Today's thought - 27 October 2026 (What was remains behind)

 

I hope you are doing well, my friend and that our talks the last few days had given Jesus a new place in your life and in your day-to-day stuff. We are in this series of Who Jesus is to us and following Him is not a negotiation or a mediocre walk of my ways and my terms and my time. It is all for the glory of God and His ways are above our ways.

I am taken back to Galatians 5, and my verse is from verse 25 and as we can see it says, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives”.

But honestly, I love how Paul starts this whole chapter in verse one. He says, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law”.

So, this image I have in my head is of a person who is just out of his chains that he was bound with. You know like on those pirate ships on his way to the gallows. He was tied with these chains and finally they came lose. Now he can be bound by the laws of his trade and step back into the ship to bring vengeance on those who offended him or betrayed him or lied about him or he can accept the chance that all this is behind him as he slips of into the night and into the light of redemption and just let go of what lies behind him and soak in the air of freedom.

What a picture. Hahaha, well where are you in your journey of following Jesus. I can only hope that what we have discussed the last week has given you a new sense of direction and purpose and we both (me included) understand that the place God must have in our lives supersedes all other things.

Paul says since we are now living by the Holy Spirit, we must follow His direction. He is that small voice that speaks into our lives and into our hearts guiding us and directing us. We have to choose to follow His Word and His direction, because since Jesus has truly set us free, we must remain free from the chains and the bondage that kept us in the world.

Our Pastor used the example in Luke 14:15 – 35 of the man that was going to hold the massive banquet, and he invited all his friends. One by one they started to respond with one excuse over the next one and asked to be excused from the banquet. The man then decided to invite all the poor and needy people all over the city. Jesus uses this example and He says in verse 26, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else - your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple”.

When Jesus says hate, He does not refer to rejection and abandonment but instead refers to position. He must be first and you must always put Him above all other things as I wrote to you yesterday. To carry your cross is to take your challenges and the problems you face and keep going. The disciples left their homes, businesses, family and possessions and followed Jesus. That is why Jesus says in 33, “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own”.

So, I think it is fairly clear that the day we decide to follow Jesus, there should be no other. It boils down to a choice of obedience or a matter of my terms and conditions and when it comes to me and the stuff that I deem more important, then you are in trouble.

There are a few things I need to remind myself when I look at what Jesus says here when we decide to follow Him. I have to look at the cost of becoming a follower of Jesus. It is an all or nothing principle. Have you ever seen a football player run halfway across the field and just stop. When we do sports or even watch sports we do not do it half-heartedly. We watch the whole game, or we play to the end, and we keep fighting to win. Why do we give up so easily when it comes to following Jesus. This series and this chapter in Luke 14, has given me a new look on being a Christian versus being a follower of Jesus. If I have decided to follow Jesus, then I look at the cross before me and the world remains behind me. Nothing and I mean nothing should alter that choice nor influence that choice. Not even my family. Jesus is and should stand out regardless the storms, the challenges and my own needs and desires. That is why Jesus so clearly said that we should seek the kingdom of heaven above all else. Go and read Matthew 6 again and meditate on all this, my friend. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide and give you direction as Paul says do not go back to what we were but instead be renewed as we part with the old self and embrace a new self. I know it is not so easy, but what I also know is that Jesus did not intend us to do this on our own. That is why we have the Holy Spirit.

Have an awesome day, my friend.

Today's thought - 26 October 2026 (This is where the enemy should be)

 

How are you, my friend? I hope you had a very good and blessed weekend. We have been looking for a while now at who Jesus is to us and that to follow Jesus is not a negotiation but a commitment where you have to decide to give up everything that is between you and Him and surrender it all. In other words, die to self – completely.

As we have seen, there is always in some or other way something that will hinder your progress and tries to come between you and the Lord. Jesus as we have seen made it very clear that to be His disciple you must pick up your cross and follow Him. He said that where your treasure is, so will your heart be and you cannot follow two masters, for you will love the one and hate the other.

Jesus was very direct in this, and we know that Peter and John left everything and followed Jesus. Sometimes it means we have to let go of that sacred cow and just allow the Holy Spirit to point out areas where we need to surrender and then submit.

God as we know is a jealous God, and He wants all of you because He gives you all of Him. He never leaves you and He never forsakes you. He is in it with you to the end and He will be in it with you no matter what.

So, why do we allow the enemy to mislead us and hinder our progress. I said to my friend who is facing battle after battle that sometimes we must be happy when all hell breaks loose, because it means we are doing something right and satan does not like that. He hates a follower of Jesus because followers of Jesus impact the world around them. Now when I say follower of Jesus it means we have decided to follow Jesus, no matter what.

My verse is from Psalm 110:1, The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Ooooo…. I love this verse. God says that this is where the enemy should be. This is where he is. He is your footstool. He is under your feet. I know that it is easier said than done when the things we need to let go is our wives or children or money or cars or house or friend or girlfriend. It does not mean you must turn away from them, it means that God is first and when He calls you answer even if it means that date night is now next week or you cannot spend time with the kids. It means that the game on the television is not important, but church is and when they do not want to get up and go to church that you put your foot down.

If your wife does not want to go, then she stays and you go and the other way around. If it is your girlfriend or boyfriend, well I think you should reconsider the relationship because if they do not love Jesus as you do or more it will not work.

Follow Jesus as I said is a decision we make and a decision that we stand on and there is no turning back and there is no negotiation. It is a done deal, and the enemy is a fallen enemy, and he has no place in your life, nor does he have a place in your thoughts.

His place is under your feet, and your place is with Jesus in heavenly places. That is why it is so important that we seek God above all else and place Him first above all else.

My friend reminded me of Abraham and how obedient he was and there was nothing that was before God in his life, not even his own son. Our sacrifice is not giving up our son or our possessions. Our sacrifice is putting God above all those things. That is why Paul wrote that all things and I mean ALL things work out for good for those who love God and are called by His purpose.

My friend, please do not allow the enemy to sell a lie to you or to deceive you. We can do all things with God, and nothing can separate us from His love, and nothing should come between us and God.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 23 October 2026 (Being spiritually minded above wordly minded)

 

So, how are you today? You know my friend, we have been walking together for some time now. I know it might not be the same to read my thoughts than to hear them, but I know that the Holy Spirit who places the Word in my heart will also work in your heart to reveal to you what He has in mind for you and for your life.

Romans 8 just popped into my head this morning and as I read the whole chapter, I am again in awe of the God we worship and how amazing His love is. This week has been no different than the previous ones and I can feel the enemy fighting me all the way. He is almost desperate as he tries every pathetic trick in his book of destruction. I say pathetic because that is what it is.

Yesterday he worked through my ex-wife who made a judging comment, and I was so upset on hearing this. I think her arrogance in her words just got to me and it upset me. I realized that she will not change and the end of this process must be near because her ways are inconsistent and just amazes me. The enemy used that moment to try and get to me and as it was a close call, I went to our homecell and instead of being upset I said that now I will seek God even more and to hell with satan and all his goonies.

You see, we should not allow the garbage of satan to get a place in our heads. We are seated in heavenly places, and he (satan) is under our feet. Just keep reminding him of that, because Jesus defeated him and he has no power over us unless we give it to him. So, no, he will not get a place in my head. His place is under my feet, and my trust, hope and faith are in God who created heaven and earth, and my promised land is around the corner.

Paul says in Romans 8:6, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace”. We are looking at following Jesus, taking up your cross and it is not a negotiation. Our Pastor said on Sunday:

We want a Saviour who rescues us, but are we prepared to submit to a Lord who commands us?

We want His blessings, but do we want His authority?

We want His promises, but do we want His instructions?

We want the crown, but what about the cross?

We want Jesus but our hearts are worldly focussed. Jesus said you must lose your life to follow Him. Jesus says in Luke 14:33, “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own”. He talks here in Luke 14 about the cost of following Him and how a man who wants to build a house will first look at the cost of building that house and if he is able to carry that cost. In the same way we must look at the cost of following Jesus and are we able to carry that cost. Jesus is very direct here as He said that if you are not willing to give up everything, you will not be able to become His disciple.

Paul writes in Romans 8, “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God”.

But he goes on to say that nothing we suffer now remotely compares to the glory we will receive later. He also wrote that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and even when we do not know what to pray, He prays for us. The Spirit pleads for us in harmony with God’s will because God knows all hearts and He will cause everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

My friend, it is so important that you stand up when you are down and let the Holy Spirit help you and guide you. The cost of following Jesus is worth every little bit that you have to sacrifice and despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

When the storms become to much, seek Him. When the pain is unbearable, seek Him. When the weight becomes to much, seek Him. When people hurt you, seek Him. When the future seems dark and impossible, seek Him. Nothing can separate us from the love of God so come with me as we surrender anything else that separates us from Him and trust Him completely as we follow Jesus. Say with me, I have decided to follow Jesus. The world behind me and the cross before me. There is no turning back.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 22 October 2026 (Beating the enemy at the gate)

 

How are you today, my friend? We are still on the idea that being a Christian is not a negotiation, and Jesus set the ultimate example in His life up to the cross. I am reminded that the servant is not greater than the master and somedays our lives are the only Gospel people see or hear for that matter.

Yes, it is of no surprise that the Holy Spirit took me to Romans 5 this morning and yes, verse 3 to 4 that undeniably states, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation”.

You know Peter sat next to Jesus, and we read in Matthew 26:33, Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you”. We know that immediately Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter - this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Jesus knows. I have talked about this before when I stated that Jesus knows what we go through because He went through it. He was tested, persecuted, lied about, denied, deserted, falsely accused and killed by the very people that is supposed to have known who He was and His innocence in it all. How can we be surprised if people do the same to us and how can we doubt that Jesus is in it with us.

Peter bravely said that he is in it to the end and when the test came, he failed and denied Jesus. How many times do we start of with fire and flare just to end up two or three months down the line with the it is too much attitude, and Jesus does not love me phrase. Jesus was in that garden sweating blood from the weight of the burden that awaited Him and even then, He chose to be a servant and gave up His life for us all. He did not just die an instant death, no, He faced the most severe and horrendous punishment known to man at that time.

Here I am and every second week I complain that my battles and my burden is too much to bear. Who am I that even in my weaknesses and through all my complains, Jesus is patient and consistent and interceding for me with love and grace.

Sometimes we need to look at what I said in my previous posts. What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus. When God has a plan, He finds a man (woman). What do we do when God calls? Do we say, yes Lord and then two weeks later it is “Oops Lord”.

My friend why is it so important that we stay true to the Lord and keep trusting Him. Remember that Jesus called Peter back from his shame and betrayal and restored him. Jesus asked him three times. “Do you love me” and finally Peter broke and said that the Lord knows his heart and that Jesus knows who he is. Then Jesus made an amazing statement saying that on this rock He will build His church.

Do you think Jesus did not know what would happen? Do you think that your failure is a surprise to Jesus? What did Peter do after that day? He passionately carried the gospel into the world even to his own demise. In the end he did die for the Lord. Jesus knew this and knew what it would take. He knows your circumstances and He knows what it will take to get you on fire for Him. What is so very important is that when we fail, we need to go back to the Lord and consistently seek Him. I did not know this in my past and when the shame and guilt of my divorce hit me, I carried that burden and blamed myself. Even when I asked for forgiveness, I did not forgive myself and that burden that pulled me down broke me and made me useless for Jesus. So, any other little storm that I faced placed me back into that shame please be sorry for me attitude. This carries on until I found my identity in Jesus and forgave myself and allowed the Holy Spirit to do what He must do. This does not mean I was in instant poof fix. It is an ongoing process of seeking God above all else and believe me, my storms turned from small rainstorms to hurricanes. It is not easy, but I find my comfort in Jesus Christ and in Him and through Him I can do all things, even when it looks impossible and even when I do not want to do it.

My friend that is why we are back in Romans 5, for we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Just do not give up, remember that sorrow may last the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 21 October 2026 (Is suffering punishment)

 

How are you, my friend? We are looking at taking up your cross and following Jesus. I am reminded that our Pastor said on Sunday that this is not a negotiation and when we chose to follow Jesus, we chose a different life than what the world wants. Yes, we are supposed to be different, and we are supposed to stand out.

My verse this morning in from Hebrews 5:8, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered”. Jesus also said in John 13:16, “I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message”.

Jesus suffered a great deal when He was here on earth and through His suffering, He remained obedient to His purpose until the end. We know from Matthew 26:39 that Jesus was in great agony as He awaited His capture. We read here He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

It is not about you or me, my friend. It is all for God and His purpose in our lives. When you say I have decided to follow Jesus you chose to be separated from the world and to step into heavenly places as I have said in our previous posts.

Suffering is not a punishment because Jesus did not hide the terms and conditions of following Him. He made it very clear that we will have tribulation, and we will go through tough times. How do we overcome the battles and how do we deal with the trials and the temptations that we face each day.

I want to take you to two women in Luke 10. We read that Jesus visited Martha and Mary and we read that Mary sat at Jesus’s feet while Martha was running around preparing for the big dinner. She came to Jesus and said that it is unfair that she is doing all the work and Mary is just sitting there. I love Jesus’s answer in Luke 10:41-42, But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary was at Jesus’s feet and here the Lord said that this is very important. So, when the noise and the garbage and battles and the tribulation makes you worried and distracted, you will find you rest at the feet of Jesus. In the Word of God. In your prayer and quiet time with Him. By seeking Him above all else and desiring more of Jesus as Mary did. She literally sat at His feet soaking in every word that He spoke. Jesus said Mary discovered it and it will not be taken from her. Do you see, when you find that peace in faith in Jesus it will not be taken from you.

It is that child like faith and a desperate hunger for Him that will pull you through whatever you face today. It is by humbling yourself before Him and seeking Him in all areas of your life that you will have peace that surpasses all understanding.

God made it clear, my friend, in Isaiah 54:17, “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Have an awesome day, my friend.

Today's thought - 20 October 2026 (Is your cross to heavy)

 

How are you, my friend? I want to talk to you this week about the cross. Our Pastor said on Sunday that this is not a negotiation. Remember God loved us first and somehow, we think that following Jesus requires no sacrifice.

My verse is from Hebrews 3:6, “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ”.

Is Jesus in charge of everything in your house, in your life. We cannot follow Jesus on our terms. That is why when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and saviour we have moved from our old life and our old way of doing things to a new set of rules and a new way of doing things.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-26, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds”.

That is why Jesus said to the rich young man in Matthew 19:21, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” And the young man walked away sad because he could not do it. His possession was more important than the life he could have in Jesus.

Now, when we chose to follow Jesus, we step into a new way of living meaning that we have to surrender all of ourselves to Jesus and remove all that keeps us from following Him completely. I spoke about this last week when we talked about who is Jesus to you. What is His position in your life? What does it mean when Jesus said take up your cross and follow me.

Now it does not mean you have to be crucified for real. Remember when we gave our lives to Jesus, we crucified our old life and was born again into our new life. We died to the old and embraced the new. I have also said that taking up this new way of life means that sacrifices will have to be made. There is stuff that you just can’t do anymore. That is why Jesus said if you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. He is saying that if your hang on to the things of your old life, you will lose your life in Him.

Our Pastor said that money does not corrupt people or fame and power does not corrupt people. It just brings to the surface that which was already there. That is why the rich young man could not give up his possessions because it was what bound him to this world. The question remains is that what is it that keeps you in the world and away from God’s presence. What keeps us from sitting in heavenly places and allows the enemy a grip in your life. Following Jesus means that no matter how hard it is to give up your old life you must give it up and take up your cross. Remember you are first a Christian so you cannot place your light under a bushel. When you chose Jesus there has to be a removal, a humbling of yourself and position change. You have to surrender all and become obedient to the new requirements that the Word of God gives you and you need to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit if our minds are filled with garbage.

So, come with me this week as we take up our cross and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and realign us with God’s Word.

Have an awesome day, my friend.

Today's thought - 19 October 2026 (Taking back your place)

 

How are you, my friend? How was your weekend? Last week we were talking about the garbage that pollutes our minds and “Who is Jesus to you”. We looked at the storms and our obedience in those battles and we talked about the things that makes us lose focus or direction and how the lady with blood flow pushed through the crowd to touch Jesus and how our faith is matured in our hunger and desire for more of our Lord.

We know that sometimes Jesus calms the storm and sometimes we need to press on until we reach the other side. This morning the Holy Spirit took me to Ephesians 1:19-20, “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms”.

We know that Jesus sits on the right hand of God where He rules and intercedes for us daily. Now, listen to Ephesians 2:6, “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus”.

Mmm…., the picture changes a bit now. If the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in us and in this, we are also raised from the dead (our old life) to be seated with Him in heavenly places. So, now if we are raised with Jesus to sit with Him then that means we are sitting on the right hand of God and we are not actually sitting here in earth. Mmmm…. but wait there is more. 1 John 4:13 says, “And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us”.

Are you catching my drift. Sorry South African slang. Are you seeing what I am seeing. So, if we are in Jesus and He is us and He is seated on the right hand of God then that means that we are in Him seated at the right hand of God. Now I am going to blow your mind. In John 14:20 we read, “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you”.

As we are in Jesus and He is in us and He is in the Father as the Father is in Him then it means that we are in the Father. God says in Psalm 110:1, The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honour at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

So, the question remains, why are we not sitting with God in heavenly places. What makes us lose our place of authority and our voice of dominion on the earth. What gives the enemy place in your mind. The GARBAGE!! Mark 4:19 says, “but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced”.

This is the stuff that dims the Word of God in our lives and allow the enemy to enter in our minds and pollute it with the garbage that we do not need or need to focus on. The enemy (satan) should be under your feet and not in your mind. That is why I wrote to you that you must constantly ask the Holy Spirit to renew your thoughts so that you can take captive your thoughts and guard your heart.

My friend, I have said it to you before that there is more to you than meets the eye. Can you see that now. So, if there is anything or any area in your life that you have not confessed or repented or submitted to God, then please do it now. Do it now so that you can be seated with the Lord in heavenly places and let us watch as God places our enemies as our footstool.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 16 October 2026 (There is no turning around)

 

How are you, my friend? The weekend is approaching and I do hope you will get a bit of rest. You know, life is like the ocean. One day it will be a beautiful sunny day with small waves, then you will have those windy days and the ocean is wild with battering ram waves and then you get the rain and the storms and waves that splashes over the boat and you can see your life flash before you. Those are the days we just want to stay in bed and not go outside, let alone get on a boat.

I am reading Romans 5, and my verse is verse 21, “So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.

Paul is comparing Jesus to Adam and as sin entered wit Adam Jesus took that sin on Him to put us back in right standing with God resulting in the gift of eternal life with Him.

I want to talk to you about the other side of the storm. The point of no return. Jesus said to the disciples in Mark 4, that they must go to the other side and they all got into a boat and Jesus fell asleep on a pillow in the stern. A massive windstorm started and they feared for the lives and woke Jesus up with these words, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and calmed the ocean and then turned to them and asked why they were afraid and why they had no faith.

These are very important questions, because you know that Jesus by giving His life has placed you in a position of right standing with God and in Him you can do all things. Now, why is it that when life gets hard and the storm rages on and on that we often find ourselves asking this question, “Lord, why is this happening. Have you forgotten about me. Do you not care about me?”. Then you must consider His response. Why are you afraid and why do you not have any faith? We forget that on the other side of our obedience is someone waiting to hear our testimony. There is a life that can be saved because we stayed on our path and faced the storm and we trusted Jesus.

The woman that we read of in Mark 5 that had the flow of blood for twelfth years did not wonder if she touched Jesus that she might be saved. The Bible says, For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” She did not wonder or ponder on it, she said it and she believed it. It did not come easy. She had to battle through the crowd of people hiding herself so that they will not see who she is and finally pressing on until she could just touch the hem of his garment. Immediately she was healed, but she needed to hear Jesus’s response. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

This is God saying to you and me that you are in right standing and your sin is forgiven and He hears your prayers and He will remove your affliction because your faith and your hunger for Jesus in your life will change your circumstances and your obedience in your storm will save many lives.

Do not give up. Remember it comes down to “Who is Jesus to you”. On the other side of our obedience lies the victory and that victory will set you on a new path and new season. Your testimony will bring glory to God and help someone that needs to hear what you have gone through.

Be bold and do not be afraid to speak up and share Jesus to those who needs to hear who He is in your life. Seek Him and trust Him.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 15 October 2026 (Take out the garbage)

 

How are you, my friend? How has your week been so far. Here on my side, it is business as usual one fight at a time – hahaha. I do hope you are well and all things are working out and that God opens that door this week. This morning the Holy Spirit took me back to Ephesians 4. I think I read these chapters, and I see what stands out and then as the week progresses, He takes me back so I can see better. The Holy Spirit is amazing.

So, in Ephesians 4:23 we read, (NLT) “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes”. To me, this is a daily and constant thing. I always ask the Holy Spirit to renew my mind and my thoughts and to change the way I think.

This week I am going back to my post where I asked you, “Who is Jesus to you”. Who is Jesus in your day-to-day battles and where is His place in your life. Paul writes here in Ephesians 4 since we are now renewed through the work of our Lord, and we can throw away our old self and embrace our new nature. Our new self that is created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.

He says that we should not let anger control us and never let the sun go down while you are still angry. Yesterday I wrote to you about your foundation and if you build your life on Jesus and the Word, no storm will move you let alone destroy you.

Today, I am coming back to the importance of what we put in our minds and what we allow into our thoughts. God says let the Holy Spirit renew your thoughts and never allow anger to control you. In other words, take out the garbage and clean your mind.

Remove the nonsense and the lies and fill it with God’s Word. We know that God told Joshua to meditate on His Word, day and night and then you will be prosperous. He did not say once a day or in the morning or when you feel like it. He said day and night. He said constantly and continuously think about the Word and speak it out.

Three things: 1) Read the Word 2) Speak the Word and 3) Believe the Word.

Yes, it is not easy, and I know how life is. I know how your day can go from happy dreams to mayor disasters in mere moments. I know how your mind can battle with worry and concern and issues and struggles. I know that renewing your mind is not a switch that God placed somewhere behind your ear and when the battle gets too hard you can just press reset.

I know that your budget can be a mess sometimes or all the time and I know that problems do not work on a set calendar. They arrive unannounced like an unwanted person that you really did not want to see. I know this but do you know that Jesus knows this too. That is why He simply said that in this life you will have tribulation. That is why He said the Father knows what you need. That is why He said, you of little faith.

Jesus knows and Jesus saw and Jesus endured it all. The best thing you must know is that He sits on the right hand of God the Father interceding for you. He is constantly presenting your situation to the Father.

All He asks is that you remove the crap from your mind and fill it with His Word and then allow the Holy Spirit to renew your thoughts with the Word so that it will encourage you and set you on your path.

Like I said yesterday, God’s thoughts about you are for you to prosper. To have a future and a hope. Do not believe the lies and do not allow the enemy to enter in through your gates. Your eye gate, mouth gate, ear gate and touch gate. Seek God above all else, my friend and all things will be well. This all boils down to “Who is Jesus to you”.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 14 October 2026 (He is my refuge, my place of rest)

 

How are you, my friend? It is almost December and as the year is coming to an end many people are tired and weary of a very busy and hard year. I do not know what your year looked like, but I can tell you mine has been a rollercoaster of one uphill followed by ten more. You can say my faith has been properly tested.

We read from Hebrews 3, and my verse is verse 4, “For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God”. Now, remember yesterday I asked you, “Who is Jesus to you”. I want you to keep that in mind when we look at God as the builder of everything. So, let’s see if I saw this right and if I can explain to you what is on my heart.

To get to my point we have to look at Hebrews 4:10, “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labours, just as God did after creating the world”.

Now there is like a million thoughts in my head so let me see if I can summarise it. The dictionary explains rest depending on context. Now it can mean getting a good night’s rest or what is left over or a pause as in music or an object that is designed to support something. Wow, now let’s see what the Bible say about rest. Biblical rest is both a physical cessation from work and a spiritual trust in God's sovereignty and presence.

God modelled rest when He created the world not that He was tired but that He set a pattern for trust which was later made the Sabath. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest is releasing the need to control and to rather seek God’s rule and protection. Then finally there is the final or permanent rest that mirrors God’s rest from finished work. Rest is not the absence of work but the presence of God. Rest is not giving up but understanding God’s sovereignty over everything. Rest is not running from responsibilities but instead trusting God for the outcome. Rest is not giving in to fear but instead standing on the rock who is Jesus Christ. Rest is not passive but a daily and continuous seeking for God.

So, how did I get from God builds everything to stepping into God’s rest. Ok, here is the picture in my head. You see without Jesus we can do nothing, yet we constantly fight against that by trying it our own way. What happens? We get frustrated and annoyed and upset. We give up or we throw in the towel or we end up sulking. God builds everything. Yes, everything. Skyscrapers do not pop up because man is so cool, it is designed and built by the grace of God for He gave them the insight and ability to do so. In the same way God builds the foundation on what we stand by His Word. You see when we realise that if the house in not build on God, those who labour on it is doing so in vain. The storm will rise and the house will fall.

But those who allows God to be their builder and who by seeking Him and following Him and finally to step into His rest will succeed. The rest I refer to is not two day’s sleep but instead the full surrender and trust that we need to place in God’s plan and God’s will. God clearly says Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Jesus did not say come to me those who are weary and burdened and I will give you more worries. No, He said I will give you rest. It means that while you are building your life in Him and His promises, He will give you peace that surpassed all understanding. He will give you true rest from worries for He said that your Father knows what you need. So, do not worry about tomorrow. He said bring all your worries to God in prayer and supplication and He will give you peace (rest).

We can never truly rest when the worries and concerns and issues and crap of this world pollute our minds. We can only fully and truly rest when we are rooted in Jesus Christ and we completely trust Him. This means seeking Him above all else. Standing up one more time. Trying one more time. Taking a break and just allow Him to speak into your life. Humbling yourself before Him and to stop trying to fix everything yourself or in your way.

If the Lord builds the house (you), the enemy will never enter through the gate. So, God is the word rest in every aspect. Rest when you are tired, rest in what is left of you is enough for Him, rest in that moment in worship where you fully surrender and rest finally as God keeps you up when the storms come.

Have an awesome day, my friend and I pray that you will fully and completely find rest in our Lord, Jesus Christ.