“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” ―
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.” Read Philippians 4:4-7 (TPT). Clearly, we see an antidote for being in despair is be “saturated, consistent and persistent in prayer.” The Scripture says, “Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (TPT).
As I alluded to previously, people despair for several reasons, and one I mentioned was a lack of seeing the full manifestation of something, therefore, the tendency to spend time being agitated or worried becomes inevitable. But, see what and how the Scripture tells us to respond; “Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honour, and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Read Colossians 3:1-2 (TPT). Can you see this? The Bible instructs us to feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill our thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.
Absolutely amazing counsel from the mouth of God. Therefore, I submit to us, when we focus and worry about earthly things, despair will occur, but focusing on these earthly things in light of eternity sheds and introduces one to heavenly perspectives. Hence, the Bible says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.” Read Colossians 2:8 (TPT). See to it – make sure with a diligent heart you passionately protect yourself from the false and worldly philosophy.
Therefore, Apostle Paul’s letter to his son in the Lord was to “Overcome every form of evil as a victorious soldier of Jesus the Anointed One. For every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose Him.” Read 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (TPT). Watch this, soldiers in the battlefield do not have the slightest of opportunity to question the command given to them or second-guessing their commander-in-chief which can lead to an entire platoon been killed. In other words, soldiers in a battlefield can’t be despairing about one thing or another, their focus must be wholly on the command to Go.
Listen to what the Bible says, “We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” Read Hebrews 12:2 (TPT).
Lord, Jesus, as we prepare and look forward to 2020 and what You have planned, we are grateful for all that You have done. Your Word never fails, therefore, with great joy, we are expectant that Your Word will be accomplished and made manifest in our lives and those around us in Christ Name.
We write. You read. Be encouraged.
Kolumns 