Holding faith

Though we are people of faith, we have constant struggle holding on to faith continuously in the same manner with respect to something we may be expecting in life. For instance, we may have faith for provision or healing or an increment or even a relationship, believing that God would meet our need in His time without fail. But we may find it difficult to hold on that faith in the same wavelength. One day we may find ourselves full of faith and the next day we may feel down due to the circumstances or any negative thought.

We may be blaming ourselves for this kind of wavering faith. But we need to understand why we struggle to hold on to faith unwaveringly. We need to bring to our mind what Jesus told his disciples about Satan trying to steal faith.

John 10:10 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

The work of the devil is to steal our faith and make us feel miserable, hopeless and even doubt whether God's Word or promise is going to work for us. This he will do by bringing in negative thoughts, unfavorable circumstances or even negative words from people. But we should stand strong against all these attacks, holding on to God and His Word. That is how we fight the enemy.

So next time we find our faith shaking, let us go back to God's Word and reassure our faith from what Jesus said,

Luke 21:33 (NIV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away...

Amen!

Faith that triumphs

If you were to be asked what kind of faith you have, what would your answer be? Do you have faith which can bring a solution to every problem or issue you face in life?

If we were to say that we are the people of faith and that we believe in Christ, then we should have faith for every situation or issue we face in life.That is true Christian living or living by faith. For we believe in a God with whom there is no word called impossible. Therefore we cannot afford to live a life where we talk about a problem and leave it with a pause. We surely have an answer and that is from God. Rather we have a faith which will overcome the problem.

Sure we do have problems like anybody else in this world. But we just don't live compromising with problems, we overcome them by His grace; by faith in the Word and power of God.

And that is why our life here on our earth is a triumphant one...because of faith.

1 John 5:4 (NIV)

for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Floodgates of Heaven

When we ask God for something in prayer, we ask in a very limited manner because of our limited minds. Or sometimes we may think that asking less is where humility lies. But true humility comes when we have much and know the source of our blessings at the same time know how to bless others with it.

We never expect something beyond measure from our Lord. Why? Because as human beings we think limitedly, perhaps only for ourselves and our needs. But the God whom we serve has no limits. He is immeasurable.

And the Lord, the maker of the heaven and the earth challenges us, His children, to show who He is and what He is willing to do for us and through us...

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

This kind of challenge the Lord puts forth to us not only to bless us, but to make us a blessing to many others. Do we trust this challenge of God. If we do, then we shall surely be ready to receive the outpouring...

All needs met

Sometimes we worry a lot about our finances and think about ways to meet that need. Though we pray by faith, we keep working in our minds some way or the other. For our intellectual mind believes that a provision cannot come from a roof top, it has come through some human source or a even something like a lottery though we may not try such things. But God does not want us to bother ourselves about the means...He wants us to simply trust that He will provide without worrying about His means. His ways are something unimaginable though not magical.

So let us trust God based on His word, rather than wearying ourselves to find out about His means.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Can we imagine how much are His riches in Christ Jesus? We can't... but He is willing to meet if only we can trust...

God's Children

We all have an identity. We know who we are. And for most us our identity gives us a sense of pride and dignity. If I were to ask you, what is your identity which you are proud of, what would your answer be? That of your profession? That derived of your riches or fame? It could be anything...

But if you were to ask me, my pride and dignity comes from the fact that I am a child of God... Child of the Most High who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. I pride that I know Christ, rather I am known by Him and that I am tagged by His name. Wow! This is my privilege and blessing.

Do you also have an identity such as mine? If you do, then for sure, you are a blessed person as I am and unique in your identity. And this identity is one, which is a greater honor than any honor or award than you can imagine of, in this world.

1 John 3:1 (NIV)

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called Children of God! And that is what we are!

If you feel that you do not have this identity yet, you sure can have it now. All that you need to do is this...

John 1:12 (NIV)

Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Surely safe

What a security we find in the Lord. Even in times of uncertainty, a person who trusts in the Lord will dwell safely. For people in the world, there is always some kind of fear. Fear of losing, of failure, of disappointment, of uncertainty...

But for people who trust in the Lord, there need not be any room for fear. Why? Simply because the Lord assures safety.

Proverbs 1:33 (NIV)

but whoever listens to me will live in safety,

and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Wow! What an assurance from the Lord. Let us thank God everyday when we start the day, that we and our family are kept safe by the hand of the Lord.

Assured prayer

When we pray and ask God for something, sometimes we start thinking whether what we asked will really come true. We set sail in the sea of doubt and sometimes forget that we were pretty serious about what we prayed. The Word of God exhorts us,

Mark 11:24 (NIV)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

The first and the foremost essential to prayer is, we need to believe that we will surely receive what we prayed for. In better words, we should believe that we have already received it. The next essential is to thank God that He has answered our prayer. Thank Him that He answered our prayer because of His love for us and because of who He is...

When we know as parents to give our children when they ask us for things, then God our creator and our heavenly Father, surely does know to give us the best. So let us dare to believe that we will receive what we pray for...Amen.