Turning The Odds In Your Life

“Everything is permissible for me…but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Cor 6:12)

What are the things that are mastering over us and putting us under the control. We need to pray to God and through His grace and power to gain mastery over them. In other words, we are going to turn the odds or the tables against us.

As we read 1 Cor 6:12-20, Paul tells us that he would not be mastered by anything. But rather he was mastered by none other than the Master Himself.

Could this be our life’s purpose? To have our life mastered by Jesus Christ? A life that is not mastered by the Master himself will be mastered by material things, disappointments, circumstances and the host of it.

Life often has its share of pain and disappointments, ups and down, with a set of circumstances. Although, life may not be rosy, but I believe that as you commit your life unto Him and acknowledge His Lordship and submit unto Him, He will surely grant you strength to master over them.

God can break every shackle, every bondage that binds us, whether is the pull of our carnal nature or that of the devil himself. It is not a change in our external circumstances that we need, but rather it is a change within ourselves. Self-mastery will not achieve this but divine mastery will. Make up your mind to submit to that divine mastery – beginning today.

Sembawang Hotspring

Sembawang hot spring is opened daily from 7 am to 7pm. It was previously known as Kampong Ayer Panas, which means ‘hot water’ village. It is located off Gambas Avenue. You could park your vehicle in the nearby housing estate and walk over. Alternatively, you could take public transport.

There are three water points for the public to use. Many believed that the sizzling hot water has healing properties which can rid people of aches and pains.

I visited the hotspring on 27 Jul 2006 at about 1 pm in the afternoon. There were only 3 men at that point of time. My wife and I enquired about the usefulness of soaking in the water. An elderly Chinese told us that he has been there everyday. He would pour the water into the bath tub (somebody must have left it there) and when it turned lukewarm, he would soak in it. He has found that his blood circulation has improved and he was able to sleep well in the night. Despite his age ( I guess around 65), he looked radiant and healthy.

There were many pails and chairs. We poured some water into the pails and soaked our feet for about half an hour. Nothing sensational or different. I supposed we have to do regularly over a period of time. One advice though is that you must visit during the day. There are lots of mosquitoes in the night.

For more photos, click here

FEARS & WEAKNESSES

God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind - (2 Tim 1:7)
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me - (2 Cor 12:9)

Fears

Desire to protect myself
Money or the lack of it
Family
Job Security

The underlying problem revealed:

Lack of trust in God
Lack of faith

To have the mind of Christ is to trust in the Father's provision. Only He can protect us and our familie. Fears indicate a misunderstanding of God's purposes which are beyong our understanding. Jesus has allowed Lazarus to die from his sickness rather than heal him. But Jesus has a greater purpose in mind that would bring glory to God when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45).

Paul was ready for life and death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain - (Phil 1L21). Whatever God permitted was OK> Paul faced both life and death without fear because he has trust and confidence in God.

God's desire is to change you from being one who is self-protective to one who finds security in Christ.

Prepare a list of you fears. Evaluate your fears, ask God to reveal His ways, ask Him to begin moving you towards the security in Christ.

Weaknesses

We often excuse our weaknesses by saying we were born that way. Three times Paul asked the Lord to remove his "thorn in the flesh" or a weakness. Gor's response was that "My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

God's desire is to move your weaknesses from being tools of Satan to being tools of God.

Prepare a list of your weaknesses. Ask God to help you identify the ones which are being used against you as tools of Satan. Write an S beside the ones and ask God to transform these weaknesses into tools that bring Him glory.