Spiritual Nuggets 4 U

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Few days ago when I woke up I had this thought drop into my mind as to “What is Heaven doing right now?” Although I have always thought about it especially since my dad went to be with the LORD.

Whenever we praise and worship GOD we join the multitude of Angels, Saints and the host of Heaven in worshipping the King of kings. But this particular day it was quite unusual and as I sat there for a moment of worship and asked the Holy Spirit, I was rather surprised of what the LORD told me.

When you praise and worship you connect with Heaven. Any given time the whole of Heaven is exploding with praises for GOD-24/7.

In Old Testament times people made sacrifice of animals, birds and grains to GOD. GOD gave clear instructions to Moses as to how the sacrifices should be in the Book of Leviticus. One of the common factor is that the sacrifice was to be without defect and spotless. The sacrifice offered to GOD was Holy.

If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. Levi:1:3

We no longer have to do that because JESUS became the Lamb for sacrifice and took away all our punishments on Himself once and for all.

But today GOD expects us to offer a different kind of sacrifice. Today we are going to see some of them. Bottom line the terms remain the same- Is your sacrifice the best? is it defectless? Is it Holy and acceptable in His sight? Is it a sweet smelling aroma to Him?

1.Sacrifice of Praise

¹⁵ Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. Heb:13:15

How do we stay connected to GOD while living in this earth? Its by our praises to HIM.

GOD dwells in our praises as it is written in,

But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Ps:22:3

So as soon as we start praising HIM, HE comes down and HE dwells in our praises.

The Word of GOD says that praises and thankfulness are sacrifices we offer to HIM.

Picture this with your eyes closed. GOD is sitting on the throne and when HE hears us praise HIM or in other words offer HIM sacrifices of praise, how does HE feel?

Firstly will it even go through the roof and reach HIM or does it fall off even before hitting the roof? or Is it a sweet smelling aroma in which HE delights Himself?

Is it pleasing to HIM?

The first offering ever made to GOD was by Abel and Cain.When we analyse both their sacrifices we see that Abel gave his best but Cain dint. GOD gives clear explaination to Cain as to why his sacrifice was rejected and also gave a warning. But sadly as we all know Cain didnt heed to GOD .

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”Gen:4:7

When we are not in the right standing with GOD sin always waits to enter us. In the above verse door is the way into our heart.

Revelation:20:3 says    Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

So before we offer praise let us analyse our hearts and minds.

Also when you praise GOD, do your thoughts focus on GOD alone or do you focus on other things.

As a mom of 2 kids, this has been my struggle. To focus and get my thoughts to align in worshipping GOD. Constantly our minds wander thinking about the cares of the world. And I personally feel those are the kind of sacrifices that GOD is not pleased.

Our sacrifice of praise should be from the heart and our thoughts aligned towards GOD.

8“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
⁹ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules. Mt:15:8,9

In the above verse GOD says that though people honour HIM with their lips yet their hearts are far away from HIM. When we offer praises today lets think about this, is it a lip service or is it from the bottom of our hearts?

GOD doesnt see like man does HE always looks at our hearts.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Sam:16:7

2. Sacrifice of thankfulness

Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” Ps:50:23

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
 and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Ps:50:14

A grateful heart is what pleases GOD and puts a smile on His face. Especially when HIS children thank Him for everything even if its bad.

Opposite of thankfulness is complaining. GOD hated it when Israelites complained in the wilderness. An entire generation missed their chance of entering the promised land because of their attitude of complaining.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”Colossians 4:2

Today lets devote ourselves to being thankful to GOD in all circumstance.

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”1 Timothy 4:4-5

Everything GOD created is good and though we might not understand everything thats happening, one day we will see the bigger picture that it was all intended for our good. Its like the grey and dark shades in a beautiful portrait that adds to the beauty of the picture on the whole.

3. Sacrifice of a Broken Spirit:

¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise. Ps:51:16,17

When we run out of words during our prayer time because of the pain and brokenness, don’t worry HE is even more closer to us.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.Ps:34:18

I remember when I had miscarriage I could hardly say a word during prayer. I used to just sit and cry. But that was the time I felt closer to the LORD, that was when HE spoke to me through visions and dreams encouraging me and pulling me out of my despair.

Always remember the times when you feel so numb as if you are very very far from GOD or you cant hear His voice, thats when HE is the closest to you. As close as hugging you and as close as going through the same pain that you are going through, literally carrying you through it.

¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar. Ps:51:16-17,19

4. Sacrifice of helping the needy

¹⁶ And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Heb13:16

Helping the needy is the kind of sacrifice that GOD expects from us. Its like one of the prerequisites as seen in the below verse,

³³ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; Mt:25:33-35

On the judgement day GOD will separate the sheep from goats and the reason is that, the sheep are the children of GOD who have been hospitable, they have helped the poor and destitute where as the wicked or the goat are those who didn’t help those in need.

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

For whatever you do to the poor and needy brothers and sisters, GOD says we do to him.

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Is:58:11

5. Sacrifice of Obedience:

²² But Samuel replied,“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
    your burnt offerings and sacrifices
    or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
    and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. I Sam:15:22

Loving GOD is obeying HIM. And we can do that by reading HIS Word and knowing what pleases HIM and what doesn’t.

“If you love me, obey my commandments. Jn:14:15

Lets make it our goal to love GOD and to offer a pleasing sacrifice to HIM.

May our praises be a sweet smelling aroma to our GOD when we praise and lift HIM up.

GOD bless ya!

Lent has begun and people all around the world are looking for ways to please GOD by fasting and going to Church. Even an irregular Church goer wants to be pious during the lent season. While we do all this, lets look at the kind of fast the LORD wants us to keep. It was fascinating for me to find out the answer in Isaiah 58.

‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
    ‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
    and you don’t even notice it!

“I will tell you why!” I respond.
    “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
    you keep oppressing your workers.

What good is fasting
    when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
    will never get you anywhere with me. IS:58:3,4

So what is the kind of fasting that GOD wants us to keep. What kind of fasting could impress our GOD? Lets dive deeper into chapter 58. Starting from verse 6 GOD unveils His heart towards fasting. I have made it easier for us to meditate by turning it into pointers.

1. Free those who are wrongly imprisoned V6

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
    that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
¹⁹     and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.”Lk:4:18-19 & Isaiah 61:1-2

JESUS came to earth to set us free from our oppression. When we as Children of GOD are set free by the blood of JESUS we can begin praying for others who are still bound to sin and are oppressed by their evil way. So many of our family members, friends, collegues and neighbhors are enslaved to sin. Lets take time to pray for them to find freedom during this lent.Lets also pray for their Salvation.

⁸But you are to be a king who speaks up on behalf
of the disenfranchised
and pleads for the legal rights of the defenseless
and those who are dying.
⁹ Be a righteous king, judging on behalf of the poor
and interceding for those most in need. Prov:31:8,9 (TPT)

I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Mathew:25:36

a) Lighten the burden of those who work for you

Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven. Col:4:1

If you are a person in authority and have people working under you be considerate and treat them fairly.

b) Let the oppressed go free and remove the chains that bind people

“Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” James 2:15-16

Deliberatly do good to others especially to those in need.Not just materialistic but kindness and encouragment will do wonders as well.

Make a list of names you know who havn’t met JESUS personally yet and start praying for them this season.

c)Remove the heavy yoke of oppression V9

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
    uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.Ps:82:3

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt:11:29,30

2)Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumours

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Eph:4:29

One of the other things we can do starting this lent season is to start watching the words that come out of our mouth. Let’s watch out if they bring grace to the hearers. Is there truth in our words? Any gossiping? Slandering? Judging others? Bad words?

Whoever slanders his neighbour secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. Ps:101:5

3) Feed the hungry and help those in trouble

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”James 1:27

One of the best ways to please GOD is to help the poor, needy and helpless. When you care for orphans and widows, you truly have a big part of GOD’s heart within you.

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. James:4:11

4) Keep the Sabbath day holy, don’t pursue your own interests on that day

a) Enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day

b) Honour the Sabbath in everything you do on that day

 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exo:20:8

Sabath means “Rest”. GOD created Sabath as a day to rest and to worship HIM. We have other days to  do our own work and go about our business, but 1 day set aside for GOD – to rest, meditate and worship HIM always will replenish us.

For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”Mt:12:8

Sometimes we only hold on to rest and leave GOD out. So lets make it our priority that we rest in GOD and not away from HIM.

5) Don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.Mt:12:36

Lets fast from gossip, lying and using bad words and all our pleasures.

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. Mt:5:22

Blessings that GOD has promised would follow are:

1. Your salvation will come like the dawn and your wounds will quickly heal.
2. Your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
3. When you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
4. Your light will shine out from the darkness and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
5. The Lord will guide you continually giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.
6. You will be like a well-watered garden like an ever-flowing spring.
7.  Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
8. You will be known as a rebuilder of wall and a restorer of homes.
9. The Lord will be your delight.
10. LORD will give you great honour and satisfy you with the inheritance HE promised to our ancestor Jacob.

Lets take time to mediate on above verses and try to implement them in our day to day lives. I hope and pray this will become a continous habit and our lifestyle in CHRIST and not just during this lent season.

Lets fast truely on the things that GOD desires and glorify HIM even in simple things such as our words, thoughts and actions. Forgive others and pray for them.Spend more with GOD.

Make your lifestyle a worship to HIM in other words let your life be a pleasing aroma to GOD.One of my main goals is to start prioritising GOD intentionally above everything else, seeking to hear HIM more and spending more time in meditating HIS Word.

Make these changes and see them become your habit overtime.

You will be transformed from within and enjoy your daily walk with JESUS!!!

Have a great day!

Are you living in fear? Read the below verse by inserting your name instead of Jacob and Israel.

¹But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.
² When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you. Is:43:1

Yes GOD has promised us again and again throughout the Bible not to fear. If you are shaken by all that’s happening around you today, rise up above it by claiming GOD’s promises.

The GOD himself who created you says, “Do not be afraid for I have redeemed you and called you, you are mine”.

The GOD of the universe calls US HIS very own, what more assurance do we need. Further more HE says that HE is with us in all circumstances and in every place.

⁶ Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deu:31:6

⁸ And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deu:31:8

Do not be afraid of corona, covid-19, joblessness, death,sickness,lack,lockdown,going out etc. HE is never going to leave you because is with you always.

My dad taught me to claim this verse, whenever I was stressed and scared of my exams.  Its been a source of strength to me all these years. 

Whenever I am afraid,I will trust in You. Ps:56:3

When you get those scary thoughts of people dying and all the fears about tomorrow, just simply confess to GOD that you trust in HIM.

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phil:4:6,7

In order to experience GOD’s peace, lets first stop worrying and start praying about everything. Let’s begin by thanking and praising HIM for the assurance HE has given us that HE is with us no matter what.

Keep on confessing HIS promises.

Today choose faith over fear!

Please find below a printable version for Isaiah:43:1, where you can insert your name and print it out.

Spiritual ExerciseBibvle Is43-1

Have a fear free day!

GOD bless!

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. Philippians 3:10,11 MSG

In the above verse we read about partnering with His sufferings. One of the ways to partner with Jesus is by meditating on His Character and implementing it on our day to day lives.

How can we die to ourselves just like Jesus died on the cross?

We die to ourselves when we put an end to our own selfish acts. When we do what the word of God says and listen to the Holy Spirit and do what He says that’s when our flesh starts to die. Jesus teaches us many ways to die to our own-self. Lets determine to die to pride, ego, anger, lies, selfishness, lust, fornication, hatred…etc.

As we are observing Good Friday throughout the world today, lets take time to meditate on humility which is one of the main characteristics Jesus exhibited while He was on the earth as you see in the below verse,

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ;he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-‬8 NLT

Jesus, though He is God, He was so humble and gave us an example of what humility is. Matthew 11:29 says,

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jesus is gentle and lowly though He is the most powerful. The bible says everything was created by Him, For Him and Through Him.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:3

In His humility, He never opened His mouth when we was accused falsely by the chief priests. He never opened His mouth when we was slapped and spat by the soldiers. He never opened His mouth when He was stripped, humiliated and beaten badly by the roman soldiers. Even on the cross He did not open His mouth. In fact He prayed for forgiveness for those who nailed Him to the cross.