3 Golden Rules when going through difficult seasons

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization in a statement posted on the 13th of October 2020: “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year. Everyone is affected by the Covid 19 pandemic in one way or another. Here are 3 things to do to help you overcome the difficult times.

#1 Never Loose Your Joy

For every christian joy is strength, never loose your Joy. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord all way, and again I say rejoice. Joy is from the Lord and not because your circumstances are pleasant. The joy wells up from deep down in your heart, where lies the tight cord that links you and the Lord. Rejoice because you know that God is seated on the throne and not man. The book of Jeremiah 8:10b “The joy of the Lord is my strength. When you lack strength what you lack is joy. To the soul, joy is the fuel that gives strength. Just as any man would eat to get physical strength, joy is the strength of the soul.

#2 Engage in strategic prayer & Intercession

When you are going through difficult seasons. its the time to pray anytime and anywhere. You need to lose yourself in prayer. Even when the news gets worse, continue in prayer. When things move from bad to worse continue in prayer. The bible says Is any man any man afflicted, let him pray James %:13*.”Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” Psalms 34:4-7 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

#3 Speak the word over your life

Did you know that praying the Bible out loud brings spiritual breakthrough? God’s spoken Word is much more powerful than any of us realizeReading, proclaiming, declaring, and meditating on these promises found throughout Scripture will increase our faith. Faith comes from hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). Numbers 14:28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: It is important to be full of the word of God in your life. It is important to know the word. Take time to memorize scripture that hold promises in the bible and speak the relevant scripture when faced with difficulties.

Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Psalms 121: 1- 2

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Joel 2:25

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten– the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you.

Listen to the Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/814151/episodes/8335331

Walking in the rain

Introduction

A proverb says it never rains but it pours. Life’s clouds will sometimes change and suddenly, the sun’s bright rays will be hidden behind the dark clouds and become heavy with rain.

Experiencing the Rain

Have you every experienced the rain? The New York Times dated 2nd August 2017 captured the experience so well ” Begin by watching the rain with openhearted curiosity, as a child might. Notice how rain forms droplets, streams and puddles. Observe how the raindrops dance and ripple on the surface of puddles. Notice how the light can change. Perhaps the sky darkens, or is brighter because the sun is reflecting on the surface of rainwater, perhaps producing a rainbow through the droplets in the air.

The Clouds are dark

In C. H. Spurgeon sermon on “Black clouds and bright blessings he says, “The clouds are black, they lower, they shut out the sunlight, they obscure the landscape.. Now, Christian, you too, are of a timid disposition and every now and then, your circumstances are not as you would like to arrange them. Losses come very closely, one upon another. Friend after friend forsakes you. Sickness treads upon the heel of sickness. All things seem to be against you, as against Jacob of old.

Expecting the rain

If the clouds were not black, you might not expect rain! If your afflictions were not grievous, they would not be profitable. If your adversities did not really pain and trouble you, they would not be blessed to you. But it is the very sharpness of it, the vinegar and gall, that is the medicine that produces the good effect.

God in the rain

Do not think that God deals roughly with His children and gives them needless pain. It grieves Him to grieve you! “He does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” It is easy to have a faith that acts backwards, but a faith that will act forwards—a faith for the present and for the future is the true faith—and the faith that you need now.

Conclusion

The rain brings with it the bounties of heaven. Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. So if the rains begin to fall in your life, go ahead, take your walk you are not alone.

Listen to the Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/814151/episodes/8268892-walking-in-the-rain