Thoughts for another day 

Aug. 31, 2011

Today's verse: Luke 19:10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Little Asha woke up that morning with a spring in her step: today her family would go to the fair after going to church.  She was so excited; she would get to enjoy all the games she did just once a year not forgetting the goodies and the toys…oh, she was waiting to leave.  Finally, the service at church ended and they got into a taxi, to go to the fair.  There was a huge crowd already in and as they bought tickets to enter, she could see the queues at the games and without a second thought, her six year legs dashed to the giant wheel, which she loved the most.  Little did she realize she hadn't told her mum nor her dad or her brother where she was going.  Standing at the rear of the queue, she suddenly realized they weren't with her.  Joy changed into fear and then tears and loud weeping. 

People gathered around and asked her many questions, but none could do anything.  The place was large and packed and nobody wanted to leave their queues to escort her for where could they escort her?  They asked her to go to the nearest police booth, pointing it to her, but none leading her there.  She moved away and went and sat on a bench close-by.  Her little mind only cried as it couldn't think anything.   Suddenly she remembered her mother telling her, 'Asha, if you're lost and alone remember, Jesus came to be with you.'  In her mind she prayed, 'Jesus you came to seek me, so Lord, come and save me and bring my parents to me.'  A Man approached her and asked her questions and learning of her situation, comforted and told her He would take her to her parents. He bought her some chocolates and then led her to some games.  She felt so comfortable with Him; she even forgot she was lost.  After a while, He pointed out her parents and asked her to go to them.  Imagine their joy when they saw her for they were looking high and low for her and through the public address system had even announced her as missing, but neither Asha nor the people seemed to hear.  Her dad asked her Who brought her to them and she pointed to the Man who was with her a moment before, but there was no one there.  How did he look like so they could find and thank him, they asked and she suddenly remembered He looked very much like Jesus in the photograph they had at home.   Her parents realized then that it was Jesus who had found her and returned her back to them!

Little Asha's faith had ensured the Lord found and returned her to her parents, but what about us who're grown-ups, utterly condemned and lost in life; drenched to the core in sin and misery.  Although not physically lost like Asha, we're looking for someone who can help us discover ourselves.  There can be no other to fit that role more perfectly than Jesus our Savior Himself.  If your destination in life is invisible and clouds of doubt and danger abound you, rise and turn to the Lord, He will save you for He has come to seek, yes seek and save the lost.  He will save you.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 30, 2011

Today's verse: Dan. 9:9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

One thief of the two crucified with Christ knew even as he was hanging on the cross that here was Something that couldn't have been.  He was face to face with Truth and was edified in His Presence and also at that time, saw the key to his being taken into heaven.  Now the other thief could see nothing that he saw and therefore ridiculed Jesus, crying in a similar manner as those below, trying as it were to gain favor from the crowd that had collected there in his final hours of life.  And even though the Savior of the world was next to him, he couldn't see his salvation!

This upset the earlier thief and he cried to his thief-friend, 'Do you not fear God, as you are similarly condemned. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing wrong.'  Then turning to Jesus he said, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.'  Now Jesus you may recall, was scourged beyond human ability to endure and had by that time lost all of His blood, yet, He Who holds all mercy and forgiveness, turned with much pain toward the man.  In a trice the sins of the man were washed clean by Jesus' blood and Jesus told him, 'Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.'  

I brought to you this real example from Scripture to highlight how merciful our God is and how He forgives us our sins despite being rebelled against.  Every sin we commit offends His infinite goodness, and makes Him cringe in pain.  His heart suffers at our callous nature towards Him yet, He never says a thing.  He suffers silently, as the father of the Prodigal Son, in the parable Jesus tells the people.  And when He senses that we're prepared to repent and turn from sin, He lets loose the hose of His mercy and forgiveness toward us so we can soak in His mercy and love.  He runs to us, again like the father of the son we spoke above, and holds us in His arms, saying, 'My child, My love, never part from Me again.'

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 29, 2011

Today's verse: Ps 42:8. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There's a wonderful thing about being in love with God.  No matter what the day holds, you can rest assured that it will go well with you.  He doesn't promise you feathers and rose petals, but simply a way through when you didn't even think it existed.  Your mind may be bogged down about the evil that the day will bring, but deep inside, having cast your worries on Him, you're at peace knowing that He will carry you on His wings and keep you under their shadow as the apple of His eye.

Your enemies may plot evil and harm toward you, but then you can laugh at them for have they the eyes to see your heavenly army is far greater than theirs and of course you well know that no weapon formed against you shall prosper nor will their curses affect you for with the Stronghold of Israel by your side every curse they curse you with, will turn into a blessing for you.  Your friends may denounce and perhaps even deny you knowing it's worthless to be seen in your company as you're a man of no consequence, yet, He the King of the universe will never leave nor forsake you for you are engraved in the palm of His hand.

When the pangs of defeat and frustration plague you during the day, He, the LORD God will command His loving kindness and lift your spirit high.  When the oncoming night bares its fangs at you, His song shall be with you and when you go on your knees and pray unto the God of your life, the sweet fragrance of heaven will simply surround you and hold you fast in its embrace, saying, 'O child of the Kingdom, come, your God is pleased to care for you.'  Ah, blessed is the man, whose trust is the LORD.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 26, 2011

Today's verse: Jer. 7:19. Am I the one they are hurting?” asks the LORD. “Most of all, they hurt themselves, to their own shame.” (New Living Translation)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The men God put on earth for whom He created it, found new ways to hurt Him.  From the start they always distressed the Lord.  Adam sought to be like Him and fell from Grace and was bundled on to the earth.  The ground was cursed and became unfertile; able to grow crops only after much effort.  Everything God had envisaged for man whom He loved dearly, was lost because men desired to be like God.  As one generation moved into another they found new ways to vex God.  They even denigrated Him to a position outside their sphere of devotion, even denying His existence and shifting their focus on things their hands made and on cults that emerged from their feral imaginations leading to some highly depraved practices of utter sexual decadence and disdainful behavior.  Men even seduced things made by God like the stars and the sun, and worshipped them to God's utter disgust and grief.  God in His immense love and mercy kept calling them back, but they ignored Him as do the deaf to a call. 

If you look at the annals of history, you'll learn of the sordid saga of a creation most beautiful, metamorphosing into a creation most disgusting.  Our Scripture today pertains to one such point in time in man's history, a time when a nation separated by Him for Himself, also betrayed Him and went after outrageous imaginations their minds conjured.  They gave themselves to foolishness and total decay.  God is hurt as He utters the Words of our Scripture today for He knows that when they hurt Him, they hurt themselves to their shame; and history in our Bibles show us how dreadfully they were hurled away from their land and cast aside for they had deserted God and so God had moved away from them. 

In our times too, we've moved far from God and we're depraved much more.  Erotic symbols are worshipped and gods of 'men' and things that are simply obnoxious are idolized and adored; intimacy between people of the same sex isn't considered taboo though it's an abomination unto God.  Men and women revel in unbridled immoral practices while the powerful, literally suck the blood of the weak.  Ah, when God looks down what does He see?  The whole world caught up in vile thoughts of their immorally fertile minds and mind you, God is still asking, 'AM I the One they're hurting…?'

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 25, 2011

Today's verse: Deut. 31:8. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Leading life from the time one is born until the end is often not an easy thing for most people who have walked, walk or will walk on earth because at every step there's the danger of a fall.  Fear and anxiety are the two vile companions a man carries and usually they lead him astray; unfortunately few realize they carry these to their own detriment and many, despite being told not to indulge in them, still do forgetting it's the evil one who's the perpetrator of this nonsense and he enjoys it when we're trapped in this foolish thinking as it soon becomes a cause of our destruction.  No matter how much you tell the person who is in this state, he will insist there's a major problem and run around for it to be removed; this when others who are objective know there's nothing wrong.  In such a state of mind, where he has made the problem larger than God, he will grieve over things; how God has been not fair nor have the people around been supportive.  Slowly and surely he withers and falls in the mess he has created. 

God who is our Creator and Sustainer knows the problem we have and in His communication with us in His Word, He keeps on telling us about these two and also that if there's a difficulty we have to face, He is there for us.  He tells us today in His Word that He goes before us.  He will be with us and He will not fail us nor will He ever leave our side; therefore He says, don't be fearful or sad for He knows the good that He can do us.

The human mind is such that we will not let go, we still cling to things that cause our worry and dismay.  Sometimes I don't understand how we're able to worry about the evil which we can't see and ignore God's Word written in our Bibles?  How sometimes, all we think is bad when we have the choice to ignore the evil and think of the good.  And in doing this, God is pleased for the good always comes from God.  And holding on to His promises in His Word, we can move on in life, totally unscathed and victorious for remember, He hasn't told us that we won't pass through difficulties, but that in every difficulty He will be with us and that He will not fail us.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 24, 2011

Today's verse: Ephesians 1:4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God has chosen us for a specific purpose and as you go a little further down from our Scripture above in the letter to the Ephesians, you'll discover that the purpose is so we might exist for the praise of His glory!  Yes, we are so that we can commune with Him, fellowship with Him, have 'relations' with Him and joy in Him.  But folks, how can this be possible?

It's possible by simply being in Him.  Every heart that looks up to heaven and is heavy with the desire to seek Him is rewarded with His Presence and that is called 'Being in Him'.  Sometimes, He is so gracious that even if you aren't seeking, He is with you and His Presence is strong in you whether you're at home, on the street, or in your office or wherever.  And you realize your insignificance before Him, yet how merciful He is. I'm reminded of David in Ps. 40:17, when he says, I am poor and insignificant, yet the Lord thinks of me!!!   I can tell you from personal experience that when His Presence comes upon you, there's nothing else that can be more attractive, but for the perfume of His being with you.  It's a blessed atmosphere and sometimes it lasts long and at other times, for just a moment.

For this to happen repeatedly, we need to be holy and without blame before Him.  My friend sin is an arrow we shoot at God's heart and wound Him, yet He is so good, He forgives, but we need to realize that we mustn't give sin a chance in our lives to dominate us.  We have His Holy Spirit in us who can and will help us to overcome sin and will help us set things right before Him.  Grasp the Holy Spirit today and cling to Him for He loves you the Gentle Holy Spirit and He loves when we tell Him to remain with us so we can worship Jesus.  Let the Water of heaven flow into your heart today as you pledge to remain holy in His Presence that heaven itself will be your dwelling even as you live among men.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 23, 2011

Today's verse: 2 Sam. 5:10. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We grow older each day and move on in life.  As we add on the years, apart from increase in the girth of the body, there're many attributes growing in us; besides, wisdom and sense of taste also come.  Some become successful – the worldly way; which is having many possessions, in addition to the positions attained and some become successful in God's ways though not very wealthy nor owning much.  Then, there're a few who're both – successful in the world and in God's ways too.  They're called to walk in His ways and are also honored among men.  They're called blessed by the world for it sees God's hand in their lives –how they prosper in everything they do.  Additionally, they also exude a calm and confidence that's different from the world.

That was the way with David.  God had chosen him to shepherd Israel and he was to learn firsthand what it meant to be anointed by God as king.  Though anointed, he was hounded like a dog, near death many times.  He was on the run and neither he nor his hunters, that's Saul first and later Absalom, knew why he was running except that envy and their need to kill David to prove their point was the reason even if lacking wisdom for in the case of Saul, David had never expressed his desire to kill him and acquire the kingdom and in Absalom's case, maybe if he hadn't died, he would've inherited the kingdom.  But those were hard lessons David learnt at God's hand: faced with trouble for no real reason!  They were the growing years for him before God turned the tide and put his enemies under his feet.  And in all his travails, David knew God was with him.

There's an inexplicit thing about God and His ways that baffles His ardent followers - why do they find themselves at the wrong end of the stick as soon as they start following Him?  Strange, though it is, rest assured that if you don't question and trust God for what's happening, things will change – no matter what, just as it did with David, even if they seem impossible. Remember if the Lord of hosts is with you, the impossible becomes possible, the unattainable becomes attainable; because He is powerful, this, The Lord of hosts, the God we worship, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 22, 2011

Today's verse: Jer. 17:5. This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. (NIV – copyright acknowledged)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

One of the major reasons why we don't see God's hand in our lives today is because we've ceased to depend on Him rather depending on man for succor.  Take a look at what's happening around; do you think anyone trusts God for anything he/she needs and sitting quietly believing God will give it to them without trying to do something him/her self under the mistaken belief that he/she also needs to do something, else God will not work in his/her favor!

Imagine that.  And reading this, you'll see man's foolishness in this area thinking, how can man say he trusts God and then try to do his own thing?  As an example, let's say you're working in an organization and assigned a particular task.  Now if you delegate it to a subordinate, or if your senior says he'll do it, will you also then try do some basic things telling yourself, maybe I should do something also?  You won't isn't it?  For once the job is given to someone else; you cease to be responsible for it, no?  But when it comes to God, well we assume God needs our help, eh?  And of course the world will remind you to do your bit and we're all so much with the world and its warped logic concerning God, so we want to do something.  And the greater our desperation, the greater is the craving to help God…

But God, He is God Almighty; He doesn't need our help.  He hates when you pit Him against a man, i.e. you ask Him for help and also seek man's help.  Our reasoning may be, God works through men only isn't it? Perhaps, but let Him decide who He will work through and it's possible He has something else in mind.  In our Scripture today, God spells it out clearly; so clearly that He says, cursed, repeat, 'cursed' is the man who trusts in man and who depends on another man or himself for strength; who turns from the Lord saying in his heart, 'What do I need God for?'  Remember, God looks at the intent of the heart.  And the carcinogenic etching on our minds that 'God helps those who help themselves', an adage emerging from lack of faith in God, is anathema to Him who is an omnipotent God.  Just trust Him no matter how difficult your situation; do nothing foolish even if everyone is advising you to do that for it's the way of the evil one - to make God angry and move Him away from your tent for God surely says, 'If you can help yourself, why do you need Me?' Remember the greatest prayer a man can make when he is in deep trouble, is just sit and be quiet for in that is our strength before the Lord.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 19, 2011

Today's verse: 2 Cor. 2:11. so that satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes. (New Living Translation)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Deep down I've always believed that satan works against us in and through the people we reckon as a threat or our enemies.  People come to you and tell you of the troubles created by 'so-called' men and women of God.  Through experience, I've known that the domain of 'ministry' and 'men/women of God' is a highly complex territory and each person who does a small thing for the Lord automatically feels that he/she has been anointed by God to do His work and thus is a 'servant' of God, bearing his authority.   More often than not, we realize that these are the men and women, who're used of satan so cleverly that we hardly see satan's hand in it; rather we rant and rave considering them our personal enemies. 

I've seen anointed people (for Ministry) blocked and shut up by these denizens of satan's realm thereby silencing the power and spread of God's Kingdom in the mistaken belief that they're better than the person they've striven to silence!  But, we forget that God gives Ministry and He moves us forward for His work.  Paul effectively brings out this thought in Romans 9, where we're enlightened on the concept of God's choice.  Yes, God chooses for He knows those He chooses; doesn't He rebut Jeremiah, when he says, 'I am too young?' Jer. 1:6, 7.

As mature Christians, we must see the hand of satan in the difficulties God places before us.  When your wife is always criticizing you about your passion for God while not earning enough for the home, despite not being in need, know it's not she, but the evil one using her.  When the priest or pastor in your parish always sidelines you in not giving an opportunity, you know where it comes from.  Pray for them so they can be God's vessels and carry His message.  On the other hand, when you refuse to forgive feeling you've been grossly hurt by someone thinking it's just impossible to forgive, know that satan is pouring lies in your mind; just look at the Cross and Jesus on it praying for His enemies saying, 'Father forgive them for they know not what to do.'  Whenever you face any injustice, look up and say, 'Father forgive…'  My friend, such is the like that God loves and if you're chosen by Him and can understand the schemes of the evil one, you will soon be exalted by God even further in your mission.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 18, 2011

Today's verse: Ps. 34:18. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Sin in man is nothing new.  From the time God created Him, before any action of man, he sinned and the lure to sin is provided by the evil ancient serpent, the enemy of souls, who is still active and busy leading men to sin.  By sin, we are led away from God and into a place, where His fullness cannot reach us.

But the children of God prodded by the Holy Spirit, Who speaks to the spirit of man, are fed up of sin.  They are wholly ashamed of themselves and their sinful nature.  The Grace of God within their beings unfolds before them their dirt and makes them aware that the blood of the Lamb is there to make them clean.  It urges them to quickly wash themselves and be free of sin.  That's the time when a man gets down on his knees before God and pleads to be forgiven.  That is one of the best times in the life of a man when God's wholesome Presence becomes real in his life.

God is true to His Word and today's Scripture is indicative of what happens to a man whose spirit is contrite and whose heart is broken by the burden of sin that he carries.  God is close to him who comes before Him with a dejected and sorrowful heart and He listens to him and wipes the tears off his face.  God becomes a shield to him and his abundant Provider.  He looks after that man and always is by his side in rain and shine.  Isn't our God marvelous that our tears can move Him so?

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 17, 2011

Today's verse: Ps. 41:11. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There're many ways of knowing that God favors us.  One, we feel so much in Him that we're at times overwhelmed and we get the urgent need to get on to our knees and pray and worship Him.  Two, we meet with immediate success in whatever we venture into and so God's Presence is amply seen and felt by us.  And, there're many ways in normal circumstances that we know He favors us. 

But if we are in a state of trial, when God is testing us to see whether we're willing to believe Him even if we aren't feeling good or are troubled then how do we know that God's favor rests upon us?  The answer is in our Scripture today.  You know it looks like we're about to fall, but somehow, we don't and that 'somehow' is God's favor.  I remember in my life how many times, I experienced near disaster, but God's provisioning happened which He had prepared much before even the whiff of the disaster could come to me; and the perfect timing of it all, told me that His Hand of favor was upon me.  I'm grateful to my Father for His marvelous ways to me.

Look into your life and see, aren't there times when you were really down, but not out.  Who did that for you?  Was it something you were able to manage or was it something completely unexpected because of the suddenness and sensibility of it?  You'll note that God has kept His eyes on you and so that you would not be troubled He picked you up just as you were about to fall.  Thus it's correct to say, 'Lord I don't know of anything else but this that Your favor is upon my life for never does my enemy triumph over me, yes even to the evil one for he may try to pull me under the shades of hell, but the blood of Jesus, always holds me fast and doesn't allow my foot to slip.'  What a Gracious God we serve!

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 16, 2011

Today's verse: Jer. 1:19. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Many times we say, The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress, a stronghold in the time of trouble' for surely the Lord God has been our Protector and our Guard in the time of difficulty and He is the Vanguard Who stands between us and the terrible calamity.

We're the children of God and as such, the apple of His eye and His eyes are constantly upon us to lead us forward.  You may or may not have this realization in you for it is certainly a little difficult to believe in this as we don't see God and so aren't aware of His provisioning which also comes from unknown quarters.  But as surely as we know when we see smoke in the distance that there is a fire there, God is there and His attributes are like the smoke giving us comfort in our souls in times of distress.  He is our Shield and Buckler and the Canopy of our covering.

He provides us light when our enemies flood us with darkness and He is our arrow that leaves our bow, however broken it be, but strikes the target with precision and great impact.  Though our circumstances be tough and very trying, He will yet raise us up for He is Lord, the Almighty God, for whom all things are possible.  Stare not into defeat thinking your God is away for He is near and with you and He wants to deliver you…just believe Him.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 15, 2011

Today's verse: Is. 64:8. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

What better expression can our hearts imbibe than that in our Word today: Thou art our Father; we're the clay, and Thou art our Potter… we're the work of Thine hand.  O Blessed God who gives to all wisdom to understand the deeper things you send us, let all who are reading this, understand and know that You O LORD God are our Father and we the children which You begot for Yourself, so that we might live in You and know the riches of Your glory which we inherit in Christ Jesus.

When we call Him Father, we mean that when we know not how to walk, He holds our hand and He leads us to a safe perch.  When we're bogged down by the loads of life and when everyone is baying for our blood, He stands like the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire which came in between His children, the children of promise and the children of destruction.  When our enemies sneer in glee, He upsets their boats of comfort and swipes them into the cold waters right in front of us, so we can now sneer back.  Yeah, when we're in trouble, He sends us His Word of comfort which speaks to the marrow of our bones and soothes it so that the trouble which is the vessel of the evil one, turns out to be nothing but a raft of paper -  a blob of water and its gone!  So he does for us who call upon His Name and it is because he is our Father.

When we call Him the Potter and ourselves the clay, we mean that He is the One who will chisel out our weaknesses.  He will remove all the warts and welts which mar our appearances and make us like that fine sculpture kept in high places to be admired by all; simply because we're precious to Him and He loves us.  He will correct the course of our lives when we falter; making us vessels of pride before Him, for He loves us and after all He is the Potter isn't He.  Blessed are we of our Father and Potter who calls us today to come, commune with Him; to understand Him and enjoy the shade of His power in the verdant abode of His dwelling place.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 12, 2011

Today's verse: Amos 8:11. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God has given us humans a very powerful weapon with which we can fight the battles in our lives; and that weapon is His own Word, the Bible.  Yes, brothers and sisters, God's Word is our stronghold for He exists in it as John says, …and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1).  Don't be mistaken, His Word is the source of all power in our lives as we live to glorify and praise Him and I know how a single Scripture can hold people up in their time of trouble.  In the world there are places where God's Word is not possible to get and ask those people what it means to not have the Word and they will tell you how weak life is without It.

When we're called to counsel people, we usually give them just one Scripture; which is sharper than a two edged sword and cuts through soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow.  God's Word is shrapnel on the heart of the evil one piercing through and destroying his designs.  God's Word is the balm that can heal sick bodies and also restore lost fortunes.  God's Word is the salve for the soul when it roams in the wilderness of life's worst situations.  It is life itself and without it a man can be lost and never find himself.  Unfortunately, many Christians don't find God's Word good enough and either ignore or ridicule it dwelling on those aspects where God is seen as a punishing God or an angry God who wants to shove His creation into oblivion.  But certainly God isn't like that for what do you see when you behold Jesus on the Cross?

What we see in our scripture today is a tremendous calamity prophesied by Amos the prophet that God will send a famine for hearing the Word of the LORD.  Yeah, so incensed is God with the idolatries of man's soul that He is in His wrath, going to send a famine of His Word.  If that happened, I wonder how we'd live, we, who haven't yet imbibed God's Word.  How could we travel in the dark tunnel which life takes us to and what would happen to us if we had nothing to stand upon; not even knowledge of God!  It is a dreadful thought; so let us repent of our sins and come to the Throne of Mercy imploring Him to not cast us off, but always give us His Word allowing us to live abundant lives in the knowledge of Him who loves us and gave Himself for us.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 11, 2011

Today's verse: Is. 50:10. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the LORD and relies upon his God? (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Sujeet suffered from a kind of weakness that was inexplicable.  There were times he couldn't even stand, he felt so weak he couldn't even go to work.  His work involved high pressure and needed his presence every day. He had gone till he could, when one day he collapsed and just couldn't stand when they took him to the hospital.  After a battery of tests, no proper diagnosis of what ailed him could be made and he was packed off home with a big dose of vitamins and energy boosters.  It was now more than two years since Sujeet was home.  He had lost his job and lived off the balance in his bank account.  His flamboyance had vanished and his confidence had leaked considerably.  But in all this, the one good thing that had happened with him was he had felt the urge to be more and more with God and his confidence in God grew.

He worried each day of what would happen to his family if he were to die.  He felt his wife and daughter could just not cope without him and on second thoughts it wasn't better with him too who could hardly do his own work. But in all this, another kind of confidence grew in him, one born you might say out of helplessness, in God because of his new closeness to Him.  Every day, he would plead to God to heal him but each new morning he remained the same and the day was the same, with him going to the prayer room and praying hard.  Each day morphed into the next and the next, yet nothing.  He remembered his previous lifestyle, the power he wielded and the money he had, but now he had nothing.  His mind was fresh as ever but his body failed him; sometimes he even asked God for death and that too wouldn't come.

Despite his terrible darkness, he yet trusted God and prayed regularly.  Suddenly one day in the morning, he did not feel out of energy as he used to.  Maybe he thought its temporary but soon realized that his energy remained constant.  He didn't feel tired at all rather he felt very fresh.  The whole day passed and he never felt tired.  Days passed and he never felt tired again.  He became just as he was before.  His doctor also marveled at this new development. Soon Sujeet got himself a job and he rose and rose, but despite his busy life, he never failed to pray and give praise to God.  In fact he was a positive influence to his colleagues who seeing him, also turned to God and his office turned into a prayer room with many asking him to pray for them.  Years later, Sujeet can still remember the dreadful phase he had gone through but he was grateful to God who had in His mercy pulled him out of darkness and the grave.  His testimony to God's goodness is etched in marble and displayed prominently in his office.