There are times or situations in life when you hit a brick wall and don’t know what else to do. These are the times you get on your knees to pray, have a heart-to-heart with God and trust him to give you the strength to get through it. Then you get up and keep on going. The Bible says in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1 that,

‘There is a time for everything and everything on earth has its special season.’
Ecclesiastes 3:1 — New Century Version (NCV)

Which means nothing lasts forever and you can have hope (which is an expectation) that God will see you through it. Find a Bible verse you can meditate on, that will help encourage you through whatever you are going through such as Romans 12:12 which says,

‘Be joyful because you have hope (in Christ). Be patient when trouble comes (your way) and pray (to God) at all times.’
Romans 12:12 — New Century Version (NCV)
(Scripture Paraphrased)

Or there is Psalm 34:19 that says,

People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all.’
Psalm 34:19 — New Century Version (NCV)

So, if you are thinking why me? I’m a good person, what have I done to deserve this? It is worth reminding yourself that in life there are different seasons and these seasons will take place whether we like it or not. Some seasons are pleasant like the summer or spring times. Whilst other seasons, like the autumn times, prepare you for the harsh oncoming winter times.

Bottom line is this: sometimes we can manage the seasons we face in life. Other times, it is simply out of our control. And that is when we have to throw up our hands so to speak and turn it over to God. Think about it.

At one point or another most of us would have heard someone call on the name of God, be it respectfully or disrespectfully. On this occassion, I am not talking about those who respectfully serve God. I am looking at the people, who for one reason or another, don’t seem to have a fear of God or understand his sovereign power. Therefore, they have turned God’s name into their football and throw his name around however they choose.

Ever heard the phrase ‘Oh my God!’ or ‘Jesus Christ! ‘ or ‘For God’s sake!’ Some may say Christians sometimes use these phrase, which is true, but it is the reason why we call that name that is of concern to me. When someone uses the abrreviation ‘OMG’ i.e. Oh My God, very rarely do they say it out of respect for God. Rather, it is a figure of speech. Before you go on the offensive or misunderstand the point I’m trying to make, ask yourself this question. If God was next to you, would you use that expression or call on his name as it pleases you? Likewise, would you speak to your boss at work anyhow? And don’t say, this is different because God is our creator which means he is the boss of us.

Just think about it for a minute and let your mind mull over the implications of our actions when we trample over God’s name. The name of JEHOVAH God whom the Bible says in the book of Psalms 83:18,

‘That all men may know that his name alone is JEJOVAH, the most high over all the earth.’
(Psalm 83:18, scripture paraphrased)

If that is the case, what basis do we have to disrespect our creator? Looking at who God is to us and what he represents to us, there is simply no excuse to take liberties with his name, end of.

Shockingly, our disregard for the God of the Universe and his only begotten son Jesus, is so common place in today’s world, that we have turned his name into a profane word. Want to hear what God thinks of our nonchalant attitude towards him? Let’s look at the book of Leviticus 19:12, where God gave a clear command about how we should not profane his name. He said,

“You shall not swear falsely by my name, so as to profane the name of the Lord God, I am the Lord.”
(Leviticus 19:12)

In case that wasn’t clear enough, God warned us again in the book of Exodus 20:7, when he said,

“Do not misuse my name. I am the Lord your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.”
 (Exodus 20:7, Contemporary English Version)

Do you find it a little harsh when God says he would punish those who misuse his name? Imagine how you would feel if someone mispronounces your name deliberately just to belittle or mock your name? Wouldn’t you attempt to correct them?

As we celebrate Easter, it is the perfect time to remind ourselves of who God is and what he means to us. To those who may be asking, ‘what is Easter?’ It is the period when we reflect on the death of Jesus Christ, known as Good Friday and celebrate his resurrection from the dead, called Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday. The Bible explains in John 3:16 the huge sacrifice God made when he gave up his only begotten son to be crucified, so that he can restore man’s broken relationship to himself. It says,

For this is how (much) God loved the world, (that) he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16, scripture paraphrased)

Want to know what Jesus experienced on that cross on our behalf? Here is a tiny description from Isaiah 53:5, which highlights what Jesus suffered because of us. It says,

He was wounded for the wrong we did;
He was crushed for the evil we did.
The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,
and we are healed because of his wounds.
(Isaiah 53:5, New Century Version)

Knowing the sacrifice that God made for us and the  excruciating pain Jesus experienced on that cross for our sakes, let us remind ourselves of who God is. So that whenever we call on his name, we will be sure to give him the undeniable respect that only him deserves.