WHO ARE YOU? Winning The Battle of Identity Crisis

WHO ARE YOU? - Winning the Battle of Identity Crisis.

Identity crisis is more widespread than most people are aware. Everyone is a potential victim of identity crisis. Forget the idea that identity crisis is an adolescent problem. We are all exposed to this crippling force from childhood to adulthood.

Imagine a little kid who throws off his more or less expensive toy to fight over  the more or less expensive toy of the other kid. He or she fighting through identity crisis even though he may not know what it is just yet. Does our tendency to fight over toys stop at childhood? No! Rather it increases with age and stage in life.

The adolescent who finds himself or herself constantly at loggerheads with parents and authorities is being overwhelmed by the vast discoveries of life and trying  to answer the question of "who am I?  Yes, Psychologists may tell us that such traits are normal of adolescent years but if that was true, why would two children raised by the same parents behave differently at the same age and stage in life such Cain and Abel or Esau and Jacob did? I do not agree that it's a temperament problem either because no matter our temperament we are responsible for the choices we make.

Do adults have identity crises? Oh yes! Adults often suffer from what I call "reverse identity crisis". When we are young we want badly to grow up and use our freedom but when we become old we wish we were young again. Have you not seen or heard of  people taken loans to alter their bodies just to look younger? If that is not identity crisis what would you call it?

Even the idea of superiority complex among colleagues, business competitors and government of nations is still a clash of sense of identities

Due to this widespread nature of identity crises and particularly because it is difficult to identity in adults, our world has become badly plagued by this destructive disease. The disease manifests itself in form of regrets, depression, anxiety and panic disorders, fear, sleeplessness, hopelessness, inferiority, vulnerability, gullibility, doubt, unbelief, separation, divorce, loneliness, shame, malice, jealousy, comparison and competition complex, hate, ungratefulness, wars and suicide thoughts and behaviours among others.

If you please you can call it another world war. But there's the good news: We can win this war if we are willing and ready to fight.

KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU ARE NOT

The first step towards victory over identity crisis is to know who you are and who you are not. John shows us how to do that

This is John's story. One day, the Jews sent some people from Jerusalem to ask John: Who art thou? This was a time when the Jews were desperate for a Messiah. John answered the delegates: 'I am not the Christ'. They were not satisfied with his response so they asked him suggestively: Are you Elijah? (They remembered that God was sending them a man in the spirit of Elijah). Again John responded: 'I am not'. They were resilient: Are you The Prophet? He answered 'No'. Then who are you, they insisted. Give us an answer for those who delegates us - what do you say of yourself? He said with confidence and clarity:  "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias

This dialogue continues with our generation today.

Everyday you wake up, life will ask you to identify yourself: "who are you"? The people we live and work with are indirectly asking us to identify us when they taunt, push, pressure or label us. But the big question is "what are you saying to them? How do you identify yourself.

I found a way in John's approach and it consists of two keys:

1. Know who you are and who you are not.

There are two sides to winning the battle of identity crisis. The first is to know who you are and the second is to know who you are not. Both sides are important. It is not enough to know who you are, you also need to know who you are not. John did not only know who he was he also knew who he was not. He did not give in to the pressure of position or honour when they asked him suggestively 'are you Elijah'?

If you don't know the clear difference between who you are and who you are not, you will fall victim of the many suggestive and  appealing labels and orientations invading our world. In your attempt to look good to others you  could either end up a copy cat on the stage or a displaced rag at the back of the stage. Either way is a misplacement

2. Look in the word daily to know the difference

The second key in John's approach is to look in the mirror of the word.

Earlier, I established in this series that every man has four names in his life time: the name God gave us before we were born, name our parents gave us when we were born, the name we gave ourselves in the course of life and the name the world gives us after we are dead and gone.

Before John was born God gave him a name. John obviously read the scriptures for he knew what "the prophet Elias has said" about him. Luke recorded the discussion that ensued between the Angel of the Lord and John's father -Zechariah

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke.1:13-16.

Although many of us are not aware, each of us has this divine identity card template filled out for us before we were born. If we do not want to be misplaced, displaced or replaced we must look consistently hard and long into the word daily.

Just as we use the mirror daily we are to look into the mirror of the word daily to see ourselves the way God sees us and to answer correctly when asked: "who are you"?

Why is this important and necessary?

If you don't know the right answer every answer looks like it. If you don't know who you are, you will be deceived to believe that you are anyone else and you may spend the rest of your days trying to be someone that you were never meant to be. The only place to find your true identity is the word of God. The only way to ensure we live our identity fully according to the word of God is to not be a 'a forgetful hearer' but a 'doer' of the word.

Take this winning key with you wherever you go: "know who you are and who you are not by looking into the word of God consistently.

From the series: WHAT IS YOUR NAME? By Peter Okaka. Freshwater Christian House in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario

NAMES, BRANDS AND IDENTITY THEFT

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of March 9-14, 2015

NAMES, BRANDS AND IDENTITY THEFT

How was your weekend? I hope you enjoyed a good church service yesterday and you are refreshed and recharged for the new week :)

In this week's edition of THE BETTER LIFE POST, I am sharing with you my thoughts on how to make your life count and avoid identity theft in a world where everyone seems to be all about names and brands.

Let me say right off the hub that NAME is important and brand is good.

When we meet a person for the first time the first question we ask them is "what is your name?

When a child is born, well wishers will usually ask the parents for the child's name.

When we receive an email or some memo, the first thing we do is check the name of the sender or the person giving the instruction.

We validate the authenticity of a contract by checking   the signing authorities.

We buy certain brands because of the name and seal of authenticity.

If you are a follower of Christ like me, you know that the real power and authority in prayer is the powerful name of Jesus
At the mention of the name Jesus, angels in heaven bow and demons in hell tremble.

You see, without a name a lot will go wrong with our everyday life. Your name is your proof of identity, staff of authority, seal of authenticity and access to divine prosperity.

That is why most people have a strong desire to make name for themselves. And that desire is not new. It has been there since the early days of humans on earth when the existing world leaders gathered together and declared: "Let us make a name for ourselves" Gen 11:4

Today, the search for a name manifests itself in various ways. The crave for money, power and popularity is really just a search for a name. We want to be known as the richest, the most powerful and the most popular.

But we know that not every name carries true identity. Not all names commands authority. Not every name is valid and we cannot pray to God in just about any name. In our search for a name we could have our identity stolen. Therefore, the first question to ask ourselves is: which name defines me most accurately? How might I answer my name so that I do not loose my identity?

ONLY ONE IS REAL

Everyone uses four names in his life time.

Before you were born, God gave you a name. When you were born, your parents gave you a name. In the course of your life, you give yourself a name. After you are dead or gone, the world will give you a name.

But only one of these is your real name and that is the name God gave you before you were born. That is the same name that Life is asking you to answer before you leave this earth.

After our parents have named and Christened us,

After we have had our chance to tell the world what we wished to be called,

After we have lived and our lifeless bodies lie restfully and motionless in a casket unable to say our name,

After eulogies from families and friends tell families and friends who they think we were,

After the world has immortalized us and given us names in the list of honour and world heroes,

There, really, is only one question that God would ask each of us: did you answer the name I gave you or did you give yourself some another name? Did you fulfil the purpose for which I created you or did you follow the trend of the world to a destination of your choice?

YOUR REAL NAME IS TIED TO YOUR PURPOSE.

"And she shall bring forth a son and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21)

The only thing that defines us most accurately is God's intended purpose for our lives. God, the creator names everyone by the very purpose for what he created them. He said: "before I formed you in your mothers womb I ordained you" (Jeremiah 1:5). In other words, I gave you a name and designation in line with my purpose for your life.

The only thing that defines us most accurately is God's intended purpose for our lives. If you want to know God's ultimate purpose for your life, find out what he calls you. If you know what he calls you, you can tell what he wants you to do. God, the creator names everyone by the very purpose for what he created them.

Therefore, no matter the name our parents called us, no matter what we call ourselves and no matter what the world calls us in the end, it is what God calls us that matters.

Remember, there is no fulfilment without purpose. A fulfilled life is one that achieves its intended purpose. Just as salt becomes waste if it looses taste so a life becomes waste of it looses purpose. Each o us was sent to the world to fulfil a purpose. We did not get here by accident, no matter the circumstances surrounding our birth.

Yes, our parents may name us by the prevailing circumstances surrounding our birth but circumstances don't define us. We may name ourselves by what we have done, doing or hope to do but accomplishment don't define us. The world may name us by the contributions we have made but our contribution will not always match the solution we were meant to provide.

GOD HAS A NAME FOR YOU.

God has purpose-driven names for all followers of Christ. God calls us LIGHT in a dark world. He calls us SALT in a bitter world. He calls us FISHERS of men in world of satanic predators. He calls us SAVIOURS to sinners who may be our friends, families, colleagues, neighbours and strangers. In God's eyes, we are in the world as AMBASSADORS of Christ. Everything else such as business, relationship, career, health, money, position are added wages and benefits to help us be effective ambassadors of Christ. Choose to the cake and not just the icing.

If you have not received the Lord Jesus as your saviour, I invite you to receive the greatest gift of all: LIFE in Christ. This life is better than all others. To receive the life of Christ, simply say with your mouth that Jesus is lord and sincerely believe in your heart that he died for your sins and that God raised him from the dead. That's it, you are saved. Now look for a bible church around you and live the rest of your life fulfilling Gods purpose for you.

Till next week, choose to live better this week by answering the name that God called you. Enjoy!

From the series: WHAT IS YOUR NAME? By Peter Okaka. Freshwater Christian House in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario.

BROKEN HEART - THE #1 ENEMY TO GOOD HEALTH

TheBETTERLife Post 

Week of February 23-28, 2015 

BROKEN HEART - THE #1 ENEMY TO GOOD HEALTH

The secret to a healthy body and soul is a STRONG SPIRIT. The strength of the spirit will determine if a sick person will get well or get worse and if a healthy person will stay healthy or fall sick. 

"The spirit of a man will sustain him in his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Proverbs 18:14

Many do not realize that the wound of the spirit is a more serious matter than the wound of the body. It is and should not be taken lightly because sickness and wellness depend upon it. 

For example, a strong spirit  sustains a person in times of sickness and gets him out of bed quicker but a broken spirit dries up the bones and ties the person to his sick bed for much longer. Yes, every sickness may not be caused by a broken spirit but a broken spirit will ensure that sickness does not go away. 

It is the spirit of a man controls the wellness of his body. 

As a result of this important link between the strength of our spirit and our wellness, our ultimate health goal should be STRENGTH in the inner man which is by the Spirit of might. It is a wise health choice to do everything needed to remain strong in spirit at all times. 

Yes, I said at all times because there will be times when we feel helpless and unwilling to put back the pieces of a broken heart particularly those times when the wound of the spirit is proving hard to heal: 

- Times when you want to laugh but you have to cry because your heart bleeds uncontrollably. 

- Times when the pains of regret and guilt refuse to go away and you wish helplessly that you could turn back the hand of the clock and do it all over again. 

- Times when the departure of a loved one leaves a hole in our hearts that are impossible to fill. 

But by far the most severe and incurable wound of the spirit [and everyone must dread and avoid this] is the wound of the spirit that results from the LOSS of TIME and LIFE. This is when a person gets to the end of the road of life and realizes that he has travelled the wrong path all along; that he missed the perfect plan of God for his life because he chose to follow his own path that seemed good at first but eventually led to eternal death. Apart from this kind of broken heart, all other wounds of the spirit can be healed by strengthening the inner man and keeping the spirit strong:

1. CHOOSE JOY. Joy is a characteristic of a strong spirit. It is triggered from within by the willpower and has nothing to do with the prevailing circumstances.  Anyone can be happy when things go well but only the believer can be truly joyful because only God has key the wellspring of joy that flows from within our spirit.

Yes, triggering the flow of joy from within may require a harder priming in some cases than others but choosing to be joyful is possible when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit that resides within us as believers. 

Choose today to be joyful always and ask the Holy Spirit our Comforter to help you. "A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones" Proverbs 17:22. 

2. CHOOSE LOVE. 

Nothing ruins a person's health like bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness. Yes, insensitive and cruel people are all around us and there are legitimate offences and disappointments that emanate from them. However, if your health is important to you, you will choose rather to love and forgive than to hold a grudge. Not only because failure to love and forgive  would mean disobedience to God who owns your breathe but also because prolonged bitterness is a suicide pill that only fools are willing to swallow to their death. 

Choose today to love all men as much as possible and forgive everyone who has wronged you so that your prayers will not be hindered. Jesus taught us "When you stand to pray, forgive. If you forgive others when they sin against you your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" Mark 11:25, Matt. 6:14-15. 

3. CHOOSE FAITH. 

Fear opens the door to sickness and diseases but faith closes the door and raises strong barrier to sickness and diseases. When we loose confidence we loose health because confidence is a characteristic of a strong spirit. But how do people build or break down inner confidence?  

The simple answer lies in PEOPLE and GOD. 

Most of the things that rob us of joy and love surround people and God - not satan per se for the devil is powerless without the cooperation of man. We are either joyful and loving or hating and revenging because of what we know/feel that people and God did or did not do. 

Choose today to believe and fear not. No matter what happens, be like the wise one who will not "cast away his inner confidence of great reward" because of disappointments in people and God. Wise people know that although humans are sometimes fallible and the ways of God are most times unfathomable, there are yet people who are reliable and God is forever dependable. Darkness and disappointment may come but the man who puts his trust in God will never be broken even if all men fail. 

Why? Because though we can't figure it all out right now we know that it is impossible for God to lie 

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" Isaiah 55:9

It may not make sense now but for sure, it will make sense in the end. Bye and bye we will understand why God did what his did and did not do what he did not do. 

Till then, keep the faith. Trust God always and enjoy good health while the time ticks and the end of days draws closer. 

#PeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #churchfamily, #dominion,

LIVE BEYOND THE 5 SENSES

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of February 15-21, 2015

LIVE BEYOND THE  5 SENSES

There is more to life than eyes can see, more than ears can hear and more than mind can comprehend. To live strictly in the realm of our 5 physical senses is to live in absolute confinement and forfeit our ultimate fulfilment.

Our greatest quest in life should not be to merely attain to what is or what has been but rather to see the invisible, hear the unspeakable, know unfathomable and bring to light the unimaginable for therein lies our ultimate fulfilment.

And the good news is: ANYONE CAN

Anyone can master the invisible and do the impossible and it begins by seeing, hearing and relating the One who rules the invisible realm: "The HOLY SPIRIT". When we let him, The Holy Spirit will live in us and guide us through the rough waters of life until we get to the very depths of ultimate realities and rise up to the height of ultimate possibilities.

The Holy Spirit is not a cosmic force but a real Being in the class of God who is representing God on earth today. He came into the world to take over the work of redemption from Jesus Christ. He does his work in and through everyone who believes in two ways that are mutually exclusive:
1. He empowers us, on the one hand, with his GIFTS that make us powerful and fearful - such gifts as discernment, wisdom and uncommon knowledge.
2. He tempers us on the other hand, with his FRUIT [Character] that makes us gracious and loving. Such as as kindness, love and meekness.

Without the Holy Spirit we are at risk of either being victimized by the dark forces of this world or being manipulated by them to initiate and perpetuate evil in the world.

May I ask you very personally - How do you live?

- Are you living in restriction to the 5 senses or have  you received the Holy Spirit who is all knowing?

- Do you live from day to day attempting to figure out your way through life's maze solely on the basis of prevailing circumstances and popular opinion or are you actively walking with the One who commands the unseen world and overpowers the forces of darkness with Light?

- What is the strength of your inner man? How much does it take to freak and break you up into pieces? What impact would you make in this world?

Only the Holy Spirit can help you answer these vital questions. He is willing and ready to help everyone who is willing and ready. If you are that category, the Spirit can visit you as soon as today to start putting things right. All you have to do is receive Jesus into your life and the Spirit will be right inside of you.

Once in you, and by your commitment to horsing in your walk with him, He releases his power to work in you and through you to your world. With this power, you can see beyond eyes can look, hear beyond ears can listen, understand beyond mind can reason and accomplish more than man can ask or imagine.

I'm asking you today to choose to live beyond your 5 senses and let the Holy Spirit help you in your journey to a life of fulfilment.

You can learn more about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit by worshiping with us at Freshwater Christian House in Kitchener- Waterloo.
Time is 10:00am Sundays.

Be blessed abundantly this week and beyond.

#PeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #churchfamily, #dominion,

RE•SCRIPTING YOUR STORY

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of February 09-14, 2015

RE•SCRIPTING YOUR STORY

The stories of our lives are simply the accounts of the events and experiences that are peculiar to us. The outcomes of our lives are determined by how much those events and experiences have influenced us.

Since life is full of a wide range of events and experiences, there is equally a wide range of people and outcomes in our world.

The good, bad and ugly people we come across on daily basis at home, school, work, mall, on the street and on the road, are otherwise normal people who have been so shaped by the good, bad and ugly events and experiences that they have come across. A good life is built upon a good experiences and a bad life is built upon bad experiences.

But there is GOOD NEWS:

We do not have to resign to fate and be victims of bad and ugly events and circumstances of life. God can and does OVERWRITES the events and experiences of our lives with greater experiences. One great experience with God can RESCRIPT 5 decades of previous bad and ugly experiences. Even an entire life time of woes can still be turned around on a death bed with a single encounter with God. No situation is ever too late as long as the individual can breathe and is willing to turn to God.

Yes, God RE-SCRIPTS stories.

He has re-scripted beautiful stories for many. He can re-script yours. He does this by giving us impactful experiences as we grow in our relationship and intimacy with him. And that's why he gave us the CHURCH FAMILY

In the church family we grow into beautiful and blessed people who are capable of living above life's circumstances through proven spiritual principles of the WORD, WORD and PRAYER. The word is the way to God, worship is the presence of God and prayer is communion with God.
There is no better place to enjoy this 3-in-one package than the church family where God's people gather to encounter God the Father.

Do you have a nagging past? Are you suffering from guilt and condemnation? Have you suffered abuse, neglect and victimization? Are you overwhelmed by the current events and situations around you? Are you traumatized by the growing unrest, wars and evil in our world, there is a SAFE HAVEN and that is the family of God - THE CHURCH.

The time is coming and is upon us when people will run to God for life. Ten men will say to a member of the family of God "please take me to your God" Don't delay. Find and take your place in the family of God while you may. If you are already in God's family, fall in love with God afresh this week and watch him rescript your story.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty Whose power no foe can withstand. [Psalm 91:1] Amp

As for me, my whole being will follow hard after God and cling closely to Him as  His right hand continues to uphold me. Psalm 63:8

Enjoy your week and remember to join us for an encounter with God though the word, worship and prayer next Sunday at Freshwater Christian House.

#PeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #churchfamily, #dominion,

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TEMPTATION?

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of January 19-24, 2015

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TEMPTATION?

Everyone gets tempted. If you are not being tempted right now you will be tempted in the days ahead. Not only that, your biggest temptation will be difficult for you to resist. Reason is simple: Temptation is never detestable or unattractive. Real temptation is a subtle evil with a strong appeal. Call it a "desirable evil" if you please. The power of temptation lies in the fact that they are often blended with the necessities of life. For example - sleep, food, money, rights, self-esteem, expectations and standards.

Think of sleep. Sleep by itself is not evil; it is essential for a healthy mind and body but sleep can also kill if one falls to the temptation to sleep at the wrong time and place. Many lives have been lost to the temptation to sleep either on the wheel while driving or with the wrong people at the wrong places. Another common temptation is a sense of right. It is essential to know and fight for our rights but if we fall to the temptation of allowing our sense of right and entitlement to run wild, we can become victims of resentment, separation, divorce, suicides, murder and wars. How? Uncontrolled sense of right will usually build mountains of unrealistic expectations and fights that lead to resentment, strife, sickness, separation, divorce and wars.

Need I say that every temptation comes from the devil and not from God? God may test our strength from time to time in order to build us up but God will never tempt anyone because temptation is evil in intent. But knowing that temptation is ill-intended is not enough to overcome it. We need God's help. Without this, no one can truly overcome any temptation that is wrapped with life's essentials or things we consider important or normal and needed for a happy life.

The question is what is your biggest temptation? By "biggest" I mean "one that has power to break you". Yes, if you have a relationship with God through Christ, God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear but that is by PROVIDING A WAY OF ESCAPE for you. Do you know what that way of escape is? Do you know how to find and use it? The word of God has answers: PRAY AND PREPARE

A. PRAY.
When we pray we see temptation for what it is: Satanic strategies designed to trick and trap us away from divine protection and provision. That is why God tells us to "Give no place to the devil"(Ephesians 4:27) but to resist him. The only way to effectively resist the devil is to pray on the basis of the word by the help of the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus did. After fasting and praying for extended period, Jesus became hungry and Satan came with food. Does food appeal to a man who has not eaten after 40 days? But Jesus was still able to dismiss satan and overcome his temptation with the word because he had prayed. Without prayer we become "IGNORANT" of the strategies of the devil.

This was why Jesus warned his disciples: "Get up and pray so that you fall not fall into temptation"/ Luke 22:46. They did not get it. Like most people today, they thought that all they needed to overcome any temptation was "willpower". Jesus repeated the warning 3 times and 3 times they fail to heed. To help Peter, Jesus prayed for him. When temptation came, Peter was terribly sifted because he did not pray but he survived because Jesus prayed for him. Not much was heard about the others after that. So, prayer is the key to overcoming temptation not willpower.

B. PREPARE.
In addition to praying ahead we also need to prepare to overcome temptation in three ways:
1. Avoid temptation. Isn't it easier to "give no place to the devil than to cast him out"? It is far better to refuse to open your door to smoke than trying to get the smoke out of the room after the fact.

2. Protect yourself. Put on every piece of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that God has provided for all his children. The bible calls our PPE "the Whole Amour of God" Ephesians 6:10-18.
Belt of truth - refuse to believe anything but what God says in his word.
Breastplate of righteousness - protect your heart from evil suggestion by pleading the blood of Christ.
Shoes of Peace - let Christ form in your heart by feeding on the word and telling others about him. This will make you stable and peaceful even in tough times.
Shield of faith - choose to live by faith in God through the leading of the Spirit rather than by common sense. It's a fight of faith anyway. No one can see, feel or touch the devil who is behind all evils as opposed to physical fight.
Helmet of salvation - saturate your mind and heart with the work of Christ's atonement
Sword of the Spirit - seek revelations from Gods word and learn to use it against evil thoughts and occurrences.
Pray in spirit - learn the language of the Spirit and use it to instruct your angels and confuse the devil.

3.  Stay in the protected zone.
Stay in the safe zone by submitting to the higher power. Psalm 91. The easiest way to become a victim of temptation is to fly solo or be the lord of your life. Learn to submit to God's authority and to human authorities. Join a local bible-believing church and be committed. This will build an hedge of protection around you and your loved ones.

#PeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #Fastingandpraying, #newyear, #dominion,

GET CLOSE TO DAD

TheBETTERLife Post 

Week of January 12-17 2015

On what basis do we pray?

On what basis do we ask God for blessings? 

I believe it is on the basis of father-child relationship. Outside this relationship prayer is nothing but an art of begging. Prayer is not meant to be begging but an exclusive right of God's children to ask for what they need. Since there is no such thing as right or privilege without a relationship, our relationship with God then becomes our basis for prayer.  If you saw someone on the street asking
 a total stranger for favour you would say he is begging for alms. Prayer without a relationship is the same. If God is not our father, praying to him is like begging and beggars do not get more than crumbs that fall from the children's table. I didn't say that, God did. 

One day, one woman came begging Jesus to heal her child. Our merciful Jesus looked at her and said : "first let the children eat all they want, it is not right to give the food that is for children to dogs" Jesus was saying in essence "On what basis are you praying to me or asking me for that favour?" Jesus continued, "it is not right to give to dogs the food that is meant for children" Mark 7:26-27

Jesus's response is hard for some to grasp. But Jesus was not being unkind  to the woman at all. How could the one who went about doing good and ultimately giving his life to save the whole world be unkind? Jesus helped her anyway. But by his response, Jesus was simply letting the woman know that the blessings of God are for God's children only. And of course the woman could become a child if she so wish. 

Without a father-child relationship you have no right to pray. Simple. If you choose to pray regardless, the most you would get are crumbs. Does that mean a sinner who is not a child of God cannot pray? 

Yes and no. Yes, if she is asking for mercy and no if she is asking for blessing. The only valid prayer a person who is not a child of God can pray is the prayer for mercy. "Lord God, have mercy and save me" If  she or he  refuses to take this route, that person's prayer might actually be an abomination before God. 

Proverbs 28:9

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight

John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 

Do you know God as Father? 

Technically God is the father of the whole world but not everyone is living in the will of God. Living outside the will of God in any area make us prodigal children. In that sense, though everyone is a child of God by origin everyone is not a child by rights. If we are not children by rights then we are not entitled to the rights and provisions reserved for children who live in God's will. 

Is God your father? If yes are you close to him? 

Effective prayer is based on effective relationship. Relationship gives us the  right and privilege to boldly come to God and confidently pray like Jesus  taught us to pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...."Matthew 6:9-13

Would you like the right and privilege to pray the "Lord's Prayer" with boldness and confidence like all of God's children do? Then you need to get right with God and get close to God. 

1. GET RIGHT WITH GOD

If God is not yet your father, making him your father is easy. Humbly come before God in your innermost being and pray something like this: "Lord God, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your son who came to save me from sin and all the consequences of sin. Save me and make me your child". Rom 10:9 Done. If you prayed that from your heart, you are in the family. The children rights and privileges are now yours. Find a bible -believing church and plug in for a chance to grow in your walk with God. 

2. GET CLOSE TO GOD

Whether you are new or old in God's family your relationship will only grow by your faithfulness along these five lines: effective communication, regular meetings, valuing the relationship, expressing love through giving and asking for forgiveness. 

1. Effective communication. We fellowship and commune with God through prayer of asking and listening on the basis of God's word. Make this a daily habit and your relationship with God will grow. 

2. Regular meetings. Out of sight is out of mind and out of mind is out of life. In addition to private prayers and bible studies, we grow in God-consciousness and godliness when we fellowship with other children of God in a local church. Besides this growth benefit, being an active part of a local church gives us a spiritual covering that outsiders do not have. 

3. Value the relationship. We demonstrate our value for our relationship with God through HONOUR. Give God the first place in your life by prioritizing your time and work to acknowledge him. No father bonds with a child that disregards and refuses to acknowledge him. 

4. Express your love through giving 

Honour God with your wealth. Prodigal children have a sense of entitlement and they squander their wealth but wise children honour their father by using their resources to promote the work of God. Why not? All that we have came from God our father in the first place. Our right to ask God to give us our daily bread is based on our wise use of what he has already blessed us with. Two ways to do this is tithe and offering. (Ref: Mal 3:10, Matt 6:33. Luke 6:38)

5. Ask forgiveness 

Sometimes we err as children. When this happens it is good to not assume we are automatically forgiven without asking. That would amount to taking God's love and grace for granted. If we fall, we need to return, confess and forsake with a desire and commitment to sin no more. God is faithful and just to forgive all our sins and restore our relationship to good standing. 

I pray that your prayers this week will ascend to the throne of grace as the prayers of a beloved child. May the lord grant the desires of your heart. 

#PastorPeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #Fastingandpraying, #newyear, #dominion,

PRAYER WORKS, PRAY!

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of January 5-10, 2015

PRAYER WORKS, PRAY!

Prayer works. I know this by experience and by simple observation. Children pray. Parents pray. Presidents pray. Prisoners pray. Employers pray. Employees pray. Christians pray and non-Christians pray. Need more proof? God himself says pray works: "You will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you", "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 29:12, 33:3) People who have prayed, have and can testify t this. "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles". (Psalm 34:4-6). If that's does not convince you, nothing will.

Not only does prayer work, it works beyond human imagination. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”. (Ephesians 3:20). When combined with fasting, prayer can change the unchangeable and achieve the impossible(Matt 17:21; Isaiah 58:8-14. My prayer for us all this year is that God will exceed our prayer expectations and imagination in Jesus' name.

However, prayer will only work powerfully for those who pray diligently. At the very least, the person who does not ask will not get. Yes, God in his mercy can intervene even before a person prays but that is exception rather than the rule. If you don't pray, there will be no prayer to answer. "You have not because you ask not. (James 4:3) Jesus confirmed this when he said. "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete". (John 16:24).

Our goal this month is to receive from God through prayer and fasting. Fasting makes prayer a powerful combo. Therefore, invite your friends and family to church in the next four weeks, as we focus on the purpose, power and practice of prayer. Meanwhile, I bow my knees to God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, that He may grant you answers to your earnest prayers according the riches of his glory; and above all strengthen you by his Spirit in your inner being until Christ dwells in your heart richly. Join us. Let us pray!

#PastorPeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife, #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #Fastingandpraying, #newyear, #dominion,