Overcomer

Have you ever faced an obstacle? Maybe it was trying to figure out how to get experience in order to get a job. Maybe it was a physical barrier that you faced before trying to get somewhere. We will face many obstacles in our lifetime, and Jesus promised this in John 16:33:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Jesus conquered sin and death, and therefore, because He overcame the world, we too are overconquerors (see 1 John 5). We can conquer over the world, darkness, and sin through our faith and reliance on Christ. And because God is working all things for our good and His glory (see Romans 8), we can look at obstacles as things that will help us in our process of becoming sanctified. We do not have to be afraid of obstacles but rather we can count it all joy with James when we face trials of many kinds (see James 1).

In a recent sermon that my pastor shared, he said that when we face obstacles such as fighting our sin, there are some things we can do that will encourage us to keep going. These things are directly from my notes from his sermon, and I hope that they encourage you in your Christian walk:

• Be encouraged in Jesus that there is always hope for future sanctification and spiritual growth.
• Understand that we have a privilege in prayer to God, so pray! Run to the cross when you are facing obstacles. We do have to grind out our faith, through prayer.
• Be encouraged by God’s special love for you. While you may not feel that you are loved by Him when you sin [or are even facing any kind of obstacle], His love for you does not diminish or falter. God loves you because He loves Jesus, and God loved us first.
• Be encouraged by His sovereign plan for salvation. There is no stopping God’s plan for salvation for us. Your ultimate peace is in Jesus, not in your performance.

So looking at the topic of overcoming obstacles, we can observe other believers as they walk by faith in Christ to overcome the obstacles they face. One person that I look to as an example of overcoming obstacles is my sponsored child Burusi in Kenya. He faces deep poverty, and without intervention, he would not be able to attend school or get the appropriate nutrition he needs to live a healthy life. Thankfully, God brought him to me to help through child sponsorship in Compassion International’s program.

With Compassion International and the guidance and care from his local church, Burusi can attend school, get proper nutrition, be educated about proper hygiene, get clothing, and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Burusi is now in the second grade, and he is learning how to be a leader not only in his home but also in his community. Someday, Burusi will be able to live out his God-given dreams after overcoming the obstacle of extreme poverty.

Sponsor a Child Through Compassion International

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International. By sponsoring a child in their program for $38 per month, you can help a child overcome the major obstacles that they face and allow them to receive an education, food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment, and most importantly, the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be the change in a child’s life today and sponsor a child through Compassion International.

Join in the conversation!

I always love hearing from my readers, so please feel free to comment on this post. Do you have a sponsored child? Do you sponsor a child through Compassion International or through another program? What obstacles do you face in life? Do you need encouragement in your fight against sin as a Christian? How may I pray for you?

Number Our Days: One Life to Live

Life is short. In Psalm 90, the psalmist writes about the mortality of man, comparing mankind to a dream or grass, that is here one minute and withered away the next. We may live to seventy or even eighty, and yet, there are many who do not see the age of thirty. The psalmist then asks God to grant him wisdom to number his days (Psalm 90:12):

So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

With this verse in mind, I have been thinking about the length and end of my days. I have thought it over: one day I will no longer breathe, and my heart will no longer beat. Therefore, while I am alive here on earth, what is it that I will do? With whom will I spend my time? What will my priority be?

If I had only one month to live, I like to think that I would spend my life savings to go visit my sponsored children and their families, sharing the Gospel with as many people as I could along the way, and then visit with my family and friends with whatever remaining time I had. My sponsored children mean a lot to me; they are like my children, my extended family, my friends. I pray that they and their families will grow to know Christ as their Lord and Savior if they have not already. I also pray that my family members will grow to know Christ as their Lord and Savior and grow closer to Him throughout their lives.

But isn’t life exactly like that? We do not know how many days, minutes, seconds left in our lives, although we count down the days until our next vacation, our next birthday, the next big event in life, or when the next basketball season begins. Let us not lose the chance that we have to share the Gospel by just floating through life without direction, meaning, or action. As I encourage you to share the Gospel with those around you, I am reminding myself to do the same. Proverbs 27:1 prompts us not to boast of what we will do because we do not know what will happen:

Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.

We may think we will do great things one day, but we do not know what will happen in the meantime. Therefore, it is imperative to live each day as if it is our last one. Today is the day to live well, not just one day as Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15-16:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Make the most of the time we have right now, even though at times, it seems like life is slowed to a screeching halt with nothing changing. When it feels like this, complacency sets it. However, what if things stay the same because we are missing out on what we are supposed to be doing right now in these circumstances? Step up and start living focused on the mission God has set before you. We only have so much time, and it is ticking away.

For more insight on Psalm 90 and the wisdom of numbering our days, see Ligonier’s article.

Comment Below

If you had one month to live, how would you spend your time, energy, and resources? With whom would you spend your time? How does the thought of a month to live affect your perspective about life? What is your highest priority?

Sponsor a Child

Please sponsor a child through Compassion International. Not only would you be using the life you have been given to bless someone else, you would be helping that child have an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, receive the things they need for life, and a chance to gain an education.

Rise Up With Jesus – Children’s Easter Event

‘Rise Up with Jesus’

During the 3 hours of interactive programs, kids will experience loads of memorable Easter fun and excitement while discovering the true events surrounding
Jesus’ death and resurrection.

They will explore the wonderful “puzzle” of Easter at each station through challenging games, unique experiences, and fun gizmos designed to remind them that Jesus is Alive!

Come join us for this ‘high flying’ fun filled Easter excitement!

(Children’s lunches will be provided. This event is free, and we really hope you and your family will join us!)