Your real history and identity.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.

Part 1 of 2.

An understanding of who you are in the primary defense system for the pressures of life. Teenagers and young adults face peer pressure. Your friends press you to do what is ‘cool’. You feel like you can please and get acceptance from your friends by giving into their influence. However, ‘cool’ things like smoking, alcohol, drugs, and lustful internet sites hook you and addicts you for the rest of your life. You become a victim of ‘cool’ things for the remainder of your life with no way of escape. Finally, you end up losing health, relationships, and your reputation. Grown-ups and adult lives are also not much different from these kinds of pressures.

Dearly beloved, an understanding of yourselves is vital to face life successfully. First, understand and remember your real history and identity. Your history is rooted in God. And God defines your identity, not the people around you.

The Bible says God created you. God made you in His own image. Your father and mother gave you birth. However, you were not their idea. You are God’s idea. The Bible also says God loves you deeply, and He is committed to your future wellbeing- not just here on this earth but even for your afterlife after death.

Bible says God knew you and saw you even before you become a formed substance in your mother’s womb. God formed your inward parts. God knitted you together in your mother’s womb. You are skillfully, wonderfully, and fearfully made by God. (Psalms 139:16). In other words, you are not an accident, pain, burden on this earth. You are not an afterthought of your parents.

Bible says even before God created the earth and heavens, he saw you, knew you, and determined your allotted time in history and all the details of your life. (Acts 17:26; Ephesians 1:3). It was all written down in His book, although you did not live yet one day in this world. Bible says in Psalm 139:16, “You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” (Psalms 139:16).

This is your real history and identity. God created you. You are His. You belong to God because God skillfully, wonderfully, and fearfully formed you as a person. God loves you and is committed to your future wellbeing here on this earth and after your death.

Secondly, God loves you deeply and fully committed to you. A mother’s love for her child is the most in-depth love people generally experience. But listen to what God said and recorded in the Bible in Isaiah 19:15-16, “So the LORD answers,
“Can a woman forget her own baby
and not love the child she bore?
Even if a mother should forget her child,
I will never forget you.” Then God said this, “I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” Psalms 27:10 says, “Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.” NLT.

Thirdly, God who made you in your mother’s womb has a divine perfect plan and purpose for your life. Bible says many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. You may have different goals. However, God has a definite and unique plan for your life. God’s unique plan for Abraham was this – He gets out from the pagan idol-worshipping background and serves the living and only God. (Genesis 12). God’s plan for Noah was to build an ark for the security of those who would come in for rescue when the flood destroyed the whole earth. (Genesis 6). God’s purpose in Jacob’s life was to build a nation (Israel) through His twelve children who became the twelve foundational tribes of the nation Israel. (Genesis 49). God’s plan for Joseph’s life was to protect the seed’s promised line, Jacob’s children, from the worldwide famine and death. (Genesis 50:20). God’s plan for Moses’ life was to deliver Israelites from their bondage in Egypt and lead them to the promised land. (Exodus 3).

God says this about prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born, I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Beloved, did it ever dawn on you God has a beautiful, divine, and perfect plan in your life? God set you apart for a unique and definite purpose even before your birth, the Bible reveals. Don’t you want to know more about God’s idea and perfect plan for your life? Please visit www.teachbible.org for more details.

Our today’s Bible insight says, “Therefore be diligent to present yourself approved to God…” Because He is your creator who formed and shaped you the way you are, He loves you more than any other person would ever love you. He is committed to your future wellbeing here now and after death. He has a perfect, divine, and beautiful plan for your life.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I understand you created, formed, and shaped me. I believe you love me more than all in this world. I also believe you have a divine, perfect, and unique plan for my life. I surrender my life to you now. I know I can know the living God in and through Christ Jesus’s person because He is the mediator you gave to me to come to you. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I thank you for your love and accept Christ Jesus as my savior and Lord. Amen. “

Listen! God offers hope amid hopelessness.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

Bible gives us the true-life histories of people who lived on this planet earth. They are exhibit A and case studies proving God’s love and faithfulness. God uses their life histories to encourage and equip you. Bible also reminds us God uses people’s past to shape and prepare them for future services for Him. Whatever happened in the past in your life –good or bad- God is able and willing to use for the furtherance of His kingdom. An important side note -God is eager to use the bad things that happened in the past -your painful experiences, betrayals, sufferings, and even failures-for his wonderful glory. The reason is God can turn your bad into good and for his glory. You would not do it. Your family and friends would not do it. However, God would.

You see people may have left you; friends may have abandoned you, wealth may have disappeared, health may have deteriorated. Your children may go astray; your spouse may have died before you, your brothers or sisters may accuse and talk against you. In the midst of all, you would figure out God is one hundred percent faithful and would never leave you nor abandon you. God loves and cares for you and can sovereignly turn around all bad and painful experiences of the past to make you more mature, strong, resilient, equipped, and ready to serve him. God has yet plans for you. He has not finished with you yet.

You see, your neighborhood, your workplace, your city, your nation, and the whole world is filled with people who are deeply broken one way or another. The people who are hurt deeply failed sadly and then bounced back with God’s help and grace would be able to hold the hands of those who are hurt and minister confidently. Broken people are generally hungry and thirsty for God’s care, mercy, and love. God opens the horizons of your opportunities and sends you as His ambassador to people around you who are ready for harvest.

Alternatively, if you are broken now, you are ripe for God’s love and intervention. God personally calls you to come to His Son, Jesus Christ, and become His child. He would give you new meaning and hope for your life. You can pray after me in just a few seconds at the end of today’s insight.

Our today’s insight says” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Bible is God’s manual for your life. It teaches you endurance-perseverance or hanging tough when things go wrong. You do not raise the white flag and quit. Bible divinely stimulates encouragement inside you. The Holy Spirit guides you through it all.  Tough times produce unshakable hope amid seemingly hopeless situations.

God’s word is the heavenly wonder bread and living water that energizes you. It boosts your energy and stamina more than an energy bar, or energy drink could ever do. God’s wonder bread and a jar of water gave superior strength to Elijah. He traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb with some bread and a jar of wonder drink.
Bible is written to give us superior and divine strength, endurance, encouragement, and hope when all else fails. It provides light and direction during darkness and confusion. Keep the Bible your daily diet. Daily wonder bread — regular energy drink.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, help me to read and study the Bible every day. May you and your words give me endurance, encouragement, and hope. I know all the things that happened in my life were for a divine purpose. I surrender my life and my painful experiences to your throne. Use me, my pains, my hurts, and all for your glory. Use me to touch people who are hurting. I believe Jesus Christ, your son died and rose again for my sins. I surrender my life to you and for your purpose. I am available and use me, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

A unique privilege of Christ believers is God’s Holy Spirit.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:16-17.NLT.

The disciples felt heavy in their hearts by listening to the announcement Jesus made. Jesus said he would be crucified and then go back to heaven. Last three and half years, Jesus was their everything. The disciples left everything they once had-their trade, possessions, and even relationships- and followed Jesus. Their life support, sustenance, protection, safety, provision all was in one person –Lord Jesus Christ. They did not know what to do when Jesus goes away. To such worried disciples, Jesus said one of the most heartfelt and beautiful verses of the Bible, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-. Jesus comforted His dear disciples with His promise of the second coming.

However, how would they live in this sin and evil bound until His second coming? Jesus gave a consequential provision for their living.

Jesus said he would not leave them as orphans. He said He would send the Holy Spirit of God for them. In essence, He said, my mission of coming to the earth is almost finished now. I am going back to heaven. However, I would not leave you helpless. The Holy Spirit whom He would send comes for their support, encouragement, guidance, comfort, and counsel forever. Not a temporary visit. This was the case in the old testament time. Holy Spirit will never leave a believer in Christ in the dispensation of the Church. Jesus said, “the world cannot receive him because it is not looking for him and does not recognize him.”

You see, God’s Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, is the unique privilege of the children of God. NIV, NASB, and other translations say He will be with you forever. Jesus also said, the disciples already knew and familiar with the Holy Spirit because He lived ‘with them’ so far. However, the big difference is that the Holy Spirit will be in them forever after a few days. What He meant is this -after the ascension of Christ, on the day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit would come to indwell in the believers in Christ permanently.

Beloved, you need to understand the real source of the battle going on in this world. It is called a spiritual battle. No one is exempt from it. The battle is between truth and lie. It is between darkness and light. It is between life and death. Bible loudly declares Jesus Christ is the truth. (John 14:6). He is the light. (John 8:12). He is the life. (John 14:6 &10:10). The source of ugly battle is none other than your enemy called Satan, the one who hates God’s creation- Adam’s race. However, Jesus said, He loves you, and you are valuable than the whole world. (Matthew 16:26).
Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world.”

Unfortunately, without the truth, light, and life, many are trapped by the devil. He makes them obey him, but God can help them to escape from his traps. (2nd Timothy 2:26). There is an unseen spiritual battle going over your head and around you. You need the Holy Spirit now than any time before.

How do you distinguish truth and lie, darkness and light, and life and death? How do you fight correctly and win at the end? How do you make sure your soul is protected and inherit eternal life, not eternal hell? You see, the Holy Spirit of God is the defense. He is the Patriot missile. He is the source of true wisdom from heaven. Without the Holy Spirit of God, you cannot face the arch-enemy, the enemy of your soul-the devil. You may think you are strong to stand against his evil schemes. You are not strong to stand against him. Your strength comes from the one who is inside of you. If you are a believer in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit inside you. If you are not a believer in Christ as of yet, you do not have God’s Holy Spirit inside you to help and protect you from the devil’s arrows. Bible affirms this truth in 1st John 4:4, “the Spirit who is in you is more powerful than the spirit in those who belong to the world.” GNT. The Spirit inside you is the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit in this world is the Spirit of the devil.

A Gentleman asked this excellent question recently. How can I get the Holy Spirit? Jesus Himself answered John 7:39, “By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” Later means Jesus was referring to the time after His ascension into heaven. The day of Pentecost is the day God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell in all the believers of Christ permanently. The simple answer is those who believe in Jesus Christ would receive the Holy Spirit of God. Have you accepted Christ?

If you are a believer in Christ, if you repented of your sins and trusted Christ, you already have the Holy Spirit. If you have not done it yet, you do not have him. As the second coming of Christ is getting closer, the world would fall into more darkness as the spiritual battle gets intensified. Beloved, you need Jesus Christ. You need Holy Spirit to stand against the schemes of the devil. Jesus said if you ask for Holy Spirit, the Father in heaven will give him to you. He also said you could be filled by the Holy Spirit that rivers of living water would flow from within you. (John 7:38).

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I pray to give me your Holy Spirit to live in this wicked and evil world filled with wickedness. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for my sins. I repent of my sins and invite Jesus into my heart. Please save me and fill me your Holy Spirit to stand against the schemes of the devil. Thank you for saving and blessing me. Amen.”

More valuable than gold and silver!

“Receive my instruction and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold” (Proverbs 8:10)

“My fruit is better than Gold, yea, than fine Gold,

And my revenue than choice silver.” (Proverbs 8:19).

 

Do you like silver? Do you like Gold? Just looking at the pure silver and Gold gives you joy and happiness inside you. Besides, one could potentially become wealthy by accumulating silver and Gold. This was especially true in the olden days because silver and Gold were very precious and used as currencies in the past. It has buying power and has an intrinsic beauty.

Bible says in our today’s Bible insight- Receive God’s instruction and knowledge more than accumulating silver and Gold. Why? Bible promises the fruit and revenue of God’s instruction and knowledge are better than the fruit and gain that silver and Gold gives. You can accumulate Gold and silver. However, the Bible says the fruit and reward of your investment in God’s word would out-beat your investment in precious metals like Gold and silver.  

Our insight says, “Receive my instruction and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold” (Proverbs 8:10)

“My fruit is better than Gold, yea, than fine Gold,

And my revenue than choice silver.” 

What does this mean? God blesses supernaturally those who receive His instruction and knowledge daily. Proverbs 8:34 says, “Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” 

Daily invest your time in knowing God and receiving instruction from Him. How do we do this? By spending time with God every day. How do we spend time with God? By listening to him and talking to him. How do you listen to God? By reading the Bible and studying the Bible every day. When you read the Bible, you are hearing God speaking. Then you talk to Him in prayer. Ask Him questions. Ask for His guidance and help. Share your issues, pains, and problems with Him. You can also read and listen to daily insights like the one you are reading and listening to now. However, nothing can substitute the Bible reading and meditation.

Beloved, as you grow physically, mentally, and emotionally, make sure you grow spiritually. More than all the happiness and blessings the world offers you, thirst and hunger for the joy and blessings God provides you. Nothing can beat His choicest blessings He graciously and lovingly adds to your life.

Do you have a specific allotted time every day to receive God’s instruction and knowledge? If not, start giving a few minutes to God every day. It does not need to be a long time. You can start with 5 minutes and extend to 15 minutes. That is all it takes. However, you will be amazed at the fruit and reward it brings to your life. You will be glad you did it.

The wisdom that God gives takes you to the foot of the cross where Jesus Christ died, buried, and rose again for your sins to reconcile you with Him with all heavenly blessings. 1 Corinthians 1:24 says, “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” In Jesus Christ, you would end up discovering all the real wealth – much more valuable than Gold and silver. 

“Father in heaven, I want to get your instruction and knowledge rather than choicest Gold and silver. I understand the power and wisdom of God are in Christ Jesus. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for me and my sins to reconcile me with you. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please help me to spend time with you daily by reading and learning the Bible. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.

 

“His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3(b).

Some people think God’s commandments are burdensome. When you think about it, you would agree with what the Bible says in today’s Bible insight. “His (God’s) commandments are not burdensome. We can compare our insight to what Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30). The commandments of God found in the pages of the Bible are not burdensome. They make your life easier, less onerous, and happier.

For example, love one other is a commandment of God. If you love all people, then your life would become much less stressful, more relaxed, and joyful. We ought to love all people regardless of color, race, financial status, or social status. Try this and discover how happy and less burdened your life would become. 

Forgive one another is a commandment of God. If we do not forgive, we would become a victim of our adversaries. This is the only result of unforgiveness. We keep grudge and anger in our mind and become a prisoner. However, if we forgive from our heart, even if that person asks for forgiveness or not, then our life becomes more comfortable and less burdensome. We can move on freely without being a prisoner of our adversaries.

Sexual purity is a commandment of God. It does not curtain our freedom. On the contrary, it enhances and increases our freedom. It offers you freedom from bondage, guilt-filled life, stress-free life, and dire consequences. You see, many people think sexual freedom gives them freedom and happiness. However, later they painfully experience the effects of sexual sins. Sexual sins create havoc in individuals, family and communities’ life. The sexual tie is tough to break because, in sexual engagements, two bodies and souls are tied together. They become one flesh. The more soul ties one has the more bondage, absence of peace, and frustration one experiences.

You see, God’s commandments are for our wellbeing and good health. Believe what God says. He is our creator, and He knows what harms us. God’s commandments are to protect our peace and wellbeing. Bible says Jesus Christ can set you free. If you are already living in disobedience, make a U-turn and run toward the loving God now. Do not let yourselves again burdened by another yoke of slavery. Not obeying God brings people under the yoke of slavery.

Beloved, I do not know your current condition. However, help is available even if you are currently under the bondage of addictions and sins. The divine deliverance and freedom are in and through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. If you come to him, he will set you free from your bondage of sins. He rescues the people who are under bondage. Bible says He recovers and transfers people from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, which is God’s kingdom. (Colossians 1:13). 

This is because Jesus paid His divine and sinless blood as a price (ransom) for your sins and addictions. When you come to Him, he delivers you from your sins and bondages and gives you a brand new life. By accepting Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord, you would be born again into God’s family as God’s child. He will grant you the Holy Spirit inside, an ongoing helper who will help you to break the power of sin in your life.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, please deliver me from my sins. I do not know how to stop sinful practices. I cannot stop it. However, you said you would rescue me from the power of darkness and transfer me to the kingdom of your Son, the kingdom of light. I believe Jesus died and paid His blood as a ransom for all of my sins. Please save and deliver me now. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Turn the God-given ideas into reality with His power.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:48.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

Scott Belsky, an American entrepreneur and author said, “Most ideas are born and lost in isolation.”

God gave a mission, and besides, He gave brain to implement the mission. God uses the brains rooted in the Bible to entertain and fan His ideas and words. It has the divine power to keep people from perishing. The Word of God, the Bible, never changes. It is settled in heaven forever. We should never alter it in any fashion. However, God gives new ideas to fulfill His mission and fan His hidden truths in and through His children. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” With God-given ideas and visions, the people thrive and flourish.

A penniless monk whose name was Martin Luther sparked the protestant reformation, which changed the face of western culture and civilization. We commemorated the 500th anniversary of that amazing idea rediscovered from the Bible’s pages by a then-unknown man and the consequent changes it initiated and implemented in the year 2017. The idea that God ignited in Martin Luther still shapes the life and thinking of western culture and the whole world. When Thomas Jefferson, the founding father of the Declaration of Independence, said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” he was echoing the idea and vision of Martin Luther. 

Every North American is touched by this idea when we think about the freedom of religion, separation of church and state, freedom to study and teach the Bible, freedom of speech and public education, and the list goes on.

God always moves His stone powerfully by the illumination of His ideas in His people’s minds. Biblical ideas of great men of God changed the world throughout the pages of history. Christian schools in India and other Asian countries, spreading of Gospel are other examples. God opens the eyes of ordinary people like you and me and gives us an idea and vision from the Scripture to run with.

A divine idea birthed in Nehemiah’s heart while listening to the plights of the people in Jerusalem who were living in great trouble and disgrace. The Spirit of God moved him. First, he confessed his and his household’s sins and interceded for the suffering Jewish people. Even king Artaxerxes, whom he served, noticed the idea that is burning inside Nehemiah. God, who gave the idea, also divinely ordered the congenial circumstances and support to implement the concept. Nehemiah left the palace job and arrived in Jerusalem to build the wall for the Jewish people. It was not an easy task. It was challenging due to severe opposition from enemies. With God’s wisdom and strength, he implemented the idea and finished the work of the Lord.

God gave an idea to Ezra when Judah returned from their 70-year Babylonian captivity. The wall was built. However, people were still broken, distressed and hopeless without any vision for the future. They desperately needed God’s help and direction from the pages of the Torah with which they lost connection by this time. It was a unique task. Who would do it? Ezra got the idea that God placed in his heart. The idea of building people with the Word of God came as an unstoppable passion from God. He set his heart to seek the Scripture, study it, do it and teach it to the people who needed spiritual direction. (Ezra 7:10). As usual, spiritually hungry people rallied around him to listen to the Torah because of the hunger and thirst for God. People listening to the Torah bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. As they listened to the Word of God, people had been weeping. A true revival began, and people did not perish. The idea and vision God gave to Ezra kept them from destruction and perishing. (Nehemiah 8:5-9).

Beloved, what is the idea and vision God gave to you? What did you do with it? I hope you are not burying it under the ground. It may not be big like Billy Graham’s. However, it is still God’s idea and has divine sovereign power behind it.

Yes, your idea is unique, and it is a God-given vision. It has the potential to change the people around you and the world. Turn that to reality with His help. Do not ignore what God placed in your heart. Do not look to people’s approval of your idea. Look to God and move forward boldly, leaning on the strength He grants.

“Father in heaven, help me to take the idea and move with it with your divine help and power. All my good thoughts and visions come when I come home to you by accepting Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believed Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. I invite him to my heart. I request to forgive my sins and shortcomings. May I be a channel for your vision to be fulfilled when I live here on this earth? I surrender my life to you now.  In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.” 

Discover the genuine path of life, joy, and pleasure! 

“You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand, there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11.

Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, and religious author, said, “Many of us pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that we hurry past it.” In the pursuit of finding our path of life, genuine joy, and lasting pleasures, we often hurry past it, is a truth hardly recognized and acknowledged, don’t we?

How do you know the correct path of our life? How do you experience genuine joy? Is it possible to experience pleasures forever?

Our today’s insight answers all these questions that haunted human beings over the years.

David, the king of Israel, wrote the psalm. He was a shepherd boy taking care of his father’s sheep. He lived in an unknown city called Bethlehem. It was a small town with no importance. Being an ordinary teenager shepherd boy in a remote town, he was nobody. During the night hours, he slept in the wilderness, watching over his father’s sheep — no fun at all for a teenager. However, even in those lonely days and nights, his heart was in the presence of the Lord God. He wrote songs about God and Him during those early days. Psalm 23 and19 are examples. He wrote the Lord is his shepherd, and hence he won’t lack anything. As he lay down to sleep in open places, he marveled at the heavens’ glory and beauty and praised the creator God in heaven. No matter where he was- in the valley, pasture lands, hills, and mountains, he continuously lived in the presence of the Lord by thinking, singing, and praising God.

However, as he centered his life around God, the almighty sovereignly weaved the path of his life. Samuel, the prophet of God, was dispatched to Bethlehem, to Jesse’s household, to anoint a king for Israel to replace a rebellious and disobedient king called Saul. Why? Jesse’s house? The God who knows the heart of all men spotted a young man after His own heart in Jesse’s family. Jesse, his seven children, never thought significant about David. However, God did! David was just a simple countryside shepherd boy for all of them. Jesse called all his seven children to meet with Samuel. Samuel did not pick any of them for the divine assignment. Finally, Samuel asked, “Are all your sons here?” Jesse said there is a youngest one, but he is keeping the sheep. Samuel said to call him soon.

When he came, the Lord said to Samuel, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” The Lord said to Samuel, “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” The man looks at outward appearance. However, the Lord looks on the heart. The Holy Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. Samuel returned to his home in Ramah.

God was the center of David’s life. Is God the center of your life? If God is the center of your life, He will make known the path of your life. The Holy Spirit will rush upon you to fulfill His unique plans in your life, as He did to David.

Do you want to be joyful? Live daily in the presence of God. Listen to Him and talk to him. He will fill you with Joy. Why? The fullness of genuine joy is only in God’s presence. Nowhere else! Don’t be fooled by the world and its offers. People want to be joyful and look for joy and happiness in wrong things and places. Then they become sad, disappointed, and depressed because the joy the world offers were momentary and short-lived. Many ended up with mental diseases and suicide in the end.

Do you want to have permanent pleasures or lasting pleasures? Pleasures forever are in the right hand of God. Hold on to Him and His promises every day when you start the day and end the day, and He will give the lasting forever type of pleasures. Life and this world would throw evil arrows and dirty trash at you. However, God regularly turns those into trophies of your life.

A God-centered shepherd boy, God turned him into a king. Though he was alone and lonely at his young age, he continuously lived in the presence of the Lord. It made all the difference for him. God still speaks through his life and writings.

Would you pray with me? “Father in heaven, I want to live a God-centered life. I understand you made way for me to live a Go-centered life in the person and work of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please forgive my sins and save me today. Please grant me eternal life. Please show me the path of my life and fill in me your joy and pleasures. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

You are not in control, but God is! The burden falls off your shoulders.

“The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19).

Steve Maraboli, in his special anniversary edition of the book, ‘the truth and being free’, wrote, “You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.” Epictetus, a Greek Stoic Philosopher, said, “Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.”

In our daily life, we often forget or ignore a cardinal truth that the Bible reveals to all of us. The fact that the LORD established His throne in heaven. His kingdom rules overall. The united states do not control the affairs of the world. Russia does not control the affairs of the world. China is not either. Not Joe Biden and not Vladimir Putin controls and rules the world.

Bible declares God is in control and His kingdom rules overall.

When it says His kingdom rules overall, it means precisely what it says. 

God rules all – the universe, the world, nations, cities, kings, presidents, and all people and their minds and affairs. Of course, God appoints leaders to act as His agents for some time, as His representative to implement justice and give protection to people. He removes them also. These are temporary assignments.

Look through the pages of history. You will see God’s appointments and His removals. At the final outset, God rules over all is the unalterable fact.

Beloved, this impressive knowledge can be and should be applied in our everyday life. Each day we have to remind ourselves who is in control. You are not the one who controls, and you can’t. I am not the one who controls, and I can’t. However, God is in control, and His kingdom rules all!

We often think we can control other people or control the circumstances and outcome. This thought comes only from our ignorance. There are many things you want to control, don’t you? You like to control your children, your spouse, your employees, and the list goes on. However, when we try to control, we just forget our today’s Bible insight that says, “The LORD established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules overall. Rules overall mean just that. He can do a far better job than you would ever do.

Instead of acting like God and try to control people and affairs, we can pray and surrender ourselves to God. When you try to control, did you ever notice the result? You end up being miserable. You would end up on high stress and lose peace and joy altogether.

One of the fundamental lessons of spiritual maturity is to learn and apply this principle in life. The earlier you get this, the better equipped you would become to face life. God is in control of all the affairs of this world. You are not. You would not be able to control what happens even in your life just today, much less your future, career, bank accounts, and health.

Similarly, another eye-opening truth is you would not be able to control your children, spouse, and employees. God rules over all means overall. Of course, you can give good counsel, guidance, and even a measure of discipline. Then you can pray for them and surrender your plan to the will of God and wait and see what God would do on your behalf. The knowledge that God is in control and He rules all and applying this truth in everyday life would save you from many dangers, free you up from many panic attacks, higher stress, and nervous breakdowns.

Whatever the pain-filled matter you are faced with, remember God rules from His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules overall. Give the issue to the Lord God in prayer. God says in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Through it all, He will uphold you with His righteous right hand. Is that not enough?

“Father in heaven, I believe you established your throne in heaven, and you rule all from there. Not only are you in control of all affairs, but also the Bible says you loved me and let me free from burdens and worries. May I relax in your sovereignty and provisions in everyday life? I know you loved me and sent Jesus from heaven to this earth to die, bury, and rise again for my sins. I thank you for your power and love. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please forgive my sins and save me today. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

God’s faithfulness in establishing you and standing as a guard against the evil one.

“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

Apostle Paul requests the Thessalonian believers’ prayers that the Gospel of God’s message saves people in and through Jesus Christ may spread rapidly. He also desires that God’s loving message for people in the Gospel message would be honored just as it was honored by them.

You see, the Thessalonians received the word of God that they heard from Paul and his team, accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which was at work in them who believed in it. In short, honorably, they received, accepted, and believed in the word of God,  because they knew it did not originate from the preachers. In contrast, actually, it came from God for their salvation.

After his prayer request, he also asks them to pray that they would be delivered from wicked and evil people. He says the reason there, for not everyone, has faith. In other words, their message would not result in faith in wicked and evil people. You and I know that there are wicked and evil people. Of course, you can share the loving message of the Gospel with such people. Instead of resulting in faith in Jesus, their wickedness and evil tendencies would continue. Paul says that they would be rescued from the snares of harmful people. (The Voice). The love of God and His wonderful working Gospel message could result in softening of the heart to some people. The same message could also result in the hardening of the hearts of wicked and evil people, thereby opening snares of dangers for Paul and his team. Not only outsiders but even insiders whom we thought are also believers may not be genuine believers as we all know. They could sow seeds of snares as they did to Paul. Therefore, he requests their prayer support as they preach the Gospel.

The Gospel is God loves you regardless of who you are and your background. God can save and forgive your sins because God sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ, and He paid for your sins by his divine and sinless blood, who was the sacrificial lamb of God. Now you can come to God and can be reconciled with him. You can become a child of God. You can get forgiveness and eternal life by believing in Jesus as your savior and Lord.

Our today’s insight comes just after the prayer request of Apostle Paul. It says, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” We have studied various Bible passages that promise God is faithful and how He is faithful to the believers in Christ. Today’s insight says ways He would be faithful. How He would be faithful?  First, He would establish you, and second He would guard you against the evil one. Establish you means God would set you firm, strengthen you to stand. The Voice says, “He (God) will hold you up. He will establish and strengthen you by holding in His hand. Second, God would guard you against the evil one. He says God would “guard” or “protect” them by standing as a guard against the evil one. The evil one is a reference to the ultimate evil one, which is a reference to the devil. It also refers to the people who are under his influence – the evil and wicked men.

This is a wonderful promise of God’s faithfulness along with all others we discussed in earlier daily insights. God promises that He is faithful- to establish you, hold you up, strengthen you, and stand as a guard against the evil one and his men.

Beloved, are you a recipient of all these God’s beautiful promises? Are you missing out on the faithfulness of God?

You will be the recipient of all this faithfulness of God as you become a child of God. God made it possible for you to become His child. The Bible says, “to all who did receive Jesus, the Bible says to those who believed in his name (the name of Jesus), God gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12).

You can become a child of God right now with a small prayer with me by accepting Jesus as your savior and Lord.
Would you pray?
“Father in heaven, I want all of your faithfulness in my life. Please strengthen and establish me. I want you to guard me against the evil one and his people. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe He died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Please save me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Tear the hearts, not just tear the garments

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me all your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your remorse tear at your hearts and not your garments.” Joel 2:12-13.

The prophet Joel says the natural calamities illustrate a far greater judgment from God in the near future. A recent locust plague had devastated the land of Israel. He says, cutting locusts finished eating all the crops. Then appeared the swarming locusts that ingested what was left. After then came the hopping locusts and the stripping locusts.

The prophet warns the horrible plague of the locusts and natural calamities are insignificant compared to the coming day of severe judgment. Joel 1:15 says, “The day of the Lord is near, the day when destruction comes from the Almighty. How terrible that day will be!”

In the light of this, God is calling people to repent over their sins. The prophet is addressing those who do injustice and wickedness with no sign of repentance. He calls the drunkards to weep and wail. The day of God’s judgment is near. 

In our today’s daily insight, the Lord declares,” “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”

Did you notice our Lord God is eager to relent his judgments if people repent and come to Him? How many times did God talk to us through natural calamities and other incidents? The recent flooding in south India is an example. Has anything like this happened in your days or your parent’s days, the word of the Lord asks? How about the school shootings? What can you expect when people and nations forsake God and live in rebellion against His moral laws? Now is the time for fasting, weeping, and mourning. Now is the time to tear the hearts. Do not just tear your garments as the ancient Jews did when they were filled with grief and sadness. Instead, break hearts in the presence of the Lord.

How long God gave us to turn to Him? If we do not heed, more vigorous and intolerable judgment is in store. The prophet talks about the coming day of the Lord when He will repay the wickedness of people. On that day, people will cry to the mountains and the rocks to fall on them so that they can hide from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). Great is the day of the wrath that is coming, and who is able to stand? (Revelation 6:16-17). 

It demands an answer. The answer is -no one would be able to hold on that day if the blood does not cleanse them of the lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Jesus took the wrath of God on our sins on His body on the cross. He died for our sin and paid our sins with His sinless and divine blood. Is this not important to you, my dear? God loves you, and He gave His one and only Son for your sake. Come to Him in repentance. Tear hearts in repentance and get saved today by calling on the name of Lord Jesus Christ. Get rescued from the coming day of judgment.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I repent over my sins and wickedness and turn to you and plead for your forgiveness and mercy. I believe Your Son, Jesus Christ, died in my place and rose again for all of my sins. Please forgive me. I accept Christ as my savior and Lord. Please save me from the coming judgment. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”