Hosanna Restoration Church

Once again, I have been subjected to weird dreams. The only thing beneficial about them is that I was always calling on the name of Jesus. The dreams were full of distractions, and I would try and raise my focus up and away from them, but it was always short lived, and they were back.

When I woke up, as I was reading the account of Jesus in the garden and the advice that Jesus gave Peter many things came to mind. Jesus took our cup of suffering, and it brings Him joy if we will give our cares to him. There Jesus was crying out to God and yet when He found Peter sleeping, He ministered to him giving him one more bit of advice to avoid his great denial.

Life is full of distractions, but we can get our eyes up and receive the strength the Lord gives. The joy of the Lord is our strength. The distractions in my dreams bounced be terrifying and ridiculous. At first sight, they startled me, but after observing them they were too ridiculous to bother with.

Still, it was a struggle getting my eyes up to where they belonged! As I considered this, I was reminded of the scripture telling us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. We can take every thought captive, cast down wild imaginations and distractions and have victory through the power of His name. The name above all names is Jesus.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say rejoice. No weapon formed against you can prosper. Greater is He that is in you than he that is the world. The joy of the Lord is our strength. He is our refuge. He is our always present help in trouble and in triumph.

When I was weakening in my dream and trying to get my eyes up, I was reminded that I needed to praise again. I won’t give up! I will not give in! I will praise the Lord again.

In the garden, Jesus was at the point of despair when He said, not my will but your will be done. He was strengthened by the promise of God. That is where we must go for our strength. And when we go to Him for strength, we must receive it from Him.

If we ask the Lord to strengthen, our faith says that He does. He does not back off and wait to see if we can get through on our own. He says He will help us. He says that when we call, He answers.

He also warned us that we would be hated, just like He was hated. Remember, no matter how bad it gets, those things are distractions, and they cannot defeat us, because God is for us. Rejoice in the Lord.

Even now when people are deceived and cheering for terrorists and at the same time mocking Christians and admiring every sort of immorality, it is not a surprise, because our eyes are on Jesus. We know who wins and everyone needs to know our savior. Don’t lose sight of our calling. Tell them Jesus is Lord. He is the Lord strong and mighty. God still loves the world and does not want anyone to perish.