Praise wins!

 Psalm 149:1–9 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  Sing to the Lord a new song, 

his praise in the assembly of the godly! 

 2  Let Israel be glad in his Maker; 

let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 

 3  Let them praise his name with dancing, 

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! 

 4  For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; 

he adorns the humble with salvation. 

 5  Let the godly exult in glory; 

let them sing for joy on their beds. 

 6  Let the high praises of God be in their throats 

and two-edged swords in their hands, 

 7  to execute vengeance on the nations 

and punishments on the peoples, 

 8  to bind their kings with chains 

and their nobles with fetters of iron, 

 9  to execute on them the judgement written! 

This is honour for all his godly ones. 

  Praise the Lord! 

The praise of God should be unrestrained. This psalm encourages us to be unhindered in our praise of God and to express worship wherever we are and whoever we are with. There are many ways we can worship God, and this psalm encourages the use of sung and musical worship as it is an expression of joy. 

When you are happy, you might skip, dance, or sing, as well as when you hear some music that you like. This should be how you respond to God too. For He is worthy and good. He is a great King, a kind Lord and marvellous Maker. Do not hold back your praise, or anyone else's. Instead, allow your joy to overflow whether it be; singing of new songs, using instruments or dancing. 'For the Lord takes pleasure in his people'. What a marvellous thought that as we are enjoying God, God is enjoying seeing our happiness expressed through worship. When you take pleasure in God, God takes pleasure in you. 

Do not limit the use of sung praise to a specific place. You can glorify wherever you are, whether you are amongst other believers or not, and when you are in bed (v5)! There are no restrictions to lifting God up, showing your joy and gratitude in Him. It is good for you to show your appreciation of God, He sees and hears what you do with your mouth and your body, how you use what is in your hands - so use them to glorify Him.

There is an interesting tone change in this psalm when you get to verse 6, ‘Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands’. The worship of God is not an end in itself, although God certainly deserves praise and honour. It is also a humble posture before God, and a preparation for you. It demonstrates your devotion to Him and equips you for the battles to come. God gives you a ‘two-edged sword’ when you devote your life to Him. He empowers you and equips you for the work and battle that is coming. He gives you a powerful weapon to use to vindicate His people and destroy evil. Yet it all starts with praise to Almighty God. As you worship Him and keep Him high in your mind - not the concerns of life or the power of enemies, He gives you not just any old sword, but a double-edged one! Twice the sharpness and power. God equips you and invites you into being a powerful force in His army when you serve and honour Him with your praise. You have an important part to play, so, ‘let the high praises of God’ be found coming from your mouth. This is the way you train for any battle that you face, how you overcome enemies and how you fulfill God’s purposes in your life. If you want to be an effective part of God’s Kingdom - ‘Praise the Lord!’ So, worship Him, unrestrained and honour Him with how you use your body, as you do are are giving pleasure to God, and He is preparing you for victory!

The Lord is your banner

 Psalm 60:1–12 (ESV):  

1  O God, you have rejected us, broken our defences; 

you have been angry; oh, restore us. 

2  You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; 

repair its breaches, for it totters. 

3  You have made your people see hard things; 

you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 

4  You have set up a banner for those who fear you, 

that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 

5  That your beloved ones may be delivered, 

give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 

6  God has spoken in his holiness: 

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem 

and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 

7  Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; 

Ephraim is my helmet; 

Judah is my sceptre. 

8  Moab is my washbasin; 

upon Edom I cast my shoe; 

over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 

9  Who will bring me to the fortified city? 

Who will lead me to Edom? 

10  Have you not rejected us, O God? 

You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 

11  Oh, grant us help against the foe, 

for vain is the salvation of man! 

12  With God we shall do valiantly; 

it is he who will tread down our foes. 

Often when we read of David in battle, we hear of the victory that comes. Yet it was not always so, as we can surmise from this psalm. Here David tells us how their defences were broken, the people have seen ‘hard things’ and are staggering to safety (v4). They need delivering as they are being beaten and having to retreat. It feels as if, ‘you do not go forth with us, O God’. So instead of running in triumph, celebrating victory, the Israelite army is having to run, in fear, to the ‘banner’ (v4) - A symbol of retreat. The banner was at the rear of the army, a visual representation of who you belonged to. Especially important in war as you could easily get disorientated. It was important to be able to see where you needed to go to re-join your team if you got lost, injured, or needed rest. For Israel, their banner also reminded them that God was with them (Exodus 17:15, 'The Lord is my banner'). The banner therefore represented for David and his army that God is the Commander of the battle, their protector, guide, refuge and safety, a fortress they can run to. A place of retreat where they can be reminded that God is present and so they can be comforted, restored and re-engaged. In this battle, they needed that. They were fighting and felt like they were losing, so they had to run for safety and restoration. 

Sometimes, in life, you need to retreat to the ‘banner’ too. You need to reming yourself that the Lord is your banner, just as He was Israel's. God is your refuge, retreat, safety, fortress and restoration. In life, you will get tired, hurt, and feel lost. God is waiting for you to run to Him. He can remind you that He is the commander, refuge, safety, protractor, guide and healer. He will refresh you and re-equip you for the battles you face, are you running to Him? God is waiting for you. 

Battles are never won by an individual, so you cannot do it alone. You do not need to, and should not be trying to. If you are a member of His army, and you are leading your life following Him then you are on His team, and He is your banner. You do not have the vision, strength or the level of strategic planning required to even navigate the battles that are coming but God does. He has the might, understanding and plan to get you through and to bring about His promises. Are you running to Him to hear what He has to say so that He can guide you to where you need to go?

When you seem to be losing, battling, struggling, feeling like you need to refresh, rest or retreat, what do you do? You should be running to God, your banner. You need to rest and re-evaluate sometimes. Make sure that when you do you’re not sitting by yourself doing it, trying to fix things and navigate battles alone, but that you are under God’s banner. Going it alone causes anxiety, stress, worthlessness and worry. Sitting with God however creates vision, peace, strength, restoration, healing, power and brings, ‘great salvation’.

As David sat and reflected under the banner as he wrote this psalm, he felt as if God had rejected and abandoned him and the Israelite army. He was wondering who was leading this battle? If God isn’t in it, should they be? Yet he and the army are fighting for their lives, their families freedom and the nation of Israel, surely that's a good thing? They are under pressure, frantically caught in the fight that they are losing. Yet they are God’s people, His army, trying to do God’s will. How can this be the situation? How can they be defeated? David came to God in his disappointment and confusion when it seemed like they were losing the battle. It seemed that David was failing in the mission even though he was trying to honour God and do His will. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes we feel that the battles and missions we are on are failing even though we know God has us on this path. I know that I have struggled with knowing God has sent me to do things and then it seems like life has become a battle. As a family we have experienced emotional turmoil and physical hardship, we have suffered, dangers have come and unexpected battles have needed to be faced. So where is God when these things happen? Does it mean that we have messed up and got the call of God wrong? Has God disappeared or withdrawn? No! It means that we need to continually run to God, our banner to sustain us in every way. When life looks bleak, disappointing and like a losing battle shift your gaze and look for the banner then run to it! For God is there and He is ready and waiting for you. In the battle, God is present - look for Him. He can envision and equip, restore and heal you if you go to Him.

Do you know the game, capture the flag? Each team tries to take the other's banner down, then they have won. When you are on God's team and He is your banner, then guess what?! You are never going to lose! His banner has been flying for eternity and will continue to stand in victory, so when the battle comes ensure that you run to Him for He will not let you down. You are on the winning team, so run to His banner for strength, refreshment and re-envisioning, with God as your banner what have you got to fear or lose? 

David knew he was on God's team, yet things got really desperate and difficult for him, so he ran to God as his banner and was upfront and honest with Him. He was wondering where God was, for wherever he looked, he didn’t see Him. He saw hard things, staggering, quaking land, torn kingdom and broken defences (v1-3), a far cry from victory. So, David says;

“You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 

11  Oh, grant us help against the foe, 

for vain is the salvation of man! 

12  With God we shall do valiantly; 

it is he who will tread down our foes.” (V10-12)

David tells God his experience, and wonders, God, where are you? For David cannot see God at work right now, only the enemies work, and it seems like the other side is winning. Yet, he still knows that if God turns up, ‘we shall do valiantly’ and there will be ‘salvation’. David's trust in God was steadfast. He knew that following God wasn't easy, that living a life of faith is hard and that sometimes God seems distant or even absent, but that doesn't mean He is. It just means that he lost sight of God and so needed to search for the banner. For the banner still stands and will stand. So when you know you are doing the things God wants you to, don’t be surprised if life gets hard and becomes a battle. It is an opportunity to run to God, seek and see His salvation and remind yourself whose banner you are fighting under.

David’s experience was so shattering because not only was he being personally attacked and having to wearily keep on going for survival, but good people, fellow warriors and friends were dying. That is what happens in war. There is loss, distress, fear, confusion, pain, suffering and sometimes, defeat. That is why there is a banner available for you to run to. It is not giving up or turning back, but running to God for rest, refuge and restoration. Run to God and implore Him to show up and do the work, for great is His salvation. Remind yourself that you are on God's team, and that He fights so that His, ‘beloved ones may be delivered'. He will sustain and help you. Even if you feel defeated, it doesn’t mean that you have lost. David was still king even when he was fighting a losing battle. Nothing can change the promises of God so keep your eyes on Him as your banner.

Do not let situations dictate your faith, but let your faith dictate how you handle any situation!

 Psalm 43:1–5 (ESV): 

1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause 

against an ungodly people, 

from the deceitful and unjust man 

deliver me! 

2  For you are the God in whom I take refuge; 

why have you rejected me? 

Why do I go about mourning 

because of the oppression of the enemy? 

3  Send out your light and your truth; 

let them lead me; 

let them bring me to your holy hill 

and to your dwelling! 

4  Then I will go to the altar of God, 

to God my exceeding joy, 

and I will praise you with the lyre, 

O God, my God. 

5  Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me? 

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 

my salvation and my God. 

This psalm is rather similar to the previous one and ends with exactly the same verse therefore it is reasonable to assume that they have the same author, most probably David. As both of these psalms also reference sorrow, harassment and a desire to be in God’s presence it makes sense for them both to be attributed to the same circumstances and author.

As mentioned, this psalmist is suffering. Due to this they have considered their predicament, evaluating his own heart and actions in the process and wondered if he has erred or sinned.  After examining himself, he clearly finds nothing deserving of discipline or punishment and so his first words of this psalm are 'vindicate me'. Only someone who is innocent can be vindicated as this word means to prove righteousness, and so the author must have reason to be assured of their integrity and innocence. Yet what this person is experiencing right now seems punishment. Have you ever encountered a time when you have felt unfairly treated? Or when you are punished for something you haven't done? It is easy in those times to fight back and become adamant and indignant in your self-righteousness, and who can blame you? It is unjust and unfair. However this writer, although he knows he does not deserve this discomfort and pain, he calls upon God to support and clear his name. He does not blame God or take matters into his own hands, but trusts and relies on God to, 'defend my cause'. This in itself must have been painful! To not retaliate, to not fight his own corner, the internal conflict is real. Instead this psalmist has considered and concluded that this battle is not his, but God's. As a man of God who has done his best to live right, he calls upon God to vindicate and rescue him. The author knows that God can work out things better than he can. They know God can give; vindication, refuge, rescue, restoration, joy, truth, guidance, hope and salvation. What could they do that would offer a better result?! When you are caught in a battle, or in a situation in which you are an innocent suffering party, assess your own actions first, then know and trust can and will vindicate and defend you too. If you need; refuge, rescue, salvation, joy, truth, guidance and hope, you can call upon and trust in Him to redeem the situation in a way that cannot be achieved any other way, and it is worth waiting for. 

It is horrible to have to go through and endure these things, this psalmist understands, and seems to be reminding himself that he is alright with God and can rely on him even when he is surrounded by difficulty, feels stuck and ‘cast down’. Have you ever felt like that? If so, then you, like this writer, probably need to remind yourself of the truth of who God is and what He can do.

Difficult times can cloud over your heart and mind and cause you to start to believe in the lies and disaster around you rather than continuing to hope in God. Once you start to remember the truth of who you are and who God is as well as what you can expect from Him - you have already won! Changing your mindset is half the battle. This psalmist has begun to walk in victory already by trusting in the character and nature of God. You have the opportunity to do the same when you meet trials. When circumstances can no longer dictate your mental or emotional state. and you learn to depend on and honour God no matter what, you are victorious! You are just waiting for the final triumph and vindication to come, for restoration to arrive and light and truth to reveal the reality. You are already victorious and vindicated so you can live with that mindset even as suffer. During the tough times continue to praise and honour God. Be inspired to hope when everything feels oppressive, disastrous and difficult. Remember who you are to God, and who He is and what He has done already. 

You have God on your side even if everyone else around you abandons you or turns against you. You can, along with David encourage yourself to, ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God’. Do not let situations dictate your faith, but let your faith dictate how you handle any situation!

Battles and Victories

Psalms 20 and 21 are linked in their structure and content, with psalm 20 being a call for God’s help for the king, and psalm 21 a response of gratitude for the victory God has granted him. Both psalms have similar styles and even phrases, but the intent of each is different. Psalm 20 was a song prayed over the king by the nation asking God to provide and succeed on his behalf, and psalm 21 although also a national response, is one of gratitude and worship to God. Having these psalms back to back highlights their similarities and the importance of prayer, both personal and corporate, whatever the circumstances. One was written for a time of preparation for difficulty and battle, and the next for the time of success that followed. It shows that it is important to pray both when things are tough, and times of success as it reminds us who really is in charge. It is also important to encourage one another in prayer and worship as these psalms inspire the king and the nation with the goodness and trustworthiness of God.

Psalm 21:1–13 (ESV):  

1  O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, 

and in your salvation how greatly he exults! 

2  You have given him his heart’s desire 

and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 

3  For you meet him with rich blessings; 

you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. 

4  He asked life of you; you gave it to him, 

length of days forever and ever. 

5  His glory is great through your salvation; 

splendour and majesty you bestow on him. 

6  For you make him most blessed forever; 

you make him glad with the joy of your presence. 

7  For the king trusts in the Lord, 

and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. 

8  Your hand will find out all your enemies; 

your right hand will find out those who hate you. 

9  You will make them as a blazing oven 

when you appear. 

The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, 

and fire will consume them. 

10  You will destroy their descendants from the earth, 

and their offspring from among the children of man. 

11  Though they plan evil against you, 

though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. 

12  For you will put them to flight; 

you will aim at their faces with your bows. 

13  Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! 

We will sing and praise your power. 

David is likely to be the king referred to in this psalm. If it is him, we know was not a private individual as he was open and honest about his emotions - we see this through the psalms and through the recorded history of his life in the Bible. He exuberantly praises God without hindrance, he mourns and implores God to intervene in prayer and fasting - he is a passionate man who is not afraid to express his emotions or call upon God. So it is no surprise that this psalm sung by the nation tells us, ‘the king rejoices’, ‘how greatly he exults’! The king is not afraid to show his happiness, to exuberantly and abundantly praise God because of God’s goodness, protection, love, blessings and presence. Can you imagine how he would have responded after a battle victory and a song such as this? 

How do you respond when God has overcome for you? David and the whole nation have seen how God has had His hand in every victory. They acknowledge the kings joyous response and the answer to their previous prayer and song (psalm 20). It is with excitement that psalm 21 is written, an overflow of prayer and praise to the God that will overcome and destroy every enemy of the people of God! Does this not inspire you to pray and sing to God?! I wonder if this will inspire you to get to the next prayer meeting or next time of corporate worship. Powerful breakthroughs occur when God’s people come to Him in prayer and worship - are you getting caught up in that excitement? It is ok and actually good to allow yourself an emotional response to situations. You are allowed to cry, smile, laugh, dance and sing with feeling as you accept what God has done in your life. This psalm was written because the people of Israel and their king were excited and grateful for what God had done. There would probably have been music and dancing, tears and laughter as this psalm was sung - do you respond to God's influence in your life in joyous gratitude or is your response muted? The reason that Israel were so excited was because they realised that God had done several specific things that they had asked for and so they express their gratitude (V1-6):

God’s strength has brought victory

He answered prayer

Blessings have been received 

God preserved life

Glory, splendour and majesty have been given to their king

God’s presence is known

Of the above list, I am sure that you have experienced at least a few of these. When you have, what has been your response? Have your experiences inspired you to worship God and acknowledge His goodness amongst others or has your thankfulness been dulled? The nation of Israel did not keep quiet about what they had seen of God’s victories, they shouted, cried, danced and sang about it. This time they even responded by writing and singing this psalm together in recognition and gratitude to God. Do you allow your gratitude to overflow like David and the nation of Israel? It is not mature to deny emotions or fail to express them although it may be more socially acceptable. God did not design robots. He made humans. Humans with minds, hearts and emotions and He expects you to worship Him, 'with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength' (Mark 12:30-31). Do you? Do you get caught up in the excitement of what God has got you through in order to encourage and inspire others in their faith? Why would others want to follow God unless they see He has a very real, tangible impact in your life that is genuinely expressed through the battles and successes?

As a result of the battles Israel faced and overcame due to their trust in God alone, they say with full confidence, 'through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved’! You can have a story, a testimony and an assurance like that too! Remember what God has already done and so trust Him in every circumstance. Don’t forget to invite God into all of your current and future battles and successes, as when you do, you will know and experience the presence of God and his never-ending, enduring love. You will see greater victories than you already have. What a privilege to live a life like that! Secure in the knowledge that although battles will come, victories will follow when you depend upon God. Why not take some time to day to remember in prayer and praise God's victories in your life and think about how you share this with others to encourage them through their battles into victory.

Have you learnt from past victories?

 Psalm 9 (ESV): 

A Psalm of David. 

1  I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; 

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 

2  I will be glad and exult in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 

3  When my enemies turn back, 

they stumble and perish before your presence. 

4  For you have maintained my just cause; 

you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. 

5  You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; 

you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 

6  The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; 

their cities you rooted out; 

the very memory of them has perished. 

7  But the Lord sits enthroned forever; 

he has established his throne for justice, 

8  and he judges the world with righteousness; 

he judges the peoples with uprightness. 

9  The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, 

a stronghold in times of trouble. 

10  And those who know your name put their trust in you, 

for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. 

11  Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! 

Tell among the peoples his deeds! 

12  For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; 

he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 

13  Be gracious to me, O Lord! 

See my affliction from those who hate me, 

O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 

14  that I may recount all your praises, 

that in the gates of the daughter of Zion 

I may rejoice in your salvation. 

15  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; 

in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 

16  The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; 

the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah 

17  The wicked shall return to Sheol, 

all the nations that forget God. 

18  For the needy shall not always be forgotten, 

and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. 

19  Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; 

let the nations be judged before you! 

20  Put them in fear, O Lord! 

Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah 

Have you learnt from past victories?

At the start of this psalm we read an outpouring of thanksgiving to God for His past work (v1-12). David recalls how God is; just, wonderful, powerful, triumphant, eternal, king, orchestrator of the past and present, righteous, strong, protective, safe, and invested in those who follow Him. David remembers the truth of who God is, the miraculous ways He has worked, His character and His care for those that follow Him. All of this at a time when David is imploring God to, 'lift me up from the gates of death'! Before David asks God to intervene and help him, he ensures that he reminds himself who God really is and what He has already done. Do you do the same? Before you pour out the pain you feel and complain to God, do you take time to remember who God is and what He has already done for you? Past victories that you have seen, heard of or experienced should impact your faith and your life. Your witnessing of the past; triumphs, protection, breakthroughs, power and might of God should influence the way you pray. 

David prays from this acknowledgement of whom God has proved himself to be - he remembers with gratitude, warmth and growing strength that God is a winner and that God has prevailed many times before. David praises God for what He has done already, and reminds himself that this same God is with him right now in this 'affliction'. Is this how you pray into difficult circumstances? What have you learnt about the character of God from past victories that can equip and empower you as you pray now? Your previous experiences should inform your prayers of the present. God is the same now as He was then, and you can learn and grow in strength and faith by changing your mindset from one of despair and angst to one of hope and security. You do this by doing as David did - remembering the victories already won by God, and then recounting what is happening in life right now. How often do you pray the other way round - problems first, praise later (if at all)?

More often than not the current crisis swamps anything else. That is why it is important to remind yourself that there have been troubled times previously that you have survived. That you have come through because of God's; protection, strength, and righteousness. It is important to remember. It builds your faith and hope. As you read this psalm, you can hear David's hope, joy and faith building before he lets God know he is suffering. Do you want to know hope, joy and faith in the midst of turmoil? Then recall the past victories and thank God for what He has done in your life and in the lives of others. Do not let your state of mind be dictated to by your current circumstances, instead let your understanding of God dictate your state of mind and your circumstances by doing something different - praising and glorifying God in the midst of hardship. 

David does. He remembers, he thanks and praises and it helps him put his current situation into context. He knows that this current, 'affliction' will pass with God's help, but it is only a short space of time when considering his whole life. The same is true for whatever you are facing. Considering your whole life, this time of affliction will one day cease, but you need help getting through it. It is but a short time considering the expanse of life and eternity, so who better to assist you than the all-powerful and all-loving, eternal creator of life? Invite Him into your situation, remembering how God has shown his love power, grace and sufficiency for you before. He has not changed, you may have, but He has not and He loves, cares for and desires to protect and strengthen you in this current season. Are you depending on Him as you have before? 

Have you learnt from past victories?

Does death scare you?

 Many people are scared of death. It is the ending of this life. I have heard it said, 'there's one sure thing about life, death'! We all will experience it, more of us will die than have children, or get married or gain a career - yet we spend far more time planning and preparing for these things than for the one certain thing that will happen to us all. 

The reality is - you will die. What are you doing to prepare for it? Are you ready for your life to end? Does death scare you? 

What happens when you die; is it a void? non-existence? is there anything afterwards?  So many unknown can lead to people feeling frightened about dying. But, you don't need to be afraid - You can actually have hope beyond the grave, not just in leaving a legacy behind you, but a real hope and joy in what lies ahead when your days in this world finish.  

The Bible says us;

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 

*55*“O death, where is your victory? 

O death, where is your sting?” 

*56*The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. *57*But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

Death doesn't have to feel like a frightening future, it has lost it's power, it has been transformed from a terrifying unknown into a victory. instead of bearing a 'sting', it brings hope. 

We kind of have to read these verses in reverse to help us understand them - the victory comes because of the Son of God, Jesus. He has given us victory over death because he lived a pure life, and died a tortuous death to get rid of our sin. All that stuff you and I have done wrong deserves a punishment, it needs to be made up for, and God knew we couldn't do enough to make up for it, so His Son did it for us. 

Jesus, strangely, overcame the power od death through dying! Well, that was part of it - the death sorted out the repayment for our wrongs. the fact that Jesus came back to life - that defeated death! Jesus is the Son of God, and God is immortal therefore he couldn't stay dead. Therefore, the scary, unknown mystery of death was destroyed. 

For all of those who believe and trust in Jesus, death should not be a scary thing. Death doesn't even sting anymore! Death is not an inconvenience, a source of worry or fear, but a victory! 

Jesus has promised that those who live for God will have a greater future after this life ends. He tells us that his followers will one day join him in heaven. Not only that, but there are eternal rewards awaiting them and a home prepared! Jesus tries to encourage us that there is something far greater than any treasure, any fame or fortune of this Earth to look forward to - the doorway to it is death. 

This doesn't mean that we should all be trying to die - Jesus tells us that God knows the number of our days as well as the amount of hairs on our heads, but Jesus speaks about this to assure you and I that death is ok. He came back to show us that it doesn't all end with Earthly death - he lived after the grave, and you will too - are you preparing to live with him? Are you going to be victorious in you death knowing that you'll be with Jesus? or do you really have something to be scared of - an eternity without God? 

suffering temptation

‘For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted’
Hebrews 2:18.

Do you often consider that Jesus suffered?
Do you know that eventhough Jesus did not sin, he still underwent the same temptations as us?
The only time we really consider Jesus suffering is when he entered the last days of his Earthly life as he was; beaten, betrayed and crucified.
Yet, if Jesus was a regular human being, don’t you think he suffered in his daily life, like you? Isn’t there more suffering involved in life than death?

The verse above indicates that Jesus underwent the same everyday challenges and temptations that we do. Jesus had a normal human life. He experienced the life of a frustrated toddler, an inquisitive infant, and the terrifying teens! He knows the temptations of each of these stages of life. Jesus was an average Jewish boy, who lived with his parents, in a community, who learnt, played, worked and grew. He had to handle the same difficulties with people and self-control that we do. Jesus had to grow up in this world too. He had to deal with the emotions, hormones, peer pressure, frustrations and misunderstandngs that this life involves. The normal growing up process applied to Jesus. He had similar thoughts and persuasions to do the wrong thing. Jesus also had to overcome the battle in his mind as we do. The temptation to be selfish, popular and fulfilled existed for Jesus too. He was a normal human being. Therefore he had to deal with all the trials, testosterone, and temptations that brings!

This should give us comfort and hope.

Jesus does truly understand our troubles. He knows the power of the devil, who comes along uninvited and often in our weakest moments, to tempt us to sin or forget who we really are. Jesus knows the very real battle we have within ourselves to do what we want verses what God wants. He knows the persuasion to get up to things when no-one is looking or could ever find out. He battled temptation too - the verse above tells us that. Jesus suffered temptation. It was not easy for him either, he struggled with it just like we do. Jesus understands the very real internal war we have each day for:

‘We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’.
Hebrews 4:15

Jesus can understand and come alongside us in our temptation and troubles because he has gone through the same mental battles, yet, he fought temptation and he was victorious every time. Jesus lived the everyday fight for purity, he battled against his own desires and the torments of the devil just like we do, and he won. He knows what it’s like. He understands the mental anguish, heart-felt prayers, battle of the heart and mind to do what is right. He suffered the agony of denying self to accept God. That’s why we can trust him to help us out.

We don’t have to be embarrassed by our troubles, no matter how secret we have kept them. Jesus knows the torture of the tempted mind. He has lived it too, and he has overcome, so we can trust him with our troubles, our fraught mental processes and anguished hearts. We can know that we have a brother who can lead us out because he lived free from the sin that we can so easily entangle ourselves in. Jesus can relate because he engaged in the same battle ‘in every respect’. He knows the reality of the human temptation. He knows the level of mental strife. He knows the power and pull of temptation. That is why we can confidently approach him with it all. Jesus acknowledges our suffering, he has also lived it and he has a story of victory to share. Today you can, ‘receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ because Jesus has been there. He can sympathise and give you the power to change. The question is - do you want to?