In us...

Once we are born again, the spirit of God lives in us and so is God's kingdom. We are made right with God through the blood of Jesus and we are to live a clean and righteous life with the help of the Holy Spirit.

As we see that,
Romans 14:17 (NIV)
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

When we allow the Holy Spirit of God to reign and rule in us then we cannot practice any form of unrighteousness consciously or live a life displeasing God. For the Holy spirit Himself will be our sanctifier and Counselor who will lead and guide us, convicts us and correct us. Thus we will see as God's children we demonstrate a powerful life of God's Kingdom living in us.

Luke 17:20, 21 (NIV)
(v.20)...Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, (v.21)nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

Born Again?

Once a woman said to her believer friend "I am christian since a child as I was born and brought up in a christian family. I believe in Jesus, go to church, pray and read the Bible. I have been a christian all through...But in your case since you come from a different religious background, the Christian faith is new and I guess that is why you find this whole life new and interesting...."

How wrong the woman was about whole concept of Christian faith and perhaps many out there are of the same view?

The truth is very clear in the Bible (God's Word)
Romans 3:10 (NIV)
As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one".

Whether one is born and brought up in a Christian family or has been a good Christian all through it doesn't matter. As the Bible says in Rom 3:9 (NIV), "...that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin." And again in Romans 3:23 (NIV) -"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

For all have sinned and we come short of God's standards (His holiness). Therefore we need to come to that point of realization and confess that to God. That is why Jesus said in Mark 1:15 (NIV)- "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

We need to repent of our sins. When we sit down and look deeply in our hearts and honestly ask God to show our inner self, then we will know our true color. We all have so much sins hidden deep within us which only we and God knows. There are many sins in man which only he/ she can know such as greed, manipulation, jealously, self righteousness, pride, lust, selfishness, covetousness, idolatry, hypocrisy and the like.

So if we truly desire to have a personal relationship with Jesus and enter His kingdom then we need to be born again.

John 3:3 (NIV)
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
2 Tim 2:19 (NIV)
"...Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

We really need to repent of our sins, thank the Lord for He took our place on the Cross as a penalty for our sins, ask the Lord to give us a new heart and spirit so that we will be truly be born again...and live a new ongoing life in Him with an openness and cleanliness of the heart.

His Kingdom...

When we talk about Kingdom of God, it is a wide subject... and since we are of God's family we belong to God's Kingdom. Our life on earth demonstrates God's Kingdom ...how we live our life as God's people and how we are going to demonstrate the power of His kingdom on earth is what we are going to focus on from this series of devotions.

To begin with the kingdom of God is for everyone who believes in Lord Jesus and takes Him as the Lord and the Savior of their life. But how many really live that Kingdom life is the question? Jesus spoke in parables and gave many examples when He explained the Kingdom of God. But at the same time He pointed out a criteria to enter the Kingdom of God.

He said in Mark 10:15 (NIV)

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

All He meant here was...we become open and innocent (pure) like a child with no crooked motives or mean desires to enter God's Kingdom. As far as our motives are pure and our heart is open to God, we will enter and live that Kingdom life that God promises.

Our primary focus

The cares of this life is an ongoing thing ...it keeps coming and going. Today we have some cares and worries which may not be there after some years. Yet there may be other things to care and worry about for that time. So there is continuously something which we are after, something to receive, attain or achieve and solve; something which we constantly after till the end of our lives.

The people of this world are busy making money, trying to achieve something, become something, build or posses something etc. But we as God's people do not keep that as our primary focus because these are just secondary stuff for us. Since we belong to the family of God, we belong to God's Kingdom and hence are different from the pagans.

And the Kingdom of God is not of acquiring pleasures of the world, it is of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit which we live and demonstrate in our lives.

Romans 14:17 (New International Version)
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Do ungodly prosper?

Many times we think, why should we suffer so much as God's children when people in this world who don't fear God or regard righteous living, go on happily with their lives and ways? This is true and it hurts when we see that sometimes we suffer unjustly than unrighteous people of the world.

This is the same dillemma the Psalmist had which he poured to God. The Psalm 73 shows the very picture of the psalmist who went through a heart ache seeing that the ungodly prospered while the godly suffered.

Ps 73:12-" This is what the wicked are like— always carefree, they increase in wealth."

But the Psalmist got a revelation when he went into the presence of God.

Ps 73:17,18 - "till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin."

And finally he concluded that is better to be close to God who is answer to all our problems, rather than considering and comparing our life with the ungodly.

Ps 73:23, 24- "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."

For we all know that,

Psalm 34:16-18 (New International Version)
(v.16) the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
(v.17) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Joy Complete...

A lady once told a Pastor, "You say that we should be joyful in Jesus however the outer circumstances. But how can that be...when I have a tough time with my husband?"

The Pastor replied, "Sister, I know your situation at the home front. When Jesus is with you and in you, He will help you to see your problem with His eyes. He will give you hope that no one else can give. He will give you a positive approach to your life and problems. That is the reason why I said, that we can be joyful however bad our outer circumstances. Jesus is the reason for that joy." The Pastor's words were thought provoking to the lady. She started seeing life and her situations differently. She handled her problems in a different way for she found that joy of reciprocating to her circumstances through Jesus...

John 15:11 (New International Version)
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

However bad our circumstances may look, we can look positively at it with His eyes and find hope in it. And this the joy we have, He will help us through...

Amidst trials...

Having known that we have a reason to rejoice amidst our trials, what are we to do? The Word of God exhorts us in Romans with these words...

Romans 12:12 (New International Version)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

We are to be joyful that we are soon going to see things happening in our life (that which we expect). We are to be patient believing that the present trial is going to pass away soon... And thirdly we are to be faithful in prayer because our God whom we put our hope is a faithful one.

So let us be strong in this word applying it in our daily life, for we may find strength and solace as we pass each day. Amen.

Tested?

Many of our inner conflicts will be solved if only we could hold a right perspective to life, problems and God. Instead of getting unnecessarily worked up in our minds, we will be able to take a positive approach to life and problems.

Look at the way Job approached his problem when he lost everything in his life.

Job 5:7-9 (New International Version)
7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
8 But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

He confirms that life is not free from problems. He sees that he has God as His refuge to take his problems to. And finally he has his complete hope in God that God would deliver him out of his problem.

We all know that Job was not immediately delivered from his problems. He was tested and God allowed that to happen. Yet the ending was a happy one.

At times even children of God may be tested like Job, but what we learn from Job's life is that however severe the test, the result is marvelous. So let us not lose heart when don't see immediate answers to our problems, but know that after being tested we shall come out glorious in faith and integrity.

Job 23:10 (NIV)

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Surety of Joy

The happy news for those who undergo trial is that, they will come out with a good news giving glory to the Lord. For children of God, every trial is destined to become a testimony. Our life is a life of testimonies as how God helped, healed, delivered, provided, lead, honored, protected and saved us.

That is the reason we are able to rejoice during our times of trial, for God is with us in those tough times. And when He is with us what greater strength and surety of victory need to be guaranteed?

We will come out like the Psalmist to testify...

Psalm 92:4 (New American Standard Bible)
For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

Amen and Amen.

Rejoice...

However bad our trials may be, howmuch ever the heartache, God counts them all. When He doesn't fail to count the number of hairs in our head, won't He count our tears? Yes He does and the joy is ...He is not going to let that go on for long. For God's Word promises that,

Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
... weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

This when applied in our life, could be interpreted that our sorrows will not be for length of days and we would soon expect a rejoicing news from our Lord.

Prayer:
Lord, you know my burdened heart and I shall rejoice that you are working on my worries. Deliver me soon from my anxities and give me joy and strength. Amen.

Simple Trust

Simple trust is better than complicated faith. Sometimes we make our faith very complicated by trying to find what we need to do in life. If only we could trust God to lead us in His way, stop us when required, receive that is best and not get which is less than that, life would be far more easier.

It is true that we need to approach every aspect of life prayerfully. But at the same time, we need to trust God's leading and provision rather than confusing too much to find God's will. That is why the Word of God exhorts us,

Ps 37:5,6 (NIV)
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

When we put simple trust in God, we can be rest assured that we will never miss His will.

True maturity

A true mature heart will not fight with God, but will be trust God at all times.

As an old hymn goes ...
All as God wills, who wisely heeds
to give or to withhold.

The Lord knows what is best for us to have, to be in and how to take us through in life. It takes maturity to accept this truth. Even at times when we don't understand His will and His ways, we need to accept that He knows best. We need not know all things, for we are not God.

To walk holding His hands should reflect that of a child (depending on Him). But when we don't see things happening as per we expect, then we should not grumble like a child but be wise knowing that He does best.

Psalm 84:11(NIV)
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Frustrated?

Frustrations come when our plans are thwarted. Under every frustration is hidden some form of anger, sometimes towards others, situations, or even God. Even the Psalmist when deeply frustrated asks God,

Psalm 85:5 (NIV)
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

The Psalmist sees God's silence as anger. But the truth is that, the Psalmist is angry with God. Even when we go through a period of prolonged frustrations, we feel angry towards God; especially when we see that our situations turn to be against us in spite of earnest prayers. The truth is, God knows our situations well and He will act as per His plans for us which is good. Though we may not see this at the moment, to believe in His unfailing love will never prove waste.

Psalm 33:18 (NIV)
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

Peace in God's will

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
(v.6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (v.7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Anxiety can take away our peace. It can make our thoughts run amuck. Not only anxiety, sometimes added to anxiety, frustration and anger can get mixed up too. But in all these mixed emotions the Word of God exhorts that we bring our emotions, issues or problems to God. The Psalmists in most of the Psalms we find bring their anger, frustration and hopelessness to the Holy God. After confessing how they feel, they put their trust in God's faithfulness believing that He knows the best solution.

As we see in the scripture above, the Lord will guide us through His peace that surpasses all understanding. If we have peace regarding the issue we are praying then it is God's will. If the issue we are presenting to God does not have the element of peace in it, then it is not God's will. So we can be sure what is God's will and also the answer for issues we face. And there will be no room left for anxiety to dwell within.

Abiding in Christ

John 15:7 (New American Standard Bible)
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Many people misinterpret this scripture and conclude that if we are in Christ, we can ask for anything. But not many have really understood what it means to really abide in Christ. When we abide in Christ, our thought process will be aligned to His thought process, will and His Word. Our wishes will be to do His will and we will not want anything that God does not want us to have or do anything against His wish.

So when we abide in Christ, the Lord clearly convicts our mind and conscience regarding His will. When we think against His will, we will not have peace in that. And when we think according to His will, we will have perfect peace. Therefore when we abide in Christ, everything we ask will be as per the perfect will of God.

Atmost Trust

We know that faith is something that we hope to see it happen. But the atmost trust in God is that whatever we believe and expect to happen, we leave that into His (Christ's) hand knowing He works best in way different from ours. Our only consolation is that, a mind which is far more wiser and loving is working on our behalf on the issue which we have entrusted Him.

So whenever we worry about our problem, let us bring to our mind that we have left the matter into the hands of the most loving God who is working on it...

Proverbs 3:5,6 (NIV)

(v.5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (v.6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Faith is...

Faith is seeing the unseen. We believe because we see through our spiritual eyes and not with the natural eyes. It may be a healing, a provision, a miracle, a breakthrough or even a divine intervention for something unbelievable to happen. Our faith is not based on facts but on the one who is faithful (Jesus) and on the one who is able to do it. Not only is He able but He is rewarder of those who seek Him.

Sometimes circumstances may look exactly opposite to what we believe. That is when our faith is challenged. But we need not shake, rather stand strong for He will not leave us nor forsake us.

Hebrews 11:1 (New American Standard Bible)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Jesus in the boat

Once the disciples and Jesus were travelling to another place in a boat. A furious storm broke out and the waves broke over the boat. The disciples got scared and woke up Jesus who was sleeping in the stern and asked Him a doubting question whether He really cared for them. Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and everything became calm. He asked His disciples "Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:36-41)

Likewise when we face storms in our life, we forget who is in our life boat and many times ask the same perplexing question to Jesus. "Lord, don't you care for me?" But Jesus who has moved marvelously in our lives, who has worked wonders, who has many times proved His sovereignty, provision, and help, is reminding us of who He is and asks us "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

What is our reaction to Him and how are gonna face the storms of our life? With faith or with fear?

John 1:14 (New International Version)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...

Patience

One of the most difficult virtue to develop is patience. It is very easy to advice about patience but difficult to put in practice. Sometimes we wait for answers for long and wonder whether God is really working on it. It is true that God works on our concerns but we may be perplexed when we see no sign of any outcome. God may appear to be working slow for us but the truth is He is not slow when it comes to working our concerns. He willfully delays for He also is developing some virtues in us such as patience, faith, endurance etc. But we need to be sure of one thing. His delays are not His denials.

He has His own ways to bring it to pass and when we get the result or fruit, we shall surely thank Him and praise Him. Looking back we will also see how He developed those precious virtues in us. So the next time we feel impatient, let us remind ourselves that He is doing this to make us more like Him. Amen.

James 5:7 (NIV)
Be patient, then, brothers... See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

Trusting Him All Through...

Whatever be our anxieties, our worries or concerns we can trust God safely. Thoughts may rumble in our minds, mixed emotions may take us off, yet we can run to Him and tell Him all that we feel. He already knows what we feel and think. He knows our concerns and His ways of working is very difficult for our limited minds to comprehend. And the best way is to share our heart to Him and believe Him to work, knowing that we have a God who will never leave us nor forsake us.

Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

So let us cling to Him and wait for Him to work our concerns. And we will surely see His sovereignty in our lives.Amen.

Be patient God is working on your concerns...

Being in Christ

When we live with Christ, it is not like the way the unbelievers live. For unbelievers use whichever created god they worship for their benefit. As for them their god should answer all their prayers and they can live their life the way they seem fit.

But the God whom we trust and worship is the true living God, the creator Himself. So we cannot live the way we want. We live as per His ways which we learn from His Word and from the Holy Spirit. We live in a personal relationship with Christ where He teaches us , instruct us, discipline us, correct us, change or transform us and purify us, all because of His love for us. Our God is too good to let us settle down with what and who we are...

So we no longer live for ourselves but for Jesus Christ who died for us and rose again. We live for Him who made us right with God the and has given us Salvation and eternal life...

Acts 17:28 (NIV)
For in him we live and move and have our being...

Life through Him...

1 John 4:9 (NIV)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

What a previlege it is to live through Christ. But what does it exactly mean to live through Christ? We draw our resources from God, our strength from Him. In addition the very purpose of living i.e our destiny of our life we derive from Him. He is our santification (purification), our provider, healer, deliverer and our fortress. We live our whole life with Him and through Him, and that is Salvation. Amen.

In Him and through Him

When we live in a closer relationship with God, we keep changing for good. All the sinful and selfish things from us vanishes and we keep changing to be more like Him. No child of God is prefect but is in the process of perfection, and we find that there is nothing such as self in us, it is all Christ in us (when we allow Him to be).

When we live everyday with Him , we can realize His grace and strength in everything we do. We just come to the point of comprehending what is to live by His grace and His spirit; how fallen we are and how His grace lifts us up everytime. We also come to see that we have nothing good in us but everything good in Him. The more we grasp of this truth, the more we want to live with Him and through Him.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Inward look

The very first thing which is essential in our relationship with God is that we be right with Him. Though we fail at times we need to make conscious efforts to change ourselves so that we are found to be blameless and sinless by Him.

That is why the Psalmist tells the Lord,

Psalms 139:23, 24 (NIV)
(v.23) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
(v.24) See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Let us make this our prayer too, so that we are always teachable, correctable and are moulded by Him...

Thanks always?

It is very easy to thank God when things are going fine, but when days seem tough or dry it is really difficult to thank the Lord. We may at times grumble and complain. Sometimes we bring out our complaints straight to God or murmur about our circumstances inwardly. But that is not what we are suppose to be doing.

The Word of God exhorts us ...
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

We may not feel like saying thanks when things are in bad shape. But when we give thanks believing that God knows what is happening in our life and that He is in complete control, God works wonders for us.

When the Israelites complained about not having meat in the wilderness it hurt God, but when Paul and his companions sang songs of praise when in jail, there was an earthquake and their stocks were loosened.

This is how God works when we are able to appreciate His presence and His control on our lives no matter the circumstances.

So let us give thanks to God for His loving kindness never cease. Amen.

Prayer of Jabez...

Have you ever felt limited or lacking? Have you felt that you wanted to be a blessing to many, yet not found that happening?

Yes, all of us want to be a blessing to our families, friends, relatives, aquaintances and to many around. Yet at times we feel bad when we see ourselves as limited or lacking oppurtunities to do it as God's children. But God wants us to be a blessing to many. Right from our families, friends, relatives, our cirlces and beyond.

For it is not enough that we pray about it. But we need to claim the promise like Jabez. The prayer of Jabez is a famous one among God's children. People have prayed without ceasing and it has come to pass...

1 Chronicles 4:10 (New International Version)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

We need to pray too like Jabez and see that we become a blessing to many...

More than conquerors...

When wearied with our trials many a time we feel like quitting and become indifferent to it. We may also make a resolution or decision to quit. But we may feel the very next day that we are not able to quit that which we had decided to. We may find ourselves come back to square one. The reason is that we are not unstable in doing so, but because we are fashioned in our inner being that way.

As God's Word puts it,

Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

We are made in our inmost being not as quitters but as conquerors...We cannot quit for we are not designed that way.

Rom 8:37 (NIV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Let us rely on Him and be all that He made us to be. Amen.

All things?

Sometimes when we go through difficulties we don't like we may may tell God, "Lord, it would have been better if you had given me that kind of difficulty instead of this which I am currently facing". At times we start bargaining with God. But the truth is God allows every kind of trial for a purpose. Every trial has a divine purpose, though we may not see it.

For God's Word says,

Rom 8:28 (NASB)
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

So if God permits something in our life, let us pray for more grace to endure it and let us pray for all strength to face it mentally knowing that we are under centre of His will. Amen.

Fixing our eyes on Him

When looking forward for some breakthrough or some sort of solution, we may feel troubled imagining about the uncertain. For fears can overwhelm us and all sorts of negative thoughts can fill our minds blocking any positive thinking. In such instances rather than thinking about the outcome of our concerns, it is best to fix our eyes on Jesus who is author and the finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12:2 (New International Version)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We need not think about the answers but we can dare to put our trust in Him, for He never fails. Let us not allow our hearts to weary for we are safely carried by the everlasting arms and He will do the best for us. Amen.

He knows our limits

When facing unpleasant situations or unwarranted circumstances, we feel like running away from them, a way of some miraculous escape. We would sometimes even hope that something reversable happens so that we may not face such unpleasant situations.

But we need to remember that God is in control. As God's Word says,

1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

Our only comfort is that God will make a way out. He will not allow us to face something which we cannot bear. He knows our strengths, weaknesses and limitations. Who can know us better than our Creator?

So let us take courage and look to Him who can do more than we can think or imagine. All praise unto Him for we do not face trials all alone but along with Him. Amen.

Pushed forward or backward?

Philippians 1:12 (New American Standard Bible)

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.

When Apostle Paul was put in prison, he says that it helped him to preach the gospel all the more. What an attitude Paul had!

When we go through life's trials, we so easily get pulled down emotionally. And it hampers our lifestyle from work to everyday living. But look how Paul took the circumstances he faced. Being imprisoned it did not make him feel down though in the dungeon. He looked at his circumstances as an incident to further his work in God.

So how are we facing our circumstances? As helping us move forward or being pulled backward? Let us take our trial like Paul and say that our circumstances has helped us to become more strengthened, more moulded and more focused, than feeling drowned or drained...