ENJOY THE GOOD LIFE

YOUR NEXT STEPS WHEN TIMES ARE HARD

June 11, 2023

ALL AFFLICTIONS ARE PERMITTED BY GOD! (PART 1 OF 2)

June 13, 2023

12th JUNE 2023

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” – Romans 8:28

You probably have heard so many times the phrase, “see yourself the way God sees you”. That statement means that God loves and cares for His children. That is because God sees us as a part of Himself, for we are in His image and likeness. The Bible tells us that God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son to die for us! (John 3:16) Furthermore, Jeremiah 29:11 says God cares for us, loves us and has given us hope and an expected future. These verses tell us the magnitude of God’s love for mankind.

Despite God’s love for us, some still suffer and have lost hope of the expected future that God promises us. Does that mean that God doesn’t love us again or that hope is lost?

There are so many reasons we suffer. But the good news is that the love of God by His grace provides the medicine that we need to overcome suffering. The love of God is the simplest expression of His universal manifestation of divine power and providence. In God, nothing is lacking; But we must be close enough to receive from Him.

To be close to God so we can receive from Him, Jesus declares, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.…” – Matthew 22:37-38. How do we return to God’s love?

The most important key to unlocking the heart of God to receive His love by His grace is to LOVE GOD IN RETURN! How do we love God in return? The Bible says God first loved us; Therefore, we must love Him in return to bridge the gap between God and us. To love God, we have to go closer to him in prayers and meditation as we religiously do the following:

Always see the Spirit of God in all men; Let that realization motivate you to show love and mercy to the people around us, especially those who need help. Also, God wants us to be like Him in loving others.

Pray regularly, and get talking with God daily, not necessarily because you need help or favour, but to know Him better in fellowship and trust. Therefore, build a relationship with God similar to that between a father and a son, or between lovers, or like best friends.

Show compassion to others in difficult and rare situations.

If we love God with all our hearts, He promises to bless us in return, as well as keep us from all dangers (Psalm 91:14)

PRAYER

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, give me the grace to love you and to experience the power of your love in my life, to live your passion to the fullest. AMEN.

FURTHER READING: Psalm 116:1; Proverbs 8:17; Matthew 10:37; John 14:15

Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi

Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi was born in Nigeria to Patrick Abuda Obeakemhe and Juliana Fatimatu Obeakemhe, both from Ogbona Town. With a master’s degree in law, she was called to the bar at the age of twenty-two, and she is currently the principle partner of the law firm Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi & Associates. She is also the founder of two philanthropic organizations: the Living Waters Mission and the Rose Croix Foundation. In addition to law, Lawrence-Dokpesi was drawn to spiritual pursuits at an early age, having begun studying philosophy, theology, chaplaincy, and spirit therapy by the age of eighteen. Inspired by her spiritual calling, she has produced ten intensively researched manuscripts on spiritual matters. Although Understanding the Spiritual was the last to be written, it is the first to be published. Lawrence-Dokpesi is a mother and a wife living in the city of Abuja, Nigeria.