The Sunday Mail
Pr Tinashe Zinyemba Christian Youth
Nothing in life is free. If one has such a mind-set, you will appreciate what is around you. Someone paid the price for whatever you think is free. Often times, I have heard many say salvation is free, yes it is. On the other hand it is not free; Jesus died a painful death by shedding His blood.
Take time to appreciate parents, relatives and friends because they sacrifice a lot. It grieves my heart how some Christians take salvation for granted and I pray that may that not be you today. Let’s learn to appreciate God, loved ones, reflect upon your life and do away with bitterness and anger. Replace negativity with an attitude of gratitude.
Over the past few weeks we have been interrogating the question “What do you want?” Do you know that there are many people who actually don’t know what they want? If we are to ask some people what they want; they may not give a straight answer. Here is what James says about such people in James 1:5-7: “…For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
Maybe this explains why things are not working out. Do you know what you really want? Be honest. We will come back to this a little later. We have spoken about assessing the reason behind what you claim to want. Some want things to boost their egos and you will discover that in such instances you will go to great lengths to get what you want, and most of the times these “great lengths” come with negative consequences as they tend to go against morals.
We also spoke of wanting the right things for the right reasons as embodied in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
This tends to come with having your priorities in order. When priorities are right, everything tends to fall into place. However, this comes with sacrifice and diligence. Today, I want you to know that there is a difference between what you want and what you need. Do all you can to get what you need and you will realise that what you want will follow.
The amazing thing is that God knows your needs and want. Sometimes these two are the same but often times not.
There was a man who thought he knew what he wanted (and so did everybody else apparently) yet Jesus knew exactly what he needed. In Luke 5:17-26 there is a paralysed man.
His four friends have some crazy faith to the extent that they tear the roof just to lower this man and receive a miracle from Jesus.
You see everyone: the crowd, his friends, even the paralysed man thought that what he wanted was to be healed of paralysis and walk again, yet Jesus knew exactly what he needed. In Luke 5:20, Jesus says, “And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
This man needed forgiveness, everyone was shocked at what Jesus said and wondered why he did not say to the man “be healed”. Yet it was these words that led to the man being healed and picking up his bed and walking. Whatever it was that this man had gotten involved in, he seemed to be suffering from a guilty conscience or unforgiveness or bitterness, whatever it was, Jesus knew exactly what he needed.
You could be in the same boat where you think you know what you want yet what you want goes against God’s best plan.
Today I ask again: “What do you want?”
Many do not know what they want because they do not know themselves. So the first port of call is for you to understand who you are, your strengths and weaknesses, your limitations and capabilities. Understand your surroundings and circumstances, know where you are coming from to prepare for you are going. The best way to do this is to ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
He will advise you on education, jobs and even relationships. My prayer is that you align your desires and passions with what is in the scriptures. The Bible is littered with the desires of God for your life, from prosperity, wealth, joy, peace, fruitfulness, health, promotion, ownership, and much more than you can ever think of.
Till next time, God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenent Church. Email feedback to [email protected]
