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I find that when I feel a sense of despair, I look back at god's intervention in my life and go back to prayer and it gives me a sense of peace. Its nice to keep in touch with him on a daily basis so that it becomes a habit and the feeling of peace is a constant..

God reminds Joshua of his earlier words of encouragement "Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous? ......for the Lord your God is wth you wherever you go?" As humans it is easy to become terrified of potential trouble if we take hold steps against oppressors. The Jews wanted a physical king because they wanted a safety net from all their enemies in physical form. A strategist and strongman who would lead them. And God gave them Saul to begin with, even though He preferred to lead them all Himself. If we are to choose to hold on to God's word of encouragement, we have to believe that what he tells us works out for the best in the big scheme of things. We may not like some of his methods, or even the outcome, and therefore find it hard to believe he is actually working on our problem. It may even look like he is working for our enemies - Jonah for instance. How he sulked when he realised God was considering mercy towards his people's most cruel oppressors. When he got the call to go to Nineveh, he took off swiftly in the other direction. But when God in His own unique way set his direction right, and Jonah did what was expected, we see that Nineveh repented and showed it right down to their animals. Not what Jonah expected at all. So he plonks himself on top of a hill, keeping watch on the city, still believing in his head that God cannot possibly redeem that lot and waited for the proverbial lightening to strike. It didn't. And Jonah sulked like a big baby. We read how God pacified him like the big baby he was, giving Jonah the analogy of the plant that withered. What is interesting is when God says that the people of Nineveh did not know one hand from the other. Please excuse the lack of brevity in answering this question, but what I got out of it, is that if God gives instructions then go ahead and obey it, even if in one's mind, it seems like a huge injustice. God takes care of injustices - sometimes even when we don't know that it has come against us. But the essence of the gospel is grace and in Jonah's time, we see it was Gods nature always to give people chances no matter how monstrous their actions might have been. God knows when, how and why. He will take care of the hurdles that we can't. His assurance is all we need. "Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged." I pray that I myself should find this confidence in God's assurance, as also to first be able to distinguish His voice from my own chaotic thoughts.

When God disciplines us, it is for us to realise our mistakes and then from them. A caring parent will always discipline his children so that their future is safe and they gain wisdom. In like token God has an eye on our future - esp our eternal future. Hardships are a way of learning through wisdom and experience. Wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit. Hardships should ideally make us more sensitive to the quiet gentle voice of the Holy Spirit.

When God's instructions are clear, then it is lack of faith that causes one to be disturbed and afraid when troubles interrupt obedience to Him. That will displease God, for we should believe He will take care of it. Lack of courage I suppose especially for ladies who can be vulnerable without male protection or support

What do repentance and separation from the sins of our culture look like for a disciple today? Lines are very blurred and getting blurrier. If sins are not recognizable as being what they are, there will be no repentance. How should we prepare ourselves to worship Jesus in the Lord’s Supper? We should seek forgiveness for sins so that we are spiritually clean and worthy of taking part in the Lord's Supper. True worship will come from a place of intimacy with Christ. Intimacy comes from being completely transparent before God and acknowledging our shortcomings and sins. 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness' 1Jn 1:9 How should we prepare to serve him with purity day by day? Perhaps try doing what Paul advises; Pray without ceasing. ' Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' (1 Thess 5:16-18) This should keep our minds stayed on Christ to do his will.

Lack of faith and succumbing easily to ideas that seem to give a sense comfort even if temporary - A disciple with robust faith would continue doing what is right in God's eyes while offering up prayers of faith even as opposition persists. Prayers will keep one's spirit up and bringing to mind God's promises will sustain an unflagging spirit when faced with 'insurmountable odds' . This faith comes with being in the Lord's Word and with constant communication with Him, which helps build up faith, so when the rubber hits the road, it does not cause any deviation from the path towards the objective. Haggai and Zachariah were the voices that held up the spirit of the builders of the temple while the building was being opposed. They urged the Israelites on, urging and advising them to move forward with the project.

This is a common phenomenon borne out of egoistical motives. Some people are just vengeful - if they can't have their way, they use anything they can to disrupt what exists. I have not seen any good come of it and would love to have an answer to this. The building of the temple was stalled for about 20 odd years due to people like this. The Jews were not willing to dilute the laws given them by God. It takes people of close communion with the Holy Spirit, worldly experience and an assertive yet just manner to deal with this. Yet one man may not be able to do itnon his own. As long as hubris and greed are the uppermost motives this follows in the secular world and sadly even in a world where we claim to be followers of Christ.

No, it isn't. I need to spend more quality uninterrupted time worshipping and listening for God's voice. I have to learn to put aside my worries and have faith so that I can spend quiet time with Him. That's my prayer for now

Perhaps they were the generation that knew only the land of exile, while the older generation (mostly) reminisced and grieved for the splendid temple in which they grew up worshipping and which had been a major part of their lives. There may have been those who were not that Involved spiritually with the law and the temple and preferred the comfortable lifestyle they had gotten used to. Besides there were no more wars and enemies to contend with. Humans are intrinsically self preserving and believe the pinnacle of success is having a comfortable life. While Jesus tends to often take us out of our comfort zone to grow spiritually, sacrificially even..." If you have two tunics you should share with the one who has none" so to speak. As someone wrote: 'in a one-coat society, that would have been funny.' Jesus moved about depending upon the kindness of others for his basic needs of food and shelter ( he had nowhere to lay his head) and he asked his disciples to do the same. He went where he was needed and where people most needed to know of the grace and mercy of our Father; the lost sheep, or the prodigal son one might say. The Samaritan woman (he didn't take the usual detour Jews took to avoid samaritans, but went right through the city) True disciples would understand by Jesus's lifestyle that earth life is transitory and rather than get attached to earthly things we should be ready to take God's grace and mercy to those who seem genuinely lost, no matter where it takes us. One of the hardest things to do when comfortably ensconced in a well-tended nest. Worse still is never speaking up for injustice incase it costs us even the slightest discomfort.

All Living in unity Pride mostly That giving wholeheartedly is mistaken for asking to be used as a doormat - nothing good comesbof the latter situation - not for the doormat nor for the user

I understand what you said Dr. wilson, that the closer we walk with the Lord, the more we recognise and uncover subtle sins. Personally, the act of forgiveness undeserved in my case makes me think twice about hurting the Lord, though there are times I knowingly still transgress thinking I have no alternative. I wonder how God looks at that. Still I hope in His mercy in faith, not knowing what else to do. How does knowing God forgives us affect our willingness to forgive others? I know that I have to forgive and it's easy - but forgetting is hard. When forgiveness gets taken for stupidness for perpetrators to take advantage of it, then one needs to understand how to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. So that's a tough question. My expectancy will depend on my obedience to His Word I suppose, because I know what to expect based on how I lead my life and base my actions. His Word has made it abundantly clear. I know that He waits to cleanse us of our sins, not wanting that any should perish. Because we cannot manipulate words and arguments with Him, the thought should direct our steps because He is just. That's His intrinsic nature and even how hurtful it is that any one of us stray, the fact that whoever is aware of His Word will be liable to his rightful justice if they continue to sin. He is not a vengeful God, but a righteous one, that's just who He is. I have faith in His mercy.

Sometimes one can be overly ambitious when making plans for anything and may try to overreach - which by itself is not a bad thing. But some things may not be favorable for our well being in the grand scheme of things - a scheme known to God. Keeping us safe and within his circle of protection depends upon our obedience to Him. Even when it seems contrary to our own blueprint. So it's conducive to our own wellbeing to continue doing the ground work, but keeping in mind to check whether our blueprint is in alignment with God's. He is concerned about every small detail of our lives - of that we must take to heart. I know I must work on that myself. Many a time when I don't know how to proceed with certain issues and my mind is like a tornado, I just have to put it before Him and say I'm going ahead with what I think I should do. Please close all doors if it's not right in your eyes. Many have slammed painfully on my face I have to say. So I gotta go back and check what I need to change in my attitude or actions. This comes back to meditating and spending good quality time with Him before getting into the rigors of the day. I need to pray to be able to do that too. Each generation is smarter than the last. Children brought up on the Word of God and adhere to it are a blessing to parents - they don't cause shame and they stand by their parents when their parents are old and frail and speak up for them with God's wisdom that they have inherited through their youth due to the life examples of their parents.

Why doesn’t God always do the stupendous miracles of which he is capable? Because patient obedience over the long haul necessary to both the success of our labors and our own spiritual maturity (thank you Dr Wilson) and to continue along the same lines of spiritual maturity - we are capable of doing much. Meditating on God's Word and using wisdom can accomplish much. If we can do it, God won't - he may give us a shove in the right direction like any good parent. Can we shout for joy now, even before we receive the answers to our prayers? What might prompt that in us? We should; it helps on many levels. We put faith in action when we do. Remembering God's many past mercies helps prompt me in my time of deep uncertainty.

What does this psalm teach us about the security that the Lord gives us? That's a tricky one - those who are righteous and speak against unrighteousness are often, if not always persecuted. We look to the new earth then when Christ rules. What examples do you see of unrighteous rulers? What kind of government happens when rulers are unrighteous? Vote banks supercede righteousness - when drugs, abortion, neutral gender put in the minds of children, among other things are propagated, one need not be an Elijah to see where society is heading. This is the worst kind of global pandemic. What happens in the government of our hearts when we allow unrighteousness in us to continue to guide our actions and thoughts? When we even begin to subscribe to ideologies in our minds that go against God's Word, it's the beginning of a slippery slope. The longer we walk the path believing that it's ok to have one foot on each side of the fence, teh harder it is going to be to retrace our way back to the path of righteousness. It's nice to memorize some relevant verses from the Bible. When one tends to stray a bit, these verses tend to pop up in the mind and can help put a brake on things before it goes further.

When I look back on my life, I realise that God has kept me safe from perils I did not recognise as being so. I have learned now to thank Him for every little unexpected help that comes my way. Only God knows every person's thoughts and motives, so it's hard to comment on why some people who claim to be die-hard athiests have personal saving encounters, where they cannot but admit it was the Hand of God, and why some who are committed Christians (atleast as one can see) don't have these encounters. Why some non believers have miraculous recoveries from deadly illnesses and some believers do not. I have had a number of saves I can say; but the one that still leaves me shaking is being saved from being put behind bars in Abu Dhabi while I had two very young children as my husband had been carrying drugs to the country for when he travelled for duty which was a month on/month off schedule. Because of harrassment from his mother, I had insisted we go with him on the next trip and stay there not knowing that he had been carrying drugs. He was caught and jailed on the trip prior to the one we were to leave with him. Till date, it's hard for me to comprehend the complete lack of any sense of family well being and the responsibility as father and husband to protect his own. That it could have been me with 2 young kids unsuspecting of any malfeasance is a nightmare even today even though this happened two decades ago. I know without a doubt that it was Gods mercy that saved us. However he shoukd have received more than the 4 years he got, which I believe was also the Hand of God. Though he would write letters claiming that he now knows 'The Almighty' and he would never do anything that went against God, the first day he was released, he wanted to go out and have his drugs again. He is now earning very well in another ME country and is in a bigamous marriage. He continues deflect responsibility for all his actions and has become no better after his jail term. So God's mercy seems to have given him a sense of entitlement. Its hard to say why God helps some and not others from a human perspective. He knows best why He does. Its best to keep in His Word at all times as best as one can.