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“As God’s messenger I give each of you God’s warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.” Romans 12:3 (TLB)

Somewhere I read this –kill pride before it kills you. The pride is a slow killer like weed kills a beautiful yard. The weed has to be carefully watched, removed before it kills beautiful grass. Pride and other easily entangled negative behaviors must be estimated rightly and remove before it destroys us.

I have come across people who do not accept the fact and truth about them. You see without a true understanding and estimate about yourself, you can never improve and develop. Before any change or improvement happens, one should have a true estimate of oneself.

You see, nobody is perfect or can be perfect in this sin bound world. We all have a lot of potential opportunities to change and improve if we have the right estimation of ourselves.

Yet other people want to get into things that they are not fitted or called for. The pride makes them craving to do things to show forth people they have the gift or the measure of faith God has not really given to them. They think more highly of themselves than they ought to think, lacking sound judgment and understanding of the gifts and measure of faith given to them by the Lord. This is another danger that negatively impacts them and others in their group. Bible gives a warning- Be honest in your estimate of yourselves. Have the right estimate about you based on how much faith God has given you. All are not divinely equipped and called to do everything. God gives special enablement and faith for special matters according to his unique distribution of spiritual gifts. Understanding this truth, much harm can be avoided.

NASB translates today’s insight this way, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

A pride person should be aware of his or her pride nature and must take action to remove it before it destroys. A drunkard and all types of addicts must have a true understanding of themselves. As long as one lives in denial, no change or improvement is possible. Secondly, keep a sound judgment or estimate what God gave to you. Do not try to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think.

Bible says God has the power to create in you a brand new person. The old would be gone and you would become a brand new creation. Listen to what it says in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 -if anyone is in Christ, God makes him a brand new creation. The old attitudes, behaviors, and actions are gone. All-new is here. God creates in you a brand person in Christ Jesus.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, help me to be honest in estimating myself. I know it is easy to change for the better when I know myself well. Help me to change inside out by the power of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives inside me. You promised if anyone is in Christ, a new creation has come. The old is gone and new is here. I want to be a brand new person as you promised. I know Jesus is my savior because He died and rose again for all of my sins. I accept him as my savior and Lord. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:19-20.

The institution of the new covenant by the Lord Jesus Christ on the day of the Passover just before the crucifixion was the inauguration of this covenant which was promised in Jeremiah 31. The LORD God promised hundreds of years before Christ,  in Jeremiah 31:33-34, “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.

 “I will put my law in their minds

     and write it on their hearts.

 I will be their God,

     and they will be my people.

  No longer will they teach their neighbor,

     or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

 because they will all know me,

     from the least of them to the greatest,”

 declares the Lord.

 “For I will forgive their wickedness

     and will remember their sins no more.”

Jesus sat with his disciples on the Passover day before his crucifixion and Luke records what He did, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” 

The nature of the new covenant as promised about 700 years before Christ in the Book of Jeremiah includes these points. It is not based on people’s merits and works, God’s law in the hearts (not just in tablets like the Old Covenant mediated through Moses), God will be their God and they will be His people, they know the Lord, the Lord God will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more. The name of the covenant promises is called the New Covenant. 

Now Jesus says how the New Covenant is established and fulfilled in Him. He said ‘the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” The new covenant is instituted because the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is poured our for humanity’s sins and the sin issue is solved once for all for those who would believe in the new covenant and its efficacy. 

Now the parties of the New Covenant per Jeremiah 31 were the “house of Israel” and the “house of Judah” (the northern and southern kingdom of Israel in those days.) In short, the parties were Israel as a nation and the Lord God. Does it mean it is not applicable to all believers everywhere in the globe? You see Church was established only after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost (according to Acts 2). Therefore, the Church was not in existence when the New Covenant was promised. Bible affirms because Israel rejected the mediator of the covenant, Jesus, Gentiles and whoever believes in Christ, are availing themselves of its blessings. 

Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 9:30-33, “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;  but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.  Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.” Bible says in Romans 16:23 that all believers in Jesus Christ, everywhere are grafted into the root of the promise given to Abraham (Genesis 12). All believers in Jesus Christ are grafted into the New Covenant and its promises.

God did not leave Israel out of its blessings either. Salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ, who poured out His divine blood for the remission of our sins and mistakes. Both Israel and gentiles who live all around the world has only one way to come to God. One way for salvation and eternal life – the way of the blood of Christ. The New Covenant is cardinal for everyone. Bible also says one day in the future, Israel as a nation will ratify the new covenant after the “full number of the Gentiles has come in.” The occasion described by the Lord God in Zechariah 12:10, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

Have you accepted Jesus as your savior yet? If not pray with me now and become a recipient of the New Covenant promised way back in the olden days and fulfilled in Christ Jesus. 

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job 1:20-22.

The life history of Job is amazing. A pious, righteous and Godly man who loved God and served him lost all of his children, wealth, and health in one day. He lost all one after another and in a matter of hours. I said his life is an amazing story because he reminds us even when we are torn apart, wounded and bruised, we still can worship God in the midst of it all.

Of course, Job expressed his deep sorrow and pain. He got up, tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship. He understood the truth about God and him. He knew he came from his mother’s womb naked. One day he would depart in naked. Nothing –children, wealth, friends, fame-would he carries with him at the moment of death. He came alone out of his mother’s womb. When he departs, he goes alone. God’s goodness and mercy gave him many things to enjoy and now God thought it is necessary to take all out of
him.

When you truly understand who God is and who you are, then it does not matter what happens- you would fell on your face and worship Him. Job’s high value and reverence of God were based on His understanding of the greatness of God. God, the creator, and sustainer of all possess high value, honor, and name. Job gave the true worth, honor, and value to God. That was the right thing to do.

At the end of the day, when you lost all, where would you go? You see, when you lost all, you know you have only God to go. And that is good enough, beloved. He is more than sufficient. Alternatively, you may have another option- addictions of various types. When the prodigal lost all, the Bible says he came to his senses and figured out He has his father’s house to go. Jesus intentionally said the story of the prodigal son to bring home this truth. Remember, the loving father was waiting for his return every day after the boy left home. His money is gone, friends gone. He was dying in hunger. I am glad he chose the right place, father’s home.

Aren’t you glad your heavenly Father does not care much about your reputation, good name, status or so-called ‘testimony’ (used by certain rigid Christian denominations in a pharisaical way)? He loves you and cares about you. Jesus said the son of man came to seek and find the lost. That is the final answer. He came seeking you. He would like to carry you on his loving shoulder and rescue you.

Are you facing hardships now? Do you think like Job? Why did all happen? Look, God loves you. You and I cannot explain why bad things happen to good people. God is omniscient and we are not. However, God knows all about it. He was behind Job’s life-good times and bad times.

May this be a time of thanksgiving and worship. It is not a time to utter charges against God or sin against God. This is the time of quietness, thanks for giving and worship. Have high regard and honor for God and what he does and allows in your life, although we may not understand it all now.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2nd Corinthians 4:7-9.

The longer we live, the more we figure out the truth that life on this earth gives us one pain after another. How do you handle those painful and frustrating hours of life without the loving and comforting presence of God and His wonderful and amazing help? No wonder why many end up in addictions and die in hopelessness. Life without the creator and loving God would eventually result only in resentment and depression.

Beloved, you must have hope to go on and live in the midst of all that it throws at you. That is exactly what God gives to those who need it – a full measure of hope and powerful grace to face the challenges of life. You need God, His wonderful promises and God-breathed words recorded in the pages of the Bible. You need the Gospel – the light of God’s glory displayed in Christ Jesus, the only savior of the world.

Apostle Paul who was called by God for His ministry says, “We have this treasure in jars of clay.” You see we live now on this earth in ‘jars of clay’. How true it is! Jars of clay could be destroyed at any time because of its fragile nature. However, remember there is something divine inside us- the surpassing power of God. And this power inside us is not from us. The divine power inside us helps us when we are hard-pressed on every side. You see, we are crushed, perplexed, but not left in despair. Of course, we are persecuted but not abandoned. We are struck down, but praise to God we are not destroyed.

You see beloved, everything that happens to people happens to us. We are not exempt from such things. However, we have the abiding presence of God and His power in us and that helps us keep on going. Not in our strength or ability, but His powerful grace, peace, and hope.

The paradoxical nature of the ministers of Christ. The weakness of the great missionary of God –Apostle Paul- and the surpassing power of God to preserve him and his work. ‘Jars of clay’ and the illumination of God’s glory and power by the light inside it –the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Not just for ministers of Christ, but for all of us to continue living in this sin-bound world requires a full measure of hope and grace only God lavishly provides in the person of Jesus Christ. God knew we need this in super-size these days, and He already made it available. Remember what is Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Beloved, do you have the grace, peace and hope that God gives in Jesus Christ? The presence of His powerful grace, peace, hope and the surpassing power of the gospel makes you perfect in weaknesses.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, You provide your treasure in jars of clay. I need your treasure inside me-the illuminating light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want your grace, peace, and hope. I invite Jesus Christ into my life. I believe He is my savior who died and rose again in my place for all of my sins and mistakes. Please save me and grant me your treasure in me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you?” Ezekiel 22:14(a).

When we are in the midst of trials and testing, it appears there is no end visible at the end of the tunnel. Al trials and sufferings have this common trait. However, all the severe trials humans experienced in history always ended after some time. Of course, through it many lives would be lost, relationship strained and vanish all we earned through our hard work.

COVID-19 is not different from such incidents in human history. However, the creator and sustainer of all have few teaching lessons for all.

First of all, all the earth and all that contains and all the whole universe belong to Him. We are under His sovereign authority are charged with stewardship for a while. Second, we must all know we are accountable to the creator God. No one can say I am not accountable to God for my behavior and actions and live in peace and without divine consequences. People who defy God and His existence must end their foolish and vain talks. God is the creator and owner of all. Again, people, nature, air, everything in the earth and the whole universe belong to Him. Here comes the stake of accountability for all he placed in our custody in his sovereign will and plan.

When God asks to give an account the question is “Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you?” A thought-provoking question the Lord God asked and recorded in Ezekiel 22:14. The background of the passage in Ezekiel 22 describes how people lived irresponsibly in those days when He was about to send his severe judgment on the nation. They made false gods and idols to add to their sins, the rulers used their power to kill the innocent, defenseless and vulnerable, people did not honor their father and mother, men lied about others to cause them to put to death, sexual immorality became the norm of the day even in worship places, they lived in uncontrollable sexual passions, they have paid money to people to kill others, they have made people pay them back more than owed, they hurt their neighbors and gave them pain. In doing these and other things, God says you have forgotten Him and His laws.

You see in those days, the world empire Babylon was God’s sword against the sins and rebelliousness of people. Today, it is the worldwide COVID-19- a novel virus -is God’s sword against ungodliness and stiff-necked rebelliousness. Thousands and thousands are dying every day. The newsmen who deliver news on the TV channel with full of emotions and almost the point of crying. Families are separated and people are locked in their homes, superstores and grocery stores get empty, people are saddened due to lack of supplies and people do not know what to do. Millions of people unemployed and begin to live in poverty. The developed countries look like third world countries these days. Schools once honored God and His words put him out of it for many years now. Now the schools are closed indefinitely. Attacks and slaughter against the God-ordained family structure continued to be legally approved by nations and states.

Beloved, God asks the question that demands an answer from us these days. “Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you?” The answer is this – our ability and courage would not endure if he deals with us to give accounts. Our hands would not be strong when he ask accounts. If so, what must we do? You see, people did not honor God. They defied God and His eternal and everlasting word. They killed innocents. They fabricated their own idols to cherish –sinful and lustful passions-instead of obeying God’s counsels and warnings. Due to continuous dishonor and ingratitude toward God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper. In depraved minds, people began to glory in shameful things even publicly in front of small children. They proved themselves as enemies of Christ about whom the Bible says in the Philippines 3:19 their end is destruction.

Listen, Coronavirus is not the end of all. Hopefully, things would change in a few months. However, the destruction it caused would last for many years to come. The history and economies of the world would change in unimaginable ways. If not all, many will survive and come out of it. However, remember we caused our own destruction. We caused our own family’s and nation’s destruction by dishonoring God and his eternal and everlasting words accurately recorded in the pages of the Bible.

Beloved, what is the solution? People must come back to the basics – they must honor God and His words that are recorded in His book- the Bible. People must seek God and pray to Him. He is not far away from us. He is available 24 hours and 7 days of the week if you would pray in His Son’s name, Jesus Christ. People must turn from their wicked, evil and ungodly behaviors and actions and confess to God and one another.

May these be days we confess our sins and errors to God. Moreover, may these be the days we confess to one another for the hurt and pain we caused. Days of turning back to the Lord God who is loving, compassionate and gracious to forgive us.

“Father in heaven, these days are perilous. We and our children are shut in our homes in fear and confusion because of our sins and rebelliousness toward you. I turn to the living God in heaven in prayer in the name of Jesus Christ for help and deliverance. Please forgive my sins because you said in you there is an abundance of forgiveness and deliverance if we truly turn to you and pray. I receive Jesus, your Son, as my savior and Lord. He died, buried and rose again in my place as a ransom for my sins. Please save me and save the people around me and in the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“How long, Lord, must I call for help,

     but you do not listen?” Habakkuk 1:1

Prophet Habakkuk is perplexed about the silence of God amid the acts of violence and injustices of people. Habakkuk ministered during the last days before the exile of Judah. God’s severe punishment over the sins and rebelliousness of people was imminent. Habakkuk poured out his complaints in prayer to God. Then he waited for God’s answers. No answer for a while. He said, “ I will stand on my guard post and station myself, I will keep watch to see what He (God) will speak to me.” Finally, God came through and gave an answer which is the secret of the understanding of God’s unfathomable ways. He answered and said, “But the righteous will live by his faith.” This answer of God quoted three times in the New Testament. (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38). The answer gives answers to our perplexing questions. 

Beloved, Habakkuk had to live in days of evil and turmoil by his faith and trust in the Lord God. He said in chapter 3:16(c), “I must wait quietly in the day of distress.” Because the consequences of wicked ways come on us. Then he said these beautiful words. It instructs us how we should live in such testing and uncertain times. It gives a glimpse of how His righteous shall live by faith. Listen it says: 

 

Habakkuk said, “Though the fig tree does not bud

     and there are no grapes on the vines,

 though the olive crop fails

     and the fields produce no food,

 though there are no sheep in the pen

     and no cattle in the stalls,

  yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

     I will be joyful in God my Savior.

 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

     he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

     he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19. 

 

God’s punishment over the sins and rebelliousness resulted in exile and famine for Judah in 597 BC. Before God’s judgments, God asked them to repent and turn from their evil ways of living by sending prophets after prophets. They would not repent and turn to God. Now prophet says we need to live through the severe judgment of God. We shall live by faith, one day at a time, as God prescribed.

However, God’s faithful one must live in faith. His righteous one must live by faith during turmoil. They are admonished to look eagerly into the clouds for the return of their savior, Jesus Christ.

The fig tree does not bud, there are no grapes on the vines, the olive crop fails, no food items, no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls. Yet we should be happy in the Lord. We should live in faith these days of severe testing. 

Beloved, the sovereign Lord is our strength. He would make his righteous ones feet like the feet of a deer. The female deer can climb the mountains without tripping and falling. She can place her front and back feet in the right place and climb up. God would make your feet like this- giving you the strength to climb up even in difficulties if you live by faith in Him.

 

Are you ready for a life of faith in God? God calls you for it right now. Do you know your faith life with God begins with your acceptance of Jesus, His Son, as your savior? The Bible promises “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” In these difficult and uncertain days, you call the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? Father in heaven, I heard I must live by faith in these dangerous and uncertain days. My faith life with you begins with my acceptance of Your Son and my savior, Lord Jesus Christ. I call the name of Jesus Christ for help and salvation. I believe He died and rose again for all of my sins. Please save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.” 

“Teach us to number our days,

     that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 90:12.

Psalm 90 was written by Moses about whom the Bible says in Numbers 12:7-8, that the “Lord spoke face to face as a man speaks with his friend.” It is widely believed that this is the only Psalm penned by a man with such a high celebrity status with the Lord. He has mainly three things to say about man and God. He has much to say in this Psalm about the brevity of human life, the end of human life-he says we fly away at the end and the punishment and anger of God. 

The Psalm begins with the everlasting nature of God. It says, “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” 

Then he says the very small of timespan (brief time) men have on this earth. He wrote people are like the new grass of the morning. In the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. He also says our days may come to seventy years or eighty if our strength endures. However, the best of them are but trouble and sorrow. They quickly pass, and we fly away. Why did he say, “fly away” at the end of our days? Bible says in Ecclesiastes 12:7, “and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Our body would be buried on the earth, and the spirit flies away to God if you are a child of God who put your trust in the salvation of God available in the person of Jesus Christ. Bible says, “as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.” Apostle Paul also says he “would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Therefore at the end of our days here on this earth, we fly away to the presence of the loving Lord or eternity without God.

Thirdly, Moses continues to say much about the anger and punishment of God. He is a man of God who witnessed the fierce anger of God against the rebelliousness and disbelief of people during the journey of the children of Israel to their promised land. He himself experienced the anger and punishment of God even though God spoke to Him face to face. He wrote, “We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath”.

Moses wrote mainly three things about God in this Psalm. First God is eternal, everlasting and He brought forth the whole world (verses 1-2 and 4), second God is the true dwelling place or refuge throughout all generations of men (vs.1), thirdly, God’s love is unfailing in the midst of all the judgments and confusions (vs.14). 

It is amazing to listen to Moses, the great man of God, and keep these truths in our lives. The brevity of life, at the end we fly away, the anger of God against the sins and iniquities. 

With all these background truths read our insight, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” What does he mean by it? We do not know how long we would live here. Life is brief, we are going to fly away and we live in the midst of the fierce anger of God against sins and iniquities. However, God is eternal and everlasting in contrast to our brevity, He is our true dwelling place/refuge, and His love is unfailing although we may fail. Therefore number of our days. It does not mean number how many more days we have here because we do not know when we would fly away. It does mean by considering or reckoning these truths about God and man. 

What is the result? If we consider these truths, we may obtain wisdom. Who is the true wisdom? Bible says in 1st Corinthians 1:23-24, “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Our pursuit of wisdom based on these understandings would lead us to the foot of Jesus Christ who is the wisdom of God. It does not say Jesus Christ is one of the wisdom of God. He is the only wisdom of God given by God. You see, Christ crucified for our sins and iniquities is foolishness to this God rejecting world, but it is the power and wisdom to the one who comes and accepts Christ as their savior and Lord.

“Father in heaven, I understand how brief my life is here. I also understand you are everlasting and eternal. I  know you are my only refuge. I know you have unfailing love in the midst of your anger and judgments. I accept the only wisdom of God given to people- your Son, Jesus Christ, who died, buried and rose again for my sins. Please save  me and grant me your favor, salvation and eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I Pray. Amen.”

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.” (Psalms 42:5).

 

The secrets for victory in troubled times.

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

Did you ever think about you counsel your souls? David used to give counsel to himself, and we can see this in his psalms. In our today’s Bible insight, David talked to his soul and asked this question. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Then he gives a command to his soul. The command is this – “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” In essence, he counseled himself by asking a question and giving a command. He repeated the counsel and commanded his soul two times in this psalm (vs.5 and 11).

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

David knew God never failed him in the past. He knows for sure if he put his hope in God and praises Him yet even amid this severe trial, God will break through and help him. He asked two questions, my soul, why are you downcast? Second question- why so disturbed within me? Then He gave counsel to his soul. Put your hope in God. He said I will praise him even in the darkest times.

God loves the praises of his people. God is present all over the world and everywhere at the same time because God is omnipresent. (Psalm 139). However, do you know God is uniquely present and makes His home on the praise and worship of His people? Psalm 22:3 says, “You make Your home on the praises of Israel.” Hope in God and praise Him in the darkest valley experiences of your life. 

The magistrates ordered Paul and Silas to be beaten with rods. Then they were thrown into prison, in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. A jailer guarded them in the midnight hours. No human way of escape possible. If any help available, it had to come from God. Therefore, Paul and Silas put hope in the Lord, started praying and worshipping God by singing hymns to God. The prisoners listened to them. God sent a violent earthquake and foundations of the prison were shaken, the doors were open, and chains came loose. (Acts 16:16-40).

God takes his unique residence and makes it home when you put your hope in Him and start praising. Yet another secret to victory in troubled times. Dearly beloved, When all else fails, give yourself a counsel as David did. Counsel your soul to put your hope in the Lord, sing spiritual songs and hymns, praise and worship can get the attention of our loving Lord and the chains can get loose with divine power.

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

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” The  Message (MSG).

One quotation read this – “Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry.” I believe it is a true statement. Bible has a lot to say about the epidemic of worry and it provides the perfect antidote to the problem of worry.

Recently I was talking to one of the coworkers. I believed she is in her 70’s. She said in recent days she worries about the incidents of Corona Virus. She is worried about her fragile husband who needs to go for treatment outside the home. She mentioned her health condition is also not good and she is required to work even in her 70’s due to financial needs.

What do we do when worry moves into the center of our lives? Listen to what the Bible says. The Message Bible paraphrases oud today’s Bible verse in a beautiful way. It says “don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayer, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

We do not commonly use the word fret these modern days. However, it has the meaning of constant and ongoing worry. It also means wearing away gradually due to worries. We all worry about something, don’t we? It could be a matter of our children, spouse, parents, finance, or something else. However, God says instead of worrying, tell him all about it in your prayers to Him because at the end of the day only He has the resources and power to help you anyway.

For example, when it comes to the coronavirus or any other diseases, you see, we can take our best and cautious steps. However, still, it is beyond our control. The final say or control is in the hands of the Lord. Take your burdens and worries to the one who can protect and help. You can plan and do a lot of things. However, it is the purpose of the LORD that will ultimately happen. Bible says our God is in heaven, he does what pleases Him. Jesus said, “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Therefore, turn your fret and worries into prayers. Talk to God in the name of Jesus Christ, His Son, who is the savior of the world.

Secondly, when you let God know about your concerns, something good happens inside you. What is it? Our insights say “before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.” Is this not what we all need? A settled peace inside us? We need God’s assurance that everything is going to be ok. God will send that sense of wholeness, sense of peace inside you. It will guard and protect you safe.

You can turn your worries into prayer. Besides, you can convert worries into praises as well. When you think what God has already done for you in the past, what he does for you now, what he would do for you in the future, you would thank and praise him, wouldn’t you?

You see, as you pray and praise Him, Christ displaces worries from your heart. You become more gracious, thanksgiving and a humble person. Remember the two instruments by which you can fight worries- prayer and praise. The two that will guard you and your heart safe.

Thirdly, it says “it is wonderful what happens when Christ displaces your worry at the center of your life.” Beloved, some of you recruited worry as your companion for a long time now. It is time to turn your worries into prayer and thanksgiving. God promises if you share with Him your concerns and acknowledge him with thanksgiving and praises, He will settle you down with heavenly and divine peace. Only Christ can displace worry feeling from the center of your life. Modern man is too engaged and busy that do not have time to pray and praise God. No wonder he becomes fret over even small things, get angry, worried and stressed out.

“Father in heaven, I thank you for the insight today that I can turn my worries into prayer and praise. When I pray and praise, you would send your wholeness, healing, and peace in my inner soul and your wonderful divine peace would guard me and my heart safe and secure. I believe in the Prince of peace – Jesus Christ, the one who gives peace inside me, who died and rose again for all of my sins and mistakes.  I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Please save and bless me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love.” Psalms 51:1

Picking of the pieces and walking out of your troubles has never been easy, especially when sufferings are self-caused. I always wondered how David who was a Godly young boy and man all thorough his early life ended up in two serious sins –adultery and murder and bounced back again. He picked up the broken pieces and drove out of it and lived again. He just not lived again, but flourished and became a spiritual warrior whom God used to write a major part of the Scripture called the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms gives comfort and hope to people all around the world. Besides, our savior Lord Jesus Christ was called “Son of David” based on God’s eternal covenant with David.

David although broken and struck down fully and completely through these incidents, again, beautifully, amazingly started walking with the Lord and got His approval. Sure, he paid for the consequences of his sins all through his life. However, he dusted off and moved in with the Lord again each time circumstances hit him hard.

It is hard to get back to normal from such incidents. In uncommon cases, good people may want to help. However, they are unable to help. It is totally up to you to pick the stones and build a new life with the Lord again. It is possible but it takes courage, determination and full trust in the Lord and His promises.

David did not want to give up, did he? Truly, as you know, David was a God-centered boy in his teen years and then a man of God. In his young age, he wrote beautiful songs of praises to God as he spent time alone shepherding his father’s flock. His eyes and heart were upon the Lord. Is it possible for a man so devoted to the lord would fall in sin? David’s story teaches us it is possible.

However, the amazing thing is this – David did not allow his failure to determine his future. In short, as long as he lived, he refused to give up. How about you? If nothing learned from David’s life, you must learn this. If you are a true follower of the Lord, if your heart is devoted to him, you will refuse to give up. No matter what people say about you. No matter what your family may say about you. No matter what the devil tries with the incidents. David penned later this in Psalms 145:14, “The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” The message Bible paraphrased it, “God gives a hand to those down on their luck,
gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.”

David even tried to hide his serious sins for a while. God had to send the prophet Nathan to confront him. However, when the prophet of God confronted him, he was truly broken. He confessed his sins. His confessions were also written down by him. It is in Psalm 51. He pleaded for mercy and forgiveness. He asked God to cleanse and wash him. He begged God to create in him a pure heart. He said to the Lord do not cast him away from almighty’s presence. He acknowledged the bloodshed and transgressions. God forgave him upon sincere confession of his sins.

This is the beginning point- A broken heart and confession of sins to the Lord. Without breaking, confession and agreeing with the Lord about our sins, there is no solution. No one would drive out the storm without heartfelt confession.

Secondly, he placed his trust and hope in the Lord. He said, have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.” Then he decided to move on by placing his hand in the hands of the Lord. He moved out of his troubles courageously, confidently, because he confessed his sins and learned from his past errors, trusted fully in the Words of the Lord. He knew God forgave him according to His promise. This gave strength, courage, and confidence in David. To David, the Lord and His promises are more important than the look of the people.

Your sufferings could be self-caused or others caused. In both situations, one thing is common. Only you can ride out of it. No one else could do much. It is your personal decision to move out of your troubles by following the example of David.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I confess my sins. I agree I broke your holy law. Have mercy on me, according to your unfailing love. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. Please save me now, bless me and deliver me. In Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.