Begin Again! Yes, You Can!

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (c).

Have you ever entertained the thought of how you could begin again in life, erasing all the previous records? Erasing all on the boards and beginning new? The Bible is full of people who began again. Be it Adam, Moses, David, Job, and the list goes on. Our loving God is the God who allows you to begin again.
Do you like to begin brand new again? What stops you from beginning again? Made a couple of bad choices in the past? Reaping the consequences now? Have you lost your career? In debt? Face with health issues? Did the spouse walk away? Children turned against you? Friends cheated you?

Beloved, God of the Bible says to you, “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” This promise is not from any human being. You heard it from the LORD in heaven. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. It means the living God in heaven says he makes the impossible possible for you. I want you to leave your doubts and worries and embrace and claim God’s promise today. Bible says today’s Bible Insight in Isaiah 43 to discouraged, depressed, and hopeless people. They did not have any hope for the future. They made their own grave by their disobedience and rebelliousness to the loving God. They turned their back on God and forsook God. So, as a result, He sent them to exile in Babylon to reap the consequences of their sins.

Psalms 137 describes their plight. “By the rivers of Babylon,
we sat and wept
when we thought of Zion, our home, so far away.
On the branches of the willow trees,
we hung our harps and hid our hearts from the enemy.
And the men that surrounded us
made demands that we clap our hands and sing—
Songs of joy from days gone by,
songs from Zion, our home.
Such cruel men taunted us—haunted our memories.
How could we sing a song about the Eternal
in a land so foreign, while still tormented, brokenhearted, homesick?
Please don’t make us sing this song.” (Vs. 1-4) (The Voice).

However, God told them, amid hopelessness, do not brood over the past. Do not spend your time on something you cannot change now. What was done was done. However, God says, move with my plan now. I am doing a new thing in your life. The new growth has already sprouted in you, can’t you see? God wants to move in and make a way in your wilderness and rivers in the desert for you. He knocks at the door, promising a blessed future again. You see, our God is loving and compassionate. When we turn to Him in repentance and confess our sins, He has the power to alter the circumstances. He would allow you to begin again.

God says in Romans 8:28 He can cause all things to work together for good in your life. Whatever happens in your life- He can cause all those things to work together for good. Aren’t you excited about God’s beautiful and wonderful plan? When we come to Jesus Christ, His Son, and the savior of the whole world, the Bible promises you to become a brand new creation by God’s divine grace and power. (2 Corinthians 5:17). You can begin again with the love of Jesus Christ.

Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to you with a heavy and broken heart. My only hope is in you, Lord. Please remember me. You promised you would make way for me in my wilderness and rivers in my desert. Please do this for me, Lord. I am sorry for my sins, bad choices, and mistakes. I believe Jesus Christ, your Son, died for my sins and rose again to forgive me and grant me eternal life. I accept Him as my Savior and Lord. Make me a new creation by saving and blessing me. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen

The one who makes feet like the feet of a deer to tread on heights.

“He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19(b)

There were times when I thought God had done with me. I faced times of severe sadness, despair, helplessness, and, many times, fear. However, God was not finished with me in all these gloomy experiences. Those valley experiences, including grief, hopelessness, and fear, molded me to become who I am today, without which you would not hear me speaking to you. I am not out of those valley experiences even now. I have a fair share of it almost frequently. However, that is the source of my courage, confidence, and motivation to talk about the Bible, the Word of God, and the only savior of the world-Jesus, Christ.

Remember, God has not done with you either. You may say, “Sam, you don’t know what I went through.” Alternatively, you may say, “See, Sam, what a bad condition I am in now.” Listen, I believe you. While my heart goes after you in your pains and sufferings, I need to loudly say this to you -However, God has not done with your life. All those experiences are sections or chapters in your life with a beautiful and happy end by the hand of the grace and power of the almighty God. Do you know if you are a believer in Jesus Christ (means you accepted Him as your savior and Lord), God gave you His Holy Spirit inside you? You have the Holy Spirit in you to help you forever. He is enough to keep you safe through all the bad experiences. The Bible says, “God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7. He is the source of your courage, strength, confidence, and motivation. He is good at granting you all these virtues.

Remember, God did not give you a spirit of fear. He implanted in you is His Spirit of power, love, and self-control. God gave you the right and freedom to live without fear. He gave you His Spirit of power, love, and self-control. You have more power than you ever understand. You can face tough challenges without being broken down by them. You can love more than you imagined. You can even love your enemies and those who hate you. You have the ability of self-control more than you ever dreamed of. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “you can take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” The source of all is not the flesh inside you. He, the Holy Spirit, the gift of God, whom God gave you inside when you come to Jesus Christ, is the source of these supernatural virtues. You are not a failure. You do not need to live the way you live in addictions or bondages. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of God sets you free. The Bible says in John 8:36, “If the Son (Jesus Christ) sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Ask Jesus in prayer to make you free. I will allow you to pray with me in a minute.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your savior and Lord, the First thing must be the first. You come to Him now and allow him to free you from all the bondages. He will set you free indeed. Now, If you are in Christ, His Holy Spirit inside you gives you the power to live above your pains, fear, and frustrations. He comforts, reminds, guides, strengthens, enables, motivates, and uses you. In short, “He makes your feet like the feet of a deer to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19 (b). With the feet like deer that God and His spirit give, you would not stumble or fall off dangerous heights or rocky and narrow cliffs.

Listen! God has not done with you yet. Rise and be all God wants you to be. Allow the Spirit of God to breathe a new direction and vision with His supernatural power and strength into you.

“Father in heaven, I come now and accept Your Son, Jesus Christ, as my savior and Lord. I believe He died, buried, and rose again for my sins to reconcile me to God. Please forgive my sins, save me, and free me from bondage, addictions, and fears. I give my life to you, Jesus. Take me and use me for your name and glory. I yield to the Holy Spirit, who dwells in me for strength, power, and self-control. Use my circumstances to bring glory to your name. I surrender my life to you now. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

You Must Know The Real Source of Hope!

“For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4. (TLV).

Hal Lindsey said, “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.”

The same idea is found in Job’s words when he faced unimaginable trials. Listen to what he said, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.” Job 7:6. The voice translation gives a graphic picture. It says, “My days whisk by swifter than the shuttle in a weaver’s loom— back and forth, and back and forth— and then they come to their hopeless end.” In short, our life ends sooner without hope.

You must know the true source of hope to face and live in today’s multip-challenged environment. There only you get the encouragement to stand firm amid all difficulties.

I heard of an old couple who died of malnutrition on the streets of the United States. Later, police discovered they had $65,000 in one of their drawers in their old, broken house — what a tragic situation. They had money, but they never used it for whatever reason and died of poverty.

Loved ones, hope is readily available. Will you grab it today without delay?

People need hope to live an endurable and healthy life. However, hope is not something we can go and buy from a shop with a price. There is no price tag for hope. The money would not get you to hope. A famous name, prestige, or career would not give you hope. Temporary pleasures would not give you lasting hope. If these would provide hope, why do many famous and wealthy celebrities commit suicide?

Beloved, hope for the future is a gift from God, packed in the love letter God sent you to read and meditate on daily. That love letter God sent you is called the Bible or the Scripture. Our today’s Bible insights say this, whatever is written in the Bible is for our instruction. When we read the Bible, it supernaturally sprouts patience and encouragement in our hearts. The result is we have abundant hope to face life and its challenges. Our passage promises Bible reading gives us patience and encouragement, which will result in hope. Then, when people ask you why you have hope, you gently tell them the secret with respect and gentleness. (1 Peter 3:15). The Bible is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) to germinate in our patience and encouragement. Today, so many people are discouraged, depressed, and have no patience merely because they do not read the God-inspired book -the Bible. Bible is the only book that is not made on this earth. God made it in heaven with unconditional love toward you in His mind.

Are you discouraged? Do you lack patience? I can prescribe the remedy- take your Bible and start reading every single day. What you need is not partying or nightclubs. You need the pure and heavenly Word from God. You need the spiritual bread daily, which is His Word, the Bible. You will discover how much you have changed over time. As you continue reading it, you will have more patience and much encouragement resulting in a heavy dose of hope.

Beloved, got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I am sorry for my sins. I am sorry I was going after this world for peace, life, and hope. I know only you can give me peace, life, and hope. I admit my mistakes and foolishness in searching in the wrong places, the things only you can give me. I believe Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to this world to pay for my sins and grant me peace, life, and hope. I call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please save me now and help me to read your love letter – the Bible -every day. Thank you for the peace, life, and hope you granted me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

The Infallible Source of Authority!

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) ESV.

Did you ever stop and think about what the foundation of your life is? You must be building your life on some foundation, I assume. What is it? What is the source of authority in your life? You must have received what you believe from some source for sure. You don’t need a shaky foundation because, generally, such foundations fall to the ground. You need a firm and solid one to build your life. 

I can identify at least four foundations/sources of authority from which people normally draw conclusions. They are traditions, culture/majority opinion, reasoning, and feeling. 

Now let us look into the above categories one more time:

1.  This was how always been done in the past. In short, they say tradition dictates the truth. The person who would disagree with this foundation is none other than the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus said the religious leaders of his day do two things –they conveniently forget the orders of God and replace them with their petty rules handed down by traditions. Jesus said, “For you ignore God’s specific orders and substitute your own traditions.” Mark 7:8.

 

2. The next one is culture and the majority opinion. If you study the culture of communities from the beginning until now, you will discover that culture and customs always change over time. Yesterday’s culture and lifestyle have become out of date today. Culture changes and shifts over time. If you base your beliefs on the current culture and majority opinion, your foundation becomes unstable and potentially dangerous. You build your opinions on a shaky basis.

 

3. Does it make sense? Many people make a decision based on whether it makes sense to them. They depend on their heart’s intuition and understanding. However, your heart’s intuition and understanding could be faulty. Proverbs 3:5 says, “do not lean on your own understanding.” Bible also lists a time in Israel’s history when people went with their understanding in Judges 21:25, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This resulted in total confusion and anarchy. Going with the thoughts of our hearts is not a good idea because Jeremiah 17:9 says, “the heart is deceitful above all things.” Bible says in Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” You think it appears to be right. But the way leads you to destruction. You see, our understanding and reasoning could very well be faulty.

 

4. I live according to my feelings and emotions. Certainly, some people made feelings their foundation. They say if I feel good, that must be right. Watch out! Your feeling can be treacherous. David felt good the time with Bathsheba, only to regret the rest of his life. Samson felt good in the presence of Delilah, only to lose his strength and both of his eyes. Elimelech felt good leaving Bethlehem for Moab. However, the later tragedies proved his feeling and emotions led him to the wrong place. (Ruth 1).

Dearly beloved, your source of authority and foundation must not be any of the above. Today’s insight says your foundation or source of authority must be the words of the Scripture-the Bible. Listen! there are reasons why you must make your foundation the Word of God. First, all Scripture is breathed out by God. The source of the Bible is not human traditions, culture/majority opinion, reason, or feelings. Its source is God. The word of God is God-breathed. It is God-inspired. It came from heaven, from God. Second, the foundation of the word of God does not change over time. Psalm 119:89 says, “your Word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”1st Peter 1:23-25 says the Word of God-the Bible-is living and eternal. The grass withers, and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” Thirdly, all the Scripture-the Bible as a whole-is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. By reading, meditating, and obeying the Scripture, you would be completely equipped for every good work.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know many people draw their belief system from tradition, culture, reasoning, and feeling. However, you want me to base my beliefs on the infallible, God-breathed Scripture- the Bible. I commit myself to reading and to understand the Scripture you sent from heaven and using it for teaching, reproof, correction, and training. Make me complete and equipped for every good work by learning your Word. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

In Troubled Times, Counsel Yourself!

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.” (Psalms 42:5)

People understand the vital role of counseling when we face challenges and issues in our personal life. The Bible highlights our need for good counsel in many verses. A few examples are: The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. Proverbs 12:15. “Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in the abundance of counselors, there is [victory. 11:14. Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.”(Proverbs 20:18).

Did you ever think about the need to counsel our own souls? David used to give counsel to himself, and we can see this in his psalms. In today’s Bible insight, David talked to his soul and asked this question. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Then he gives a command to his soul. The command is this – “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” Essentially, he counseled himself by asking a question and giving a command. He repeated the counsel and commanded his soul twice in this psalm (vs5 and 11).

Beloved, it is essential to counsel ourselves. If we do not advise, who else going to do this? Besides, God’s Holy Spirit inside us helps us to counsel ourselves. Do you know we talk to our souls more often than we speak to others? In troubled times, it is essential to ask questions to ourselves and give Biblical answers to our inner being.

David knew God had never failed him in the past. He knows for sure if he puts his hope in God and praises him, yet, even amid this severe trial, God will break through and help him. God loves the praises of his people. God is present all over the world and everywhere at the same time because God is omnipresent. (Psalm 139). However, do you know God is uniquely present and makes His home on the praise and worship of his people? Psalm 22:3 says, “You make Your home on the praises of Israel.”

The magistrates ordered Paul and Silas to be beaten with rods. Then they were thrown into prison, in the inner cell, and fastened their feet in the stocks. A jailer guarded them in the midnight hours. No human way of escape is possible. If any help was available, it had to come from God. Therefore, Paul and Silas started praying and worshipping God by singing hymns to God. The prisoners listened to them. God sent a violent earthquake; the prison’s foundations were shaken, the doors were open, and chains came loose.

God takes his unique residence and makes it home when you start singing hymns, praising and worshiping him during your fiery trials. Yet another secret to victory in troubled times. Dearly beloved, When all else fails, give yourself counsel as David did. Singing spiritual songs and hymns, praise and worship can get the attention of our loving Lord, and the chains can get loose with divine power.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I place my hope in you. I ask my soul why you are discouraged and instruct my soul to place my full hope in you. May I start singing spiritual songs and hymns of praise and worship, although I do not see your hand yet? You are worthy of being praised. You gave your only Son, Jesus Christ, for all my sins. I am sorry for my sins. Blot out my sins by the blood of Christ. Thank you for your deliverance. In Christ’s name, I pray.”

God does not forget!

 “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” (Hebrews 6:10).

 We know that God is just and righteous. God always does the right thing. God is the biggest encourager we will ever experience in our lifetime. Our today’s Bible insights promise two things God will remember and never forget. What are they?

· He will never forget your work of ministry- He remembers each work you have done for His name

· He will never forget the love that motivated you to do His work

Beloved,

If God forgets, ignores, or overlooks (the word ‘forget’ is translated as “ignore” and “overlook” in other translations) these two things (your work and love toward Him) and does not reward you, he would be unjust and unrighteous.

However, our verse today affirms God is not unjust and unrighteous- He is always just and righteous.

Keep in mind God is not unjust to forget your work and the love shown toward Him, period!

Don’t you love this verse? I do! He won’t forget what you have done for him in the past and still do for His name. He won’t forget the love you have for His word in your heart. It is the love you have for Him that is the reason why you did ministry in the past and still doing it today.

Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ is just and right in all his doings. If we look at the face of people, even co-believers, we will get discouraged. People forget. People ignore. People discriminate, and they do unfair and unjust actions. People also may try to discourage you with their actions and attitudes. However, remember that God remembers your work and love for Him. He will never forget. He will never ignore it, He will never overlook your work, and He will never be unjust and unfair to you. Oh, I love today’s insight. I can bank on God’s word that he will not forget but remember our love and work for His name.

Jesus said, “And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of this little one who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42). Bible assures this in Ephesians 6:8, “Because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” You may be a master (supervisor or manager), servant or slave (ordinary blue-colored worker). Whatever capacity you are in, if you do good because of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord will reward each one of you. He remembers the way you ministered to his people in the past. He remembers each work each one of us does for Him. It is all recorded in the book of heaven. Always be assured of this eternal truth- people forget, but God never forgets. He who promised will reward you. 

I am so glad about our today’s verse. Aren’t you?

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I thank you for encouraging me, saying you are not unjust to forget the love we have for you that prompted our work/ministry. What comforting words. I love you, Lord, because people may forget, but you will never forget. I want to serve you all of my life. Lord, raise so many people to serve you these last days, so that many may know the truth of the Word of God and your Son and the savior of the world – Lord Jesus Christ. May your servants minister you without becoming weary and heavy-laden. May your kingdom come, and your will be done in my life and worldwide. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Unknown Future And The All-Known God

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes” Psalm 118:8-9

Corrie ten Boom, who was honored by Israel by naming her ‘Righteous among the Nations’ said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

She and her family members helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World war 11 by hiding them in her home. Later all of them were arrested and sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp. She wrote a famous book in her later years called ‘the Hiding place’ in which she explains how she found hope while in the concentration camp. She endured horrible evil. She had to see her own family die in the prison camp. In the midst of all, she revealed the secret of unshakable trust in the goodness of the Lord that she became the radiance of light and hope for many in the years followed. Her life history still motivates many to trust in God and keep the peace, hope, and quietness in the tragedies of life.

It appears God had to warn us frequently in the Bible about the foolishness and danger of trusting man or princes, in contrast to trusting Him for all of our needs. God wants us to trust Him on an ongoing basis for the small and significant needs of our lives. Do you remember Jesus, when He taught disciples how to pray, taught them to pray to the Father in heaven for our daily bread (means daily food), the forgiveness of debts and sins, and protection from temptation and the evil one? (Matthew 6:9-13). Beloved, you see, we will be far better off by placing our trust in the LORD. The LORD is the one who is willing and capable of meeting all our needs- physical, spiritual, mental, financial, relational, health and you name it all.

Bible says in Jeremiah 17:5-6, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength.” It says there that if we trust the man and do not trust God, our hearts may turn away from the loving LORD. The result is we would become like a shrub in the desert and shall not see any good outcome. A man who trusts in the man and not God will end dwelling in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited land. Sure I do not want to live in the parched areas of the wilderness or uninhabited land, do you? However, if Lord is our trust and refuge, He makes us lie down in green pastures. He leads us beside quiet waters, and he refreshes our soul on an ongoing basis. He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies, and our cup will overflow all the days of our life. (Psalm 23). Sure, it is far, far better to trust in the LORD than to trust in man or princes, don’t you agree?

I remember my boyhood days when I learned the bicycle ride. It is a practice, learned experience, or skill. However, do you know once you got the bicycle balance, you will never lose the balance? Even when you get old, you can still ride a bicycle if you are healthy to ride. Trusting the Lord through our life’s good and bad experiences is also a learned experience, isn’t it? In 1st Timothy 4:7, Paul encouraged Timothy to train for Godliness because while physical exercise and training is of some value for this life, training or practicing Godliness holds promise for the present life and also for life to come.

Our daily insight today is “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.” The more we get advanced in our age, we would appreciate this eternal truth of the Bible. King David wrote this Psalm. David shared his life experience in these verses. He was betrayed and chased by his enemies. He had to live in caves and wilderness because of the jealousy of the then king. He had to run away even from his own palace house because of the rebelliousness of his son. Through it all, he learned a great lesson, and that is this – people around us are going to fail us. But God will never fail us. Because David trusted God, God lifted him in His due time. God groomed a shepherd boy, who fully trusted God, to become the greatest king of the nation Israel. The good LORD never failed David in all his dark and painful experiences. Beloved, He will do the same for you and me, don’t you agree? Yes, He will do the same because He is the same yesterday, and today and forever.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, help me to trust in you rather than trusting in man or princes. Like David, Corrie ten Boom, and many others, I can trust you fully. I do trust you, Lord. I know you sent your Son, Jesus Christ to save me. He died and rose again for me. I believe and accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Rest In God!

“For God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” TLV. (1 John 3:20)

The more years we live on this earth, the more we accept that we do not know our future. We have some idea or understanding in our hearts. However, God is greater than our hearts. He knows all things – He knows our individual future as well. We do not know what tomorrow brings to us, do we? We do not even know what today night will bring forth. Our understanding is limited to finite knowledge, our past and present experiences.

Many are worried about the current worldwide situation- the post-pandemic issues that include high inflation, economic challenges, and difficulties arising from COVID and the Russian War in Ukraine.

On a personal level, a phone call during night hours, a routine doctor visit, or travel on the road or air can change our future forever.   Our knowledge is finite. However, God’s knowledge is infinite. He knows all things- past, present, and future. He knows the future of the earth and universe. He knows all about our individual futures as well. God declares this in Isaiah 46:9-10, “For I am God—there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me—declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come.”

You see, God does not have the limitation and restriction of time. God made time (Genesis 1). People live in the boundaries and limitations of time now. God is eternal, and He sees and knows all past and future – as a present. Though we do not know our individual future, being God, He has already seen our future. He knew it all and had already made a perfect plan for your future.

Today’s Bible insight says, “for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” when your heart condemns, worries, and is afraid, we can rest on God because God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. Because He knows He cares and plans for us.

Remember, Job never knew in his limited knowledge that one day would bring such tide and calamities one after another and change the course of his life. However, God knew it all. God had already pre-planned well for Job, didn’t He? Beloved, the same God is our God. This is why we must lean on God and trust Him daily. We can grab hold of His promises in the Bible and ask Him to hold our hands into the unknown future.

Because God knows it all already, He will provide grace, strength, direction, protection, comfort, and wisdom for us. If He already knows our individual future, will He not protect, comfort, and meet all our needs? Jesus said, “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” TLB Matthew 6:34. God will take care of your tomorrow. Myriads of angels are at his disposal to take care of your needs. You see, God takes full responsibility for your future. This is what Jesus meant. Bible says in Romans 8:31-32, “What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?” This question in the Bible demands an affirmative response of faith in Him. Yes, He will Indeed give us everything else!

Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you for reminding us you are greater than our hearts and thoughts. I believe you know all things about my future. I want to hold your eternal, comforting and strong hand as I step into my future. Lord, help me do not worry about tomorrow amid all the current challenges. You promised you would take care of me tomorrow. I believe because you gave up your only Son, Jesus Christ, for all of my sins, you will surely give me everything else I need. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Please save me and bless me with your love. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Give Me Your Heart!

“Give me your heart, my son. Let your eyes find joy in my ways.” Proverbs 23:26. NLV

God is after your heart and not after your performances. The Lord says give me your heart. The result is your eyes find joy in His ways. We give our hearts to many things, don’t we? Some people give their hearts to get rich. They assume to find joy and satisfaction by becoming rich. Other people give their hearts to careers. They become workaholics hoping careers will give them joy and satisfaction. Yet other people give their hearts sexual relationships and lusts. They think that would bring joy and satisfaction.

Now God says give me your heart, my son. Then your eyes find real and true joy in His ways. David said in Psalm 16:11, “you (God) will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Only God and His presence can fill you with joy and eternal pleasures.

Beloved, listen; God is after your heart, not after your good performances and works. Once you give your heart’s attention to him and his plans, he renews your heart, and that would bring out good fruits, performances, and works according to His eternal plan for your life.

Many think their hearts are pretty good, don’t they? However, the opposite is the truth. This is what the Bible says about our hearts. Listen- “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9. Jesus said, and it is recorded in Matthew 15:18-20, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” In short, it is not the outward thing that defiles an individual. What defiles is what is in the heart.

However, God transplants your heart. He exchanges your current heart with a new heart. Listen to what He says, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26). In obedience to God’s command, when you submit your heart to God, he exchanges your old heart with a new heart by putting His Holy Spirit inside you.

First is First. The priority must be seeking God and His kingdom plans. Everything else comes only after the first one. My children asked me this question. How do you know God and his plans are your number 1 priority? I asked how much time you spend reading and understanding the Bible- to get to know God and His plans. How much time do you spend in prayer and seeking God, his plans, and purpose for your life?

Someone asked me this question – How do you seek and find God? There is only one way to seek and find God and his kingdom’s plans. It is through the person of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. There is no other way out there. “For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. You must come to God in the name of Jesus Christ. Only one way to God is the way of the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus shed his divine and sinless blood to save you and grant you a new heart and God’s Holy Spirit. Would you come to Jesus and submit your heart to God now?

“Father in heaven, I give my heart fully and completely to you, Lord. You said my eyes would find true joy in your ways. Thank you for your word. Create in me a new heart by the power of your Holy Spirit. I trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for all my sins. I know the only way to you is by the name of Jesus Christ. Please save me. In Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.”

The deeper the hurt, the greater the progress of the Gospel.

“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” Philippians 1:12.

The phrase ‘Turned out to be’ unfolds the ‘providence’ of God. The providence includes not only God’s protective and divine care and guidance, but it also includes timely preparation for future eventualities. He’s omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, transcendent, immanent, and holy involvement in people’s everyday lives and circumstances.

Apostle Paul says something essential for you and I to keep in mind. He says, “I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” The Epistle of Philippians was written from Roman imprisonment. Apparently, he talks about the recent changes or circumstances that occurred. The background here in the passage indicates Paul’s transfer from the hired house imprisonment (Acts 28:30) to a Praetorian camp where the Roman army’s elite troops were present. This recent transfer probably happened for the convenience of his trial that was pending. He is not sure how the trial is going to end up – in his favor or not, although he hoped it should turn out for his deliverance through the prayers of believers and by the provisions of the Holy Spirit (vs.19). Either way, he thinks he would be delivered because he said in verse 21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He also stated in verse 23 that he is hard-pressed between two options-his desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; or to remain living in the flesh for the sake of the believers and the Gospel.

If you check with Paul, I believe he would say God used his weak and low points in life to bring glory to Him. He would say when he was weak, ashamed, and at a low point, God used him for the greater progress of the Gospel.  Not when he thought he had strength and power. Not when he felt he was doing good. You see, people appreciate and clap hands at your strength, power, and achievements. This awareness was great in Paul. He wrote in 2nd Corinthians 12 this, “But he (Jesus) 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 about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.” Think of this. Jesus says His power is made perfect in weakness. His power is not made perfect in your power or strength. When you are weak, humiliated, suffering, and ashamed by life’s circumstances, then God infuses His power of grace in you.

Being in prison, in chains, and now going for trials is not a matter of honor or praiseworthy in front of people. However, the verses say Paul’s circumstances in Roman imprisonment and now in Praetorian camp turned out for the Gospel’s greater progress. How? It became clear to the whole palace guard his arrest was an unusual one. The entire royal palace guard and everyone in the palace came to know that he was in the chain for Jesus Christ. It was not a small thing Paul’s arrest made Jesus Christ is known to the royal palace and its royal guards. It turned out to be a publicity campaign for the name of Jesus Christ right inside the palace. As a result, even the emperor’s household became believers. (Philippians 4:22). The emperor or Caesar’s name was Nero at that time, one of the most notorious criminals who persecuted the believers in Jesus. Many of his households became followers of Jesus. Secondly, the believers in Christ became more confident and dare to preach the Gospel when they understood that Paul is in the chain. They were under the surveillance of Nero. But Paul’s chain brought confidence and courage to preach the Gospel all the more. No wonder Paul says my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the Gospel.

Beloved, do not live in self-pity when life throws bad things at you. What was the occasion of your most painful hurt and frustration? That is the source of your message, ministry, and the progress of the Gospel. Do not ignore it. Do not hide from it. Do not run away from it. Ask God to turn your weakness, shame, and pains around for the greater progress of His Gospel. Remember -your powerful message and ministry come out of your weaknesses, not out of your strength or outwardly looking good stuff. The world got it oppositely. However, God’s kingdom does not operate the way the world works.

“Father in heaven, I want my circumstances to turn around for the greater progress of your Gospel. I submit my life to you. Take my pains, hurts, and make it something glorious for your name out of it all. I believe Jesus is my savior who died and rose again for my sins to give me a future, hope, salvation, and eternal life. I invite Jesus to my life. Please save me and use me for your name. In christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”