The
Children of Israel, even after they had crossed the Red Sea, suffered greatly
from serious paralysis. They had in the course of 430 years nurtured a culture
of fear that would follow them throughout their journey through the desert.
Having lived that long in camps, they had unfortunately developed a mindset of
the slave camps in Egypt. They claimed at the onset of difficulties to prefer
the slave camps to their hard-earned freedom. “Was it because there were no
graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to
us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone
let us serve the Egyptians.’ It would have been better to serve the Egyptians
than to die in the desert.” (Exodus 14:11-12)
God had chosen the safest exit – though there was a shorter route --for them and yet they were up in arms against Moses. God knew “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17b)
The year 2020 cannot in any way resemble 2019. What would be your outlook to the difficulties you will encounter on the way? Would you think God unfair with you by making you go through intolerable situations? Just remember that whenever you go through the fire it is to refine you. God will put us through the test to see how resistant we would be or He would allow certain circumstance simply to test our loyalty.
God tested Job whom He characterised thus to Satan: “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8) After all the afflictions Job suffered in the hands of Satan, he concluded: “But He knows the way that I take; “When He has tested me I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) Job passed the test because of his resilient faith. He never lost hope that God who is a God of justice won’t do what is right. “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” (Job 13:15)
Father Abraham was equally tested when God ordered him: “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:2) In total obedience, Abraham left “early the next morning” in compliance with God’s instructions. Abraham never questioned God’s motives. God never promised our journey would be obstacle-free. No! What He guaranteed was that he would never leave us nor forsake us.
And so God is saying to you this 2020, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”(Isaiah 43:1b-2) The storms will come as part of the challenges of life but stand on the promises of God to defeat them.
Satan will not relent in his bid to afflict and frustrate you because he would have seen your future glorious. Do not let him; invite the Lord Jesus to fight on your behalf. For His name is exalted. God has given Him “... the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 3:9-11)
The Lord Jesus teaches us to exercise our faith in the face of adversity. “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith [says].” (Mark 11-22-23)
New approach, new outlook
Begin to look at life with your bi-focal lenses which allow one to see things in two dimensions – the natural and the supernatural. Indeed, we live in a natural world where the spirit takes the upper hand in determining the way things move. Aligning ourselves with our spirit man is the first step to consciousness of the role we should play in the spiritual realm. The spiritual world commands what happens in the natural world. What you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Our Lord Jesus directed these words to the apostle Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
What are we waiting for? God has put in our hands the wherewithal – that is, what it takes – to effect a change in our circumstances. God has a reputation to keep. His word in our mouth is flawless. (2 Samuel 22:321) This New Year, take a new approach to life. Be ready to fly like an eagle, unrestricted under the watchful eye of the Lord. Stop coasting with chicks when you are an eagle. Be a champion, like
David. Step into the unknown, conscious of the fact that you are not alone.
Stop worrying, let Jesus do the worrying for you. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27) Think big so that when it happens you know it is not you, but God who did it. Your heavenly Father knows what you need. (Matthew 6:32) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
Quit self-centeredness, serve rather than be served. Jesus stated: “I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)