During the weekend, thousands of proud western Australian gathered at the picturesque Swan River’s central park to greet Queen Elizabeth.

The crowd cheered and waved little Australian flags when the Queen’s entourage first came down the street along central park till the time she waved her goodbyes and bid farewell to the crowd.

We watched the Queen’s limousine drove off, leaving everyone to return to life as usual. In other words, Royalty came to town but it brought no changes in our personal lives.

For those who accepted Jesus as Saviour, HE arrived in our hearts as a royalty. His residence in our heart should transform us to live changed lifestyles to glorify HIS name.  How we act when we don’t get our ways, the way we treat people we don’t like, they way we spend our money and everything else in our lives should reflect the character of the royalty that lies within.

Has anything changed since King Jesus came into your life? Or He was just passing through your heart?

2 Corinthians 5:17
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation

Are you discouraged because you don’t see your breakthrough coming your way? Or maybe you think God has forsaken you? 

It may be hard to believe but there are two things that we can hope for during our tough times. First, our problem allows God to work HIS supernatural power through us. HE will impart HIS grace unto us to help us prevail over our circumstances. Rejoice for HE knows the way and HE promises to go before you to make a way.

Second, before you experience a breakthrough, the devil will try to shake you to give up hope. When I was working on an apprenticeship, I was required to work a certain work hours hence I needed my employer to sign off the few hundred hours I’ve clocked in.

When I rang the office, I was informed that the only person authorized to sign the statement was away for a few months. I was disheartened as I needed the hours confirmed within a few days to proceed for my next placement. Nevertheless, I thanked God and I reasoned if I had to re-work the few hundred hours again, I know God will strengthen me to do so. What happened the next day was out of my expectation; I received a phone call from the director of the company. Within a day, I got my hours signed off by the director himself and he even added extra 90 hours that I did not work for into the statement. It was not easy to thank God when I felt HE has forsaken me but HE did not and I was also given the opportunity to testify on God’s goodness to the director, it was a divine appointment.

When things seems to discourage you and your fear or doubt intensifies, know that you are not about to crash and burn; you are actually on the doorsill of a breakthrough. You are almost there, hang on!

Micah 2:13
The One who breaks open the way will go up before them, they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.

When the Lord told Abraham that he and Sarah would have a baby, they were both beyond childbearing years. After considering their physical circumstances and limitations, Abraham pressed on and chose to believe what God has said will come to pass. He did not give in to doubt nor did he try to figure out how God will make it happen for him.

Abraham simply gave praise and glory to God and the Bible says that he was empowered; he grew stronger in faith as he worshipped.

Praise is the highest form of communion with God. I’m sure Abraham did not praised God because he felt good but it was more of an attitude of obedience; believing that God controls all things.

There were times I did not feel like giving praise to God but over the years, God has taught me that the very act of praise is an act of obedience as we yield our trust on God’s faithfulness to give us our breakthrough.  At the same time, praise also releases God’s power to enable us to press on with a newly recharged faith.

Focusing on what we can see with our natural eyes will cause us to doubt and fear but if we imitate Abraham and give praise to God, HE will empower us to hope for our breakthrough and we will eventually see the fulfillment of HIS promises in our lives. Praise Him and be empowered.

Romans 4:19-20
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.

According to Colossian 1:4 (AMP), faith is the leaning of our entire human personality on Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in HIS wisdom, goodness and power. This simply means that we have absolute trust that God is in control and HE has the power to help us.

Faith helps us to enjoy our lives as it is the channel in which we receive God’s blessings into our lives. It pleases God to see us live a lifestyle of ongoing trust in HIM; depending and relying on HIS power as the only way out to receiving our breakthrough.

Maybe you have been struggling to be faithful for certain needs and you don’t see any provision coming your way. We will face challenges like that but when we learn to put our absolute trust in God, our faith will release peace and joy as well as blessings of God into our lives

Our all-powerful and all-knowing God can handle every situation we face. He is the very essence and definition of what is good. He will always do what is right and we can trust Him to ultimately not let us fall or fail so let’s learn to live by faith and know that HE is in control.

Colossian 1:4
For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

Faith or trust is something that each of us has and we exercise it daily. Do you realize that it actually takes faith to do something as simple as sitting in a chair and believing it is strong enough to hold us up or driving a car and trusting that it will bring us to our destination safely?

What and who are we placing our faith in?

If we trust in ourselves, we will spend a lot of time worrying and if we place our faith in other people, we will most likely be disappointed. Who or what we put our trust in is our choice but God’s word makes it clear that our faith should be in Him.

In Luke 5:1-6 the disciples who were expert fishermen chose to trust the words of Jesus the carpenter. When they placed their trust in Jesus’ words, they took steps of faith that stretched them beyond their comfort and understanding.  It did not go wasted didn’t it? God blessed them with a great number of fish.

So if you are asked to take a step of faith or if your faith is being stretched in a time of waiting, choose to trust in God for HE is more than able to turn your situation around and HE will surely bless you.

Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

I shall not want. Though I walked in the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil as my God will guard and guide me during tough times. The Lord is my Shepherd.

To say “The Lord is My Shepherd” as David says in Psalm 23 is to trust God constantly; knowing that we will always be under HIS loving and attentive care. To know that He will guard and guide us step by step out of the valley of the death.

It is not in God’s best interest to let those who follow HIM go lacking but HE knows there is often danger all around; HIS rod and HIS staff are there to comfort us so no matter what you are facing today, Jesus knows your name, HE knows your hardship and HE will not let you walk through it alone.

Be confident and know that The Lord is Your Shepherd. 

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing... ... Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

When you are going through certain difficult trials, do you sometimes wonder if God knows what it is like to be in your shoe?

Jesus was no stranger to emotional and physical pains. During HIS lifetime on earth, Jesus endured hardships and challenges; He knows how it feels to be sad, lonely and rejected.

During HIS ministry, Jesus was constantly challenged, tested and accused by religious leaders. They called Him a friend of the tax collectors, sinners (Matthew 11:19), and blasphemer (Mark 2:7). They also claimed Jesus was mad, demon-possessed (John 10:20) and they even tried to stone HIM (John 8:59, 10:31–39).

Furthermore, Jesus also experienced the pain of being denied by a loved one (Luke 22:54–62) and betrayed by the one close to Him. (Luke 22:47–48).

Jesus certainly understands all that we are going through. He was “in all points tempted as we are” so if you ever wonder if HE knows how it feels, Yes HE does and HE understands.

Hebrews 4:15
 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin

Just like the rest of us, Prophet Elijah too experienced difficult times in his life. One of the difficulties he faced was during a famine and God told Elijah to dwell in Brook Cherith because there was a supply of water. 

Apart from supplying Elijah with the provision of water, God also fed Elijah by having ravens bring him food daily.  Everything was well until the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land (1 Kings 17: 1-9).

We all have times just like that when the comfort of our daily lives is interrupted by something we have no control of.  During these times, we should remember God has another plan. When one door closes, another one always opens.

When the brook dried up, God told Elijah to arise and go to Zarephath, where HE had commanded a widow to provide for him. God had a better plan, but Elijah had to arise.  Imagine if Elijah decided to stay, he would’ve lived in lack and misery.

Arise and have faith in God’s goodness. When your brook dries up, praise HIM and HE will guide you. Remember that God has a plan for you and it is a better plan.

Micah 7:8
When I fall, I shall arise.

When we are faced with the same problems and difficulties, we wonder what God would say to us, we also find ourselves asking HIM, “What should I do? How can I overcome this?” 

God says: Arise.

When Jesus encountered a crippled man at the pool of Bethesda who was waiting for a miracle, HE asked the man how long he had been in that condition. The man replied, “Thirty- eight years.” Jesus did not say, “Continue on waiting, maybe something good will happen.” No, Jesus said, “Rise up!”

To rise and get up is a decision we have to intentionally make; it is not something that automatically happens. We must choose to get up and not be trapped in the past.

How long will you mourn over what did not work out in your life? Over what you have lost and your past regrets, wishing there is any other way to rectify all the mistakes you have made? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this because I have overcame my own regrets but I’m saying this as a reminder for myself as well.

There are days I too feel overwhelmed with discouragements and self-guilt. When those feelings come, I read the following verse (Isaiah 60:1). 

Decide today to get up and move on from your past. Do not lay in the same condition for “thirty eight years”.

Isaiah 60:1 (AMP)
ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!