As For You

2 Chronicles 15:7

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

Perhaps people around you are falling like flies. Wherever you turn you see heartache and discouragement. The good fight seems too hard; the journey ahead too long; the mountain in your way too big. The hurt in your heart cripples you and you're too exhausted to try again. You want to give up and lie down.

Jesus knows fully what you face and what you feel. And this is what the Lord says to you:
"But as for you [regardless of the people around you], be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

In the next verse it says that when Asa heard these words, he took courage. I pray that you too find courage in the God who sees all things, and always rewards perfectly.

The Lord is with you. Be strong and do not give up.

Consecrate

2 Chronicles 5:11

"All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions."

From the Chief High Priest to the new little rookie, ALL consecrated themselves. It wasn't about rank or status, but about each of them serving Yahweh, their Almighty God.

The word consecrate means to make holy, to set apart. It means living for God alone, dedicating your life to him. It requires you to be different to those around you, to sometimes say no when the world screams yes.

This scripture shows us that consecration is not just for the big cheese or the most important people. We, all together, are a royal priesthood [1 Peter 2:9] and are ALL called to consecrate ourselves to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit [1 Peter 1:13-16].

Regardless of where you find yourself, you can live a life that is holy and pleasing to God [Romans 12:1-2]. And it can start right now.

Unchanging

Psalm 89:34

"I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered." 

In the midst of an ever-changing, uncertain world of hypocrisy and broken promises, there is a God who is constant, unchanging, faithful and true. 

He is Jesus.

The Overflow

Proverbs 10:11

"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, 

but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked."

Think back to the things that have come out of your mouth today. Would you categorize those words as life-giving? I imagine that words of life are encouraging, kind, building-up, loving and truthful. Is your mouth a fountain of life? Or do you spurt forth waves of violence and trouble and dissatisfaction? 

Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. That violence or life that is coming out of your mouth is a reflection of the darkness or light that is filling your heart.

So when you catch yourself saying something unhelpful, stop and ask Jesus to fill you with his life [John 4:14] so that it can flow out of you into others.

Because his words are life, life to the full.

It's A Trap!

Proverbs 10:9

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”

Integrity is a choice. It is made in the daily little decisions we make, the things we say no to, the things we do even when we don’t want to.

Integrity is hard. It is often the harder of the options in the choices we make. The crooked path seems more exciting and adventurous. It’s the kind of pretty road that you would Instagram.

It’s a trap!  That road leads to places you do not want to go. It’s a pretty looking road riddled with land mines called consequences that will blow up in your face when you least expect it [Proverbs 7:21-27]

Integrity isn't easy, but it is a safe road because we walk with the King of kings and the Lion of Judah.

Integrity is a road that leads to Jesus. If the people around us follow us down that road, they too will find Jesus.

It is the best road to walk because it leads to life.

Whatever You Do

Ephesians 1:1

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…”

What is your role in God’s will right now? For Paul at that time it was to be an apostle. But we can’t all be apostles. So what will you be?

A student? Teacher? Mother? Leader? I don’t know what it is that God has for you to be right now in your life, you can fill in that gap. But I do know two things:

1.       Whatever it is be it for Jesus. Be a ______ of Christ Jesus; a ______ that belongs to and lives for Him.

2.       Be that thing with all your heart. God is not a fan of half-heartedness. You don’t necessarily have to be the best in all you do, but I do believe you’re called to give your best in everything you do: studying, friendship, work, whatever.

Colossians 3:23-24

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. It is the Lord you are serving.” 

Established

Psalm 87:5

“The Most High himself will establish her.”

I recently sat in a presentation done by my new employer where they told us trainee accountants that they will make us successful. If we give our time [and overtime] to them, they will make something of us and set us up for our futures.

To an extent this is true. Working for one of the top accounting firms in the world will do wonders for establishing my career. How much more than will I be established by living for the Creator of the world?

See the world tells me that my value and identity lies in:

-          My employer

-          My degree and my grades

-          My provincial colours

-          Who I know

-          What people think of me

-          Anything and everything but God

But the truth is it is God who is building me. He is the Master Builder. He has designed my successes and my story. He has written my journey. He has given me value and my identity is in him.

It is God Most High who establishes me. There’s no one who could do it better.