Maribel

Ixcajoc Arevalo

Contributing Writer

Maribel Ixcajoc Arevalo joined CBN in 2018 and is the National Director for CBN Guatemala. She is the seventh of seven daughters, the last in line for the family, and the first in God's love. She enjoys a good chat and a cappuccino with her loved ones. Gardening is her therapy, and her favorite place on earth is the beach.

More from Maribel Ixcajoc Arevalo

Seek the One True God

In a world with so much information available, it is very easy to create false beliefs or simply take a path away from God’s love. Between the rush of a modern and hectic life and the new currents of human thought, the love for material possessions, luxury, money, titles, positions, power, and many other things have taken the place of our Lord Jesus in the lives of many. Even loved ones or friends can be distractions that separate us more and more from Him, the one true God.

The history of Israel’s people is filled with stories of disobedience and worship of other gods. If we are honest with ourselves, the temptation to put anyone or anything in the place of God is very real and we could easily put anyone or anything in the place of the Lord. Now, imagine if that multiplies from city to city and from country to country. We would end up being a world without God.

In 2 Chronicles, we read about Josiah, king of Judah, who, following the example of his father, David, demolished altars and temples dedicated to idols and put God first. During the rebuilding of the temple, the Book of the Law was found and read to Josiah for the first time in his life. With grief, he said: “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:21 NIV).

Josiah realized that although he had followed God his entire life, there was a generational tendency to deal with, and he was quick to respond as we read God´s word to Josiah in verse 27: “Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.”

King Josiah´s humble response to the Word of the Lord influenced the entire nation of Israel, resulting in everyone renewing their commitment to follow God and being spared from destruction.

The invitation for each one of us is to ask: “Is there something or someone that I am giving the place that belongs to God?” Matthew 6:21 reads, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Whatever it is, we can quickly respond like King Josiah and have a change of heart and a new beginning. Just like Josiah, God can use you to leave an eternal legacy that will affect the generations to come by learning and spreading the Word of God.

Here at CBN Guatemala, we have witnessed the painful reality that our country’s children are the forgotten population by leaders, teachers, and many times even by the parents themselves. These children, without someone to teach them the Word of God, could one day become adults worried about debt, struggling with addictions, following idols, and producing broken homes… This is why we have given ourselves the task of taking God´s message of salvation and hope through Superbook (CBN Animation's Bible series) to every town—so that our future Guatemala is not a nation with many gods, but one people with one true God.

The wonderful promise of God for us is this: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Each one of us can take hold of this promise, repent, and seek God, together in spirit and in truth, for our neighborhoods, our cities, our nations.

Ask God to show you what you can do to be a vessel of change in your neighborhood. I encourage you to get involved with a Bible-believing church and learn in community how to put His Word into practice.

He Corrects Whom He Loves

When my mother was widowed with seven daughters to raise, her only option was to discipline and reprimand us when we did wrong. She carried it out in such a way that the end result was we became “women who fear God and do good.” In those times, when I was still very young, that discipline seemed very painful to me (especially having lost my father). Very early in life, I understood, though, that it was what we needed and that everything was always done out of love.

We also feel pain when the Lord corrects us for disobeying Him. Although we do not want to face the consequences of our actions, it is necessary and done out of His great love for us. It’s part of growing up as a child of God.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all (Hebrews 12:7-8 NIV).

The Bible says in Romans 12:2 that we must renew our understanding to know the will of God, which is good, acceptable and perfect. How then do we think we can be renewed without being cleansed? How are we going to know the will of God for our lives if we have not yet been purified, molded and prepared for a new life of faith?

Let’s start from this point: God loves you—and loves you just the way you are. You were created by Him in His image and likeness. To be used for His glory, you need that purification process, because there will always be areas in your life in which the Lord is working.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will have not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure (1 John 3:3).

Since the first day that God called me to serve Him at CBN Guatemala, several years ago, I have experienced test after test, process after process, and correction after correction in a deep purification process. Although there has been no reprieve and I have experienced much tribulation in my life, I want to share with you my personal and ministerial recommendations to help you face your purification process. Know and apply these four things:

God the Father loves you (see John 3:16).
Be thankful for the process, for you are being turned into a better version of you (see James 1:12).
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and learn to be quiet and listen. He is always speaking into your life (see Proverbs 8:32-34).
Pray without ceasing and ask for discernment to understand what God is doing (see John 10:27).

All of us in the CBN Guatemala office are encountering major difficulties. We recognize that we are going through a time of personal and ministerial growth as the body of Christ. The Lord has glorified Himself and blessed us to the fullest while we are going through these trials—so much so that we will not have enough life to thank Him for His favor. We’ve seen transformed lives and families, miracles of healing, provision, and restoration, among many other blessings happening in the lives of those we respond to as a ministry.

So, the next time you ask yourself, “Why me?” I encourage you to fill yourself with joy and enthusiasm—because your life will be changed by the love and mercy of God.

Though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world (1 Peter 1:7 NLT).

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.