"Refined by Fire: God's Presence in Our Trials"

Indeed, the words "You never left your own without help" resonated in my mind as I reflected on the consistency of God's love for us. There are times when we face challenges and feel that God has forgotten us. But friends, the Lord is always aware of the crises we will face, and that's why, even before they begin, He has already spoken to us in Isaiah 43:2:

"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."

For every fire you're going through, God is always present, and He is our helper.

In the Bible, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that everyone bow down to worship an idol at the sound of the drum. During this time, there were three Hebrew men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who loved and worshiped the Lord. They prayed and served God faithfully, not realizing the enemy was watching, looking for a legal reason to destroy them.

When the king's decree was given, and these men refused to bow down, I can imagine the enemy thought, "Let's see who will help them now," believing they were untouchable. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained unshaken. They were not afraid for their lives. They didn’t hesitate to continue worshiping God.

They must have thought, "Why should we worship an idol when it is the Lord who brought us here? He made us healthier and stronger without eating the king's food, and He is the one who protects us and favors us above all others." So, they decided to continue serving Him, knowing He would take care of them.

Friends, the challenges of life may seem overwhelming, as though they're about to knock us down. But we have assurance in the Lord. He is the fourth man in the fire, and He is willing to save and deliver us. God can change the situation that seems impossible. He is saying that yes, the fire will come, but it will not burn you; it will be a refining fire, a rebranding fire.

In Daniel 3:13-18, King Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He demanded, “Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image I have set up?”

In Daniel 3:19-25, the king's anger intensified. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded his strongest soldiers to tie up the three men and throw them into the blazing furnace.

Then, in Daniel 3:26-30, after throwing them into the fire, Nebuchadnezzar approached the furnace and called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" The three men walked out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors gathered around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies; not a hair on their heads was singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

The fire was a demonstration of God's power. It was meant to reveal His glory in their lives. God is willing to show Himself through the trials we face when we remain faithful to His instructions.

So, do not grow weary—your help is here, and it is the Lord, mighty in power.

Stay Revived!

Letters To Abba: "Faithfully Yours"

 Letters To Abba: "Faithfully Yours"

I began journaling after hearing women I admired speak about how they identified God's voice through writing. As someone who loves writing, I wanted to hear God's words to me. So, I started writing letters to God, sharing my thoughts, feelings, questions, anxieties, and fears. I'd end each letter with "I love you, Abba."

One afternoon, after a month of journaling, I heard God's voice say, "I love you too." I was ecstatic! It felt so real, and life became more meaningful. This marked the beginning of my conversations with the Lord.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit would be comical, giving instructions that I'd try to ignore. Other times, I'd see the repercussions of ignoring His voice. I'd often say, "I wouldn't be happy living a normal life," but hearing God's voice daily refreshed my life.

David's words, "Take not your presence from me" (Psalm 51:11), resonated with me. He had reached a point where God's voice was his "refreshing wine." When life gets exhausting, God's presence, person, and voice make us whole.

When Adam and Eve left Eden, God's presence was replaced with incompleteness and anxiety. God's voice is the anchor that steadies us during life's storms. The Bible is God's letter to us.

Have you ever flipped through the scriptures and wondered why these stories are being told? I've learned to substitute my name into biblical encounters, making the stories come alive. It reminds me that God speaks to me and had me in mind when He wrote the words.

Have you received a personal word from God for this season?

God loves to talk. He is the word. In the very first beginning he was introduced as "God spoke".He wants to speak to you and with you today. 

Stay Revived!

What if That Distress Was God's Mercy?

 

What if That Distress Was God's Mercy?

What if that distress was the Lord's way of extending a hand of mercy? 

What if the enemy and adversary are a means for God to draw us closer to Him? 

The common question that floods most Gen Z is why do I need God in my life? "I've got everything figured out." But is this really true?

There are times the world refers to God as not merciful enough or maybe He doesn't really care about humanity, as it was said about Him, but this was God's response to the Israelites' plight in the Judges. 

Judges 2:19-22 AMP

20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; and He said, Because this people have transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and have not listened to My voice,

21 I from now on will also not drive out from before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died,

22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not.

The Lord had already given His word to the Israelites. He would drive away the occupants of Canaan land for His beloved people, but when His beloved people found comfort, they sought not the Lord who had delivered them. The Lord saw that whenever the people became comfortable and far from their adversary, He became an abandoned God.

God had ultimate provision in the plan. Protection wasn't neglected. Favor and whatsoever we desire, but God wants us first. He doesn't want to lose us to the gods of the world. He wants us to constantly converse with Him.

God meant it when He said He would give us rest, but there are times we become business people with God. We make Him a trader. We pray because there is a need; we seek Him because He would be "able to get us our wants and needs."

At first, when I began praying and fasting at the beginning of 2024, it was because I needed help, and I just felt God would be the only one to do that, so I kept on praying. When it took time, and the job wasn't coming through, I became bitter, and there were days I wouldn't pray or study His word.

When we pray, do we see it as a means to communicate with God, or just a way to get our needs met? 

Do we seek Him only when we're in trouble, or do we delight in His presence, asking Him, "How are you, Abba?"

And so, instead of asking the "why's, when, how," we just press in Him, to seek Him because He had said in Jeremiah 29:13, "You would find me if you seek me with all of your heart." 

What would happen if we pressed into seeking God, not just for our needs, but for who He is?

Let's ask Him, "How are you, Abba?" and see how our lives transform.

Stay Revived!

What does it mean to say our Help comes from the Lord?

God, Our Ever-Present Helper

Holy Spirit, help me recall the things I have written. These were my prayers on the day I unknowingly deleted a post after hearing about troubleshoot errors on my page. Holy Spirit, help me. When this happened, I was numb, not knowing where to start in order to correct what had been done. Then, I relied on the Holy Spirit. As I picked up my system, the Holy Spirit worked on my mind, and I typed another message.

King David was a man after God's heart because he knew how to access the Lord at all times. Even as a great king, there were moments when he needed help and someone to rely on. "I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from where does my help come?" (Psalm 121:1, ESV). In this passage, we see his consistent trust in the Lord and his confidence that God would come to his aid. When he said he would lift up his eyes to the hills, he was referring to the Lord who resides in the Holiest of Holies.

Psalm 121:1-6
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night."

God is constant in His care for His children. As children of God, we should always remember David's proclamation because it reflects God's thoughts toward us. His watchful eyes are always on us, preventing us from falling. Because of us, He never sleeps nor slumbers. I can only imagine what would happen to any of us if the Lord were to slumber. We would all be lost, because it is not the will of the devil for God's people to be happy. He wants to see us hungry, dejected, astray, weary, and in despair. But I bring a reminder today that there is a God who searches through all the earth. He is the greatest searcher, and when He searches, He reminds us of His help exactly when we need it most.

The Lord will never allow the enemy to win the battle over our lives and souls. He is the Lord, and forever He reigns and rules as the victor.

So, whenever the enemy comes in like a flood, always call on the Lord, for He will raise a standard against him. Hallelujah!