A family pet kitten called Meshach died today. My brother was out washing his car and she followed him out. Because he was there she assumed all was well. She let her guard down and trusted the world. Unfortunately, because the world is not operating according to God’s original plan, she got killed by a neighbor’s dog.
Sometimes, we let our guards down too. We lack the discernment to see that some things are not our friends, and not there to build us up, but to tear us down, steal from us, kill and destroy us. I am guilty of this, and still healing from wounds caused by poor and sometimes sinful decision making. I’ve acknowledged this, and looking forward to God’s help in rebuilding me, restoring me better than the former, returning to me everything stolen and everything I foolishly, like Esau gave away. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, trust not the world, nor the things in this world.

“And I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, and the consuming locust, and the cutting locust, My great army which I sent among you.” – Joel 2:25

What does that look like?

1. It looks like daily prayer. Daily listening to God. You can be anywhere: driving, bathing, doing domestic chores; it doesn’t matter, talk to God daily, and often. Be open with every emotion, and let Him know when you feel wronged and when you have done wrong.
“Never stop praying.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Leave your troubles with the LORD, and He will defend you; He never lets honest people be defeated.” – Psalm 55:22

2.After you’ve come to God letting Him know what’s on your mind (He of course already knows what the problems are, we just put our faith in action when we talk to Him), don’t stop there. Use scripture related to your case so as to focus on God’s promises, instead of the problem. The Bible says that we can remind God of His promises. This shows that we are not focusing on the problems but the faithfulness of His Word to heal, comfort and deliver us. See this list: http://reapwhatyousow.org/remind-god/

3. Always thank and praise God for who He is. The world is full of pain. But that’s not God’s fault. He didn’t want it this way. Even in the storm, He is still the Good God, our Good Good Father. Besides, praise is also a powerful weapon which confuses the enemy. When we are going through hard times and we choose to worship Jesus, this is especially annoying to Satan, because he wants to keep us in a pit of despair.

“In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

4. Listen. Practice listening to God. He speaks in various ways, but always in alignment with His Word. He may speak as a still small voice, through a friend, even maybe a non-friend, through a song, through dreams, through an event or occasion and the list goes on. Don’t limit how you should hear Him. He’s creative and purposeful. He knows just what we need, and when we need it. So trust Him.

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.” – Psalm 85:8

“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

It’s not normal the heartaches of the world, because it is not part of God’s original design. Sin brought pain and death. It is up to us, with God’s grace to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not let our guards down. The enemy is very persistent, and we must be violent in prayer. We must keep a constant flow of communication with God. Then when He instructs through whatever way, we need to trust and obey. He’s coming back again, so this struggle is only for a moment until we see Jesus again on His second return.

Be very blessed indeed.

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In loving memory of my cat Meshach. Rest in peace where ever is that place God takes His animals. If there is one…God knows. But I know that you Mesh, are in no more pain.