31 March 2017
Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Which book in Bible do we usually turn to when we need a word of encouragement? Majority of the answers will be Psalms. Many of us turn to psalms because psalms encourage us, comfort us, uplift us and strengthen us. And of all the psalms, psalm 23 is a very familiar psalm and many of us know it by heart. The awesomeness of this psalm lies in its simplicity, the words in the psalm are so simple to read yet so profound in their meaning.
Here the psalmist expresses his confidence in the Lord saying, God is my Shepherd I shall have everything I need. Do we also express this kind of confidence in God and trust Him for all our needs? Or do we sit and sulk that our needs are not met ?
It is when we take our eyes off of God and look at circumstances that our faith begins to waver, when our faith wavers we begin to doubt if God will take care of our needs, when we begin to doubt God we fall into discouragement, when we fall into discouragement we get angry quickly and get frustrated,irritated at others for every small thing.
Dear ones if we can identify this cycle at the start, we can save a lot of heartache. Every time you start feeling jealous of others success or start comparing yourself with others and feel down or start wallowing in self pity, let this be a reminder to fall on your knees and ask God to increase your faith in Him. Immerse yourself in the studying and meditation of Gods word. His word will shed light on your situation and lead you into truth. And the truth will set you free. Otherwise if we ignore these warning bells we will cause much grief to ourselves and others around us.
Remember God is our shepherd, when He is on our side we will not lack anything. In His perfect timing He will provide us with everything we need. He is our provider, our protector, our guide, our exaltation and our eternity. He is the one who truly satisfies our souls, so trust in Him with all your heart.
24 March 2017
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Honestly how many of us would like to boast in our weaknesses, either physical, emotional or spiritual? None of us, in fact we try to even hide our weaknesses so that we look good before others. Even the worldly system encourages people to think that they can gain more respect if they are more powerful or rich or strong or talented or wise. And often weakness is considered to be a failure.
But in the above verse apostle Paul is making a very contradictory statement, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses. Why is that ? Is it because he is arrogant or foolish? No, if we read the chapter from the beginning especially the verses 7 to 10, we will understand why he spoke like that.
There is a debate on what that weakness or thorn in the flesh referred to in verse 7 is but it is not of much importance to us. What is important for us is to know that God allowed that thorn to remain in Paul's life to keep him humble. Yes dear ones, it's the weaknesses not our strengths that keep us humble and broken before God. For it is those who are weak and desperate that need God more in their life. The more we need God the more we tend to look to Him. The more we look to Him the more we are gonna be like Him. The more we are like Him the more blessing we will be to those around us.
Surrender your weaknesses to God and He is able to display His power in your life through them or by removing them.
22 March 2017
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Those of us who had seen rivers or even small streams do understand the analogy Jeremiah is mentioning in the above verse. All those plants and trees that grow near the water source they flourish so well. In contrast we have also seen that the plants we grow in pots or in the land near our houses, when not watered regularly, they start withering and eventually dry away.
It is the same with our spiritual life, like the plants that wither away when not watered if we neglect our daily time with the Lord, we will be tossed and tempted by every small trouble that hits us. On the other hand if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus we shall be able to withstand any storm and trouble that comes our way.
How can we keep our focus on Jesus? How can we learn to trust Him? The answer dear ones, is to have a personal relationship with Jesus by spending time with him daily, talking to Him in prayer and listening to Him through reading His word & waiting quietly before Him.
May the Lord help us to have a faith that stands the test. Amen!
21 March 2017
Psalms 103:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
Psalm 103 a beautiful Psalm of heartfelt worship written by, some say David after he was forgiven by God of his sin of adultery and some say another person has authored this psalm. But whoever has written and whatever might be the context the psalmist has gifted us a wonderful poetry of worship, for he has penned down his heartfelt devotion to God. In this psalm he celebrates the goodness of God in his life and at the same time exalts God for who He is.
This psalm also teaches us that this life, it is not about us but it is about God. When you glance through the verses you will see a pattern like this, Because God is merciful and gracious, He will not keep His anger, because He is rich in steadfast love, He forgives us, because He is our father, He shows compassion on those who fear Him.
Yes dear ones God is gracious, God is compassionate and at the same time God is Sovereign and He rules over all, verse 19 says so Psalms 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. That's why when you feel, you are in the middle of an impossible situation, look up and remember you are not the center of the universe, God is. And because He is Sovereign, He is in control of everything that happens in your life. And because He rules over all, He is able to remove that which is not good and allow only that which is good into your life.
So let's just forget about ourselves and magnify the Lord and worship Him. For He deserves all the glory and honor.
20 March 2017
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Does this verse mean that it is ok to go ahead and sin, later confess your sin to God and He will forgive you. No, absolutely not. If you go a few verses back the same chapter says, 1 John 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. Also in Hebrews it is written, Hebrews 10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins....Hebrews 10:29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
So dear ones let us tremble with fear before we deliberately disobey and sin against God . If you are a person saved by the blood of Jesus then you have all the more reason to be more careful with the way you live. Remember what a person submits to is what he becomes a slave to, the more you surrender to sin, the more you are going to become a slave to sin. (2 Peter 2:19 For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.) Also I read somewhere that everything we do affects those around us. We may think that certain sins do not involve other people so it is ok , it may not impact others. No everything you do will impact your loved ones, always remember this. Also remember, if you are a child of God and keep sinning against God then you are crucifying Christ again and again Hebrews 6:6 if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
So what to do if you have fallen into sin. Who can deliver us from this bondage? The above verse (1 john 1:9) answers this question. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from every sin and deliver us from bondage and strongholds of sin. Repent, confess your sin and cry out to God and He will deliver you. He may even discipline you out of His love for you, accept it and His grace will give you the power to overcome. Remember 1 john 1:9 is not a license to continue to live in sin but a gracious means that God offered us to escape the wrath of judgement. Let us prayerfully and carefully live a life of complete surrender and obedience to the word of God.
18 March 2017
Psalms 34:8a Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
This verse always reminds me of a story my grandmother told me years ago, a person walked up to a preacher and questioned him , how can you say the Lord is good when there is so much of evil going on in this world? The preacher instead of answering that man, took an orange, peeled it and started eating. He ate the orange fully and then he asked the other person, this is a good orange isn't it ? The other person replied, how will I know I did not taste it. Then the preacher smiled and replied, it's the same with the Lord, i have tasted His love and now I can say the Lord is good. That person went home pondering upon these words.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are , when you experience the love of God in your life you also shall say the Lord is good.
A question to you , have you experienced His love in your heart, if not what is stopping you ?
17 March 2017
Psalms 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
The creator of heaven and earth is your help. He who is able to create an entire universe out of nothing, is he not able to provide your needs? God is able, He is able to provide, protect and restore. Even as you glance through the pages of the Bible you will see how God restored double fold. It's not just when people faithfully followed God they were blessed, people who confessed and repented of their sins received double fold blessings. Israelites were blessed more than before when they repented of their rebellion against God, Job was blessed double fold after he was tested. These examples are just a few of many found in the pages of the Bible.
Dear ones whatever situation you may be in God is able, may be you are faithfully following God then have this hope He will reward your obedience. May be you have gone far from His will and His way, repent and He is able to restore. May be you have not accepted Him into your heart, confess your sins and ask Him to come into your heart and He will bless you with salvation & eternal life.
The God of the psalmist is our God too, He will keep you and He will never leave you nor forsake you.
16, March 2017
Are you waiting for something? Waiting for an answer to a prayer. You keep praying and praying for days months and may be even years. But still no answer from the Lord. You may be even faithfully serving God. You see answers to the prayer requests you make on behalf of others. But somehow your own prayers are not being answered.
I have been there, I have seen prayers being answered for those I prayed but my own needs, those needs in my life which I felt they should be answered by now. There are times when I even became angry with the Lord of why He doesn't seem to care for my needs and my petitions. I complained, God how can I share with others that you answer prayers when my own prayers are not being answered. Then God reminded me this verse "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." And if you observe the previous verse it says "Psalms 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."
Yes dear ones this should be our hope. God is faithful to fulfill His promises and when He promised I shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, He will do it. His ways and his timing is not our timing. Till He provides be faithful in doing what He called you to do. At the right time He will bless you exceedingly abundantly more than what you have thought or imagined.
Remember delays are blessings in disguise, like one sister told me years ago when something is delayed it means God is wrapping your gift in a wonderful beautiful wrapping.
Wait for the Lord, be of good courage.
14, March 2017
Psalms 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?Have you ever been in a situation where you were so thirsty and could not find any water for a long time. Especially when you are travelling on a hot day and you do not have access to water at all. Then suddenly someone hands you over a small bottle with only a gulp of water left in it. And after you drink it the refreshing feeling you get, ohh the best of the best costliest drinks can never give you that feeling. Here the psalmist is thirsting for God that way. He was so desperate on when he can go and meet with the Lord. When your heart is overwhelmed with grief or when you feel dejected, where will you turn to? To you yearn and thirst for God? Do you yearn to run into His presence through prayer?
Dear ones let us hunger and thirst for God in every season of our life. Let us run to the King of Kings with both our sorrows and joy. Let us thirst for Him with all our soul for He is the only one who can satisfy our souls with His living waters.
13 March 2017
Psalms 130:1-3 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?-Out of the depths of my heart I cry out to you my God. Have mercy on me, help me. This is the prayer of a heart broken person who realized that they have deliberately sinned against God. How many times we sin against God even when in your heart you know you are doing wrong. Your conscious screams inside you to not to do but then another voice in you says it's alright this is nothing, everyone does that and besides this is not very serious compared to other x,y,z sins. And then you go ahead and do it , but after that the guilt, the shame and mainly the separation you feel from God. Have you been there? sadly I have been there many many times inspite of being a child of God and inspite of being washed by the blood of the lamb and inspite of being exposed to so much of His truth. Ohh the shame you feel that you have sinned against the loving righteous God, you feel in your heart how can I ever go back to God and ask forgiveness? How can I call out to Him in prayer?
The psalmist here is also in the same anguish but instead of hiding from God or run away from Him he is running to God and crying out to God for mercy and forgiveness. Dear ones we need to follow the example of the psalmist, when we are depressed and when we are in the pit of despair instead of wallowing in guilt and shame we need to cry out to God. Pour out your hearts before him and confess your sin for He promised "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".
At the same time dear ones remember even when God in His infinite mercy forgive us we still need to face the consequences of our sin and our actions.
So be careful with how you live your life.