The Letter ‘U’ – Use your experience to help others

When God allows events to happen in our lives, it is not for fun nor is He a God who enjoys watching His people suffering. He always has a purpose for allowing events to take place and for us to learn valuable lessons from it. And through the events, He revealed Himself to us as He shows us the way out. When we went out of the situation victorious, the journey does not end there. God wants us to help others going through the same trials and to offer comfort to others with the same comfort we received from God (2 Corinthians 1:6). We cannot comfort others unless we are first comforted by God. Having gone through the same experience and knowing how to walk out of it, we can share with others God’s faithfulness and how God can meet others in their trials, too. We are also able to offer help and they can receive the same comfort from God as well. (more…)

The Letter ‘D’ – Direct your Attention to Jesus Christ/God

Have you ever asked a question and received many answers back in return? I do. Sometimes, I wonder why people have so many opinions about a matter. At times, these opinions are not invited and unwelcome. There are people out there who are easily affected by what others think about themselves or be highly sensitive to remarks made whether at them or at the situation. Still, there are others who seek the approval of men and to please them. If you are one such person, you will find that your emotions are like a yo-yo swinging up and down. You feel happy and high when you receive praises from people. But when criticism and negative remarks come, you begin to doubt yourself and even agreed with what others have to say about you. If you look at the world and rely on what people have to say about you, you will be depressed. But if you look at Jesus, you will be at rest. (more…)

The Letter ‘N’ – Nuture your Spiritual Roots

It is crucial that when we go through trials, we have our feet strongly rooted in the ground so that we do not be swayed about by the winds. There are many Christians whose roots are not strongly grounded in the word of God. Mark 4:16-17 tells us of the parable where the seed (word of God) falls on stony ground but because the seed does not have any root, it soon dies away when tribulations and persecutions come as a result of the word. These are people who give up easily when they have to go through hard times and they succumb to temptations to look for an easy way out. Why is this so? The reason is because there is no depth of character which explains for them falling away when trials come. (more…)

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. - Hebrew 10:35-36

The bible tells of many characters who have to endure hardships and sufferings in the midst of trials and difficulties. Through the trials, these characters have learnt to endure and emerge victorious. But how did they do it? The secret lies in the strength of the mind called Fortitude.

What is fortitude? Fortitude is the “strength” of the mind that enables a person to encounter danger, to bear pain or adversity with courage. Without fortitude, you will not able to complete your journey. God does not want us to start off well. He also wants us to end well. 2 Cor. 6:4 tells us that we are the ministers of God as the ministers of God, we must have the ability to endure or else we will never be able to fulfil God’s dream for us. God uses people who never give up. In life, we will meet with obstacles and delays. The bible does not promise us a bed of roses after we accepted Jesus Christ. Instead, the bible tells us to be ready to face trials and difficulties as well as to endure hardships like a good soldier of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3). Not everything in life is about success and being rich or powerful. In fact, success is not about achieving our goals or being famous. It is about us not being stopped by obstacles and delays during our journey to achieve our goals. It is about not giving up. It is about enduring.

Mother Teresa was once asked how she and her helpers managed to pass each day and face sickness and death in their works by a senator. This senator visited the hospital where Mother Teresa has set up for the sick and dying children from the streets. He saw the poor and unbearable conditions these sick children were in. He couldn’t understand how Mother Teresa could bear to see these children suffered and died in her arms without a moment of despair or depression. Mother Teresa simply told the senator that she was not called to be successful but she was called by God to be faithful. This is a real champion - A champion who does not quit or give up when the going gets tough. She endured everything to the very end till she was called home. (more…)