It’s just after 7 AM here in Pinetown, and as the day starts, you can feel the pressure already. We worry about the petrol price, the cost of groceries, and whether the lights will stay on. It’s easy to feel a bit powerless, stuck in the day-to-day grind.
But I’ve been thinking a lot about a different way to live. I truly believe there’s a life of power, purpose, and peace available to us that goes beyond our circumstances. It’s the life Jesus himself modelled for us. I want to share a message that has been on my heart, a practical guide on what it means to live the Jesus life, right here, right now.
Understanding the Blueprint
First, we need to get this clear: Jesus is our blueprint. When He came to earth, He wasn’t just showing us who God was; He was showing us who we were always meant to be. He willingly became human to set a pattern for us. The Bible says the “Word became flesh” in Jesus, and I believe that same Word is meant to become flesh in us. It’s meant to guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions, making us a living, breathing example of God’s goodness on earth.
Your Source of Power: Joy and Faith
To live this life, you need the right fuel. It’s not about your own strength; it’s about plugging into God’s power source.
Joy is Your Strength. Life will try to steal your joy. A bad report from the doctor, trouble at work, or conflict at home can feel like a heavy weight. But the Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” This isn’t just a fleeting happiness, like when your team wins the Currie Cup. This is a deep, unshakable strength that comes directly from God. I’ve learned that thankfulness is the key that unlocks this joy. When you start thanking God, even for the small things, it’s like a wing that lifts you above the negativity.
A Little Faith Goes a Long Way. So many people think they need massive, unshakable faith to see God move, but that’s not true. Jesus said all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed. Your job isn’t to muster up some huge feeling of faith. Your job is to take your small bit of belief and connect it to His unlimited ability. It’s about having faith in Him, not in your own faith.
Overcoming What Holds You Back
If this power is available, why don’t more of us experience it? I’ve seen two major things that hold people back.
The ‘Did God Really Say?’ Virus Right from the Garden of Eden, the enemy has used one question to cause chaos: “Did God really say…?”. This virus of doubt infects our minds and makes us question God’s goodness and His promises. It makes us hesitate when we should act and stay silent when we should speak. We have to fight this by holding on to what God’s Word says, no matter what our circumstances look like.
Moving Past Unbelief Jesus Himself said, “All things are possible for those who believe”. This means the opposite is also true: unbelief can limit what God is able to do through you. It doesn’t limit God’s power, but it can stop that power from flowing into your situation. Choosing to believe is a conscious decision to say, “I trust God’s report more than the world’s report.”
Putting Faith into Action: Miracles are for Today
Jesus performed miracles for one primary reason: to show the world the Father’s goodness. And those miracles are not just stories in a book; they are for us, today.
I have seen God’s goodness first-hand, right here in South Africa. I remember praying for a man with cancer in a Spur restaurant before a conference. It wasn’t some big, dramatic scene. But in that moment, God’s power touched him, and a few days later, doctors confirmed the cancer was gone.
At a Mighty Men’s conference, a man who had suffered his whole life couldn’t lift his arms. After a simple prayer, he was instantly healed and lifting his hands high.
That same day, a lady who was almost completely deaf, had her hearing totally restored. At another church, I met a man crippled from a car accident, with one leg shorter than the other. As we prayed, we watched his shorter leg grow to match the other, and his pain vanished.
These stories aren’t about me. They are proof that our God is a good, healing God who is still at work.
Your Role: Becoming God’s Hands and Feet
Here is the most important part: this is for you, too. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has passed that mission on to us. You are not waiting for a move of God; you are the move of God.
I once taught a group of about 50 ordinary people at a church how to pray for healing. After the teaching, I had them pray for each other. That day, about 90% of them were instantly healed of their ailments, right there in their seats. It proved that the same Spirit that is in me is in you.
So I challenge you this week. Don’t just be a hearer of the word; be a doer. When a colleague at work complains of a headache, offer to pray for them. When you feel fear creeping in, declare God’s promises out loud. Step out and be the hands and feet of Jesus.
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing. Trust Him, step out, and watch what He does through you.
God bless.