OUR DAILY BREAD by Lesley Lerasa

Growing up, I didn't have much to stress about, even though I didn't have a lot and some days went by with nothing to eat. I'm from a small family of five, with two older brothers. My mother was a Jehovah's Witness and taught me to fear God, Jehovah, and that He is always watching over me and listens to us when we pray to Him. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). Like many believers, I was fully devoted with unshakable faith. Even in primary school, I'd stand up for what I believed in and go door-to-door spreading the gospel. "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). In every situation, I'd pray about it. "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). My father, who worked in the mines, would visit us once or twice a month, and I'd pray that God would help us live together as a happy family. "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith" (Philem...

  After finishing my grades at Shadrack F Zibi Memorial School, I told myself that I wouldn't come back to this school. I was convinced that I wouldn't set foot in those yards again. I moved from Khayakhulu, Rustenburg to Johannesburg to pursue further studies at college. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and I found myself drifting through life, hitting rock bottom. My former principal invited me to speak to the learners, but due to personal issues, I couldn't make it. Later, I received a text from a friend mentioning that some students were using and selling drugs at school. This news hit me hard, given my past experiences with substance abuse and the challenges I faced overcoming them. Five years passed, and I found myself back at the principal's office, sharing my story with her. I ended up negotiating to take a stand and preach to the learners about the word of God. Seeing the learners pay attention to the Bible and accept my testimony touched my hear...

  Ever since I started visiting different prisons in South Africa, including the dangerous one called Pollsmoor, I got a chance to meet the inmates and they shared some of the reasons why they ended up in prison. They committed different criminal activities and failed to comply with the law, some were involved in robbery, murder, rapes and other crimes. As everyone is in prison for breaking the law, even though they didn't commit all the criminal activities they were found guilty because of the one they have committed and now they're all called prisoners. ‭‭James 2:10 NIV‬‬ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Now let's focus on the Kingdom of God, which we are bound to live by God's commandments. Being a follower of Jesus Christ means to deny ourselves and carry our own cross and follow him. We need to change our lifestyles and be willing to be shaped by God through applying his words into our lives. He nev...