01 - Jan

The freedom of choice is here presented by God to His people. God made it plain that all choices will lead to one of two destinations – life or death, blessing or cursing. There is no middle ground. God went on to counsel them to make choices that will give them life and blessing and avoid choices with liability of cursing and death.

The power of choice is one of the greatest things bequeathed to mankind. It also happens to be a delicate one. Wrongful use of this power can lead to terrible consequences. Their choice disconnected them not only from the beautiful garden, but also God who gave it to them as a gift.

We are not saved and purged to be onlookers. We have come into God’s draft, designed to be full of good works. All we have to add here is that our good works should not be seasonal or tied to emergency situations alone. Jesus went about doing good; and so must we.

Jesus taught us to know that material things are not the essence of life. Ironically, majority of people think otherwise. So from the start of the year to the end, all that matters to them is acquisition and more acquisition. Real life is in God; and when we have Him He will provide all that makes physical life possible.

All tools – spiritual, mental, physical, financial – must be engaged to pursue restoration. Like David when he lost his base at Ziklag, we must obtain a word from the Lord to pursue, overtake, and recover all. On the hand, where the disruption has actually been a blessing in disguise, then it would be foolishness to want to return to business as usual.

The year brought to light, among other things, the limits of human knowledge and plans. It taught us that life is surrounded by a lot of uncertainties. It is for this reason that we must learn to put our lives in the hands of God in whom there is no uncertainty.

That led to Folds of Honour, a nonprofit dedicated to providing scholarships and other educational assistance to the spouses and children of veterans who are disabled or were killed in action.

These and many more are a manifestation of ghost of battle which haunts them and makes it hard for them to adjust to normal life.