#87a What holds our hearts?(10may06)

“Let us hold firmly to the faith we have’
Hebrews 4:14

Thank God for diseases. It is not that some cuckoo variety of the bird flu virus has managed to unlock the keys to my brain cells, for me to want to desire pain and suffering.

In fact, reality is, as I wallow in the bodily discomfort of a flu-weakened constitution these past two days, the yearning for the return of the days of strength and vigor intensifies.

In my moments of self-pity, the Lord sent a message to me from a faithful sister.

‘Be still, and know that I am God…’
Psalm 46:10

The love of God is the balm to our troubled soul. Yet, for many, even when they are flat on their back, God could still be the last thing on their convoluted mind.

Truly, sick as I was, in the quietness of time spent with the Lord, was truly an uplifting experience.

‘……The Spirit helps us in our weakness’
Romans 8:26

‘..the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.’
2 Corinthians 1:4

Believers of Christ are meant to be a peaceable and loving lot, though in reality, many are still gripped by Satan’s snares.

Yet, for those who truly seek to follow Jesus Christ, the peace that they are blessed with, often seems to transcend all human understanding.

‘Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid….’
Isaiah 12:2







How can we break free of Satan’s grip on our deceitful hearts??

‘…He was heard because of His reverent submission…….
He learned obedience from what he suffered….’
Hebrews 5:7-10

With Adam’s fall from grace, the world has been handed on a platter to the devil.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Men, by its sinful nature have often chosen to deal with the world, as in the ways of the world.

An interesting snippet of information I read today talks about how the HSN1 virus(aka Bird flu) attacks our body. The virus itself acts like the key, trying to match the key-holes of our cells. It will keep mutating until eventually, it matches the fit and gain entry into our body system, from there, it will replicate easily rapidly and literally, possess our body.

While not the best analogy, nor scientific understanding on my part, it does parlay the fact that God made Adam perfect. When Adam sinned, the rest of mankind have fallen, and death is the finality of sin.

God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has broken the hold of death (and Satan) on us.
The devil knows that he has been defeated, yet, he has never faltered in his efforts to bring you down with him.

If our focus is on things of the world, rather than Jesus Christ. Then, you are providing an entry for the devil’s wiles to eventually penetrate, gripped and destroy you.

How can we unlock the chains of Lucifer on our soul??

It is beyond us, for we are dealing with forces beyond humanity coupled with our deceitful self.

The verse in Hebrews 7:10 provides us with the key to Christlikeness.
Looking to God always and humbly submitting to His will is not in the nature of the sinful man. Yet, it is the only way, for instead of resisting the devil, we must submit to God, for only through His sovereignty can we truly be free of the devil’s wiles.

God Blesses

Eng Hieang