Giving Attention

Friends,

What were you paying attention to earlier this morning? As you were preparing for work, what was on your mind?
Was it the list of tasks?
Was it the conversation you had with your spouse last night?
Was it the worry over paying next month's bills?
Was it the ball game that kept you up until late?

1 Timothy 4:13 - Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. [NKJV]

Perhaps, dear brothers and sisters, there is something better for you and I to be thinking about.

Be encouraged, Jose

The Right Focus

Friends,

If you find that your attention has been focused on the things of this world, then please listen to the newly posted lessons at Bible Study Audio. I confess that I have allowed myself to be distracted by what others might think of me, instead of what God has declared of me. These lessons were extraordinary in their conviction. I pray that you, as well, are blessed by them.

Be encouraged, Jose

Fruitfulness in all conditions

Friends,

The LORD says ...

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 [NKJV]

Today is the day to trust in the LORD. Wait no longer, brothers and sisters. The fact that the world is untrustworthy cannot get much more obvious. We do not need to live in fear, nor must we be anxious during the difficult times.

No matter happens in this earth, the LORD promises that we will never stop bearing fruit.

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Psalm 91:7 [NKJV]

Be encouraged, Jose

Be Eager for Nothing

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God".
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)

As we embark on another new year, the word here is clear. What are the pressing issues and concerns being contended with? Should we be perturbed and worried like the world? Remember, expending our energies on anxiety and worries will be futile. Such exercises will not increase or expand our stature at all. They will only weaken and assault our faith power. Instead of responding to our concerns the way the world will, let's engage the Creator creatively, making our requests known to Him with thanksgiving and an assurance enveloped in high expectation of His supernatural touch on our situation. Then, our eagerness and anxieties will be replaced by a perfect peace and calm.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

We shall be delivered!

Friends,

At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1 [NKJV] ... Emphasis added

The news of the past seven days has been enough to make my head spin. Riots in Greece... Billions lost in an investment scandal... Political corruption reaching new heights in brazenness... Corporate executives begging for money from lawyers... Shoes thrown at a head of state... Suffice it say that the 24-hour News Networks have had plenty to talk about.

Our family, like so many others, is wrestling with hard decisions about spending and saving. In that struggle, it's so easy to confuse financial security with eternal security... and to reverse their priority. But this verse, which is the opening line in a remarkable prophesy about God's faithfulness to His people, reminds all of us that our future is secure.

Our Lord has never broken a promise. And Christ has promised a deliverance for us... His church.

Be encouraged, Jose

Remember to believe

Friends,

It seems as though the news is getting worse by the day. As for me, personally, I'm finding it easy to get discouraged... far too easy.

For what if some did not believe?
Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
Romans 3:3 [NKJV]

This is my reminder. God is faithful and therefore deserves my trust and belief. My feelings of discouragement cannot rule over me, because God alone is faithful. He fulfills every promise and provides for every need.

It matters not what anyone else says or thinks... because no man is God's master. The Lord has proven that He -- and He alone -- is sovereign over every event, large and small. He has proven that He is good, and no evil is present in Him. And He is faithful to assert His good and perfect will over every man.

Be encouraged, Jose

Know that He saves

Friends,

Difficult days easily turn into difficult weeks. Sometimes those weeks turn into months or even years. It is easy and natural to focus on challenges and hardships, especially when we are in the midst of them.

You have made us a strife to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves. -- Psalm 80:6

Sometimes, we fall into the lie that the hard times are forever. But we can look to our fellow believers and know that our Lord is the only One that is forever. We can be encouraged by their experience that He brings us through the hard times, never letting go.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved! -- Psalm 80:7
NKJV

The ancient people of God knew hardship and affliction. And they sang with confidence that it only takes a single look from the Lord to bring about salvation and restoration. Let us sing to Him with that same confidence.

Be encouraged, Jose

Why worry?

Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
Luke 12:22-23 (NKJV)

We set about our daily pursuits of our goals and objectives in life, and we channel our energies to getting the desired results with some successful and others challenging and frustrating. Most times we find out about our inadequacies the hard way. We simply cannot control all of our conditions and circumstances at the same time. This often lead to anxiety, frustration, pain and feelings of insecurity. The numerous legitimate demands and concerns of life can put a strain on us and our attention to the point that we continually channel our energies wrongly which ultimately results in failure, feelings of emptiness, non-fulfillment and the like.

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
Luke 12:29-31 (NKJV)

The Lord however offers us the simple panacea to these and it is the passionate pursuit and seeking of God's kingdom - its righteousness, peace, joy, & love in the Holy ghost. Rather than continue to dissipate our energies on things that we have no control over, we can put the energies to seeking Him and longing for a place of peace that defies the reasoning of men. If lesser creatures can flourish and abound in their own world, how much more we that are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. It is thus futile, counter-productive, and unnecessary to worry when we can simply put our trust and keep our faith in God.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi