I used to enjoy going to work in the prison. After my battle with some people in higher positions started, I dreaded the atmosphere, but not the work. I knew from the beginning that the Lord wanted me to learn so much by bringing me into this dark place after I injured my neck in 1997. The moment He found me, I knew that He started working in my heart. Despite being surrounded with evilness and darkness, He blessed me tremendously as soon as I started working here and got out of my comfort zone from the hospital.
And He continues to bless me by faithfully being there at this troubling time.
I looked around and observed the people I worked with.
Those who loved money had been killing themselves working extra, longer hours to earn more.
Those who were conscious with the way they looked, often, talked about undergoing cosmetic procedures to maintain their physical beauty.
Those who were seeking pleasures for themselves were seeking in wrong places to satisfy whatever hunger their bodies had.
Those who wanted power only acted to feed their interests and they often spoke only about their accomplishments.
My self-fulfillment and satisfaction only occurred when Christ found me. What this world programmed in my heart was being replaced with His work in me. The process was painful. And it is still on-going…But nothing in this world would ever equal the joy and peace that Christ gives to a surrendered heart.
Christ indeed is the only treasure that fulfills everything.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21 (NIV)
"For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen." - Romans 11:36 (NLT)
“ 1 The Lord says, "All you who are thirsty,
come and drink.
Those of you who do not have money,
come, buy and eat!
Come buy wine and milk
without money and without cost. 2 Why spend your money on something that is not real food?
Why work for something that doesn't really satisfy you?
Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good;
your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies. 3 Come to me and listen;
listen to me so you may live.” – Isaiah 55:1-3 (NCV)
“Daddy, please turn up the volume more,” I requested as we played one of my favorite songs in our car, my son driving for us so we could go to our church’s earliest fellowship.
I looked through the tinted window and saw the dark clouds ready to drop its carried weight of precipitation.
Down below, I saw the dry ground, so dry that everything below that cloud was in grave need of being watered. I wondered how receptive the trees’ roots would be once those clouds release the much needed drops of water down below.
As my son carefully veered the car to the left, about to enter the parking lot in our church, there it was: the big, white cross they had placed in front of the church.
It had remained unchanged despite the passing of seasons. The symbol of what Jesus had done to save all sinners like me. He died with open arms, always ready to receive anyone who is willing to acknowledge His sacrifice. The Living Water Who is able to quench anyone’s thirst. The Living Water that is always available and is ready to be poured out to a thirsty heart.
And I wonder…how receptive is your heart to Jesus’ pouring of mercy and grace?
Jesus is everything for me. He completely satisfies all of our needs. To think that I have only seen the tip of an iceberg about Him...To realize that I have only heard the faintest whispers about His great work...
“No eye has fully seen, how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard
The faintest whispers of how great You are…”
I knew the silence from my enemies at work did not mean they had ceased their evil plans. I knew they were active trying their best to make me quit from my job.
“Rcubes,” every one had a concerned look when they saw me after a month leave at work and they were surprised to see me working with the PM shift last Thursday, after working nights for so many years.
“Are you okay?” as some of them had welcomed me back with wide, open arms and sadness with their expressions.
“Fight, Rcubes, you must fight,” one stated as he saw me for the first time last night. “They got so used to people quitting when they were being given a hard time. There was no reason for you to go through this,” he added.
The following day, another devised scheme was given by handing me a written memo. But I already foresaw this to happen, by the grace of God. If the enemies thought that their new tactic to scare me would work, they were wrong.
I knew very well since this battle at work started that it wasn’t from God. Persecution comes from our spiritual enemy, not from God. Through this difficult time, my faith has been increased, knowing that no matter what the outcome is, I know my future is secure in Christ.
“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil will throw some of you into the prison and put you to the test. You will be persecuted for ‘ten days’. Remain faithful even when facing death, and I will give you the crown of life.” – Revelation 2:10 (NLT)
I looked around to see who among my co-workers were rooting for me. True enough, those faces were the ones who had learned to endure because they were the same ones who walked in this difficult journey I had been walking on. Many had quit. Only a few remained. But those “few” overcame because they stood firm on their ground.
And that is my sole intention: to remain standing firm and wait as He battles for me, knowing that no matter what the outcome is, I still have the victory.
“10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)
The alarming sound pierced our ears as my husband got up from the computer chair so fast, my son running towards the smoke detector to check it out and myself, sprung up from the couch as I was watching an evening show.
We ran everywhere to check out if there was any smoke. I loved to light up tea lights and a candle was always burning inside the fireplace. My husband puffed some air and quenched the candle in the fireplace.
“You don’t think it caused the detector to alarm, right?”
“I mean, c’mon, you know I always had candles burning 24/7 there and it was so far from the detectors. Plus, the vent was open anyway.”I explained.
The shrieking alarms sounded for almost 4 seconds then died down.
“Hmmm…That was weird,” we all agreed. There was no smoke. There was nothing that was giving off some heat.
“Oh, well,” my husband uttered. “Buy some batteries tomorrow if you can so I’ll go ahead and replace them.”
The alarm was loud but short yet, enough to make us, three, wary. What a relief to know that there was no fire inside the house!
What a truth that applies to our spiritual lives, too! Of how we must be always wary knowing that the spiritual battle is real as we surrender our hearts to Christ. Yet, when facing adversities or feeling the massive heat from the fiery trials, we must not fear. Christ promised that He will be there as we go through all these trials.
“24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set asidethe king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” – Daniel 3:24-30 (ESV) - emphasis was mine...
These three friends were pressured to deny God, but they chose to remain faithful to Him no matter what, even if it meant to face death. They trusted that God would deliver them yet still chose to trust no matter what occurred.
As I go through a tough battle at work and here I am going back this Thursday to face the same people who love to give me a hard time, God reminds me that He is with me all the way through from this passage from Daniel. He knows that I have been praying for a quick escape, even if it means Him returning “now!” But I must learn to trust in Him and in His plans for me. If He always rescues those who are true to Him, then believers don’t need to have faith. Many selfish people will sign up to be followers if that’s the case. God is working in me, letting me know that I must continue to remain faithful (as He is with me and you…) whether He intervenes or not. What awaits in the future is worth any suffering we have to endure. Glory be to God! Thank You Lord for being there for us during our fiercest battles.
Oh Lord, please forgive me for those times that I even want the things to happen my way, my time. You are Sovereign Oh Lord. Please empty me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I surrender everything to You Oh Lord. May Your will be done. I have everything because of You. Thank You Lord for Your love, mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
