Silent Time

The strife of life

What do you strive for? What are the biggest desires and goals in your life?

It is healthy to regularly think about that.

If we are honest to ourselves, all too often short term earthly matters dominate our behaviour, for example we compare ourselves to others, rather than looking at what really counts in the end.

God told to Solomon: “Since you have not asked for yourself riches and rather asked for understanding to discern what is right, that is why I fulfil your wish”.

As Solomon asked for wisdom of what really counts, so God was pleased with his targets.

Arguing or submitting

Arguing or submitting:

Do you argue with God? It might sound strange. But let’s think about it. Whether aware or not, we easily tend to have thoughts of pride such as being entitled for certain rewards; or “relatively to persons X, Y and Z, I am better”. Or why does God not reward my efforts?

Once a person understands how much is the personal shortcoming before the holy, eternal Lord, it becomes obvious that the correct attitude towards the almighty creator God is to submit to him, rather than to argue against him.

We can learn that from Job and from the people who walked and still walk in our times closely with the Lord and put their trust in him.

Saved to be a blessing

When a child who has no parents and would be lost, gets adopted, the child is saved and gets support in order to be a blessing to others later on in life.

When a prisoner gets pardoned, the grace and support shall make him to be a blessing to others.

When God saves a person by offering grace, forgiveness and pardoning, the person gets adopted and is supported in order to forward that blessing to others in life.

Scarcity and abundance

How many times do we face scarcity in life? We lack energy to do all the tasks we have to do. We lack time do all those things. We lack love and empathy towards others. We may lack full health and we may be short of many other things.

But let’s not look at all that scarcity. Let’s rather look at the abundance that the almighty Lord provides. He provides grace, help, confidence, true hope and all that we ultimately need.

Following

Whom do you follow?

People of all times have followed others. The ways and structures may have changed and keep on changing over the generations.

But the basic principle remains the same: do you mainly follow other people or matters or ideologies? Or do you most of all follow the almighty Lord? He is not only the eternal, holy, creator God, but also offers to be the personal Saviour for everyone who humbly turns to him, puts trust in his grace and follows predominantly the Lord.

Promises that remain valid

Have you ever got a promise from someone, but the promise was not kept?

Or the other way round … you promised someone but could not keep it?

Between persons, that easily happens.

But the eternal, almighty, holy, creator God keeps his promises. His promises remain valid!

Raise your head

How do things go in your life? All in all well? Or more to complain?

Give thanks to the holy God for the good days.

And even in difficult times of sorrow – raise your head! Remember what the Lord has done for you.

Learning and growing

A punishment such as imprisonment is associated with negative thoughts.

But the intention, at least in case of sentences in fair legal systems, is a positive one, to let the criminal reconsider the mind and to improve the behaviour.

Everything in flow - things come and go

Everything is in flow – things come and go.

Seasons come and go.

Good and bad times come and go.

What remains?

Everything made new

Everything being made new – do you wish for it?