Month: August 2026

WHO ARE WE IN CHRIST?

Our Purpose: God created the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, and so he created us in his image and entrusted us to care for the Earth. As well as to worship and glorify his Holy name.

So we are made a new creation wholly to serve and to worship his divine holy name. We are a centrepiece of his creation. “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature (a living soul).” [Genesis 2:7, ESV]

Our purpose is to do good works in Christ as his Ambassadors. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” [Ephesians 2:10, ESV]

The Scripture reminds us in “Jeremiah chapter 1” who we are also in Christ; our purpose that God had us in mind before we were born. He has good works prepared for us to do, and our lives are significant beyond what we can perceive.

So, here is what Jeremiah affirmed: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” [Jeremiah 1:5, ESV].

With this affirmation, we can trust the Lord God’s purpose for our lives, because his plans are always good for our advantage.

The Lord made the heavens and earth out of nothing, and divinely formed us as part of his plan for us to take control of the Earth.

In Christ, he does not merely clean up our old selves; he has made us a completely new self. This is who we are; we are instructed to serve and worship.

Look at the immeasurable heavens (cosmos) and look at yourself. Small and tiny as we are, the Lord God has entrusted us to take care of everything as caretakers. So that is who we are and our purpose on the earth.

The Psalmist, so overwhelmed with God’s abundant grace, did not hold his thoughts but finally had to ask God this question with follow-ups:

What is man so that the Lord is so attentive to him? And the answer is because:
“I am created a little lower than the angels.” Yes, that is who I am, and so are you. We are very important representatives of God on Earth.

“What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,”[Psalm 8:4-6, ESV]

So, our identity in Christ means we are a brand-new creation, deeply loved, fully forgiven, and adopted as children of God. Our importance is not dependent on our past but on God’s grace.

This is who I am.
I am called to declare the Lord’s divine strength, empowerment, and fresh spiritual renewal to serve. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

I am called to be transformed into Christ’s image and follow the example of Christ as his Ambassador to serve Him.

I am a child of God, born by his grace and saved by his grace, to worship and glorify our Lord God.

I am called as a believer in the name of Christ to go and make disciples of as many as I can reach.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all.” [Matthew 28:19, ESV]

“I am called to trust and obey God because “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” [Thessalonians 5:24, ESV]

I am called as a Believer to glorify God in everything I do. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord. [1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV]

I am called to walk in good works prepared by Him according to his authority over me. I am not to hold back any part of my being in worshipping him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”[Proverbs 3:5–6, ESV]

Our Lord God promises fresh oil, new anointing, new wisdom, and new empowerment for each day. We must remind ourselves that God has not called us to carry today’s purposes on yesterday’s force.

We are called to a specific assignment to do each day, and so is every one of God’s children; therefore, we must honour our purpose and our call to worship and praise him. Every day is a fresh new oil to activate our spirit for our call.

Since God has a unique call for us, he has completed a good work in us even before the call to worship and glorify him.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 1:6, ESV]

We must actively seek to understand and follow God’s purpose for us to honour him, to prove why we are here on this Earth, who we are and the purpose we serve for our Lord God.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”[Colossians 3:23]

So, beloved, as you seek to find “who you are in Christ” and your purpose in the body of Christ, take comfort that God has uniquely designed you and endowed you for a purpose.

We are all here on this Earth for a purpose, and your true purpose is in Christ. Everyone is uniquely designed and coded. We have to align ourselves with the divine spirit of the Lord to identify our calling, our gifts and the purpose he has for us.

Therefore, reflect on this write-up and the scriptures referenced and seek God to reveal his explicit purposes for your life.

Seek His wisdom through prayers and study the Word. Keep the Faith and keep Hope alive every time.

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“Anger can trigger hatred, and hatred can trigger Unforgiveness “

“Anger is a very complicated human emotion that spawns an act of protectionism when one feels threatened.” In this blog, I am only looking at anger from a Biblical approach, but not from the complexity of worldview or worldly understanding.

A spiritually mature Christian should be cognizant that anger is an emotional catalyst for unforgiveness.  You are the one with the key to the door; no one can open it but only you. You will need self-control. If you are unable to exercise discipline, you will lose your patience by reacting with fury.

As a Christian, let the scripture from the book of Proverbs, Chapter 29, verse 11 be part of your spiritual walk to break any temptation of Anger. “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” [Proverbs 29:11].

Our Christian faith tells us that with God everything is possible. So in this discussion we are not going to mix our belief system in Christ with any genetic component of how and why genetics influences anger.

That biochemical traits, emotional reactivity and originality would be left with the medical professionals to discuss. On the other hand, if you as a Christian have traits of anger, you may seek professional counselling and support it with prayers.

Our Holy Scriptures give us examples and explain that without listening calmly and carefully for clarity, one might act aggressively toward the other, and such a stance or behaviour is not good or wise.

Often, this is where the anger starts because we fail to let calm prevail over our reaction. The book of Proverbs sees such actions differently from overreactions. So the Bible states: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” [Proverbs 15:1, ESV]. This verse is very clear and carries a lot of wisdom.

Whether in a calm or hot conversation, make sure you hold every misconception to avoid triggering anger. Let wisdom and spiritual maturity prevail. Listen carefully before reacting.

The book of James states, “Know this, my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God,” [James 1:19–20, ESV]. Don’t be reactive.

We know that Anger is a human problem. Anger, if unchecked, can cause lasting damage in our lives; it will wreck relationships; it will steal your peace away; it has everlasting emotions, and it will cause Unforgiveness.

All of us have acted in anger one way or another at some time in our past or recently, and often wished we hadn’t. Anger can cause hatred, and hatred triggers unforgiveness. As a Christian, learn from the experience and stop playing the victim.

So, here is the question: Is there a way that really works to solve problems and assert ourselves without being angry? Yes, of course. The Scripture verse below should be apparent to every Christian.

When we look at the book of Proverbs, verse 16:32, we are encouraged that true strength and wisdom are to overcome our anger and feelings without confrontation. “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city,” [Proverbs 16:32, ESV]

Listen to this. When it comes to family and circle of friends, there are a lot of people that are familiar with our life or know us one way or another. They know us so well that they know precisely which “buttons” to push to make us lose our peace.

There are also another group of people you barely know at all. Others you have never in your wildest dreams met. Yet, the moment your eyes cross, you can feel the tension in your spirit and around you.

They may act rudely to you, and if you lose your temper, it would be egregious. Keep in mind the key to being slow to anger; otherwise, it may be a negative behaviour that ruins your spiritual relationship with the Lord.

These are temptations ready to break your spiritual maturity in Christ. The enemy is at work. The behaviour of the people is a reflection of the hearts of those unfamiliar strangers, but your reaction is a reflection of your own.
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” [Proverbs 4:23, ESV]

“These people unfortunately do not even know what drives them to do what they do knowingly or unknowingly when they step on toes.” They don’t have the simple etiquette to stop and say sorry. They don’t see any red line. Such awkward encounters could generate arguments and anger.

So here is the thing to look at or to do as a Christian. You don’t have to act spontaneously. Pause a moment and exercise your spiritual maturity, instead of allowing your anger to run your impulsiveness.

Create a cliché in your spirit about anger – that temper and emotions will not win a spiritual battle over you. Keep the door shut no matter which buttons are pressed. At times, you might feel trapped, thinking that because they are being loud or unkind, you have no choice but to react the same.

Nevertheless, don’t make the mistake of winning a fight against them, even if it feels like they are standing right in front of you with fingers pointing directly at you; do not try to unlock the door of anger that you’ve been working so hard to keep shut.

But here is the truth – just because someone is knocking on the door [pressing the anger buttons] doesn’t mean you have to open it. It could be so annoying, but take notice of this Scripture. “Let all bitterness and wrath and ANGER and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. [Ephesians 4:31, ESV]

When you are attacked, stay quiet to avoid a quarrel. Quarrel promotes Anger, and anger built in you births unforgiveness. You aren’t “losing” by staying quiet; you are ruling your own spirit, and the Scripture says it’s a greater victory than conquering an entire city.

Proverbs 22:24-25 states: “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”[Proverbs 22:24-25, ESV]

Spiritual maturity is found in the believer who realizes that their peace is a gift from God, and no human being has the authority to take it away without their permission. “As a Christian, you do not have to attend every argument you are invited to.”

Allow peace to rule your heart; do not allow ANGER to overtake your heart. “Peace I leave with you; ‘my peace’ I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” [John 14:27, ESV]

Strengthening your walk involves a daily prayer for “thick skin and a tender heart”—asking the Holy Spirit to be the buffer between someone else’s sharp words and your peace. Do not fall for anger.

When you refuse to “open the door” to anger, you break the cycle of conflict and keep your heart clean. Do not allow an “annoyance” to dictate the atmosphere of your soul. “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarrelling ceases.” [Proverbs 26:20, ESV]

Let your strength be found in your silence as you grow in your spiritual life henceforth. Yield your “need to defend yourself” to the One who defends you perfectly.

Let’s thank the Lord for providing the grace and restraint we need for self-control in anxious moments. Let us control our anger to avoid quarrels for peace. It is only peace that affects not just our waking hours but also our sleep. 

Our anger, worries and anxiety, when not controlled during an altercation, can also rob us of restful sleep that will, in the long term, turn into Unforgiveness – which is undignified to the Lord. “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offence.” [Proverbs 19:11].

Let us pray to the Lord to strengthen our spirit with wisdom so that we don’t let unkind words or frustrations pull us out of peace and self-control into anger with people, especially those closest to us.

Believe in the Lord; keep your confidence and trust in the Lord. It is the only way you can control your anxiety for peace to keep the faith and hope alive.

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LET THE MIND BE A CONDUIT OF PEACE – FORGIVENESS. PT 4

Unforgiveness manifests in ways we don’t expect. It manifests as a physical sickness and then, with a sudden “explosion” over small things, or a heavy cloud of exhaustion that we can’t seem to shake. We are filled with anger. But anger is a fire that doesn’t go out just because you’ve closed the door.

First, we can at least recognize that the Bible commands Christians to forgive. Matthew 6:15 – “… but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Caution!

Unforgiveness and anger are two sides of the Coin – but they are the same here. “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Joyce Meyer.

When we don’t want to forgive because we have so many excuses/thoughts about finding ways to pay back in kind, these lingering thoughts aggravate us more than the one who hurts us. In short, the culprits live in our heads “rent-free” every passing day we hold on to not wanting to forgive.

Ask yourself this question: If I am unforgiving and full of anger, what do I feel? Whether you have an answer or not, you are like a volcano full of lava and on a countdown, ready to erupt at any moment.

When we keep resentment inside us, it doesn’t disappear; it settles into our bones and our spirits, eventually creating hot lava beneath us ready to explode.

What Scripture tells us may seem strange, but the word of God is always true. Hence, the Biblical solution is total forgiveness for those who hurt us. Always remember this truth and fact.

You can’t go against the Lord’s instruction. It doesn’t mean the person is off the hook, but you can’t avenge it as the Lord would. “Vengeance is of the Lord,” says the Lord. So who are you to fight with? Do you want to fight on and hold on to Unforgiveness? God is clear that everyone will give an account of their life.

We are not to seek vengeance for the very reason that God has promised he will seek vengeance. When you forgive, you are not letting the person go free from vengeance.

When you forgive the person that has hurt you, you are just reporting the case to the authority, the Lord who matters in this case and who gets to carry out the vengeance.

In other words, “let it GO, and let God, who is the judge who justifies and doesn’t let go, deal with it.” You can forgive your enemies as the Scripture says, because you know that the final arbiter, our God, will not forgive them.

How often are you forgiven by the Lord? Do you know? This is what the Scripture tells us directly below without mincing words, from what JESUS said about those who do not forgive – “The Unforgiving Servant.”

“And in anger his master delivered him [the unforgiving servant] to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not FORGIVE your brother from your HEART” [Matthew18:34-35, ESV].

Note above that Jesus is reminding us of his abundant grace of forgiveness for us, and continues to do so daily. So if God has forgiven you, and continues to do so, why would you refuse to forgive others?

Refusing to forgive others would place judgment on you because you have already received the gift of grace from Christ and you continue to enjoy it. So why wouldn’t you forgive others and continue to receive the gift of grace already given by Christ?

As Christians, we know that the Scriptures have revealed to us in Christ Jesus how to live a peaceful life with our siblings, families, friends, neighbours, co-workers, and all others in general, including the aforementioned, who have willfully schemed against us or grudgingly hurt others. But do we get it; do we let the hurt GO so we can forgive? No, we don’t.

Letting it GO and forgive. This is the realism of the debate we Christians argue when we want it our way, but not debatable before our Lord Jesus, who sacrificed his blood and died painfully on the Cross for our Father in Heaven to FORGIVE us all our sins, so that we can have Salvation for everlasting life.

The scripture reminds us to be peaceful irrespective of who has hurt us. The devil knows where it hurts, and what to do to attack and cause fracas among God’s elect that will be difficult for those with limited or inadequate spiritual maturity.

We are constantly advised as Christians to release such hurt from our thoughts and let it go and forgive. Not simple, but the gospel truth is that you will never have peace yourself if you don’t let it GO.

So refusing to let the hurt GO is Unforgiveness. Unforgiveness is a demonic spirit. Unforgiveness is satanic. If you don’t forgive yourself, you can never forgive others. So this is where many Christians get caught up in a rock and hard situation if they are not spiritually mature.

The more you keep the hurt, the more the devil plays in your mind with tricks, outlining plans as to how to pay back the one who has hurt you.
Let us look at Isaiah 26:3. It states, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” [ESV]

So here is the thing – “the thing” called Unforgiveness. Without any dictionary definitions from the examples pointed out, unforgiveness occurs when any of the above factors occur in our relationships with others in contempt of the trust we hold for each other, or between others.

Looking into this verse from the Apostle Peter, he reminds all followers of Christ that, whatever the magnitude or complexity of your hurt or betrayal is, direct it and cast it all to the Lord. “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” [1 Peter 5:7, ESV]. Overthinking will kill your peace. Pray and leave it to God.

If your mind is fixed on Christ Jesus, you shall enjoy perfect peace; in other words, if you fill your mind with the Holy Scriptures, there will be perfect peace in your life, and you will never allow the devil to use your mind as a control center in circumstances like these.
The Apostle Paul encourages us that: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”[ Romans 12:18, ESV]

That said, we should seek peace to the degree we are capable with prayers, as it is not by our might but by the Spirit of the Lord, trusting the Lord with confidence and faith.
Keep the Faith and keep Hope alive.

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