You too might have wandered far away from “home”. You might have lost your way. You too might have gotten your priorities mixed up or you may have done things in your life that weren’t part of your life’s plans. Disappointed and depressed, you may’ve asked yourself, “How did I get here?” You are not alone. God sees you where you are. Just call out to Him and He will be right there.

Mourning is a voluntary expression of sorrow over certain circumstances. The elderly folks would often express shock and sadness when someone is murdered, especially close to home. The lack of respect for life, abuse and ill treatment of women, children, and some men, now seems so commonplace—we no longer mourn at these atrocities in our society.

Jesus taught that it’s a blessing to have pure hearts. Those with pure hearts will see God. Realizing these truths, we must do all, with God’s help, to have a pure heart. We must guard carefully the avenues of our soul – especially our eyes and ears – so as not to feed our hearts with evil thoughts and company. Only allow in what is good and noble and just. And yes, ask God’s help to keep your heart pure. Let us be pure, because others care.

Jesus’ response to the hurt, anger, resentment, and revenge in their faces and hearts toward their oppressors wasn’t a popular or welcomed one. It made Jesus sad to tell them something different than what they wanted to hear. What they heard was: “Do not resist. Go the extra mile. Go over and beyond the call of duty. Be agreeable. Respect authority.” Jesus only reiterated what they already knew, but the anger in their hearts tricked them into believing that they wanted otherwise.

The Centurion totally surrendered all control and authority when he bid Jesus “speak the word” so that his servant could receive healing. There are many more such examples. But for me, the one that stands out more is Hosea: despite his Christian morals and beliefs, and against his better hope and aspirations, he chose to follow God and marry a woman who would bring him untold grief.

We all have our pressure points – that point when we think we can take no more. That moment when we are ready to quit, and when we believe it’s not worth it! Don’t give in. Don’t give up. With God’s help, we can make it. We can stand tall. We can be guided by the Holy Spirit and speak freely from our conscience. Our guarantee is the Word of God. Whatever circumstances you may be facing now, hold on. God will work it out somehow. And even if He chooses not to, still hold onto Him. He sees the way you take; and if He brings you to it, He will see you through it. Do not cave under pressure. Just hold on.

Like David, God’s children live among men set on fire. Their hatred of Christians burned like fire in their hearts. They are malicious people who are like man-eating lions, carrying a whole armoury in their mouths to kill and destroy. Their destroying acts are sometimes so final - and to think that the tongue, sharpened on the devil’s grindstone, is more terrible than any weapon raised against God’s people. But we need not fear.

Serpent wisdom needs to be tempered with dove harmlessness to keep us humble. To be harmless is to lack the power or desire to do harm; to be innocent of evil intention and motive, giving no provocation. Christian Author John McClain is convinced that doves, known as birds of peace, possessed calm temperaments coupled by their sweet disposition. I concur. Unlike serpents, people are normally not afraid of doves. Therefore, it is easier to get near to them when we possess dove traits. While the serpent will avoid and escape danger, the dove is innocent and will walk right into it. Jesus saw the need for us to have both traits, innocent to care and share, yet prudent enough not to be caged and become someone’s next meal.

As you determined to retrain your mind to know and embrace your new space, the new route is now easy to remember. It’s no longer a struggle. So is it in your Christian walk. As you allow God’s word to do its work of sanctification in transforming your mind, your actions will fall in place. Your new perspective will result in behavioral change. Your desires and longings for those old practices will be gradually changed as you embrace the new person you’ve become.

In your time of trouble, when all hope is gone, do not give upon speaking to your Lord in prayer. In your darkest hour, cry out to God. Even if you blame God for allowing the crucible, stay on your knees and pray on. I know it’s sometimes hard to pray when troubles comes. But like the children of Judah, keep your eyes on the Lord and pray. Only God can tear down mighty strongholds. Only God can keep the enemy ‘at bay’ and only God can give you rest from those who perplexed you. Like so many others, go to God in prayer and keep your eyes on Him. Be still! The battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s.