Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

Our present world is full of misfortunes and crises. We wake up every day to a new challenge and adventure. It is terrible and tense, and its effect can not be overemphasized.

There is hardship everywhere. We hear the same news of disasters, rapes, suicides, murders, terrorism, and others every day. We ask, “Is it the end of the world?”

We are besieged by terror and dread. In spite of all the technological advances, we know that we have no solution to our problem. We realize money cannot buy life. The rich people have no peace. They have all the protection they need, yet they worry about assailants.

The poor man is also unhappy because he cannot afford the high bills and exorbitant prices of food and drugs. We are never satisfied with food, and we are not content with enough. There is no justice. There is no peace; lies and covetousness reign; the truth is trumped. And we ask, “shall there be a change or restoration of things again?” Is our world ever going to find peace again? because everything is collapsing and crushing. Our world is hastening to destruction.

Not quite long ago, the coronavirus brought the world to a halt. And there is a fear of monkeypox in the country. Is this ever going to change?

The answer is “YES.”

There is peace in this world of trouble, sorrow, hardship, and pain. There is hope in this devastated, evil-infected world. The answer and solution to our present world is Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I have overcome the world,” the world of problems. The world of grief and anxiety, the world of terrorism and disease.

He finished it for you on that Friday afternoon when he exclaimed on the cross, “IT IS FINISHED!”

And he says, through him, we may have peace. In the world, there is tribulation. However, we shouldn’t be frightened because he has overcome the world. ” -John 16:33

In this world, we will have trouble. We are guaranteed to have trouble.

And in the midst of all these uncertainties, God is reassuring us that HE IS THE ANSWER.

We have realized that science and technology DO NOT have solutions to our problems.

Try Jesus by Prayer.

When we pray, it literally means that we are telling God we’re finished, therefore we cannot do what we ask ourselves. We surrender to authority and say, “God help”. The Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ” -Philippians 4:6-7

Try Jesus by Faith.

God commands us to have faith, faith in Christ and not in ourselves. It is written, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ” -Proverbs 3:5-6.

Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith. Everything he has said in his words is true.

Have you tried your government yet and found no solution? Try Jesus. Have you tried your country’s security but still there’s insecurity? Have you tried your doctor or your drugs but still can’t quite get over that sickness? Have you tried everything to give yourself joy and be happy, but still there is no joy to be found? You need Jesus. Try Jesus Christ. In “the world you will have tribulations, but in Christ, there is peace for you. There is hope for the hopeless. Try Jesus!

KWESI ABBAN (ELD.)

I had a very interesting dream recently, about a happy puppy that picked up a large egg and carried it to his master. Wagging his tail in energetic anticipation, he dropped the egg at his masters feet.  What happened next was surprising. The egg cracked open and scorpions came out, stinging the puppy!

I asked “what should he do??”  I then watched in amazement as the dog curled up and went to sleep at the foot of his master, resting peacefully.

I then heard his master say “rest now until I give you a new command, then your actions will be from me and you will know it is my command by the peace that I give you.”

I knew immediately upon waking, that the dream had significance.

No doubt my horrible fear of stepping on a scorpion growing up in Arizona, where they frequently show up in desert homes crossed my mind, however I knew there was more to this dream.

While walking into my kitchen a couple of days later you will never guess what happened! Exactly… I stepped on a Scorpion!! What was really amazing is that after screaming loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear and catapulting onto my kitchen counter, it occurred to me…why wasn’t I feeling any pain of it’s sting! How was that possible?

When I looked at the place where I was stung, I realized that there was a huge callous formed where the scorpion’s stinger met my foot. This was because of numerous painful blisters I had received from new hiking boots I had broken in on some treacherous hikes.

What a strange analogy I know, but sometimes God has to go outside of the norm to get His message to sink in with me. As you can imagine this scenario really got my attention!

I couldn’t stop thinking about my dream and this strange incident that followed.

I finally came to understand that the dog in this dream represented me and the egg represented all of my good intensions in trying to handle things on my own; frequently jumping ahead of God’s plan instead of waiting for wisdom and direction. While my intentions were good, the results were never as good. “The wrong thing at the right time, is still the wrong thing” as a dear friend once told me.

Not only have these efforts not been helpful (despite my good intentions) but because of my impatience, they have ended up hurting me.
After humbly repenting for jumping ahead of God’s plan in thinking I knew better, I opened my bible, and turned to Jeremiah 6:14. “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people, saying, peace, peace; when there is no peace.”

I then understood the meaning behind the real scorpion that I stepped on!  I realized that the scars from the battles I’ve fought are there to protect me against the enemy’s sting just as the callous formed from my painful blisters protected me from the poisonous venom of the scorpion.

I have lost so many family members and friends,  many in the most tragic of deaths. However the analogy came to mind where it says in scripture “death where is your sting? “

My horrific lifelong fear has not only been disempowered, but it has now been replaced with a new courage that comes from the lesson I have learned in this strange story.

I have found a new peace that only God can give.

I also realized that this dream not only applies to me but also many others, including many church leaders who have shared similar stories.

We are all going through a time of restlessness, confusion, chaos and loss. Just as I have experienced, many are seeking after God’s provision without necessarily having His direction or having experienced  His peace in the process.

This is not just futile but it can be very dangerous!

I once heard my pastor say “A peace-keeper ignores his Goliath but a peace-MAKER REMOVES him!!!”

This is where we are today!!

Is it possible to engage in the battle that we are called to in this time, yet still do so with an underlying peace? That seems contradictory doesn’t it?
It’s not only possible but it’s imperative!! We can ask for His peace when there is no peace! This is how we will know we are walking by His spirit and not in our own flesh. Doing so with a responsibility to face our Goliath & REMOVE him!
We must understand that being at peace doesn’t mean being passive.

NOW is not a time of passivity!! It is time for us to lock arms and stand for what we know to be true and REMOVE our Goliath!

A shalom that truly passes all understanding in a time where chaos and fear abound, will then go before you and surround you!

So what is your Goliath today?

What is holding you back from removing your fear and stepping into a place of Shalom and removing your Goliath once and for all?

These days are certainly not for the faint of heart. We are in a battle that requires courage, perseverance and to constantly seek God’s wisdom to navigate these treacherous waters.

I pray that you will stand strong today and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, using your wounds as a protection against the enemy’s plans for destruction in your life and in our nation!

Release your faith with courage and be in peace!

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Blessings and Shalom