If the rooster does not crow in the morning, the day still breaks and the sun still rises. If your alarm clock or phone alarm does not ring to wake you up, you still awaken from sleep. There are many things people depend on, forgetting that God has power over all things. Do not put your trust in what man does or can do, and when a delay occurs, do not start complaining or speaking ill of people or circumstances, because everything depends on God and not on man. Many times people are in a situation they wish to escape, but they cannot leave until they renew their minds, stop speaking ill, and start giving thanks to God.
When something happens, always seek to understand how things could have changed, how you got there, examine yourself, and see how many opportunities in life you were given and neglected, without blaming anyone else. Do not seek to please people and forget God just because people are sweet to you or pleased with you while you have something and things work in their favor, for later they will forget you. When it is Acerola cherry (shimaruco) season, everyone knows where the tree is, but when the season passes, they forget the tree.
Walk with God daily, do not look at your circumstances, but know that God is able to help you and deliver you from whatever you are in—whether it is a trap of the enemy, your own words, your own whims, stubbornness, or a bad attitude. Over all things God is in control, and if you stop and repent, your help will surely arrive on time because God does not forget. Do not put money ahead of God; remember that all you have or are going to receive, without God you can do nothing. Remember your health, remember to make time for the Lord, for what does it profit a man to have everything and lose his soul?
What good is having everything if you do not have your health? Remember well not to please people and forget God, because every friendship and every relationship is temporary, but only in Jesus Christ do we have salvation. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26). “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4). The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.
Paul gave a good explanation of how a person should learn to live; he said in Philippians 4: I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
This means that when you are hungry, stay calm, and when you have abundance, do not shout in the streets. When you have nothing, you seek God, but when you receive, continue serving God with a faithful and fervent heart.
Pastor Marcel Balootje