New Year's Promise

When I sat this morning to write my devotion little did I realize that the Lord was already ready with His promise for me. Many of us planning to attend the New Year Eve's service will be full of hope and expectations, for it is a time that the Lord will grant them the promise that will sustain them through the coming year. When I read my promise for the year, one thing that dawned on my mind is that more than me the Lord was eagerly waiting to give His precious promise to me. We will understand the depth of this truth especially if we are a parent. More than the children the parent(s) generally eagerly wait to give their children their Christmas gift. They will try to be cautious to buy the gift without the child's knowledge or try to hide the gift where the child cannot find.

Our heavenly Father's heart is similar to this. In fact more than that of an earthly parent. Our heavenly Father will be more eager to give his promise to us. One may wonder what's in a promise. His promise is not just a mere promise. It is His word. And we all know that the heaven and earth may pass but His word will never fail. His word for His children is precious because He has given it to us.

I have got mine for this year and I am sure each one of His children will receive theirs too. One thing to remember here is, before we go into His presence with an expectation to receive it He is eagerly waiting to give one to us; and He knows exactly the one we need.

I am holding His promise for me...

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 NIV
This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

and I wish that the promise you receive meet your heart's longing...Amen

Why do I feel Blue?

In spite of holding God's promises for us, we cannot assume that we will always be positive all the time. There are times of feeling blue, apathy, loneliness and disappointment. It is natural for us to feel that way...because waiting is similar to that of a weary traveller. There may also be times where we feel dejected especially when we start comparing our lives with others. We tend to see that others are living better lives than us...This comparison could further pull us down.

Why do we go through this kind of phase? What we fail is to see life as a whole...we see others enjoying better than us. We presume that they have better standards of living, or they making better trips with families and friends and they spending more than us...What we see outwardly is only a part not the whole. Many of those in the world have emptiness filled in them and each one of them including us try to fill that void by doing things which we presume can satisfy us. For instance, going for a movie, vacation, buying stuff, eating out, etc. These are stuff that can give us moments of happiness which I don't disagree. But these things can never ever fill the void in life.

How do one go about filling that void? Only God can fill that void and no person or thing can fill that emptiness of the soul. If we presume that we can fill our void by doing or getting things then we are on the wrong track. When we get weary holding God's promise and become clueless not knowing what to do, just know one thing...

Colossians 3:3
 your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

This scripture gave me a new dimension to see life. When my life is hidden with Christ in God, then every circumstance, every day and every moment in life...He is in control (as long as I ensure to submit to Him consistently) and He allows only those things that build me up...

Holding God's Promise with Peace

Yesterday, we were talking about holding the peace of God while waiting for Him to answer our prayers. Aw! I know the pain of waiting...it's not easy to wait. Sometimes I have left with no option but wait. No amount of wailing, complaining, arguing, bargaining, being angry with God works. I have gone through times when the doors of the heavens seem closed. After struggling inwardly for a very long time, I decided to give up...You might say that giving up is not an ideal option for children of God. I did give up but not in dejection or depression... I gave it over into God's hand.

Giving up into God's hand is emptying oneself completely to the will of God. I prayed, " Lord, anything that I ask for in my life, may you grant it if it is your will". Once I did that I automatically was filled with peace. His peace that surpasseth all understanding. I had never experienced this until recently. After I experienced His peace the inward striving ceased. Even as I continue to pray for my need I am inwardly assured that my prayer will be answered as per His will and time. I have no need to get dejected or disappointed. This assurance of God is unexplainable.

As long as what we pray for is in line with His will, there is no need to strive. As long as we don't dictate God to work things according to our expectations, we will hold the peace He gives. As long as we trust His ways, there is no need for doubt.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

A Wish List

As the New Year's Eve approaches a majority of us are ready with a wish list...As usual some of us have a list of things to do or achieve, weight loss, save money, plan for a house, a car, etc. And still others like me would want a greater breakthrough from God. This break through can be different for each of us... work wise, finances, better job prospects, higher level of living, soul mate, good health, fulfilment of deepest longings etc.

Some of us may really be looking out for a breakthrough from God for long. Sometimes I think, didn't I have the same kind of wish list last year. How many of them got fulfilled. Perhaps not many. But this year again I do have a wish list. Why does this go on?

Trust me as long as we live our lives on this earth we will have a wish list year after year and we will have needs and wants which only our heavenly Father can fulfil. We should be happy that we do have a loving heavenly Father who hears our prayers and is able to fulfil them. Many people in this world strive to reach their goals and are left with nothing but hope and efforts in their own strength.

But the hope that we have is unlike theirs...The hope that is birthed by God will surely be fulfilled. As long as our heart's desires are in line with His will and His ways, our hope is not in vain...And what's the big difference...in spite of all things we hold the peace that He gives us and are inwardly assured that He makes all things beautiful in His time...

Psalm 25:3 (NIV)
No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame

Romans 5:5 (NIV)
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Proverbs 10:24 (NIV)
what the righteous desire will be granted.