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As I was reading the news this morning, I began to weep as I saw a picture of a mother and daughter sitting in a bomb shelter in Kyiv. What struck me is the look on the mother’s face as she held her daughter, a look of helplessness and despair. It had me thinking, what would I do if I were in that situation? As parents, we want to protect our children. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my child. I would fight to the ends of the earth to keep him safe, but how do you fight something like this?

 I know there are varying opinions on what needs to happen next, but what we certainly need to do is pray. The bible says in Ephesians 6:18 to “Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Prayer is an important part of spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul doesn’t list it as being a piece of spiritual armor, yet is it essential to winning spiritual battles. Why is that? Prayer connects us to the power of God, which is necessary to defeat spiritual enemies.

Some say, “Why should we care?” Well, why shouldn’t we? Innocent women, men, and children are being attacked. Our hearts should go out to all who are hurting and in need. Some say, “This doesn’t apply to us.” Well, it very well could. Praise God that we are in a place of safety, but that can change in the blink of an eye. The end times are upon us. If you don’t believe me, read the book of Revelation.

I pray the people of Ukraine be able to keep their minds on God and to have the perfect peace that God promises in Isaiah 26:3. God is still God. He has the power to move in all situations. Let’s pray that he moves in this situation. John 16:33 says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Shortly after I woke up this morning, I kept getting the words “stop running,” and I felt strongly that I was supposed to address this topic. I don’t know too many people who haven’t run from God at some point in their lives. I know I have. I grew up in church. I remember playing on the floor between the pews when I was very small. I remember the first time I felt the conviction of the holy spirit, and the song we were singing in church that day. I remember being saved at age 12 and baptized. Then, life happened.

You see, Satan does everything in his power to tempt us, to lead us astray. He doesn’t want us to have a relationship with God.  The enemy knows the culture and time in which we live. A culture beckoning us to follow its ways. It doesn’t matter how old we are. There are voices every day tempting us to walk in the ways of the world. There’s a reason why Jesus said, “wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction…but small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7: 13-14).

I was recently thinking about how many chances God gave the Israelites. He would deliver them, save them, and then they would turn away from him. They would get into trouble, and he would take them back. I kept thinking, God did all these amazing things for them, so why did they keep choosing to turn away from him? Then, it hit me. It was no different than my life story. How many times did I turn away, yet God took me back? Praise God that he’s a merciful, gracious father.

Our own pride, independence, and stubbornness can get the best of us. Like Jonah, when God says “go,” we say “no.” We give into our flesh because it’s easier. You see, I didn’t want to “give up” my freedom, but what I didn’t realize was the level of freedom that comes with having a true relationship with God. Romans 8:1-4 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Paul said “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). Life isn’t easy, and life as a Christian isn’t any easier. We must choose every day to follow the right path, but what I found is that the closer I get to God, the less I miss the things of the world. The greatest high I’ve ever felt is when the holy spirit moves. To feel God’s presence is indescribable.

 Jesus said we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him. It doesn’t matter how many mistakes we have made or what we have done in our lives. Make the choice to follow him. If you’ve never asked him into your heart, do it. If you’ve fallen away, there’s good news. God offers forgiveness, his salvation, and a willing spirit to obey him. Psalm 51:12 says, “restore to me the joy of salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”  Ask him to save you. Ask him to help you. He will do it.

To many of us, well, most of us, God is a mystery. In our natural minds, it’s hard to fathom something so grandiose, so inexplicable. Therefore, to know God, we must transcend beyond the natural, into the spiritual. Once we invite Jesus into our hearts and seek a relationship with him, we start to see things in a different light.

Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” The key here is the word “all.” We must seek him with everything we have, and our intentions must be pure. We must desire to know him, to have a relationship with him, because that’s what he wants from us. He wants our hearts, and he wants our time. The book of James says, “Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” It’s the same philosophy as with any relationship – you get what you put in. He’s ready and waiting for all who desire him.

Once we truly start to seek him, amazing things start to happen. I know because it happened to me. In the summer of 2021, I really started seeking to know God on a different level. I researched biblical questions, began reading the bible regularly, and started praying regularly. This genuine desire started within me to know more, to go deeper. Then, God showed himself to me in a mighty way.

I attended a special service where a friend was singing, and the evangelist that night gave me a prophecy that changed my life. She told me God was healing all the aches and pains in my body. Nobody outside of my family knew that I suffered from chronic back pain. That night, I was healed – not because I had done anything special, but because of God’s mighty love and power. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” You see, God wants to bless those who diligently seek him. When you keep your eyes focused on him, God will take care of you. He will save you, heal you, deliver you, and bless you abundantly. Seek him, and you most certainly will find him.

Everyone wants power. Power in business, in wealth, in life, but I’d rather have the supernatural power of God on my side any day. When I think about the power of God, I get excited because I know what he has done for me. All throughout the bible, we see examples of God’s great power.

After first displaying his power at creation, God’s second great demonstration of power is in the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Pharaoh’s obstinance and hardened heart was divinely designed so God’s power could be revealed to the Egyptians, the Israelites, and the surrounding nations. “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” – Exodus 9:16.

When the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness, they complained of not having a variety of foods to eat. In response to their grumbling, God promised a diet of meat for a month. Because they were large in number (600,000), even Moses questioned whether God’s promise could be fulfilled. God answered him with a question: And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you” – Numbers 11:23. We have to remember that nothing is too difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:17).  

In the New Testament, the Lord’s power was evident through the many miracles Jesus performed: casting out demons, raising the dead, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind…the list goes on. We also see God’s power shown through the apostles.  Jesus’ apostles were ordinary men. Like us, they had strengths and weaknesses, good days, and bad days, yet God used them in mighty ways. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus said “ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Peter tells us why the apostles had these extraordinary powers, “And the Father, as he promised, gave Jesus the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today” – Acts 2:33.

Did you know, that if you’re saved, God’s power lives in you? When you made a commitment to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, the holy spirit took up residence in you (Romans 8:9). The enemy wants us to be defeated, but we must remember who GOD is and who we are in HIM.

Ephesians 6:10 says to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. We are to put on the whole armor of God. God doesn’t want us attempting things in our own strength. He wants to work through us. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” The key to tapping into God’s power is faith. Faith is what unlocks the door. Matthew 17:20 says if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can make a mountain move, and nothing will be impossible to you. My challenge to you is to have faith. God is the same yesterday, today, and always. You don’t have to do anything special for God to use you. You just have to be willing.

We all want to receive God’s blessings and his favor. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to be blessed either financially, spiritually, physically, or mentally. The good news is that God wants to bless us. Deuteronomy 30:9 says, “The Lord will again take delight in prospering you.” Why does God want to bless us? Well, the obvious answer is because he loves us, but also so we can bless him. One of the most important things to remember is to not lose our thankfulness when we receive our blessings. How many of us, when something exciting happens, lose that excitement over time? We get the new car, then suddenly that new car isn’t new anymore, so our thankfulness diminishes.

We see this warning in the book of Deuteronomy. The Israelites were on the verge of crossing into the promised land. As they were about to receive their blessings, the Israelites were told “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” – Deuteronomy 6:12.

We must remember to give thanks to God for blessing us, but did you know that we are to give thanks to the Lord in bad times, too? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Paul didn’t write, “Give thanks for the good things in life” or “Rejoice until trials come,” but he said we must give thanks in ALL circumstances. Similarly, in Philippians 4:6, Paul says we aren’t to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God.

One of the best ways to get through trials and tribulations is through praising God. In Acts 16, when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, they prayed and sang hymns to God. Many of us, when faced with a similar situation, would succumb to fear or panic, yet they chose to praise God anyway. Because of their obedience, a whole household was baptized and received into the kingdom of God. So how can we be thankful in all circumstances? Make it a habit to exude thankfulness. Thank God for waking you up, for your loved ones, your health, and your salvation in Jesus. We can thank him that in the midst of the storm, he is there for us, never leaving us.

“I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” – Psalm 86:10.