God's Thoughts toward You

What does God think of me? It’s a question that we seldom ponder upon, yet it is one of the most important questions of our lives.

This answer to this question should override the fears that so often plague us and hold us back from our true potential in Christ which, more often than not, comprise other people’s expectations of us i.e. our family, friends and those closest to us.

Not knowing our identity in Christ causes myriads of problems in our lives. These include uncertainty, lack of confidence, depression and instability. Mankind is fickle and if we are to base our worth on others’ estimation of us, we will be miserable because people often do not admire us for who we are, but rather what we can do or what we possess. It is only God that looks at us from above and with all our faults and failures, still pronounces us as “good” and the pinnacle of his Creation.

Christ also experienced this when He walked the earth; one minute the crowds shouted “Hosanna!” but very soon thereafter, the same people shouted “Crucify Him!”(Matt 21:7-9; 27:20-25)

Basically, it comes down to this. We would live happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives if we focused on what God thought of us instead of worrying about what others think of us. Consult God when making important decisions-make Him your number one “go-to person” and when in doubt about how to behave in a particular circumstance, always think: “Will what I am about to do please God?” We seek the approval of our earthly parents so much; why not crave the approval of our Heavenly Father?

When you feel depressed and worthless, remember that the cross is what keeps us balanced. It shows us the horror of our sinfulness, but also how much God loves us despite ourselves.

Don’t make important decisions based on what others will think of you, especially when it concerns your own salvation. There are some matters that should be kept between you and God.

“How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” Ps 139:17

Life and Death (Part 1)

“Do not go gentle into that good night…but rage, rage against the dying of the light…” Those were the words of a poet a long time ago. He wrote that death is something to be fought with every ounce of strength we have. Although the fear of death is not a healthy approach to life, neither is living with a death wish.

Life is difficult, and somewhere in the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of living we have forgotten the sanctity and sacredness of life. Life is a gift given by God and not something that we are entitled to. Life is God’s breath in us from the time He stooped down and breathed it into the lifeless form of Adam in Eden.

We have lost the will to live and as a result, many people commit suicide in an effort to take the easy way out. Some do it because of the uncaring actions and hurtful words of kinsfolk, while others simply believe that their contribution to the world is insignificant at best.

The Bible teaches much about life and death. Deut 30:19 says life is a choice. Life is God’s gift, but we choose whether we want to live or not and to some extent, what type of life we have. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. It is therefore important to speak words of life into someone’s soul and not words that kill their self-esteem, erode their emotional worth and make them forget that they are a son or daughter of the Most High God.

The book of Job teaches us that although we face diverse challenges in life, God is still in control and He still holds our lives in His hand. He even controls the reach and power of satan so that we are not destroyed by him (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).

Sometimes it is not the final act of suicide that kills a person, but the process of worry and stress which gradually erodes a person’s life force. Jesus said that we should not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough has problems in itself to deal with (Matt 6:34).  Worrying will not make tomorrow any easier to deal with, neither will it add one day to your lifespan. This does not mean that one should not plan ahead and prepare for life; by all means be prudent and prepare, but don’t let worry kill you.  God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).  Rest assured that God is not constrained to time and He knows your tomorrow and He walks with you.

When Jesus died, He didn’t just take away my sins. He gave me a reason to live. I can face tomorrow because even if no one else cares, I know He cares and He loves me and that’s more than enough. Life is difficult, but life without God is even worse. The righteous man falls seven times, but he gets up in the strength of God every time! (Prov 24:16) We have Christ now and we will be with Him forever in His new Kingdom (1 Cor 15:19, Rev 21). That’s reason enough to want to live!