Posts by Lincoln

Christians, be assured that great trials which produce great pain captivates the attention of our great God, and it is Jesus Christ, who is God over all (Romans 9:5). There simply is NO higher authority or greater resource available to us! A brief look at Israel highlights the sovereign grace of God which not only…

Pains of the heart are often accumulative, stacking up one upon the other, waiting for the day when overload occurs. Prolonged and gradual build-up often goes unnoticed by us or others. However, a crisis may occur, be it small or large, which becomes the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Suddenly you become aware of severe inner pain which has…

When pain lasts longer than expected, a constructive attitude is paramount. Attitude greatly determines how we apply tools to master and recover from pain. Attitude also determines our willingness to receive help and strength from others, particularly help from God and His Word.As believers, Paul tells us that, regarding sanctification, we are to be made…

Sometimes we hurt because of foolish decisions made which have painful consequences. Sometimes we hurt because of the evil that is inflicted upon us by others. Then, there are pains which occur simply because of difficult circumstances and events in life. Life’s pains range from minor irritations to devastating trauma, and not necessarily because of…

While the world rumbles along in an ever-decreasing trajectory of discontentment, ignoring God’s daily provisions, this is NOT true of God’s children. A hymn often sung in my childhood Church was “Count your blessings” composed in 1897 by Johnson Oatman. I was privileged to grow up in a small rural community, and in a family…

As I age, I sometimes think, ‘I wish I understood 40 years ago what I understand now.’ What would I have done differently? What different paths would I have walked? What different relationships would I have pursued? You see, knowledge is one thing, but understanding that knowledge and how to action it is a different…

Initially, new believers are discipled by a more mature believer. However, during Christian life the new believer introduces others to Christ. This makes them a discipler of others while still being discipled themselves. This is excellent! The wonderful thing about God’s design for discipleship is that at every stage, and at every level of spiritual…

An often-misunderstood subject is that of Christian maturity. Just as we would think something very wrong if a baby fails to grow and mature physically, so it is equally wrong if a believer in Jesus Christ fails to grow and mature spiritually. A babies growth demands routine feeding, washing, clothing, possibly medication, human interaction, and…

In the flurry of what’s proven to be a topsy turvy year, it is all too easy to get caught up in whatever the world’s media is pumping and leave Christ out of His own celebration. While gift giving and decorated celebrations are good fun, at best they are superficial and short lived. More than…

Buried deep in the centre of Christian faith is relentless and thankful worship of Yahweh. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (1 Chronicles 16:34). Authentic worship does not speak out because it has received all the things it wants, no, worship cannot contain itself because…

The white space between Daniel chapters 4 and 5 house a shift in the governing politics of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar is gone, along with all the life changing lessons he had learned from God. Babylon is now under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar, exchanging humble faith towards God for drunken rebellion and idol worship.…

Few Bible readers would not know the name Daniel, who stands out as an encouraging and thought provoking character for all the right reasons. Most commonly, Daniel is remembered for his courageous stand against the oppressive rule of Babylon and the Medo-Persians. With his loyal friends, Daniel was preserved by God through incredible trials. For…

Human hearts have an incredible ability to hold onto unforgiveness, perpetually keeping alive past hurts and offences. As Christians, we’re not exempt from this ugly reality, even though we possess the resources in Christ to overcome unforgiveness. Writing to the Ephesian Church, Paul provides understanding on the practical nature of forgiveness in Ephesians 4:29-32. First,…

Few people, if any, have no prejudices at all in life. There will always be those issues that stir up the strongest emotions which we struggle to get past. Luke chapter 5 records one such instance. The Romans ruled first century Palestine, and the Jews carried a strong prejudice against Rome, understandably. They were enemies.…

In Psalm 5:1-3 King David gives us a brief look into his thought life of anxiety and prayer. 1 Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. 2 Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning…

Pain can be a powerful motivator feeding into our thoughts. As with many aspects of life, pain is diverse in nature and caused by a host of possible sources. Unfortunately, pain of any kind is memorable. In our humanity, it is not uncommon for our whole being: physically, emotionally, and spiritually, to hold onto pain…

Feeding thoughts with healthy fuel requires identifying the things which poison our thoughts. A poison of thoughts can be anything that resists holiness, values sin, and decreases your closeness with the Lord. Poisons reduce faith, weaken relationships, lessens your desire to serve, and promote self-first. Just as there are many sources of good thought food,…

Biblical instructions aimed at directing our thoughts are NOT intended to be demanding laws. Rather, they are practical, God oriented principles for Christian living. These principles enable Holy Spirit energised blessings. And it is these blessings that enrich our entire state of wellbeing; spiritually, mentally, and physically, enabling us to live with greater joy and…

God’s Word tells us that we are not waging war according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:3). Our spiritual struggles are against the dark forces of this world which seek to steer our minds against God’s truth (Eph 6:12). In spite of what we may feel during life’s battles, believers are able to destroy arguments…

All available sources of information generally go to construct our thoughts. The things we experience through our senses, our imaginations, our dreams, and our memories, all contribute in forming an information reservoir for thoughts. To a large degree, we have control over the information we permit to enter our intellectual collection centre. From this reservoir,…