War on all fronts

This blog post is a follow-on from my previous story because it’s a subject that is so real and relevant to every single reader and I feel that there is a bit more that needs to be said.

Because, although we may desire ‘Peace in our Land’, we are so often experiencing ‘War on all fronts’ in our own lives.

There is no doubt that life is a lot harder than it used to be. We have to be on top of our game in everything that we do otherwise we will either get taken out by the enemy or swallowed up by the competition.  And that could be on the work front, the home front or the personal front.

And then there are all those issues that are way beyond our immediate circle of influence.  Like the prejudices in our country, the state of the economy or even the unethical behavior by the very people that are supposed to be bringing justice and peace to our land.

The thing is that no matter how much we hope that things will be better, we actually have to DO something in order to make it better.  Even if it is just our ‘little bit’.

I am reminded of a Peanuts cartoon that I read years ago. You probably know it but it is bound to get a smile out of you again.

All the sincerity in the world wont change anything unless it is followed up by action. We can and probably do, all sincerely want to see a positive change in our country, but if we don’t do anything differently, then how can we expect a better outcome.

So … how do we change?  What kind of change do we need to make??

We need to alter our personal attitude.

We need to amend our probable actions.

As we take one small step for us! It will evolve into one giant leap for all.

We are all influencers of tomorrow.  Together, we are all forging a better future.

But there is no way that we can do this alone.  And there is only one place that we can go to for help.  The foot of the cross.

Jesus can change our heart and he can work in the hearts of others too.  All we need to do is ask. 

Matthew 7:7 says;

Ask God for What You Need

 “Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.

While I was in church on Sunday, they announced that they would be starting a new series next week on … the Beatitudes.  I almost fell off my chair.  That is the exact portion of scripture that I have used as an inspiration for this subject.  I always find it funny that when we get into something, we see it everywhere!

At the shops today, I heard an advert abut a campaign that will soon be launched by the Anti-racial Network of South Africa. A campaign to inspire understanding and tolerance for one another.  Later in the day, I  read an encouraging post on Facebook about a group of students at Tuks who have started a group promoting peace across racial lines and religions.

This shows that hearts all over the nation are being stirred and there is a hunger to see change and experience peace in our Land.

So where do we as individuals actually begin.

We can ask the Lord to help us have to have a heart of love for our enemy and our oppressors.  We can ask God to give us His power so that we can ‘soar like eagles’ and rise above the conflict.  We can ask God to pour out His love, so that we can love with His ‘fierce love’.

The Lord really has given us His recipe for the ‘BEST LIFE’.  If we just lived the way that he desires for us to live, we would see so much less lying, killing, stealing, disease, disaster and decay.

From the Beatitudes, we are given a glimps of Gods perfect plan for humanity. This  is the recipe. This is the way that Christians  are to live. Otherwise we are no different from any non-believer.

And do you know want ‘Beatitudes’ means? It means a state of Supreme Happiness. So we should really be striving for this. To completely adopt these principals into our lives.  Because then our lives would definitely be changed and in turn, so will the lives around us.

Let us have another look at the Beatitudes through fresh eyes.

Lets be inspired!!  Lets be changed!

Matthew 5:3-10

“Humble men are very fortunate!” he told them, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. ⁴ Those who mourn are fortunate! for they shall be comforted. ⁵ The meek and lowly are fortunate! for the whole wide world belongs to them.

⁶ “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. ⁷ Happy are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. ⁸ Happy are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God. ⁹ Happy are those who strive for peace—they shall be called the sons of God. ¹⁰ Happy are those who are persecuted because they are good, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.