Your failure or limitation does not fail or limit the almighty God.

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off”. – Proverbs 23:18.

Your past failures or limitations could look like an obstacle for you to fulfill your destiny planned by God, don’t they? I thought the same way when I was faced with failure and restriction in my spiritual life. Confusion, discouragement, and even sadness can overwhelm you in such unpredicted turns of life. 

However, Listen! you must understand that your failures or limitations do not limit God.  Yes, you heard it right. Nothing gets Him by surprise. He would not say, “I never thought like it” or “I did not know about it.” He knows all about you and your life even before you are formed in your mother’s womb. All the details of your life and even days are written down in his book even before you started living one day here on this planet earth. Do you understand, He is the one who ordained every single day of your life. Nothing is hidden from his knowledge and sight. (Psalm 139).

Additionally, whatever things happened to you had to go through His loving hand first. He had to approve it before it all happened. 

Often the lives of faith warriors in the Bible reveals a secret. The sad situations in your life could very well be God-ordained opportunities to fulfill God’s planned destiny in your life, although it looks unpleasant and scary to you.  

Noami, the mother-in-law of Ruth, said this when she came back to Bethlehem. “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Ruth 1:20-21.

Do you hear severe pain in the words of Noami? She said, “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.” Due to a famine in the land in Bethlehem, she and her husband Elimelek, a Jewish couple, along with their two sons, went from Bethlehem to the country of Moab for food. There in Moab Elimelek died. She had two sons after the death of her husband. Now both of her sons were married Moabite girls. Both men have also died. Finally, she was left alone without her husband and sons. 

She was a widow with no help in a foreign land haunted by the memories of the past. 

Is there a future left for Noami? When you read the book of Ruth in the Bible, “surely there was a future destiny planned by God even through her disastrous tragedies. Her hope was not cut off. The book ends with this beautiful scene of Naomi having her grandson, Obed, in her arms. Verses 16 and 17 of chapter 4 says, “Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him.  The woman living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” The women of Bethlehem said now Naomi has a son! Her grandson did not come through her sons. God had a foreordained different plan in her tragedies. Obed was the grandfather of David, the great king of Israel, and through His line the Son of David and the Son of God, Jesus Christ came into this world. 

Suppose you can say God of Naomi is your God, the living God in heaven, the God of Israel, who revealed Himself through the pages of the Scripture called the Bible and revealed to us in these last days through His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to this earth, died, buried and rose again according to the promises of God in the ancient Scriptures, then I assure you have a future amid all the difficulties and tragedies. Your hope will not be cut off. 

“Father in heaven, I believe in the God of Naomi, the living God in heaven, who sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to save me and grant me eternal life. I accept Jesus as my savior, and please come to my life and bless me with the promise of the blessed future and hope. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” (1 Peter 2:20).

Rumi, a Persian Poet, born 807 years ago, said this, “the hurt you embrace becomes joy.” When you think about it, mistreating another human being is somewhat equal to digging one’s own grave, especially when we do this to the most vulnerable in our society – children and old and weaker people. However, don’t we know we live in a world where people mistreat and hurt the weak on a going basis. What else can a world taint by sin offer to people?

Our today’s insight teaches something unique and special to remember in our daily life on this earth. When we behave and act badly and then as a result, if we get harsh treatment for our behavior and action, is there any credit, even if we endure the punishment with patience? No, not really. However, think the opposite way. When you do what is right and then end up suffering for it and if you patiently endure it, guess what the Bible says you find favor with God. Other translations say you are commendable before God.

Suppose the queen of England or the president of the US commend you for something good you have done. How do you feel, and what is that mean to you? So now think about the King of kings and Lords of lords, the creator God, who rules over all on this planet earth and the whole universe spotted you and praised you. The translation we used today says ‘finds favor’ with God. If we are spotted, praised by God, and got favor with Him, don’t you agree we are up to a higher reward/promotion from the hands of the Lord? Yes, for sure. I don’t know what that promotion is going to be like. However, it will be a high reward in this life and afterlife in heaven based on the promise of God (Matthew 19:29 and Luke 18:29).

May you allow the words of the Lord to go deep into your discouraged, fainted, and wounded heart. “But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” The Lord in heaven and His angels stand up and give honor to that man or woman.

Remember the incident of the martyrdom of Stephen. When they heard these things from him, the people gnashes at him with their teeth. However, Stephen, being filled with the Holy Spirit of God, looked at heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God ready to receive Stephen with honor and applauds. Stephen was immediately promoted to glory in heaven. They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and said, “Lord, Jesus, receive my spirit.” He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” Also, when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60). They could kill his body, but they could never kill his spirit. He was promoted to glory in heaven right in the presence of the Lord.

Remember the words of Jesus Christ. He said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15;18. If the perfect God-man, the Son of God, was hated by this world and suffered in the hands of sinful and wicked people, then what about us- imperfect, weak who try to follow the footsteps of Him? Bible reminds us to “Consider Jesus who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3

Don’t you know Christ’s suffering was not the final chapter of his life? It was the beginning of a new chapter of worldwide blessings coming to all the families of the earth according to the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12. Stephen’s suffering was not the final chapter. A more powerful soldier for Christ, Apostle Paul, was the result. Though He supported the stoning and murder of Stephen, Paul turned around and began the work that Stephen left off. Our suffering is not the final chapter of our life either.

In God’s economy, per our Bible verse today, when we do what is right and suffer for it patiently, it finds favor in the sight of the Lord, and a high reward and promotion would be the outcome. The quotation of Rumi is partially correct. “The hurt you embrace becomes joy.” However, it becomes joy only because God’s Holy Spirit indwells in the child of God, and secondly, God is faithful in spotting and rewarding us when we face such painful and most heartbreaking times.

“Father in heaven, please grant me the strength and power to do what is right in your sight. Weak as I am, I need your help to do this, Lord. Also, Lord, please give me the divine patience to endure the sufferings. I know Jesus is an example to follow in this regard. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Please save me and reward me with your love. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Backsliding from God’s plan has consequences. Repentance paves the way back!

“ But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” Jonah 1:3.

The LORD had a unique plan and purpose in Jonah’s life. He came to Jonah and said to go to Nineveh and preach there because the people in Nineveh were evil and wicked. But not heeding the word of the LORD, the prophet Jonah disobeyed and ran away from the presence of the LORD. When he started disobeying God, it appeared everything was favorable for him for a while. He went down to Joppa. He found a ship that was ready to go to Tarshish. He had the money for the trip. So he paid the fare and got into the ship. He went down inside the ship and found a very comfortable and quiet place to rest and sleep.

All looked good for a while. My beloved, This is how backsliding from the plan of God and running away from God feels to many. The story of the prodigal son, Jesus said,  who ran away from the Father’s house also was excited to go away from his loving father’s home. All looked good and no problem he could see on the horizon. Jonah went down to the lowest chamber of the ship and felt safe and secure. Nobody would take note of him and notice him in the lowest room, he must have thought. But didn’t he know he is in the sight and presence of the Lord no matter where he is? Bible says God keeps watching us continuously. Psalm 121:8, “The LORD keeps watching over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” He not only watches the paths of the Godly one but He also keeps watching the evil and the wicked. Proverbs 15:3 says “The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.” Psalm 139 says we cannot get away from His presence and we cannot hide from Him.

Jonah is at the bottom chamber of the ship lying down and sleeping with no apparent problems and issues. But the LORD sent a powerful wind on the sea, and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. (vs. 4). Did you notice it says the LORD sent a mighty wind and the ship was about to break? You know running away from the presence of the LORD seemed comfortable for a while, but to face the consequences, pay its prices, and coming back to the presence of the LORD was not easy at all. Beloved, are you running away from the LORD? Are you in a backslide lifestyle and experience? You see when we disobey the LORD, it affects other people as well. They were all afraid in the ship because of the powerful storm, and the pagan people in the ship threw Jonah into the sea to make the sea calm because of his disobedience to the living LORD in heaven. He ended up in the depth of the sea and then in the belly of a great fish. There he cried to the LORD for help. In such a dangerous and hopeless situation he came to his sense and understood only the LORD could save and deliver him.

The disobedience to God always makes people go down and down and down. The obedience to the LORD brings blessings and disobedience to Him brings punishments and curses, according to Deuteronomy 28 in the Bible. Now Jonah was in a hopeless situation and only God who made heaven and earth could help him to come out of. He repented and cried out to God for help from the depth of the sea and belly of the fish. We wonder at the fantastic Grace of the LORD toward us when we cry out to the LORD for help. The LORD heard his prayer even from the depth and belly of the great fish and delivered him.

Jonah 3:1 says the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time and God used him to go and preach in the city of Nineveh and the people in that whole wicked city repented and turned to God, and the LORD changed His mind and did not destroy the evil city because of their repentance from their sins and wicked ways.

Had he obeyed the LORD for the first time, he did not have to face the severe and harmful consequences of disobedience, right? Is this not a solemn warning to all of us?

If you are running away from God, He has a beautiful and wonderful plan for your life. Repent now and turn to Him and pray. He will save and deliver you. He is the God of Jonah. No matter where you are, how far you are away, you cry.  And repentance will make it all good again.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? Father in heaven, Please have mercy on me and save me today. I am sorry for my sins. I come to you and accept your call to believe in your Son who came to this earth, died, and rose again for my sins. Please save me and deliver me. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Choose mercy over revenge.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 2:36.

Every day we have a compelling choice to make- show mercy or revenge. We can show our animosity and hatred, or we can choose to be merciful and forgiving. Are you quick to announce people’s mistakes and blunders or do you try to fly over them and ignore them for the sake of mercy? Do you keep a record of their failures? Recently I heard a man saying he hurt someone and asked forgiveness. However, the offendee would not forgive even after asking for forgiveness. E.A. Bucchianeri wrote in ‘vocation of Gadfly’, “Mercy is far better than justice, even if it is your right to ask for it.” You may have the right to ask for justice and judgment. However, mercy shines and triumph over it million times. Munia Khan said, “A merciful heart beats contently stronger than many vengeful ones.”

Did you stop and think why people generally spots, appreciate and highlights merciful and forgiving acts rather than vengeance, revenge, and demands of justice? Mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness are not usual and human but unusual and divine. Bible says wisdom that comes from heaven is “full of mercy and good fruit.” James 3:17. The source of true wisdom is God, and listen; it is full of mercy and sweet fruits of kindness.

In our today’s daily Bible insight, Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Jesus was referring to our Father in heaven; the living God who created the heavens, earth, and human beings and all we see around us. Psalms 145:8-9 says this about Lord, our father in heaven. “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” The same verse is repeated several times in the old testament and new testament book in the Bible. Did you notice the description of our Father in heaven? Gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. He has tender mercies over all his works.

We know this earth is filled with wickedness, evil deeds, crimes, and unfair practices. God can destroy this earth in a matter of seconds if He wants to. However, the Bible says, the only reason why people are not consumed by a holy God is just that of His mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23. Bible also says, “He (God) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” If God would implement His judgment immediately, then there would not be an opportunity left to repent and change our evil behaviors. God is merciful to offer us time after time to repent of our sinful acts.

Beloved, we should give mercy to those who make mistakes and errors according to the mercy we received from God. What was the portion of mercy we received? Bible says in Romans 5 this- God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, He sent His one and only Son, Christ and He died for our errors/mistakes and sins.
If God showed his mercy while we are sinners, we ought to show the same type of mercy to others. The one who received much would give more.

Every day choose mercy and forgiveness over revenge and hatred. Then you will be free to move forward with your divinely designed plans and purposes without restraints, and the other person would have an opportunity to experience the divine, dynamite and transforming the power of mercy and grace.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, give me a merciful and forgiving heart to those who offend me. I know I am unable to do this without your help. I understand your mercy and love you showed me. You sent your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth. He died for all my sins in my place and paid for all. Then He rose again from the dead.  Lord please come to my life and transform me with your divine power. May I live for your plans and purposes the rest of my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

What a friend we have? Are you a friend of God?

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.” James 2:23

Walter Winchell, a syndicated American newspaper columnist said, “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” Do you have such a friend in your life? You see, in modern days many people do not have real friends when they grow older. Somehow it seems friends disappearing from our lives.

Our today’s insight says Abraham believed in God. By his belief and trust in the promise of God, he was declared right to become a friend of God. When Abraham believed in God that God could fulfill the promises He made, God stated him right with God. Also, Abraham was called God’s friend.

Beloved, do you want to become a friend of Almighty God who is the creator and sustainer of this whole universe and who controls your future? You can also become a friend of God like Abraham by believing in His promises – His word. You are not going to become a friend of God by doing your best works.  Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.”  It is not by your works you become a friend of God. It is by believing and trusting in the word of God; you become a friend of God.

Beloved, God wants to become your friend. You see, in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, our first parents, enjoyed the intimate and sweet fellowship and friendship of God. However, because of their disobedience and sin, the sweet fellowship and friendship were lost. Consequently, we also lost the friendship of God. However, because of the grace and forgiveness of God available to you today in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, you can become His friend again.
Bible says in Romans 5:11, “we rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has now made us God’s friends.” Jesus Christ made us now friends with God when He died for your sins and shortcomings on the cross of Calvary. On the cross, He stretched his one hand to grab you, and he extended the other hand to God the Father and reconciled you and God. Now because of the blood of Christ, he paid for your sins and iniquities, you can believe in the Gospel, the good news, and become a friend of God.

Jesus said this, and it is recorded in John 15:15, “I have called you friends because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.” Yes, you can become a friend of God like Abraham, Moses, and many other faith warriors by a small prayer with me today. The Lord God is different from all other human friends. Once he becomes your friend, you would experience he is the real and only friend you ever cherished and dreamed of in your life. When the rest of the world walks out of your life, for whatever reason, He steps intake to care of you and be your close friend. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. (Hebrews 13:5). Never means exactly what it means. Never leaves or abandons you. You need only one friend here on this earth, at the time of your death and after death. That is none other than Jesus Christ, the only savior of the whole world. He gave his body and blood to rescue you from devil, darkness, and hell.  You will never know a faithful and trustworthy friend like Jesus Christ.

Beloved, do you want to become a friend of God? Pray with me. “Father in heaven, you love me and want to become my friend. I know I am not worthy to become your friend because I have sins and shortcomings. However,  I believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died and rose again in my place to pay for all of my sins and shortcomings. I invite him into my life. Please make me your friend now. I repent and turn away from my sinful life and ask your forgiveness. Thank you for coming into my life and for making me your friend. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

All things that happen are not good. However, God is good always!

“I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You.” Psalms 16:2

David, the king of Israel, reflects on his past painful experiences and severe trials and makes this statement, “you are Lord; Every good thing I have comes from you.” NCV.

We know all the things that happen in our life is not good. However, the Bible says God is always good, and He does good things for you. Although everything that happens in your life is not good, He is powerful and willing to turn the bad things for your good when you seek him in prayer. Because God knows all, no bad things occur without first sifting through the filters of his loving fingers. Therefore, God can take your bad and make good out of it. It is his prerogative to do so. This is why the Bible says, God, causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, to those who are called according to his purpose.

When we seek him in prayer Bible says in Psalms 66:18 that “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” What that means is this-“ If I had ignored my sins, the Lord would not have listened to me.” GNT. It is essential to look into our hearts and confess any known sins when we pray and seek him.
Bible affirms God is good and He does good things for you. Listen to some of the passages.

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11
James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
Psalms 34:10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing”
Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalms 103.5
Job 22:18 Yet He filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.”
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.” Psalm 107:9

The thought of how good God is should be in our minds and soul. Do not fret and quit when bad things happen. There is a reason why bad thing happens. God includes and accommodates bad things also in his overall sovereign plan and purpose. God can turn your bad into good. And you will praise and thank him later for the bad things that happened as well. You will testify like David, and say to the LORD every good thing I have comes from you. God satisfies a thirsty and hungry soul. Do you have a thirsty and hungry soul for God? Would you seek God first more than all else? He will fill you with what is good. If you are thirsty and hungry for God, you would not go anywhere else. You would come to Jesus Christ because He is the image, the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of the living God. (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus said, “anyone has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9.
Come to Jesus and satisfy your thirst and hunger for God and get filled with all God’s good things in your life.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I understand every good thing I have comes from you only. All the bad things that happened in my life also sifted through your loving fingers. I believe you can turn my bad into good. Lord, I come and acknowledge my sins to you. I confess my sins. I look to the cross where your one and only Son shed his blood for my sins. Jesus please come to my life and save and bless me today. Please help and deliver me from all my fears and bless me with your goodness. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

A ticket and a permanent helper.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8(b)
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
1 John 4:16(b)

God is love. If you have any doubt about whether God loves you, today’s Bible verse settles the issue. But it confirms twice God is love n 1 John 4:8(b) and 4:16(b). God is love means God=love. I know some people think God is angry at them. Bible never says God is wrath, does it? No, it never. Instead, it confirms God is love.

You see, the primary nature or attribute of God is love. God has other qualities. God is Holy; God is merciful; God is just, God is righteous, and God is the judge, etc. All God’s attributes are harmonious even His anger and wrath. However, God’s primary disposition is not wrath. He is lenient to love you more. It is one thing to know that God is love, but more importantly, you must know He loves you personally. Do you know God proved it so that you would never doubt about it? Let me explain what I meant.

Beloved, God is the originator of love. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” We learned what love is from God. May I tell you Devil is not love. He would not love. He is the destroyer, liar and murderer from the very beginning. (John 8:44). Love originated from God. We learned the first alphabets of love from God. We can truly and richly love if we abide in God’s love. You see the earth is filled with lie, hatred, injustice, and unfairness because of the absence of God’s love in people’s heart. God’s love in people’s heart makes beautiful changes. This is why we need to preach God’s love to all people including those who are bound in prison.

It is out of love that God formed Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life to become a living being.
Though our first parents –Adam and Eve- disobeyed God’s commandment, because of His love, he came searching for them by calling Adam’s name. It is the love of God that prompted to gave them clothing when they complained they are naked and ashamed. It is because of the love that he promised a seed who would crush devil and redeem the seed of the woman. God’s love for you is described in all of his covenants and promises.

The classic demonstration of God’s love is publicly revealed by sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to rescue you from sin and its curse. God loves you, and that is why Jesus came in a rescue mission.

Romans 5 says, generally speaking, most people would not be willing to die for a good or upright person. However, someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is exceptionally good or beneficial. In other words, people generally would not be ready to die for another person even if they are useful and helpful. Then verse 8 says how God publicly showed His love toward you. Listen it says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It is not because we were good that Jesus died for us. We are sinners and transgressors, but still, He loved.

On top of that, God wants you to live with Him in heaven forever enjoying his perfect, unconditional love. When you love someone, you will do all the arrangement for that person to come and live with you. You would buy the travel tickets, and you even send a helper on the way so that the one you love can come home safely. This is what God did for you. He bought the ticket so that you can come to heaven freely with no cost. The price of the ticket was the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. That was the only way God could rescue you from the kingdom of the devil and transfer you to the kingdom of His beloved Son. God even gives you a helper and comforter on the way so that you can safely reach heaven. His name is the Holy Spirit of God. God gives His Holy Spirit the moment you accept Jesus as your savior and Lord.

The nature of true love is this –it never demands forcefully on people. God’s love does not force or demand you. By understanding how much God loves you, it is His greatest desire that you would respond to Him by accepting His gift for you, Jesus Christ, as your savior and Lord. Then God pours out his love into your heart by sending His Holy Spirit inside you.

Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” You see, until you come and accept Jesus, you have only one mechanism inside you, and that is called flesh. You think fleshly. You act fleshly. You respond fleshly. However, at the time of your acceptance of God’s love in the person of Jesus, then God’s Holy Spirit comes to live inside you. He is the helper, comforter, guide until you reach heaven. Your old flesh is still in you while you live here, but as you yield to the Holy Spirit in obedience, you will be filled more and more by the Holy Spirit. You are transformed to the image of Jesus Christ day by day. The Holy Spirit and the Bible, the word of God, shows the light to walk in this dark world until you reach the final destination, heaven. This is why Jesus said I will not leave you as orphans.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you I can come to you confidently because you are love. You proved your love by sending your Son, Jesus, for my sins. I am sorry for my sins. I trust Jesus died in my place and rose again. I willingly come and accept your loving call. Please save me and give me eternal life in heaven. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Bounce back when you hit bottom.

“But David found strength in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

George S. Patton, General who commanded the US Army in World War 11, said this, “Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.”

I recently listened to a testimony of a father who buried all his four children due to a very unusual disease that got on all of them. On top of this, he had to bury his dear wife after all his four children were dead. Now he is left alone in his old age. How do you cope with harsh situations like this? I have a family member who got the medical doctor’s heartbreaking news, and it confirmed serious and late-stage cancer. She lived only a year after this heartbreaking news. Similarly, I have a dear friend in Christ. He lost his wife with the unexpected discovery of an aggressive form of cancer. She was unable to talk for a while, and she is gone within a short period.

Many tragedies happen every day in this world. How about the condition of people who went through a divorce after many years of living together? How do we face these kinds of situations? When your bottom drops out, what would you do? How do you bounce back when you hit bottom? Is it possible? 

David and his fellow warriors returned from the battle. What is this means? They were eager to get some rest because the battle drained the energy out of them. However, when they reached their hometown, they found out their wives and children were taken away by the Amalekites, and their houses were burned to the ground—tragedy upon tragedy: War, exhaustion, loss of wives and children, loss of home.

Bible says that when they saw the destructions and realized what happened to them, David and his men wept until they could cry no more. David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were captured by the enemies. On top of this, at this crucial junction, David’s men turned against him and were very bitter because they lost their sons and daughters. They planned to stone David. In short, they wanted to kill David.

Here comes our daily insight- “But David found strength in the LORD his God.”

Beloved, like David, you have to find strength in the LORD God. What are you facing today? You should place your focus and attention on the Lord, not the present and dangerous circumstances.  I k now it is hard. But there is no  other place to find strength in times like these. There is no other place to find strength in times like this. David asked the counsel of the Lord. You see, there is a time for weeping, and then comes the time for seeking God’s counsel and do some action. He went after the Amalekites, although he was worn-out and exhausted. He placed his eyes on God and received the vision from God. You have to find strength in the Lord when your bottom drops off. You need to seek God’s counsel and take action trusting in his Word. Bible says God supplies strength when we do not have it.

The Lord God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. You would again soar on wings like eagles with Lord’s help.  You would still run and not grow weary. You would walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:20-31).

God granted divine perspective and strength to David in his frustrating condition. God did this to Joseph, Moses, Samson, Job, Daniel, and many other believers. He will do it to you. Instead of entertaining your perspective of the situation, focus on God’s perspective in it. It will produce all the differences in your difficulties. Nothing happens without His knowledge and approval.

None bounced back so high as Jesus did. They thought the cross and Joseph’s tomb finished and destroyed Jesus forever. On the third day, He bounced back to life by God’s mighty strength, by which Jesus was raised from the dead and seated at God’s right hand with all authority and power. Beloved, Paul says it is the same great power that is available for a child of God. (Ephesians 1:18-23).

Would you pray now? “Father in heaven, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to this world to die in my place for all of my sins and shortcomings. I heard none bounced back so high as Jesus did. They killed and buried Him. However, God raised Him from the dead on the third day to save me from the power and consequences of sin. I believe Jesus died and rose again for me. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Now, Lord, help me to find strength in you every day as I face challenges and difficulties. Please help me to bounce back from my bottom with your divine power. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Born again?

 

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25

You can be born two times. Strange it may sound like, the Bible affirms this heavenly truth. Yes, you heard it right you can be born two times. The fact of the matter is you must be born again on a second time after your first birth. The first birth gives you a life that will quickly end. The second birth gives you life forever. Your first birth happened from a perishable seed, and consequently, it would not last forever. You can do all the physical exercise, yoga classes, eat right and healthy but the truth is one day you are going to get old and die. Bible says people are like grass. Their beauty is like a flower in the field. You look at the flowers in the field. You go back there and look again, and you would not see it anymore. When I walk around the neighborhood I was born and grown, I do not see the people who used to live there. Many of them are dead and gone from this earth. All who are born by flesh from parents by means perishable seeds would die one day. It could happen with warning or without warning.

However, if you are born again by the Holy Spirit and the word of God your new life will last forever because it is not the byproduct of a perishable seed. The second birth happens by the power of the eternal, living word of God. God and His Holy Spirit is eternal. His powerful word that called into existence all that around us from nothing is the source of your new birth. The only thing that is going to last forever is God and His word. It says, this is the word that was preached to you. And you are born again by hearing the word of God. The word of God is the Bible. It is preached to you and when you believe it and turn from sinful way of life, you are born again from above by the work of God.

You would never be saved and possess everlasting life without the hearing of the word of God. Without the Bible, you would not know the creator God. You would not know God loves you. You would not know Jesus died for your sins and reconciles you to God the Father. Without the Bible, you would not know the plan of God for your life. You would never recognize the spiritual gift God gave you. You would not know you can go to heaven and live with the loving God when you die. You see, the word of God in the pages of the Bible causes you to be born again. Either you read it from the pages of the Bible, or you heard it when someone preached the word to you like I am doing now. The hearing and believing in the word of God results in your second birth from above.
Bible words are like seeds. It goes deep into your soul and works there and sprouts new eternal life inside you by cleansing, forgiving, reconciling with God by the power of the divine and sinless blood of Jesus Christ. You need God’s word to be born again. Once you are born again by the word of God, then only you are headed toward heaven. Additionally, you need God’s word every day to transform your life according to the plans and purposes of God. It has the power to transform you inside out. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” The word of God goes deep to the place where your soul and spirit, joint and marrow are separated. It ministers and transforms you by understanding your inner thoughts and desires. Wonderful right? If you are already born again, God uses His word to change and transform you. God’s perfect plan for your lives is always revealed through the hearing of the word of God.

Jesus said, and it is recorded in John 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” It means unless one is born again by the power of the word of God, he cannot see heaven. No chance of going to heaven without new birth by the power of the word of God. Beloved, This is the word I am sharing with you just now.
Got a moment for today’s prayer? You can be born again and go to heaven with a small prayer with me now.
“Father in heaven, I want to be born again as I heard the your eternal and enduring Word today. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ who died and rose again for all of my sins. Lord, I repent of my sins and shortcomings and turn to you today. Please save me, forgive my sins and grant eternal life. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.”

You must know this -your failure has the potential to equip you to serve better.

“If they fall, they will not stay down,
because the LORD will help them up.” (Psalm 37:24). GNT

Failure is part of human life. However, you do not stay down because of the divine help available to you. Don’t you remember, when you were small, you failed many times before you started walking? Remember how long it took to get your bike balance? How many times you tripped or fell, before you got the bike balance? I got teenage boys in the home. I ask them to do chores at home. Of course, I know they are going to make mistakes. If I do not allow them to fail, they are not going to grow. Failure paves the way to grow into healthy, responsible adults. I hope that they would eventually learn from their mistakes and grow well.

Our today’s Bible insight says, “If they fall, they will not stay down,
because the LORD will help them up.”

Our heavenly Father is the perfect father, and He is not a comparison to human fathers. It says in Psalm 18:30, “The God—how perfect are his deeds! How dependable his words!” His works are perfect. His words are faithful. His love lasts forever. He is a good Father. Psalm 106:1 says, “For he is good; his love endures forever.” No matter what happens, you can never blow off His perfect love. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” There is no variation or shadow of shifting in Him (James 1:17). In short, there is no imperfection in Him. Being the perfect Father, God has enough room for our failures. He has compassion for us.

Bible says in 103:14, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” He knows we are prone to fail because we are dust. If imperfect earthly fathers understand the failures of their children and show patience and forgiveness, how much more the heavenly Father would do to His children! For some of you, it may be difficult to grasp because your parents expected perfection from the get-go. Take a deep breath. Your failure is not the end of the world and hope. You have a perfect, loving, faithful, compassionate Father in heaven. It makes all the difference for you.

If you failed, God has His loving and caring eye on you. He wants to pick you up and raise you to higher grounds that you never imagined in your wildest dreams. Your failure is one of a kind unique opportunity to fly high. Do not quit because you failed. Instead, God wants you to learn from your failure and mistakes and stick with Him through the process. Our today’s Bible verse says, “If they fall, they will not stay down, because the LORD will help them up.” The Almighty LORD is willing and able to help when you fail. He is easily accessible 24 hours and seven days a week. Hebrews 4:16 says come to “the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Failing time is the time you need Him the most. David says God pulled him out of the miry clay and put his feet on a rock and give a new song in his mouth. Failed time is the time to stick with the Lord like glue.

You see, failure makes you more compassionate and ready to serve hurting people because you experienced the frame of humanity. You learned something that others did not discover yet. You become more merciful, forgiving, and less judgmental. You become a better channel to represent God to those who are hurt. Peter failed big time by denying Jesus three times. Only we can imagine the anxieties of his mind. Because Jesus picked him up and restored him (John 21:15-25) he could write later in 1 Peter 4:7, “Cast all your anxiety upon Him (God), because He cares for you.” He also wrote verse 10, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to the throne of grace, your throne, seeking mercy and grace because I need it most now. I heard your throne is the center of grace will never abandon me. You promised you would pick up, restore and make me stand on higher grounds. I believe your promise and claim it. Lord Jesus, you died for all of my sins. You died in my place. I open my heart and life to you and for your purposes. Come and help me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”