He is the REASON!

I am super excited and encouraged in my spirit today.
Because God is so good! Not only is He good; He’s faithful! He’s merciful. He’s just. He is a loving God. He’s kind. He’s a provider. He’s a way-maker. He’s a deliverer. He’s a healer.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT GOD HAS PLAN FOR YOU.
Today many want to quit due to the various situations and trials facing their life. Including me..
I was stressful everytime when Monday to Friday at my workplace , been scold everytime no matter wrong o right and make me hv a thinking to quit.. Quit from job ...But Everytime i hv this think to QUIT , Holy Spirit whisper in my heart " In the midst of dicourage & hopeless , stay focused on the Word God has spoken.Dont QUIT! God has more in store. He never wants u to quit growing."

So I obey it and keep going..Sometime back from work , My spirit ,soul and body was so tired.. Been scold for one day withuout any reason.. Remember one morning 3,45am , Im so Frustration and complication ,Im i struggling in my situations..
Tat morning I pour out my spirit ,soul cry out to God.. Asking God WHY no one understand my situation , WHY im in this company? Why ..Alot of Why Why Why!!
Suddenlly he put somethings in my heart says : "THEY NOT UNDERSTAND COZ THEY NVR GO THRU.. SO WAT U EXPECT TO GET FROM THEM? BELIEVE ME , KEEP GOIN ! U GONNA BREAKTHRU IT AND GONNA HELP OTHERS IN FUTURE..SO UR STORY GONNA TOUCH & IMPACT OTHERS LIFE "
In that moment i really knw he with me .. Every situation , every tears ,every complains every hurt ,every brokeness HE ALWAYS AND ALLREADY KNW!

So this morning i came to God .. " God , today Monday .. Give me ur strength to face today .. then this come to my mind
" isa 40:27-31" My tears fall n fall n falll ... His presence really strong.. Everyone watching WC but i been filled by him.... IN him i found the the reason of every situasion.
Tat moment deeper on my heart i knw , GOD HV MORE IN STORE TO ME , HE HV THE REASON FOR ME IN THIS COMPANY ..

Wow.. I found the reason im in this company ..(HOW BOUT U ??) Sometime will be scold , sad , dicourage ..but after crying ,gonna keep on running again..this jus part of the story I experiece its important to hv connection n relantionship wit him(i still got lot n lot).. (= and i believe God want me to keep stretching, to keep pressing forward into the next level. God intends forme to have a greater impact on the world than i have had in the past..

FRENS, I knw some of u MAYB like me still asking GOd WHY WHY WHY..Also mayb like me hv a thinking to QUIT from where u r ..However, God has blessings for you that if you don’t quit you will see His promises for your life.A Hope-less situation does not mean that God has left you
Just because things don’t work out exactly how we planned them does not mean that God is not at work in your life.No matter what your situation is saying, I can tell you that God is at work in your life at the moment.(EVERYTHINGS IS ABOUT WHETHER U T.R.U.S.T in him o not)

You may be in a situation that looks hopeless, it may look like the end is near and it’s time to give up, it may look as if you’ve lost... well, it doesn’t matter what it may look like, the final outcome will come when God says it’s over. Man may count you out, the enemy may tell you you’ve lost, the chance for victory may look impossible, but it’s not over until the Lord says it’s over.Your turn around comes when you begin to hear from God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God!....

Who is talking to you, which report do you believe?
I knw Words have power.and learn Speak the word POCITIVELY !LEARN Prophesy the word! Declare the Word!
Your situation awaits instruction .... Your situation awaits direction, the spirit buying and selling in your life awaits order. If you fail to give order, it will remain like that.
Ephesians 3:20 - according according, according, according, to the power that works in you. God will work according to the power that works in you.
If you can speak, your situation will be sorted. It’s not over for you!

I didnt say im fully breakthru , but what i can say I ON MY WAY to breaktru it :) No matter hw upsad, dicourage im , I learn to stay n focus to his spoken words(bible.) ..Yea i understand sometime is difficult ,tats y we need always connect and hv a closer relantionship with him..Reading his words , talk to him , listen to him, honour him and etc...
He is the reason i keep fighting. Keep praying. Keep fasting cause it ain’t over. No! Keep pressing….progressing. Keep moving cause it ain’t over. No! Keep reading…interceding. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep trying. Keep travailing cause it ain’t over. Keep living. Keep giving. Keep going cause it ain’t over! So keep fighting until the victory is won!!!!”
When people say i can’t, I always remember He can….He can. When i don’t know what to do, I always remember He has the master plan.
It ain’t over until He says it’s over! I don’t care what it looks like. It ain’t over until God says it’s over!!! God, and God alone has the final say! It ain’t over! God will not let you go through more than i can handle.
My heart full of Thankgiving for he putting great leaders n family around me!
Leaders who always support me gv me advice n pray for me..
Family always love me ,be with me , cheer me up,listen to me and pray 4 me..
(Sandra,Shirley,Sharon ,Naomi(gugu) ) ---

Frens , this my recently fresh n true story(part 1) ... Jus wanna encourage u , Keep goin and build the strong relantionship with HIM! He the reason I keep Pressing on! He is the reason i woke early early morning to PRAY!

Gambateh!

Because of you !

because of his LOVE LETTER (bible) to me , Not matter wat happen ; I still holding his promises!
When i no brave to forward, he gv me brave!
when i no strength he gv me strength .
when i am down ,he cherr me up .
when i no hope ,he gave me hope .
when i discourage , he gv me courage .
when i fall down , his hand there for me .
when i say i cant ,he say he can .
when no one understand , but he say i understand.
When i say "It's not worth it" but he say It will be worth it .
When i say i not Able , but he say i able .
when i say I can't figure things out , but he say i will direct your step.

Don’t quit, don’t quit on Jesus, because Jesus never quit on you...
Because of Jesus, you get another chance!

Half 2010 has gone ... So the next 6 month of 2010 let back and look at ur 2010 vision which we wrote beginning of the year..
Lets back to the track ! Keep moving and dun give! :)

Cant stop Thanks Him.

Psalms 50:14-50:14

I found a lot a lot reasons For Thankgiving to God.. Cant stop thanks him...

I Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Psalms 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Psalms 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

• Some people act as if they had nothing to be thankful for!
• A lack of thankfulness is a lack of thoughtfulness.
• Ingratitude is probably the less attractive attitude anyone could possess.

Reasons to be Thankful to God Gleaned Form Bible.

BECAUSE OF THE PROSPERITY HE HAS GIVEN US.
Deuteronomy 8:10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

BECAUSE HE HAS MADE US “MEASURE UP” TO THE ABILITY TO BE GOD’S CHILDREN.
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

BECAUSE IT IS THE WILL OF GOD
I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

BECAUSE OF HIS RIGHTEOUS DECISIONS.
Psalms 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

BECAUSE OF HIS ENABLING US TO MINISTER.
I Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD THING TO DO. [AND CHRISTIANS DO GOOD!]
Psalms 92:1 (A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.)
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

BECAUSE OF THE HEALING HE HAS PROVIDED.
Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

BECAUSE OF THE VICTORY HE HAS GIVEN US OVER SIN AND DEATH
I Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

BECAUSE OF THE UNSPEAKABLE GIFT OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
II Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

God alone has the final say!

Ezekiel 37:1-37:14

I am super excited and encouraged in my spirit today.
Because God is so good! Not only is He good; He’s faithful! He’s merciful. He’s just. He is a loving God. He’s kind. He’s a provider. He’s a way-maker. He’s a deliverer. He’s a healer.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT GOD HAS PLAN FOR YOU.
Today many want to quit due to the various situations and trials facing their life. However, God has blessings for you that if you don’t quit you will see His promises for your life.
I want to talk to people that have hopeless situation at the moment.
A Hope-less situation does not mean that God has left you
Just because things don’t work out exactly how we planned them does not mean that God is not at work in your life.
No matter what your situation is saying, I can tell you that God is at work in your life at the moment.
The visions my devotion tis morning, Ezekiel 37- included dialogue between God and Prophet Ezekiel in the case of the valley of dry bones-
The place is a graveyard, it is a cemetery, they are dry bones
The symbolism is of- a people- whose hope- has died- and has been dead- for- a long time.
This is a situation where there is no future, just bones ,no body, just bones, no signs of life.
The Lord asked him a question that God is asking you today about your situation – CAN THIS DRY BONE LIVE
Ezekiel looks at the bones, he sees no possibility of a return to life
Ezekiel said there seems to be no human solutions- for this hope-less situation for they are very dry and it’s only you God that knows.
Ezekiel said "Lord- you know". In other words he is saying I don’t God but you do.
Why did he said that? He believes this situation is so out of human comprehension.

Lord you know if it’s going to work out for you,
God know if you are going to be healed you know-
It’s only God that knows if you and God knows if you are going to be delivered.
It’s only God that knows if you are going make it or not.
I know you don’t know, but God know
There are some situations we face in which human solutions
will not work- the only thing that will work will be--- hearing from God!
Ezekiel hears from God, Ezekiel receives instructions from God that he must prophesy, he must speak to the dry bones now.
Ezekiel had to go down to the graveyard and tell dead dry bones that God’s word said It ain’t over until God says it’s over.
Ezekiel had to go down to the cemetery and tell the dead dry bones that God is not thru with them yet for I know you feel like dying, but God is not thru, I know you’ve lost hope but God has not finish with you yet.
Ezekiel had to go down to the valley of the shadow of death and tell death that God will enter them.
Listen the transformation and restoration all started by hearing of word. The word was the beginning of the process that brings back these hopeless back to life.
You may be in a situation that looks hopeless, it may look like the end is near and it’s time to give up, it may look as if you’ve lost... well, it doesn’t matter what it may look like, the final outcome will come when God says it’s over. Man may count you out, the enemy may tell you you’ve lost, the chance for victory may look impossible, but it’s not over until the Lord says it’s over.
Your turn around comes when you begin to hear from God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God!....
Who is talking to you, which report do you believe?
Words have power. Speak the word! Prophesy the word! Declare the Word!
God asked Ezekiel to preach, speak to dry bones but notice what happens when he preaches- God’s word---- to these bones.
V 7- Says that ssomething happens in the middle of the valley there is a noise a sudden "rattling sound“. Praise God!

DRY BONES HAVE EARS, IF ONLY YOU CAN SPEAK!
MOUNAINS HAVE EARS ONLY IF YOU CAN COMMAND!
YOUR WOMB HAS EARS!
MONEY CAN HEAR!
CANCER, FYBROID, DIABETES DOES HAVE EAR IF YOU CAN PREACH TO THEM!
WHEN EZEKIEL COME FACE TO FACE WITH DRY BONE HE WAS ONLY ASKED TO DO ONE THING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE EAR EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BONES AND VERY DRY.
V4, PROPHESY, TO YOUR SITUATION, TO UR WOMB, BECAUSE THEY RESPOND TO PROPHESY.
EVERY SITUATION AND CIRCUNSTANCES HAVE EARS AND THEY ARE CAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO PROPHESY. What u cannot see have ear.
They may not have physical ear but they have spiritual ears.
Your situation awaits instruction .... Your situation awaits direction, the spirit buying and selling in your life awaits order. If you fail to give order, it will remain like that.
Ephesians 3:20 - according according, according, according, to the power that works in you. God will work according to the power that works in you.
AS SOON AS EZEKIEL PROPHESY, BONES BEGAN TO SORT THEMSELVES OUT
If you can speak, your situation will be sorted. It’s not over for you!

Everyone thought it was over for Daniel when he was thrown into the lion’s den, but God didn’t say it was.
Job’s wife thought it was over and encouraged her husband to curse God and die, but the Lord didn’t say it was over.
It Ain’t Over Until God Says It’s Over!
I don’t know WHAT the future holds...but I state with complete certainty that I know WHO holds my future!
When most people think it’s over, God asks, "Did I say it was over?"
Weeping may last for a night, but Joy comes in the morning.” It’s not over until God says it’s over.
It ain’t Over- until- God says it’s over because
A business can come back together-
A dream can come back together-
Hope can come back together-
(Why??????????????????) Cause it ain’t over….until God says it’s over.

Keep fighting. Keep praying. Keep fasting cause it ain’t over. No! Keep pressing….progressing. Keep moving cause it ain’t over. No! Keep reading…interceding. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep trying. Keep travailing cause it ain’t over. Keep living. Keep giving. Keep going cause it ain’t over! So keep fighting until the victory is won!!!!”
When people say you can’t, remember He can….He can. When you don’t know what to do, please remember He has the master plan.
It ain’t over until He says it’s over! I don’t care what it looks like. It ain’t over until God says it’s over!!! God, and God alone has the final say! It ain’t over!

The Secret Place

Prayer is more than just going to God with your wish list and saying, “My name’s Madonna , so gimme, gimme, gimme!” It’s about having intimate fellowship with Jesus where He communicates the Father’s loving heart and divine purposes for our lives.

Bible say "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6).
• God is calling us to seek his face in the secret place of prayer.
• He wants us to shut the door to all of the distractions in our lives.
• There is a magnet on the inside of us that is longing to connect with our Creator. When people turn to drugs, alcohol, or sexual relationships, they are trying to find satisfaction and fulfillment. However, this can only be found when we draw near to Jesus!
• The whole story of the Bible is God longing for a personal relationship with human beings. From the first words that God spoke to Adam and Eve in Genesis when they sinned, “Where are you?” to the words of Jesus to the church in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” God wants our hearts!
• When we pray, we are spending time with our loving Heavenly Father.
• The more time we spend in the secret place, the more we learn to hear His voice.
• “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).

PROPHETIC WORD: “Awake” from my personal prayer time two weeks ago.
God is calling us to “Wake up O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light!”
He’s calling us to return to our first love, to the secret place of prayer.

THE SECRET PLACE:
“A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1).
“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring.” (Isaiah 44:3).
• What is soaking? If we aren’t soaking in His love, we become cracked and dry.
• So soaking in the secret place means to come into your prayer closet with no agenda but let Jesus pour out His love on you.
• “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5).
• When we neglect our personal quiet time with Jesus, and don’t meditate on His love, that’s when we get disappointed and lose hope.
• SOAKING = also known as “Abiding in Jesus” – John 15. Abide in Him and bear much fruit!

I Respond to the call of Jesus to meet with him in the secret place of prayer!
Get alone in your prayer closets until your not alone anymore…

REFRESHING VISION FOR 2010

2TIM. 1:3-8

Paul had to write his second letter to renew Timothy’s vision for the church. It is good to have spiritual leader who is sensitive enough to feel the need to refresh our vision and help us realign our discourage heart.

if somewhere along the way, discouragement finds its way to darken your vision for whatever endeavor you are doing for God, for your family or for your country, so then this message is right also for you. You need to refresh your vision and rejuvenate your heart and mind.

I don’t know on what stage your situation might be today. I encourage you to refresh your original vision for God and for your family before it’s too late. Let us study the word of encouragement of Paul to Timothy to renew his vision for God.

God has a vision for the Church and it should be also our own dream for our personal lives as we grow closer in our relationship with God.

1. A VISION TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD IN WORSHIP
2Ti 1:3 I thank God Whom I worship with a pure conscience, [1] in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers, (AMP)

Worship is more than attending a mass or a worship service. Worship is a way of life. It is how you conduct yourselves and behave even in the secret of your own room as Paul said; I worship with a pure conscience.

Worship is the very reason why God created us with the capacity to choose between good and evil. God made us with free will so that we can choose to love or disobey Him. We are not a robot or a computer which will follow whatever program was installed to it. God will be more happy to receive our love and obedience if it is from our own decision to love and obey him and this is what we called worship.

First and foremost, God made us to worship Him. And we will only found the true value and worth of our existence if we fulfilled the very first reason why God created us. That is the very reason why many people in the world are lonely and unfulfilled in spite of their accomplishments, wealth and fame. It is because they failed to discover the meaning and purpose of their lives which is to give glory to God in worship.

David discovers the joy and satisfaction of spending time with God in worship. He develops the habit of playing instruments and singing to God even during his youth while he is alone watching his flocks as a shepherd in the desert of Bethlehem. All the time spent with God in worship and his close relationship with God prepare the heart of David for all the coming test and trials in his life before he receive the throne as king of Israel. And even after many ups and downs in the history of his faith in God, he always find himself returning and falling on the hands of God as He discover that the presence of God is the best hiding place and the safest refuge against the enemies. No wonder he was called the man after God’s own heart.

In our Text, Paul is exhorting Timothy that like David, we can always get the spiritual strength that we need through worship. There is river of God’s Spirit that will flow to refresh our weary and thirsty soul if we’ll just raise our hands and lift our hearts to God in worshiping Him. In worship, angels can bring the spiritual fire to enliven our dying passion, to recharge our drained hope, to energize our failing strength and enlighten our glooming vision so that we can continue our journey for God

*****We shall grow stronger through Worship.

2. A VISION TO GENUINELY CARE FOR BRETHREN IN FELLOWSHIP
2Ti 1:4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. (NIVUK)

We are living in a lonely world and everyone is looking for somebody who genuinely cares, a place where they can feel they are needed and their value mattered. Yes, the world need a church where its people are opening their hands to say what Paul said; “ I long to see you ” because your presence filled me with joy

There are five unspoken questions before anyone join a church
• Acceptance – Do I fit here?
• Friendship – Does anybody have interest to know me?
• Value – Am I needed?
• Benefit – What is the advantage of joining?
• Expectation – What is required of members?

No man is an island. We are born for the joy of our family. We are here in the church to care for our brother and sisters in Christ. As our body is composing of many members and every part is dependent on other parts, so we must be united in love in the family of God. There is power in unity. Divided we fall, together we stand.

******* We shall grow warmer through Fellowship

3. A VISION TO GROW SPIRITUALLY IN DISCIPLESHIP
2Ti 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.(NIVUK)

On the above text, Paul is fully convinced that the faith of Timothy’s parents has been successfully passed on to him, a member of third generation. This is indeed a wonderful example of discipleship.

From the very beginning, the plan of God is to make us in the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:… However, we all know that the original design has been marred by the fall of man. The sin entered the picture and disfigured the image.

In spite of our failure, God in His wisdom has a better plan. He sent His Son and redeems us, sent His Spirit to transform us until we become like clay in the hands of the potter. Yes He will break and mold us according to His will so that we became precious vessel in His sanctuary ready for noble purpose in our lives. God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. If you failed to understand this truth, you will become discourage and looser due to some hardship and difficulties that may come into your life in order to change and correct your character.

2Co 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Disciple – Someone who is trained to be like his master (Jesus)
Discipleship – A process of life’s training that a Christians undergo to build his character and faith so that he can be like Jesus

Php 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

*****Our Church shall grow Deeper through Discipleship

4. A VISION TO SERVE AND USE ALL GIFTS FOR THE MINISTRY
2Ti 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (NIVUK)
2Ti 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

When God gave gifts and talents, He distributed them distinctively and differently to everyone. My gifts and talents are different from yours. This is to let us know that we need each others. Our gifts were not given only for our own benefit but for the benefit of everyone. Gifts were also given to cultivate and develop. And we can only nurture them buy constant use of it for the benefit of everyone. For this same reason that Paul exhorted Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God”

God gave the gift of wisdom in management to Joseph. And because of that gift he was able to save Egypt and even his family from 7 years food crisis. God gave gift of interpretation of dreams to Daniel and because of that gift He was able to save the lives of his friends and even other people.

What is your gift today that can be useful for others? You may be a good gossiper, well; you can use it to spread the gospel of Christ to many people today instead of talking about the personal lives of other people. Just remember that our talents and gifts are always related to our personal calling from God and we are accountable to God to use them for His Glory.
****Our Church shall Grow Broader through Ministry

5. A VISION TO SAVE OTHER’S SOUL THROUGH EVANGELISM
2Ti 1:8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

Jesus has already provided salvation for everyone who will believe in His name. However, the task of spreading the good news to all people about this glorious salvation lies on our shoulder. And God specially prepared a crown for a soul winner. Aside from that, there is undoubtedly feeling of joy and satisfactions whenever we convince someone to gave and surrender their lives to the Lord. Every time those spiritual children are born in heaven, there are celebrations among the angels and the soul winner become like a hero for them.

Every Christians have a mission. And it is the mission of Evangelism. The captain of our salvation commissioned us to go like a disciplined soldier of God. Go and save people today before they become next victim of hell! Go and preach the gospel to the dying world! Go and become the agent of change in our community! Go and never give up until our task is finish!

Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

THE REASONS FOR STORMS IN OUR LIVES

Proverbs 6:23, Romans 8:28-29

Trials, tragedies, and misfortunes will come to the righteous as well as the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45), the wise as well as the foolish (Matthew 7:24-27), the committed as well as the uncommitted (Luke 6:46-48). Therefore, we must learn how to rightly handle our storms.

Some common questions that we all ask are:
• What are the reasons for storms coming against us?
• Why does God allow trials, tragedies, and misfortunes to come our way?

In answering these questions for myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are three main reasons why God sends storms our way:

1 Storms Help To Expose The Heart
The first reason for storms is that storms help to bring to the surface the real person. Circumstances that are hard and difficult will bring out the best and worst in people. It is not when everything is going right, but, rather, when everything seems to go wrong that the real person on inside rises to the surface. Trials, tragedies, and misfortunes have a way of exposing the true heart of a person.

Proverbs 6:23, in the New King James Version, tell us, “Reproofs of instruction are the way of life”. The American Standard Version reads, “And reproofs for discipline are the way of life”. And the New International Version says, “ And the corrections of discipline leads to life”.

To reprove means, “to expose, to surface, to correct”. Yes, the LORD uses the circumstances in life to expose, to bring to the surface the things in our hearts, with the intent to correct us and to bring us back on track.

How do you respond when things go wrong? Do you establish a strong testimony for Christ or do you allow the enemy to steal your opportunity to glorify Christ in the midst of your storm?


2 Storms Help To Open The Heart

The second reason is that storms help to open the heart of man to God.
One of the key spiritual points we can learn from storms is that, it is in the midst of difficulties and hard times, that hearts become open to the LORD. (The reason for this is that people will quickly realize in the midst of a huge, gigantic storm, how small and powerless they really are!)

Have you ever been in a big storm where the winds and the rain were so intense it knocked out the power in your area and left everyone in the dark? When that happens we quickly realize how dependent we are on electricity and now, suddenly, in a quick moment, how little we are and how powerless we’ve become. The truth speaks on this wise, the bigger the storm the smaller and powerless we feel. Storms are good in that they help us to see who really holds the power and who really is in charge. Storms helps us to see how big and powerful God is, and how little and powerless we are. Most people think to high of themselves and to little of God.

Pharoah had this problem. He thought he had the power and he was the one in charge, that is, until God shook his kingdom up with the ten plagues. (Exodus 7-13)

Nebuchadnezzar, had the same problem. He thought he was so high and mighty... until God took away his reason and sanity. His personal life, his wealth as well as his health, was shaken for seven years. Nebuchadnezzer was able to regain himself, but only after he humbled himself before the God of heaven and repented of his sin of pride. (Daniel 4)

King Herod, also, had this problem of thinking to highly of himself and to lowly of God. (He was, simply stating, someone who is full of self!). He knew that Jesus was the greater king and that meant he needed to humble himself by getting off his throne and allowing Jesus to now rule in him. He knew what he needed to do, but sadly, he simply chose not to do it. (Matthew 2)

When we refuse to surrender to the LORD, we end up plagued, in darkness, unable to think straight, unable to rightly reason; and in a true sense we become men and women unfulfilled and most miserable.

Two great promises for every believer are found in Psalm 46:1-2, which tells us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea:"

What great securing words of promise to us!
Take note to those verses again, "God being our refuge and strength..."
1) He promise to shelter and protect us!

"A very present help..."
2) He promises to be right there for us no matter what we may face.

Two great promises that couldn’t be said any better, Praise GOD!

3 Storms Help To Improve The Heart

The third reason is that storms help to improve our heart. They help us to grow. The apostle Paul specifically tells us in I Thessalonians 3:3, that our afflictions are God appointed. That means God specially designs our trials to the right specifications with the intent of reaching our hearts!

Like in life, God send us the right storm to fit our growth and development. Each storm fit to order and specifically designed by God to help grow.

How has your life been to this point in time?

- In your life’s journey so far, has there been any real hardships or difficulties?
(Yes, no, or maybe so?)

- Have you faced things that outwardly you considered as big, bad and ugly?
(Then you’ve been through a storm.)

- Have you experienced things that have come against you, against your marriage, against your children?
(That’s a storm also!)

- Have you faced difficulties in areas relating to your work or business?

– How about in the areas of your finances, friendships, or perhaps your health?
These things are what we call storms.

Are you seeing these difficulties and hardships from God’s perspective?

Is the LORD using this storm that you are in, to open your heart, surface your heart or to improve your heart in helping you to grow?

Romans 8:28-29 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
For whom He did foreknow, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."


CHALLENGE: -------

In your storm, what is surfacing in your heart?

Are we allowing your storm to open and improve your heart, to better you, to shape you and to make you to become more like Jesus?