Accepting His Sovereignty

It is so very easy for us to accept God's rule and sovereignty in our lives when things go well. However, it may be difficult to accept His will and sovereignty when life seems to be hard or while walking through times of trial. In any case be it glad times or tough ones, accepting His sovereignty is maturity. Though we may not be in a position to see life whole; though seeing future positive seems challenging, believing that God knows what He is doing and will turns things for our good is true faith...

And to hold on to such faith without becoming dejected is where courage is required.

Psalm 52:9 (Amplified Bible)

I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones).

May we ask the Lord to give us the courage to see good times, to hope and expect good tidings in His name...

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

What can I give you Lord?

Except for a heart filled with Thanks

I am overwhelmed with the way,

You work in my life.

Be it good times or hard,

You are there to take me through.

As a captain of the vessel,

You help through the course.

And without you I know,

I cannot sail it well.

Thank you Lord that you are there

For me... all the while.

Help me just to know your worth,

And be thankful till my final breath.

Psalm 107:8 (New American Standard Bible)

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,

And for His wonders to the sons of men!

Thanksgiving

As the thanksgiving week is here and as our hearts reflect on it, each one us can surely recall to our minds the goodness of God towards us...

Psalm 86:12-13 (New American Standard Bible)

I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,

And will glorify Your name forever.

For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,

And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Yes, it is true that it is only because of Him, we can live with peace of mind. Even amidst storm or inner turmoil, which can greatly surge, to know that He is in control and will do the needful is the greatest rest.

Prayer: I thank you Lord for you are a living God in my life. I thank you that you are in sovereign control of my life and its course. It is by your grace that I stand and I thank you that I will not fall for your uphold me with your mighty hand...

God Pleaser

Christians are of various kinds.

Some believe in Christ, pray to Him and also to other saints whose faith allows them to follow any kind of doctrine.

Some pray to Him alone, yet carry on their life by their own knowledge.

Some pray to the Lord, read the word of God and live life without the word of God impacting their life in any way.

Some pray to Christ, do things in His name, preach the gospel, pray for others, quote bible verses and take only that part of God's word which pleases their minds (especially promises)

There are also rare kind of Christians who follow the Lord wholeheartedly like Caleb did (in the Bible), in whose life God's word is the foundation. That is why Jesus said...

John 8:47 (New American Standard Bible)

He who is of God hears the words of God...

These are the people who live life wholly by God's word. Be it promises or commandments, both are taken in the same way. They yield to God's discipline and correction with the same openness without compromise as with claiming God's promise.

May we become the kind of people whom God is pleased with, who takes His word wholly and not partially, who does not manipulate to take His word to shape our life...but allow His spirit to change our life to match His word.

Realizing His Sovereignty

Many a time we take a defensive mode when relating to people presuming that they are out to intimidate us, take advantage of us or criticize us. Whatever be the motive of the people we meet or relate, we should not approach people in a defensive mode. For when we become defensive we may unknowingly become harsh or arrogant. We should not assume that most of the people we meet are like the Pharisees or the Sadducee.

Though we may meet people who may not understand our faith or our honest motives, we are to show patience and tolerance towards them. Rev. Selwyn Hughes states that God is in control when we may be put in a scenario to relate to people who may be indifferent to us or against us. And that He will be able to uphold us even if we are rejected or betrayed by people.

Psalm 125:1 (New American Standard Bible)

Those who trust in the LORD

Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.

Good Intended Plans

It is good to make plans and develop ideas for our future, for without proper planning and creation of ideas, nothing can be achieved. However, it is also important as God's children that we do not talk about it in excess to others, to an extent where it turns into bragging. Talking of plans is no wrong. Yet there is a always a thin line which when not realized can become words of grandeur.

The Word of God says,

Proverbs 27:1 (New International Version)

Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

James 4: 13-15 (New International Version)

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Let us always be submitted to the Lord and expect Him to lead us as per His plans, though the best of our plans seem to be of good interest...

Letting go...

There are many causes for mental stress. One of them is our choice not to give up on those matters which we have no control. Mental health experts state that one of the main reason for stress is when people fail to have the ability to take control. We need to understand that there are always two aspects in life:- things which we can take control and things which we cannot. Things which we can take control are what we call 'responsibility'. Things which we cannot take control are those that are 'uncertain'.

When we try to take control of uncertain events, situations, expectations or even people in life, that is when we loose our cool and become overly stressed. Instead of struggling inwardly by trying to take control of uncertain things or tomorrow , it is better that we give it up into the Lord's hand and accept the outcome believing that to be God's will. This way we will be more at peace than unnecessary mental stress...

Psalm 46:10 (New American Standard Bible)

Cease striving and know that I am God...

When we cease from trying to take control of things or people and live with the realization that God is in control, rest assured we can live our days with peace.