Category Archives: self-help

Not To Exceed The Load Limit

“The temptations you experience are ordinary trials, which do not exceed human strength. For God is faithful and because of that he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. When you are tempted he will give you a way out, so you can endure it.”

We have all seen the load limit signs that are widely installed on roads, bridges, and elevators. Engineers know that too much pressure can cause serious damage or collapse, so they determine the exact pressure limit, and which the various tools can safely withstand. For this reason various warnings are installed to warn us not to exceed the maximum load.

Humans also have load limits that vary from person to person. Some people, for example, are able to withstand the pressure of tests and trials better than others; but everyone has their own endurance limit and can only endure that much. Sometimes circumstances and people seem to push us beyond what we can bear.

However, God knows the limits of our strength and He never allows adversity that exceeds our strength and ability to enter into our lives. So, when trials and tribulations press us down, be brave enough to face them. Remember, our heavenly Father knows the limits of our ability to withstand the pressures of life. Surrender to the power of God; no trial will exceed our strength.

The Story Of Two Sailors

One day, two sailors were sailing in the middle of the sea. Several days of sailing, sunny and shady weather always accompanied them on the voyage. But one night, a storm raged and the waves threw one of them into the sea.

Surprisingly, the drowned sailors were in the sheltered space of the ship, while the survivors were the sailors who were in open space and closer to the sea. Why? It turns out that the drowning person was not holding on.

That’s a picture of people’s attitudes when experiencing trials in their lives. When life is going well, they feel like they don’t need help. But when things got tough, his leg slipped and fell. Because they refused God’s help and did not want to hold on, they drowned very easily. On the other hand, those who hold fast to God will be able to get through the heavy misfortune that befalls them. They know that their heavenly Father is always with them to strengthen, guard, and protect them.

God didn’t promise a life without storms, but He did promise to help us through them. “He who sits in the shelter of the Most High and spends the night in the shade of the Almighty will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my stronghold, my God, in which I trust.'”

Win The Battle

Everyone wants a good life without problems, pleasant situations, calm, happy, successful, safe, peaceful, without anything bitter, without any trials, without any problems, without any war. Is there such a life?

This is a very unrealistic life. As long as we are still alive in this world we all will not be able to escape from it all. A life without the slightest problem will only be found in fairy tales.

Believers will not have a life without waves, waves, and storms. Instead, the life of a believer is to live in war and struggle every day. Believers are soldiers who must be ready to fight every day. Fight against who?

First, the Devil. “…not against flesh and blood, but against governments, against rulers, against the rulers of this dark world, against the evil spirits of the air.” The devil is the main enemy that we must fight.

Second, the world. It speaks of a way of life that goes against or goes against God’s will. For all that is in the world, namely the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not from God, but is from the world. And this world is passing away with its desires, but those who do God’s will live on forever.”

Third, self (the flesh). This is the closest enemy. “But each person is tempted by his own desires, because he is dragged away and enticed. by him. And when that desire is fertilized, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is ripe, it gives birth to death.” With God’s help we will be able to fight our flesh. We will never achieve victory without our willingness to fight.

Want To Be Participant Or Just A Spectator?

“Don’t you know that in the arena all the competitors run, but only one person gets the prize. So run in such a way that you get it”

Our life in this world is described as a running competition arena. There is also the distance that we have to travel is quite far with a variety of terrain. Sometimes the road we take is flat, uphill through hills, and sometimes we have to go down a steep valley.

In this game God invites all mankind to be participants, but not everyone responds to the invitation. In fact, most people ignore it with various excuses or reasons: busy, tired, I’m old let alone young people, later when I’m rich, and so on.

There is a verse that says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Indeed, for those of us who respond to God’s call, we must also be aware of all the risks: there are many trials, challenges, and obstacles. As a result, there were some participants who ended up stopping in the middle of the road because they felt they could not continue the race, some continued to carry heavy loads so that they could no longer run. While the other participants were able to run and keep running until they reached the finish line and became winners.

And only those who compete according to the rules of the competition and manage to reach the finish line are entitled to a medal or prize, as it is written: “An athlete can only get a crown as a champion, if he competes according to the rules of the sport.” God calls us to be participants in the competition, not just spectators, because there is an essential difference between a participant and a spectator.

Generally, a spectator will be easier to comment and criticize because he is only watching, not competing. Spectators rarely get injured or drenched in sweat, or gasp with exhaustion because they’re just sitting around watching. It is natural that even the best spectator is not entitled to any medal or prize in the competition.

Those who are entitled to get medals or prizes are participants who have worked hard and won the competition. Becoming a competitor requires a price to be paid. Are we ready?

“Son, Your Axe Is Dull.”

A young man was chopping wood with an axe. From morning until noon he continued to work. There is no time to stop. He had to hit the target. That’s why, he was constantly swinging his axe.

Once an old man came to him. “Son, your axe is dull. Stop for a moment to sharpen it,” said the old man. “Well, there’s no time, Grandpa. I have to catch up with the target,” said the young man.

Life in this world is getting more and more frenzied; the demands and challenges of the times are getting bigger. We are unavoidable from busyness and the shackles of routine. In fact, like a machine, we certainly need rest.

Living in a routine without even a moment’s “rest” is the same as the young man in the story above, who continues to chop wood without any time to sharpen his axe, so that his axe becomes dull.

This is the meaning of the importance of quiet time: take a break from the busy routine to build a personal relationship with God. In your daily routine, there should always be time for a moment of silence. Close your eyes and ears from all the hustle and bustle of daily routine activities.

Prepare yourself and open your heart to God, letting Him greet you in His way. Always finds time to be alone for a moment, to calm down in quiet time. “Come to a solitary place, so that we may be alone, and rest for a while!”

Loyal Guide Dog

Stephen Kuusisto is an American poet best known for his work depicting disability. Stephen grew up feeling inferior because he was blind. For him, vision consists of a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors, and shadows. When he’s alone, he likes to stick his face to the pages of a book and try hard to memorize street names so he looks like someone who can see clearly, not like he really is.

When he was 39 years old, his life changed after he got a trained and loyal guide dog named Corky. While learning to use Corky as a guide, Stephen reflects on the trust that has grown in their relationship. He said, “Confidence grows from trust which develops into belief, then into certainty. We are both a great team!” When Stephen admits that he needs the help of a friend who can see, a new world opens up that gives him freedom of movement he’s never experienced before.

Many believers stumble like blind people while living the life because they rely on their own strength. They seem unaware that God has provided a supernatural Guide to guide their path. God said that He would send a Comforter who would lead us into all truth.

Wise Man

“When a wise man sees calamity, he hides, but the inexperienced man walks on and is afflicted.”

A person who is able to see and respond to things appropriately so that he knows how to act is a wise person. Wisdom in a person is not obtained through formal education, science, philosophy, or human ideas, but through perseverance in meditating on God’s words: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD, and knowing the Holy One is understanding.”

Etymologically speaking, wise people are people who have the right attitude in dealing with every situation, situation, and event. This happens because he has trained senses so that he is able to distinguish what is God’s will and what is pleasing to Him, so that he puts an attitude of respect for God in every word and deed.

Many people are not sensitive to seeing things that are not good or evil around them, so sooner or later they will fall and be carried away by the current. God’s Word warns, “Come out from among them, and separate yourselves from them, saith the Lord, and touch not what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

The inability to see evil or sinful things is spiritual blindness. This is because people do not stay (rooted) in God’s word or do not build a strong foundation of life. A wise person when he sees things that are contrary to God’s will, swiftly avoids and leaves them.

Celebrating Disappointment

Sally applies for a dream job that has just opened at her workplace. The interview went well, but she knew she might not get the position. Her husband is a devout believer. He also suggested, “Let’s make a reservation at our favorite restaurant this Saturday to celebrate, whatever the outcome.”

Soon the news came that someone else had taken the position. But on Saturday, the disillusioned couple continued to celebrate. While enjoying a delicious meal, they counted their blessings and renewed their faith in a God who holds future opportunities in His hands.

When the psalmist counted his blessings, he was lifted from his despair and praised God, saying, “You have turned me who weeps into dancing, You have removed my sackcloth, You have tied my waist with joy”

Are you facing a disappointing situation? Why don’t you have a celebration to count your blessings, whatever the outcome. Thank Him in your disappointment. Praise His grace and love. Remember He never leaves you. He will bless you from heaven.

Uniting In The Great Flame.

We’ve all seen piles of firewood. When the firewood came together, the fire was extraordinary. However, if separated from the others, the flame will weaken and eventually will die.

The same is true in the fellowship of believers. If one member separates and does not fellowship with the others, his faith will almost certainly be weakened. Avoiding fellowship gatherings is the same as slowly killing faith. No matter how “great” one’s faith is, if it is not nurtured in fellowship with fellow believers, one day it will weaken too. Fellowship gatherings are like fertile soil for the sowing of our faith. That is why it’s very important.

Indeed, we are individual beings, in the sense that we are unique. However, we are also social beings who need others to grow. Let’s kindle the fire of our faith, by uniting in the great flame. “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the Day approaching.

Grow Like Bonsai Or Sequoia?

Many people like to maintain bonsai. Although the average bonsai height is only centimeters, this tree is already beautifully shaped and perfect. Contrary to that, in California found a giant forest tree called the sequoia. The height of this tree is extraordinary, it can reach 90 meters, and the trunk circumference can reach 26 meters.

When they are seeds, bonsai and sequoias are the same size and weigh the same, which is less than a milligram. However, in their growth period, the two experienced significant differences. People deliberately inhibit the growth of bonsai seeds, in the hope that someday they will get a beautiful mini tree. Instead, sequoia seeds are allowed to get their nutrition from minerals, grow near water sources, and get plenty of sunlight. Thus, he became a giant tree.

Timothy has been taught to know the word of God since childhood, from his mother and grandmother, also from Paul’s upbringing. This is the occasion where his soul is “watered” and “sunshine”. Furthermore, that upbringing made him a servant of God who had “sincere faith”, who remained strong even though he had to suffer hardships in the ministry.

Like Timothy, we too can absorb all the positive things around us: knowledge, enthusiasm, experience, examples, and especially the teachings of God’s word, so that our faith grows like a sequoia tree. Don’t let negativity dwarf our faith like bonsai.

“But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on the law day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; whatever it does prospers.”