ASK 2021 Promise

Dealing with the Monster!

Have you ever felt that you are always on fight or flight mode safeguarding your peace of mind?

By saying Fight, I did not mean intense hurtful words or actions. I meant fighting with prayers and constant pleas to GOD.

Have you ever wondered; shouldn’t this be easy for me as a child of GOD?

I don’t know about you I have seen things falling into places for few others (i.e. Atheist, agnostics, etc.) and had made me question my ability and strength.

It is frustrating to see these annoying creatures show their head on and off. Sometimes as that smirk on your acquaintance's face when u mention  your church or Christ or faith, Sometimes to witness a dear family member blame Great GOD Almighty for all the wrongs in the world. A backhanded compliment on a well-accomplished job by a so-called friend or a colleague or someone who diminishes the value of your good work or attitude. It is indeed, quite frustrating.
 
The truth of the matter is that we deal with these Monsters every day and we are the Superheroes who slay them on a daily basis.

It was then I was reminded. The throne that I am getting ready to sit as an heir of Christ is very unique and royal. Christ, the KING of kings and the LORD of the lords and NAME above all the names have called us as HIS Heirs. These are battles as HIS Princess/Prince, as a royal priesthood that I must constantly fight. We the superheroes can't give up and can't get tired.

 Like David said

For by You I can run against a troop, By my God, I can leap over a wall. – Psalm 18:29

 But let us all remember as we polish our armor, we surely know a polished bejeweled crown is waiting to be adorned by us. Don't you all agree?

Isaiah 62:3

 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

 

How can I praise HIM?

 Praising GOD in abundance is so easy. It makes sense.

The real testament of our faith is praising GOD while walking thru the valley of death. And that is so hard. They are prayerful praises. Valley of death - the time we see ourselves in midst of so many unknowns with real pain in being, sorrow in heart, worry weighing us so down. The things that can come easy to us at that time are tears, self-pity, frustration, depression, pleas, and prayers. If we are a believer, we would make prayers like David

Psalm 13:1-6 

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

 But then David is also the one who praised GOD when his enemies are behind for his life. The anointed King of Israel was living in hiding. He was anointed by a prophet. He had won over the Philistine Goliath by his faith in GOD of Israel and here he is in hiding. He has a track record of victory in El Shaddai and yet what he sees is dark smelly caves for bed.

 “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” – Psalm 40:3

 “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;” – Psalm 98:4

 “My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.” - Psalm 145:19

 “I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” – Psalm 146:2

 “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD”. – Psalm 150:6

 Praising at that moment needs strength and power from GOD. Like Jesus said in John 15:5 we cannot do anything, absolutely anyting including praises without HIS help.

 

John 15:5 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

So, today you might be in a place where your tongues are tied and spirit is damp by the sight of your stressful/tiring life. Come! Let us cheer up! Let us call out to HIM. Even if it is a squeaky meek voice, let us ask GOD thru Jesus Christ that we need HIS strength, power, wisdom to praise HIM in all the circumstances.

 Philippians 4:13 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me

 

Smooth Sailing!

As I was listening to the below verse being recited in one of the Prayer calls, it gave me a new revelation.

Luke 8:22–25

 ^“22 Now on one of those days ^[a]Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So, they launched out. ²³ But as they were sailing along, He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. ²⁴ They came up to Jesus and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging ^[b]waves, and they stopped, and ^[c]it became calm. ²⁵ And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were fearful and amazed”

Let us see 

²² Now on one of those days ^[a]Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So, they launched out. 

These are the times as one of those days that Jesus and us -His disciples have got into a boat. Yes, we are in the same boat with HIM. And we have launched out on a mission. Mission to save ourselves, our generation, to spend our eternity with the LORD, successfully get thru this sojourn on earth.

²³ But as they were sailing along, He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. 

Jesus is with us, the Immanuel but HE is asleep or that’s what we think. We forget Psalm 121 where we know the LORD of Israel never sleeps or slumbers.

We are on a mission sailing along; we are moving forward and there is a fierce gale of wind. This is a boat with Jesus, and we think the sail is going to be smooth. Everything is going to be neat and tidy.

Alas, to our shock and surprise comes a wind. The wind brings in water into the boat scaring us to drown us and the boat. Many a time, don’t we feel that. I am in the will of GOD. HIS prophets had confirmed to us in many prayers and calls, “Sister, you are in the will of GOD” Then why this wind? We hate this wind. We don’t want the water into our boats. We are on a good and holy mission. There is no personal motive. This is for the greater good. It must go smoothly. Our business is special and GOD willing. We need favor, not winds. Yet there is wind.

²⁴ They came up to Jesus and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

And we cry out to HIM, sometimes in frustration and anger. We claim we are perishing to the LORD who promised everlasting life, who has helped witness many miracles. We are ready to forget the past miracles coz the wind in the present is too much to handle for us.

And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging ^[b]waves, and they stopped, and ^[c]it became calm. 

Though our prayers are made in frustration. HE gets up. HE gets up from HIS throne. HE gets up and pleads our case to our Almighty GOD. HE listens to us because HE is in the boat with us & We are in HIS boat. HE understands us more than any Leader, Family member, Medical professional, Pastor or an Official.

HE calms the winds and stills the raging sea. Once again, it’s a smooth sail.

²⁵ And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 

Then HE says to us “Where is your faith?”. Not Yell or Condemn or Scream or Chide us. He just says to us.

Today we are dealing with such wind and storm like this pandemic or persecution at home/work/unbelievers or delayed physical healing or stumbled spiritual walk or delayed financial blessing.

 But, let us be assured that the Immanuel, Our Savior Jesus Christ is with us thru this sail. HE might appear to be sleeping yet HIS eyes are on us. HE is here to redeem us. HE is to declare over our life that HE is LORD of the Lords and King of Kings.

 Let us just prepare us to marvel and exclaim HIS doings in our life! Let us keep sailing!

 Food for your thought: 

• Have you ever wondered the change of scene, if the disciples had decided to keep calm and be faithful during this storm?  What would have been the outcome? 
• Have you thought about Paul's ship in the storm?

Please write/comment on your revelation.

 

 

ASK December 2020 Promise