Celebrating Christ of Christmas without tears By Dr. Lewis Akpogena No bad Christmas. You know. Because you can always turn misfortunes into the glory of God. From time to time every person will meet with some disappointments, difficulties, and defeats. But the wisdom of life is to turn your falls and failures into power and strength. Very often on the path to our goals, it is not the problems that hinder us but our attitude to them. Life will never be a banquet of roses or a piece of cake Every person in life will meet various problems. How we conduct ourselves during these difficult times and how we react to them, will determine to a great extent the quality of our life and. Our progress on the path to success. Before we achieve success and prosperity, every one of us has to go through situations, when everything around us is bad and there is continual misfortune. At those times, it will seem like all the misfortune in the world has decided to visit us. Maybe you are going through this already today as l am. What do you do when you are totally in despair? What do you do when everyone around you is laughing at you, deceiving, and betraying you? What do you do when you feel everything inside you is bad? What do you do when you feel an unbearable pain, not from a physical blow but from injustice? What do you do when supposed friends, brothers, sisters and colleagues smear and speak evil of you. What do you do when tears fill your eyes? What do you do when you want to cry: where is Gods protection? The Bible says, that there is an effective way to turn something unpleasant into the glory of God. Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. (Acts 16:22-26 NKJV) Paul and Silas noted illogically. Instead of complaining, they praised God. They revealed Gods glory, releasing it in a seemingly hopeless situation. This is the formula for victory; no matter how difficult the situation may seem it is necessary to praise God, and then Gods glory will be revealed in your life. The fountains of blessing will be revealed in the valley of tears. Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. (Psalms 84:5-7 NKJV) the valley is where a person feels low and wants to give up. The valley of tears is one tragedy after another on your path to prosperity. But Zgod says that when you go through this valley of tears with God, a fountain of blessings will open up before you. Learn to open the fountain of blessing in the valleys. Do not hope that the path leading to the fulfillment of your dream and the path to your Promised Land will be smooth. The path to prosperity always has difficulties. Persecutions, humiliations, and shame are waiting for you on this path. Nevertheless, always remember that for every shame, a double glory will come. The Word of God confirms this: Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. (Isaiah 61:7 NKJV) Never forget that God cannot be put to shame. No matter the persecution, problems and difficulties you are facing, always learn to overcome them just as Jesus Christ did. Turn your valley of tears into a fountain of blessing. You have a great advantage over the world because you are not the one who has to overcome the obstacles. God, who abides in you, will overcome them. His power lives and works in you and manifests itself best during difficult times. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37 NKJV). There will be storms, similar to what the disciples of Jesus went through in the life of every person (Mark 4:35-41). However, in any situation you must remember that God is next to you. He is not visible, but He is in you and He is with you. Learn to practice the presence of God before a crisis hits your life. Do not allow your sorrow and your despair to blot out Gods glory. Do not allow your tears to close your eyes to Gods might. He is the God who made the heavens and the earth. He is able to deliver you from the most difficult problems and l believe He will show Himself as a God of strength in your circumstances. He has the ability to make you a wealthy person without tears. We know how God rescued Paul and Silas from the chains. The calling of God will always lead to the manifestation of His glory. Prophet Habakkuk knew this well: When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops. Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:16-18 NKJV) In difficult times on the path to prosperity, remember what God has done for a His children. Remember the glory He revealed in the difficult situations of Moses. Remember how He saved David, how He helped Joshua, and how He showed His miracles to Elijah. God will never let you down. He is a Might God! There is nothing impossible for Him! Even if the earth is shaking before you, glorify Him and sing praises to Him, and He will quickly reveal His glory in your life. Instead of crying, sing of a His greatness. March forward with songs. Advance with praise. March forward in celebration and this will be your victory! (Ps. 67: 5-7). Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year in advance. You are blessed for life. To experience and encounter God in unusual way to meet your need visit/worship online: www:smhos.org. Have question, you may call:08033399821 (SMS only) write:akpogena@yahoo. Stay blessed. Dr. Lewis Akpogena, A Christian Devotional Writer/Minister, Education Management and Media Consultant write from Port Harcourt.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 21:31:09 +0000
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