STOP TREATING SYMPTOMS (OUTER SELF) AND TREAT THE ROOT CAUSE (INNER SELF)
30 September 2020
““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28-30
Some of us may be dealing with situations and fears that are disrupting our lives and deep down long to know freedom and wholeness. Our lives follow where our thoughts go. A distressed soul creates a distressed body unless we learn to metabolise them with God’s help.
Eventually, our minds and bodies suffer the effect of living life in a stressed out world. A place of faith is where Jesus’ yoke fits us perfectly in a storm, where PEACE and STRENGTH will wash over us where FEAR once reigned.
Jesus wants us to flourish no matter our situation or position. My friends how is your soul today? Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, the world is constantly placing its demands on us tempting us to draw on our own strength to match up to the demands. We ask that you free us from the worlds demands and to follow you learning about your truth that instead sets us free. In Jesus mighty name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) What do you think is the definition of bearing Jesus's yoke?
2) What is the most tiring part of your life at this stage and have you seek Gods truth about your situation?
Eddie Lee
ARE OUR DESIRES STOPPING GODS WORD FROM IMPACTING OUR LIVES
29 September 2020
“But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things ENTER in and CHOKE the word, and it proves UNFRUITFUL.
— Mark 4:19
Financials are a stressful part of our lives and it can seem like the only thing that's important when:
· we do not have enough to pay the bills or loans.
· we have enough but are greedy to keep and acquire more.
Money is essential for survival. But, let's remember that it is merely a fleeting tool to get by and that DESIRING wealth is DECEIVING and easily becomes a false IDOL for us. Satan lays traps for us so that the stresses of the world enters into our hearts instead of the life giving word of God.
Instead of allowing money to become the central focus of our lives, we need to look to Christ to fulfil all our desires as he knows what's best for us and will provide whats needed for a FRUITFUL life. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear Father God, we thank you for having heard us and for always hearing us. Lord, no matter what our worries are and situation is please increase our faith so that we learn to continually fix our eyes on you to provide all that we need. In Jesus mighty name we pray!
Amen!
Reflection:
1) How can we be financially prudent so that we are not stress by it too much?
2) Have we tried applying the financial teachings of Jesus into our lives today?
Eddie Lee
ARE WE FEELING LUKEWARM TODAY?
28 September 2020
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
— 2 Corinthians 13:5
A cup of hot water left out, not repeatedly heated up, gets warm and eventually turns cold. The same applies to us when we go to church on Sunday, listen to the anointed teaching and get fired up.
Through out the week, the weight of the world (work, inter-relationship issues and material wants) bugs us down from Monday to Saturday, our spirit gets dampened and we fall in and out of faith. Therefore, it is crucial as part of our Christian living to constantly test ourselves. Testing by means of spirit led self-examination not of human perception is key as by nature we prefer self-deception.
Spirit led examination comes by allowing God’s Word to convict and change us. Have we ask God to transform our lives today? Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear Father God, we thank you for saving us even though we did not know you in the first place. Lord, we ask that you keep us in the faith and protect us from temptations and distractions so that we remained rooted in you. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Were there times when we felt convicted by scripture and wondering why we are not following it?
2) Is there an area of our lives that can be changed to align with the word of God?
Eddie Lee
THE BEAUTIFUL TRUTH ABOUT PRAYER IS THAT IT GIVES US PEACE
25 September 2020
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
— Psalm 5:3
Today, are we starting our day anxious or restful?
We are called to rest in God trusting that he has gone before us, paved a way and that his plans are good for us. However, that doesn’t guarantee our goals will be met as its according to Gods plans for us.
It is good to make plans, as long as we leave room for God to change our plans as his goals take precedence over ours. Instead we say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”
Our goal-setting need not be accompanied by fear as long as its Christ-centered. It is peace knowing that we have an almighty power working instead of just us. Have you brought your plans before our Lord today? Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear Father God, we thank you for your love upon us and for going ahead of us and planning for us. Lord, please teach us to come to you in prayer everyday so that we are guided by you and you alone!! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Do you start your day with a mind filled with tasks? How does that make you feel?
2) What stands out to you in this verse and how can we apply it in our lives?
Eddie Lee
NARCISSISM: THE HIDDEN DANGER
24 September 2020
“It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
— Proverbs 25:27
Just as one feels sick after eating too much honey, so will we rot inside when continuously being narcissistic. Truth is, most today glut on honey wanting self glorification instead of humility and modesty. There is a fine line between healthy self-regard and obsessive self-image.
It is not wrong to receive recognition for a job well done but the enemy has won when we feel superior then others or feel the need for attention/admiration.
Satan always uses subtle ways to tell us that the praise and affections of those around us will satisfy and that we deserve more.
He will tell us that being known and loved by others is more important than knowing deep down that we are loved and accepted by Christ. We can gain wisdom from scripture and guard our hearts from Satan’s distraction!
Prayer
Dear Father God, we thank you for having heard us and for always hearing us. Lord, even as we strive to work and achieve, please draw us close to you so that we know to derive our satisfaction from you instead of the world! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Deep down, do we give glory to God or ourselves when we achieve something?
2) Were there instances that we were waiting for praises or recognition for what we did and how did we feel when we did not receive it?
Eddie Lee
EXPERIENCING BREAKTHROUGHS THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO GOD
23 September 2020
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.But because you say so, I will let down the nets.
— Luke 5:4-5
These skilled fishermen must be frustrated, up all night yet caught nothing. Some of us may be hitting a wall in our relationships with our kids or spouse or work.
Have we been barking up the wrong tree yet too stubborn to back down?
In this verse, we learn that Peter has the winning formula which is obedience to our Lord Jesus. Perhaps Peter also knows who Jesus is, the miracles he performed and believed in his teachings. With that, he trusted Jesus with whatever faith he had and let his net down even though he may have some lingering doubt.
There was no hesitation or rationalising just pure obedience to his guidance.
Friends, are we obedient to God and learnt about his word today? Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our loving father, we thank you for loving us even before we knew you. Lord, please teach us to be obedient to you even though our situation or circumstance is pointing in the opposite direction. Teach us how to listen to you and to follow your guidance in our lives! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Are there times when reading Gods word does not make sense to you? Did you follow or not follow?
2) Do you believe that God always has your best interest?
Eddie Lee
ARE WE PRAYING WITH A WILLINGNESS TO WAIT
22 September 2020
“This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
— Habakkuk 2:3
Timing is everything in our lives.
Good things can happen when we are at the right place at the right time. Conversely, things may also not work out if we are at the right place at the wrong time.
Today, many of us may be walking through life weary, frustrated and lost because we are trying to:
1) Manage time ourselves
2) Predict the perfect timing
3) Force results at the wrong timing
Life can be frustrating especially when God’s timetable is rarely the same as ours. Learning about the reliability and perfect timing of our loving God through his word, we can be patient and trusting even though we may not understand what he is working in our lives. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear Father God, we thank you for having heard us and for always hearing us. Lord, even as the enemy spread lies telling us that we control our future or that we need to rush to do this or that. Help us trust in you instead and at your grace and timing. In Jesus mighty name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Are we living in our plans or accepting Gods plans for us?
2) What should we do when confused or in doubt?
SACRIFICE IS SURRENDERING TO JESUS
21 September 2020
“Offer the SACRIFICES of the righteous and TRUST in the Lord.
— Psalm 4:5
Sacrificing means to give up something treasured to help ourselves or others. The bible teaches that the best sacrifice is of ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. Could the very thing that we are not willing to sacrifice (give up) to Jesus be hindering us from an abundant life? It may be our relationships, job or our pride.
To "TRUST" is to SURRENDER our lives to Jesus knowing that his finished work at the cross makes us righteous in Christ. Jesus promises that when we make the right sacrifices, we will find him and the true meaning of life!
Prayer
Dear God Our heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us even before we knew you. Lord, please grant us understanding and wisdom so that we know that amidst the stresses of the world, living a live that pleases you is ultimately what is most important. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Is there something we are pursuing that is hindering us from a well balanced life?
2) How can we change our mindset so that we eventually follow the ways of Jesus instead of the ways of the world?
Eddie Lee
BRINGING OUT THE INNER GOOD IN US
20 September 2020
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
— James 1:19-20
Have we ever find ourselves cutting in or jumping to conclusion on our kids or spouse before they finish? Our speech easily make us hypocritical by professing to believe one thing, but betrayed by what comes out of our mouths.
Jesus teaches that wisdom is gained by listening, observing, and not rushing into judgment. This ultimately opens the door to greater communication because listening shows respect great relationships form when there is mutual respect!
God’s word always shows us the best way to handle any situation! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our loving Father, we thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross so that we now are forgiven and righteous before you in Christ. Lord, even as we get tempted into anger or ungrateful speech please teach us to have self control and to always be mindful of our words and actions. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Have we struggled in a relationship and would applying this verse help?
2) How can we put this into practice this week?
Eddie Lee
TRUE PEACE LIES IN HEART TRANSFORMATION
19 September 2020
“DELIGHT (1) yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the DESIRES (2) of your heart.
— Psalm 37:4
The second D (Desires) of this verse has been used a lot in celebratory wishes making God seem like Aladdin's genie giving us all that we want. This makes us self-centred, comparing and wanting good things all the time ending up bitter or devastated when trials happen.
On the contrary, we are called to apply the first D (Delight) and God will change our hearts aligning us to his goals and desires for us. Most of us including myself struggle with this promise from time to time because life is not easy and we walk in the physical world yet have to believe by faith.
God does things outside of our thinking and our understanding, all the more it makes sense to leave our fate in his hands. Then, we will experience his promised inner peace even in this distressed world! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our loving father, we thank you for your grace and love upon us. Lord, please change our selfish hearts so that we learn to first desire your presence in our lives and trusting that you will only provide what's best for us! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Have we put God first and yet wondering why life is so hard?
2) Reading gods word, do we find it conflicting with our behaviour today?
Eddie Lee
POWERFUL PRAYERS ARE PRAYERS DEPENDANT ON THE LORD
17 September 2020
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
— Romans 8:26
Everyone prays differently some long or short and some loud or soft. Importantly, we should not turn our prayers into works thinking that God hears us better if we say more or use more bible jargon.
In fact, the bible says that the most powerful prayers of Jesus are short:
· Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41-42).
· Jesus feeds the 5000 (Mathew 14:19).
Friends, at times we may not know how to pray as we should, we should be encouraged to keep praying as our almighty God already knows what we need! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our loving Father, we thank you for having heard us and for always hearing us. Lord, please teach and guide us that we pray for you to hear us and not for others to think how well we pray! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) What is your main hindrance to prayer? How can you overcome it?
2) Do we pray often? If not, would our lack of prayer be due to a lack of discipline or feeling a lack of need.
Eddie Lee
ARE WE SEEKING SPIRITUALLY PROSPERITY OR MATERIAL PROSPERITY?
16 September 2020
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you
— Hebrews 13:5
The bible teaches a lot about money and while having money is not bad, setting it as a priority is. Many spend their lives chasing money thinking it brings satisfaction but never truly attaining it. We can learn a lot about who God really is and how he has been faithful to supply the needs of his people from Joseph to Paul.
Jesus teaches that when we first seek spiritual prosperity, our needs will be met as he will never let us his children go hungry emotional, physically or mentally. After all, God's true riches can never be measured by bank accounts or net worth. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us even before we knew you. Lord, please teach us to put security in you and not in the things of the world even when the devil seeks to distract us from you. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Have we been contented and thrifty or have we been living a lifestyle and possibly overspending?
2) How can we practically practice contentment today?
Eddie Lee
JUDGING OTHERS SAYS FAR MORE ABOUT US THEN OTHERS
12 September 2020
“Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.
— John 7:24
An article from Forbes states that it takes as short as 7 seconds for someone to make a judgement about you. Today, we live in a world of constant judgement where most people determine how someone is like:
· Superficially: how they look, what they wear or own.
· Hypocritically: speaking against others when we ourselves may be committing the same.
· Ignorantly: having a perception about others based on hearsay.
Settling disagreements doesn’t mean we have to be a doormat or hide our convictions. Rightful Judgment is being constructive having a spirit of humility as we hold others accountable. Wrongful judgment is being critical turning into slander and tearing down others. I encourage all of us to meet others on equal ground and get to know them personally. All by his GRACE!
Prayer
Dear God our heavenly father, We thank you for loving us. Lord, please teach us to look beyond the physical of others and to instead learn to not jump to conclusions before knowing or finding out more. In Jesus mighty name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Have we superficially judge someone only to learn later on that they have good intentions?
2) Has our judgement even though righteous been charitable like Christ?
Eddie Lee
WHO OR WHAT ARE WE WORSHIPPING TODAY
11 September 2020
“You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
— James 2:19
This verse clarifies the difference between verbal agreement and genuine saving faith. Satan is the most aware of God's truth, yet he is not right with God and certainly not saved.
The difference between Satan's faith and saving faith is a question of LORDSHIP. Satan made a choice to worship everything else and not God. Some of us may be the same not realising that what we call FAITH is nothing more than what the demons possess as the direction of our lives never changed. Satan want to entices us with temptations to rob our chance of being FOREVER SAVED. Who is the boss (career, possessions or God) of our life today?
I encourage us to surrender our lives to God’s control, bow our hearts to the lordship of Jesus, receive the forgiveness of our sins and change our lives forever! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our heavenly father, we thank you for having heard us and for always hearing us. Lord, as the world demands more and more from us we pray that you steer us away from that and instead seek to worship you as our almighty God of everything. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) What is the one thing that we keep chasing and find it hard to resist it?
2) Are we around people who are more superficial then personal?
Eddie Lee
ARE OUR AMBITIONS OR POSSESSIONS POSSESSING US?
10 September 2020
“Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God
— Proverbs 30:8-9
Do we fear getting rich as well as fear getting poor? Both financial success and ruin are deceitful in nature as we can become arrogant from riches and commit sins from being poor.
I believe that making wealth a priority never works, it instead:
· Does not satisfy long term, even with lots of it
· Disappears quickly and corrupts moral bringing pride and greed.
· We cannot take it with us when we pass away.
· It chokes out Godly fruitfulness.
Just as Joseph trusted in the lord for everything becoming successful and finding favor with community, so will we lead prosperous and abundant lives according to Gods will and Glory.
Let's pray for God-sufficiency to overtake the self-sufficiency in us! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our heavenly Father, we thank you for being our sufficiency and for providing all that we have. Lord, please help us and renew us so that we are no longer conformed to the desires of the world and instead be transformed to the likeness of Christ! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) What is our goal in life and is it placed ahead of knowing God and asking for his lead?
2) How can we learn to love our current life we have even if it is different from what we want?
Eddie Lee
LIVING A LIFE OF VICTORY THROUGH OBEDIENCE AND DEPENDENCE ON GOD
9 September 2020
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
— Joshua 1:8
Often, God’s blessings go unclaimed because we refuse to listen to him or follow his ways. Instead, we depend on our own ways or ways of others as we were all born in a world where we need to do things right to earn human acceptance.
However, our loving and faithful God reaches out to us regardless of who we are, what we have done or where we are at and he promises victory in every area of our Christian life when we rely on him.
Today, I would like to encourage all of us to take a moment and pray. Lets ask the Lord to open our hearts and to speak to our souls steering us towards what he wants for us! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us and for always being there for us. Lord, please teach us how to obey you and grow in faith towards your word so that we live victorious in Christ. In Jesus mighty name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Do we know and understand the character of God?
2) How can we learn more about him and grow to trust in him?
Eddie Lee
PROTECTION IN A DETERIORATING WORLD
7 September 2020
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
— 2 Thessalonians 3:3
We are living in a dangerous world both:
1. SPIRITUALLY (Worldly Uncontentment and false teaching leading people astray)
2. PHYSICALLY (More accidents, disease and perverse minded people)
Our God is faithful and will keep both our families and us from:
· Physical harm
· Evil of sin/temptations
· Ploys of corrupted people
Our world may be filled more and more with events that causes great fear and anxiety. However, we can choose to hang on to the promises of God, seek his protection, letting go of fear and living life to the fullest! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us and for always hearing us. Lord, please grant us a spirit not of timidity but of confidence especially in you as the world grows increasingly darker and darker. In Jesus mighty name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) What are we relying on for protection and security and how do we feel about it being sustainable and long term?
2) Do we regularly pray for ourselves and family and how can we begin to make this a habit?
Eddie Lee
OUR HOPE LIES IN THE STRENGTH OF JESUS
5 September 2020
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
— Matthew 12:20
Are we bruised or smoldered in some way today? We may be bogged down with the troubles and demands of this world struggling with doubt and fear wounded either emotionally, physically or spiritually.
The bible teaches that Jesus feels pity and compassion when he sees weakness and helplessness in us:
· Mathew 15:32 (Jesus felt compassion)
· Luke 7:13 (Jesus's heart went out to the woman)
· Mark 6:34 (Jesus had compassion)
With that, Jesus performed miracles in their lives as he loves and cares deeply for them. It is only when we realise that we are weak and need help can Jesus strength and power be manifested in our lives. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our heavenly Father, we thank you for being our solid perfect dependable strength. Lord, please draw us closer to you so that we learn to lean on you for sustenance and strength no matter what situation we may be in! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Are we worn out exhausted with our life’s circumstances but have yet to make Jesus as our choice of cure?
2) Do we have a good Christian brother or sister to go to in times of need?
Eddie Lee
COMPARISON TAKES AWAY CONTENTMENT
4 September 2020
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
— 1 Corinthians 7:17
It is not easy to be contented with with our life. Many times, I am dissatisfied and want to seek more. This shows me how much we need the grace of God to ground us. I believe that contentment is about submitting ourselves to God’s plan for our lives and believing that his plans are always better than ours.
The more we compare with others, the more we yearn for what we do or not have instead of being contented with what we already have, it actually stretches and stresses us more. Such is the lie of Satan wanting us to think that we know what's good for us instead of trusting that God knows what's better for us and following his lead. Have we seek our contentment in the Lord today?
Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear God our loving father, we thank you for having heard us and for always hearing us. Lord, as the world keeps showing as that we need to look to others as our standard of achievement, please teach us to look to Jesus instead as the only measure of what we should have. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Reflection:
1) Is there an area of dis-contentment in our lives which is affecting our state of mind?
2) Is our pride stopping us from following God's leadership?
Eddie Lee