Ronnie's Thoughts

Depression

https://odb.org/2025/10/10/prayer-of-the-desperate

Psalm 88:6–9 (NIV): 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. 7 Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. 8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; 9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day, I spread out my hands to you?

Charles had sunk into depression. Despite having a loving family, he felt all alone. “The overwhelming pressure of supporting them was continuing to build,” he said, “and I felt like taking my own life.” Surprisingly—or perhaps not—Charles Morris also led a Christian ministry. A wise friend told him that when faced with depression, “We should soak in the Psalms.” Charles got through his deep despondency by reading relatable Bible passages, accepting prudent medical care, and pouring his heart out to God. (Tim Gustafon, ODB 7th Oct 2025)

When used correctly in its proper context, the word “depression” is not just feeling depressed or beaten down or moody. It’s an illness and is medically accepted as such. It is persistent or chronic in medical speak. But it is treatable. If left untreated and allowed to deteoriate, it may lead to death by suicide.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes, you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. (Mayo Clinic)

I just heard two days ago in the office of someone who just went missing from work for 3 whole months (but remain fully paid) due to depression. My company finally issued him a show cause letter but did not summarily dismiss him as permitted under labour laws. So he has the opportunity to explain himself, but he will need strong medical evidence (like a psychiatrist’s report) to continue working. I have to admit that it is rare for employers to be so compassionate.

As believers, we are not immune from depression. While our spirit may be born again, our mind is still going through transformation. In the process, we may slip into depression due to events or circumstances in our lives. It could be something as basic as losing a pet that we are very attached to or a more complex situation of losing our job that we have been doing for a long time. The latter is more complex because our self-worth and confidence may have been affected, and coupled with no income and depleting savings (if any), we may even lose the will to live. In such situations, we may not be able to even pay rent. Some may have the option of returning to our hometowns to stay with our parents, but even with that, it is still bad. We will be cut off from our existing social circle and support system, and it reduces our chances of getting another job. In other words, one thing leads to another, and our world goes spiralling down, affecting our state of mind.

One of the ways to get out of depression (but if you are already in it, you may not listen) is to bury ourselves in His Word, particularly the Psalms. Some Psalms are raw and honest about what the Psalmists are going through, and we may relate to them. Most importantly, we have the opportunity to pour our grievances and grieve to God. Sometimes speaking to someone is necessary. So speaking to God, praying and immersing ourselves in His Word will surely help.

No one is immune. Something could just trigger a negative response. We must always be on guard. Keep our emotions in check. Keep active. Serve God. Immerse ourselves in the Word and pray.

Have a good weekend ahead, everyone!

God or wealth

https://odb.org/2025/10/09/cautionary-tale

Ecclesiastes 5:13, 14, 18–20 (NIV): 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

In the classic film Citizen Kane, Charles Foster Kane amasses wealth and power by building a newspaper empire. In a story reminiscent of Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, Kane spares himself no pleasure, building a castle with grand gardens full of artistic treasures. Citizen Kane ends with the revelation that Charlie’s pursuits have been driven to fill a void in his heart—the parental love he lost as a child. I can imagine the author of Ecclesiastes agreeing. Our Father God has “set eternity in the human heart” (3:11), and life can only be enjoyed with Him (2:25). Charlie Kane’s cautionary tale speaks to us all: Don’t seek spiritual fulfilment through wealth and power, but through the one who pours His love into our hearts (Romans 5:5) (Sheridan Voysey, ODB 9 October 2025)

The issue of pursuing wealth and spirituality had always been on my mind since I first accepted Christ in my teens. When I was younger, I used to think that they were mutually exclusive in the sense they were not compatible with one another. You either choose wealth (which then represents the world) or choose God. Solomon in Ecclesiastes teaches that the accumulation of wealth (wealth hoarded) is destructive and that is true to the extent that when we have a lot, we tend to worry more about how to grow it or how to avoid losing it and as a result may end up having sleepless nights. Solomon ends Ecclesiastes 5 beautifully by declaring first that man is entitled to enjoy the fruits of his labour. But most importantly, it is better if God gives us our wealth as He will give us the ability to enjoy it, to accept our lot, and be happy in our toil. We won’t think too much of our wealth because God distracts us by keeping us occupied with gladness of heart. In other words, we are so grateful and happy that we have no time to worry about our wealth.

For us who are more mature Christians, we know that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). We know that money or wealth itself is neutral. The love of money breeds covetousness and causes us to compromise our faith. We may end up doing unethical things to gain money and wealth. When we have wealth, we become worried that we may not grow it fast enough, thereby slowly losing its value with inflation and reducing purchasing power creeping in.

The lesson this morning is to always pursue God first (which Solomon always advocates), and then as we work hard in our secular jobs, God will bless us with wealth eventually. Since we put God first, He will bless us with the ability to enjoy our wealth, to be contented and grateful for His blessings. One of the things I learned in my early career days is to live below our means and have delayed gratification so that we always have more instead of not enough. Stretch the dollar, and you might not need many dollars!

Live a life worthy of your calling

https://odb.org/2025/10/08/jacks-story

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV): 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

God’s love poured out through the creation of a new community made up of believing Jews and gentiles—something Paul calls “the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4)—is the foundation for the apostle’s encouragement to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (4:1). Jews and gentiles—two groups long estranged from each other—were called to devote themselves to cultivating the unity created through Christ’s Spirit (v. 3). They needed to serve one another “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (v. 2 esv). Today, we’re also called to love and serve others with the gifts we’ve been given. (Monica La Rose, ODB 7 October 2025)

Christianity is not just about professing our faith but living out our lives that glorify Christ. In the early days when the early adopters were Jews, they accepted and worked together with the gentiles (non-Jews) and were united in love for Christ. The Jews have customarily excluded non-Jews in certain matters, in particular, their religious obligations. For example, gentiles were only permitted at the fringes of the Temple, the outer courts. With the veil broken by the victory of Jesus on the cross, believers in Christ have direct communion with God, and in the process, the distinction between Jews and gentiles was also broken. We are now all equal in Christ and are rightful beneficiaries of the Abrahamic Covenant and its blessings.

In parallel, we are to live lives that are worthy of our calling in Christ being co-heirs and sons and daughters of God. Always remember who we are whenever we do anything lest the name of our Saviour is put to shame. We may easily behave like others of the world, but we won’t because we have Christ in us. We are different. We have Christ in us. Because of the Holy Spirit in us, we are able to act differently. There is a saying, as Christians, we live right side up in an upside down world! Paul puts it another way in Romans 12:1 – we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, as our spiritual act of worship in view of God’s mercy (in saving us).

As I have always said in these pages, we all know where we are with God in our relationship with Him, in our faith, and the extent of our spiritual formation and character building in Christ. We still have personality flaws. We still sin. Sometimes, we still act or speak, in a manner unworthy of our calling. As long as we are aware and seek to change; do better next time, we will eventually think, speak, and act as if we were Christ! We can only get better if we work with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to transform us from within. I’m therefore confident that we will all be able to live a life worthy of our calling! If not right now, one day soon! Amen

All up in smoke

https://odb.org/2025/10/07/up-in-smoke

John 16:31–33 (NIV): 31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and, in fact, has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

During the Blitz on London on December 29, 1940, a bomb destroyed a warehouse near St. Paul’s Cathedral. When Biddy Chambers received the news that all 40,000 copies of Oswald Chambers’ books stored there were lost—which she had compiled and edited but not insured—she set down her teacup and remarked to her daughter, “Well, God has used the books for His glory, but now that is over. We’ll wait and see what God will do now.” (Amy Boucher Pye, ODB 7th Oct 2025)

The calmness of Biddy Chambers in dealing with the destruction of 40,000 copies of her husband’s books is an example of how we should react when certain mishaps or misfortunes occur in our lives. Even if those were events or things meant to glorify God. God may protect certain things like the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, that was untouched by the bombs dropped by Allied forces. But in most cases, He allows nature to take its course. Even a minister of God is susceptible to a heart attack or stroke if he doesn’t take his medication as much as God has a specific calling and purpose for His life.

Biddy Chambers’ 40,000 books were a great loss as so much could be done, and so many reached through those books. Notwithstanding that great loss, she picked up the pieces and started again. Eventually, the books were reprinted, and many lives were blessed by Oswald Chambers’ books and writings.

The lesson this morning is that sometimes we may not fully understand God’s work and how He works. But trust that He will eventually achieve His plans and purposes. We are just vessels for His glory. Just keep on going and don’t give up doing what God has placed in our hearts to do. We may not or can not see the fruits of our labour but persevere on nevertheless. Trust that God will use our labour for His glory. It will not be in vain. If nothing comes out in this present generation, perhaps something will be in the next! Don’t give up even if something unexpected has occurred. Push on for Christ!

Selfishness versus selflessness

https://odb.org/2025/10/06/making-room-for-others

Philippians 2:1–11 (NIV): 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

At electric vehicle charging stations across the United States, some drivers overstay their time at “fast-chargers,” which are designed to help drivers quickly charge their cars and get back on the road. To resolve this unkind behaviour, one of the largest charging networks has implemented strict time limits at some of its busiest stations. When a vehicle’s battery charge reaches eighty-five per cent, the driver must make room for the next car in need of a charge. (Marvin Williams, ODB 6 Oct 25)

I’m not sure whether we have the same system in Malaysia as fast DC chargers become more common, and more and more electric cars now have higher charging capacity. For example, the just launched Xpeng G6 facelift can reach a state of charge of 80% from 20% in just 12 minutes as its 80.8 kW/h LFP battery architecture supports 5C charging with a charging capacity of 451 kW! But what I have seen in Malaysia are ICE cars parking at EV charging bays! Of course, the solution to this issue is not just education and civic-mindedness but also laws and enforcement. Humans, by nature, are a selfish bunch!

But as Christians, it’s a totally different kettle of fish. We, on the other hand, are moulded by the Holy Spirit to be selfless. As we move away from our old self and embrace our born-again spiritual nature, we will inevitably become less and less selfish. As we think and consider more of the needs of others, the world may laugh at us or call us stupid. But will that bother us? No, because we put Christ first in all that we do. We have an eternity mindset and people who are minded as such, always putting the interests and needs of others first. For example, in a buffet, when we see that there are only 10 large juicy and succulent prawns left at the tray, a believer will just take two so that others will have their fair share but a selfish individual may just take all 10! As for me, I will probably take 3 – I’m not that selfless!

Selfishness and selflessness are virtues we need to deal with as part of our spiritual formation and character building. There is no need to maximise our gain. Always leave a fair share for others. In the end, if we had taken the 10 prawns, it may look like a win, but in economic theory, we know that too much of a good thing is never a good thing! Not only two will taste better than 10, but it will leave us more room to savour other delicacies! Put others first, and not only that it pleases God and confounds the world, it may well be good for us, actually!

Have a good week ahead, everyone, and start putting others first!

Eternal perspective

https://odb.org/2025/10/03/representing-jesus

2 Corinthians 5:9–10 (NIV): 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Saying we’re Christian and wearing clothes with Christian messages are good things. However, the Bible teaches that the way we live and love as we share the gospel is the true identifier of those who follow Jesus. The apostle Paul and the other believers in Corinth were compelled, or driven, to please God by living with an eternal perspective while sharing Him with others (2 Corinthians 5:9-14). (Xochitl Dixon, ODB 3 Oct 25).

I think one of the best ways to reflect Christ in our actions and spoken words, besides developing our character in Christ, is to always have an eternal perspective when living out life. If we think eternal, we will be less likely to indulge in temporal pleasures or intentionally commit sin or ruin our testimony before others. It is also much easier to go through difficult and hard times as what awaits us in eternity will be so glorious that the little sufferings we go through for Christ in the present pales in comparison. In other words, I should be able to endure tough times while on earth as I wait for my reward in eternity. While the former is temporal, the latter is for all eternity. As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, we make it our goal to please Him, for we will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Have an eternal perspective! Open ourselves up to the spiritual realm. Be sensitive to what’s happening there and how it impacts the world today. The master of deception is at work. There are dark forces at work in the entertainment world, in media, or even in AI (artificial intelligence). Not that we can’t use these present-day contemporary tools. We just need to be careful and mindful that the devil’s objective in these end days is to distract and draw us away from our eternal purpose and destiny. Think eternal always! Have an eternal perspective in all that we think and do! Amen!

Remain teachable in the Lord

https://odb.org/2025/10/02/remaining-teachable

Proverbs 9:1-6, 13-18 (NIV): 1 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 4“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense, she says, 5“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and you will live; walk in the way of insight.” 13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 16“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense, she says, 17“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

Remaining teachable may be one of the most difficult things we can do. The Bible speaks of having a teachable heart that’s open to God’s wisdom. The poetry of Proverbs paints a picture of two women calling out to passersby—Wisdom and Folly (Proverbs 9:1-6; 13-18). Those who listen to Wisdom receive correction with grace. They “add to their learning” and become even wiser (v. 9). They habitually “walk in the way of insight” (v. 6) and seat themselves at Wisdom’s table for instruction. Their obedience leads to a full life (v. 11). In contrast, those who listen to Folly hate being corrected or criticized. (Karen Pimpo – ODB 2 Oct 2025).

The genius of Proverbs as a book of the bible is that it always points us to choose wisdom over everything else, including riches, because this is what its writer, King Solomon, chose when given the choice by the LORD. But the real “wisdom” in choosing wisdom is that it is actually choosing God over everything else. That is also the backbone and underlying message of Ecclesiastes, another book written by Solomon, considered the wisest human ever lived. Jesus taught the same thing as recorded in Matthew 6:33 – “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”

In living our Christian lives, it is imperative that we remain teachable, especially from God. Being teachable ensures that we continue to learn as we develop our careers with new technical and soft skills to encourage, support, and influence others. In the spiritual realm, it ensures that we remain on the narrow path that leads to eternal life and, in parallel, fulfilling our full potential in the Kingdom of God. When we are teachable, we will fulfil God’s plans and purposes for our lives as we mend our ways to conform to his moulding of us and develop a Christlike character. Even as we do not conform to the pattern of this world and are transformed by the renewing of our minds to discover (test and approve) the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Choose wisdom above all things, and that also means being teachable. In choosing wisdom, we will choose God above everything else. Commit our dreams and ambitions unto Him that He will sanctify the desires our hearts and align our dreams and ambitions with His plans and purposes for our lives that we may always live in the centre of His will!

Out of darkness into light

https://odb.org/2025/10/01/out-from-the-dark

Isaiah 9:2–7 (NIV): 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

In the natural realm, it is hard to imagine what it is like to be in complete darkness even for a few hours. This is because for most modern homes nowadays, street lights and large windows will ensure that our homes are not in complete darkness even if we were to switch off every light source inside at night. But this was what happened to Harrison Odjegba Okene after his boat capsized, and he found an air pocket at the hull. He waited there in complete darkness for 3 days before he was rescued. It must have been the same experience for the Thai football team, who was stranded in a cave a few years back. I think for us, complete darkness will perhaps be in the middle of a forest on a moonless night, but if the trees are tall, the moon light may not reach the ground, and we will experience complete darkness.

In the spiritual realm, however, we were in complete darkness before we knew Christ. We had no idea of the path that Christ had prepared for us. The road to eternal life. Our reconciled relationship with God brought us back to fellowship with our Creator. A renewed purpose in life. Not only to achieve our own dreams but also the aspirations placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Other faiths have different meanings for seeing the light, but in our faith, it means being an integral part of the Kingdom of God. The scales of our spiritual eyes have been lifted. We see the vast world and potential within the Kingdom of God, which will last for all eternity. It’s like there is a whole new world out there beyond the natural world that we see. A wealth of experiences awaiting us as we serve Him in His church with all our heart, soul, and mind!

Although we have 5 senses, our sight only “sees” things reflected by light. Thus, in darkness, which is the absence of light, we see nothing. We could still hear and feel things, but our eyes see nothing. It is as though we are blind.

Now, after seeing and experiencing “the light” in the spiritual realm, do we really want to withdraw back into “darkness” and reject all things God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and His Word? Surely, remaining in the light with a road map and a sanctified journey to everlasting life in all eternity is the wiser choice! We have a will and the freedom of choice. Choose wisely and not recklessly!

A leap of faith

https://odb.org/2025/09/30/a-leap-of-faith

Ephesians 2:1-5,8-10 (NIV): 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

A yatch that has lost its rudder and rigging basically has lost control of its directions. It is dead on the water. It will go wherever the wind or tide brings it. It could drift far into the open seas or just go round and round in circles within a certain area. Whatever it is, it will not likely reach its destination unless help arrives.

It’s a good picture of who we were before we knew Christ. We were dead in our transgressions and sins as Paul puts it in Ephesians 2:1. That was how we used to live when we followed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the air. There was a time when we lived gratifying the cravings of our flesh, following its thoughts and desires. But because of His great love for us, God made us alive in Christ, although we were dead. For it is by the grace of God that we were saved through faith. It is a gift of God, not by works so no one can boast. Indeed, we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The question this morning is: Are we still like our old self even after knowing Christ? Are we still living gratifying the cravings of our flesh, its thoughts and desires? Or have we genuinely taken the leap of faith, lovingly and willingly embracing the transformative power of Christ? There is a question of our service, and yet, more importantly, there is the question of our character. Have we made peace with God, or are we still waiting until our dying breath? Are we still unwilling to lift our one foot off the land and sail off in our boat into the horizon with God at the helm? I believe most of us who know Christ have had to make that call to give our all to Christ. Most of us hesitate and keep our options open, with our feet on both sides of the divide. We need to take that leap of faith, and we need to do it now! Not tomorrow or one day, as tomorrow or that day may never come.

The Resurrection Power of Christ

https://odb.org/2025/09/29/christs-resurrection-power

John 11:38–44 (NIV): 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time, there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The raising of Lazarus from the dead is one of the more popular events from the Gospel that preachers touch from the pulpit. Rightly so because it is phenomenally supernatural! Jesus didn’t arrive moments after his death but four full days after he died! In fact, He delayed his arrival on purpose to prove that it was not some pure coincidence or the use of some CPR techniques to revive the heart. It was past the 3-day period when Jewish traditions believed the soul would have left the body. Modern science confirms that decomposition would have started by then with cells (including blood) having started breaking down. That is why there was a foul smell.

While theologically, it confirms the diety of Christ as resurrection is not just the healing of a disease or ailments. But the recalling of the soul after death. As souls returned to God after death, it proved that Jesus was indeed God since He was able to command the soul to return to the body after it had departed.

This is, however, not the resurrection that Jesus Himself pioneered after His own death. This is not the victory over sin and death that forms the basis for our faith. Jesus’s resurrection was into a glorified body that we place our hope on that one day we will likewise be resurrected (if we had already died by then) to be with Christ when we meet Him in the air on rapture. The difference is that on rapture, we will not die anymore and will actually live forever (the everlasting or eternal life in John 3:16), unlike Lazarus who eventually died a natural death in old age.

Applying this to our lives, there is a sense there was a resurrection when we first accepted Christ. Our spirit, which was dead, was made alive by the Holy Spirit. This was spoken of even during ancient times in Ezekial 36:26.

In Christ, we have a new heart and a new spirit. A spirit that is born-again, made alive, resurrected. A spirit that is enabled and empowered to connect with God and receive of His wonderful blessings and goodness. A spirit revived that reaches out to fulfil the will of God, to respond to His calling, and to make His plans and purposes for our lives a reality. We can tap into the spiritual, are sensitive to the happenings of the spiritual world, and can pray for God to intervene in our midst as children of God and co-heirs with Christ.

Christ’s resurrection also speaks of resurrecting and transforming our dreams and desires of the past buried by our dark moments into new rebirths, new starts, and new beginnings. The Lord will restore what the locusts have devoured. Our path to eternal life will be filled with joyful moments of faithful service even as we strive to achieve His will here on earth as it is in heaven. Indeed, let us let the Kingdom of God reign victorious in our midst over our ailments, sicknesses, and weaknesses. May our lives be an extension of the Kingdom of Grace. Where is the Kingdom of Heaven today? It is in our midst, in the midst of our natural and broken lives, resurrected and empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Have a good week ahead, everyone!