The wild animals honour Him!

One of my favourite geography TV shows as a child was Expedition to the animal kingdom. This show portrayed the lifestyles and the habitation of different animals. As a child, the only way I could see these animals was to watch them on TV. Thankfully, as an adult, I have visited different zoos and been to a Safari. Seeing the animals live makes a whole difference as compared to watching on TV. Sometimes, I really wish we could understand the shouts, grunts, howl, squeak, bark, etc. of the animals. Watching animated shows with my kids makes it easier! I see the lion talk, sing and dance. As funny as this may sound, I believe the animals have their own lifestyles and singing and dancing may be incorporated in their shouts and movements. Anyway, the next time I go to a Safari, I will ask an expert!

The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen. (Isaiah 43:20)

Is it not fascinating to know that God took time to make all the different species of animals and decorated them with different attitudes and appearances? Have you taken a closer look at a jackal? At first sight, you may think that it is a wolf, or a fox or even a domesticated dog. If you can buy a chiwawa and keep it in your home as a pet, it will be impossible to buy a jackal from the wild and keep it home! However, both the chiwawa and the jackal are God’s creation. The chiwawa is domestic and the jackal is a wild animal. In the book of Isaiah 43:20, we see that the wild animals honour God. The jackals and the owls in the wilderness are provided with water  and the wasteland has streams. In the ferocious wild, the animals are still cared for by God. He sustains them with what they need. Some of the animals living on deserts have anatomical features that allow them to go without water for months. Is that not amazing! So you see why God is honoured even by wild animals. 

Understanding that both humans and animals have a role to play in worshipping God should change our attitudes towards creation. First, only God deserves our worship. Second, we should not worship creation (trees, animals, water bodies, rocks etc.). Thirdly, we should be mindful not to harm the creation. If we consider the effects of our actions on the atmosphere, the earth, the water bodies and the animals in the wild, we will become more caring and less harmful. The wild animals are not our enemies. They are God’s creation and they have been kept in their habitats because that is where they can thrive. They can honour God in their natural habitats and they are well taken care of by their Maker. We shouldn’t encroach on their habitation and cause these animals to go extinct. As you raise your hands in honour to God, know that the wild animals are doing the same. Their appearance, their tenacity, their hunting skills, their ferocious appearances and their ability to survive in the Wild is because God takes care of them. Allow them to thrive so they can honour their Maker!

Trust Him to return

There are countless promises I have made to my nephews. Anytime we speak on the phone, I promise to visit them but it has been quite some time since I last visited. I am sure they don’t trust my visitation promises anymore. There are many people who don’t keep to their words. When they tell you to look up, they will be busily minding their businesses down without consideration for your neck! You can look up until you hurt your neck but they don’t care. Others have become professional liars and every word from their mouth needs to be passed through a litmus test. They have a lie to cover every lie and have built a hedge of falsity around them. Still, some people are so sincere and trustworthy that they are committed to ensuring that every promise they make is fulfilled. If you do not have a trusted companion, you are in a big dilemma!

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.(Revelation 22:20)

A lot of people have been through so much that it is very common to hear people comment that they have trust issues. If you have experienced at first hand how it feels to be disappointed by those you trusted, you will take every word with a pinch of salt. However, we don’t stop trusting because others have failed us. Throughout this month, we have considered different biblical examples of trusting in God. Do check the previous posts. We have identified that God is trustworthy and He watches over His word to fulfill it (Jeremiah 1:12). As we consider this, I want to remind you of Parousia. Jesus is coming again and He said it on several occasions while He was on earth. He also told the Apostle John in the Revelation to the churches. He said in Revelation 22:20 that “Yes, I am coming soon” and He will return. It doesn’t matter how long it takes.

When we understand that the Parousia is going to happen, we prepare ourselves each day in anticipation. As we wait, we should get ourselves ready at all times. We should prepare spiritually, emotionally and physically. We should also be willing to share the love of God with others. How can others trust in His return if we don’t let them know? We should be driven by compassion and love for humanity. We should not be ashamed of our faith and be willing to share whenever there is an opportunity. My colleagues from other religious beliefs are identified by their appearance and dressing. They are never shy of their faith. But most of my Christian colleagues are silent about their faith because they don’t want to hurt others. I have never been hurt because others of different faiths publicly practice their faith. Why should others be hurt at lunch time because I prayed over my food? We might live in an ever changing world but that does not change who we are! Jesus is coming soon. Yes! Trust Him to return and be ready to meet your Lord.

What are you doing here?

Have you gotten to a point that you feel, you are all alone? Have you ever asked yourself, “How did I get to this unpleasant situation?” It can be overwhelming to be in a condition that affects your life and general well-being. If you are in a tough situation that gives you sleeplessness, know that someone cares for you. Never feel all alone. Elijah experienced a “wow moment” with the contest against the prophets of Baal and the rains after the drought. He had a big ministry highlight that obviously announced him to all Israel. Baal worshippers were threatened and God-worshippers were excited. However, Jezebel, the wife of the king, had plans to kill Elijah. “So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there.” (1 Kings 19:2‭-‬3)

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9 ESV)

The same man who single handedly destroyed 450 prophets of Baal, ran away from one woman (the powerful wife of the king). The king feared Elijah’s words and did as the prophet requested, but Elijah feared the words of the king’s wife. It sounds ridiculous but Jezebel was a dominant force in Baal worship and Elijah’s destruction of Baal’s prophets caused Jezebel to retaliate. Couldn’t have God saved Elijah from Jezebel’s hands? Definitely, God’s plan was much bigger. Elijah was bold to meet the king but fled from the king’s wife to Mount Horeb. “There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9 ESV). Have you ever asked yourself a similar question? Sometimes, after experiencing amazing testimonies, a little situation comes that causes you to run helter, skelter. Today, God is asking, “what are you doing here?” 

When life takes you to a lowest point, you do not stay there. You can make a message out of your state or you can create a mess out of it. No Jezebel is bigger than our God. No matter how much life’s challenges rages on, there is always a small voice of peace and restoration. The Lord said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11‭-‬13)

If you are currently running into the Horeb of your life, wondering, “where is God?” God is whispering to you, “what are you doing here? Get up and move on. I have reserved for you legions of angels at your beckoning. I have good plans for you. Just let go of your fears and trust me. I am the God of the good times and the unpleasant times. Trust me to deliver,  protect and bring you to the expected end.”

My strength and my shield

As a child, I encountered several bullies at school. There were times, the fear of going to school was so great. I was scared of meeting those girls who used to maltreat me. They were in my class and the thought of spending hours with them each day made my life miserable. I loved school and academically I was good but fear of my bullies made going to school a very hard decision. After several complaints, and my parents and great-grandmother visiting the school, the bullying stopped. The Lord used my parents and my great-grandmother to shield me from the bullies. Years later, the girls, now women, still remember the caution they received from the school to stay away from me. I am not afraid of them anymore and any time I visit my native country, I am always excited to see them and so are they! My experience reminds me that there are times that our best strength could accomplish nothing. We need to rely on another for sustenance. 

One of the many reasons every child needs a guardian is for safety. We live in an adult-world and all over the world, children are at risk of bullies, pedophiles, abusers, etc. Every step a child keeps away from their guardians (including parents, foster parents, teachers etc.) is a step closer to the wrong person. Our response to protecting the children has been stricter laws and legislation across countries to ensure that the children are safe. But, who ensures the safety of adults? Who takes care of the children when they are outside the purview of parents and guardians? Who watches over all people even in the most unlikely places? How do we navigate the ever increasing hostile world? We all know that our governments are doing an amazing job at security and safety. Different measures have been put in place including security systems to ensure that all is safe. However, the government agencies are not omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.  Their knowledge is limited to their jurisdiction and where they have coverage. So what do we do?

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalms 28:7)

It is important to obey local laws and regulations about security and safety. Most importantly, we need to trust the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God for sustenance. We need to draw our strength from Him. We need to acknowledge Him as our shield. King David in the Bible had been a warrior throughout his life and was aware of the need for strength and a good shield for security and safety. He noted in Psalms 28:7 that: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Similarly in Psalms 121, the Psalmist considered how the Lord keeps and watches over His own. Our best efforts cannot save us from our oppressors. We need God’s strength and shield to wade the blows and the arrows of the enemies. His strength is our strength and His shield is our shield. The Lord is our keeper! Rejoice in the Lord and sing for praise for He is our strength and shield. Trust in the Lord!

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalms 121:1‭-‬8)

Show me the way I should go

It is very important to have a plan and a vision for your life. Afterall, you do not want to move about like one without any aim. While we propose our plans and visions, it is important to know that we do not control their manifestations. There is a popular cliché that “man proposes and God disposes.” However, if you do not propose, how can God dispose? Each day is an opportunity for us to get closer to our plans and visions. When we wake up each morning, we anticipate having a better day. We pray that our paths are fruitful. We commit our ways into the Lord and we trust the Lord to keep what we have entrusted into His hands. We may not consider this; but it is a big thing to fully trust in another for the sustenance and preservation of one’s life. To entrust God with your life, plans and visions, is a big thing!

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalms 143:8)

One way to ensure a better relationship with the one we have entrusted our lives with is to have a daily moment spent with Him. Preferably, having a daily quiet time is an important step. The Psalmist discovered this and noted that: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life”  (Psalms 143:8). When we make time to commune with God in the morning, it sets a tone for our day. We meditate on His words, we share our plans and visions with Him and we commit our day into His hands. No one is too mature to skip quiet time. In fact, Jesus, our perfect model, had a daily habit of spending time with the Father. Mark 1:35 records that “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Jesus started off His days with time spent with the Father. Although the whole city was looking for Jesus in the morning, He had a mission: “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (Mark 1:38).

Each morning as we come before the Lord, we should pray: “Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” The Lord leads, He guides into all truth, He takes care of what is entrusted in His hands, He preserves etc. Each morning we spend with the Lord, we should anticipate that we will receive word of His unfailing love. He will communicate to us through His word, through people, through dreams and visions. We are living in uncommon times, we need the Lord to show us the way each morning. Our best decisions without the Lord’s guidance could be our worst decisions. We do not want to walk into places we have not been called to go. Everyone was looking for Jesus, but after His communion with the Father, His focus was to go to the nearby villages (Mark 1:35-38). Our declaration each day should be: “Lead me God, show me the way, guide my paths, and I will follow.”

Be still, He is working!

There are times that we feel like, ‘God should know better’. Sometimes we expect God to act in a particular way, we expect Him to come into our situation with the speed of thunder. As the disciples asked Jesus in their frustration, we tend to also ask a similar question when life seems to be drowning us: “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). In response to the disciples’ frustration, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm” (Mark 4:39). The answer to the waging storm was stillness. Jesus did not mince words, He went straight to rebuke the storm and then “He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10)

The answer to life’s raging storms is stillness. But how can we be still in the midst of storms? Our bodies are wired to respond to our environment. Every event sends signals to the brain and the whole body reacts accordingly. Happiness, joy, sadness, fear, frustration, anger, worry, depression etc. stem from the signals we receive from our environment and send to our brains. Whatever you feed your brain with, your situation will react to it. Thus, if all the stimuli trigger fear, worry and pain, you are bound to live in a perpetual state of anxiety. Jesus doesn’t want us to be unaware of our environment but He wants our response to the stimuli to be different.  The Psalmist discovered this, he came to understand that in the midst of life’s challenges, he needs to be in God’s stilled course. God says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalms 46:10). Yes, we have to be still!

Stillness in the presence of God doesn’t mean doing nothing. It is about trusting in God, putting your faith in God and learning to obey God even in the most unlikely situation. Sleeping all day and night does not bring stillness. In fact, we need to be intentional about building up our most holy faith. We need to study what God’s word says about the situations we go through. We need to meditate on His word in our stillness. We need to create an atmosphere of prayer and praise. Even when we are terrified, we should understand that the voice of the Lord is obeyed by even the winds and the waves, therefore our situations should not be difficult for the Lord. While we wait, we should know that God’s response could be “Yes, No or Wait” and each response is based on the long term effect of our request. Like many of us, my desire has always been to get a “Yes” from God. But, sometimes the best answers are “No” and “Wait”. Be still in the Lord. He is working for your good. 

Trust the eternal Rock

I love nature and because of my love for nature, I delight in watching documentaries about geography. Today, let’s consider rocks and its features. Rocks come in different sizes and shapes. While some are small, others are very huge. Some rocks can be moved from one location to the other, some rocks cannot be moved. Some rocks are firm and can withstand pressure from rain, storms, fires and strong winds. In fact, the scripture uses rock to refer to a solid foundation. The one who builds on the sand loses the house in the rain but the one who builds on the rock is unshakeable even in the midst of raging storms (Matthew 7:24-27). The Lord is also referred to as the Rock (Psalm 18:31, 2 Samuel 22:32 etc.). In 2 Samuel 22:47, the Lord is referred to as the Rock of our salvation. 

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:4)

Isaiah understood the importance of trusting in the Lord. He called the Lord as the Rock eternal: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:4). The Lord is not the rock that can be washed away by the rain. He is solid, He is strong, He is unshakeable, He is able to stand in the midst of all raging storms, He is eternal etc. The Lord is the Rock that is not swayed by economic pressures, pandemics, political tensions, societal troubles. The Lord is the Rock that has seen many kingdoms rise and fall but His kingdom remains forever. The Lord is the Rock who though magnificent and huge can still fit into the heart of a person. The Lord is the Rock that does not need to be sought in miles, He follows His own. The Lord is the Rock that holds lives. The Lord is the Rock that offers water to the thirsty and food to the hungry. The Lord is the Rock that offers shelter to the homeless and salvation to them that believe in Him.

When we understand the nature of the Lord our eternal Rock, we will not find it difficult to serve Him. Some people trusted in lifeless gods and they were not given eternal abode. Others trusted in themselves and they could not help themselves in times of need. Others trusted in the Lord, the eternal Rock and prospered in all they did and had eternal home when they departed from this body. Whether you choose to trust in the Lord the eternal Rock or not, is a personal decision.  The Lord does not force anyone to trust in Him.  We all have to make the conscious effort to trust in Him. Remember, when you stand on the solid Rock, you can face tomorrow but when you stand on slippery ground, you are at risk of a fall. Choose this day where you will stand, where you will put your trust, where you will find your feet. 

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

The Queen who trusted in God!

The first time I visited the UK was for an academic conference. I spent about a week in the UK and two months later I was back for another visit. The next year, I moved to the UK and for four years my family stayed in the country where both myself and husband ended up earning academic degrees. One of the things that fascinated me about the UK was the way the nation has sustained their monarchy and the influence of the royal family in the nation. Particularly, I admired Queen Elizabeth for her role in uniting and building the United Kingdom after World War II. She ascended to the throne when she was still young, but after reigning for 70 years and 214 days as the Queen of England, we can only admire her for her tenacity. What was the secret of the Queen’s sustenance even in the midst of wars, political chaos, family chaos, pandemics, etc.? To mark the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, a booklet titled “The Servant Queen And The King She Serves”  was published. I was thrilled after reading the book. The Queen trusted in God!

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

Who you trust is very important to determine how far you can go! Being the Queen of England is not an easy job in our fast changing world. However,  according to this book, “In all that change, the Queen’s faith has remained consistent. The Servant Queen explores and celebrates the place of Her Majesty’s Christian faith in the context of her formal role, public ceremony, her personal and family life, in times of celebration and in the face of adversity.” The life of Queen Elizabeth reminds me of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” How can someone live a peaceful life in the midst of raging family, political,  social and economic pressures? The answer is simple: those who trust in the Lord are kept in perfect peace. Today, the whole world celebrates the extraordinary life of a queen whose 70year reign transcends the lifetime of the average person. 

Death is a painful departure and no matter how old one lives, the world will still miss that person. Many of us live for the here and now not mindful of our impact in the light of eternity. As the world celebrates the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth, may we not forget that she trusted in God and in the midst of all the chaos around her, she still had the peace to reign for 70years. When we understand that trusting in God is not an alternative but the way to go, it affects our mindset and lifestyle. Remember, the world will keep changing but God remains the same. Who you trust shows how far you can go. As for me, I choose to trust in the Lord. 

As we celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s life, let us consider this quote from her:

“For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none.”
Source: The Servant Queen And The King She Serves. Excerpt of the Queen’s Christmas Message, 2014.

Who do you trust?

Confidence in oneself is not bad but overly confident in one’s ability disregarding the help of God could lead to pride. Certainly, we need to be confident in ourselves but we should be mindful not to become boastful. Whenever we accomplish a feat in life, we should be mindful to glorify God. Jesus told a parable of a rich man in Luke 12:16-19: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” On the face value, we can say that the man did nothing wrong. But, we see a reliance on himself and what he will do. His riches were of no value to any other than him. The Lord called this man a fool. 

Who you trust determines how far you can go. In fact, one of the basic challenges of the 21st century is trust. Couples do not trust one other, some believers do not trust in God,  friends do not trust one another, nations do not trust one another. However, people have become susceptible to trusting in what they can do. Nations have relied on their military powers, technology has become the latest demigod and society has become part of a bigger movement towards self-gratification. We have all experienced at first hand how our best efforts have failed in securing us the best world. Pandemics, wars and tyranny have not ceased. In the height of enlightenment and globalization, we see nations rise against other nations while the whole world watches in disbelief. The best strong nations can do is to issue sanctions. Our strength and knowledge have failed to bring peace and tranquility to the world. So what can we do?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalms 20:7)

King David experienced different wars in his lifetime. He fought in many of these wars and there were times his life was at risk. Battles fought in David’s time, did not rely on the technology we have now. It was a hand to hand, saw and javelin, knife, archers, horses and chariots, warriors and strongman kind of battle. Therefore chariots and horses were very instrumental in these wars. In fact, most ancient kings had to pay a high price to get the best chariots and horses. Having the best chariots and horses did not guarantee victory. David noted that “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalms 20:7). In most times, victories from these ancient battles were not based on the best chariots and horses. Gideon, was an untrained warrior who defeated the Medianites army of 120,000 soldiers with just 300 men whose weapons were torches and jars (see Judges 7).

The best way to defeat the enemies we face in life is to totally rely on God for victory. 

Fearfully and wonderfully made

A healthy mind, they say, lives in a healthy body. Our perception about our physical appearance goes a long to affect our attitudes toward ourselves. If you perceive yourself as a Very Important Person (VIP), you definitely give yourself a VIP treatment. However,  if you have low self-esteem and lack confidence in yourself, you are likely not to give any special attention to yourself. We need to show love, care and importance to ourselves. It is not evil to practice self-care. Afterall, God spent His time to ensure that you were created uniquely. No two people on this earth are the same. There are definitely unique traits and even identical twins are never completely the same. You are special, a limited edition person, you are different from everyone and you carry a unique assignment on earth. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalms 139:14)

Uniqueness could also reflect in our general appearance. While some people are tall, others are short; while some people are slim, others are stout etc. Genetics also contributes to our general appearance and uniqueness. No matter how you look differently than others, you have to understand that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. King David identified this and he praised God: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalms 139:14). You are a wonderful person and no matter how others see you, there is none like you. When manufacturers produce limited edition products, these products are usually different from the mass production. Each human being is a limited edition person,  crafted fearfully and wonderfully with love. There is none that is a complete version of you.

When we understand our uniqueness, we develop an attitude of gratitude. Appreciating God for crafting us differently from all others also demands that we take care of ourselves to ensure our physical well-being. No sane person buys a limited edition product and smashes it. In the same way, we should handle ourselves with care because we are “fragile” and lack of care can lead to total brokenness caused by sickness, pain and other avoidable mental illnesses. Further, knowing that we are different should encourage us to work on ourselves daily to reflect a healthier version of ourselves. We have been called to reflect Christ (totally) and that should be our focus. Christlikeness is a lifestyle that includes good stewardship over our bodies. 

Reflecting our uniqueness should motivate us to take care of ourselves. God has given each person an assignment and we can fulfill these when we operate with a healthy body. Let this mindset encourage you to commit to reflecting Christ in your health and well-being. 

To read more of these, grab my book A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: YOUR LIVING SACRIFICE here.