|Walk the Talk|

1 Kings 2 ^3-4  Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you’ll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. 

Humans tend to plan out their lives – the present and the future. They seek unknown things, tries different courses out of curiosity, hurting themselves at the end. No matter what we plan out, without seeking what GOD wants, we’ll fail.

David, a man after GOD’s heart, reminded the world’s wisest king ever in the world, Solomon, the foundations of being successful – to walk in the blueprint that GOD had prepared, follow what it says, being vigilant for the warning signs and fixing everything in Him.

Just as the first Sunday of the year, Pastor Mike shared about having a blueprint to execute our dreams, our plans, making GOD the master author of our lives. We may plan all our lives but without seeking the approval, the will of the LORD, all our plans is useless.

When you had chosen to be strong, you are saying yes to what GOD has for you, may it be as easy as breathing or as hard as walking in waters, as well as the yes, the no and the wait responses. My motives and intentions matter to GOD as well as my commitment in Him. Therefore, loving Him and obeying Him are synonymous. I may love him but not follow Him or I may follow Him but not love Him.

The future may bring loses, heartaches, battles, and hardships but surely it will birth gains, joys, victories and triumphs. Whatever happens, following GOD will surely be worth it.

Father, thank You for not giving up on me and for loving me unconditionally and faithfully. Remind me of who I am always – in wherever I am, in whatever I do – I am Yours. Create in me a pure heart that seeks to know You more in all the days of my life, a heart that seeks Your will instead of what I want and a heart that follows what You want me to do despite my inabilities, my humanity, my wretched human heart. Thank You, Lord. In You, all things are new always. 

Stronger

Be strong and stay strong

1 Kings 2 ^1-2 When David’s time to die approached, he charged his son Solomon, saying, “I’m about to go the way of all the earth, but you—be strong; show what you’re made of!”

When David died, Solomon became his heir and king of Israel and Judah. He was instructed by David to stick to the ways God has for him, to be strong in everything for sure it’ll be tough to lead people in the way they should go.

Solomon, being young back then, saw what people can do when they’re in power, in command, in force. At their words, a person or a nation can either live or die. And by this, David knew in his heart that Solomon will listen to him, that’s why he gave out final instructions to his son, in accordance to God’s words.

It struck me that David commanded Solomon to BE STRONG, to show everyone, what he is made of. That he is a son of a king after God’s own heart, that he is chosen, blessed, called, appointed, anointed, favoured, loved.

Most of the times, when I face difficulties and circumstances that I cannot control, I forget what I am made of, who I am. When I focus on things in front of me, fear makes me little and it cripples me to the point of I cannot do things anymore, well, that’s fear. One thing I learned about fear is that it tends to paralyzes you, making you incompetent, it blinds you, it seizes you and it chokes you.

As David told Solomon to BE STRONG, I am reminded to BE STRONG in all possible ways that I could – with God, because I cannot do things on my own ability and strength and that He will always be the source of my confidence and skills. I am always reminded to go and test the waters and launch to the deep – the fear of the unknown and trust that no matter what I will have to put through, Jesus will always be in the midst of everything and anything.

Being strong and staying strong are two different places. When you have chosen to be strong, you have made up your mind to stay strong, unless you want to stay in a place where nothing grows, but your insecurities, fears, selfishness.

Thank You, Father, that whatever I may face in the future, I know that You are there always. Let me be strong and stay strong in the way You want me to go. Put in my heart who I am – loved, wanted, accepted, blessed, called, appointed, favoured – in You, all uncertainties will always be worth it, because You authored everything in my life. Let me choose being strong as Solomon did and stay in it all the days of my life, that launching into the deep maybe scary at first, but with You reminding me, the deeps will surely be breakthroughs after breakthroughs. Thank You, Jesus. In Your name, I pray. Amen. <3