More Than Conquerors

Time Of Crisis

It has been more than 6 months since I last posted. I have been away for so long and it’s good to be back to connect with this wonderful community again. God has opened new door for business venture and I had been pretty caught up. I have so many stories to share so more posts coming up!

2020 has been difficult for many of us. I pray that the shaking has made us stronger and better. I pray that it has drawn us closer to God and made us rely on Him more. Jesus is more than enough.

Time of Testing

so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ~1 Peter 1:7

But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. ~Job 23:10

“And I will bring the third part through the fire,
Refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are My people,’
And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” ~Zec 13:9

The pandemic has wiped out so many business and jobs. Many cities were under lockdown. People are dying. Our lives changed overnight. Many people I know had to find alternative ways to support themselves financially. Myself included. I have many friends who are in the airline industry and they have to take up any jobs they can find to pay the bills. Churches in our city can no longer have physical meetings. We have to adapt to attending church online, at home. Fellowships with believers are only through FaceTime or zoom. Many who used to be fervent for The Lord has stopped attending church online, read the bible or pray and felt neglected by church leaders and friends.

This is a time of great testing where believers were pushed out of our comfort zone. Where do we put our faith in? The provision (our job) or the Provider? Why do we serve in church? For recognition (praises of men/sense of achievement) or to serve The King? We raise our hands and praise God during church service. But do we build our own altar to God in our room when no one is watching? Do we read the bible to know Him or to complete an item on our “to-do-list”?

I struggled. I had to choose faith over fear. I had to surrender my dreams, desires, fears and my own ways to the Lord. I had to let go of wanting things to be my way. I had to realigned my faith and focus to Jesus. All these while, my faith has been in the wrong place and I don’t even know it. I am thankful to Jesus for revealing them to me through the pandemic.

Time to Shine

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world. ~Phi 2:15

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.~Isaiah 60:1

God has called us to shine as lights. During times of darkness, it is the best time for believers to shine!

1)Practice Gratitude

First, I have to give up complaining about our situation or discuss about what I think the government should do. I have to stop looking at our challenges and start to see what I have. Thank God for each and everyone of them.

2) Practice Giving

I may be experiencing a financial lack but I have other things in my possession that I can give to the church. For example take time and pray for one another. Share with one another what God has done for us or people we know. Words of encouragement is free! One of my friend is staying alone. So we arranged an online house party to connect with her!

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.~Proverbs 11:25

It is not easy to reach out to others when we are going through storms in our own lives. But it is much better than dwelling in our own problems. It pulls me out of the “pit”. The more I do it, the better it gets.

New Beginnings

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.~Proverbs 11:25

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. ~Isaiah 48:17

During the lockdown in my city, a friend whom I was connecting with asked me to start a e-commerce business. So I did!! She taught me some of the basic concepts and using the knowledge I had when I was doing FBA on Amazon, I listed my first product online. The lord had bless me through this business and in 2020, my income from this business had exceeded my job. Shortly after, I was able to quit the job I didn’t enjoy to focus full time on this new baby. Praise the Lord!!!

My heart is full of thanksgiving to God and His faithfulness. Indeed, He is amazingly good. I pray that no matter what is going on in our lives today, God will remain the anchor of our soul. May we continue to trust in Him through good and bad times.

Count it all Joy

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

When I read this verse many years ago, I wondered why would anyone find trials joyful. I wouldn’t want to go through any tough times! God loves me! God will always bless me and make sure all is well with me.

The last few years, I had to go through some difficult times in my finances, business and personal life. I fell to “rock bottom” and when I think things cannot be any worse, the worst happened. I had to face disappointments, betrayals, condemnation, shame, embarrassment and lack. I expected people closed to me to understand or encourage me. I get judgement instead. I questioned God, my faith and I could not understand. I was confused. I had never gone though such experiences before and now I got to go through and process it on my own. Help seems far away.

Today, I am thankful that God allows me to go through difficult times. Indeed, I count it all joy!! Because He loves me, He allow me to go through the valley. Through all these seemingly unpleasant experiences, many deep rooted emotional issues were exposed. Anger is one emotion that often arises when things didn’t go the way I expected it to be. I also have so much pride and there was a lot that God need to do. I allow the fear of men to control me. My identity was rooted in my performance at work. I used money to buy love and friendships. There were so many idols in my hearts. All these were only the tip of the ice berg.

During these dark moments, I poured my heart to the Lord. I learned that instead of telling 10 friends about it, I go to the Holy Spirit. Only He truly understands and only He can bring healing to my soul. Just like King David, I cried out to the Lord. I gave Him my pain and surrender myself and my circumstances to Him. This is not a one time surrender or lip service to God. I have to do it again and again and again, everyday, every week. I am able to draw near to God and allow Him to comfort and heal me. He collect my tears in a bottle. He gave me the strength and grace to go through everything I need to go through.

And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ~ Deu 8:2

When I’m alone, I know I am not alone. For He is with me. When all I see is uncertainties, I rely on God’s word that His plan for me is good and He is my solid Rock. When I face with lack, I rejoice that God will provide for me. When storm arise, instead of fear, faith arises. Instead of anxiety, there is joy and peace because I know God will always have my back. When my families and friends mock and despise me, I learn that my identity is not in people’s opinions. Jesus is all that I need and He is truly more than enough. Blessings are not an entitlement just because we are christians. God didn’t owe us anything. He already gave us everything at the cross.

Spending time in His word sanctifies me, warns me, build me and guide me.

Above all, God is in total control. He has everything in the palm of His hands. He will not allow us to go through anything beyond what we can bear.

My brothers and sisters, may the God of Peace reign in your hearts. No matter what is happening in the world or in your personal life today, I pray for each and everyone of you that your hope is in the Lord. Keep your eyes on Him. He is faithful and able.

Jesus loves you. Rejoice!!

Be A Leader In A Crisis

Life is a series of ups and downs. God can use all these events and situations to change and mold us into His image. Crisis will come, whether we like it or not. What the devil meant for evil, God can turn it around for our good.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” ~Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In every crisis, there is always an opportunity. We are tested in crisis and under stress. How cool do we stay in tough times? When a crisis come, I want to encourage you to rise up to be a leader of the situation.

How Successful People Handle A Crisis? Let’s us look at Daniel in the Bible. He was one of the captives carried off to Babylon in 605 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar.

1) He is not overwhelmed by his emotions

Every successful person is a master of their emotions. When they encounter a unpleasant situation or even a disaster, they remain calm, stable and composed. Instead of breaking down, they are able to look at the situation and provide solutions. Instead of spreading fear and anxiety, he/she can bring peace for people’s heart. Naturally, people around them will look to him/her for direction.

In Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar was very angry that nobody in his kingdom can interpret his dream. So in his anger, he decided to do something really crazy. He wanted to kill ALL the wiseman. (This is why a person who cannot control his emotions cannot be in leadership. They end up doing crazy things!) I’m really amazed at how Daniel handled the situation. A decree was issued to kill him but he is not overwhelmed by fear. Everyone panicked but bible said that Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.

He calmly find out about the details and reason for the decreed.
He immediately responded by asking the king for more time.
He sought the Lord, interpreted the dream, saved everyone and was promoted to be the 2nd in command. The crisis promoted Daniel.

“When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the midst of COVID-19 crisis, instead of being overwhelmed by fear, how can we rise up to be a leader? Definitely not by fighting over toilet rolls. 🤣

2) He is Fearless and Brave

When faced with a crisis, courage is a quality that every successful person possess. If we don’t take risk, fearful of failure, refused stand up for what we believe, we will always be at the same place. God want to bring us to a new level.

Daniel and his friends served in the courts of pagan kings. All their colleagues were sorcerers or magicians. However, they have shown tremendous courage and bravery during their time there. They refused to compromise on their values and beliefs.

–Daniel’s friends were thrown into the blazing furnace because they refused to bow down and worship the golden statue set up by Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that his face became distorted and he turned the furnace 7 times hotter. Even the guards died from the heat. But God is with them in the furnace. They entered the furnace bound but in the furnace, they were free and walking with a 4th man who look like the Son of God! They came out without even smelling like smoke! Nebuchadnezzar praised God and promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.””
Daniel‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬
““Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!””
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭3:25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

–Daniel himself was thrown into the lions den because he prayed and worshipped the one true God. King Darius had no choice because he had issued the decree. Daniel knew the decree and the consequences of his actions. It may cost his life but he chose to do the right thing. He continued to pray and worship God with his windows wide open. He didn’t even try to hide. Well, not a scratch was found on him. God delivered him. This testimony of God’s power amazed King Darius who issued another decree throughout the whole world to honour the God of Daniel. Daniel prospered.

Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” Daniel 6:22
The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:23

Daniel’s and his friends courage and bravery has resulted in miracles. This glorifies God! Even pagan kings can see that our God is indeed true and powerful! Are we afraid of our situation today? God did not give us a spirit of fear. When we shrink back in fear, we miss the move of God. God moves when there is faith. Ask God for boldness and courage to do what is right. He will always supports and backs you up when you live for Him.

Daniel served 4 kings and went through a tough time from being a captive to the highest position in the courts of these pagan kings. Many times he was faced with situations that will cost his life. Every time, he overcame with wisdom, courage and power of God. Instead of killing him, these crisis promoted him.

It’s easy to trust God in good time.
Are we positive in faith ?
Are we walking in fear and doubt ?
Our actions and words reveal who we are!

How should Christians handle Coronavirus crisis?

The world is volatile and unstable. The world operate base on fear and greed. The world is driven by anxiety and pride. The world lust and covet after what they do not have. The world says love only those who loves you.

In Luke 6:27, Jesus says love your enemies!
In Romans 12:2, Paul told us not to conform to this world but renew our mind.
In John 17:16, Jesus said we are not of this world just like He is not of this world.
In James 4:4, friendship with the world is enmity with God!

As believers, we do not operate and behave as the world. Growing up, we were taught ways of the world. We learn to fight and strive. Lets discard these worldly mindset and embrace the mindset of a different kingdom. Kingdom of God. (I shall talk more about this in another post. 🤗)

1)Submit to our Government & Leadership

COVID-19 has set the world into panic mode. Just take a look at the stock market! Many world leaders have no answers to this virus. Some of them have died because of it. How should they handle the situation? Should they impose stricter travel bans? Should they close all the schools?

To be honest, there is no best way to curb the spread of this virus. Nowadays, people are moving from one country to another so quickly and easily. The incubation period is around 2 weeks so people won’t know if they are infected or not. People with symptoms refused to seek medical help and continue their daily life, infecting more people. 🤦🏻‍♀️

As believers, we need to submit to our leaders. All authority comes from above. We must show respect and grace to our leaders. They are not perfect. What would we do if we are in their shoes? We do not understand the pressure they are facing everyday. The things they do may not always be right. But we trust that they are doing their best.

So let’s stop complaining and start praying! Pray for our leaders and government. May wisdom be upon them to make the right decision. Pray for dishonest and corrupted officials to be removed. Pray for their health and healing.

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

2) Guard Our Hearts

COVID-19 is not only a virus but also a huge fear monster. Because there is no known vaccine, fear of the unknown has crippled the hearts of many. Look at what people are doing at the supermarkets! Fighting over toilet rolls! 🤷🏻‍♀️ People are stocking up masks, hand sanitizers, instant noodles and other staples. In my city, alcohol swipes were sold out. Diabetes patients and people who really needs it, can’t buy it. 🤦🏻‍♀️ This is so sad.

The world react in fear. Scarcity mentality kicks in. How will our business and career be affected? Will we still have enough? Is it safe for our children to go to school? As believers, we must guard our hearts from fear during this season. We do not have to fear this virus!

God is faithful. He is with us. God is bigger than ANY virus! COVID-19 cannot stop the will and plan of God for our lives. Trust that God will provide for us. Trust that God will help us navigate through this crisis. Trust that God will protect us from this virus. Trust that God will heal us and our loved ones who are infected. Meditate on Psalm 91. Spend time with God, give Him all your fears. Pray over the promises of God in your life. Let the Prince of Peace still the storm in your hearts.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

3) Wisdom In our Daily Life

I believe in faith. I also believe in exercising wisdom and common sense in our daily lives. Boasting that we have faith is useless when we act like a fool. Exercising wisdom during this season is very important. Living like a fool exposed us to unnecessary problems. There are people who do things on purpose to show that they are not fearful of getting infected but ended up tested positive. We do not want to behave like that.

Practice good hygiene, avoiding unnecessary travels and physical meetings. Some meetings can be done via Skype or zoom. Try not greet each other with kisses, or touch things like microphone (unless it’s your personal one), used utensils, sharing a drink, etc. If we have flu-like symptoms, consult a doctor and stay at home! If we attended a event which turn out to be a infected cluster, let’s isolate ourselves and watch our health. Be socially responsible.

Wear masks ONLY if you are sick. If we have more than enough, share it with others who do not have. ❣️

4) Do not Discriminate

I was reading about people discriminating Chinese or anyone who look asian. A student from Singapore was beaten up in UK by 2 men who said “We don’t want your coronavirus in our country.” This is a pretty extreme case. One woman posted on social media that she had been spat on because she is Chinese. Discrimination and prejudice against the Chinese community all over the world has increased. They were frown upon, scorned, harassed, verbally and physically abused. Many don’t even dare to go to school and work. But they have nothing to do with the virus outbreak in Wuhan.

Such hateful behaviour are not right. Let show acceptance and love towards others, regardless of race or religion. We do not have to invite them to our homes, share a meal or have close fellowships with them. But we cannot reject them or associate them to coronavirus just because of the are Asian. Mutual respect for one another must be maintained.

5) Love God, Love People 💕

1 John 4:8 days that Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Instead of living in fear, let’s us think how we can help others in need. How can we love our friends and neighbours? Hoarding and fighting over toilet rolls is definitely not love.

This morning, I left home for work. I saw this in the lift! Someone put this hand sanitizers at every lift in my neighborhood. ❤️ I think this is what Jesus would do! Share our resources, share the love! Just like the early church in Acts! This is an opportunity for believers to shine in darkness!

What else can we do for our friends and loved ones during this season? How can we love others during times of crisis? Share in the comments!

How to Protect Yourself From COVID-19?

Hi everyone! How have you been? We have been bombarded by news on coronavirus or COVID-19 everyday! There are now more cases in US and Europe. People are queuing and buying masks and toilet rolls (why toilet rolls?!?!). It has caused so much fear and anxiety in people’s heart.

Everyday, I pray Psalm 91 over you. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousands at your right hand, it shall not come near you! I pray for peace of God will guard your heart. I pray for a strong immune system for you. Your body will be strong and able to fight any virus or diseases.

Our immune system is a gift from God and it does a awesome job in defending us against invaders like bacterias, viruses, parasites, even a fungus. Sometimes when germ/virus manage to invade successfully, we fall sick.

With a strong immune system, we can reduce chances of getting infected. Even if we get infected, chances of recovery is definitely much higher. Currently there is no vaccine for COVID-19. We depend on our own body to fight and recover.

We walk by faith, we also walk in wisdom. Other than avoiding crowds and watching our personal hygiene, I wanted to share some practical wisdom on how to protect ourselves during times like this.

Many with symptoms of COVID-19 still carry on with their daily lives. 😣 Let’s be socially responsible.

6 Ways to Improve our Immune System

1) Get enough sleep -Insomnia caused us to feel fatigued and more vulnerable to common illness like flu (in the short term). Our body uses sleep to heal itself. Studies have shown that sleeping seven hours a night can increased resistance to infectious diseases

2) Adequate sunlight-Sunlight triggers the skin to produce vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels is linked to a greater risk of respiratory infection

3) Exercise regularly-We don’t need a special boot camp for this. Fast walking for 20 mins, 3 times a week is good enough. Studies show that people who exercise have better-functioning white blood cells (help to fight off invaders). Exercise produces endorphins that helps you to relax and sleep better

4) Drink less alcohol-Moderate drinking is no more than two drinks a day for a man, or one drink for a woman. Drinking too much alcohol can affect the function of white blood cells and lower your defence to infection.

5) Destress-Constant stress makes us more vulnerable to everything from common cold to major illness. It is linked to heart disease and hypertension. A constant cascade of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, weaken the immune system.

6) Healthy diet-This is essential to a healthy immune system. Empty calories will lead to weight gain and leave you more prone to infection. Take more fruits and vegetables. Avoid things like sugar, especially because microbes love sugar. A diet rich in antioxidant, on the other hand, can boost resistance to infection

To me, maintaining a healthy diet is the most important. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We must feed it with good spiritual and physical food.

Do you know the gut is your largest immune organ? Our gut wall houses 70 % of the cells that make up your immune system. The food we eat not only feeds our cells but also determines the “garden” we are growing in us. Getting your gut bacteria healthy is key to staying healthy. If your bacteria are sick, so are you! Many diseases (allergies, dementia, acne, IBS, cancer) seemingly unrelated are actually caused by gut problems.

If you want a healthy body and a strong immune system, start with your gut!

I hope you are blessed! Stay healthy and safe!

Psalm 91 -COVID-19

My church is now meditating on Psalm 91 in the midst of COVID-19. With a willing heart, some time and effort, we can all memorise this great Psalm!

The bible says anxiety in the heart causes depression, but a good word makes it Glad.

Are you anxious ?
Are you worried about your business ?
Are you worried about your future and financial ?
Are we able to rest in the Lord?

Enthrone the Lord with these psalm and indeed, no evil will come near you and no plague will come near your dwelling.

🙏🙏🙏🙏

Armed ourselves with the sword of the Spirit!

Psalm 91

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.

Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Do comment on the breakthroughs you get while meditating on this psalm 👌🏻

Going Through Difficult Times

I thank God for the body of Christ. I thank God for the pastors and leaders that He has given us. I’m eternally grateful for the church and the services that runs every weekends. Such a great time where believers can come together to praise and worship our King 👑.

Every time when I attend service, I’m always very touched by the presence of God. I am honored to sit at the feet of my leaders to hear the Word of God. The Word preached is always so relevant and applicable in my life. It was as if there is no one else and God is speaking directly to me.

Today service was so awesome. My pastor preached on how to pray when going through difficult times.

Everyone go through difficult circumstances and situations that are beyond our control. It can be a frustrating time where our faith is tested. Nothing makes sense. All the hard work and efforts made seems wasted and meaningless.

Renew Our Mind

As believers, we do not think and behave like the world. Neither do we sink into despair nor curse God when things are tough. We can always have hope no matter how dark our circumstances may be. We are a blessed people who have God with us.

““For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?” ~Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We need to resist the temptations to think thoughts of unbelief. We must allow Word of God to renew our mind. We need to discard our old mindset and think like how God thinks.

A negative mind cannot produce a positive life

How to pray during difficult times?

Be Honest

Many people live in denial and fantasy. Instead of facing reality, they believe the lies that they want to believe. It does help to numb the pain and sustain them in the short term. But a person living in denial and fantasy cannot receive the breakthrough God want to give them.

We have to be honest and transparent with God. He knows everything anyway. We can pray and cry out to God. We can pour out our hearts to Him instead of telling ourselves everything is alright. He will deliver us.

When we read the Psalms in the Bible, we often see how King David pour out his heart to God. He also renew his commitment and loyalty. He declare the promises of God and surrender the situation to Him. Trusting God will deliver Him.

Psalm 3 was a psalm written by King David when he was going through a very hard time. His own son Absalom led a troop to overthrow him as king. It’s not only a national crisis but also a personal one. As he escaped from the city, he met people who mocked and criticized him.

“LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “ There is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭3:1-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Be Focused

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When going through tough times, do not look to the left or right. Its tempting to look at the winds and waves in the storm. But we only need to look at God. Peter started to sink when he changed his focus to the winds and waves. To walk on water, we have to look at Jesus. Focus on Him. Go to His word and meditate on His faithfulness.

Sometimes I am tempted to compare myself to others. I have so many ‘whys’ and that leads me to more confusion and not peace. We can’t be contented with what we have when we allow our eyes to wander.

In psalm 3, we can see King David bring up his problems to God and he declare the glory and promises of God. He believe God is able to deliver him. Salvation belongs to the Lord!

Trust God

When we pray and cry out to God, keep our eyes on Him, we must also trust Him. We do not trust in chariots and horses but in God. We do not trust in man and in our own abilities. We do not use unscrupulous means to achieve what we desire. We do not want to produce Ishmaels but Isaccs, son of the promise.

We must believe He loves us deeply and has a plan for us. We cannot act on our own understanding or logic. We cannot depend on external support. We must depend only on God.

Faith is not passive. Faith is not inaction. Faith is resting in God. When we trust God, we enter into His rest. An inward rest that God is in control. We no longer allow anxiety and fear to torment and control us.

At the marketplace, we must not allow selfish ambitions, greed or wealth to consume us. God is our partner and when we do our part, He will do His. In our ministry, we must remember we are serving God, not man. We cannot allow offenses and praises of man to enter our hearts.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” ~Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
“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.” ~Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Be Expectant

When we have done our part, we must be expectant. Especially when circumstances are really bad. When we go to God, renew our faith in Him, continue to cry out to Him and declare the promises of God. He is faithful and delights and giving good things to His children.

Every morning, we wake up with great expectations. Expect greatness and goodness. This will help us to change our mindset and focus. We do not want to do things on autopilot where we wake up, go through daily routine and miss out what God is trying to show us. When we live expectantly, we live intentionally and not autopilot.

Be prepared for a miracle. It can happen anytime.

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”
‭‭~Psalms‬ ‭62:5-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. ~Psalm 5:3

“Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” ~Psalms‬ ‭35:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What does it means to follow Jesus?

When we read the 4 gospel, we see Jesus asking people to ‘follow Him’. I always find it amazing that all of them left everything immediately and followed Jesus. They do not need to consider or do any research prior to making a decision. They left families, boats, nets, their lives as fishermen and tax collectors. No hesitation at all.

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. ~Matthew 4:18-20
Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. ~ Mark 1:19-20
As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him ~Mark 2:14

Light of Life

When we follow Jesus, we are not walking in the dark because He’s the Light of the world. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. When we welcome Jesus into our life, His light exposes the darkness in our soul. There are many people who love darkness. They reject the light because they want to continue in their sins.

“Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “ I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome. ~ John1:5
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. ~John 3:19-21

So what is it really like to follow Jesus?

Definition of Follow:

to go, proceed, or come after
to engage in as a calling or way of life
to accept as authority
to copy after
to understand the sense or logic of (something, such as a line of thought)

To follow Jesus is basically to pursue, imitate and conform to him. Confirm to His attitude, values, virtues, likes & dislikes and affection. To be up close and see how He carry himself, how He behaves in certain situations, etc.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” ‭~Romans‬ ‭8:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
‭‭~II Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. ~Colossians 3:9-10

God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of Jesus (“Do not be conformed to this world.” ~Romans 12:2). God want us to be like Jesus. We are His image bearers in this fallen world. Our behaviour, conduct and actions must reflects the One who died for us to free us from our sins. To be like Jesus is to be holy. Without holiness, no one will see God.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ~ Hebrews 12:14
“You put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” –Ephesians 4:24

What is Holiness?

Holiness is not righteousness. Righteousness is what happened to us when we accept Christ. It is the right standing with God given to us through the Cross. Holiness is our decision to live a life that pleases God. It has to do with how we live everyday, how we use our time and how we act. Holiness is to be set apart, separated from the world and embark on a new direction. Our thoughts, actions, words and behaviours should be different from the world.

The mirror is the Word of God. As we read the Word, we will be transformed into His image according to the Word. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to restrain our carnal nature and let our new nature be unleashed inwardly and outwardly. Our lifestyle should be a reflections of the transformation going on inside of us. That gives glory to God and it bears fruits.

“Holiness is a fruit, not the root.” ~ Andrew Wommack

Holiness is a byproduct of being born again. We do not live a holy life to make God love us or to earn a blessing. God already loves us! The Cross is the proof. We live a holy life in response to His love for us. The more we see Him, know Him, we want to be like Him. We will be influenced by Him to live as He lives. It is a relationship. Imagine being with your Best Friend everyday. You spend time to understand his/her likes and dislikes, values and way of life. You will know why he/she do certain things. After a while, you even begin to talk like he/she and live like he/she.

As the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living” ~1 Peter 1:15

How do we follow Jesus? How is He like?

The fruits of the Spirit is the character of Jesus. It’s a summary of who He is. Do we have the fruits of the Spirit in our daily lives? The more we walk in the Spirit, the more Christ is formed in us. A person living in the flesh, with its passion and desires cannot walk in the Spirit.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.~Gal 5:19-21
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” ~Galatians‬ ‭5:24-25‬ ‭

When we go through challenges, who we really are is exposed. Challenges expose our weakness. That’s the time to ask Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness and to have a better respond. There will be situations in our lives that will provoke us to hit back or retaliate. Jesus never lose His cool or throw a temper at others. Even at the cross, the innocent Lamb of God still prayed for the people who crucified Him.

When we are being wrongly accused, how do we respond? Do we allow anger to control us and start to snap and defend ourselves? Or do we exercise self control, hold our tongue, speak with kindness, submit the situation to God and continue to love the person?
When we face a financial lack or a crisis in our business, what do we do? Do we still have peace because we know that God is faithful and He with us?
When we go through difficulties, are we still joyful? Bible tells us to rejoice always!
Do we speak with kindness and gentleness to our children when they spilled milk on the sofa while we are engrossed in a live soccer match?
Are we good to people even when we cannot benefit from them? Are we still good to people who we know gossiped about us?

Nowadays, a simple offence can break decades of friendships and marriages. Many people serving in ministries became jaded and cynical. Our hearts have hardened and sin become more and more acceptable. We give and accept excuses for divorce, jealousy and outburst of anger. This should not be so for believers. To be honest, living in holiness is not easy and without the Holy Spirit, it is an impossible task.

To walk in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is only possible with the power of the Holy Spirit. They are birthed from the Spirit of God. They are the fruits of the Spirit!

Many people are born again but they are still connected to the world and their old lives. So they never change. Sad to say, some christians behaved worst than unbelievers. Their minds are not renewed by the Word of God. We need to spend time with God, hear from Him, read the Word and pray. If we live separated upon God, disconnect from darkness, we will live life with His power. We will be able to walk free and use our freedom to serve God.

Walking in the Spirit is not only for the elites or a group of special people. All christians are called to live in holiness, to bear fruits for His glory. God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us. He is our helper, support and comforter. We do not depend on our own strength to be fruitful but on the power of Holy Spirit.

Father in Heaven, I thank you for my brothers and sisters. I pray we will live our daily lives consecrated and submitted to the Holy Spirit. I pray we will develop the fruits of the spirit and live a life that brings glory to You. I pray we will be disciplined in our prayers and bible reading. I pray as we read the Word, Holy Spirit will convicts us and Your light will dispel all the darkness in our hearts. May Your blessings come very powerfully upon my brothers and sisters as they walk with You. Amen.

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com

Different Season, Different Spirit

Are you in a transition? Whenever there is a change in season, people get sick. People who are entering into a different season in their lives, they get sick emotionally. Confusion, frustration, fear of the unknown….. why did you get laid off? Why did that person leave you? Why your colleagues started to gossip about you?

🍁 leaves falls to prepare for the new season

How do we know the season is changing?

1) People start leaving. Loved ones passed away. People you depended on leave you. You will grieve, feel uncomfortable, confused or even hurt. Get over it. But our destiny does not depends on anyone. We only need to depend on God. When Moses died, children of Israel mourned for him for 30 days. When the time of mourning is over, God told Joshua to rise up and cross over to Jordan. It is time to cross over. A new season has come. He is doing a new thing!

Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them–to the Israelites. ~Joshua 1:2

2) Manna ceases. What we were used to depend on stops. Maybe you depended on a certain job/customers for provision. But it is no longer giving you income or business. Maybe a boss you depended on is transferred to another department. Fear not. God is changing the way He want to provide for you. When children of Israel crossed the River Jordon, Manna ceased and they eat from the produce of the land.

Manna feeds only you. You don’t need to work or fight for it. It’s given to you. It’s easy to get complacent and entitled when we have manna. When what we were so used to ends, we don’t need to fear. We are in transition! In the new season, we get to use our creativity. We get to write, plan, learn, strategize and fight! We need to go to God and ask Him for wisdom and direction. We need to depend on Him and He is bringing us to a better place. Be excited about it.

The brook Elijah used to depend on dried up. The brook only feeds Elijah. Instead of doing a miracle for the brook to flow again, God speaks to Elijah to go to another place where a widow will provide for him. At the widow place, both Elijah and the widow were provided. And the widow’s son was raised from the dead!

God wants to bring us into a season of overflow. Not just for our own needs but to be a blessing to those around us. The promise land… where God brings something better. Our best days are ahead of us! He is doing a new thing! He can make roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. He is the Way Maker and Miracle Worker!

Promise land has battles. Our new season has its challenges. For example, couples entering into marriage will have issues to deal with. When we start our own business, we need to go out and get the sales. Life is not a bed of roses. But do we see the giants or the promises of God? I want to encourage you to have a different perspective on the challenges we face today.

Battles/Challenges/Problems are GOOD!

Slaves are scared because battles remind them of bondages. Slaves sees themselves as grasshopper, defeated by the giants. They do not see themselves as people who can overcome so they don’t even try. A slave mentality cannot enter the promise land. When we refused to let go of the slave mindset, we experience delays. God need to grow us to enter His blessings.

A warrior is excited when there is a battle. That is the purpose of their lives! To fight! Just like Caleb in the bible. He had a different spirit and he believed he was well abled to conquer the land. Problems produce breakthroughs! We need to have a warrior mentality. We look at our problems knowing God is with us and He fights for us.

Stop sabotaging our own success and learn to see our problems as opportunities! It is not easy to change a mindset that we have adopted for decades. It is deeply rooted in our subconscious mind and it will take a lot of effort to change initially. I understand because I have gone through the same thing myself. Many times.. I slipped back to the “old man”. There is no condemnation in Christ. I repent and pick myself up. Never give up pursuing God and do things that please him. It will be easier once a new habit is formed.

Endure hardships and act as a warrior not a slave. Don be intimidated by battle.

Fight with the Word of God

God has promised in the bible that when we meditate on the Word, we will prosper and be successful.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ~Joshua 1:8
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. ~Psalm 1:1-3

We have to put the Word of God deep in our heart. Difficult times will come and people won’t treat us right all the time. But when we have the Word deep in our heart, we do not depend on whats happening on the outside. We do not depend on people to treat us right. Because in the new season, people depend on us. Whatever they throw at us, the Word come out.

Imagine a tea bag in hot water. The flavour of the tea in the bag will come out. When you are in hot water, good stuff comes out!

Fight with Worship

When we read the book of Exodus, the Israelite are always complaining inthe wilderness. We cannot enter the promise land murmuring. If we have nothing good to say, keep quiet. Before Israel took city of Jericho, they circled round the city in silence. They shouted on the 7th day and the walls fell. Many times when we speak carelessly, we are cursing ourselves with our mouth. Repent to God for the wrong things that we speak, ask Him to sanctify and cleanse our mouth.

Promise land is taken is by praise n worship. We can’t move forward when we complain. Before Israel attack the city of Jericho, they had to be circumcised. God says the purpose is roll away reproach of Egypt. This is the generation who were born in the wilderness and were not circumcised.

Let us learn to worship in-spite of our problems. I love this song from Bethel, Raise a Hallelujah. This song teaches us how to fight as a warrior.

Put God First

We must learn to put God first in our lives. In the promise land, God must be first in every area of our lives. Anything else is an idol.

1) Our Finances

We need to put God first in our finances. He is our partner in our finances and we want to honour Him for so graciously providing for us. When we bring our tithe, we are putting God first and trusting Him to take care of our needs. Some people do not believe in this until they realise that they are fighting a spiritual battle. When we are in a spiritual battle over our career, business or finances, we need to combat with spiritual strategies. No marketing campaigns, business strategies or saving plans can fight demons.

Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase: So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine. ~Proverbs 3:9-10
Let your tenths come into the store-house so that there may be food in my house, and put me to the test by doing so, says the Lord of armies, and see if I do not make the windows of heaven open and send down such a blessing on you that there is no room for it. And on your account I will keep back the locusts from wasting the fruits of your land; and the fruit of your vine will not be dropped on the field before its time, says the Lord of armies And you will be named happy by all nations: for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of armies. ~Malachi 3:10-12
A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need. ~Proverbs 11:24-25

2) Our Time

Are we giving our time to God? Do we spend more time on Netflix or Instagram more than sitting at the feet of Jesus? I want to encourage all of us today to give the best of our days to God. Wake up earlier to pray and spend time with God. Set aside time to worship and make it a habit. Don’t just tip God with your time. Be generous with Him.

Going to a new level involves a intimate relationship with God. I am sure you heard of the phrase “New level, new devil”. Every battle is different and we need new instructions from Him. Joshua made the mistake of assuming every battle is the same. He believed whatever the Gibeonites told him and was cheated by them. He attacked City of Ai without consulting God because he assumed it will be the same victory as the battle of Jericho. But there was sin in their midst and they were defeated. Wisdom and discernment comes from The Lord and we need God for every battles and every single moment of our lives.

I pray that God will bless you abundantly this month. I pray God will direct your steps, arm you with strength and make your way perfect. I pray He will show Himself strong in your life and manifest His presence to you. May He fill you with wisdom and divine connections. You shall be a blessings to others. Amen.

Coronavirus & Testimony of John G Lake

Every morning when I open my eyes, I’m bombarded by news of the Coronavirus in Wuhan, China. It is spreading pretty fast, especially at the epicentre. Lack of proper hygiene and medical facilities has made the situation worse. Surgical masks are flying off the shelves. People are fearful and panicky.

My friends, I declare Psalm 91 over you today.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

³Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the ^[a]fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
⁴He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and ^[b]buckler.
⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
⁶Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
⁸Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

⁹Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
¹⁰No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
¹²In their hands they shall ^[c]bear you up,
Lest you ^[d]dash your foot against a stone.
¹³You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

¹⁴“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will ^[e]set him on high, because he has known My name.
¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶With ^[f]long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

As children of God, we must learn to trust God with every aspect of our lives. We must lift up our shield of faith and rely on God to protect us from this disease. Let us guard our hearts from fear and anxiety. Let us pray for China and all the countries that the virus has spread. Remember the thousands of doctors and medical workers who risk their lives and work round the clock to combat this virus. Let us rise up and stand in the gap for the world that He so loved.

This Coronavirus reminded me of the John G Lake’s testimony during the Bubonic Plague. He helped to buried the people who died from the Bubonic Plague. He did not wear or use anything to protect himself. However, he never contacted the disease. The doctors were amazed and when they ask him, he answered ““Brother that is the ‘law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.’ I believe that just as long as I keep my soul in contact with the living God so that His Spirit is flowing into my soul and body, that no germ will ever attach itself to me, for the Spirit of God will kill it.”

Instead of being fearful, he is full of faith. Instead of being absorbent and drawing everything to himself, his spirit repels sickness and disease.He encouraged them to do an experiment with him. So they took the foam that come out of the dead and put it under microscope. They can see that the germs are still alive after the person died. However, when they touched John G Lake’s hand, they died instantly.

He said, “That is ‘the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.’ When a man’s spirit and a man’s body are filled with the blessed presence of God, it oozes out of the pores of your flesh and kills the germs.”

Isn’t this amazing? It is the power of God at work! My friends, if you are sick or fearful, read the Word of God. Connect yourself to God and contact God’s law of life. Let the Word protect you.