A purposed heart

Friends,

It's the rare person who makes a conscious decision to sin. Certainly, a believer whose profession is true would never willfully choose to sin. We might have succumbed to temptation or sinned out of ignorance, but that is a different heart than one who simply doesn't care.

To grow further, though, requires a more decisive stance:

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Daniel 1:9 [NKJV]

Daniel's life is characterized by a a daily expression of courageous obedience. This was no accident. His obedience was active, not passive. He made a decision to obey. He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.

What is your purpose today? Is it to get through the day? Is it to be get everything done on the list? Have you purposed to obey and not to be defiled? Have you purposed to heed the voice of the Lord?

It is perhaps the most important agreement you can make!

Be encouraged, Jose

A call to Jesus

Friends,

Our Lord is pursuing you and me. In His deep and infinite love, He is chasing us. He has paid a price far higher than we can comprehend simply to claim us as His own. He has responded to this request ...

Song of Solomon 2:17
Until the day breaks
And the shadows flee away,
Turn, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle
Or a young stag
Upon the mountains of Bether. [NKJV]

Where does this request come from?
Who cries out for the Lord to "Turn ... and be like a gazelle", racing towards us?

It is the desire of the new heart, of the new man in Christ. It is heard when the LORD creates in us a new heart. And the Lord of lords hears that desire and comes running.

Be encouraged, Jose

Deep satisfaction

Friends,

Where are searching for satisfaction today? There are easy, pat answers to that question ... family, work, play. But let's get beyond those cliches and dig down to the root of the question.

Will the work you do ever truly be satisfactory? Or will someone always find something to criticize? Maybe the criticism is done to motivate; maybe it's done to strengthen. But the criticism proves that your work will never be fully satisfactory, doesn't it?

Will your spouse fully satisfy you? Your wife may be the love of your life, but she is still an imperfect human being, and mistakes are inevitable. Your husband may be all you ever dreamed of, but he can never be all you truly need.

Psalm 17:15
As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. [NKJV]

There is an easy, almost mindless, agreement when we say that God is the source of our satisfaction. But the hard truth is that we rarely evidence that belief in our daily lives.

Today, sisters and brothers, consider who God is. Consider His infinite love and kindness and holiness. Ask yourself if there is anything or anyone that can possibly match Him.

And then be reminded ...
The Lord has given Himself and all that He is to us. And there is no greater source of satisfaction than to be found in His likeness.

Be encouraged, Jose

Closer than ever before

Friends,

This past weekend, my wife and I were talking about how we have both been somewhat lax in our prayer life. It is not that we have neglected to go to the the Lord in all matters. But rather, we have been busily talking to God, but not diligent and purposeful in listening to Him.

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
1 Peter 4:7 [NKJV]

Brothers and sisters, the LORD has promised that He will bring an end to all things, and that He will bring all men before Him to give an account. The time is now; we haven't a moment to lose! Stop and be purposeful to find the time ... each day ... to listen for what the LORD is saying to you.

Be encouraged, Jose

To the place of Peace

They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit;They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Isaiah 65:21-22 (NKJV)

How cool is it to pursue the place of peace. The place where things just work, things fall in place by divine arrangement and it all looks like we are so perfect and effective. Brothers and Sisters that is the idea of dominion over our environment. When Kingdom principles rule over our land, families, communities, hearts and nation at large, then the labors of our hands never goes to waste. Our generation is not decimated, our present is preserved for His glory and as a showcase to all nations. The place of peace starts from our hearts where God daily resides, from there love comes forth to our world and spreads to every corners of our neighborhood and God's Kingdom takes root.

When our ways are pleasing to Him and we make Him the center of our attraction and pursuits, we succeed in all we do even in the face of the fiercest challenges of life. With little effort, our gain is immense. Waste, vanity and destruction is far from us because we make our place, the place of peace which is in Him.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi