There's a well known song from Bon Jovi and it goes "it's my life, it's now or never, I ain't gonna live forever...". How often have we said, "it's my life, I can do what I want", "it's my hard earned money, I can spend on anything I want", or "it's my future, and my plans are going to happen"!

God teaches us a higher way. We aren't owners of our lives, futures or possessions. We are stewards - God's very own stewards and we have been entrusted with this life. As a steward, we can sure do whatever we want, we can make decisions and choices and plans. But as a steward, we will also have to report or give an account of what we have been given to look after. 

Being God's steward, we need to know deeply and clearly what God desires and intends to do. Let's continually seek Him out, because we have been given the highest privilege of stewarding eternity. And it gives our lives meaning and focus on what really matters!

“And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭AMP‬‬

- Jo Voon-

The Lord never builds a bridge of faith except under the feet of the faith-filled traveler. If He builds the bridge a rod ahead, it would not be a bridge of faith. That which is of sight is not of faith.

There is a self-opening gate which is sometimes used in country roads. It stands fast and firm across the road as a traveler approaches it. If he stops before he gets to it, it will not open. But if he will drive right at it, his wagon wheels press the springs below the roadway, and the gate swings back to let him through. He must push right on at the closed gate, or it will continue to be closed.

This illustrates the way to pass every barrier on the road of duty. Whether it is a river, a gate, or a mountain, all the child of Jesus has to do is to go for it. If it is a river, it will dry up when you put your feet in its waters. If it is a gate, it will fly open when you are near enough to it, and are still pushing on. If it is a mountain, it will be lifted up and cast into a sea when you come squarely up, without flinching, to where you thought it was.

Is there a great barrier across your path of duty just now? Just go for it, in the name of the Lord, and it won’t be there. 

Proverbs 4: 12
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

- Henry Trumbull

The word steadfast translates the meaning of being firmly loyal, constant, fixed and unchanging. Such a word is used to describe God's love towards us.

In a world that is constantly changing, God's love remains unchanging. People may come and go, things may change, challenging times may come; but God's love remains steadfast through it all.

So let us be strong, take courage, stand firm and steadfastly hold on the the faith and hope that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. I believe the steadfast love of my Lord will never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. Yes, I believe. Let us steadfastly hold to the hope we profess.

Lamentation 3:22
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

- Diven

Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence).
- 1 Thessalonians 3:7 

Go with the flow, and stop being anxious about things that may never happen. If you really trust God, you don't need a backup plan. Faith means that you have peace even when you don't have all the answers. 

Life will always be stressful if you constantly try to rearrange it. For example, getting upset in a traffic jam doesn't get you out of it any sooner. But planning for obstacles will inspire you to leave a little earlier for your appointments and keep you from hurrying. Grow in wisdom, and place high priority on keeping your peace in spite of any jams you get into today.

- http://www.joycemeyer.org/Articles/Devotional.aspx -

We are all familiar with fairytales. Most of us grew up with them and we know just how they end, happily ever after. However, as you get older your rose tinted glasses change to prescription glasses. 

Why isn’t my marriage what I thought it would be like? Over the years my childhood belief has disappeared, wondering did they really live happily ever after, or were they constantly fighting and filed for divorce. 

No, the story states happily ever after with no buts, they lived happily ever after but…. the prince left Belle because she nagged him too much and Prince Charming had 100 concubines because Cinderella’s body wasn’t the same after having 3 kids and he wasn’t satisfied with their intimate life; Snow White left her Prince Charming because he was really messy and wouldn’t help around the house and look after their five screaming children because he worked too much. No, they lived happily ever after. Real life isn’t quite the same. Marriage, as all relationships require work. Quality time, communication and compromise are the keys to a good marriage.

For those of you who are single, you may think, I’ll never meet my Prince Charming all the good ones are taken, men don’t know how to treat a woman these days…..Or for guys she’s only after my money and good looks or the opposite, she earns more money than me, I feel completely emasculated; she’s too beautiful, she’ll never be interested in me. Whatever it is, talk to God about your marital issues or lack of marital status. Remember married people can be jealous of single people because they seemingly have more freedom, do not need to answer to anybody and don’t have kids constantly demanding their attention 24/7. 

Marriage or singledom is not a fix. God is The Fix to all your problems. Talk to God, He listens.

Ephesians 4:2-3 
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife-- and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

- Zhen Ang

In our Christian life, we are confronted with a series of challenges which test our faith and ability to receive Gods promises. Most of us may turn to God in times of desperation, but seeking God during the good times is just as important.

God provides us a spiritual potential in which we are able to make our own (Ephesians 4:1-6). In Genesis 26 we see five key elements in which Isaac’s responses to God provide a turning point in his walk:

1)      Isaac stayed on the famine land where God told him to – When Isaac followed God’s command, he was blessed and provided with the promises God had for him.

2)      Isaac sowed in the land – Although God provided Isaac the land, it was only when Isaac sowed upon the land in which it was able to be fruitful.

3)      Isaac dug in the land for water – What are you digging for? Are you digging deep for water to sustain life or are you digging up dirt?

4)      Isaac struggled and contended – Although challenges arose, Isaac was persistent to dig and until he could access water. Not only did Isaac take ownership of the spiritual land, he was able to work upon the land for God’s promises.

5)      Isaac built – Isaac later went to Beersheba and built an altar. Regardless of the struggles and challenges Isaac faced, he continued to build, sow and reap off the land. The more Isaac sowed into the land, the more fruitful it became and the more he was able to take ownership over the land God provided him.

So what is your turning point? Will you stay during your famine for God’s provision and promises or will you rely upon your strengths?

- Melanie Riley

Luke 24:6
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee

Something distinguishes Christianity from all the religions of the world. Not only does it carry the truth of the redemption, by the death of our Savior for our sins on the cross, but it carries the fact that Christ rose again. 

Only the Christian faith claims that its Leader died and rose again and is alive at this moment. Many gravestones carry the inscription, "Here lies . . . ," but on Christ's tomb are emblazoned the words, "He is not here." Christianity has no shrines to visit, no dusty remains to venerate, no tombs at which to worship. Many good men have lived, and still live, in the memory of those who knew them, but there is only one Man who conquered death -  Jesus Christ and He will live forever.

Prayer for the day
The account of Your resurrection never ceases to bring me joy. Thank you, Lord Jesus. 

- The writing of Billy Graham

“Thing’s won’t change”, “I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel”, “It’s just too hard for me”, “This is who I am and I can’t change”…

Have you ever had these thoughts cross your mind? Sometimes,  thoughts like these can become so ordinary to us that we gradually believe these thoughts and allow these thoughts to become us. In actual fact, these poisonous and destructive thoughts are arguments set up against the knowledge of God. It was never God’s intension for us to live by putting up with these thoughts.

The great news is that the Bible gives us keys or extraordinary “weapons” to break out of these thoughts and become the person we were meant to be. One of these powerful “weapons” is the real truth from the Word of God.  Truth is different to facts and many times we can get stuck on facts without finding out the truth. For example, the fact can be that I have made a mistake, the truth is that I can ask God for forgiveness, I am not condemned and I can leave the past behind.

To find truth, find a verse that stands out, ask God to make it real, read it, research it, understand its context, read it aloud, think about it, think about how to apply it and keep swinging that “weapon” of truth until those thoughts are made captive! That’s when our lives begin to change.

Christ has come to give us freedom, to make us above and not beneath, victorious not defeated! Let’s take a hold of what He has done for us!

2 Cor 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

-Jo Voon-