Happy new Month Beautiful people. God is forever faithful and whenever we commit everything to Him, it is His nature to take charge, it is His nature to show Himself in our lives and it is His nature to exhibit His power. Commit each and every day of this Month to Him, ask Him to go ahead of you and make all crooked paths straight .Your surrender to Him is a rubber stamp that says, NOT MY WILL LORD BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE. Yesterday being a public holiday, was one of those days I just stayed indoors to reflect, meditate and give my mind and soul room to rejuvenate.
I had a moment of retrospect of what we went through as a Nation back in 2007-2008 post-election violence, while watching international news on how some Nations were facing political uncertainty. As I listened of how unrest had sprouted in different cities of Venezuela, the friction amongst national leaders and nationwide strikes which had culminated from a place of some leaders using their influence and authority perniciously. I was aggrieved to watch businesses in towns closed down due to looting, schools shut down, government institutions non-operational due to political unrest . Coming to think of it, vulnerable citizens who are always listening and watching their leaders’ reactions in times of turmoil, end up acting out as per what they are being told by leaders who are politically divided.
The same applies to us as the bride of Christ, in most cases we set the atmosphere of our national governance, we set the atmosphere in our schools and we set the atmosphere in our families through our words, actions and what we stand for be it in good times or tough times.Let’s take a look at Acts 16:25-34 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. ”Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
From the above context of scripture, Paul and Silas had been imprisoned for illuminating the light of Christ in a dark situation, where a young slave girl was possessed with the Spirit of divination. It took me aback when I realized this young girl was a slave and her masters were using her to gain money for their own selfish benefit which simply means she was bound.She was bound from being free, she was bound from enjoying her fullness as a woman,she was bound from her own volition and she was bound from living in her fullest potential due to being controlled by the spirit of divination. The spirit of divination is a dangerous spirit that God hates and warned the children of Israel from embracing it from the old testament and I have blogged more about it here. So, Paul casting out the Spirit from the girl, caused them to be falsely accused by her masters and as we know it, they ended up in prison not for a crime they committed but for the power of Christ that was at work through them. This only reveals the trials .the oppositions, the criticism and false accusations you will go through as a believer ,while allowing the power of God to manifest through you in a dark situation.
They had been locked up ,they were still relieving from severe pain after being beaten ruthlessly by the multitudes but instead of complaining to God, their attitude of praise ignited a move of God .A move of God in a place that prisoners had lost hope and prisoners had been condemned for their mistakes ,as it’s evident by the way they listened to them as they sang hymns to God and prayed. In seasons of turmoil ,in seasons of uncertainty, people who are bound to addictions, bound in darkness and bound in all manner of wickedness, are always listening to how you as a believer will respond to that trial in your marriage, in your finances, that criticism, that temptation in your assignment or that false accusation and opposition you are facing at your work place. They are looking for true light ,light that is not artificial but light that will make them experience God for themselves.
Do you know how your miracle, your perseverance, you passing that test will impact people to desire and know the God you confess and live for? Do you know you holding on the promises of God in spite of that challenge, will only give God room to reveal His glory in that situation?
Do you know how your miracle, your perseverance, you passing that test will impact people to desire and know the God you confess and live for? Do you know you holding on the promises of God in spite of that challenge, will only give God room to reveal His glory in that situation?
Paul and Silas moved the heart of God to intervene in their situation and when His glory was revealed, even the guard whose mandate was to ensure they remained bound in chains, experienced God for himself. Vs.29-30 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”. Not only did the guard receive Christ, He also invited Paul and Silas in his own household for them to receive Christ he had encountered through these two Apostles .How powerful is that, your situation of turmoil is only an opportunity for God to reveal His power and glory through you.Those who were against you, those who laughed at you, those who asked you where is your God, it’s only a matter of time and God will reveal His glory in your life .His glory in your life will not be only for you to look cute no, no, no His glory in your life will be for people to desire the God you confess and live for every day.
After David experienced God’s restoration, this is what he wrote in Psalms 118:23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. We carry the glory of God and we move from glory to glory by His grace. If you are at a place of no assurance on what will happen next, be encouraged today that the assignment God has for you is too great to be sabotaged by your past mistakes, past heart breaks, disappointments, pain, people’s opinions about you or what you are currently facing .Life has done nothing to you that God can’t use for your good, if you will only put it in His hands. God gets His best sailors from the toughest seas and His fiercest soldiers from the toughest battles.
Parting Shot:-God is more than willing to turn your pain into purpose, your prison into breakthrough, your test into testimonies and He can use what you have experienced to bless others.Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.
Parting Shot:-God is more than willing to turn your pain into purpose, your prison into breakthrough, your test into testimonies and He can use what you have experienced to bless others.Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.
I have blogged Know God For You, Allow God To Fight Your Battles, Stop Complaining, and Put your dancing shoes on. which are good reads to connect with this particular post.
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Love ReinaBeaty.
