Prayer – God’s Promises

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

God taught us to pray irrespective of the situation. The storms may rage furiously and the fires may engulf us but there should be a prayer on the lips all the time. Prayer should become a lifestyle. Daniel prayed three times a day as usual in spite of the issued decree. ..three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (Daniel 6:10). Nothing happens to us without the permission and approval of God, he is in control and he is an ever present help in times of trouble. David prayed earnestly in the mornings, In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3) David occasionally spent time with God 7 times a day.

When speaking about the end times, Jesus instructed us to be alert in prayer.  Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. (Mark 13:33, Matt 25:1-3). The world is in a hurry these days and for every one of us there is very less time for prayer. We have invented gadgets to relieve us from work stress and to save time but we are not having any extra free time than the previous generations. We became still busier these days and the victim in all this is the prayer time.  Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint on his knees.  And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35) Jesus set an example of daily early morning prayer time alone in an undisturbed place.   

GODS PROMISES 

  • Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24)
  • Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)
  • But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt 6:6)
  • Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)
  • When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (psalm 34:7)
  • If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 chr 7:14)
  • Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. (Jer 29:12)
  • And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)
  • Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)
  • Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. (James 5:13-18)
  • The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:18-19)

PRAYER: Father teach us how to pray. Thank you for listening to our heart cries, agony and the unuttered words. Even when we are still pondering over the issues we are facing and trying to articulate the words in prayer, the answer is on its way. You are the first to take initiative, you intervene, you intercede and you get involved till the matter is resolved.  

Training In the hands of God – God’s Promises

Training in the hands of god is a wonderful experience. God trains those he loves. The sole intention of God in training his children is to see them grow in spiritual maturity. We are called to run a race of endurance. Can we stay calm and peaceful when we face unforeseen situations that bring despair and darkness to our lives? God uses our trials and tribulations to strengthen us. The sufferings and hardships are part of Gods bigger plan to help us, discipline us and to teach us life’s valuable lessons. He disciplines us for our own good. Are we listening? Are we taking this discipline seriously?

Its painful and hard to go through the process of discipline but it’s worth it. It is difficult to face insults, being look down and criticism from the loved ones, friends and neighbors during the process of training.  But our god is a trustworthy god, who can sail us through the troubled waters.

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. Psalm 18:32

This is what the LORD says– your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48: 17

God tests us in the furnace of affliction. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Is 48:10) It is god who allows everything in our life, good times and bad times, light and darkness, prosperity and disaster that are meant only to refine us and not to harm us.

GODS PROMISES ON TRAINING

  • When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. (Ecclesiastes 7:14)
  • I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)
  • Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. (Psalm 119:67)
  • It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm (119:71)
  • Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; (Psalm 144: 1)
  • Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 timothy 4:7-8)
  • Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 cor 9:24-27)
  • I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)
  • For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)
  • A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40 )

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to understand that all your refining processes and pruning is for our better yields. You prune every branch that does bear fruit so that it will be even more fruitful. The process may be painful and hurting, but I trust you, as the ultimate goal is to reflect your image in me. Teach me to rejoice in your discipline as you discipline those you love.

Protection – God’s Promises

GODS PROTECTION DURING PANDEMIC

Psalm 91 is the answer to all the fears during pandemic lock-down and quarantine. If we observe 3, 6 and 10 verses they talk about perils, pestilences and plague. Great security is promised by God in the midst of the danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly father’s will is done and we have no reason to fear. God’s people shall see not only God’s promises fulfilled, but his protection.

Even if it is gods will that we get infected with this plague or any sickness, there is a promise in 15th verse. “He shall call upon me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him”.

The biggest comforting verse is Psalm 23:4 – as we pray to god regularly and study his word, he prepares us for the worst situations, like the psalmist we all should be ready to say “Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”.

GODS PROMISES

  • …I have chosen you and have not rejected you, so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:9-10)
  • Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4)
  • The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:19)
  • Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.(Hebrews 2:14-15)
  • But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’” (Jeremaiah 39:17-18)
  • But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 peter 2:9)
  • He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (Col 1:13)
  • But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Phil3: 20)
  • The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. (Psalm 146:9)
  • Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deut 31:6)
  • No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Is 54:17)
  • I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. (John 17: 15)

PRAYER: Father, help me to trust you in troubled times. Protect me in the shadow of your wings. May the unexpected storms of life like diseases, joblessness, separation, losing of loved ones, do not disturb me but use them Lord to strengthen me in faith. Keep eternity on my eyes that I may see everything in eternal value and perspective. You are my redeemer, my deliverer and my honor. May your will be done.

Waiting upon God – God’s Promises

In this fast paced world, nobody likes to wait and everyone wants an easy and quick fix solution to their problems. But God comes to the rescue of those who wait patiently for Him. David says, “I waited patiently for the lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalm 40: 1-2). Moving from a slippery, shaky, helpless, uncertain and enigmatic circumstances to a rock solid base with sure footing gives great joy and happiness. The next verse in the psalm expresses that emotion,  ..He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Psalm 63 teaches us to seek God’s presence earnestly, intensely, with a thirst and a longing like a wanderer’s search for water in the desert.  It also talks about remembering God on bed, thinking about Him through the watches of the night and clinging to him. Psalm 42 compares our divine drought of waiting and longing for God to deer’s search for streams of water.

Are we enjoying this kind of intimacy and fellowship with God? 

Psalm 27 talks about the inner voice urging the psalmist to seek God’s face. (verse 8 and 14)

Psalm 37: 7 says Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him..and verse 9 talks about those who hope in the Lord will inherit the Land.

God rewards those who seek Him diligently (Hebrews 11:6) and those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Learning to rest upon God and continually wait for Him is what God teaches us and expects of us (Hosea 12:6, Psalm 105:4, Psalm 77: 2)

GODS PROMISES ON WAITING

  • Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6)
  • You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36)
  • Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)
  • But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)
  • The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lam 3;25-26
  • Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
    no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18
  • But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,  even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:18-22
  • We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6:11-12)
  • But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
  • Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.(James 5:7-8)
  • The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.(2 peter 3:9)
  • From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.(Isaiah 64:4)
  • And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.(Galatians 6:9)
  • And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.(Phil 1:6)

PRAYER: O heavenly Father, you have created the universe and you are in control of everything. You make all things beautiful in your time. Help me to surrender myself unexpectantly and unreservedly and to wait upon you.  Create a passion in me to seek you with all my heart. Teach me to sit patiently at your feet and learn. Help me to accept my inadequacy and to acknowledge your sufficiency as you are my rock and my salvation.

Human Suffering – God’S Promises

HUMAN SUFFERING – UNDERSTANDING OF A BELIEVER

Pandemic created a tumultuous time for many families, all over the world. Don’t you think we are in the pages of history?  How to take and understand the purpose of God in allowing this suffering in to the world. Why all God’s children are suffering too?

God’s children should always remember that good or evil, whatever happens to us comes for the good of us, as we can see in the bible verses, how much god loves and his heart aches when he sees us suffering.

Hebrews 12:5 says…And you have completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son do not make light of the Lords discipline, And do not lose heart when he rebukes you, Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, And he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. So let’s not forget the words of encouragement as the Omnipotent God calls us Sons and daughters. We all know that parents discipline their children out of love and concern. In the same way as verse 6 clearly explains…Because the lord disciplines the one he loves and he punishes everyone he accepts as his son. So let us not take the heavenly fathers discipline lightly and don’t be upset when He rebukes you. 

Remember he said in Isaiah 49:16 – he has carved you and me upon the palm of his hands and our boundaries are even before him. What a comfort!  So let us not lose heart, Be encouraged. whatever you have to face in this troubled times remember what god said to Joshua 1:9, “do not be afraid do not be discouraged for the lord your god will be with you wherever you go. The experience of deep waters of trouble is not meant to drown us but to grow us spiritually. The storms of life are not intended to stop us but to cleanse us and to sustain us. God at times make us fall so that we can look up to Him. Sometimes the times of suffering may turn into a season of great revelation. Someone said, the one who has suffered much is like the one who knows many languages, he can understand any one. We look up to God when all the support systems like relatives, friends and well-wishers were removed from our life. Job said, Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;(Job 13:15)

GODS PROMISES ON SUFFERING

  • And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast( 1 Peter 5:10)
  • For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4 : 17)
  • When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)
  • More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (Romans 5:3-4)
  • For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
  • Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
  • And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
  • Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.(psalm 34:19)
  • He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21:4)
  • Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2tim 3:12)
  • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 cor 1:3-4)
  • Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12).

PRAYER: Help me lord Jesus to be bold and courageous for you are with me in any and every situation. Let the suffering bring out the desired and intended change in me through the character transformation. Thanks for being such a wonderful God to me.