“So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lords’ will is.” Ephesians 5:17.

Progressive revelation is God’s way of revealing His will.

The will of God for humanity is not given at one time. God progressively revealed His plans to humanity. The old testaments believers did not know many of the things God revealed to us in this new testament times. Progressive revelation is God’s way of opening up His will. God reveals His will progressively for individuals also.

To do the will of God in your life, you need to start what you already know God’s will is. When the Bible reveals that God’s will is to believe in His Son, whom He sent for your salvation, then just accept Jesus as your savior. When it says be thankful to Him, just be thankful. Now, when the Bible says the Great Commission, sharing the gospel with others is His will, then begin doing it. When the Bible says God’s will is to love him with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself, then start doing it.

You won’t be able to do many things. God does not expect it either.  However, you can do one thing, don’t you? Begin baby steps on that one thing that honors God. Until you start doing what you know is the will of God, He won’t typically reveal the next step.

When Ruth believed in the promise of God and stepped out in faith, looking for a farm to glean for food in the harvest season in Bethlehem, God guided supernaturally to walk into the field of Boaz.
When you take steps based on what you know the will of God is, then God comes along and guide your efforts and reveal step number two, three, four, and so forth. As a result of her first step in faith, God revealed several steps of His unique plan in her life. You can read about this in the book of Ruth in the Bible. She became the mother of Obed, whose grand son was the great king David. She also became a great, great grandmother of Jesus Christ in his incarnation into this world. The Son of God came to this world through Her lineage. Wonderful! Simple steps based on your faith in God to obey his known will leads to a life of fulfilling God’s unique plan and purpose.

You see,  you and I can sit thinking about God’s will and never do it simply because we did not start doing what we know as the will of God. Begin doing what you know as God’s will, then you will see excellent results of God’s guidance and revelations of the next steps.

Abraham heard the will of God for his personal life in Genesis 12 and started walking toward the city God promised, although he did not have any clue about the city. When he obeyed and took the first step, God guided his actions in fulfilling His promises.

I hope you know a few facts and plans of God from the Scriptures, don’t you? Recollect what you know about God’s will. Then think about the way God formed you by giving a unique character, personality, past experiences (success and failures), and desires. How can your character, circumstances, personality, desires, and experiences fulfill the already known will of God? Then take that first step with prayer and trust in Him.

You see, the tragedy of not fulfilling God’s plan is not because of the unawareness of His will, but the absences of readiness to take that first step to moving toward that goal. God won’t accomplish much with a person who would not proceed with Him. God likes to hit a moving target. The one who is willing to take the first, God would reveal the second, third, fourth steps. Begin the first step of faith.

I remember a time I talked to my children and wife and said, let us obey the commandment of the Lord and walk around our neighborhood with some gospel tracks and bags of fruit candies. We started knocking the doors. If they did not open the door, we left the tracks and candies on the door. Those who opened the door we told them why we came to visit them. On the way, as my two small children and wife walked in the neighborhood with me, a truck driver in the truck was looking at us for some time. I asked him, do you want to get some candies and a track? He came out of the truck and was willing to talk with us. We gave him fruit candies and shared the gospel. He prayed with us and accepted Jesus as His savior right there in the pathway of the street. Three other people accepted Jesus as their savior because we simply decided to step out in faith to do God’s will. Such small steps were big steps of faith, and God honored and fulfilled His plan in other people’s lives through us.

This is how God of the universe works in and through you to bring healing and salvation to people. You start doing what you already know and then see how God achieves his purpose through you. You fulfilled the will of God!

“Father in heaven, I know your first and foremost will is to look to Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for all my sins  to reconcile me with you. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Now Lord help me to take baby steps of obedience toward what I  know about your will. Lord, give me the faith, courage and assurance as I want to do your will. I commit my life into your hand as you prepare me for your plans and will. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:26.

Waiting is not easy, and waiting quietly is harder. It tests our patience like nothing else. When I look back, God answered many of my prayers. I kept a prayer journal in my life. It is fun to go back and check and see the prayers God already answered. Had I not kept a prayer journal, I would not have the joy of witnessing the wonder-working power of prayers. You see, sometimes our heartaches and pour our hearts to the Lord. Then we move on. We may not look back at the incident as life progress. However, a prayer journal helps us go back and see how God faithfully answered our prayers. It deepens our faith and confidence in prayer and the Lord, who answered the prayers.

However, I have unanswered prayers in my life as well. But my answered prayers are more than the unanswered ones. I am sure you would have the same experience.  I need to admit there is a special request I was praying for many years now. God has not answered that special prayer, which was near to my heart so far. Why didn’t He answer that prayer, when many others are answered? I do not know. Still, I can trust the Lord, who answered the other prayers because my prayer journals are the living testimony that God hears my cry when I kneel and pray.

You see, when you think about it, God is not obligated to answer all your prayers even though you feel like you prayed for a genuine need that would bring glory to God, does He? God said, and it is reported in the Bible in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declared the LORD. Then he says this, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Listen, Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, says, “there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” The way that appears to be right may not be suitable for you in the opinion of the Lord, who knows all the details.

You can’t see the future. However, God can see the consequences and future results. Therefore, if God closes a door with his all-knowing, all-loving hand, do not be perplexed. Do not try to push open the doors manually with your hand, either. Let God has His way in your life. It is ultimately for your good only, although you may not see it as useful at present.

Always, you can trust the heart of God. As a child of God, when you pray in the name of His Son Jesus, who loved you, died, and rose again to save you, heaven takes the matter and its responsibility seriously. God, the Father, never approves something that would harm you and your spiritual growth in Him. Therefore, even though I did not answer for a special prayer request, I made up my mind to continue living in faith and giving honor to Him, until you depart from here to His presence. One day in the future, you will understand why God did not approve your request. That day could be on this side of eternity, or it could very well be in eternity. The Lord, who loves you, would not approve something that has the potential to harm you and your spiritual life and growth.

Our insight says, “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” This verse is recorded in the Bible amid the severe and harsh experiences of Judah’s national failure (then the southern kingdom of Israel), due to their continuous disobedience and rebelliousness against the loving Lord. Prophet Jeremiah says, even though all darkness and hopelessness around them, “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” If you do, God will prove himself entirely faithful and trustworthy with time, when you turn to Him in repentance. Why? Verse 22 to 24 says The LORD’s steadfast love would not let you perish. His mercies are new every morning; Great is His faithfulness. The Lord is your portion. Therefore put your hope in Him. He will come through with loving-kindness and deliverances in surprising ways you never imagined.

“Father in heaven, I kneel down and pray to you, almighty God. I pray for your help and deliverance from the heart aching issue I am faced with. I give the matter in your hand, Lord. Your said your mercies are new every morning. Your faithfulness is great and you are my portion. Therefore I put my hope in you Lord. Please send me your deliverance and bless with your peace and grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

 

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13.)

Knowing God’s perfect will and plan for your life.

Over the years, I have come across many people who genuinely want to know and do the will of God. No doubt, this is an excellent beginning point in your exciting and wonder-filled journey with the living God of the universe. People asked me this question how do I know the will of God about whom should I marry? How do I know God’s will about what should be the subject of my major study in college? What is the will of God concerning my future career? You want to know the will of God truly is a fantastic mindset with huge and rewarding potentials.

God usually reveals His will and plan when you move closer to Him. What did I mean by it? Start doing the basic things He said about knowing Him and His plans. Our today’s insight says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Seeking and finding God starts with the daily routines of reading the Bible and personal prayer time. You see, if you are not willing to read the book He gave to you (the Bible) and come to Him in daily prayer, do you think God is obligated to reveal His perfect plan and will for your life? First thing first. What you know that you must do, you must do. Then as you read the Bible and pray, God would typically start showing, opening up, or revealing things that you did not even think before.

How would you communicate with another person who is far away from your place, if no phone connection or internet access? You see, we must be rightly connected or have the right access to talk and know other people. The same is right with God. You must have access to God before you know His will and plans. Bible says there is only one way to get access to God. The only connection or access is His Son, Jesus Christ. Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5 that there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, Christ Jesus. No other access or mediators given to us by God to connect to God. Those who have Jesus in their life have full and free access to know God and His will.

The above two points are what I meant by saying God reveals His will when you move closer to Him. You take steps to move closer to Him by ‘signing into’ or ‘getting the only access’ to God-Jesus Christ. Then read His book- the Bible- and pray in the wonder-working and matchless name of Jesus Christ daily. You will figure out how to make decisions according to God’s plan.

God occasionally moves in sovereignly to reveal His plan for your life without any steps from your side. God can do it if He likes as He did in the lives of Abraham, Moses, and Apostle Paul. However, according to the Scripture, God usually is not obligated to reveal His will and plan for your life unless you take the required steps. When you take the steps and move closer to God, you will discover God revealing His marvelous plan for your life one step at a time.

“Father in heaven, I know your will and plan for my life is the best plan. I know you are eager to reveal your will for me in all aspects of my life. I want to know and do your will. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe he died, buried, and rose again for my sins and shortcomings. Help me to know you Lord and read and understand the Bible and pray to you every day You said if I will seek you and find you when I seek you with all my heart. I seek you with all my heart my submitting me to your plans. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.

“You have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.” Daniel 5:27

Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, the famous king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar, his grandfather because of his companionship with Daniel, got acquainted with the power and salvation of the God of Israel, the living God in heaven. He decreed to everyone in his kingdom to stop worshipping idols and man-made materials and start worshipping only the God of Daniel. (Daniel 3:29). Daniel was a Hebrew young man who was in exile in Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, Daniel and his three friends who believed in the living God in heaven were brought to Babylon in captivity. Later, God raised Daniel to the highest position in Babylon. All these accounts we can read in the Book of Daniel.

Now Belshazzar started blaspheming the God of Israel, the only living God, who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. Belshazzar was an idol worshipper who worshipped the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

One evening Belshazzar ordered a great banquet for thousands of his nobles and started drinking wine with them. On that evening he blasphemed the God of Israel, and he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem so that his nobles, wives, and concubines might drink from them and ridicule the Lord in heaven. Then they all started drinking wine from the vessels taken from the Lord’s temple. He, his wives, concubines, and nobles drank from them and praised the gods of the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. You see, whenever people lean to praise, bow down or worship man-made idols and images, they should solemnly remember that there is a living God in heaven who is the creator of all and He is the only God worthy to be worshiped and adored. Isaiah 42:8 says, “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols/graven images.”

All went well for a short time. Then the king saw the fingers of a human hand appearing on the plaster of the wall in front of them, near the lampstand, and started writing. The king watched the mysterious handwriting. He became afraid, frightened, turned pale and his legs became weak, and knees began knocking. This was the inscription that was written. MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. The king’s enchanters, astrologers, and diviners could not read or tell the king what these words meant. Finally, Daniel, the young man who was brought to captivity and now over 90 years of old was brought in to read and give the meaning of these mysterious words.

Daniel told Belshazzar that your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar initially was arrogant against the one and true living God in heaven, but later he was humbled by God and acknowledged the Most High God in heaven is the sovereign ruler over all people and all kingdoms. Then Daniel said, you, Belshazzar, his son have not humbled yourself in front of the living God in heaven, even though you knew what happened to your grandfather. You blasphemed and denounced His name by bringing the vessels from the temple in Jerusalem, and your wives, concubines, and nobles drank from it. You praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which cannot see, hear, or understand. You praised the handiworks of man and the things God made, and you did not honor the God who created all and holds your life and ways in His hand. Therefore hear the meaning of these words.

Mene – God has numbered your days and going to bring an end. Mene is a noun in the Aramaic language, and it comes from a verb meaning “to number”.
Tekel – you have been weighed on the scale and found wanting
Peres – You are separated, the kingdom divided and given to the new empire – Medes and Persians.

That very night Belshazzar, the king of the Babylonians was slain and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
Do you know Bible says in Job 14:5-7 our days are numbered by God? God even knows the number of our months and days we live here on earth. None of us will live longer than the time God has set.

There is a day God will weigh each one of us like He weighed Belshazzar on a scale. If we do not possess the right standing before God by the blood of Christ, the Son of God, we will also find lacking or be wanting. Man cannot stand right in the presence of the Lord apart from the redeeming work and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The right and perfect standing before God or found not wanting/lacking when weighed on God’s scale is not something we can obtain from our self-efforts. Bible says perfect standing before God is given to us when we come to Jesus Christ and believe Him as our savior and Lord. Why? Bible says in Hebrew 10:14 By one sacrifice Jesus Christ, He has perfected those who are sanctified forever. This verse informs us of our perfection is not based on our efforts but is based on what God has done and gave to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

If we are found in Jesus Christ, we would not found wanting on the scale of God. Listen to what it says in John 3:17-18, “For God did not send his Son (Jesus Christ) into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Dearly beloved, are you saved by Jesus Christ so that you will never be condemned and judged instead will find perfect and blameless in the sight of God? We do not want our life to end like Belshazzar’s, do we? Come to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the only savior of the whole world and get blameless and perfect standing before God today.
Got a moment for today’s prayer?

“God wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3

God communicates, and He revealed His will for our life in the Bible. Our today’s Bible insights show us the heart of God toward all people. 1 Timothy 2:3 says, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” According to this verse, God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. You see the knowledge of the truth is essential to be saved. So what is the truth? Then the very next verse tells the truth that all should know. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.” We can analyze the truth in the following bullet points.

• Truth number #1: There is one God
• Truth number #2: There is only one mediator between God and mankind, and that is Christ Jesus
• Truth number #3: Christ is the only mediator between God and mankind because he is the only one who gave himself wholly and entirely as a ransom for us
• Truth number #4: The ransom He paid was for all people- not for just a few people called Christians. He gave Himself and paid his life and blood as a ransom for all people everywhere.

You see, this is the truth that God wants all to know and by this, all people, everywhere can be saved. When people acknowledge this truth and come to Jesus Christ as their savior, it is good and pleases God in heaven. Besides, when we share the Gospel of Christ to people, it is good and pleases God in heaven. Often, we do not share the Gospel because we do not think or understand how great is God’s love for all people and how dangerous and horrible hell is. If a person won’t come to the Lord Jesus Christ, he or she is going to eternity without the presence, goodness, love, and provisions of the Lord. Bible says hell is real and it is beyond human comprehension. People generally try to avoid the subject of hell. They do not want to talk about it because it gives them pain. However, the Bible and Jesus Christ confirmed the reality of hell. Jesus gave an incident of two people. You can read about this in Luke 16:19-31. Angels carried one person called Lazarus to heaven and the other person the rich man was taken to Hades where he experienced endless torments and flame. Bible also says Hell is not originally made for mankind. It was made for Devil and his demons. However, people have two choices. They can choose to be in God’s kingdom, or they are in Devil’s kingdom. There is no third kingdom. They can remain in the kingdom of darkness and devil, or they can step out from the kingdom of darkness and devil by calling the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and believing in Him. It is that simple a choice. God says he will forgive all of our sins and grant us a blessed life here on the earth and later eternal life in heaven with Him because He placed all of our sins on His Son, Jesus Christ and now mankind can be saved from their sins and go to eternity in heaven when they die here. What a deal!

Not only God wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, but also Bible says He is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Beloved, God loves you and wants to save you, and He does not want anyone to perish. You may have a horrible past and bad experiences. However, there is nothing you can do about your past. We all have bad past incidents. The past is the past. Our past incidents should drive us to the Lord who loves us. Forget about your past. Today is the day of salvation and today is God’s favorable time in your life. Now is the appointed time and the day of salvation. Your life is going to change today with God’s abundant blessings and love if you would come to Christ. God wants to give you a hopeful and beautiful future. He wants you to repent and walk toward His Son, Jesus Christ, in whom you will enjoy the joy of salvation, forgiveness, freedom, knowledge of the truth, love of God, and eternal life. Like the prodigal son, when he came to his sense, he decided to walk to his father’s house. Moreover, the father was eagerly waiting for him from the day he left his home. The same way, God wants you to have your sense and walk toward him. He will embrace you with his eternal and everlasting love, grace, and mercy. Would you do it today? I will help you to make that decision in a small prayer today.

Bible says in Hebrews 2:3, “how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” You see the salvation God provided is easy for people to claim but He had to pay a big price for it. He spared His only Son to save us from our sins and iniquities and build the bridge between Him and us, by paying for all of our sins. God took the first initiative, and now it is our turn to take our step toward Him. God promises “the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, cleanses us from all our sins.” Once the blood of Christ removes the sin issue, then we can freely relate, communicate, and fellowship with God and experience His love and blessing forever and ever.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know you want me to know the truth and be saved from the kingdom of darkness. I want you to transfer me to the kingdom of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. I believe He is the only mediator between God and Me. I repent of my past sins and accept Jesus Christ as my savior. Please save me today. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

Elbert Hubbard said, “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” Did you have occasions in your life when you doubt the love of God? Once a person in the prison when his family visited him said this, “I am even hated by God.” I understand his pathetic condition in prison. However, my friend Bible promises God is love. No one is out of the reach of the love, mercy, compassion, and deliverance of God. No one is unlovable by God. Our today’s insight says, ” this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The famous John 3:16 that people love and keep in their hearts is the words of Jesus Christ Himself. It came from His mouth when He came to this world to die in our place for our sins. What does it say? It says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Wait a minute! Do not read too fast, let the words sink into hearts and minds. Underline it, circle it and make side notes on the margins. This is one of the most loved Bible verses. God so loved the world means not the ground, earth, animals or trees, because it says “whoever believes” immediately after it. It means God loved people like you and me. It means God So loved the people who live in the world. He loved you and me personally. I am going to place my name there. Then it will read like this, For God so loved Sam Thomas that He gave His one and only Son, that if Sam Thomas believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Place your name in the place of “whoever” and read again. It will open up the eyes of your heart. Then it says how He proved His love for each one of us. It does not matter if you are in prison or out of jail. It does not matter if you are a criminal, murderer, deceiver, homosexual, drug addicts, or drug dealer. Whoever believes in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, shall not perish but have eternal life with God in heaven. The grammar used confirms God already gave eternal life to whoever believes in Jesus Christ because it says ‘have eternal life.’ Present possessive term. It is a done deal. God is not asking you to clean your messes and come to Him. No! He says you come as you are with all the messes and baggage. When you come and believe in Christ Jesus, He will clean and make you brand new with His divine power and presence.

Jesus said in John 3:14-16, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” The comparison is here between the snake that was lifted up on the pole by Moses in the Old Testament. People spoke against God and Moses and severely murmured, and God sent fiery serpents to bit them, and many people died. At that time, people admitted they have sinned by speaking against God and Moses. Then God said to Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole, and the people who are bitten by the fiery snake, if they look at the bronze serpent on the pole would not die but live. Jesus says the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up on the cross for our sins and then everyone who was bitten by the old serpent and have the poison of sin nature in them will not die if they look at the Son of Man who was lifted up on the cross but may have eternal life.

See the connection here? You see all people have the poison of sin in them from the original sin of Adam and Eve. That poison is passed on to generations after generations. That is why God loved the people and gave His only Son that we may not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus Himself promised, and it is recorded in John 5:24, “Truly, Truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Beloved, don’t read so fast. Read it slowly and understand what it promises. It says those who believe God sent Jesus Christ for our salvation possess eternal life already and will not be judged. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ has crossed over from death to life. Do you see the divine truth embedded in these Bible verses?

Our friend in prison said, “even God hats me.” However, listen to what Saul, once a cruel criminal and blasphemer said about himself in 1 Timothy 1:15-16, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” In short, if God saved and granted eternal life to a Saul who was the worst criminal who killed many Christians and persecuted even the Christian woman, then what about you? He admits he was the worst of all sinners. However, Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Then he says Christ Jesus displayed his unlimited patience in him as an example for all who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Today’s insight says,” This is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Beloved, God says to you personally that He loves you and as a proof of His love toward us, He sent His only one Son, Jesus Christ to be the propitiation, atonement, or ransom for all our sins. He allowed His Son to die in our place for our sins. There was no other way to pay for our sins. No one else could do this. If God had not done this, then people could never get forgiveness of their sins and would have spent eternity apart from God in hell. However, now by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, you can get forgiveness of all your sins and eternal life in heaven with God. The blood of Christ did it! What a super deal from a loving God! Please do not pass this opportunity. Lord Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart and asking ‘can I come in’? He says if He comes into your heart, He will make you a brand new creation. Old is gone. All become new and fresh. A fresh, divine, and new beginning are what God promises!

Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe you loved me. Although I am a sinner and you showed your love by sending your Son, Jesus Christ to die for my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord today. Please cleanse, make me a brand new person according to your plan and purpose. Please rescue me. I surrender my life to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for and confidently expect the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for, and confidently expect the LORD.” Psalm 27:13-14

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “How much of human life is lost in waiting.” But the Bible promises good things to come to those who wait on the Lord. We won’t lose anything, but we will gain much and avoid many troubles if we truly wait for God’s timing for help and deliverance. The reason is today’s darkness does not mean tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will also be dark. Why? Bible says “ The LORD’s mercy and compassion are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness. The LORD is good for those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:22-26).

Our today’s Bible insight says David would have despaired if he had not believed that he would see the goodness of the LORD. Isn’t true? Yes, it is true. The hard times David experienced were so heartbreaking, indescribable, and horrible, and if he had not believed he would see the goodness of the Lord, of course, in his severe trials he would have despaired. But David truly believed and hoped that he would see the goodness of the Lord because he had placed his hope and confidence in the Lord of heaven, in the living God who created the heaven and earth.

You see, waiting is not idle. Waiting involves the expectation and hope in God because of the conviction that God’s mercies and compassions are new every morning and then He will be good and He will deliver those who wait on Him.

Secondly, waiting involves seeking the face of God in prayer. Many of the Psalms of David are lamentation to God. In other words, David’s cry to God for help. We also should do the same thing as David did. Lament, cry, and pray to God. David testified in Psalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

Bible says we must pray to God in heaven in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus died, buried, and rose again for all of our sins and to provide us eternal life in heaven with Him. Jesus promised, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:13-14). The prayer does not mean praying to inanimate objects like trees, mountains, sun, stars, idols, or images. You see, prayer must not be addressed to created objects like things we see around us or in the sky. Prayer means praying to the living God in heaven in the name of Jesus Christ. You pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ and experience God’s deliverance and salvation in your life. I challenge you to do that today!

As we place our confident expectation and hope in God and we lament and pray to God, thirdly we should remember to find strength and courage in the LORD. We do not have power and courage in the trying times. Take heart God ’s peace, strength, and courage that He grants you. Do not let despair take hold of you as you wait on the Lord. Instead, be strong and let your heart take courage. Why? You have faith and hope in God, you lamented and prayed to God. Therefore God is at work on behalf of you. Consequently, we can wait quietly for the deliverance of God. He will send His rescue at the perfect time. Bible says God delivered David from all his fears and troubles. Like David, you will also praise God.

Let us repeat our today’s Bible insight. Repeat after me, “I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Wait for and confidently expect the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.”

Got a moment for today’s prayer? Father in heaven, “I believe in your power and greatness. I know you are the living God who can help me. I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus died and rose again for all of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior now. I submit my fears and problem in your hand. Please save and deliver me. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“She thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:28-29)

Jesus crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake. A large crowd, as usual, gathered around him while he was at the lake. Based on a request from Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, Jesus Christ was going to the house to heal his daughter before she dies. A large crowd followed and pressed around Him. There was a woman who heard about Jesus Christ and His power to heal. She had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She spent all the money she had with many doctors. However, it says she was not only not cured, but also her bleeding issue just got worse over the years and when she heard Jesus is there, she came up struggling through the crowd because Jesus was surrounded by a huge crowd and touched his clothes. The reason why she did is stated in the description. She thought in her heart that, “if I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately when she touched the cloth of Jesus, her bleeding issue stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” It was an instant and miraculous healing she received because of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then when Jesus realized that power had gone out from him, He turned around in the crowd and asked, “who touched my clothes?” His disciple thought that was a ridiculous question because the huge crowd of people was pushing and crushing him. They thought how could Jesus the question, who touched his clothes because didn’t He know that the multitude was touching and driving him on his journey? When the woman heard the question, she fell on the feet of Jesus trembling with fear and told the whole truth. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. God in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Beloved, the woman was desperate because she spent all her money with many doctors and her issue only got worse, and she became hopeless. She lost all her money, and now she lost all her hope for the future. However, when she took her desperate and hopeless condition to the one who can genuinely help, she got the help. She heard about Jesus Christ, and she believed in her heart, if I can make a way through that massive crowd and somehow go behind him and touch the end of His clothes, I will get healed. This is the faith and trust in Jesus Christ that He testified in front of the crowd.

Are you in a desperate and hopeless condition? You need to get up and come to Christ and place your faith and trust in Him. Then you will discover incredibly how much wonderfully and supernaturally He would meet your need.

She did not stay in her home brooding over her hopeless situation, did she? May I ask you this? If you were in such a desperate situation, what would you do? I would say what this woman did. She stepped out of her house by full faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Her faith is proved by her action of struggling through the massive and pressing crowd to touch Christ Jesus. She got the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God that Jesus Christ, the only savior of the whole world, can and will heal her. That was the right thing to do. The Holy Spirit of God guided her legs and feet to Christ Jesus. Her faith in Christ rewarded her richly on that day. Jesus said to her the truth- “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Her faith in Christ brought her healing, peace and freedom from suffering.

Beloved, I do not know what you are facing today? However, I can point you to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who loves you. I believe the Holy Spirit of God would lead to Christ Jesus now. I hope the Spirit of the loving God will convict your heart with His promises. He died for all of your sins on your place. Jesus paid the penalties of all your sins. Then He rose again victoriously from the dead. Jesus Christ can and will solve all your issues. God loves you and has a future filled with peace, hope, and freedom. Would you call His name today by full faith in Him?

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe in the name of Lord Jesus Christ that He died and rose again for all of my sins. Please save me now Lord. I believe he is willing and able to help and solve my issues. I believe in Him as this woman who had suffered from the bleeding issue for twelve years. Please give a future filled with hope, peace, deliverance, and freedom. In Christ’ name, I pray. Amen.”

 

“Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.” Psalm 139:6 (Amplified Bible).

In Psalm 139, the author King David describes some of the amazing and wonderful attributes of the living LORD who is in heaven. He says the LORD searches us. As a result of the detailed search, He knows all about us. God knows what makes you sit down and get up. God understands our thoughts from far away. He knows all our ways and paths very well. The amazing thing is this – even before we speak a word, LORD, know it all. God’s knowledge is so vast and detailed that He knows personally all about each one of us. Our feelings, hurts, pain, sorrows, happiness, joy, worries, needs, anxieties, and all.

This shows the omniscience of God which means God knows all the details about each one of us. He also knows all the details of the whole creation as well. God is infinitely all-knowledgeable. This is a fearful and comforting thought for each one of us, isn’t it? But it does not need to make you afraid. He knows our weak frame, and He is willing to help, save, and bless us if we are willing to go to Him in prayer. “The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.” (Psalm 34:15).

Secondly, the Bible says where can we go from God’s spirit? Do you think you can run away from Him? Not really! Wherever you go, God is there. If you go to the end of the earth, He is present there. If you go to the deepest part of the ocean, His presence is there. Even the darkness is not dark for Him. The night is as bright as day for the LORD.

This shows the omnipresence of God. He is present all the place every time. There is no place that we can hide from His presence. This also is comforting and fearful for us, isn’t it? But it does not need to make you afraid. Whenever and wherever you need help, you can call on Him in prayer. Bible says in Jeremiah 33:2-3, “ This is what the LORD says, He who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is His name: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Thirdly, the Bible says God made the parts inside of us. He is the one who put you together inside your mother. When we were in our mother’s womb, the Bible says God saw us. Our bones were not hidden from Him when we were progressively made in secret inside the womb. Not only He knew us in detail when we were in our mother’s womb, but also Bible says all the days of our life (each one of them) were already written down in His book even before our first day on this earth. The first sentence in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, says “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”

This shows the omnipotence of God. He is all-powerful. God challenges by this question, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?” The answer is no; nothing is hard for Him.

This is also comforting and fearful for us, Isn’t it? But you don’t need to be afraid because God’s all-powerful attribute says He is the savior who can help you. God is our savior, protector, deliverer, rescuer, and the one who can bless us beyond our wild imaginations. When Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth, carried our sins and died in our place on the cross, they buried Him in a tomb. By God’s omnipotent and mighty power, He raised Jesus Christ from the dead and proved that He can save us from our sins and give us glorious resurrection bodies at the time of our death as well. The same incomparably great power will protect you, save you, and grant you eternal life if you call Him in prayer now.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? Pray with me now. “Father in heaven, I understand you know all about me, you are all present and all-powerful. I believe you send your only son, Jesus Christ, to this earth, to save me from my sins and grant me eternal life. I accept Christ as my savior now. Please have mercy on me and save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13.

Bible says in our today’s insight the importance of forgetting the past and moving forward to what lies ahead. Do you know some people are stuck in the past and continue looking back through the rear windows and continuously live in the past? The simple truth is this -When we constantly look back, we won’t be able to move forward. Something happened in the past or someone hurt them and they are living in an unforgiving and unforgetting attitude. Living in the past and brooding over the past stops you to move forward in God’s plan. There are several examples of God’s people who failed but moved forward with the grace and forgiveness received from the Lord. Moses, David, and Peter are few of the examples of the insight on this topic.

Apostle Paul is the right person who can talk about this subject and our insight for today is his own words.  He admitted several times about his horrible and cruel past.  He said in 1st Timothy he was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man. Bible says he used to raise threats and committed murder against the Christians (Acts 9). Paul said in front of the Jewish Council that he has persecuted the Church to their death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons. He said in 1 Corinthians 15:9, “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” Did you notice he said he is the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church?
Dearly beloved, do you know that there is no sin out there that is beyond the cleansing power of the blood of Christ. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:14 that the grace of our Lord flowed out in superabundance for him when he put his faith and trust in Christ Jesus. He received forgiveness from Jesus Christ and now he moved forward forgetting the past. He says in verse 16 that Christ Jesus used him as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive forgiveness and eternal life. You see, the example of Paul’s life shows the proof that God’s patience is available even for the worst sinners in Christ Jesus.
Bible says to us today don’t try to live in the past. Past is past and there is a definite solution to all our sins and problems in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ came to this earth died for all of your sins, buried and rose again to save us, make us free from our past, rescue us from the past and lead us into His new beginnings and future. When you come to Christ, He will bring you out of a horrible and destructive pit and out of the miry clay. Do you know beloved, instead of your sadness, He will put a new song in your mouth and you will start praising God.  (Psalm 40:2-3). Confess your sins and problems to God in the name of Jesus Christ. If someone wronged you, give it to the loving Lord in prayer and you move on. If you hurt someone, ask him or her forgiveness from your heart. If he or she don’t forgive you, tell the Lord all about it.  You can not make another person forgive you. If they do not forgive the Lord will deal with them in His time. Even if the other person does not forgive, you will have to trust God and move forward in His wonderful plan for you. God is with you to lead you into His new beginnings and future.

Do not waste your time and God’s plan by just brooding over the past. There is no sin beyond the cleansing power of God. Bible says in Isaiah 43:18 do not remember the former things nor consider the things of old. Why? It says God is the God of the new beginning. He makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. He already started working in your circumstances and new sprouts are happening if you look around. This promise God gave to Israel who purposely sinned against God is the promised to you as well if you come to the Savior Jesus Christ now.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I give my past to you. Lord, I am seeking your forgiveness and cleansing in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus died, rose again for all my sins. Please deliver me from my past. Help me not to remember or consider it anymore. Enable me to move forward in your wonderful plan. I know you will lead me into a bright future and I am excited to step into a blessed future which you will grant me now. Lead me into your plan and use me for your glory. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.