THE RACE FOR THE CROWN (PART 1 OF 6)

17th NOVEMBER 2022

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Why do we suffer disaster and despair? The reasons we suffer are multidimensional, and certainly, God permits suffering upon His Saints in His wisdom and in fact, nobody on earth is immune against suffering. It is true that some people seem to suffer more than others, and the nature and quantum of suffering are known to God before it occurs; Although, as humans, we are pained and taken by surprise, God certainly knows about it ahead of time.  Our attitude and the natural tendency is to avoid suffering and disasters in any way we can, and as Christians, we endeavour to live the good life in obedience to the word of God primarily to avoid suffering and mistakes.

In all that we do, we are called to account to God. There are no escape routes from accounting for our deeds because God sees all our actions. Our free will to live as we pleased sometimes misleads us, thereby warranting God to put us on the check when we go astray. God regularly talks to us, but His warnings go unnoticed due to our lusts; we are caught in between doing our will as doing the will of God. Controlling our moral weaknesses is a major problem as we drift deeper and deeper into our inner void, yearning to be filled by wrong appetites. Thus, the greatest burden that we bear is the accumulated baggage of sensual complications arising from persistent disobedience to God’s word. God has a purpose for His children, which is to become perfect by aligning us with the image of Christ. The journey to Christhood is a thorny one by the cross and through the cup of the suffering of Jesus Christ. This is the main reason that the scriptures teach us to look at suffering as one of God’s tools to teach and grow our faith so we can become Christlike.

 PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank you for this infirmity and travails; I ask for thy grace to overcome the various vicissitudes confronting me at the moment. Father, I know that you have permitted this trial to occur. Therefore, I purge myself of all moral weaknesses, and I declare that the power of the Holy Spirit sanctifies me. I bear no grudge against anyone. I freely forgive all those who wronged me. Therefore, I am free from every bondage of ill health, emotional trauma and psychological prison. From this moment onward, I overcome every inner and outer void standing between me and the fulfilment of your plan and purpose for me. I am victorious, and I remain a conqueror. Thank you, father, for giving me a new life. AMEN.

FURTHER READING:  Romans 5:3–5; Hebrews 5:8; Matthew 19:21.