Admitting our inadequacies and wrongs does not get any easier as we grow, especially when it means coming before God. 

In today’s modern-day context, reading prophetic books can be a very unrelatable or dissociative experience and process; having to plough through pages of seemingly fictitious or abstract content, far removed from reality. The more advanced command of language used in each of these books makes for an additional barrier to entry. Nevertheless, we must hold this fact at the forefront of our minds, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Carefully and systematically examining the details in this chapter, the following introspective questions come into view: No matter how perplexing it may be to completely decipher and convey clear, truthful interpretations of prophetic books, one shared and recurring message across them is this: Those God has chosen to love, He will jealously defend, strengthen and preserve, especially those who have, likewise, set their love upon Him, honoured Him, and known His name. Those God has deemed opposers, He will zealously and utterly devastate and destroy, that His absolute sovereignty and dominion might persevere and prevail, even to the ends of the earth. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” – Numbers 23:19 Lowly as our Lord Jesus was sent and came to save, throughout our Christian life, let us keep our heads down and strive, work hard, and stay humble, as we, against all odds, in Jesus’ footsteps, stand united and ride towards God’s eternal stronghold.

In life we face countless temptations and attacks from Satan, let us learn how to overcome Satan from those who have emerged victorious.

Do we respond to God's zeal by being zealous for Him?

Zechariah 7 starts with the people questioning if God wanted them to continue fasting, as they had done for many years in captivity. In response, God questions their intentions — “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? ” (Zech 7:5) God, who knows the hearts of men perfectly, knew that their fast wasn’t out of repentance, but rather because they were in a period of mourning for their plight. Instead, God wanted their obedience to the many warnings He sent through the prophets (Zech 7:7), revealing God’s desire for obedience and sincere repentance over empty actions. Similarly, Isaiah 58 tells us more about fasting that is accepted by God, with the emphasis on the intention and accompanying actions when one fasts. “…Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.” (Isaiah 58:3-4, ESV) The Israelites’ fast was rejected by God as they continued in their wicked ways, instead of fasting accompanied by righteousness and compassion (Isaiah 58:6-8). Fasting expresses our devotion to God when done with the right heart . Today, we often have church-wide fasts before Spiritual Meetings and large-scale Evangelistic Services where we pray for God’s guidance and for His Spirit to work mightily around us. When we take part in these fasts, let us also consider if we are doing so with the right heart. Reflecting on our intentions also applies to other things beyond fasting, like prayer, Bible-reading, reaching out to brethren, or even just coming to church. Just as Jesus says in Matthew 6, let us not do these things with the same heart as the hypocrites who receive their desired recognition and glory from men, but not God’s reward. Instead, when we do these things to the Father who is in the secret place, and truly humble ourselves before Him with a sincere and obedient heart towards His words, our Father who sees in secret will reward us openly. It is easy to get accustomed to doing things out of habit, including things related to our faith. Therefore it is all the more important for us to constantly reflect on our purpose, and ensure that God is truly at the centre of all that we do. May our hearts always be well-pleasing to God so that our actions that follow are also accepted by Him. (Extra!) Read this Manna article to find out more about the purpose and right attitude towards fasting: What You Need To Know About Fasting (Manna 5) https://ia.tjc.org/elibrary/ContentDetail.aspx?ItemID=12690&langid=1

… despite our history.