes in myself, how I carried myself and lived my life.
Some changes were major while others seemed minor. Some happened gradually, and others almost instantaneously. Certain transformations were so subtle that I did not even notice them until someone pointed them out or God brought them to my attention.
I must say, though, that some of the relatively minor shifts surprised me at first. But I came to understand that Jesus transforms us from the inside out, completely and holistically. He cares about every detail of our lives, both big and small. Nothing escapes His attention.
Here are a few of those unexpected changes I noticed:
Returning to Childhood Lessons – Not Eating While Walking
One of the first things I realised was that I suddenly stopped eating while walking in public. Growing up, my parents – especially my father – strongly discouraged it. Even eating while standing was not encouraged in our home. I can still hear daddy telling me, “Why don’t you grab a plate instead, then sit down to eat properly?”
But when I moved out and started living on my own, I naturally relaxed some of those rules. I started allowing myself to walk about and eat when “the occasion called for it”. I’d buy a pie or ice cream while running errands or just out and about. Sometimes, I’d be running late and grab a piece of fruit or a sandwich “for the road” and eat it as I went on my way.
Over time, those exceptions became habitual.
Then, after I got saved, I noticed this habit fell away. It was like an unconscious return to the lessons my parents taught me. While I still make an exception occasionally, eating while walking about or standing is no longer my norm.
And just to be clear, this is not a judgment on anyone. It was simply one of the personal changes I noticed in myself.
Improved Handwriting
Another thing I noticed was how my handwriting seemed to improve overnight!
I wasn’t practicing or intentionally trying to write more neatly; it just happened! I started writing more clearly, neatly and even straighter on unruled paper.
I remember taking notes one day and suddenly realizing, “Wait… my handwriting looks different.”
It genuinely pleased me because neat handwriting had always been difficult for me. Even when I made an effort, it never came naturally. But after getting saved, it felt as though the effort required became much less while the results improved significantly.
Nowadays, I don’t have many opportunities to write by hand much anymore. So I guess my handwriting has taken a bit of a hit as a result. Still, it remains one of those small but meaningful reminders of how God was working in me in ways I never expected.
A New Appreciation for Creation
Another interesting change was how I began seeing insects, reptiles and small creatures differently.
Before, I would have thought nothing of killing bugs or moths out of annoyance or fear. My perspective shifted as I began to see God in everything.
I began to see annoying or scary creatures as part of God’s beautiful creation. They are a reflection of His creative wisdom – the diversity and beauty He chose to inject into His design. As a result, I became less fearful and more appreciative of most creatures. I say most because I still really dislike mosquitoes, cockroaches and flies.
I remember seeing a grasshopper thrashing about in a pool as I was swimming with my friend one day. I went out of my way to rescue it. This is something I probably wouldn’t have done previously. I’d have left it to its fate, reluctant to touch it. It amazed me how salvation softened certain parts of my heart in unexpected ways.
Conviction in Everyday Conduct
Lastly, at my first job, I had a long three-hour commute – two connecting trains, then a minibus taxi each way, totalling about 1.5 hours. By the end of the workday, I would be exhausted. So whenever the carriage wasn’t full, I’d put my feet up on the seat opposite me and either read or chat on my phone or just be alone with my thoughts.
Over time, this habit faded, no matter how tired I was. I started feeling uncomfortable doing it, regardless of whether the carriage was full or not. I began to find it inconsiderate and undignified. This was surprising, and if I’m honest, a little annoying to me at first, but it soon became second nature.
Again, this is not me condemning anyone who does it. It was simply one of those personal changes in mindset and conduct that naturally developed after I gave my life to Christ.
There were many other little changes I noticed, too:
I’ve always disliked littering, but I eventually found myself picking up litter left behind by other people. I started cleaning spaces I hadn’t messed up. Even though I strongly dislike washing dishes, it somehow became an act of service whenever we had church gatherings or events. I became more mindful about how I leave spaces for others.
I am far from perfect, and I am certainly not trying to blow my own horn. If anything, these changes remind me that transformation is God’s work, not mine. I believe God transformed me and He is still perfecting me. Anyone who knew me before would understand why these examples are indeed a testimony.
God truly transforms the whole person from the inside out. Every detail that makes up who we are matters to Him.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" – 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
I love this about Jesus – how intentional He is and how nothing escapes His attention. He cares deeply about every aspect of our lives – every habit, every attitude, every fibre of our being.
There is something incredibly comforting about that. It reminds us that we can trust Him fully, knowing that the God who cares about the smallest details of our lives will surely be faithful with the bigger things too.
Dismay! Now that’s a word we hardly use in day-to-day communication. What is it?!
Dismay is the loss of courage, enthusiasm or resolve. It is the state of being disillusioned, discouraged or disappointed. It could be caused by fear, fatigue, disappointment/being let down, or deferred hope (the thing you were trusting in not panning out) to name a few common reasons.
I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been there a time or two in our lives, what with the high demands and pressures of our contemporary lifestyles.
So what do we do? Isaiah 41:10 NIV reads:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
In the passage, we’re presented with two commands along with two remedies to address the problem:
1. Do not be afraid
In the Bible, when God instructs people not to fear, He often follows it with “I am with you”. That is because He is the remedy to fear. He is the solution. How? For starters, He is perfect love. And “there is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear (1 John 4:18a AMP). Second, Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33 NIV) and has given you that same victory through your trust in Him.
So whatever terrifying person, thing or circumstance you’ll ever face, He’s already overcome it. Lastly, His presence and His help are always at hand. All you have to do is ask, believe and receive.
2. Do not be dismayed
God says do not dismayed because I AM your God. What does God being your personal Lord and Saviour, your God, have to do with feeling discouraged or losing enthusiastic energy or being disappointed? For one, He is awesome, amazing, kind, good, loving and unchanging. That means you can run to Him and delight in who He is. It’s hard to remain discouraged around a person like that. He is also wonderful Counselor and Helper. He will advise you and help you out because that’s who He is. He promises to “strengthen you, help you and affirm and elevate you with my righteous right hand.
Of course, it’s not always easy, in the moment, to just stop being afraid or dismayed. Here are three practical things you can do that will help you:
i) Be Still
God is speaking all the time. He is always present and mindful of you. He knows how things will unfold long before they do. More than that, He makes a way for you to overcome out of His great love and consideration for you. 2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT says The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. The previous verse reminds one how God is willing and able to deliver even when the odds are stacked against you. So, intentionally focus on the Lord’s presence, His character, His promises and what He has done in the past. Choose to commit your heart fully to Him. He’ll give you strength to overcome just like He promised in Isaiah 41:10.
ii) Pray continuously
1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. This tells us that prayer should be a natural state of being. It’s not just the words we speak, although those are valuable. Think of your involuntary bodily functions like breathing, digestion and your heartbeat. You do not have to consciously think about them. They automatically happen throughout the day, keeping you alive. The moment one stops, you’ll likely expire not long after that if nothing changes.
Prayer should be like that – an automatic and consistent function. You’re aware of Jesus at all times and you automatically speak or respond to Him as a natural part of your existence.
You automatically look for Him. You yield to His guidance and direction. You seek His will. You rest in Him in all things and at all times. That’s how you experience the fullness of life in Him. Without that continual fellowship, spiritual death starts to set in and flow to other areas of your life.
iii) Praise and Worship
Lifting up God’s holy name, acknowledging Him and giving Him praise and adoration can radically shift your outlook, your mood and even your present circumstances. Worship and praise are life-giving. They prime you to hear from God and receive what He has for you. God is always present – surrounding you and living with you if you’re born again. That doesn’t mean you’re always tapped into His presence. Your house may have plumbing but unless you open a tap, you have no access to water. It’s effectively useless to you. Praise and worship enable you to tap into and experience God’s presence. It’s like opening a tap and allowing Him in. Psalm 22:3 states that God inhabits the praises of His people. So sign or speak God’s praises. Offer Him your adoration and admiration. Reflect on His loving kindness and goodness. Praise and worship and watch things shift.
You may also find more tips here. What other practical ways do you find helpful? Don’t keep them to yourself; sharing is caring. So please comment and share.
A beautiful yet unexpected thing happened to me recently.
I was sitting in class at Bible college, listening to the final teaching for the day. While it was a great class, it wasn’t out of the ordinary as far as classes at the college go. They’re consistently rich and engaging.
Because I always walk away blessed after each teaching, I’m usually expectant when I listen to them. Yet, I didn’t anticipate what happened next…
As I was taking notes, I felt God gently drawing my attention. He prompted me to stop writing and simply pay attention. His “drawing my attention” feels like everything around me fading into the background, becoming ‘distant’ and less important as my awareness shifts.
Everything within becomes still and quiet – my thoughts, my emotions – as my focus automatically rests on something very specific. And so, that happened as I stopped writing. I thought the next thing(s) the speaker would say would jump out at me and perhaps become more meaningful and personal to me.
Instead, I felt something bubbling and rising up inside. It was the unmistakable, lavish, and deep love of God flooding me.
It’s hard to explain, but I’ll do my best. It felt like a warmth welling up within me and radiating outwards to my whole body, and a cool sensation resting on me externally – especially around my arms and skin. Yet it was so much more than just a sensation or feeling. It felt like pure love filling me up.
I could feel my heavenly Dad’s presence so strongly that tears filled my eyes, and I remember saying to Him, “I’m coming undone.” Yet, it wasn’t like I was unravelling – it felt like I was opening up. As I leaned into the moment and let it wash over me, God’s love and presence and joy soaked my soul. It felt like such an affirmation. Like being chosen. Like being seen.
It felt like being known more intimately than I can even fathom. It felt entirely new and yet so familiar.
Afterwards, I went back to my notes to look at what was being said when this happened. Had Jesus been drawing me to a specific message in the teaching? But I sensed God saying that it wasn’t about the lesson specifically. He was making His manifest presence known and blessing my heart simply because He wanted to. He just wanted to affirm me and pour out His love on me.
It was a beautiful expression of unfailing love for love’s sake alone.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8 NIV
In this Bible verse, the operative word is ‘like’. While it likens the devil to a lion, it doesn’t say the devil is actually a lion. It tells us that the devil walks about as if he were a lion, roaring and looking for prey.
But we know something …
There is only one Lion. And that is The Lion of Judah.
In the not-so-distant past, I heard a revelation about this verse that has since become my own. The speaker had travelled to South Africa and had gone on safari – as one does. They learnt that in a pride of lions, there can only be one Alpha.
At times, though, there may be juveniles in the pride who wish to challenge the Alpha but do not have the strength or the ability to do so. So, they stand off at a distance and roar loudly.
However, it’s not a true challenge to the Alpha. It can’t be. The juvenile doesn’t have the authority, the power, the capacity to back it up. The devil is the juvenile lion, wanting to challenge God but unable to. He’s a defeated foe. So, he goes after God’s children instead.
I was sharing this revelation with my mum and saying, “In essence, he’s a toothless lion.” She laughed and said, “He’s a paper lion.” I found that quite amusing and we laughed about it. But the words stayed with me long after that conversation.
What I didn’t know is that they would become a revelation to me and minister to my soul more than I could have imagined then. Because a toothless lion is still a lion. It still has some power. It has claws and brute strength. The mere thought of encountering one can still strike fear.
A paper lion on the other hand has no power whatsoever. It’s not real. It’s a counterfeit.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. - Colossians 2:15 NIV
Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, took away the power of the enemy of our souls completely through the finished work on the cross. On our own, we’re powerless, helpless, defeated. In Christ, we are victorious. That is why He, being God Himself, chose to lay down His life to set us free from the trap that sin placed us in.
We do not have to be afraid, even when things go south. When we face trials and tribulations, we know we have ultimate victory. We have an inheritance in Christ. Love, joy, and peace never depart, irrespective of circumstances. Goodness and mercy pursue relentlessly and overtake. Always!
We do not cower or turn back. Ever. We take a stand! And when everything is said and done, we’re found standing. We have life and life in abundance. In high school, I had a teacher who used to like saying that empty vessels are the most sonorous. The loudest.
The juvenile lion roars so loudly, at a distance, but it knows it has no substance. The Alpha stepped in for once and for all. We could either accept or reject that truth, but there is no undoing it.
Beloved, if you haven’t already, I implore you to accept it. Ask Jesus to show you, to teach you. If you have already accepted this Good News, ask for a deeper revelation and watch and see what the King of kings will do!
I invite you to pray the prayer at the end.
Love,
Dear Jesus, Thank you so much that you love me. Thank you for dying for me on the cross. You took away my sin and shame; I have absolutely no guilt now. I ask you to completely take over every aspect of my life. I place myself, my whole heart and my life in your hands. Show me what life in abundance looks like. Please give me a deeper revelation of You and Your finished work on the cross for my sake. Teach me Your Truth and Your Ways. Again, thank you. I look forward to all that you have in store for me with anticipation. Amen and amen 🙏🏾
Today, out of the blue, I found myself reflecting on the special bond between a grandparent and a grandchild – more specifically, a grandmother and granddaughter. Naturally, my thoughts turned to my Bestie, remembering her fondly. While the memory brought a tear or two to my eyes, it didn’t carry the same pain or guilt or condemnation I carried just four months ago.
When she passed, the pain of grief came, as it does. That’s natural. As a Christian, a woman whose confidence and faith are anchored in Christ and the life eternal He promises, I grieved with expectant hope. It wasn’t a crippling grief. But there was another kind of pain I carried, though – one that lingered for months.
I struggled with the fact that I wasn’t there to close her eyes when the time came.
I was nearly 900km away when then. Messages came in from my family with her: She is deteriorating rapidly; she is very sick. I began making plans to travel to her, and I prayed.
Then came another message – this time from God: Pray for healing.
I was surprised. She was almost 97, and to my understanding, people her age didn’t recover from stroke and serious illness. It seemed unlikely. Yet, I believed and I rejoiced. I prayed for healing as instructed and watched and waited to see what God would do.
He came through – she improved for some time.
But then, she declined again. The day before she passed, I called home. Something told me to ask my mum to place the phone next to her ear so I could speak to her. I didn’t. I figured it might strain her. I wasn’t even sure she could hear me. Little did I know that that was the last opportunity I’d have to speak with her.
The next day, the news of her transition to glory came.
That was about a week before I was set to travel home. Instead, I travelled that same day, my heart broken that I didn’t get to see her one last time, and she didn’t get to see me in her hour of need. That thought stayed with me for months – six, to be exact.
It brought guilt. Questions. I questioned whether I’d heard correctly from my Heavenly Dad. I questioned my ability to discern His voice. I even questioned the state of my heart. I replayed everything, over and over, trying to make sense of it all. I prayed for answers and none seemed to come. But I knew better.
I knew Who to turn to and why. I didn’t lose faith, although I did not feel as secure in it as before. I kept going to church. I kept reading my Bible. I kept praying through the difficulty. I chose to hold on to God, knowing He’s dependable and makes no mistakes. I even continued to I believe what I heard Him say. I told myself, “Healing comes in many forms.” Yet, at times, my mind would wage war against me as I reflected on the whole matter.
But God…
God proved stronger than every thought, every doubt, every ache I carried. He is still in the business of binding up the broken-hearted and comforting those who weep (Isaiah 61:1 NKJV). He still brings back to life that which is dead; He still mends that which is broken (Psalm 147:3 NIV). In my life, God has taught me – and He’s taught me well – that He is the answer.
Jesus is the answer to it all.
He’s the One. He alone is my inheritance, my portion. He is my defence, my fortress, my stronghold. In Him, I find everything I need. He provides what I don’t know how to ask for, and what I don’t even yet realize I need. He is my treasure, my source. He is my answer to every question, every need, every situation.
And so, I cried out to the Lord, and He heard me! It wasn’t a one-time moment this time, although in the past, it has been. I returned to the throne of my King again and again, weeping at His feet. In my mind, I knew for a fact that I carried no guilt. Yet my heart needed the touch of my Master Physician, Jehovah Rapha. And He met me there!
Sometime in December, during church service, I cried one last time. And in that moment, I just knew – I was leaving it all at the altar. I walked out feeling renewed and refreshed. The thing which had held this power over me lost all its power. I was smiling again, deep, genuine joy radiating from within. I once again felt the lightness of being and freedom that only Christ can bring.
Truth be known, God had been offering that peace and freedom all along. Until the end of time, that offer remains!
It’s yours and mine for the taking. I encourage you, if you need it, reach out and receive it. If something stands in your way – guilt or condemnation or regret or erroneous thinking – keep crying out to the Lord. His mercy is great. He will surely answer your call:
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7: 8-11 NKJV
When I meet people from the same family, I enjoy observing both the similarities and the differences between them. I suppose I was socialised that way. Growing up, I spent a fair amount of time accompanying my parents. Whenever I was with my mum and we met someone new, they would often say, “You look so much alike.”
Then they’d meet my dad and quickly change their minds. “Oh, no. I was mistaken. You definitely look like your dad,” they’d say. It happened so often that my standard response to anyone who said I resembled my mum became, “Wait till you see Daddy.”
The other day, in that same spirit, I found myself delighting in noticing the similarities between my heavenly Father and me. Just for fun, I began to count the ways I resemble Him – not in the usual “spiritual” sense, but in literal, everyday expressions. I was delighted to quickly find three.
1. A Love for Gardening
I love to garden. It’s a passion I never imagined I’d have. It seemed to develop out of nowhere. I grew some corn when I was 12, but that was about it. After that, I managed to kill everything I tried to grow including mint and cacti! I concluded I didn’t have green fingers and stopped trying.
Then, in 2014, a friend gifted me an arum lily. I did everything I could to keep it alive and, to my pleasant surprise, it flourished under my care. That small success made me reconsider my earlier conclusion, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Incidentally, my Dad is also a gardener:
The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. - Genesis 2:8 NKJV
Beyond speaking the myriad of plants, trees and flowers into being, we hear that God literally planted a garden in Eden before placing Adam there. Jesus also refers to our Father as a Gardner in John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
So, when I tend to my plants – planting, nurturing, watching things grow – I am, in a very real sense, being just like my Dad. That thought brings me such joy and satisfaction; it makes me enjoy gardening even more. God honours me in my gardening too. Not only does He bless the work of my hands, He gave me a vision of a garden, a gift purely for my enjoyment.
2. The Joy of Cooking
Cooking is my happy place. I love every part of the process: selecting fresh, quality ingredients; deciding what to create; choosing the right cooking method(s); then marrying the ingredients to form something each ingredient could never have dreamed of becoming on its own.
What’s more, cooking is about nourishing and providing sustenance in addition to bringing people together. That certainly reflects God’s nature and ways. However, I wanted to focus on a literal example.
So, I present to you, Jesus braaiing (barbecuing) at the beach:
Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. - John 21:9 NKJV
I am convinced that Jesus is an excellent cook. Being fully God – all-knowing, attentive, intentional and all-wise – how could He not be?! When He invited the disciples, “Come and eat breakfast,” they weren’t surprised that He’d prepared a meal. His presence astonished them, understandably, but not His cooking.
And what about Elijah being fed by the angel of the Lord (1 Kings 19:5-8)? Perhaps God preparing a table before us is not limited to a symbolic sense. What if culinary arts have a place in heaven? I’m persuaded cooking is heavenly. And when I prepare meals, nourish others, and use food as a blessing, I am being just like my Dad.
One example is when God made some leather outfits for Adam and Eve:
Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. - Genesis 3:21 NKJV
God made garments. He clothed them. That’s sewing! And His craftsmanship? Unmatched. Just consider the detailed instructions He gave for the priestly garments in Exodus 28 – 31! Astounding in their precision, uniqueness and beauty. And when I sew, I reflect that same creative impulse, however small my expression may be.
That is the cloth from which I am cut. I am deeply blessed and endlessly delighted to know this.
The Temple Tax (Two-drachma Tax) After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” Matthew 17:24-27 NIV
As I was reading from the passage above this morning, a thought popped into my head. Why didn’t Jesus just click his fingers and have a coin magically appear in His or Peter’s hands?
He could just as easily have done that. I mean, nothing is impossible with God, right?!
Well, to start, Jesus is not showy like that. He does not act in ways that are designed to attract attention and impress people. Doing it that way would almost be like a magician trying to entertain and amaze people and that is not Jesus’ MO! In all His ways, He is humble and intentional about how He does things.
I’m convinced that the means justify the ends with Him. Which brings me to the next point. Why fishing specifically? Why not mould a clay jar, tip it and find a coin inside? Well, God reminded me that Peter was a fisherman by trade. So, it’s quite intentional that He sent Peter to go and fish. I imagine that if Peter was a baker by trade, Jesus would have instructed him to bake a loaf of bread, cut it open, and find a coin inside it.
God uses our natural skillset and our experience to do what He calls us to do. He chooses to partner with us where we are at to accomplish His purposes. It usually takes the ordinary things we are already capable of doing, coupled with our faith and obedience. This is how God often chooses to perform miracles.
Look at the first recorded miracle at the wedding in Cana, Galilee in John 2:1-12. Jesus instructed the servers there to fill jars with water, draw some out and take it to the banquet master. Somewhere along the way, the water turned into wine. It took the ordinary actions of ordinary people doing what they already had the skillset and experience to do. Simply put, they were just going about doing their job albeit in an unusual way.
So, it took obedience and a level of faith on their part to present water to the banquet master as though it were wine. That is the stuff that miracles are made of, isn’t it! God is not about fanfare or the hocus-pocus kind of miracles. He’s about doing the ordinary everyday things in an extraordinary, God-ordained way.
Jesus healed people by simply telling them to stretch out their hand, get up from their bed, wake up from the sleep that is death and so forth. For example, He simply told Peter, “Come,” and Peter walked on water Matthew 14:29.
Today, Jesus still performs miracles in the same way – no hocus-pocus, Abracadabra! fanfare or showy actions that are supposed to impress people. As Jesus followers, we should also emulate Him as we fulfil the Great Commission.
So, simply listen to what God is saying to you then respond in faith and obedience. He’ll partner with you and perform miracles through and for you.
This morning, I was feeling the weight of the past on me. Things said and done. Things that happened. They replayed in my mind and they felt heavy. Then, I felt my heavenly Dad say, “Call on me.” So, I did and I instinctively turned to Matthew 11:28-30 to encourage myself in the Word. There, Jesus says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
I love my Dad’s revelations. They’re always so timely, so spot on. I’ve read that passage many times before, but today, I thought, “But what is the purpose of a yoke?” So, I looked it up and discovered that a yoke is used so animals can pull loads together more efficiently.
Wow! So, Christ is saying to you and me, “Yoke yourself to Me and let’s deal with your heavy burdens efficiently together!” He is saying surrender to Me. Be reliant on Me. Cling to Me. And you will find rest.
This is consistent with God’s heart and design for us. A yoke is metaphorically used to describe the joining or linking of things or people (as in marriage or a contract much like our covenantal relationship with God). We were created to glorify Him and have relationship with Him. We were never meant to carry anything alone but partner with Him in surrender.
So, if you’re feeling heavy laden, chances are you’re trying to carry a load alone. In the verses preceding this passage, Jesus spoke about the truth being hidden from those who are wise and learned. He said the truth is revealed to little children i.e. to those who are like trusting dependants (Matthew 11:25-26). Elsewhere, Jesus said the kingdom belongs to those who are like little children (Luke 18:16)
So, when your trust and confidence is in God, and you call on him again and again, the kingdom belongs to you!
In the passage, another thing Jesus is saying is, “Learn from Me”. A yoke is used to instruct (showing one what to do and not do) and direct (showing one where to go and where not to go). Unlike the typical yoke, Jesus assures you that His yoke is easy because He guides and instructs you with a gentle hand and humble heart. That is His character. He also assures you that His burden is light. That’s because He gives you Grace, the supernatural ability to carry it. You cast your burdens on Him because He cares for you 1 Peter 5:7. What a lovely picture. What an amazing God and Father!
So, let’s get and stay yoked, folks.
If ever you find yourself feeling tired or carrying the weight of something, make that call. Call on Jesus. Let Him show you the way. Allow Him to lighten your burden.
iBloom for God 