Is the Word of God written in the Holy Canonized scriptures, the Bible, the only Word of God? The question above is something I have been asking myself for a while now. I will provide my thoughts and answers as I am inspired to write like the old greats, who also wrote under the inspiration of the Pneuma of God (i.e., Holy Spirit). What I write will make many minds tingle in awe or wonder. Some will question these writings, as I expect all my readers to do. All I write is a heavy burden on my heart to explore and share. So, as you read, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the words you read in this piece. I hope that this piece draws you closer to God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Amen. However, before I delve into that question, “Is the Word of God written in the Holy Canonized scriptures, the Bible, the only Word of God?” Let me explore deeper into the Scriptures as the Inspiration of God.

“God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” — Martin Luther.  

Paul, writing to Timothy in a letter, said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”¹ The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write a letter of encouragement to Timothy, his mentee. He obeyed and penned all down according to His inspiration and direction. Under canonical acceptance and description as scriptures, his letters are sanctioned as part of the Bible. He heard what the Spirit of God was saying through him (Paul) to Timothy, and he wrote it down in the letter as directed in obedience. His quirks are always faithful to the heavenly vision, even in his capacity as an inspired letter writer.

Now, Peter writing to the Messianic church communities (i.e., Christians scattered throughout the then Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia), states that the epistles or letters of Paul are scriptures. He says that “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”² Peter here acknowledges that the Pauline letters were part of the inspired sacred scriptures. If Peter refers to Paul’s letters as “Scriptures,” then, “What are Scriptures?”

#1. What are Scriptures? 

We can over-egg the pudding, expounding the word “Scripture.” Dictionary.com affirms that scripture is “the sacred writings of the Old or New Testaments or both together.” It also means “any writing or book, especially when of a sacred or religious nature; or just a particular passage from the Bible.” (NB. In the case of this piece, we refer to scripture as Christian Scripture). Following the above definitions, when Paul wrote his letters, he was quoting from the Old Testament, a text complete at that time. However, the breadth of Paul’s assertion of “all scriptures” would consist of any writing that is deemed authoritative enough to be read publicly in the church. Hence, for a more rigorous emphasis, “a scripture would be any writing that is deemed authoritative enough to be read publicly in the church at large.” At the end of the first century, the four gospels and the Pauline epistles were under the classifications as “Scriptures.”

“I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.” — Isaac Newton.

All Scriptures are God-breathed. The breath of God is the life of God. The breath of God is the Word of God. He spoke His Word—He breathed His life—and all that is, became real at His express command. The Holy Writ establishes that “The Lord spoke the command, and the world was made. The breath from his mouth created everything in the heavens.”³ The breath of God is the Spirit of God. To support this point, the Holy Writ further establishes that “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”⁴ From what Job said, we can see that the breath of God is the all-powerful force that gives life through His Spirit.

In the context of Paul’s assertion to Timothy, we can affirm that God breathed His life through His Word, which is Spirit,⁵ through Paul to Timothy through his letter. Miraculously, God communicated His Word to men and led them to write these words down for permanent preservation. These men wrote then the very Word of God, inspired and unfailing. The fact is that “What He (God) did yesterday, He (God) is doing today, and He (God) will do tomorrow.” Nevertheless, we cannot disprove the individuality of literary style. However, the very words Paul wrote and the ones that believers of God write today rise through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”⁶ 

The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:20-21 that “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as the Holy Spirit moved them.” (King James Version (KJV)). The Word of God in the Bible is a product of God’s inspiration. No prophecy (i.e., the anointed proclamation of words of edification, exhortation, and comfort; a prediction at times) recorded in Scripture or Bible is of private interpretation. Prophecy does not arise from man’s will but via holy men of God who spoke as the Holy Spirit influenced them. The writing in the Bible is God’s Words, given by God to holy men, under the persuasion of God’s divine power through the Holy Spirit, the Inspiration of God.

#2. The Profitability of Scriptures

The Bible is not a mere collection of human stories, fables, myths, or merely the construct of human ideologies. It is a collection of writings birthed via the breath of God—His Word, His Spirit, in His Person. The writers wrote all that God instructed them to write. God, the Holy Spirit, revealed His person and plan, via His Words, to certain believers—then and now. These believers then wrote down these messages for His people and the world. All scriptures are profitable to transform us via its influence. Hold fast to it.

“Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book, we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this, we must look as our guide in the future.” — Ulysses S. Grant. 

The whole process of God’s revelation and move encapsulate “Inspiration,” which is “a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.” In their unique historical and culture-themed context and settings, these writers wrote with their unique talents, language, and style under the power of the Holy Spirit. Their target audiences were/are the minds of all humanity. They wrote down authoritative words then, and this practice continues today. 

All Scriptures are God-breathed. It is the life of God, the Word of God, and it is the Spirit of God, all in unison. Apart from being infallible (i.e., trustworthy, or sure), it is also beneficial—it is advantageous towards causing a positive change in our lives. It is transformational. There is benefit or usefulness in every scripture—whether it’s the genealogies or even obscure passages—there are benefits, they are all helpful. But the million-dollar question is, “How are the words in scripture beneficial?” Let’s explore these pluses:

#2.1. Scriptures Teach Us

Scriptures possess the capacity to teach us what is true and what is not valid. The scriptures are profitable in teaching us the mind of God in many areas of interest as it concerns the Trinity, angels, man, sin, salvation, sanctification, the church, and future events to come. There is a need to reject any teaching contrary to biblical doctrine. We must be apt to leave, correct, or replace it with a more accurate instruction from the scriptures.

#2.2. Scriptures Reveal Our Errors

The same way a tactical flashlight dispels darkness at great intensity, the scriptures are also beneficial in casting light directly on things in our lives that are displeasing to God. They are suitable for standing against the arrows of errors thrown at us by the enemy. They are potent in making us realize what is wrong in our lives. Biblical truth in scripture owes no apology to error. It exposes all who err against what is right with no remorse. The scriptures reveal our mistakes and rebuke us lovingly. 

#2.3. Scriptures Correct Us

Scriptures straighten us out. Scriptures don’t only point out the errors in the labyrinths of our subconscious and our waking lives. It also provides us with a blueprint of how we can correct ourselves. It is like a Global Positioning System (GPS). When you are traveling with a GPS, and you miss your way, it alerts you on the error you have made. However, it further remaps your route to reconnect you to your initial established path or trail. Scriptures, in a similar vein, is the GPS of your Soul. When you err, it alerts you of your error. However, it goes beyond that as it charts a new pathway to bring you to your expected end in the journey of life.

#2.4. Scriptures Offer Righteous Instruction

The scriptures offer moral instruction in the way of holiness—it teaches us to do what is right by showing us how to please and glorify God. It guides us on how to live and lead a godly life. It fleshes out all we need for life and godliness. If we walk with the Words of scriptures, it will rewrite the script and codes of our ungodly nature for good, better, and best. Running the rewritten code of our transformed lives results in a more beneficial outcome that delivers an expected end. Purpose in action becomes the expected end or output.

Scriptures or the sacred Words of God to us will make us winners. It is potent to transform. It is expressly powerful to deliver a power punch to anything that opposes our existence. God spoke yesterday, and we have it in the Bible document. We have seen that the scriptures are beneficial for teaching us what is true and realizing what is wrong in our lives. We have also seen that scriptures straighten us out and lead us to do right. Now, the question is, “Is the Bible the Only Word of God?” Let’s finally tackle it.

#3. Is the Bible the Only Word of God? Exploring Propositions

Is the Bible the Only Word of God? I would say, “No.” Before you begin to chew me out or call me names and shut me down—hear me out first and let us reason together on the premise of scriptures. In his message to Timothy, Paul said that “The inspiration of God gives all scripture.” The word inspiration means “an inspiring or animating action or influence. It is a thing or person that inspires. In the context of this writing, to inspire means to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence.” In Theology, as we previously covered, “inspiration is a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul. It is the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.”

“To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?” — Queen Elizabeth II. 

What was given by the inspiration of God was spoken and some written. The Holy Writ establishes that “There are many other things Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not be big enough for all the books that would be written.”⁸ We can establish from this statement that not all that Christ did and possibly said was recorded verbatim—it obvious if that if you try to write them all, not all books in the whole wide world could ever contain them. Do the “many other things Jesus did” not written make them less the words and acts of God? God moved in Time past and sundry manners. We learn of Him because inspired people wrote of what they saw and heard from Him. God is still speaking today as he did yesterday. 

To provide a perspective to the question, “Is the Bible the Only Word of God? Let us logically analyze some premises by looking at facts from the written word. Here are the assumptions:

P¹ – God is always Speaking.

P² – God is Constant.

We can prove the above premises via the Bible. Let us start by proving the first premise, P¹, which establishes that “God is always speaking.” There are numerous positions in the Bible that support P¹. There will be no room to contain all the facts; hence, we will highlight some of those positions as proof. 

“God is always speaking, and He doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.”

God is always speaking—in every place and moment. His voice is always audible to all via his spoken and written word (Bible). He speaks through circumstances in our lives, chaotic or random. He is always talking. However, to hear Him, we must tune to the frequency of His voice. If you are off frequency, you will not hear Him.

The Holy Writ says that “God speaks in different ways, and we don’t always recognize his voice.”⁹ He establishes that “My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me.”¹⁰ Furthermore, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”¹¹ Also, God says that “The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn’t speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen.”¹² Much more, He establishes that we should “Ask me (God), and I will tell you things that you don’t know and can’t find out.”¹³ God speaks to us continuously via the Bible too. It states, “Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.”¹⁴ Finally, in proof of P¹, the Holy Writ establishes that “Long ago in many ways and at many times God’s prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. But now, at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son.”¹⁵ I can go on with this proof; however, let us proceed to the following premise, P², that “God is constant.”

The premise, P², stipulates that “God is constant.” In essence, this means that God never changes or waivers. God is more constant than Pi, π. We can trust Him to always remain faithful to Himself. The Bible establishes that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”¹⁶ The Bible also confirms that “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”¹⁷ Hence, you can never attribute a Delta (∆), the mathematical symbol for change, to God. Also, the Word of God establishes that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”¹⁸ It also stipulates that “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”¹⁹ The Bible also states that “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”²⁰

Again, further proving the second premise, P², the Bible states that “Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.”²¹ It also states that “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”²² It also says that “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”²³ Also, the Holy Writ further states that “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”²⁴ It also posits that “Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.”²⁵ His abounding love and omnipresent grace are also never-ending as we can see in the statement that “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”²⁶ In conclusion of the proof of P², the Word states, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”²⁷

We have taken the liberty to extensively expound and delve deep into the proofs of both premises, P¹ and P². In proving P¹, we can ascertain that God is always speaking to us humans in various ways via the multiple scriptures. His voice is always there to guide us when He nudges us in one direction or the other. God always guides us through constant speech towards the truth via His Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent Spirit. When we ask Him of anything, He speaks back to us. We can honestly say that “God is always speaking,” making P¹ valid through the scriptures. 

Concerning God’s unchangeable and constant nature, while looking at the proof of P², we can say that God is the same through all times and seasons. He declares that He does not change or waver in His personality, and we can always take that to the bank. There is no variation in God—He is constant. While all things in the flesh and spiritual change, His Word stands forever. Via many scriptures, we can genuinely assert that P² is valid that God is constant. 

Hence, we can draw a Conclusion (C¹) that because God cannot change, He will never stop speaking, quod erat demonstrandum (QED). So, although the words in the Bible are His, which He will never contradict, it is not the only Word of God. Let us now establish some facts based on the analysis of the two premises above as we look at some logical arguments that expound further that the Bible is not the only Word of God.

#4. The Bible is NOT the Only Word of God—Our Argument

After looking at the analysis of the above premises, we can conclude that God is always speaking, and He never changes. Hence, can you then say that the inspiration of God is finite in the context of what He spoke? Can we conclude and say that the only Word of God is what we have in the Bible? It cannot be because the inspiration of God is infinite. We technically cannot box God into one book, the Bible. All the books that inspired men and women ever wrote and that will ever be can never contain all God has spoken, all He is saying now, and all He will ever say through all eternity. 

“Unlimited books cannot contain the awesomeness of God’s provocation or wisdom. It is more expansive than broad and more profound than the deepest depths. We cannot fathom it even if we tried.” — Ogbonnaya Agom-Eze.

The Holy Spirit moved holy men who were careful to speak and write their supernatural nudging in some cases. Some were inspired to write their past, present, and future. However, the words given do not sum the totality of the inspiration of God. The triune Godhead is Omniscient, so it is impossible to compute the totality of the inspiration and Wisdom of God. Unlimited books cannot contain the awesomeness of God’s provocation or wisdom. It is more expansive than broad and more profound than the deepest depths. We cannot fathom it even if we tried. We cannot restrain His inspiration—it is more comprehensive than all the macrocosms put together. We cannot contain His wisdom.

Hence, asking, “Is the Bible the only Word of God?” I would say no with a high emphasis via the above-mentioned biblical proofs. Why? Because the inspiration of God is infinite—it is limitless. It has no beginning nor end. God chooses what to communicate, and He shares it with holy men and women that He inspires. As God spoke to the holy men and women of old, He is yet speaking today to all those who are careful and cautious enough to listen to Him in holy fellowship. 

Note the emphasis on holy fellowship. God will share the deep and Holy things in the limitless seas of His inspiration, wisdom, and knowledge to those who align to His nature of holiness. He is of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong.²⁸ God is forever looking for men and women to talk to in holy fellowship, to say the very least. Many are not in unison with him due to the stain of separation—sin.

 However, when we make peace with God via the Way, the Truth, and the Life He has provided (i.e., through Jesus),²⁹ He begins to forge a bond with the individual. In constant fellowship, He continues to speak. And if holy men and women today are careful and cautious as the holy men and women of old, they would be prudent to hear and record what God is saying to the world.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me.” — Jesus Christ.³⁰ 

Many years ago, in Church Sunday School, there was a song we used to sing at my childhood church. The Sunday school teachers always use this song in a game-like fashion to pick students to recite a verse of scripture that they know. At the end of the class singing the musical verse, the teacher points out a student. The student must stand up and recite a bible verse from memory. The lyrics song are as follows:

God has something to say,
God has something to say,
Listen, listen—pay great attention,
For God has something to say!

* **

In line with this Sunday School song, I can say that God always has something to say. When we read the Bible, God speaks to us via the prophecies and the promises recorded therein. However, aside from what we have on record in the canonical scripture, He is yet speaking today. However, one thing is sure is that God will never contradict Himself—His words a sure and steadfast—more steadfast than the Rock of Gibraltar or any mountain in the world or universe at large. He will constantly affirm and support what He has said in Time past. 

God speaks to us in the present. His words now do not contradict what He said in the past. He supports it wholly because God cannot lie or contradict Himself, as we have seen and show in the premise above, P². Hence, I believe that God is not constrained to just what is in the Bible. He always has something to say. So, as He speaks, He will constantly affirm what He spoke in time past, what He says in the present, and what He will say in the future. Hence, via proof, the Bible is not the only Word of God.

#5. Conclusion 

God cannot contradict Himself. He spoke to us in the past. God continues to talk to us in the present. He will continue to speak with us in the future. The Time, Space, and Matter continuum cannot constrain the Almighty God. He is the author of Time, Space, and Matter and is unaffected by them. Hence, He is outside the Time, Space, and Matter continuum. He is greater than the trinitarian trinity of all things created. He is outside of and sees all of Time (i.e., Past, Present, and Future). He is outside of and more expansive than all of Space (i.e., length, width, and height). He is outside of and more substantive than all Matter (Solid, Liquid, and Gas). He is God. He is the I AM constant.  

“God is bigger than people think.” — Jimmy Dean. 

God is beyond the Time, Space, and Matter continuums—He is outside them. God is constant. He is always speaking. We cannot contain God nor His Words in a book, even the Bible. As much as the words in the Bible, via proof, are not the only Word of God. The fact remains that God will never contradict Himself. God can choose to share His inspiration of past happenings that no one knows about through the immense and limitless treasuries of His wisdom. He can decide to share the future adventures we have yet to see come to manifestation. Continuums (i.e., Time, Space, and Matter) cannot contain nor constrain Him because He is outside of them as they are His creations. His inspiration is infinite and not constrained by any limitations. So, drawing a second Conclusion (C²), to say that “the Bible is the only Word of God” is to contain and restrain His limitless and constant personality and inspiration.

The long-form treatise you are reading is a nudge to introduce you to the person of God. The piece is not to dissuade you from reading the Bible. Contrary to it, it encourages you to get into the adventure of studying the Bible even more. It is a nudge for you to develop an intense relationship with God that is beyond and most excellent than all continuums. The humbling thing is that He is desirous of a deep and passionate connection with you. In the link comes communication. You will speak to Him and hear Him speak more words to you. 

However, the fact remains that we are not robots, cyborgs, or Artificial Intelligence (AI)—we are humans. He does not program us to relate with Him automatically like we program robots or AIs to respond to what we want them to do. As humans, we have free will to say yes to a relationship or no. When we willingly connect with God, He is bound to always speak His words to us, beyond more than we could ever ask or think. 

Once again, “Is the Bible the Only Word of God?” No. Hearing more of God begins at reconciliation and continues with a relationship with Him. The Bible says that “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”³¹ Next, He wants a relationship with us. The Holy Writ says that “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”²⁶

A relationship with God consists of several things. In finalizing this discourse, let us condense what a relationship with God that will draw out more of God’s words via his constant speaking and communication with you. First, a deep connection with God starts with building a bond of trust— “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”³²  

Second, we must embrace absolute devotion to Him (i.e., worshipping and praising Him only and always—you cannot have any other God before Him.³³ Third, we must constantly communicate with Him (i.e., prayer,³⁴ listening/hearing,³⁵ and writing down/recording³⁶ what He says to us). Fourth, we must serve Him as we relate to Him.³⁷

“I believe that God is not constrained to just what is in the Bible. He always has something to say. So, as He speaks, He will constantly affirm what He spoke in time past, what He says in the present, and what He will say in the future. Hence, via proof, the Bible is not the only Word of God.” — Ogbonnaya Agom-Eze.

Reconciling and relating to God are the bedrocks that will elicit more Words from God. Once again, “Is the Bible the Only Word of God?” A “No,” is my answer with a Quod Erat Demonstrandum (QED). Do you disagree with the position of this piece? I clearly would love to hear your opinion with proof (i.e., back up your positioning of reason with facts from the Word of God (i.e., Bible), experiences of your walk with God, etc.). Let us have a healthy discussion in the comments.

References

[1]. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, New King James Version (NKJV). [2]. 2 Peter 3:14-16, NKJV. [3]. Psalm 33:6, Easy-to-Read Version (ERV). [4]. Job 33:4, English Standard Version (ESV). [5]. John 6:63, NKJV. [6]. 1 Corinthians 2:13, NKJV. [7]. Ephesians 5:13, Modern English Version (MEV). [8]. John 21:25, EXB. [9]. Job 33:14, Contemporary English Version (CEV). [10]. John 10:27, CEV. [11]. Isaiah 30:21, ESV. [12]. John 16:13, CEV. [13]. Jeremiah 33:3, CEV. [14]. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, CEV. [15]. Hebrews 1:1-2, CEV. [16]. Hebrews 13:8, ESV. [17]. Malachi 3:6, ESV. [18]. James 1:17, ESV. [19]. Numbers 23:19, ESV. [20]. Isaiah 40:8, ESV. [21]. Psalm 102:25-27, ESV. [22]. Psalm 119:89, ESV. [23]. Psalm 33:11, ESV. [24]. Psalm 90:2, ESV. [25]. Psalm 119:90, ESV. [26]. John 3:16, ESV. [27]. 1 Timothy 1:17, ESV. [28]. Habakkuk 1:13, ESV. [29]. John 14:6, ESV. [30]. John 14:1, ESV. [31]. Romans 5:10, ESV. [32]. Proverbs 3:5-6, New International Version (NIV). [33]. Exodus 20:3, ESV. [34]. Philippians 4:5-7, ESV. [35]. John 8:47, ESV. [36]. Habakkuk 2:2 and Revelations 1:19, ESV. [37]. 1 Samuel 12:24, Colossians 3:23-24, and 1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV.

On May 6, 2021, at 2:55 PM PST, a dear friend posted on one of the major social media platforms a dream that she had. After reading her post, I felt that the whole world needed to hear the message of this post. So, I asked her to permit me to publish what she posted. I intended to let the world know who she was and the message she had to offer. However, in her ever debonair and humble disposition, she permitted me to publish her post and make no reference to her. She wants all the glory to go to the giver of the dream—God Almighty.

“What the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools.” — Martin Luther.

So, for the sake of anonymity, we will call her Christina Urgentbaum. Furthermore, for the sake of brevity, we will call her Chrissy. Now, Chrissy really wants everyone to focus on the message and to encourage all faithful Christians to keep pushing forward in the faith. Chrissy had a dream. Her dream was so absolute and frightening, and the thought of any human missing out on Heaven’s Call far outweighs any feelings. So, let us buckle up as we delve into Chrissy’s mind as we unearth this message.

“I was somewhat reluctant to post this but felt uneasy if I didn’t. I’m a very private person, but I’ve been feeling so uneasy withholding it as events unfold each day across the globe. So, I said a prayer and posted it on social media. It’s about a dream I had in February…,” said Chrissy. 

“I had this vivid dream evening of Sunday, February 7, 2021. It was about the end-times. The description of the end-times in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is authentic,” said Chrissy. The scriptures here say that “For this, we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

“As we read these words, for all who believe and all who will soon believe, please continue to stand in faith, trust God and recommit your lives to Jesus for salvation,” Chrissy pleads. Before Chrissy starts, she asks that we all pray for an open heart and an open mind, “Lord Jesus, open our hearts to the message you gave to me as I slept. May people hear your call and come to you through these words,” she prayed. “Here is the dream,” she began.

“It was like a movie. I was standing in front of two houses belonging to two different families who were all white folks. Someone ran out from one of the houses to see what was happening outside. Suddenly, a helicopter fell from the sky into another house next door and burst into flames. Then an airplane fell from the sky and hit the same home, and burst into flames. The wing of the aircraft fell first, and the rest of the plane followed afterward,” she said.

“The dream continues as the father of one of the families quickly gathered his wife and children; they packed up and asked his neighbor to join them so they could escape to another location. He said it was safer there. So, his neighbor packed up, his wife and children and both families got in a truck and drove off. That was the first scene of the dream,” said Chrissy.

“Next, like another scene in a movie, I saw this road with lots of cars in line because there were traffic delays. I could hear on the radios the voice of a man talking about Jesus, asking people to repent and give their lives to Christ so they can be with God in Heaven. Some people were not bothered, nor did they care about the voice on the radio. There was this guy in a vintage car. He was listening to music and bouncing his head to the tune and didn’t care at all,” Chrissy continued telling her dream.

Still in the dream state, “I started moving along the road and wondering why the traffic delays. It seemed like some confusion up ahead, and I moved towards the direction of the chaos. I then noticed it was those two families that had left earlier. One of the fathers was the one broadcasting on the radio. He had a small broadcast set-up with a microphone, and he was sharing the Word of God,” she shared.

Continuing the dream, Chrissy shares, “a large group of soldiers with their airplanes parked right in front of the family. The soldiers were harassing this family, trying to stop the broadcast. They were taking their equipment, the generator and trying to cut their power supply. Finally, chaos reigned; a full-blown riot broke out, the byproduct of the widespread disappearances. The children and wives kept screaming as these soldiers were harassing them,” and this concluded all the scenes of Chrissy’s dream.

“This was so real for me. I woke up and later heard these words from God— ‘We are going Home,’” Chrissy sharing as she concluded the story of her vivid dream. It all seems like a movie, right? However, the truth remains that there are hidden truths in the dream that she received on that fateful day.

Chrissy continues by saying that, “The helicopter and airplane falling from the sky seemed to be that the pilots had been taken as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17,” she ascribes. “So, with no pilots on board, it seems as the helicopter and flight crashed in mid-air,” could be the speculation.

Further describing her dream, Chrissy establishes that the families left behind warned others to give their lives to Christ and turn to God. Albeit too late already, meaning that those who don’t have an inkling of God or Christ in them would harass those left behind for their faith. Meaning that these left-behind folks will be disturbed by the authorities if they speak of their faith.

“Please guard your faith and keep pushing so we make Heaven the first time. It is better to believe and live for God now than to cry, “had I known,” when the Rapture takes place tomorrow,” Chrissy urges. “Don’t give up on God. He will not give up on you…Instead, believe in the Lord, and confess your sins to Him, and you will be saved,” Chrissy finally urges and ends the tale of her dream and story. 

Believing Christians are looking forward to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, readers may choose to doubt that this will ever occur. After Jesus was taken up into heaven on Mount Olivet, and the disciples stood gazing, behold, two men (most likely angels) stood by them in white robes. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”¹ 

The word Rapture is a Latin word derivative that means snatching away or catching up. So, the exact word derivative, Rapture, is used for Philip when the Spirit of the Lord carried him away, and the Ethiopian eunuch saw him no more. The Ethiopian then went on his way, rejoicing.² The same word is also used of Paul—although he does not stipulate it clearly as himself—was also caught up to the third heaven, receiving revelations which no man may not utter.³

The Rapture will happen in time; it is unavoidable, whether we like it or not. God will perform all His words. He also promises that it will never be delayed.⁴ God watches over His words to accomplish it.⁵ The world—the stellar atmospheric heavens—the blue firmament above us; the solar system, the galaxies, and the universe and all universes will evaporate first into thin air, but God assures us all that His Words will not pass away-they will all come to pass.⁶

That day will come unexpectedly. When thieves rob you, they don’t tell you that they are coming. Instead, they invade your space when you are not thinking about it. That is how the Lord’s return will be—the trumpet sounds, and He catches or snatches away His own—those that believe in Him and are living for Him.⁷Chrissy’s dream may seem like a fable now or a work of fiction. However, it may just be God warning us to be ready and stay ready. 

What shall we do? We must change our ways (repent) and believe the gospel.⁸ We must consider Chrissy’s dream as a warning. However, we must also see it as God’s act of love to humankind. Christ can come at any time. However, I implore you to be careful not to make light of this offer. You must never forget that the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness. He is forever patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance.⁹

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” — Revelations 22:12, ESV.

Do you hear Him, Jesus, whispering to you and knocking on the door of your heart right now, asking you to give Him a chance?¹⁰ Do yourself a favor and do not harden your heart.¹¹ Ask Him to come into your heart and save you. Believe in his finished work. Embrace God’s gift in offering His Son Jesus to pay the debt that He did not owe—your debt, your sins.¹² Don’t hang onto your sins; its payment is death and eternal separation from God.¹³ You really don’t want that to be your story. Instead, believe in God and walk in the Way of Life He has provided.¹⁴Walk in that Way today—the Way of God’s Love.

Remember, we are going home soon—sooner than you think!

References

[1]. Acts 1:9-11 (English Standard Version (ESV)). [2]. Acts 8:39 (ESV). [3]. 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 (ESV). [4]. Ezekiel 12:25 (ESV). [5]. Jeremiah 1:12 (ESV). [6]. Matthew 24:35 (ESV). [7]. Revelation 16:15; Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:4; 2 Peter 3:10 (ESV). [8]. Mark 1:15 (ESV). [9]. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV). [10]. Revelations 3:20. [11]. Hebrews 3:15 (ESV). [12]. John 3:16 (ESV). [13]. Romans 6:23 (ESV). [14]. John 14:6 (ESV).

Usually, at the start of New Year’s, a lot is always being said about pursuing God’s purpose for one’s life. As always, this is a great vision. However, we must remember that the reason God has asked those who believe in Him through His Son is to obey the Great Commission. The Great Commission is to take Jesus to the Nations so that He can save the world. However, God does not want to redeem that person in some remote village or distant city and lose you in the process. Yes, you. We must always remember that our relationship with Him is the first thing we must endeavor to sustain. Maintaining our relationship with Him is the very first foundation of seeking God’s Kingdom.

“The seeking of the kingdom of God is the chief business of the Christian life.” — Jonathan Edwards.

Fulfilling your purpose is not just about carrying out some routine assignments God asked you to do. It’s not enough that you obey Him if you do not have communion with Him. Obedience and communion go together—they are not mutually exclusive. Remember Mary and Martha. Mary spent her time listening attentively at the feet of Jesus. She was in sync in communing with the Master. However, Martha was the jittery type, busying herself with the “work” of dinner preparation but neglecting communion.1 He is a Shepherd who doesn’t want to lose even one sheep, and that includes you.2 Don’t show the world the way and be left out at the end of the day.3 As you show the world the way to heaven (i.e., Jesus, the Word of God)4, be sure to remain also in the Way not to be lost.

Begin to see it as “Seeking God’s Kingdom” than as pursuing your purpose. Seeking God’s Kingdom puts it in perspective for you. It gives you a sense of responsibility that you are part of something bigger than life itself. See the big picture and embrace it. It helps you realize that you are part of God’s family—some of this Kingdom family is already in heaven and come down here on earth.⁵ It helps you see that you really cannot lose sight of The Father. Yes, you are working for him and doing His purpose. However, that diurnal inception of that work dwells on maintaining a sustained relationship and communion with Him. Jesus fulfilled His purpose but was entirely dependent on The Father. Aim to fulfill yours likewise; however, like Jesus, you also need to be entirely dependent on The Father. Hence, a daily communion is fundamental.

“The Kingdom of God is not a matter of getting individuals to heaven, but of transforming the life on earth into the harmony of heaven.” — Walter Rauschenbusch.

You honestly cannot give what you don’t have. To give to the world as you work to fulfill your purpose, you must renew and refill yourself daily in God’s presence. Seeking the Kingdom of God and fulfilling the will of the Father starts from the place of communion. In God’s presence, you become empowered. In His presence, you receive an infilling. You gain from His presence to give out to the world. In God’s presence, you will experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of God’s eternal presence.⁶ Stop running to serve tasteless food to the world. Seek and serve the Kingdom of God first by dining with The Master. Let Him satisfy your soul with His pleasures, and then you will be able to serve a delightful and savory dish of His word to the world. Then serve the dish hot the way the Father loves it.

You must make seeking God’s Kingdom the chief goal of your life. For you to achieve this loft goal, you must be consistent in honoring and representing the Kingdom. It should show in every aspect of our life. It should show how we deal with family, friends, work, leisure, etc. It cannot be otherwise. If we say that we are pursuing God’s Kingdom, then our lives must be a clear reflection of the principles of the Kingdom that we represent. We cannot hide the light of the Kingdom principles. They must be reflected in our lives—that is our purpose as true Kingdom citizens. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see so that people will truly acknowledge God making a difference in our lives.⁷

“The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.” — Leo Tolstoy.

Many things will compete for priority when you make it your life goal to seek God’s Kingdom. People, objects, goals, money, pleasure, and many other desires will compete for your time and focus. These things in themselves are not bad; however, if you do not take precaution, any of these can quickly nudge God, His Kingdom’s pursuit, out of the chief place in your life. This will happen if you don’t actively make an effort to give God and the pursuit of His Kingdom the first place in your life. When we make seeking God’s Kingdom the chief goal of your life, God will, in turn, make it His priority to add all these previously stipulated benefits a part-and-parcel of your life.

References

[1]. Luke 10:38-42. [2]. John 6:39. [3]. 1 Corinthians 9:27. [4]. John 14:6. [5]. Ephesians 3:15. [6]. Psalm 16:11. [7]. Matthew 5:15-16. [The Living Bible (TLB)].

God knows and sees everything, but He wants and expects you to tell Him everything. Because of this, He is always seeking to establish a close relationship with His creation. When Adam sinned, He asked him, “Where are you? Why in the world are you hiding from me?”¹ God knew Adam and Eve had disobeyed Him, but He still wanted them to tell Him everything that had transpired. That is the essence of a true relationship with God—a relationship with God is spelled C-O-M-M-U-N-I-C-A-T-I-O-N. When Cain murdered his brother, He asked him, “Where is your brother?”² God knew very well of Cain’s vile deed, but He still wanted him to tell Him everything about what had transpired. God knows everything! Even though He knows everything, He also sees everything. Even the things that we perceive as our deepest secrets. He is the most powerful “Big Brother” of all “Big Brothers,” so there is no hiding from Him.

“God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!” — F. Scott Fitzgerald.

We experience new events, new year’s, new accomplishments, to mention but a few. Sometimes, the new things that we experience are not always hitch-free. Sometimes, a complication or two may arise, and sometimes the complication may be due to our own errors. Brand-new milestones in our lives could come with errors that we make as we go through life. We always seem to err in one way or another, but the fact remains that we should never hide from God—whatever our error may be. Adam tried to hide from the all-knowing and forever universally present cosmic CCTV—God—that is funny and stupid at the same time.3 We must come boldly to Him, confess our wrong, and ask Him for mercy when we are wrong.⁴ That is the attitude that always wins. That is the attitude that gets you forgiven as He begins His restorative work in your life. Our attitude will determine our altitude in Him.

What does God desire? A broken spirit—that is just what He wants from those who err and transgress against Him. God wants remorseful people (i.e., people who have deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; people who are full of repentance). Not only should you be sorry about your wrongdoing—He wants you to go a step further by turning away from those errors and embracing Him utterly for the help you need to live above those errors. As the Psalmist said, “a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not ignore.”⁵ God will forgive you every time you come back to Him by His Way (i.e., through the cleansing that comes from the blood of Jesus Christ).⁶ However, you can’t afford to go back to doing wrong—it’s like a dog that goes back to its vomit.

“The fact that God knows everything does not mean that He is directly causing everything. He respects our freedom at our level. He makes it possible for us to act freely. If He didn’t, we wouldn’t act at all—we wouldn’t be at all.” — Francis George.

Every healthy relationship needs this level of communication to ask anything from your partner, including forgiveness, freely. I can imagine some of you feeling relaxed with the thoughts of sinning against God and gladly running back to Him seeking forgiveness. God is merciful, yes. However, do not mock God with insincere repentance. You cannot mock God deliberately and get away with it. Taunting God is toying with your own soul. Remember, He is all-merciful and all-powerful. However, He is not stupid. You will eventually reap what you sow into the ground of your life.7 God will forgive you, no doubt. However, it would help if you remembered that repentance opportunities are not infinite because we have finite lives. Be genuine. Remember, eternity—heaven or hell—is infinity—your choice. 

Just as God is ready to forgive you always; remember, you must also be unhesitant to forgive anyone who mistreats you as often as they wrong you and repent. Be willing to forgive others that hurt you—be sure never to hold grudges towards those that offend you.⁸ Avoid strife in your hearts. Remember that you are not verbally exchanging words with someone does not mean you’re at peace with them. Some people are experts at holding grudges with people in their hearts. Drop all discord with others. Expunge all roots of quarrel, hatred, or bitterness from your heart towards others that offend you.⁹ God hears everything in your heart. As your heart speaks, it is even louder than your vocal voice. Living in your own wrong inclinations (jealousy, discord, bitterness, hate, etc.) is the fastest way to lose God’s Presence.¹⁰ It is like you leaving the Garden of Eden and venturing into No Man’s Land.¹¹

“The great news is that God knows everything about you, both good and bad, and He still loves you and values you unconditionally. God does not always approve of our behavior. He is not pleased when we go against his will, and when we do, we always suffer the consequences and have to work with Him to correct our thoughts, words, actions, or attitudes. And while you should work to improve in the areas where you fall short, nothing you do will ever cause God to love you less…or more. His love is a constant you can depend on.” — Joel Osteen.

God’s Presence is your security. You must always stay in Eden to maintain your eternal security. Your pass to Eden is repentance and drawing near to God through faith in the atoning work of Christ’s death on the cross. To retain your residency in Eden is to sojourn in Christ. To distance yourself from Christ via a life of sin and insincere repentance is to distance yourself from Eden—the symbol of God’s presence. Don’t leave Eden, and don’t do anything that drives you away from it. Sin will push you away from Eden or God’s presence. Remember, whenever you’re in God’s Presence, you’re in Eden. God’s Presence will give you every good thing that you need in every new venture that you embark on. Remember that God knows everything, so do not hide your sins from Him; it can’t be done. Never lose Eden. If you’re not saved yet, you’re in No Man’s Land. If you’re not saved yet, you’re in the Badlands of Sin. The devil can do with you as he pleases.   

References

[1]. Genesis 3:9. [2]. Genesis 4:9. [3]. Genesis 3:10. [4]. Hebrews 4:16. [5]. Psalm 51:17. [6]. John 14:6; Ephesians 1:7. [7]. Galatians 6:7. [8]. Matthew 18:21-35. [9]. Hebrews 12:15. [10]. Galatians 5:19-21. [11]. Genesis 4:16. [The Living Bible (TLB)].

When we talk about the word “track,” a couple of things usually come to mind.  My first thought when you mention the word “track” is a railway track. A railway track is “a structure consisting of a pair of parallel lines of rails with their crossties, on which a railroad train, trolley, or the like runs,” like we see in the photograph above. For a train to get to its destination, it must stay on track. If it derails from its tracks, then it is usually catastrophic. Another popular notion of the meaning of track is that of a “path made or beaten by or as if by the feet of people or animals; it can also be a trail.” For instance, when people go on a journey or an expedition, you often hear admonition for the expedition team to stay on track in other to ensure that they reach their destination. Should they go off trail, they will not get to their intended target. Your destination is your goal. Staying on the right track will ensure that you will get to the end of your destination—hence, your goal accomplished. If you derail from the tracks leading to the goal that you hope to achieve, the result could be catastrophic to say the very least. So, once again, I ask, ‘Are you on the right track?’

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” — Will Rogers

Life is a Journey. The journey of life is full of rigors and many ups and downs. For you to succeed and be on top of your game, you need to be resolutely determined to forge on forward irrespective of all the darts that life throws at you. Life deals its blows and benedictions on everyone; however, one needs to keep pushing forward encapsulated in the cocoon of knowledge and determination. A Claude D. Pepper once said that “Life is like riding a bicycle. You don’t fall off unless you stop pedaling.” I totally agree with him in the sense that we must keep pedaling forward so that we can get to our designated destination called destiny. If you fail to keep pedaling in life, you will eventually fall. A fall hurts. It could be minor, and it could turn out for the worse. So, keep pedaling; however, make sure you are on the right track and going in the right direction. Won’t you just hate it if you happen to pedal all the way to the end of a destination only to realize that the track you were on only led you to a wrong destination? The concept of the right track and right directions can be viewed from different perspectives. These perspectives could be the notions of purpose, career, life choices, faith, etc. 

From the faith perspective, the journey of life brings to bear the question of destinations in the afterlife—Heaven or Hell. These are the eternal destinations of all life. God gives everyone ample opportunity to find the track—path—trail—way, whatever you choose to call it, back to Him. ^[1] Are you on the right track? Your options are life or death, which is wholly dependent on whether you would obey or disobey God’s call to believe in Him through Christ or not. ^[2] Two paths are set before you—Heaven or Hell. The track to heaven is a narrow gate, and the route to hell is a broad one. ^[3] Choose one. For me, my journey in life is that of promise and prowess hinged on the confidence that I have in the Holy Writ. I live with the hope of eternal life in heaven, which is my ultimate destination—God willing. Why? Because of my faith in the saving grace of what Christ did by dying on the cross, being raised on the third day, ascending back to Heaven, and coming back to take me to be with Him through all eternity. ^[4] What way do you choose? Heaven or Hell. You decide. 

Are you on the right track? From the perspective of faith, would you say you are on the right track? If you should leave the planet today, how confident are you that your destination is Heaven if you ponder the path that you are currently traveling on today? The only way back to God is your faith in the finished work of Calvary, and the sacrifice that Christ paid with His death on the cross—plain and simple. There are no ifs or buts about it. You just must make that right choice to be on the right track to an eternal destination that will eschew Hell from the equation of the afterlife. Are you on the right path that will take you to Heaven? That is a question that I throw at you and for you to answer. However, you must understand that the opportunity of reading this article certifies that you have heard of God’s love to us all that gives you a chance to escape the fires of Hell. ^[5] Know this—when you accept Christ, the Word of God becomes the Global Positioning System (GPS) device that ensures that you remain on the right tracks to Heaven. It becomes your guide. If you follow God’s mind through the Words of the Holy Writ, then be sure that you will get home (i.e., Heaven) safely. Once again, the choice is yours, and I sincerely hope you make the right one by choosing Christ.

“Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me.” — The Bible, John 14:6

Have you ever been on a road trip where you were driving and heading towards a destination, but found out that you mistakenly took a wrong turn that started taking you towards the wrong direction? After a couple of minutes or even hours of driving, you realized that you were heading towards the wrong direction. You went off track. Maybe you did not have a GPS that was guiding you, nor were you with a traditional road map. If you have ever encountered this sort of scenario, you know how frustrating it is trying to reconnect yourself back to the right tracks towards your actual destination. In the journey of life, if you are on the wrong path and you close your eyes in death, you will end up in a place you will regret—Hell. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God. It is a place of eternal pain and suffering. It is a place of eternal stench and filth.  There will be weeping, there will be pain, and it will never stop. ^[6] I will leave the deeper discussions about Hell for another day. Just know that it is a horrible place and it is for eternity. Eternity does not end—remember that. And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process? What value is there if you gain the entire world—and lose eternal life? What can be compared with the value of eternal life? ^[7] What do you have to lose if you choose today to believe in Jesus? You will have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Consider this carefully after reading this.

Take some time and ponder on all that you have read about the path that you are currently on. Are you on the right track as you travel through life from a faith perspective? Sit back and rethink the course that you have covered so far and ask yourself this very vital question—Am I on the right track? We all have a transmundane fire within us called the conscience that continually nudges us in the right path to which we should travel. It is but a still small voice of seraphic-sanity that whispers into our subconscious, “Take this path, take this path!  Turn right, turn left!” Warning us concerning certain or possible dangers ahead. ^[8] The worst thing you could ever do to yourself is to be on the wrong track and choose to remain on it till you get to the end of the track. Everyone is on a track, and all tracks must one day come to an end. A Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said that the “Conscience is the voice of the soul.” So, be careful not to sear your conscience via stubbornness. ^[9] If you are on the right track, then be wise and careful not to derail. Rethink the path that you travel. Rethink the track of your life today, so that you will smile when you reach the end of your journey. My hope for you is Heaven.

References

[1]. John 14:6. [2]. Deuteronomy 30:15-20. [3]. Matthew 7:13. [4]. 1 Peter 1:3-6. [5]. John 3:16; Acts 16:31. [6]. Revelations 21:8; Matthew 25:46; Psalm 9:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 13:50; Acts 2:27; Mark 9:43; Jude 1:7; Proverbs 15:24; Proverbs 23:14; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 19:20; Proverbs 15:11; Matthew 16:19; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:13-14; Matthew 10:28; Ezekiel 18:20. [7]. Mark 8:36; Matthew 16:26. [8]. Isaiah 30:21. [9]. 1 Timothy 4:2. [The Living Bible (TLB)].].

On Saturday, January 13, 2007, at my one-bedroom rental home in the city of Antioch, California, the light filtered into my room via the slices of the Venetian blinds, as I woke up that very morning to the smile of the rising sun. I laid there thankful for seeing a new day, pondering, as I rhetorically spoke to myself, “Shall it be another beautiful day in the paradise of my existence?”  It was always a refreshing feeling to be greeted by the chirping birds, singing sweet songs with melodies that were pure and true. After the necessary morning rituals of that day, I remember sitting back to muse and dialogue with my subconscious on the Power of Words. What spurred these thoughts on that day? I remember taking up my dictionary and flipping through its pages, and all I saw was words, words, and more words—that was the catalyst to the thoughts. It is absolutely fascinating to sit back and reminisce about my views concerning the Power of Words.

“Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble.” — Yehuda Berg

Going through the dictionary that day takes my mind to what a Nathaniel Hawthorne once said that “Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of one who knows how to combine them!” Words may indeed seem innocent, harmless, and powerless in black and white on paper, or on an electronic screen. However, to the skilled user, they come alive with potency in spoken and written words. The master wordsmith can bring to life words with cogent powers, making them kinetically constructive to build up or destructive to tear down. The right use of words can cause the common become uncommon. It can make the ordinary shift into the realm of the extraordinary. The accurate use of words can make a dull destiny to become utterly radiant. However, on the flip side, the wrong use of words can tank your destiny. It can crush foundations of purposes and bring grand edifices that took years to build to ruin. It can cause your whole life to be razed down to ashes. There is power in the spoken and written word. As a Pearl Strachan Hurd once said, “Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.”  Words are bullets that can kill in the mouth of the unwise.

As I sit back pondering on these notions concerning the power of words, I begin to question myself and my subconscious. Could I say that my word usage so far in life is adequate or inadequate?  Have I said too much in life or have I said too little? A Thomas Fuller was right on the money for his statement, “A deluge of words and a drop of sense.” No wonder the wise King Solomon had a lot to say about the use of words in the book of Proverbs in the Bible. You put yourself at jeopardy when you talk too much. In the outpouring of too many words, you are bound to say something that you shouldn’t, which could land you in a Herculean load of problems. So, sometimes, it makes sense to just shut up instead of putting your foot in your mouth. ^[1] It is better for you to utter just a few words and make sense than to open your mouth and you infect your ambiance with your lack of awareness, mediocrity, and utter stupidity. So, shutting up at times, when you have nothing meaningful to say is an art and an act of wisdom to say the very least. ^[2] There is much wisdom in the words of Pythagoras that “Either be silent or speak words that are better than silence.”

I really think that Mies van der Rohe’s architectural minimalist statement, “Less is more,” also spills over to the usage of words. Could I agree more with an Arthur Schopenhauer who said that “To use many words to communicate few thoughts is everywhere the unmistakable sign of mediocrity. To gather much thought into few words stamps the man of genius.” There is much value in the economy of words. We make more impact when we say few words with meaning than when we spew out a deluge of words that absolutely make no sense. In other words, we need to make concerted effort to ensure that the words that we speak add value to the lives of those who hear or read what we say. To speak or write words of value, you must internalize words of wisdom, knowledge, and common sense. You can only give what you have. What you internalize is what you externalize. You must think before you speak. It is foolish to just spew out words without first thinking it through. You must be careful of the words you speak and the words that you write. ^[3] A Proverb once said that “A spoken word cannot be recalled.” So, think about it before you speak about it.

You contradict your Christian walk when you say harsh words. You are only deceiving yourself, and your religiosity isn’t worth a penny. ^[4] Learn to speak right, appropriate, kind, gentle, soothing, and healing words that are beneficial. ^[5] You will do yourself an immense favor by not being careless with your words. People say thoughtless things that they end up regretting and will have to account for down the road, ceteris paribus. ^[6] For instance, some couples say very negative words to themselves when they’re arguing that end up destroying the foundation of their relationships that may have taken so many years to build. A Thomas Fuller once said that “To talk without thinking is to shoot without aiming.” Now, that is a dangerous man or woman—one who blurts out words without processing the effect of their words. In the words of some of my funny friends, these fellows have a case of an oral-diarrhea—they would need some tablespoons of buccal Pepto-Bismol to bring their stench of their running mouth to order. So, if you’re someone who has a quick temper, you may want to learn how to cool yourself down before you say things that you end up regretting. ^[7] As a Christian, you cannot curse someone out in a moment and then turn around and praise the person with your words from the same mouth—you contradict yourself and stain the garment of your Christian walk. ^[8] So, hush it and flush it—flush out bad words out of your system.

“Be careful what you say. You can say something hurtful in ten seconds, but ten years later, the wounds are still there.” — Joel Osteen

Isn’t it amazing just thinking about the power of words? That is the main reason we need to watch our tongues and what we say with our mouths. We use a harness to control a horse’s movement when riding it. As small as the harness is, it controls the action of the horse—and the horse obeys. The same goes for a huge ship—a tiny rudder—compared to the size of the ship—controls the direction of the vessel. As the Captain or designated seaman turns the Ship’s Wheel, the course of the craft changes with every turn via the motion of the rudder. In a similar vein, the tongue is comparable to the harness and the rudder—it may be small—but it can do a lot of damage via the kinds of words it is able to unleash. ^[9] People can say words—knowingly or unknowingly—to people that could cause some irreparable damage to the lives of the recipients. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. ^[10] We can speak life-giving words to people. Words that can build people up; words that can change destinies and encourage people towards carrying out noble and positive actions. People also possess the ability to speak death-giving words. Words can kill—literally. So, be cautious about what we say—spoken or written. Guard our words with all diligence.

Rudyard Kipling once said that “Words are…the most powerful drug used by mankind,” and I cannot agree less. When adequately used, they heal; and when abused, they could kill in an instant. We must consciously choose our words with care because according to a Greek saying, “A word out of season may mar a whole life.” When we speak or write rashly, it is like the thrusting of the sword which is obviously a painful experience. The potency of words cannot be underestimated, and its effects—positive or negative—should not just be considered from a Christian perspective. For instance, the power of words and its effects can be seen at work in the business world and beyond. Leaders, who are careless with their words can destroy the morale of their followers. We hear of instances where good employees end up leaving organizations because of what a leader or manager said negatively—directly to an individual or to the team. Leaders and managers who are careless with their words can erode the psychological safety of their followers. Hence, organizations need to invest in themselves by teaching their leadership and management how to use words in building up morale, rather than pulling it down. As we see, the power of words cuts across all industries. 

“A man has no more right to say an uncivil word to another man than he has to knock him down.” — Samuel Johnson

In summary, we have seen that words are powerful—they can build, and they can destroy; they can give life, and they can also kill. We must be cautious with our words. It is better that we speak less than utter so many words and eventually say the wrong things that we end up regretting. Relationships have been broken. Destinies have become sullied or even terminated prematurely due to the power of words being used negatively. Sometimes, being silent is wisdom.  Hence, economize your words.  Learn to listen more than we speak. A La Rochefoucauld once said that “The surest rule [for excelling in conversation] is to listen much, speak little, and say nothing that you will be sorry for.” Think before you speak. Remember always that what you take in is what you will eventually give out. So, if you internalize wisdom, be sure that you will begin to speak wise words. Speaks words that heal. Remember that the tongue may be a small member of the body, but capable of unleashing hell via the words that it says. Also, the power of words cuts across all industries—not just in Christendom. So, watch your tongue—watch what you say. If you will remember nothing from this column, at least remember the words of Christ that said, “And I tell you this, that you must give account on Judgment Day for every idle word you speak.” ^[6] It is something worth pondering on.   

A Robert Fulghum once said that “Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts.” We must think about the end-product of what we say before it. Don’t go around breaking people’s hearts.  Our words can either make or mar our destinies. King Solomon of Israel in all his wisdom once said that “Everyone enjoys giving good advice, and how wonderful it is to be able to say the right thing at the right time!” ^[11] Hence, it would be a worthy investment of your time if you take a moment and ask God to give you the words of wisdom so that you will know how to answer everyone. Ask God to teach you how to speak right, appropriate, kind, gentle, soothing, and healing words that are beneficial. May God open your understanding to His will through His words, as this will fill you up with His wisdom. You externalize what you internalize. Externalizing His internalized word is a wholesome experience on us and others. ^[12] May we become people who understand the potency of words. May we become people who say positive words that build up, rather than negative words that destroy. May we choose the right things to say; and when we speak, may it be a life that thrives.

References [1]. Proverbs 10:19. [2]. Proverbs 17:27-28; Proverbs 21:23. [3]. Proverbs 15:28; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 13:3. [4]. James 1:26. [5]. Proverbs 25:11; Proverbs 31:26; Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 15:4; Proverbs 12:18. [6]. Matthew 12:36. [7]. Proverbs 29:20. [8]. James 3:10. [9]. James 3:3-6. [10]. Proverbs 18:21. [11]. Proverbs 15:23. [12]. Isaiah 50:4. [The Living Bible (TLB)].

Have you ever been in a situation when all has just gone wrong? You look to the left intensely and no help. You glance to the right expectant of aid, and nothing is forthcoming. You look around you, and no help seems to be coming your way. Have you ever been surrounded by crushing circumstances that spell out the words “N-O H-O-P-E”? Have you ever been in a situation where you had to wear the shoe whose brand name is called “Adversity”? Have you ever been in a quagmire of desperation sinking faster and faster as you struggle more and more? Have you ever laid down and cried out saying, “What hard blows life has dealt out to me?” Don’t worry my friend because “Help is on the Way.”

“Leave your troubles with the Lord, and he will defend you.” — The Bible, Psalm 55:22

We have all had seasons in our lives when we let out the “Save-Our-Souls” (SOS) distress call. We have all passed through various difficult circumstances that make us wonder if life is worth living at all. Today, I am here writing to encourage and let you know that all hope is not lost so long as you are yet breathing. Thinking thoughts that life is not worth living should be the last thing on your mind. Help is really on the way to deliver you from your delirious circumstances. However, I do not know your situation, neither do I claim to have any sense of the pain that you are going through. However, I write this to encourage you with the words of Robert Schuller that “Tough times never last but tough people do.” I encourage you to be strong and never lose hope. God is always poised to step in at the point of our greatest need if we can only ask. 

“There are three stages in the work of God: Impossible; Difficult; Done.” — Hudson Taylor

When all goes South, look North—look to Jesus Christ—cry out to Him in prayer, believing, and help will be on its way.  Keep your gaze on Jesus believing. ^[1] Call unto Him for help because He hears your prayer. ^[2] God can deliver you from the biggest and deepest problems that you face in this life. ^[3] No matter the circumstance that you find yourself in, God can deliver you to the uttermost parts of your problem. ^[4] When all is going south in your life, look unto God. Look to Him because nothing is impossible to Him, all things are possible through Him. ^[5] God can rescue you—through Christ—from any kind of hardship that you are facing. However, how beneficial is it to your eternal well-being and eventual eternal destination, if he rescues you from your earthly difficulties without rescuing your soul from death—to be forever separated from Him through all eternity? ^[6] 

“God delights to increase the faith of his children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hands as a means. I say—and say it deliberately—trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.” — George Müller

So, as He saves you from your southward situation, be sure to give Him what matters most—your heart—your soul. He is more than able to solve your earthly problems; much more, He is more than able to deliver your soul likewise. Your earthly problems can be solved easily by Him, in His time. ^[7] He does not like seeing us suffer—in His time, he will make all things beautiful that concerns us, His own. However, He wants to develop a fruitful and intimate relationship with us first. He wants you to call upon Him, not just because we are in trouble. He desires that we communicate with Him because we want to cultivate a relationship with Him. God wants you to accept His ultimate gift, which is the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. ^[8] By embracing Jesus Christ, you are accepting the ultimate solution to all your problems. As you now begin to look northward in the place of prayer and faith in Christ, get up and begin acting in faith also. ^[9] Benjamin Franklin in the Poor Richard’s Almanac once said that “Diligence overcomes difficulties, sloth makes them.”  Even as you pray, do not be lazy. Work in faith believing that He is more than able to actualize your prayers. That is faith with works. So, when all is going south in your life, He wants you to trust Him absolutely. He can rescue us all. So, when all goes South, look North—look to Jesus Christ—and help will be on the way. Carpe diem!

References [1]. Hebrews 12:2. [2]. Psalm 116:2. [3]. Psalms 50:15; Isaiah 41:10. [4]. Hebrews 7:25. [5]. Matthew 19:26. [6]. Mark 8:36. [7]. Ecclesiastes 3:11. [8]. John 3:16. [9]. James 2:14-26. [The Living Bible (TLB)].

One of the greatest disservice that any human can do to themselves is to harbor a grudge.  In life, it is inevitable that offenses are bound to arise.  There is a famous quote that a lot of people are conversant with by Alexander Pope which states that, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”  In this statement in his poetry, “An Essay on Criticism” his saying meant that, “every human can make a mistake, so we should forgive those that do, just as God is said to show his divine mercy in forgiving sinners.”  Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15 that, “In prayer, there is a connection between what God does and what you do.  You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.  If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part” (The Message Bible).

How are you able to ask God for forgiveness for your own mistakes against others where you are harboring a grudge for a wrong done to you by another?”  When you choose not to forgive others, you potentially become a prisoner of unforgiveness.  When you open the Pandora’s Box of Unforgiveness, vices such as hatred, grudge, animosity, bitterness, and they like, start rearing their ugly heads.  In choosing not to forgive those that hurt you, you willfully become a prisoner to unforgiveness.  Bearing a grudge will ground you.  Talk about the weight of negative psychological feelings that the unforgiving person must sustain towards those that they have an issue with.  In the video below makes a lot of commonsense in exposing the deleterious effects of harboring a grudge and serves as an encouragement towards being free from the captivity of unforgiveness. 

When people offend you, it has the possibility of eroding the level of trust that we have towards others.  This can eventually lead us into bottling ourselves and our emotions to the world.  This eventually leads us towards isolating ourselves from others.  However, in this life, you cannot be an island.  In trying to be an island, you will only end up crippling your purpose, which in turn causes your destiny to sink into the quagmire of a murky-funk.  We live and exist in the community of life.  By detaching yourself, as a byproduct of unforgiveness, you stand the chance of missing out on positive potential relationships that life offers you, which could be life-changing.  A Thomas Carlyle once said that “Isolation is the sum total of wretchedness to a man.”  To be honest, that is one of the worst things you could do to yourself.  Hence, is it worth the trouble to stay unforgiving and miss out on the other opportunities that life presents to you?  You judge.    

Jesus further said in Luke 17:3-4 that, “Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him.  If he responds, forgive him.  Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him.” (The Message Bible).  This is a clarion call to all to forgive.  However, how we handle ourselves when we are offended by people will tell a lot about our character and personality.  Forgiveness is an art as well as a process.  You need to make a conscious effort to let go of all the hurt.  There is a potent power in forgiveness that liberates.  To forgive shows the extent to which show our capacity to love despite the ache that we face.  It is difficult to forgive those that hate us, those that mock us, those that treat us like dirt.  But we must put arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ, who forgave those that crucified him and became the ransom for many.  We must, therefore, embrace the power of forgiveness.

References

1. I Encourage Somebody. (2017, December 22). The power of forgiveness [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxXKTN32n8I&t=2s                      

Our world is rapidly changing. It is fast becoming more chaotic and uncertain. This feeling of uncertainty creates a yearning for peace and order in our daily lives. It is easy to neglect our walk with God in the pursuit of happiness and allow ourselves to get carried away by the chaotic nature of everyday living. Nurturing our relationship with God is a sure-fire way of finding an assured peace and order in our lives. It is not a one-way traffic affair; God is actively reaching out to all mankind in other to forge a personal relationship with everyone on an individual basis. However, He will not force Himself on anyone. Forming a relationship with God must be must emanate out of a willing heart on the part of humankind.  We are not robots that move to the whim of human programming. We can choose what we wish to do or not do. That is why God is seeking a willing and a contrite heart. A humble heart that will shun pride and give Him access to live and work through them. If you have a heart-shattered life ready for God’s love, don’t for a moment think you can escape God’s notice. ^[1] He wants us to let go of everything that separates us from Him and draw closer to Him. When we forsake our sins, He draws near to us and begins forging a relationship with Him. We must reciprocate in reaching out to Him as He reaches out to us.

God is forever near us and looking for ways to get into a relationship with us. God is forever standing at the doors of our hearts. He is patiently knocking and waiting for us to open the doors of our heart so that He can come in and forge a relationship with us.  He is constantly speaking to us in soft-tone-whispers as He seeks access. The ball is in our court to hear or not to hear Him. ^[2] However, a lot of times, we are so busy with the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life that we fail to catch His patient pleadings as He whispers to us to get that access. The truth is that we need God more than He needs us. Giving Him access will grant you an eternal pass into the best adventure time that life and eternity can offer you. Giving Him access ushers us into the world of the loving side of the nature of God.  Giving Him access grants you an exception pass to the negative side of His fury against disobedience. It gives us access to His everlasting love and mercy. He is not the problem. Very distinctively, God is the solution to all our yearnings, all our wants, all our spiritual, physical, psychological, social, financial, health, and overall life needs. He is not distant; He is forever near us. ^[3] Establishing a relationship with God will help us stay positive, hopeful and purpose-filled in a world that is fast becoming unhinged. God is reaching out to us to forge a relationship with Him.

In our daily walk with God, He expects that we attain a certain level of growth that is commensurate with the time we spend in His presence. Developing a relationship with another person is the catalyst that breeds closeness. For instance, the more time that couples spend with themselves, the closer they get to each other. The same principle applies to God. The more we move towards God seeking His intimacy, the more He moves towards us to establish an intimate communication with us. The more time we devote to spending with God, the more time He devotes to spending time with us. God yearns the company of His creation, especially humankind, because He created us in His image. We need to grow our relationship with Him. That is the source of everlasting happiness here on this earth. An infant cannot remain as such forever. The natural cadence is for an infant to follow the natural growth progression of physical, emotional, and spiritual nourishment to mature with grace and in health. In a similar vein, the malnourishment of the spirit retards and shuts off the flow of His goodwill and the ability to freely commune with God. Most Christians find themselves in this awkward space of malnourishment. If many Christians are in this zone, then those who have not given their lives to Christ are in the territory of the spiritually walking dead.

Forging a sound relationship with God starts when we embrace the life that He gives.  Becoming alive is the first step towards developing a hale relationship with God.  The way, the truth, and the life that God gives can only be accessed through His Son Jesus Christ. ^[4]  Our morality as human beings cannot buy this life. ^[5] You can have access to this life by trusting Jesus Christ.  To do this, you must first, admit your guilt as a sinner. ^[6] Adam brought spiritual death to all through the sin of disobedience; Christ brought life to all through His obedience and death on the cross as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. ^[7] Because we are human, we cannot exclude ourselves from Adam’s disobedience and sin. ^[8] Hence, we must express our full willingness to repent (i.e., 180 degrees turn away from sin, away from death) in other to eschew spiritual death. ^[9] Making a 180 degrees turn is not optional if we want the life that God gives. ^[10] We can access the life that God gives by believing on what Christ did (i.e., his death, burial, and resurrection) for you to have this access. This is his ultimate love gift to the world. ^[11] It is astonishing to see that God was thinking about mankind all along, by providing a means of escape from spiritual death? ^[12] We have no excuse for not embracing this showcase of love from God through His gift of life—Christ. ^[13] You can easily accept this new life—just ask, and it will be all yours. ^[14] Get to know the author of this new life better daily. ^[15]

7 Ways to Build a Strong Relationship with God

New life is the foundation for building a solid relationship with God. A Turkish Proverb says that “A building without foundation is soon demolished.” It is impossible to establish a sound bond with God without first establishing a relationship with Him. God is Light, and He dwells amid light. Light and darkness has no partnership because Light dispels darkness. We embrace life through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, is to embrace the Light. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. ^[16] By following Him, He leads us out of the darkness of sin towards God to a new life that is full of Light. Our desire to grow spiritually propels us towards a secure relationship with God. If you honestly yearn to know God on a deeper level, these seven guides can help you jumpstart your journey towards building a stable relationship with Him.

First, you must desire to go on this journey with God as your partner. Do you know that God is continually looking for people who understand the importance of seeking Him? ^[17] One significant thing that drives human achievement is desire. The human desire is the governor of focus. A Willa Cather in “The Song of the Lark” once said that “The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing—desire.” What we crave after, we focus on. The will “to be” and “to do” is a result of the desire to succeed. One must desire a thing first before they can achieve it. Your passion is what motivates you to action. Therefore, if what you wish in your life is pure and glorifies God, be sure that you will receive it. God is interested in those who want to know more of him. Therefore, the first thing to do to build a strong relationship with God is the willingness to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness. 

Second, we must disassociate yourself from non-believers. We must be cautious not to form alliances with those who do not love the Lord. There is no unifying factor between light and darkness. ^[18] We live in the world, but we must not conform to the world. Hence, we live and relate with non-believers; however, God’s command is for us not to follow their lifestyle by association. Remember, we become who we follow. ^[19] Non-believers have an entirely different philosophy from a Christian’s perspective. In our walk with God, it is wise to avoid a close-welded-fellowship with those who do not believe Christ, especially if our faith is still young and untested. Remember, God disassociated Abram from his people. Abram was still very fresh in the knowledge of God; if he had remained with his people, building up his faith to the point that he became known as the father of Faith may have been impacted. Abraham grew in his relationship with God. God could not hide his intention from Abraham. He walked with God, and he became a friend of God.

Third, always find a quiet time to study the Bible.  If we earnestly look for God through His words, you will encounter Him. ^[20] The Word of God is food for the soul. Don’t just rely only on Sunday preaching alone. Personally, devote time to feast on the Word of God in the Bible. The typical human eating pattern is eating three times daily. Some people even exceed what is rational to their detriment. Then it makes common sense that we feed our spirit regularly too. Be aggressive in your quest to know God. Theodore Roosevelt once said that “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” With today’s hectic schedule, it is difficult for most people to find a quiet moment to meditate or listen to the Word of God. You must find a way to weave Bible study into the fabric of your daily calendar. Listen to podcasts or audio CDs on your daily commute to work. It takes a deliberate and constant effort to achieve all desired goals. No matter how tight your schedule might be, always create a time to study God’s word. God will be close to you if you are willing to know him.

Fourth, do not abandon the gathering of believers. God urges us not to neglect church meetings. ^[21] Despite this directive from God, there is still a radical decline in church attendance globally. There is a drastic increase in Christian apostasy (i.e., a total desertion or departure from Christianity). People’s hearts are cold towards the knowledge of God. The Devil understands the potency of God’s word and what it can do in saving the soul of man. Hence, he does everything within his power to discourage folks from reading the bible and even going to church to hear it. He, the Devil, has blinded the eyes of people so that they can go to a Christ-less grave and spend eternity with him eventually. ^[22] The church is asleep; only a few people in the church are actively spreading the message of Christ to the world. We cannot and should not abandon gathering to worship together. Walking with the wise, we become wise. Walking with fools, we become fools. ^[23] For a steady relationship with God, you must be in close fellowship with those who already have a stable bond with Him, to learn and nourish your faith.

Fifth, be active in the things of God. You cannot live for God and yet be dormant and not be doing anything for him. ^[24] You must actively use the gifts and talents that God has deposited in you to do His will. You must become a conduit of His word and blessings to the world.  You cannot just be an observer on the stage of life. Don’t just be a spectator and a churchgoer. Explore every opportunity to serve God, be it in church, at work or within your community. Seek out opportunities to radiate the light of His goodness to the world. Remember, there are many people who are going towards a Christ-less death. For the Christian, this is a code red situation. It is estimated that 1.8 people die per second. I don’t know how accurate this data is, but it should make the heart of the Christian to cringe. If you become active in the things of God, your attention will likely shift away from the desires of the world. Becoming active in God will make you develop a stronger relationship with Him. ^[25]

Sixth, by fasting, prayer and giving of thanksgiving.  Don’t trouble yourself about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. ^[26] I cannot overemphasize the importance of fasting when it comes to spiritual growth and developing a healthy relationship with God. Fasting can supply you with pure strength from on high. It is a shot of red bull to your prayers. Fasting gives wings to prayers.  Fasting is an excellent way to seek the face of God. It is also a way to battle strongholds and issues that require more than prayer alone to move from our lives. It is a powerful liberation tool when combined with prayer and thanksgiving. A William Temple once said that “When I stop praying, the coincidences stop happening.” Prayer is the fresh air of God’s presence. Prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving will get the attention of God and He will draw closer to you. Fasting humbles you before God. There are many examples of leaders who have won impossible battles through fasting, praying, and giving thanks all over the Bible and in current times. Therefore, whatever you desire that is just and holy, is possible through fasting, prayer, and thanksgiving and a sure way to building a strong relationship with God.

Seventh, be at peace with all men.  Jesus, teaching us in the Lord’s prayer asserted that when we pray for God to forgive our transgressions towards Him, we must first forgive those who transgress against us. ^[27] Paul writing stated that “We should try to stay out of all quarrels with people and seek to live a wholesome and consecrated life, for one who is not set apart for God will not see the Him at the end of this life.” ^[28] You cannot be quick to anger with a mind filled with un-forgiveness when seeking the face of God. To build a relationship with God, your mind and entire being must be at peace. Paul also admonishes Titus not to get involved in arguing over unanswerable questions and provocative theological ideas. He tells him to keep out of arguments and quarrels about controversial Jewish laws. Establishing that these kinds of arguments only does harm and are not worthwhile. ^[29] So, let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always there in your hearts and lives. Such peace is the duty and a prerogative of all who serve Him.  In all this, you must also stay thankful. ^[30]

We have surveyed several points on how we can cultivate a strong relationship with God. We need to pursue God passionately and grow our relationship with Him daily. Developing a strong relationship with Him is the most valuable investment that you can ever do for yourself here on earth. Master the seven principles in this article, and you will jumpstart your journey towards building a strong relationship with Him. Once again, first, you must desire to go on this journey with God as your partner. Second, we must disassociate yourself from non-believers. Third, always find a quiet time to study the Bible. Fourth, do not abandon the gathering of believers.  Fifth, be active in the things of God.  Sixth, by fasting, prayer and giving of thanksgiving. Seventh, be at peace with all men.  May the serenity of the Lord, which passes all understanding fill your hearts and mind in the knowledge of God through Christ Jesus, His son. And may the blessings of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, dwell and abide with you now and always as you journey towards seeking and building a deeper relationship with God, in Jesus name. Amen.

References [1]. Psalm 51:17. [2]. Revelations 3:20. [3]. James 4:8. [4]. John 14:6. [5]. Ephesians 2:8-9. [6]. Romans 3:28. [7]. Romans 5:12. [8]. 1 John 1:10. [9]. Luke 13:5. [10]. Acts 17:30. [11]. John 3:16. [12]. Romans 5:8. [13]. John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:9. [14]. Romans 10:10; Romans 10:13. [15]. 2 Timothy 2:15; Psalms 119:105. [16]. John 8:12. [17]. Psalms 14:2. [18]. 2 Corinthians 6:14. [19]. 1 Corinthians 15:33. [20]. Jeremiah 29:13. [21]. Hebrews 10:25. [22]. 2 Corinthians 4:4. [23]. Proverbs 13:20. [24]. Amos 6:1. [25]. 1 Peter 4:10-11. [26]. Philippians 4:6. [27]. Matthew 6:12. [28]. Hebrews 12:14. [29]. Titus 3:9. [30]. Colossians 3:15. [The Living Bible (TLB)].