Daily

“Yet day by day the Lord also pours out his steadfast love upon me” Psalms 42:8.

Bible does not just say God loves us. It says God is love. (John 4:16(b). It means God pours out and fills in His love for people. God’s love is steadfast. Steadfast means resolute, unwavering, loyal, faithful, devoted, dedicated, dependable, constant and solid.

David, the King of Israel says in this Psalm even though he is faced with tough, severe trials and troubles, day by day the Lord also pours out His steadfast love upon him in the midst of his difficulties. You see, God’s love, which is steadfast, is totally strong enough to face all the challenges of our lives.

Do you know the reason why we are able to love one another? Bible says, 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.” We would never have understood what love is unless we know how much God loves us. Those who experienced the love of God have received the greatest gift of all. Nothing can compete for this gift of love. Because, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5).

How do I know God is love? The one unique way He expressed His love toward us by giving His only one Son for our sins to die in our place. One of the most loved verses in the Bible is this – “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.” God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, and placed all the curses and punishment of our sins on Him and He became the sacrificial lamb to remove the guilt of sins from us. This way He reconciled us to Him in a loving fellowship and relationship. Human minds would not imagine such love. However, this how God loved you, my dear friend.

Another Bible verse I love is this -“the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Aren’t you glad over this verse? His steadfast love never ceases. People’s love ceases. But his love never. It never comes to a stop signal. It never ends. On top of all these, God’s love is new every morning. His love starts fresh every day. It is not a leftover love. It is fresh and new every morning. God guarantees it in Lamentations 3:22-23.

Beloved, Don’t you crave for such love? Here what God says to you, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13). You will never get much love from anybody on this earth. God promises He can pour out His love in your hearts. I sincerely hope you would receive His offer of love today.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I need your steadfast, constant, faithful, never-ending and always fresh love. Please pour your love in my heart. I believe You sent your Son, Jesus Christ, and allowed Him to die and rose again for all of my sins. I accept Him into my life. Please save me bless me with your love. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:17-18.

When God is up to do something unique in your lives, it is going to be unfamiliar and unusual to you. The result could very well be a troubled heart and resultant fear. The three main people in the first Christmas experienced the same trouble and fear and they were Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds.

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.” “Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

A young teenager Jewish girl totally confused and disturbed when the God of the universe expressed through His angel His plan for Mary.

As Joseph was puzzled because his fiancee was found with a child and pondered over this never heard incident, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

A young groom who was ready to get married was confused, disturbed and worried when God expressed His will for Joseph’s life. Never heard off the event-virgin carry a son. However, Joseph fulfilled God’s plan for his life.

Thirdly, the shepherds were terrified. It says in Luke 2:8-10, “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

The terrified shepherds were given the direction to go to Bethlehem and see the baby wrapped in stripes of clothes in the manger. They did obey and fulfilled God’s plan in their lives. How? “After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.” Did they spread the news of this wonder to their family only? No, they told everyone! It appears the first human gospel outreach was by poor shepherds. They simply spread the word told by the angels to everyone they saw and all the people were amazed. Be not afraid – step out in faith to spread the good news God asked you to share.

May this Christmas be a day that God directs your steps for a unique mission He planned for your life. Did you ever think what is the divine mission in your life? God has a unique plan and purpose for your life.

Remember when God try to do amazing things in your life, confusion, trouble, and fear comes along with it as the first Christmas teach us. However, this was biggest of all events God had done for humanity. He fulfilled it in the midst of confusion, trouble and people’s fear. He said to Mary, Joseph, and the poor Shepherds- do not be afraid. He says to you do not be afraid. Fulfill His plan for your life.

The birth of Jesus Christ into this earth, the Son of God,  was foretold almost eight hundred years ago in Holy Scripture. Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem. He was God all through the eternity and He became one among us in flesh and blood to rescue us and grant us eternal life. He was on a rescue mission. The purpose of His coming into this world is fully accomplished on the cross of Calvary when he paid with His divine and sinless blood the penalty for our sins. Jesus was the Immanuel – God with us- wrapped in flesh and blood. God has dropped only one lifeline – Jesus, His Son- to save us from our sins. All those who accept Jesus as the savior, God gave them the right to become the children of God. You can become the child of God and inherit all God has in heavenly places by a simple prayer now.

“Father in heaven, I believe Jesus Christ, your Son, was born into this world on that first Christmas day to die and pay for all of my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Jesus, the savior, please save me now. I surrender my life for the fulfillment of your divine plan. Please guide my steps so that I will fulfill your purpose. In the midst of my confusion, trouble and fear, I lean on you for your divine guidance. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray.” Amen

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

The Lord God knows our frame. He knows people get afraid and this is the reason why God repeatedly reminds us in the Bible do not be afraid. Christmas time is a joyful season of the year. Even in the midst of the joy of the Christmas, fear, and worry are gripping in the hearts and minds of many people around the globe. Like darkness does not like light, the fear/worry is opposite to pure joy and gladness.
We know even in this Christmas season; many are afraid of health condition and loneliness. Many lost their dear ones and frightened to face another joyful occasion without their dear ones.

The Children of Israel were gripped with fear when they thought about the task in front of them. The need to walk in faith and conquer the promised land of Canaan. They failed once before in walking to the promised land in faith. (Numbers 13). Now God is giving another opportunity to walk in faith to cross over to the promised land. However, there is a difference this time. The tower charismatic, the spiritual giant of faith – Moses – is not going to be with them to help them cross over. Are we going to fail again?

They may have felt inadequate for the task ahead of them. The work ahead and the absence of the strong leader could weigh them down. However, the truth is this – the mission is not theirs when you think about it. It is God’s. He is the Lord who called them out of Egypt to go to the promised land and gave them wonderful promises. He is capable of handling all issues in front of them. This is the background of today’s Bible insight. It says, “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” (MSG).

Beloved, You do not give them a second thought. Why? God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He is right there with you. Then the beautiful promises emerge. “He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”

People around you would let you down and leave you. But not your loving Lord. He will not let you down; He won’t leave you. He is not the one who walks away from you when worries, fear, and sorrow grip your hearts.

The promise is repeated Lord verse 38. “God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.” (MSG).

You can bank on the promises of God. He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35).

Beloved, God a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe in your promise that you would not let me down and leave me. All may leave me, but you will not. I believe in your promises. One day I will even face death. Even there you will be with me. You will charge your angels to carry me to your presence because Jesus paid for all of my sins. I believe Jesus died in my place for all of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

The people who never heard of or familiar with the word ‘propitiation’ are not uncommon. Propitiation brings in the idea of satisfaction or appeasement toward God. In other words, propitiation basically means appeasing or satisfying the wrath of an offended party. God was the offended party because people disobeyed His commandments. By living an unholy, immoral, unethical life, unthankful, disobedient, rebellious and stubborn lives, all of Adam’s posterity offended God. People live on His earth which was created by God and dishonor Him. They breathe the free air God gives and raise their fist against God. They live in the flesh that God formed and question God and His moral laws. In addition, there is no thankfulness or gratitude toward God after enjoying His favor each and everyday moment of our life- the air, sunshine, rain, food and countless other things.
When God looks from heaven, the Bible says, He does not see even one person who does good on a continuous basis. “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who does good,
There is not even one.” Romans 3:10-12.
God is truly offended by human being’s actions, behaviors, and ingratitude. How can a mortal man appease or satisfy God, who is fully holy and eternal?
In the end, the satisfaction or appeasement factors are not to be determined by the offender but by the offendee. God has provided the only one way His wrath toward the offenders (people) can be satisfied or appeased. By this one way God instituted, the offender or sinner can be reconciled back to Him. This is the idea of propitiation or satisfaction. Our today’s Bible insight says, “we have an Advocate with the Father God, Jesus Christ the righteous; He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” Jesus himself is the satisfaction or appeasement for all our sins and wrongdoings. Not just for us called Christians. Jesus Christ is the only satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, period!
Due to the fact that all God’s wrath toward our sins and wrongdoings fell on Jesus on that cruel cross, and Jesus willingly and voluntarily carried all in His body, you and I can escape from God’s anger or wrath. God has done what you could never do for yourself. You and I did not deserve it. However, He did it for us.
Bible says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him (Jesus), he (God) gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” John 1:12-13. By believing and accepting Jesus as your savior and Lord, you are passed from death to life; from the fear of God’s wrath to His choices blessings – here and forever through the eternity.
No need to fear God, because God had placed all His wrath on His Son to rescue you. God loves to save you and to make you His own child. Do not be afraid, come to Him and he will crown with His divine love and tender mercies.
Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe You placed all my sins and wrongdoings on Your Son, Jesus Christ. I know you put all your wrath on Jesus to save me. I love you, Lord. I believe Jesus died and rose again in my place and paid for my sins. I accept Christ as my savior and Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“Come near to God, and He will come near to you.” James 4:8.

I know some people are afraid of God. They think God is angry at them and scared God would punish their shortcomings and sins. Hence, they keep the Lord at a distance because they do not know the truth about God. Because of the fear of God, they try to do so many good things and visit holy places imagining doing these things would somehow appease God’s anger toward them.

The thought that God is angry at you is far from the truth. It is a lie that devil place in your hearts and minds. Many bought into his lie.

God is not angry at you. Immanuel was the name given to Jesus. Immanuel means “God with us.” Why? God was wrapped in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The Lord God had said hundreds of years ago in the Scripture this, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Not even on one occasion, Jesus was angry at sinners. Jesus said this, “It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32. You see, Jesus did not come into this world for people who think they are already right and proper. He came into this world seeking people who messed up their lives with bad choices and sins. He searched after them.

In another occasion, Jesus again said why He came into this world, and it is recorded in Luke 19:10. It says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). Friend, God, do not seek people who think they are fine and ok and do not need His help. Did you do something wrong? Did you do something wrong? We all do wrong things because the Bible says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Did you break laws? Do you cheat? Do you steal? Do you live immorally? or whatever. Jesus, the Immanuel, God with us, came seeking such people who are lost in their sins. All hated Zacchaeus because he cheated people by charging higher taxes. Jesus sought after him and spent time with him on the road and at his home. Nobody would go to Zacchaeus’s house. However, Jesus did. Zacchaeus became a new man from that day. He never forgets the day he experienced the divine touch and love of Jesus Christ. (Luke 19:1-10).

Jesus made a divine appointment with the Samaritan woman who had five husbands and then living with another man. Jesus sought after her. She was transformed inside out and ran from Him leaving the water jar there and announced to all in the town about Jesus, the Messiah. People from the city came and believed in Jesus. (John 4).

Do not be afraid to come near to God. He has only love, mercy, kindness and compassion toward you. Do you know how people blamed Jesus? They said, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Luke 19:7. “This man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2). Why does He (Jesus) eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16(c).
Beloved, God did not send His Son (Jesus) into this world to condemn you, but to save you through Him (John 3:17). You see God demonstrated fully His love toward us (not His anger) because while you and I were still sinners and doing wrong things, Jesus Christ came and died for us. (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid for our sins and shortcomings by His blood. So come freely for his mercy, kindness, and deliverance and accept Him as your savior and Lord today. He paid it all for you anyway.

God says come near to Me, and I will come near to you. It merely means this- My friend, if you choose to come to Him, the Lord is willing and ready to draw you into a closer and loving fellowship with Him forever and ever.

Bible says in Psalms 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on him.” Who is he near? Did you notice “all who call on him”? No one is out of His scope. Whatever your background-color, nationality, race, language, gender, age, social status, your history- the Lord is near to you and will deliver you by forgiving all your sins and wrongdoings if you call on him. It does not matter what you did in the past and where have you been. You are going to begin brand new when you come to Jesus. Remember, He is just a prayer away.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know you care about me and you love me. You gave me your only begotten Son, when I was a sinner. That much you loved me. Jesus died in  my place for all of my sins to forgive all of  my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. I call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“But you, O LORD my God, brought me back from the depths alive.” Jonah 2:6 (B)

The consequence of Jonah’s sin of disobedience was very severe. For all of us, it is tough even to fathom Jonah’s crisis experience. The sailors had to throw him into the depths of the sea to save their lives. He understood it was his sin that caused the severe and violent storm. He suggested to throw him into the sea to get calm from dangerous storms. He went down into the sea. Then from there, he ended up in the stomach of a big and huge fish. Jonah 1:17 says, “Now the LORD prepared a huge fish to swallow Jonah.”

Someone asked me, do you believe this incident? Friends, I believe it with all of my heart. This is not a fairy tale or a human-made story. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, validated this incident and it is recorded in Matthew 12:39-41. Moreover, Dagon, a fish god worship was common at that time in the Mediterranean area. Dagon is mentioned many times in the Old Testament. What do you think the reason for the miraculous repentance of Ninevah when Jonah proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”? The unusual appearance of a man omitted by a great fish on the beach got the attention of the people, and the news even came to the attention of the king. He covered himself in the sackcloth and sat down in the dust. He announced mandatory fasting in the whole country to repent.

You see, even Jonah, a prophet of God can disobey God. However, God teaches us some lessons through this incident. The Lord does not abandon His people in the midst of their crisis experiences. He is there at the bottom of the sea and even in the belly of the fish. More than that, God can even use the disobedience of Jonah to accomplish His divine purpose. The appearance of a bleached white man due to digestive acids inside the stomach of the great fish and people who watched fish attempting to omit him on the beach all contributed to the big roar in the city to get the attention of the people and king. Praise God!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?” Romans 11:33-34.

Now listen to how Jonah prayed from the depths of the sea. Carefully look or read all the words came out of him in this hopeless situation.

“In my distress, O LORD, I called to you… From the deep in the world of the dead, I cried for help, and you heard me. You threw me into the depths, to the very bottom of the sea, where the waters were all around me, and all your mighty waves rolled over me. I thought I had been banished from your presence and would never see your holy Temple again. The water came over me and choked me; the sea covered me completely, and seaweed wrapped around my head. I went down to the very roots of the mountains, into the land whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, brought me back from the depths alive. When I felt my life slipping away, then, O LORD, I prayed to you, and in your holy Temple, you heard me. Those who worship worthless idols have abandoned their loyalty to you.
But I will sing praises to you; I will offer you sacrifice and do what I have promised. Salvation comes from the LORD!” Jonah 2:1-9.

Jonah’s crisis was a unique one. The fear and terror he experienced in the depth of the sea and then in the belly of such a huge fish is often unimaginable for all of us. Our crisis would also be a unique one, out of which God accomplishes His purpose in His unique way, and our faith gets ignited and energized. When Jonah called upon the Lord in prayer for help and deliverance from the bottom of the sea, the LORD heard his prayer in His holy temple up in heaven. The Lord commanded the fish to spit Jonah up immediately on the beach. It did obey God! You see, even sea creatures, animals and unexpected people would extend their help when God commands.

Beloved, I do not know what unique crisis you are going facing now. Most probably yours won’t be horrible like Jonah’s, I presume. At least you are not in the depths of the sea and stomach of a huge fish. However, whatever may it be I can point in the right direction for help. Bible promises if you pray to the Father in heaven in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, the only savior of the whole world, He will answer your prayer. Jesus also said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. (John 16:23). When you pray in the name of Jesus Christ, there is an alarm goes off in heaven and God listens. You will have a testimony to share with others as Jonah had. Do not be ashamed to share your unique testimony. Many would be encouraged in their trials and problems by hearing your unique and divinely designed testimony. Your unique test results in testimony and brings glory to the Lord.

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:17

I heard people complaining that they do not know the will of God. Had they known, they would have done it. Yet George MacDonald, a Scottish author and poet said, “Doing the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.” Elisabeth Elliot, a Christian author, and the speaker said, “The will of God… it’s a course you choose.” Many simply do not take time to find it. One of the easy ways to find out God’s will is by reading the Bible verses that directly reveal it and then we can start doing those things without delay. It is not a rocket science to figure out God’s will and start applying in our lives.
Our today’s Bible insights say “do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” We do not want to be foolish, do we?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Why? For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Pretty straightforward, right? Now start putting this into practice and you start fulfilling the will of God. See it does not say you should like or enjoy all the circumstances, does it? Some circumstances could be painful and we may not appreciate it. However, God has a plan right in the midst of it. It is going to be a good plan. He is willing to walk with you and hold your hand through all of it. Therefore, you can thank Him for all circumstances for He looks at the big picture that we do not have it yet.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 gives another direct will of God. It says, “ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” Now if you are in sexual immorality, make a U-turn from it and turn to the Lord. He will help you to overcome it. Then you have done the will of God.

1 Peter 2:15 says “For it is God’s will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” The context from verse 11-14 says what is meant by doing good that fulfill God’s will in this particular context. By abstaining from sinful desires, which always war against your soul, living a good and honorable life among whom you live, submitting to every human authority because God placed authority to punish who does wrong and reward who does right.

2 Peter 3:9 says God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God’s will is that you should repent and turn to God so that you should not perish. Jesus explained this will of God and it is recorded in John 6:40. It says, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him (Jesus Christ) should have eternal life.” It is the will of God that you should look on His Son, Jesus Christ, and believes in Him so that you will not perish but have eternal or everlasting life.

These are few of the direct Bible verses about God’s will so that we can begin doing His will immediately in our lives. There are also commands, principles, and counsels that reveals the will of God in the pages of the Bible. The more we read the Bible and give careful attention, the more we will discover the will of God for our lives.

Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I thank you for talking to me and now that I understand few of the will of God that is revealed in the Bible, I want to apply it in my life. Help me apply these in my lives. I know you do not want me to perish but find eternal life in your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus died in my place for all of my sins and rose again. I look at him on the cross and believe him as m savior and Lord. In Christ’s name, I pray.” Amen.

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

If the Lord in heaven is not a begin again God, then I would not reach out to you through teachbible.org. If I can begin again, you can begin again too. Bible is full of people who began again. Be it Adam, Moses, David, Job, and the list goes on. Our loving God is the God who allows you to begin again and again and again. Do you like to begin brand new again? What is that stops you from begin again? Made bad choices in the past? Reaping consequences? Lost your career? In debt? Face with health issues? Did spouse walk away? Children turned against you? Friends cheated you?
Beloved, God of the Bible says, “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” This promise is not from any human beings. You heard it from the LORD in heaven. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. It means the living God in heaven says he makes impossible possible for you. I want you to leave your doubts and worries and embrace and claim God’s promise today. Bible says our today’s Bible Insight in Isaiah 43 to a discouraged, depressed and hopeless people. They did not have any hope for the future. They made their own grave by their disobedience and rebelliousness to the loving God. They turned their back to God and forsook God. So as a result, He sent them to exile in Babylon to reap the consequences of their sins. Psalms 137 describes their plight. “By the rivers of Babylon,
we sat and wept
when we thought of Zion, our home, so far away.
On the branches of the willow trees,
we hung our harps and hid our hearts from the enemy.
And the men that surrounded us
made demands that we clap our hands and sing—
Songs of joy from days gone by,
songs from Zion, our home.
Such cruel men taunted us—haunted our memories.
How could we sing a song about the Eternal
in a land so foreign, while still tormented, brokenhearted, homesick?
Please don’t make us sing this song.” (Vs 1-4) The Voice translation.

However, in the midst of hopelessness, God says do not brood over the past. Do not spend your time on something you cannot change now. What is done is done. However, God says, move with my plan now. I am doing a new thing in your life. The new growth has already sprouted in you, can’t you see? God wants to move in and make a way in your wilderness and rivers in the desert for you. He knocks at the door promising a blessed future again. You see, our God is loving and compassionate. When we turn to him in repentance and confess our sins, He gives second, third and fourth chances. If this were not true, none of us would remain in fellowship with Him today.
God says in Romans 8:28 He can cause all things to work together for good in your life. Whatever happened He says He can cause all those things to work together for good at the end. Aren’t you excited about God’s beautiful and wonderful plan? When we come to Jesus Christ, His son and the savior of the whole world, Bible promises you to become a brand new creation by God’s divine grace and power. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to you with a heavy and broken heart. My only hope is in you Lord. Please remember me. You promised you will make way for me in my wilderness and rivers in my desert. Please do this for me, Lord. I am sorry for my sins, bad choices, and mistakes. I believe Jesus Christ, your Son, died for my sins and rose again to forgive me and grant me eternal life. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.

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

 

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

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

In short, our life ends sooner without hope.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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 vital role of counseling when we face challenges and issues in our personal life. The Bible highlights our need for good counsels in many 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 abundance of counselors, there is [victory. 11:14. Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.”(Proverbs 20:18).

Did you ever think about the need to counsel our own souls? David used to give counsel to himself, and we can see this in his psalms. In 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 (vs5 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 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 praise him yet even in the midst of this severe trial, God will break through and help him. God loves praises of his people. God is present all over the world and everywhere at the same time because God is omnipresent. (Psalm 139). However, do you know God is uniquely present and makes His home on the praise and worship of his people? Psalm 22:3 says, “You make Your home on the praises of Israel.”

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

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

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I place my hope in you. I ask my soul why 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 pr