REFLECTION – THE POWER BEHIND TRANSFORMATION

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:12

The art of reflection is not a common phenomenon in many people’s lives, not at least in the so fast-paced world that we have become in recent years.  With lifestyles focused on today and now, the thought of taking time to look back on issues is never too close to one’s priorities.  Life is too fast, too quick, and as such, people want things done now and now – without thinking through the foundation that their actions are based on, or at least the results thereafter.

According to the Wikipedia, “Reflection is the change in direction of a wave front … so that the wave front returns into the medium from which it originated.”

“A reflection is a thought or writing about something, particular in the past, or what one sees when looking into a mirror or body of water”, notes “www.yourdictionary.com.”  

Further, a reflection is a “serious thought or consideration”, as outlined at www.bing.com.

Following the descriptions above, and in order to inform this article, I would want us to look at reflection as a “serious and intentional thought process that considers one’s past in preparation for the future”.

Before Paul asked the Corinthian Church, who thought that they stood firm – and were stable in their faith – to take heed, lest they fall, he had previously reminded them of their ancestors long ago in the wilderness.  He pointed out specific things that had happened to them.  Some of the reminders include: 

v All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them;

v All of them walked through the sea on dry ground;

v All of them were baptized as followers of Moses;

v All of them ate the same spiritual food;

v All of them drank the same spiritual water; and

v God was not pleased with most of them. (See 1 Corinthians 10:1-5).

The above lessons, warnings, examples were documented for not only the good of the Corinthian church, but also for our own good – that we may learn from them.  After all that had happened to the Israelites – God walking with them and supernaturally providing for them and protecting them – He was still not pleased with some of them.  The lessons are to prepare us in our way of life so that we do not displease God. 

According to the Message Version of the Bible,

“These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.”

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (Message Bible)

Earlier in Chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians, Paul had talked to the Corinthian church and admonished them on how to remain firm in their faith.  He had given them an example of how an athlete has to do all that it takes so as to win the race.  He also gave them an example of his own life.

Essentially, Paul, was calling upon the Corinthians to take a reflective path in their lives; to look at their origins; to turn back on the path they had followed as believers so as to amend in any ways that were not right before God, and thus match forth in maturity in their faith.  He was calling on them to transform their lives.

The same Paul called upon the church in Rome – pleading and urging them to become living sacrifices for God.  As he did this, he noted that it was not possible for the Romans to attain this status unless they stopped conforming to the old ways of life, and embrace a new way of life by being transformed.  The Bible records that:

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”

Romans 12:2 (Amplified Classic Bible)

In order for transformation to take place, a reflective attitude has to be embraced.  As mentioned earlier, we all live in a fast-paced world – patience is a value that is running out so quickly, even among believers.  However, for you and I, the Lord God calls us to transform ourselves so as to know his perfect will for us.  For this to happen, we’ve got to stop conforming, and for us to stop conforming, we’ve got to take an account of what areas we are conforming in – we have to reflect back on our past lives – our entire lifestyles. 

What attitudes and behaviours have you carried from your past life?  What have you embraced in fast-paced life that you cannot afford to give God his time, because you feel time constrained?   Consider your prayer life.  Consider your friends.  Consider your worship.  Consider your thanksgiving.  Consider your thought life.  Consider your music.  Consider your words.  Consider your favourite TV programmes and movies.  Consider your dressing.  Consider – take a reflective gear!  What has this world (this age) rubbed unto you?  What have you adapted that is drawing and derailing you back from knowing and living in the perfect will of God?

It is only after a reflection of the above (and as the Spirit leads), that one can now be transformed, changed and renewed. 

In the process of reflection, the Lord reveals not only what needs to be changed, but he brings into remembrance the things that He has done, thus causing a spirit of thanksgiving. 

In Psalms 103, King David, called upon his soul not to forget what God had done for him – in other words, he had to reflect and remember.  He remembered that:

v God had forgiven all his iniquities,

v He had healed all his diseases,
He had redeemed his life from destruction,
He had crowned him with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

v He had satisfied his mouth with good things - so that his youth was renewed like the eagle’s.

King David chose to remember; he chose to reflect.  It is upon his reflections as documented in Psalm 103, that he calls on the God’s angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, and heed the voice of His word, to bless the Lord.  He further calls on all God’s hosts, His ministers, who do His pleasure, to bless the Lord.  And finally, he calls on all God’s works to bless the Lord in all places of His dominion.

As we draw to the close of the year, I urge us to call into remembrance the benefits of the Lord upon our lives.  Like David, I personally choose to remember what God has done for me this year (and years before), so that as I enter into 2019, I am not grumbling over what I did not accomplish.  I choose to have faith and confidence in God who did, knowing that He will do yet again.  God gave me health – He healed me over and over again; he provided for me; satisfying my mouth with good things so that my youth is renewed like an eagle’s.  God has seen one of my sons through to the completion of form four. God has grown me spiritually, God has enlarged my circle of faith-based friends!  God has opened great doors for ministering His word through writing and speaking engagements. God has done great things for me in 2018, and the year is not yet over!  I bless His Name!

What has God done for you – reflect and lay a foundation for your transformation.   

Transformation is engineered by reflection.  This article calls on you dear reader (and I), to engage a reflective gear on our lifestyles.  By the grace of God, we have a powerful tool of reflection in the Word of God.  I invite you to join me to mirror ourselves in God’s Word so as to see the areas we have conformed and thus transform so as to be able to walk and work in God’s perfect will for us. 

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

James 1:23-25 (NLT)

KENYA, ARISE!

Kenya is a blessed country.  We are blessed with resources – wildlife, minerals, great weather, and most importantly, the blessing of strong culture of Christian faith. 

We are blessed with peace – not to have experienced any wars; not to have experienced any form of “captivity”.  Kenya is blessed.

Israel, God’s chosen people were blessed, and to date they are.  They are a royal priesthood, a chosen generation called forth to show God’s praise.  But in the midst of all the blessings, and all the promises that God had made to them, a time came when Israel rebelled.  Time after time they rebelled against God.  They disobeyed him, and made their own idols.  God, who is full of mercy pardoned them, over and over again.  Eventually, Israel had to face the consequences of their rebellious lifestyle.  They were taken into captivity in Babylon. 

The Bible in Isaiah 59, presents to us the voice of God, through prophet Isaiah, calling on Israel and warning her of her rebellious ways.   While God warns them of their sin, He is also quick to let them know that He is not weak (His hand is not shortened at all) that He cannot save them, but their sins have separated them from Him.

“¹Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.  ² It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.  Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.  ³ Your hands are the hands of murderers,
    and your fingers are filthy with sin.  Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.

⁴ No one cares about being fair and honest.  The people’s lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin.  ⁵ They hatch deadly snakes and weave spiders’ webs.  Whoever eats their eggs will die; whoever cracks them will hatch a viper.  ⁶ Their webs can’t be made into clothing, and nothing they do is productive.  All their activity is filled with sin, and violence is their trademark.  ⁷ Their feet run to do evil,  and they rush to commit murder.  They think only about sinning.  Misery and destruction always follow them.  ⁸ They don’t know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good.  They have mapped out crooked roads, and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace.

⁹ So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living.  We look for light but find only darkness.  We look for bright skies but walk in gloom.  ¹⁰ We grope like the blind along a wall,  feeling our way like people without eyes.  Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark.  Among the living, we are like the dead.  ¹¹ We growl like hungry bears; we moan like mournful doves.

We look for justice, but it never comes.  We look for rescue, but it is far away from us.  ¹² For our sins are piled up before God and testify against us.  Yes, we know what sinners we are.  ¹³ We know we have rebelled and have denied the Lord.  We have turned our backs on our God.  We know how unfair and oppressive we have been,
    carefully planning our deceitful lies.  ¹⁴ Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found.  Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed.  ¹⁵ Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.

The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice.  ¹⁶ He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed.  So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him.  ¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.
He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion.  ¹⁸ He will repay his enemies for their evil deeds.  His fury will fall on his foes.  He will pay them back even to the ends of the earth.  ¹⁹ In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord;  in the east, they will glorify him.  For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.^[a]

²⁰ “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,” says the Lord.

²¹ “And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

About a month ago, I read God’s word presented above and my heart trembled with fear.  My inmost being was shaken as the Lord showed me the extent to which our beloved country, Kenya, has entrenched into rebellion against God.   Looking at God’s word above, I heard God speaking to Kenya today: 

Your hands are the hands of murderers,
    and your fingers are filthy with sin.  Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.

⁴ No one cares about being fair and honest.  The people’s lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin.  ⁵ They hatch deadly snakes and weave spiders’ webs.  Whoever eats their eggs will die; whoever cracks them will hatch a viper.  ⁶ Their webs can’t be made into clothing, and nothing they do is productive.  All their activity is filled with sin, and violence is their trademark.  ⁷ Their feet run to do evil, and they rush to commit murder.

(Isaiah 59:3-7)

Like in the case of Israel during Isaiah’s day, God has highly favoured Kenya – surrounded by nations that have experienced war time and again, Kenya, is a peace-builder, a reconciliatory army. 

But have we as a nation been blinded by God’s love?  Have we taken his nature of being slow to anger and trampled it on the ground?  Have we toppled God’s authority and replaced it with a self-centredness attitude that ignores his sovereignty in our country and our individual lives?  What has blinded Kenya to God?

From the North to the South, and from the East to the West; from the media – radio, television, print and electronic, the internet; and from families to offices – all the airwaves are filled with reports of people scheming and committing evil in all manner and form.  Innocent blood shed has become the order of the day.  Murder, road accidents, rape, theft, abortion and suicide among other evils raise their voices across the country. 

Reports of husbands killing wives, and wives killing husbands, couples estranged in love triangles outside of their marital homes, teenagers committing suicide and fathers denying their children form part of the webs woven by the filthy-filled fingers.

Kenya! Oh! Kenya my country, my motherland, arise! Wake up from the deadly sleep of sin! 

“For your sins are piled up before God and testify against you.  Yes, you know what sinners you are.  You know you have rebelled and have denied the Lord.  You have turned you back on your God.  You know how unfair and oppressive you have been, carefully planning your deceitful lies.”

(Isaiah 59:12-13)

Kenya! Oh! Kenya! What, or who has blinded you that you can’t see the blessing of the Lord upon you?  Lift up your eyes and see what a beautiful people you are – a people created and formed in the image of God; a people called by the Name of the Lord!  A people chosen to proclaim forth the praises of God! 

Kenya, unveil yourself and see God’s blessing upon you – behold the peace of God upon you; behold the infrastructural and technological milestones over the years; behold the academic and economical heights that God has lifted you to; Kenya, lift up your eyes, and behold the blessing of God upon you. 

Kenya, Oh! Kenya!  Why are you fighting me, God?  I am the Truth – Why are you fighting the Truth, yet only the Truth will set you free? 

“Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed.  Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.”

(Isaiah 59:14-15a)

I, the Lord even the Lord your God; have looked at you and I am displeased.  I am displeased to find that there is no justice among you.  I am a God of justice. 

 

The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. 

 

(Isaiah 59:15b)

 

So, I myself raise a voice to you, Kenya!  I want to save you with my strong arm, and my justice.  I want to save you from the captivity you have brought yourself into.  The captivity of sin – the captivity of evil – of murder, immorality, injustice, corruption, lies – I want to save you!  I want to save you, Kenya! 

My hand is not shortened, that it cannot save you; nor is my ear heavy, that I cannot hear.   But your iniquities have separated you from me, your God; and your sins have hidden my face from you, so that I will not hear.

(Isaiah 59:1-2)

I have given you Jesus as your Redeemer, to buy you back from your captivity; He exchanged his glory for your sin, He exchanged His life for yours.  Will you turn back from your sins and come to me? 

Come now, let us reason together; consider your ways.  No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it.  I can make you as white as wool.  If you will only obey me and let me help you, and deliver you from your captivity!

I will make a covenant with you; my Spirit will not leave you.  My words that I have spoken to you will not leave you.  They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever.  I, the Lord have spoken!  Will you hearken to me?

My Spirit will deliver the poor, and comfort the broken hearted; my spirit will free the captives; my Spirit will bring favour to those mourning.  Will you hearken to my voice?

Arise Kenya! Arise, Oh! Kenya! Let your light shine for all the nations to see!  For the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

Waiting – What Does It Take?

Waiting is not anything that many people have the grace for.  It is not easy, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE either.  Waiting requires that you either stand still and stop engaging in what you were doing, or as you wait, look at what else you can do outside of the reason for waiting, or completely get another alternative for what you are waiting for or at leas seek a different means of acquiring what you are waiting for. This is waiting.
Does the Bible provide any guidance on waiting, and waiting on God, to be precise.  Certainly, yes.  In Psalms 27:14 the Bible COMMANDS us to wait on the Lord.  And it does not just leave it there...it says, in waiting, BE BRAVE and COURAGEOUS.  Be brave, and courageous, as you wait? Why? What do these have to do with waiting?  To answer this, let’s look at another scripture, James 5:7-8.  This text presents the attitude of a farmer.  A farmer prepares the ground and plants IN ANTICIPATION that God will cause rain to fall resulting to growth, development and maturity of the seed he planted, into a bumper harvest.
A farmer only expects rain from God, though as introduced earlier, a farmer could explore irrigation as an alternative, but he still has to use water coming from God! My emphasis here is the farmer's expectation! It is only from God. He has to wait. Once he prepares the ground and plants, he can do anything more - only keep looking at the skies for the forming clouds! And particularly, the omnibus clouds!
How does this reflect in a believer's life?  How do we wait yet not many have grace for this.  Waiting requires patience, endurance and steadfastness.  One as to resolve that despite the prevalent circumstances, they will wait, they will trust, they will have faith in God.  And praise the Lord, that He is faithful! We can take him at His word.  It is in waiting that one sees many suitable alternatives to what they are waiting for! Your mind rivets and swirls, you think back and forth – instead of waiting for one year, I can use this shortcut for three months - I can use alternative a, b, c, etc.  And many times, it’s not the alternatives, it’s the grumbling...God is taking so long! I have been praying for this issue for 10! Yes, 10 years, you reason out?  Why isn't God hearing me? Can't He see my desperation on this matter...the grumbling continues.
Let me remind you Child of God.  David was anointed as King of Israel at 16, yet he didn't get to the throne until he was 30.  All the while King Saul was out to do away with him.  Even after getting into the throne, King David had to deal with a lot of betrayal!  Out of his experience, David speaks to us in Psalm 40:1ff thus:
"I waited patiently on the Lord ...and he came and rescued me and lifted me from the miry clay...AND STEADIED ME! HE PLANTED MY FEET ON A SOLID ROCK!”
Think of Abraham.  Abraham was credited as the father of faith!  He believed in God that he would be the father of all nations - amidst all odds! His wife was barren, yet for 25 years, he waited.  And at 100, he was the father of many nations! Today, He is our father of faith!
What do Abraham and David have in common when it comes to waiting?  We find this secret in James 1:6-8.  The Bible exhorts us to come to God in faith, without wavering, without doubting.  He who that doubts is like a weed or the wave of the sea...tossed about, he is unstable in all his ways.  He will not receive anything from the Lord!
So, are you waiting on God for anything this morning?  Can you really wait for long, without complaining! Oh yes, you can! We all can!  How does this happen?
HAVE FAITH IN GOD!  When you truly know without a doubt who God is - our everlasting father, faithful, mighty, loving, and full of mercy and grace! Oh my, you can wait!  Equip yourself for the wait! Fill your spirit with adoration, praise and thanksgiving to God, just for who He is, and your waiting will work for your good. Go ahead and let your mind be renewed in His Presence.
Halleluyah!

PART 4: DWELLING IN HIS PRESENCE - THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT PACKAGE

Courtesy: Unsplash.com

Previously, in part three of this article, we saw three main benefits of dwelling in the presence of the Lord – Prosperity; Stability; and Safety and Provision.  This final part of the article - dwelling in his presence, presents the ULTIMATE BENEFIT PACKAGE of dwelling in the presence of the Lord - the utmost, wholesome benefit and blessing of dwelling in the presence of the Lord.

The psalmist in Psalm 91 starts the chapter by presenting the status of this person who dwells in the presence of the Lord.  From the onset he reveals to us the kind of person who enjoys God's rest, the coolness and protection of being under the shadow of the Almighty.  This person knows his position and relationship with the Lord - The Lord is his refuge, his fortress, He is his God, and in Him he leans, relies and confidently trusts in (see Part 1 for more of this). 

Verses 3 to 16 of Psalm 91 are founded on the premise of verses 1 and 2.  These outline what I call the Ultimate Benefit Package.  Let’s look at each of the specific benefits constituting the whole package.

Ultimate Benefit 1:  Deliverance

 "For then he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence." (Verse 3).  As you dwell, as you inhabit and rest in the presence of the Lord, he will deliver you from all that the enemy strategizes against you. It doesn't matter in what magnitude, it may look like just a trial, or it may be life threatening, the Lord will deliver you from them all.

Ultimate Benefit 2:  Protection

To protect is to shield from, to cover against evil or danger. In verse 4, the bible notes that, "(Then) He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge.  His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler." Part b of verse 4 is one of my favourite scriptures in the bible.  Looking at both the context of this article and the fact that it is my favourite scripture, we see that God's truth and faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.  A shield and a buckler are weapons of war.  When I think of a shield, most times I remember our police organs such as GSU when they engage with calming riots especially by the university students.  During such instances they will always use a shield to protect themselves against anything aimed and thrown at them.  The beauty of the shield is that it is movable - it can be lifted at different angles and directions to counter the opponent's weapons.  Now, God's truth and faithfulness (authenticity and constancy, unchanging state), is your shield, you who dwell in His presence. You can use it to counter every weapon the enemy throws at you – you can use it against sickness, against rebellious spirits, against all manner of arrows the devil throws at you.  Besides, God will cover (protect, shelter) you under his wings, his feathers.  Under these, you will find refuge (safety).  What a great benefit!

Ultimate Benefit 3:  Boldness

If one is not bold, they are said to be fearful and timid.  They are afraid – afraid of things not turning how they expect – afraid of poor health, afraid of lack, afraid of danger, afraid of failing.  In the absence of fear, one is bold.  When you dwell in the presence of the Lord, you do not have to fear.  "You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,  Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.” (Verses 5 and 6).

Naturally darkness and night come with fear – these two present a change from the norm.  With darkness, for example, you can’t see unless you are facilitated by some form of lighting.  Mobility is reduced and interactions with people are minimized.  If you were working during the day, you have got to prepare to get home before darkness and night falls.  Night is a time to sleep, a time to rest.  Whereas this applies to natural circumstances, spiritually, there are circumstances that present night and darkness.  A time when one is incapacitated for one reason or another – a time when you can’t see, a time that all you see is darkness.  Spiritually, the kingdom of darkness is ruled by the devil – so he will scheme and strategize to keep believers outside of the light of the kingdom of God so that they cannot understand God and his ways.  He blinds those who have not yet established a relationship with God so they do not come to the kingdom of God’s light. 

The devil’s intention is to keep you in darkness so he can attack and inflict you with sickness, with confusion, with emotional torture, with doubts about God and His promises – and anyone in such bondage for sure is in the dark.  At night when one is asleep, their guards are down.  And the devil wants to use this opportunity to hit at them.

For a believer, it is not just about the darkness and the night, the psalmist also points out that we shall not be afraid of the “destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.”

You know, we can expect that since we are done with the night, and beyond, the day is here, then we are free.  We do not experience leave alone expect any attacks from the enemy – it is day after all.  I can see! I am alert!  But looking at verse 6, there are two key words right in the middle … “sudden” and “surprise”.   

A day is not like a night.  During the day, there is light,  we can see, one does not walk around groping into things – there is clarity.  One has confidence in what they do.  Spiritually, a day (and light), presents a holistic status of well-being.  You have this great relationship with the Lord.  You even know for sure that you can’t and you do not need to fear anything.  You are a believer, and you are well connected with God’s word.  You are prosperous both physically and spiritually.  You are stable – you are good.  You are enjoying the benefits of the dwelling in the presence of the Lord!

The devil, also knows that you are stable, and that you actually dwell in the presence of the Lord!  For this reason, he will not scheme anything normal to hit at you, he knows you “can see”, you are alert.  You are facilitated with the light of the day, the light of the word of God.  So what will he try and do?  He will strategize on “suddenlies” and “surprises” at noon!  When it is brightest!  When you least expect an attack from him! At the peak of your faith walk, at the peak of your job, at the peak of your personal and family development, he will bring “a sudden” attack, a “surprise” attack.  These strategies are not what you expect to see at night, no, they are crafted, they are skilled.  And their main aim is absolute destruction and death.  And really, this is what the mission of the enemy is – to steal, kill and destroy!

But the good news is – when you dwell in the presence of the Lord, (as discussed in part 1), when you make the Lord your habitation, when the Lord God is your expectation, your trust – you shall not be afraid of any forces of darkness!  Whether by night or day!  You are under the shadow of the Almighty!  You are under cover!  Glory to God!

Dear one, you might be feeling feeble, discouraged, to the extent of giving up. By the grace and mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ, I charge you you not to give up.  Lift up your eyes, your spirit to Christ Jesus, the author and finisher of our Salvation. Establish and affirm your relationship with him.  Let him be your Lord and God, run to him as your refugee and fortress.  Let him be your dwelling place and all these benefits, and much more shall be yours, in Jesus Name! Amen.

...God's ultimate benefit package continues in Part 5…. Do not miss it out!

Have you been blessed, inspired, encouraged, or wholesomely impacted by this article?  Please leave a comment.  Kindly also share it with someone else for the same effect.  Let’s allow the word to dominate.

God’s peace and grace; Amen.