Thoughts for another day

November 27, 2008.

Today's verse: 1 Pe. 4:1. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When I began my relationship with the Lord, the only messages I constantly got were, ‘God will always provide for you, God will do great things in your life, you are chosen by God to put all the wealth in your lap, and you will not have a sickness problem and so on.’ They were all fine and truly at that point in time I needed them, if not anything, atleast to build up my ‘just born’ fragile faith in God.

Having moved on and in strengthening my relationship with Him, I understand there’s a lot more besides. He tells me that the test of a man is when he is brought to the edge of the fire and his skin singes with the heat. The man’s reaction typifies the difference between a man of God from another. God is teaching me that suffering has to be a part of my life if I have to be His disciple. The journey to heaven is not on a smooth road but on rough ground with lots of potholes and stumbling blocks. They make you constantly look up at Him and keep you close to Him.

In saying the above, I am not suggesting that God will not keep you at peace if you are to follow Him, but just that like Him, you too will need to suffer if you have heaven as your destination. Suffering is the other side of the well-being I wrote about in the first para above. And through personal experience I can say there’s nothing better than suffering to take you to the portals of heaven and make you sit at His feet and when this happens, sin disappears from your life. Some of you might have experienced it and will be living it and I guess you know what I mean. The best thing about suffering is that God listens to you even as you focus on Him in your suffering. And remember, today He gives us the Grace to bear our suffering. Moreover like Paul in Rom. 8:18, I’d like to echo, ‘I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’

Thoughts for another day

November 26, 2008.

Today's verse: Is. 30:20, 21. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. (NASB)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Have you felt low sometime? I’m sure you’ve done at least once. When you were low, were you upset with God? Probably. Were you so upset that you did not hear His voice guiding you in your affliction? You know, part of our problem lies in the fact that when something not to our liking happens, we’re distressed and gripe about it. We accuse God, although our mouths may utter empty words of His Grace, etc.

Our verse says that although the Lord God gives us trials, He never hides Himself from us. I love to say it’s here that He’s closest to us, holding us aloft and waiting for our reaction of confidence in Him. I will echo the oft mentioned quote by the wise and holy men of yester year when they said, ‘Problems and opportunities are two sides of the same coin. Your life is defined by which side you’re looking at!’ I find this so true in the lives of many people whose lives are touched by the profusion of God’s Grace, and there are others who though they profess to be hard core believers, just fail to accept this in their own lives but don’t hesitate to go preach to others.

Recently, I counseled a lady who had a ‘pressing’ problem. After I explained how God had given me a problem and I had considered it a gift and benefitted thereby with His blessings; and giving her a different perspective of her ‘situation’ (I don’t call it a problem), she saw sense in God’s Word of comfort and she realised that despite her problems God was speaking to her so wonderfully. She was so glad after this that she told me it was like a load lifted off her. Praise God!

See my friend, God gives us pain but in that, His gentle voice always guides us. We need to listen and obey. Then through that brokenness He creates a classic pattern that can adorn the walls of heaven, designed by the hands of the Master Creator. Do you see yourself as the canvas on which God could paint His next blockbuster?

Thoughts for another day

November 25, 2008.

Today's verse: Lk. 23:34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

How many times have I felt like uttering the verse, Father forgive. Perhaps, I need to say:

Father, forgive them who hate me and do me wrong,
Father forgive them, who bring obstacles in my path,
Father forgive them, who rejoice when I fall or when I suffer,
Father forgive them, who vigorously plan my destruction.

Father forgive them, who envy and molest every joy I possess,
Father forgive them, when their slander makes my life mournful,
Father forgive them who day in and day out mock me and abuse me,
Father forgive them who testify wrongly about me.

Father forgive them that curse me without reason,
Father forgive them that fashion weapons to destroy me,
Father forgive them who live to time after time, thwart my every plan,
Father forgive them if they are unable to look at the peace I possess.

You know Father, it’s so easy to curse, to revile, to bear grudge and anger. To desire destruction of everyone who falls in any of the above category. My human nature seethes when I am wronged and cries for vengeance. But like Your Holy son O Father, I too shall not look at the dirt of the world which creates poison in my heart; rather I will look at Your countenance and become radiant. And just like Jesus’ radiant face on the cross at Calvary uttered the above words, I too by the Grace you give me shall say, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Thoughts for another day

November 24, 2008.

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 2:12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

As I started this reflection, I thought about you readers; that many of you may feel whatever I write is difficult to follow or do as it seems too right and you are people of fallacies and weaknesses. Like Paul does, I too would like to say that it is in and through us, God achieves greatness. Remember, it is God who is at work in us and not ‘us’.

In reading our verse today, we are reminded that we’ve received the Spirit of God and not the spirit of the world. The spirit of the world is weak, timid, energy- draining and afraid, but the Spirit of God is bold, reassuring, rejuvenating and full of life. It enables us to do beyond what we feel we are capable of and this comes from God who gives us that little push making us go much farther then we could.

You know, God has given us so many things freely. His works and His blessings are ever there in our lives. He provides life to us and makes our hearts, beat and blood, flow so that life continues in us. He gives us strength in our limbs enabling us stand and do our work. If ever you feel this strength comes from the food we eat, then we must realise that only God can convert that food into energy. At every moment, God works in us to give us fullness. Fullness brings about a satisfaction with life and peace that surpasses understanding.

God always calls us higher and He gives us even more. He’s given me the ability to write this and to you, both the ability and patience to read it. He is awesome in that, He works silently and without effort, waiting not in the least, for our thanksgiving but for the smile on our lips. To this Great and Benevolent God, who has loved us so much and given us so freely His Graces, our dearest and fondest thoughts and our grandest salute. Amen.

Thoughts for another day

November 21, 2008.

Today's verse: 2 Kgs. 7:2. Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Look at the disbelief in our hearts when someone speaks of the power of God, is my reaction to the above verse, uttered by a close official of the king when Elisha said that God would work in their difficult situation. How weak we become because our hearts yet fail to comprehend His power and our lack of understanding that He will use His power for us or tell me, who else will He use it for?

I aver that for all we say about our belief, when it comes to the actual time of exercising that belief or shall I say, faith, we are nowhere close to the personality we exhibited earlier when things had not pushed us in a corner. I have seen many Christians crumble when the heat grows under the collar. When adversity strikes, people who are otherwise reasonably cool, quickly lose their fortitude (or whatever we’d say instead) and many tend to become like children.

Thank God our Father that He chooses to deliver both, those with faith and those without for had He rescued those only with faith, a sizeable portion of the earth and its people would sink! Each day, His hand is stretched toward us in answer to all that our heart stores up in terms of desire; but we are in no way delighting in Him nor are we poised to receive what we have asked for, because even when we prayed for it, we did not really expect it. How wonderful would it be if Christians were like that little girl who went for that meeting on Praying for rain with an umbrella! Let me tell you my friend that God is ready with an answer to our prayers even before we have asked but He is looking for expectant hearts. Am I having one?

Thoughts for another day

November 20, 2008.

Today's verse: 1 Ch. 5:20. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The Bible constantly speaks on ‘trusting in the Lord’. And since it is God’s own Word, we must believe it’s true because, God Himself guarantees that what’s contained in it is true and what He did then, He will do again. Surely, it’s not something that happened in the past and it cannot happen now, simply because God is at the center of it.

My friend, trust God and rely not on your own intelligence or strength. For you don’t know whether the sun will rise on you tomorrow. Neither do you know the difference in the edges of light and darkness. Relying in your own strength and intelligence is like relying on a compass when on the high seas; you don’t know it has malfunctioned and you are heading to your doom. Trusting in God, the Anchor of your soul is like seeing the light of a lighthouse for a sea farer, it’s so reassuring and comforting!

I will tell you of one who doesn’t trust God. He’s full of ‘rust’ in his mind. And like rust, he goes about making others rusty and creating junk. Eventually, he and the others will languish in the junkyard they created. Men have come and men have gone, Jesus Christ yet remains. Seated at the right hand of God, He is looking at you when you are in a spot to see if He should make His Father move His hand. And how disappointing it is when you don’t look to Him but try doing your own thing.

Let the devil not rule your mind, saying you aren’t worthy to trust Him for you are a sinner. Christ said, ‘I have come to seek and save the lost!’ and in Christ I can say, as in our verse above, He will deliver you, not because you are worthy or you do great things …but because you trusted Him. Someday when you display such trust, just think, He will turn to His heavenly host and His Father and say: Such trust I have not found even in the best. What joy shall then fill your heart. All because you trusted Him.

Thoughts for another day

November 19, 2008.

Today's verse: 2 Thess. 3:3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

To understand this verse, let’s go back to Ecc. 9:3, ‘the heart of the sons of men is full of evil!’ Paul says (Rom. 3:23) ‘all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!’ Having got that, I must hold this for myself accepting that I sin. Though pained by sin, I yet sin. And I don’t know what to do, for on one hand I hate to sin and on the other, I willfully go and commit the most outrageous sins. Who will rescue me from my dilemma?

Because of Adam’s error whereby our nature imbibed sin, we will sin. By the way, lest some of you ‘proper’ people amongst the readers of this reflection say you don’t, even thinking bad about someone or laziness or bargaining to get a better price from a poor vendor and such like things are sin before God. I’m not giving an amazing revelation but only focusing on the need for God’s work in our lives; by which our sins, first of all, will be forgiven and then, we will be filled with His Grace to drive the devil out of our lives.

You know as a Christian, my heart aches with the burden of sin. Honestly, sometimes before the presence of the glory of God, I yearn for mercy. God, I run toward the mercy seat and beg for mercy. Mercy for me and for the world - this people who He has created and filled the world with and who don’t now their left hand from their right! Where O God, is the cave where I can go hide and sin no more? Where are the people with whom I may be and remain perfect as my Heavenly Father is perfect? To my dismay, all I hear is silence. And I know I need to live in this same world and I need to live with frail, error prone people, like me.

And then, He tells me: ‘My Grace is sufficient for you and again when I desperately seek a solution in His Word He says, ‘I am faithful and will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one’. And I tell my soul, ‘be lifted up and rejoice for no matter what your error or your leaning, your Owner is going to wash you clean and keep you shining.’ I am delighted, in God my Savior.

Thoughts for another day

November 17, 2008.

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 3:19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In His wisdom, God made the world and you and I and all that’s in it, even the huge oceans and the vast mountains, the glaciers and the winds which blow ferociously. When creating all these things, He never took our advice, nor does He take it even now when He runs the earth because He knows the kind of wisdom we possess. Besides, He takes the indicts the worldly wise in their own craftiness.

Why does the Word of God say that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God? For very good reason, because it doesn’t encapsulate Kingdom values. What are the Kingdom values you may ask and they are very simple: Love and more love; leading to forgiveness, communication, tenderness, humility, giving, purity in thought, adoption of truth and the like. With these God is content and His contentment also harbors us when we harbor these traits of the kingdom. But what does the world teach me: Competition, destruction, hatred, putting other down and elevating self, greed, lack of courtesies, rule at any cost, etc.

What I have discovered is that most of these traits seek not to glorify God nor bring joy in the life of others. What they do, is just trample people and teach them who’s boss. They seek to divide rather than unite and leaving scars on the heart, which are far more destructive than scars on the body. Yet, day in and day out, we seek these values, in our work places or our homes or anywhere where we are put; and to be honest, we don’t care for the repercussions that arise as a result. It’s only when the dark doors of death stare at us, that we realise the folly of living such a life. But then it’s too late!

Today, as we assimilate the virtues God has implanted in our beings, let us pay close attention to understand what wisdom He wants us to imbibe. Thereon, let us move to that level where He will fill us with it – no matter what it means to us and as long as it brings glory to God.

Thoughts for another day

November 14, 2008.

Today's verse: Ps. 20:7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

It’s so easy to go with the world no? If someone reads astrology and I mention it isn’t right for Christians, they say, what’s the harm, that even if it is written by someone dead long ago! Their explanation is, it’s harmless and only props the sentiment! People go for wellness treatments and the like…hey, what’s the big deal if you use that therapy? You feel much better and energetic. Yesterday, I landed on an obituary for a person titled, ‘Magician…’ Imagine my shock when I read further and the writer says the guy was a committed Christian, even when he was known to trick and hypnotize and do all that kind of mumbo jumbo!

Someone even suggested I must go for reiki and pranic healing. Reason – they triggered life in dead cells and created an aura by which you get healed! Alternative healing brother, there’s no harm you see. Yoga with its incantations is most welcome, because who understands the meaning of those incantations. To my shock I discovered, Christians sitting and muttering exaltation to idols unflinchingly, thro those incantations! And I must add, once I heard a discourse from a catholic priest completely at home with the word ‘om’ that’s considered sacred in India! God, if it were possible, they’d invent a tub in which you sat and then all kinds of aromatic incenses would be burnt around you, little bells tolling with undecipherable utterances and laughing buddhas dancing with hands up palms turned outward, placed all around and voila, you are well!

We people want to trust in all and sundry and everything except GOD. In India, Babas and weird looking tantriks are the common refuge of so called committed Christians. People involve themselves in all these unknown things and believe it will do them good but God, they don’t want to believe in. It’s like, when a man tells me something, I accept but God Who has given me His entire promises in the Bible, I don’t believe in! Why? It’s because the devil has blinded our minds so much so that we disbelieve everything God says and believe in everything the world proffers. But then, God isn’t going to ask you what the world believed in…He’ll ask who you believed!

Thoughts for another day

November 13, 2008.

Today's verse: Lk. 15:18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

One of the most poignant stories of human going away and loss to the Kingdom of Heaven, is the parable of the prodigal son. While we refer to this story as that of the son, it’s necessary and important to look at the characterization of the ‘father’ in the story. If you look deep through the eyes of Jesus as you focus on this episode, you’ll see the Father embodied in His mind as He talks of the boy’s father.

In reading the above verse, we see the humility that’s grown in the son. His stupidity has caused his downfall and he finally realizes that life in his father’s mansion, even as a servant is far better than the filth he dwells in. In that moment, he wakens to the love of his father. He knows his father will forgive him, though he’s sinned terribly. He’s aware his return is because of his personal misery and not his interest in his father’s joy on seeing him again. Therefore, in his mind he’s willing to even assume the role of a servant. But, see the father’s reaction. Jesus says ‘as soon as the father spotted his son, he runs and embraces him.’ Mirrored in this father is our own ABBA, our God Who loves us with an everlasting love, standing arms open wide, waiting for our return.

My friend, it pains me to see our callousness toward our Father. We have no time for Him. We don’t realise the countless blessings He pours on us, so many of which we don’t even know. We are completely ignorant of His protection and let me tell you, should He even for a moment shift His glance from us, we’d be finished. But He isn’t about to do it, for he loves us deeply. It’s our sins which He can’t bear and more importantly, our refusal or let me say our lack of constant awareness and acceptance of His Son’s sacrifice that keeps Him away from us. Isn’t it time now to ‘rise and return’? Let’s not say, it’s not me for I am close to him. Maybe, we aren’t like the prodigal son, but then, are we any closer to our Father? Judge for yourself and I’d exhort you, ‘rise and return’. Your welcome will be great.

Thoughts for another day

November 12, 2008.

Today's verse: Lk. 6:27, 28. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The best a man can get from God is the realization of His love. God chooses people whose hearts are right toward Him and gives them this realization. I pray all humans have their hearts right toward Him so He can make them experience His immense love. In the canopy of His love, God teaches the truth about love. Many years ago, Jesus spoke the words in our verse today to those sitting on the green grass, under the blue sky. In the embracing warmth of a cool breeze, He revealed the values of the kingdom, speaking of one called ‘enemy’. He knew that people who raped truth and shattered justice became enemies of the people they adversely affected. Then the adversely affected would rise and try to harm them in turn. But Jesus knew the kingdom of Heaven had no space for such things.

Heaven meant the end of enmity and enmity can be erased with LOVE; therefore Jesus said they should love their enemies. He gave very contrasting action points shocking them…Bless them that curse you and pray for those who have cunningly used you for gain. Imagine the power of this teaching when we know it is difficult for us to even take the name of an enemy, leave alone pray for that person. But Jesus did what He spoke: On the cross, He beheld His killers and even in raging pain, He looked up to His Father and said, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!’

If we are His disciples, then we will be in a position to pray for our enemies. You may turn around and tell me, ‘brother, they have hurt me so much.’ But what kind of hurt can compare with the treatment Jesus got? Besides, when you come to the threshold where you are poised to reconcile with your enemies, the devil will use every means so that you forsake what you are about to do. He will use those dear to you to challenge your act based solely on human rationale. How can you do that, they will tell you. At that time, picture Jesus on the cross and remember He looked at you even at this time and He is waiting to hear your answer. What will you tell Him?

Thoughts for another day

November 11, 2008.

Today's verse: Micah 7:7. I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Beyond the space where human affection and love do not enter, where the comfort of a warm touch has no effect, in that space the Lord of Hosts often reaches and touches. How true are His promises when He says, I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you to Me with great loving kindness! Such promises can reach the dungeon of loneliness and despair that the faint soul of man sometimes endures.

Hurts, disasters, frustrations…sinking sand are all the world can offer, though disguised so well as to seem to be the alluring panacea for all our ills. Just as the dash of marijuana (drugs) beckons young ones into its embrace, promising to lift them high and perch them in the bosom of thrill and ecstasy. But when the effects wear off, the experience vanishes and reality sets in, a reality that’s very frightening.

Friends, relatives, near and dear ones (to use a phrase) may leave us in solitude and pain, yet He the One who never changes, will never leave us nor forsake us. Even though we hurt Him, taunt Him and heap scorn on Him, He never seeks to disassociate Himself from us. Oh, He loves us too much to even look at the offenses we pile on Him. It prompts me to ask, ‘What manner of love is this Lord, that you seek communion with a filthy sinner like me?’

And therefore, I will resonate from my heart the same words that are in our verse today. Yes, from the muck that I am in, I will tell Him, ‘Master, I am waiting for You, my God, who saves me and I believe You will hear my cry, ever so faint it be!’ And I know that the bells of heaven will toll because, when He rises to answer my call, His domain ripples with the chord of sweet delight that He, my Master and the Owner of my soul pours forth unto me.

Thoughts for another day

November 10, 2008.

Today's verse: Ezra 8:22. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

This is a beautiful statement from Ezra on dependence on God. The true mark of a Christian is when we say we are dependent on God for anything and everything; we cannot then stay dependent on things of the world, however beautiful they be because that would be two tongued, so to say. I don’t know whether you’ve undergone a situation where you say you are dependent on God for something and you live it. Time goes by, but the situation doesn’t improve. On the other hand, you find the world providing many enticing ways to solve your problem. What do you do? I have gone through this and believe me, remaining steadfast to your faith in God takes tremendous effort and will.

Putting myself therefore in Ezra’s shoes, I can understand his ‘situation’. What a challenge! The situation was one of grave danger to him and his band of people who were returning to Jerusalem from Babylon. They needed safety. There was a human solution and that was to petition the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to accompany them. But, since Ezra has spoken greatly about the Great King, he now felt it would be embarrassing to ask for help. What would you do in this situation? To a Christian, life throws up many situations where you are on the threshold of exercising your faith. It can be a difficult time of decision. But depending on what you do, can birth, either a testimony on the goodness of our God for His Glory or a human response. The choice is yours.

Thoughts for another day

November 7, 2008.

Today's verse: 2 Kgs. 5:15. Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

What a sweet thing to hear when an unbeliever says, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the earth but yours.’ And what a joy it would be for you and me to have been a channel because of which an unbeliever would say this. May surprise many Christians to know that Jesus Christ gave us this privilege or should I rather say, command, to be such men and women that through us, the world might say, ‘Yes, your God is the only God in heaven and earth.’

Let us go to Isaiah 6:8, the Lord God who has created us for His own pleasure is asking Isaiah, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ He is asking us this and honestly, He is waiting for our answer and He is waiting for an affirmative answer. God is the One who is waiting for us, rather than the other way round and that is because we have ceased to be sensitive to our God and His longing. While at prayer yesterday, the thought came into my mind that God is looking up to find me communing with Him and then I realised, how low the desire to commune with Him is found in me. And then I thought of myself and realised I am only a puff of smoke, around for a moment and then disappearing into oblivion, yet He the Maker of the universe, is waiting…

After Adam sinned, man has tried to go away from God. Imagine how it must have broken His heart to see that. He could have very well yanked off his free will and brought him back, but that would not do for God. So after generations were over, He sent His only begotten Son to die for us and tell us of His love for us and that it is time to return. When His Son was returning to the Father after accomplishing His work, He asked us to give the same message to our fellow human beings and God trusts us in this. But the sad thing is we do not adhere to His command.

How many of us are really inclined to live a life in God’s service. The number will be very few and that is because the world has given us very real and interesting alternatives and we are immersed in them. But I guess, its time to return. Time to understand His message and then take it to our friends, neighbors and others and if we do that, we will hear the same words of our verse above, ‘Your God alone is the only One.’

Thoughts for another day

November 6, 2008.

Today's verse: Ps. 103:14. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

One of the verses in the Bible that touches me the most when I sit in quiet time with the Lord is Jer. 31:3, ‘I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.’ It makes me feel how blessed I am to belong to a Father who has loved me so much. My mind travels to locations tranquil where I am sitting with my God, the gentle breeze caressing my face and the warmth of the sun as if it was His touch only. Then I think how the earth has been around for so many thousands of years and through all these years, God has been taking care of His creation. Men come and men go, yet He is there to cater to each generation with His abundant love.

His love having travelled through time echoes His magnificence. The psalmist says, ‘the Heavens declare the glory of God…’ and I say, why not. For who can not praise and glorify our God. And see, how when we were not even worthy, He came down on earth to suffer and die for us. Now look, He is so powerful that we cannot estimate the girth of His power, leave alone understand His Mind. Who can for instance understand a mind, which at this very moment knows of every single thing happening across the universe yet, the Owner of this mind, thinks of me, an inconsequent and bumbling fool!

And to move my heart further, His Word today says that He understands my weakness. Looking at this, I think and wonder, would I ever reflect on a person who has wronged me, despite my having given my everything to him; then condone his wrong behavior toward me, assigning it to his weakness? I really can’t fathom the depth of God’s love which craves me such a lot! I can’t understand why He loves me so much with all my moles, warts and deficiencies! All I can say is, I’d rather hand myself over to Him than try and understand Him for in the effusion of His mercy and love, I may lose myself in exhilaration.

Thoughts for another day

November 5, 2008.

Today's verse: Lk. 22:44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In all the time I’ve prayed, I’ve realised my prayer is most intense when I’m in agony. My heart beats faster and the creases at the temple appear more even as I pray and my imploring comes from deep within. Even the body shakes as you pray. You too may have under gone this experience and later felt the joy of that prayer being answered. This is what I call ‘Power Prayer’.

This pattern of praying has been taught to us by our Lord Jesus as we see in the above verse. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gave us an example of prayer that we must emulate. He felt extreme agony at the prospect He was to face within the next few hours. Remember, though God, He was at that time, fully man and He also had the emotions of men, which would have terrified Him considering what He had to face. In that state, Jesus knelt down upon the coarse mud of the garden and His gaze went to Heaven, where sat His Father and He saluted Him and cried out.

As man, His instinct was to get away from the cup of suffering that was His share but as the Son of God, He wanted the will of His Father in His life and that is why I’d say, His prayer was intense because He did not want His human emotion to rule His prayer, but that His Father’s will, permeate in His life. And I believe He was strengthened enough to bear the brunt of the insults, scourging and crucifixion that were His in the next few hours. Truly, His Father treasured the beads of sweat that fell on the ground as drops of blood.

With us too, the Father will do the same if we but bend our heads and grab our being intensely and pray as if our very lives depended on our prayer. In that we will see His comfort brought by His angel and God will lift us up to that dimension, where pain and trouble vanish and His Grace settles down in us.

Thoughts for another day

November 4, 2008.

Today's verse: Jonah 2:7. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Today morning I was reading a book titled, ‘Pain my companion’. For an early morning read, you might wonder what kind of book that might be, because one would rather read an inspirational or a motivating book rather than how a person is constantly in pain. But like the Lord says, ‘your ways are not My ways, your thoughts not My thoughts.’ And even in the midst of pain, there is the discovery of God. Not as an alien, mocking you as you suffer, rather telling you that He is there and is holding your hand. In short, the greatest moment a man can have with God is when he is in pain and in that pain he looks up to God for he is unable to bear it without God.

But now, we will deal with our verse today and as I said before, God is not One who is watching with glee as we suffer. Rather as He tells Paul and us too, ‘My Grace is sufficient for you, for strength is made perfect in weakness.’ And I would like to echo what Jonah says in the above verse, when my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord and my prayer came in unto Thee, in Thine holy Temple. See, Jonah says that His prayer, when he was weak penetrated the realms of the Holy One and reached His ear. It happened because prayer which comes from the person in pain, whether physical, spiritual or emotional, crushes the barriers between God and us and reaches His ears. And in such prayer is the Almighty delighted and His delight means abundant Grace.

Also, sometimes, we do not understand why we suffer. But our suffering is great and what’s more, we do not see the end of it in the near future. What then are we to do? I’d say, do like Jonah. Let your anguished heart speak to God and pour out your soul to Him your creator. For He is not a man that He will not sympathise with you because you erred in keeping His commandments or you grieved Him, rather, His mercy takes over as a protective cloak over you and out of His eyes flows love, pure unalloyed love that’s bound to make Him raise His hand and let His healing take over.

My friend, even as you suffer, do not leave the hem of God, rather yell out in pain as did Bartimaeus, ‘Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me.’ Very soon the rays of His healing power will reach you and you will be healed. Remember, its never ‘the end’, except when He says it.

Thoughts for another day

November 3, 2008.

Today's verse: Jer 23:18. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There are questions in the Bible and some are cuttingly pointed. Look at today’s question; it dares you to provide an answer. It’s simple: who has absorbed the advice of the Lord and having understood His Word, who has marked it and heard it?

It signifies that those who have received the advice of the Lord are different. They use His Word for their living. When their lives hover around the precarious, they cling on to His every Word. There are times when I have clung to the Word of God in trying situations. I remember one situation when everybody was asking me to do something the worldly way, yet the Word of the Lord asked that I trust Him. It is difficult but it always is difficult to rely on God because you don’t see Him and sometimes He tests you at this particular situation with more pain! Yet we who have based our trust in Him, do not swerve to the left or right but believe Him and take Him upon His Word.

Think about your own life and how many times, you were to have exercised your belief in His counsel. If you had done so, wasn’t it a great testimony to strengthen our brothers and sisters?

Friends, all God needs to work in our lives is that we believe in Him. We take His Word and act upon it – not merely reflect on it, but to base our lives on the pattern He provides, so that eventually, He can form a fantastic pattern in His kaleidoscope from our broken lives.