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Isn't it so warm to get welcomed by the Holy Spirit when we open our Bible? I felt so invited to dip more into the Word of God when He said, "Greetings, favoured woman! The Lord is with you!" It put a wide smile on my face, and I thanked our dear Lord, wishing Him back, "Good morning, dear God."(This happened today. I am writing about what I experienced) I send the same greetings to you, dear friend. May you be highly favoured by the Lord. He showed me something very beautiful today. It is in Hebrews 5:14. It says, "Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong." Paul saw people whom he is referring to here as not being able to differentiate between right and wrong. Have you seen people doing the same thing again and again even after you insisted that they should not do a particular thing in a particular way? It has become a habit for them—a habit they have developed in the wrong way. For example, children may leave water dripping from the tap without closing it tightly after washing their hands. They don't care to change because they are not aware of the water loss that is happening, which, in due time, will affect the whole family that runs on limited water resources. Sometimes children think it is very trivial. Until they put their mind to changing that habit, it cannot be changed. Similarly, as long as we entertain disobedience to the Holy Spirit, we are not going to grow. Even after many warnings, we will continue doing what is not right. The Bible clearly says in verse 14 that recognizing, practising, and growing to do what is right will happen through the right training that we put our minds through. Only then can we move out of the baby stage and continue growing in the Lord by focusing on other areas of our spiritual life. Simply put, learning to differentiate between right and wrong, without manipulating it, is one of the first baby steps we can take. May God bless us to grow well and eat enriched solid food by making us steady in our baby steps. Hey friend, let's just make a decision to obey our dear Lord. Let's train ourselves to put our mind and body in obedience unto Him. May we hold our Father's hand and walk through the day. Dear God, thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your corrections. Thank You for Your dear presence. May we continue to grow in You, Lord. May we know, understand, and do what is right while shunning evil. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Do you want to know the letter in the Bible that is against slavery? It is the letter written by Paul in his old age. Paul writes this letter to Philemon, a believer. We can see Paul beautifully handling the conflict between two believers here. From the letter, we can see Paul appealing to Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother now. Paul insists on forgiveness from Philemon. Paul praises Philemon for his faith, for his love for God's people, and for his kindness that refreshed believers. Then he asks him to take one more step towards showing forgiveness to Onesimus, who had indeed hurt Philemon's heart. Paul, like Jesus, shows God's love here. He says in verse 18, "If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me." We can see the beautiful maturity that the old Paul has when he is trying to solve the issues between brothers. How is our approach towards people? Are we hurried to punish someone? Or are we like Paul, trying to bring peace between believers, whom Paul calls brothers in Christ? May God move our hearts toward forgiving people who hurt us. Dear God, May we continue to grow in You. May we grow in Christlike character. May we be like Paul in uniting people. May we be like Christ in forgiving people. May we grow in refreshing kindness that can bless others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Sometimes I feel that one of the topics not much appreciated is the topic of "modesty." These days, the modern world looks for trendiness in every way. I remember wearing a black polka-dotted top with blue jeans for a retreat at our college, where I heard that wearing jeans was not good. I am not going to share anything about the rigid dress code here. In metro cities, we are adapting ourselves to the culture around us. But may we also know that we don't need to impress anyone with how we dress. For a week, God was putting these words about modesty from the letter of Paul in my heart: "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." 1 Timothy 2:9–10 (NIV) It is good when people say that when our heart is right, we can dress in the ways we want. But what does the Bible say about the heart? It says, "The heart is deceitful above all things." Jeremiah 17:9. And one more thing—we can ask ourselves one question. Is what I am wearing giving God the glory He deserves from me? Is it helping others to be attracted towards the God I serve or towards me? Proverbs 31:25 says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity." With modesty, our strength and dignity only increase. May God lead us towards pleasing Him. Hey friend, dress modestly, adorn yourself with good works. This is not for church-going days alone. May our lifestyle reflect this. It is true that we have let our families and our minds tolerate everything the world gives. But may we not tolerate what the Spirit urges us to resist. But we should also know that, be it any change in a person's life, it can happen only through the Holy Spirit convicting them, and they choose to obey Him. Dear God, thank You for the wisdom in the Bible. Mould us into women of wisdom. May our good deeds be louder than our appearance. May we not become bound by the world in trying to please it. May we know that our approval should come from Christ. Adorn us with things that please You and not the world, Lord. May we have the courage to stand for You and keep us rightly aligned with the Word of God. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

It felt very heavy after reading Paul's second letter to Timothy. Paul was not living under favorable circumstances at that time. He was in prison, awaiting his execution. We can see him talking about the people who deserted him in his suffering. In chapter 2, verse 9, he says, "And because I preach the Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained." In many instances, he talks about the death that awaits him. We can see it in chapter 2, verse 11, and then in chapter 4, verses 6 to 8, which all of us strive to say when the end of our life on earth nears us. "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, AND I HAVE REMAINED FAITHFUL." How beautiful this sounds. These are the words of a man who suffered a lot for preaching the Good News of Christ. In this letter alone, we can see him encouraging Timothy many times about the suffering that he will face in his life for Christ. When he says the word faithful, it takes me to another verse in 2 Timothy where he says, "If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is." Paul's words clearly point out that he decided to follow and work for Christ in the middle of persecution. In the midst of people who were his assistants in ministry abandoning him, he continued his work. When people thought ill of him because he was chained for Christ's sake, he endured it all and remained faithful to God's work because of the unshakable trust he had in Christ—that HE IS FAITHFUL. Paul, in his last days, encouraged Timothy, a timid person but one who truly followed Christ. Paul saw the potential in him to lead the church. He encouraged the next generation of rising ministers. He encouraged him to stand for God in the middle of false teachers. We can also see Paul longing to see him in person in his last days. Paul wanted Timothy to do very well. In chapter 1, verse 6, he says, "I REMIND YOU TO FAN INTO FLAMES THE SPIRITUAL GIFT GOD GAVE YOU WHEN I LAID MY HANDS ON YOU." Hey friend, may God help us to have a courageous heart to stand faithful to God in doing His work, in preaching the Good News, and in growing the gifts we have to glorify Him with the life we have on earth. May we look at the examples of the great people of God. The Bible says we have a great cloud of witnesses before us. May we learn from them and fight the good fight. Dear God, we commit our lives to You. What a great testimony Paul has left us. How faithful he was in serving You. How courageous he was in the midst of troubles, in the midst of people deserting him because he was in chains. God, help us to be faithful to You. Help us to stand with true men of God when they need us most. May we equip ourselves and the generations after us to rise for You. Be with us, dear Father. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God's Heart for the Fatherless and Widows I was recently listening to Giftson Durai's podcast with Joyce, which I really loved. Giftson Durai made a profound statement where he said nobody can understand "grief and rejection." We, at churches and in our houses, talk about widows, but we rarely talk about them in a good way. As much as I have seen, we are not too different from secular society. There is a Bible translation called the NRSV, which says in 1 Timothy 5:3, "Honor widows who are really widows." I was shocked by this translation of the Bible. When I looked into another version, the NIV, I found no such wording. In the NIV, it is written, "Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need." At first, I felt troubled by the wording in the NRSV. I had questions like, "What is a real widow? Isn't it enough that they have lost their husband or wife to become a widow?" As I continued reading the chapter, I understood that Paul was referring to widows who had no family to support them, not redefining who is a widow. Yet the wording made me reflect on how easily we ourselves categorize widows and treat them differently. I have even seen women giving authoritative advice or making the choice for another young or even older widow to get married because this woman thinks it is right and good for the widow. Do we recklessly talk like this about women and men who have lost their spouse? How do we treat their sons and daughters if they are our sons-in-law or daughters-in-law? Are we boldly confronting a widow's children because there is no father figure? I am sad that I have to bring our ugly side into confrontation today. I have seen widows who earn and take care of their own living go through a lot. Then how much worse will be the case of widows who rely on their friends and families for their livelihood? How difficult is it for their children to look to another father figure to get something for them? How much are the children losing without a father figure? Insecurity falls over us when our father tries to help a family without a father. People, none of us can understand another person's pain unless we walk through it. Till then, it is wise to remain calm in the Lord. I love James 1:27 (NIV): "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Dear friend, God is not after only families who are privileged to have mothers and fathers by their side. He is the Father of the fatherless and the Defender of widows. If we want to call ourselves religious, we need to look after widows and the fatherless. If we are not helping, at least let us keep ourselves from harming them emotionally. Their Dad, who is our Dad, cares about all of us. He is our heavenly Father who made Cain pay for Abel's blood. Dear God, we commit every family who has lost their father or mother into Your hands. We ask Your forgiveness when we knowingly or unknowingly made a move that might have hurt them. Give us a heart like Yours when we look at the fatherless and women who have lost their husbands. Fill us with Your compassion, Lord. May we live out what You call true religion. Protect us and our families, dear Lord. Help us to help the fatherless and widows when we see them in need. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

We, those who love Christ, have a divine purpose for our lives. Each of us has a calling. Some are called to preach, some to evangelize, some to lead worship, some to literature ministry, some for teaching, some to counsel and exhort others, some to build churches, some to prayer ministry—the list goes on and on.. Paul is clear when he writes to the Thessalonians about this. To the believers he says, "So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do."1 Thessalonians 1:11. Now, my friend, has God revealed His calling to you? What is it that you have to accomplish for the Kingdom of God? What are we going to do with the life we have been bestowed on earth? All we need to do is pray like Paul prayed. Ask God to enable us to live in power, to enable us to walk in our calling. May we understand what we have to do for God in faith. Paul, in the next verse, says the Lord Jesus will be honoured if we do so. And let the day come when we all say, as Paul said, "This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and our Lord, Jesus Christ." Yes, my friend, may He finish what He started with your hands. May He lead you in every righteous path He has for you. May you walk in your calling. May Christ enable you to do it. May it become possible for you through Christ. John Wesley, the famous preacher of England, is known for praying, preaching, and bringing revival there. He had a friend named John Fletcher who asked himself some questions for self examination every day. One question goes like this: "What have I done this day for the souls and bodies of God's dear saints?" About him, John Wesley said, "I have known no man like him." Get up, dear friend, we have a long way to go. Let us hold Jesus' hand and live a life worthy of our calling. Dear God, we pray that You strengthen us and enable us to live a life worthy of the calling You have for us. Through Christ, help us to achieve great things for You. May we nurture the vision You have given us. Protect our body, soul, and spirit. May we honour You in every way, dear Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I remember meeting a young girl, a pastor's daughter, many years ago in Chennai. A non-believer friend called Divya introduced her to me. She said, "Today I am going to take you to a friend of mine who is so full of bright joy." We walked to her house and met the young girl, who was, I'd say, simply adorned with the beauty Paul mentions in Colossians 3:12–14. "Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony." This meeting with that pastor's daughter happened long ago, nearly ten years ago. But I can still remember how welcoming she was, how joyful she was, and how bright her face looked with a genuine smile. Truly, it was a face filled with the love of Jesus. Hey friend, how refreshing it would be if we, as Christians, adorned ourselves with such qualities and gave people who meet us a moment that would stay with them for life. With the everyday situations and the people in our lives, it is not going to be as easy as it looks to live this out in our own strength. This is possible only when we are Christians who walk filled with the Holy Spirit. May God help us to love those who hate us, to be merciful even when people have denied mercy to us. May we be careful not to allow the gentleness in us to break because someone triggers us. May we be patient with the people we meet, even if they come across as those who test our patience. Let us forgive, even if people hurt us again and again, not understanding what they are doing to us. It may even be our fellow Christians. Even if they are not reading their Bible, let them read us and learn from us, for these qualities will bind us all together in harmony. Dear God, we pray that we may have gentleness, love, patience, forgiveness, and kindness toward everyone we come across in this life. May those who hate us, who do evil things against us, and who are with us only for material gain, learn about Christ's love from us. May we be clothed with the character You want us to have. Teach us, dear Lord. May we grow more and more like You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Sometimes some of us are not aware of the weight of God's purpose for our lives. I have read the Book of Esther many a time. In a way, it was a feel-good read. An orphan girl raised to be a queen in a dramatic way. But God, in His great purpose for Esther, raised her as queen at the Susa Palace for such a time to be a weapon against the enemy who was there, fuming, scheming, and plotting against the Jews to bring them to nothing. And Esther got grace and favor in the eyes of the king. The favour got her the right judgement for the enemy. The same grace and favor that brings us mercy from God empowers us to destroy the schemes of the enemy. God uses the same favor to bring judgment over the enemy who schemes against us, our family, and our people. Esther was going through a trauma in her mind when she was quietly preparing the feast for the king. She only reveals it later, as it is in the verse. It is in Esther 7:4. "For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king." Not a single plan from the enemy is against just us, but to eradicate our generation. When Haman schemed, he plotted not against a man but a clan. God has given us families to build; may He bestow us favor to destroy the enemy who is plotting to destroy us too. I love the following words, which are the exact words of Priscilla Shirer in one of her sermons: "If I found out that someone is scheming, that's a whole different story. Because scheming implies 'preplanning.' If you've been scheming against me, that means you've been watching for a while. You've been trying to figure out what is about me that is most vulnerable so that you can take advantage of me. You've been studying to find out what my patterns are, what the prediction of my flesh is, what my preferences are, so that you can figure out the best time to take full advantage of me. And I've found out that you are not just scheming against me, but you have eyes on my family, my husband, my children. When I find out that you've been scheming against me and the people that I love, well then, it's a war you want." What is Esther's way to protect her family? She fasted, prayed, and showed bravery in reaching out to the king. Throughout it all, God was with her. Before Esther was even born, her purpose on earth was written by God. She was chosen to eradicate the enemy who would plot to kill God's chosen people, herself, her family, and every one of the Jews. Hey friend, when God opens your eyes against the scheming plots of the enemy, do not wait till he steals and kills. Arm yourself with the right weapon. Go to the King of kings. When He steps in, no schemes can stand. He will help you unmask the deeds of the deadly schemes of the enemy and will crush him under your feet. Dear God, we pray that Your greater purpose be fulfilled in our lives. In every war we face against the enemy, may Your victory be declared over every scheme he is plotting against us. May You help us remove the mask under which he hides and works against us. May You intervene in a supernatural way to bring our salvation. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Preaching the Gospel where it has not been heard is the most challenging, yet most meaningful, work anyone could do for Christ. Paul started it. He taught the Galatians about Jesus. He says that he taught them everything about Jesus as though they were watching it (the life of Jesus) happening before their eyes. But Paul sees that people are being attracted to a gospel that was not true. It was a gospel based on getting approval from God by following Jewish traditions. Paul said it was for freedom that you were saved by Christ. How beautiful and light it is to know that we are not bound to any tradition to get the approval of God. Paul says some of them are swayed by the idea of circumcision, and some of them are caught up in keeping special days as they did in the past. Paul says that, in trying to gain the approval of others, even Peter was caught in error when he refused to eat with the Gentiles who had accepted Christ. And when other Christians saw that, they followed him. Hey friends, are we still holding onto any traditions that we are supposed to leave behind after accepting Christ? How true it is when Christ says, "My burden and My yoke are light." May we rest and be free in Christ. The conclusion of the whole book is found in Galatians 6:15. It says, "What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." Dear God, may we be Your new creation, ready to do every good work. May we never be swayed by any teaching that is not from the Gospel of Christ. May our minds be steadfast in holding on to the truth. Give this wisdom to us, our families, and our generation. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

-Jasper. "Five Times More" Today I want to open up the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 45. If you know the story, Joseph was sold by his brothers, falsely accused, thrown in prison, forgotten. But God used all of it to put him in a place of authority in Egypt. Years later, famine hits, and his brothers come begging for food. They don’t recognize him. But he recognizes them. Now here’s where we pause and see the picture: *Joseph is a type of Christ.* Rejected by his own, sold for silver, thought dead, but raised to the right hand of power. And from that place, he becomes the one who saves those who rejected him. Sound familiar? *Benjamin is a type of Israel, the Jews.* Benjamin was Rachel’s son, Jacob’s beloved, the one Joseph had a special claim on. In Genesis 45:22, when Joseph reveals himself, he gives Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and 5 changes of clothing. But the detail that jumps out is this: “to Benjamin he gave 5 times as much as any of the others.” *The other brothers are a type of the Gentiles.* They’re part of the family, but they’re not the beloved son. They’re the ones who came later, who didn’t have the same history, the same promise. So what’s God saying here? 1. God’s heart has always been for His covenant people Joseph didn’t forget Benjamin. Even when Benjamin didn’t know him, even when the family was fractured, Joseph’s affection was there. Jesus says the same thing in Matthew 15:24: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The gospel starts with the Jew. Romans 9-11 makes it clear: Israel is still beloved for the sake of the fathers. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. That 5-times portion isn’t favoritism in a petty sense. It’s recognition. “You are mine. You are special. You have a place at my table that no one else can fill.” The church has sometimes forgotten this. But if you rip Israel out of the story, you rip the root out of the tree in Romans 11. We’re grafted in, not replacing. 2. Grace always exceeds what we deserve Why 5 times? Five is the number of grace in Scripture. Grace is unmerited favor. Benjamin didn’t earn it. He was just Benjamin. That’s how it is with Israel, and that’s how it is with us. Deuteronomy 7:7 says, “The Lord set His love on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than any other people, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loves you.” We Gentiles got brought into the family through the Messiah of Israel. We didn’t earn it. We were brought near by the blood of Christ, Ephesians 2:13. The 300 pieces of silver and 5 changes of clothing are extravagant. They’re not survival rations. They’re “welcome home” gifts. That’s how Jesus treats us. Not just forgiveness, but sonship, inheritance, a seat at the table. 3. Reconciliation means a shared table Look at verse 15: “And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them.” Joseph doesn’t just send food. He restores relationship. The goal of God’s plan isn’t two separate tables, one for Jew and one for Gentile. Ephesians 2:14 says Christ has made us both one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility. The special portion to Benjamin doesn’t create distance. It creates the basis for the family to be reconciled. When the brothers see how Joseph treats Benjamin, they see Joseph’s heart. And they’re drawn in. That’s what Jesus is doing today. He’s showing Israel, “You are still beloved.” And He’s saying to the Gentiles, “You’re included in that love.” *So what does this mean for us?* If you’re from a Jewish background, Hear this. Your Messiah hasn’t forgotten you. The 5-times portion is still on the table. Romans 11:23 says “God is able to graft them in again.” Don’t think Jesus doesn’t want you. If you’re a Gentile believer: Don’t get arrogant. Romans 11:18 says “you do not support the root, but the root supports you.” The gifts and calling of Israel are part of why you have a Bible, a Messiah, a covenant. Honor that. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Psalm 122:6. And for all of us: Look at the table. Jesus, our Joseph, has made a place for you. Not because you earned it. Because He chose you. And He’s still in the business of giving 5 times more than we deserve. The brothers came expecting judgment. They got a kiss and a feast. That’s the gospel. Let’s pray. Lord, thank You for being a God who remembers, who restores, and who gives more than we deserve. Open our eyes to see Your heart for all Your people. Help us to be a church that loves what You love and honors the root from which we’ve been grafted. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It is always amazing to get to know an author like Paul through his writing. He had his own principles in doing the work of God, which is really impressive. Indeed, he never did anything to impress others. Let me share what I learned about his ministry from the book of 2 Corinthians. Firstly, he says he preached God's Word with sincerity and with Christ's authority (2 Corinthians 2:17). He used the word sincere again when he wanted people to know that his ministry was not a very spectacular one, but a sincere one (2 Corinthians 5:12). Like John called people toward repentance, Paul says he called people to come back to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). Paul understood the importance of living the Christ he preached, so he says he lived in such a way that no one stumbled because of him (2 Corinthians 6:3). He was faithful in preaching the truth (2 Corinthians 6:7). As a minister, he waged spiritual wars. He used the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and in the left hand for defense. Most importantly, his fuel to run for the work of the Lord was not the praise of people. He served God whether people honored or despised him, whether they slandered or praised him. He considered himself someone who blessed others with spiritual riches, yet he says he owned nothing in this world, but he knew he had everything (2 Corinthians 6:10). Suffering had always been a part of his ministry. He went to prison, was whipped, beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked (2 Corinthians 11:24–25). He worked with his own hands to support his ministry. Paul's standard for ministry is indeed great. Hey friend, all of us have the calling to work for the Great Commission of God. My pastor used to say that all of us are called to introduce Jesus to our fellow people on earth, for whom Jesus shed His blood. Wouldn't it be good and excellent if we learned from Paul and tried to be excellent in the way we live for Christ? Dear God, We come into Your presence seeking strength, grace, and power to work for the calling You have for us. May we preach with sincerity and with authority. May our lives never cause others to stumble, but instead uplift them. May we be faithful in preaching the truth. May we wage war with the weapons of righteousness. May we run the race toward the goal despite the slander or praise we receive from people. Let us be joyful in having treasures in heaven rather than on earth. May we be brave in all the suffering we endure for Christ. May everything build us up for the glory of God. In Jesus' name I pray Amen.

Apostle Paul is a great personality. He talks about God with so much authority. He has understood God in a personal way. Otherwise, how could anyone declare such a firm affirmation about God? In 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 12 to 23, he speaks to the Corinthian church about his upcoming visits to them. He says he is going to bless them doubly by visiting them twice. It is in verse 15: "I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice." And then he affirms the same by saying that his visit is going to be certain when he promises to visit. He draws the example from God Himself. He is telling the people that he doesn't carelessly tell people something. And Paul says God's promises will not wander between yes or no. The meaning is that when God promises yes, He will never change it. Paul's visit to them is also going to be certain. A very beautiful verse can be seen in verse 19: God's ultimate "Yes." He always does what He says. How assuring these verses are. How assuring Paul's faith in God is. Hey friend, do we have God promising to visit and bless somebody? It is in Genesis 18:10. He says, "I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son." And we all know what happened. When it is a yes from God, as Paul says, it is an ultimate yes. Hey friend, in our waiting, if we have our God who promised to visit us, it is an ultimate yes. If He promised to visit us twice, it is an ultimate yes. Move forward in your great joy. Hold on to your great faith. The God who rewarded Abraham and Sarah will reward us. Dear God, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your promises of visiting us. We humbly say amen to Your ultimate yes for us. Love You, Lord. May You be glorified in us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

One of the dream lives all of us who have accepted Christ as our Savior would love to have is a life of victory. What is a life of victory in the Christian life? It is a life that overcomes sin. It is a life that puts the old man and his desires on the cross and walks victoriously in holiness in every walk of our life. The Bible clearly gives us the key to having a victorious life in Christ. The Bible says that when we have the knowledge of God, a life of victory in our Christian walk is possible. In 2 Peter chapter 1, Peter urges the believers as follows. Verse 5 says: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." Peter asks the believers to grow in these character traits and be abundant in them, as this will keep them from being ineffective and unproductive. He calls the other group, who do not seek to grow in godliness, blind. In verse 10 he says, "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall." Hey friend, how interested are we in growing in godliness? Are we complacent in being ineffective or unproductive? May we be of good use for God, and let us bring His kingdom on earth. May we carry His presence. May we walk in godliness. Peter says that if we do so, a rich welcome awaits us on the other side. Dear God, may we be Your people who always walk in victory by having the knowledge of Christ. May You grow godly character in us for Your glory. May we never be ineffective or unproductive Christians. May we be richly blessed with faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I had a small chat with a young lady who had plans for her next ten years. She told me where she wanted to live and where she wanted to invest her money in order to be rewarded in the future. Smart, isn't she? The Bible is a book which leads us to live for the heavenly future and invest for that. It asks us to live a life that will get us into heaven. It asks us to add our investments there. We are going to live in eternity, and our rewards are there. Matthew 6:19–21 (KJV): 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Are we being rich towards God? Is our time rich towards God? It is indeed very difficult if we have a job in hand. I know a professor, a friend of mine, who starts early in order not to miss her time with God. I know another IT professional who appointed a maid for her mornings mainly because she wanted to have her alone time with God. They prioritize God in their own way possible. In that way, we add treasures to ourselves in heaven. Being rich towards God is also about not hesitating to give what we have and working to help other souls know and grow in the Lord. Do we do that? I have another friend who longs to serve God with the gift of teaching she has received. She works in an international school, and she involves herself in every ministry around her if she gets an opportunity to work with children. Are we concerned about using the gifts and resources we have to serve God? Are we heaven-focused? Hey friend, what are we worried about? Our eternal life? Our treasures there? Then we are on the right path. Dear God, thank you for fixing our priorities. Thank you for turning our attention towards heaven. Help us, dear Lord, to look beyond and live a life that adds more treasure and rewards in heaven. May we please you always. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

We know Job was having a hard time after the devil challenged God. Does that mean he never faced any difficulties before? When remembering the past, Job talks as follows in Job 29:3: “When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;” This clearly shows his way of dealing with the tough times in life. He just needed the light from God to come through the darkness in his life. Light refers to the word of hope from the living God, as in Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Another beautiful reference to light is found in a very powerful verse from Micah. Micah 7:8 says: “Do not gloat over me, my enemy. Though I fall, I will rise. When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Yes, my friend, with God being our light, with His hope-giving Word in us, we will even walk through the darkest days of our life. Hard days that we never imagined would come into our lives, yet become a reality before us. The secret to crossing the darkness is holding on to Him and to the hopeful words He speaks to us. The same can be seen in Psalm 23:4, which says: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Hey friend, the world says, “This too will pass.” And the Bible says, “With His light, I will get through it.” With His Word and His presence, we will cross the dark days too. Dear God, thank You for shaping our lives through every darkness and brokenness You have allowed. Thank You for helping us cross through it, Father. Thank You for Your hope-giving Word and the presence that carried us through. In Jesus' name, I thank You. Amen.

Every day is a gift from God. The Bible has practical ways to approach the God-given day. 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 13 says, "Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves. Set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when He is revealed." When God showed me these verses, the words prepare, action, and discipline stuck in my mind. All this preparation and action for what? To wage a fight against the flesh and to live a holy life. Verse 15 says, "As He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct." Verse 17 says, "If you invoke as Father the One who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile." Is it possible to live a holy life by killing the desires of the flesh? Can we really overcome it, and can we live a victorious holy life for Christ? Verse 22 says, "Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth." Finally, it all comes to this verse: to obey the Word of God and fight to keep it by preparing your mind for the challenges in the day ahead is the key to approaching the day. Hey friend, the world says, "Make every day count." God teaches us how: 1. By preparing our mind. 2. By disciplining ourselves. 3. By being holy in all our conduct. 4. By purifying our souls in obedience to God's Word. Dear God, thank You for Your guidance. Help us to live a life of power, a life filled with Your Word and Your presence. May we obey Your Word in every step of the day. Cover us in Your mighty love, Father. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

It was another day when I woke up with an unusual dream that made me wonder for a while about its meaning. But when I turned to my Bible, God strengthened my spirit and gave me assurance that He is in control. He soon talked with me through the story of Esther. Esther chapter 6 talks about a king who is supposed to be in control of everything in life, yet he was not able to go to sleep. Esther 6:1 says, "That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king."Then he asked people to bring a book to read. He heard about the good deeds of Mordecai toward him; it was written in that book. The next day, the king honoured Mordecai. When another man, Haman, was plotting to kill Mordecai and wanted to speak to the king about it, God orchestrated events and showed that He has not only the mighty winds in control, the fiery fire in control, and the powerful waters in control, but also sleep—the very ordinary thing in a person's life—in His hand. He did not allow the king to have a good sleep until the message God wanted to reach his ears reached the king. Yes, no weapon formed against us shall prosper when God is in control of our lives. No dreams can damage us. No power of darkness can stand against us, for we have a God who is over time, dreams, sleep, and every little and big detail of our lives. Dear God, may we commit ourselves and our families into Your hand. May You protect us and guide us. Thank You, Lord, for intervening in places, talking to people, moving things, and changing situations in our favour even when we do not know about it. Thank You, Lord, for Your mighty arms and Your everlasting love over us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God's favour is what we need to live life well. Is just surviving the given life enough for every child of God? No, we need God's favour that can take us beyond our reach. Esther was an orphan girl in a foreign land. But God gave her favour and gave her power as a ruler in the kingdom where she was supposed to live as a slave. The verse says, “Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor.” Esther 2:9. The same happened to Joseph. He got favour in the eyes of the jail officer when he was there. Genesis 39:21 says, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love. He gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailor.” Joseph was supposed to be a captive, a prisoner with no freedom in jail. But when he received God's love and favor in the eyes of men, he was kept as an in-charge over the prison. What does this show? Favour brings us out of slavery, out of imprisonment. The favour of God helps us walk in freedom; it helps us walk in power. It helps us to reach positions that we can't reach with our own power. It is purely God's gift. He chooses people to show favour through which He restores, He redeems, He saves, and He fulfills His plans for us. Dear God, You are a God who can make a queen out of a poor orphan girl who is helpless. You can make a ruler of a nation out of a man forced to serve in prison. Lord, Your plans are awesome and beyond our understanding. Your favor and grace restored them, lifted them, and empowered them. Lord, we pray for the same favour to be showered over us. Psalm 90:17 says Your favour establishes the work of our hands. We submit our situation into Your ever-loving hand of favor. We pray that You bless us with the same. We receive what we prayed for in Jesus' name. Amen.

To get a complete picture of a book, what would you do? You’ll read it fully. This blog is one such, which birthed after understanding the whole picture and main theme of the Gospel written by Mark. It is so beautiful that Mark tried to capture the life of Jesus under the theme of suffering. Can we escape suffering in this life? Are we living a life faithful unto Jesus, following Jesus by believing suffering will not touch us if we do so? Then the result could easily be what the disciples experienced. It is disappointment. The disciples looked at Jesus as King or Messiah of the earthly kingdom of Israel then. We can see the sons of Zebedee wanting to sit on the right and the left side of Jesus' throne. We can see Peter rebuking Jesus when He said He was going to suffer and die. Gospel of Mark 8:31 (KJV) And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. When Jesus told the disciples that they should be careful about the sourdough of the Pharisees, the disciples were thinking literally about the dough and the bread. However much they walked with Jesus, they were not able to align themselves with Jesus or His purpose. They couldn't understand or accept that Jesus would be beaten. Also, they were surprised when they heard Magdalene say, “He is risen.” He was beyond their thinking. They couldn't comprehend Him. Their mentality can be seen clearly when Jesus took His closest disciples to Mount Tabor, and when they saw His transfiguration, they wanted to stay there in the mountaintop spiritual experience. What do these show? The disciples wanted freedom from the suppression of the Roman government, they wanted to enjoy the mountaintop experiences, they saw the miracles and supernatural experiences and thought they would walk only in those experiences. They were disappointed to see the other side of Jesus, where He submitted Himself to the Father's will to suffer. Hey friend, how do we see God in our Christian walk? Do we see Him as our protector who protects us from all suffering? Then we are on our way to disappointment. But He can help us to overcome it. The same disciples were changed when they received the Holy Spirit. When they started to see everything through the Holy Spirit, sufferings didn't affect them. They stopped playing hide and seek with it. They thought themselves blessed for enduring everything for Christ. Christ strengthened them to do so. Hey friend, what is our mentality when we go through the path of suffering? The solution lies in living not by the leading of our flesh, but by the Holy Spirit. Flesh will make us disappointed, and we will end up complaining. Dear God, thank You for the revelation You bring us. Help us to walk in the Spirit. Help us to be filled with Your Holy Spirit and His power when we face challenges and difficulties in life. May we know that the One who walked before us is victorious. Strengthen us, Lord. May we overcome the world like You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I love to decorate my house with God's Word. Especially by writing it on colour charts and pasting it on the wall was my delight when I was young. “And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates,” says Deuteronomy 6:9. Very recently, my husband shared his experience on the road when he was riding the bike. He met a young man on the way who asked for a ride. Upon accepting, the conversation between the two started, and the young man shared his story. He listened to it, and then the man stepped down from the bike when his stop was near. In a few seconds, another man stopped him and asked for a ride, and again, he too shared his story. Upon reaching home, his mind was filled with the stories of these men who were talking with him. He said how wonderful it would be if we let God's voice fill our minds like this throughout the day. No wonder the Bible asked us to talk about God's Word with each other, write it over walls, and bind it at our wrists, so that our minds can be filled with it. To walk in the Spirit, we need to give food to our spirit man and take care of it. In this way, we empower our spiritual life and defeat the flesh. With all the fascinating things happening around the world, it requires that we set a habit to keep the mobile away from us for a while and immerse ourselves in the Word of God. Hey friends, this summer holiday, let's develop meaningful hobbies as families. Let's invite and celebrate God's Word in every area of our lives. Dear God, give us the love and discipline required to grow in the knowledge of knowing You and Your ways. May Your lovely words add strength to our spirit and empower us to defeat every deceitful thought and idea that comes from the enemy. In Jesus' name, we pray, Lord. Amen.

God first introduces Himself to us as our Creator in the Bible. He creates the heaven and the earth. This was the earth He created. Verse 2 says it was formless and empty; water was there, and it was dark there. And our Creator God blessed the empty, dark earth with light. He then filled the land with all good things like plants, trees, animals, human beings, etc. God gave very special attention in creating us humans. Verse 26 says, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” God loved His creation and had great plans for all of them. He wanted the creation to live, to grow, and to multiply. He is the same God who blesses us to multiply, who has plans for us to be fruitful, who has plans to fill that which is empty in us with all good things. His special attention is still there in blessing us to have a godly generation, one that has His imprint on them. God has His own way of speaking to us and encouraging us. Hey friend, if you feel emptiness, darkness, or anything without form in your life, don’t worry. We have our Creator God who has plans to fill it with all goodness. Dear God, thank You for bringing the world we exist in into existence. Thank You, Lord, for filling the empty earth with every good living thing. Thank You for filling every womb that is waiting to be filled with Your perfect plan, which You planned for us from the beginning. You are the God who creates light in the darkness, hope in hopelessness. With You in our lives, I confess that our emptiness will not remain the same. You are our life-giving God, and we praise You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

“He said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Says Daniel 3:25. This beautiful verse is about Daniel's friends and their experience when they went through fire. Fire's nature is to consume whatever goes near it and to destroy it. But these men of God, when thrown into the fire for their faith in God, experienced something different. The fire could not kill them. They were bound and were thrown into the fire, but they walked freely in the fire. When they entered, they were bound, but the fire experience freed their hands. It is because the Son of God was with them in the fire. What was meant to do evil to them could not hurt them, but only free them out of bondage. Hey friend, in our life too, when we walk through fire, know that it is not going to be a consuming experience, but rather a redeeming experience for us. How great it is to have our God in the midst of every path we go through. He is not a God who goes through only the joyful experiences with us, but He promises to walk with us through the water and fire, in the valley, in the desert, in suffering, in loss. He was with the Israelites and helped them cross the waters. He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to go through and come out of the fire with no damage. He was with Job when he went through the deep valleys of sorrow, pain, and suffering, and He changed it as well. Throughout all our experiences in our Christian life, our only hope is that we have a God who will make us come out of everything He allows us to go through. His ever-present presence will be with us in every path. Dear God, thank You for Your presence, which never fails us. Thank You for Your presence, which protects us. Thank You for Your presence, which comforts us. Thank You, Lord, for redeeming us and restoring us. In Jesus' name, I thank You. Amen.

How pleasant it is to receive refreshing words from God to start the day. When I spend time at His presence today, God gave me a beautiful verse to behold. It says, "Listen, O Israel! Today you are about to cross the Jordan River to take over the land belonging to nations much greater and more powerful than you." It is in Deuteronomy 9:1. How He simplifies the day, the task before us, or the challenge ahead of us! And it is a word for today. When we read the following verse, we will understand the enemies they were going to face when they crossed the Jordan. The Bible calls them Anakite giants, who were strong and tall. They were famously known for the phrase that describes them: "Who can stand up to the Anakites?" (Verse 2) But God decided to make one more move for the Israelites, to move them closer to reaching the promised land. He went ahead of them like a devouring fire. God decided to subdue people who were much stronger than Israel, showing how the Israelites would conquer them. Verse 3 says: "You will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised." I love the words today and quickly in the verses that God gave us this day. Hey friend, if something ahead of you—between you and your Canaan—is too big for you to subdue, God is subduing it for you. God is going ahead of you. Let us be like Joshua and declare as he declared. Joshua said in Joshua 3:9: "Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Girgashites, and Jebusites ahead of you." Let us be like Joshua and believe that God will do it today, quickly, and surely for us. Dear God, thank You for Your wonderful, refreshing word You gave us to start the day. We believe that today is our day. We believe that we will conquer quickly. And we believe You are doing it for sure. We claim the victory in Jesus’ name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Hey friends, here is a prayer I am sharing for the children God has promised us. Strengthen your faith and declare it. He who promised is faithful to keep it and make it happen at His perfect time for us.

Our God is a God who strengthens us. With Him sending us His words, we are empowered to face everything ahead. When life brings its own set of struggles, we feel weak. But our God, the God who never changes, has a way of looking at us in a very different way—in a God way. Amidst the problems we go through, which make us feel weak, the following is one such view of God. Book of Isaiah 41:14–15 says, “Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.” When we see ourselves as not capable of facing what is ahead, God is strengthening us by saying He will make us a sharp threshing instrument that will do the impossible. God is describing us as an instrument sharp enough to thresh the mountains and make them small, and to make the hills as chaff. God says we will not only thresh our problems but make them chaff—as nothing. God will make us sharp enough to do it. He also says, “thou shalt fan them.” Once a mountain becomes dust, this is what our God is planning to do by shaping us, making us an instrument with strong teeth, before which mountains can’t stand, hills can’t stand, and will become dust. And He says, after making us do this, He will make us rejoice in Him. How great are His plans for us. Hey friend, are you facing a situation which is huge like a mountain? God says, you will blow it away like chaff. Let His voice of truth fill your mind. Dear God, thank You for the great plans You have for us. In faith, we say that what looks like a mountain will become dust that we blow away. Thank You for strengthening us and equipping us to destroy every mountain-like issue that is standing before us. We love You, Lord. May we never forget—we are strong when You are our strength. Be with us, Lord. Break mountains and hills by using us as You please, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hey friend, I am sharing my prayer of faith with you. Be encouraged in your waiting. Let God empower you and me.

In the Bible, we can see many examples of unfair war where God intervenes and helps His people. One such war is found in 2 Chronicles 14. King Asa had 300,000 warriors, whereas the enemy’s warriors were in total 1,000,000. Simply, it is mind-blowing. Asa was a king who was not quiet in times of peace. He was actively building forts, gates, and walls in his country, which shows he must have had a trained army with him. Still, he was not relying on the strength of himself, his army, his forts, or his walls against the enemy’s army. He sought the Lord to give him victory. Asa’s prayer goes as follows; it is in 2 Chronicles chapter 14 verse 11: “Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, ‘O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord our God, do not let mere men prevail against you!’” In this English version, it is written that the Lord’s help is needed for the powerless to win against the mighty. I love the Tamil version, which is too beautiful: 2 நாளாகமம் 14:11 ஆசா தன் தேவனாகிய கர்த்தரை நோக்கிக் கூப்பிட்டு: “கர்த்தாவே, பலவானுக்கும் பலமில்லாதவனுக்கும் உதவுவதில் உமக்குச் சமமானவர் யாருமில்லை; எங்கள் தேவனாகிய கர்த்தாவே, எங்களுக்கு உதவி செய்யும்; நாங்கள் உம்மைச் சார்ந்திருக்கிறோம்; உம்முடைய நாமத்தில் இந்தப் பெரும் படைக்கு விரோதமாக வந்திருக்கிறோம்; கர்த்தாவே, நீர் எங்கள் தேவன்; மனிதன் உமக்கு விரோதமாக ஜெயிக்காதபடி செய்யும்” என்றான். It says, whether strong or weak, it is You who can help to win, and it is an easy thing for You. How beautiful the prayer is. In every time in our life, whether in nothingness or in plenty, whether in strength or in weak times, help for us can come only from the Lord. The might of the Lord is so vast that we can trust Him with small or big battles. We can trust Him in our strength and in our weak moments before the enemy’s army. And he asked God to go and wage the war against his enemy. Verse 11 says, “O Lord, You are our God; do not let mere men prevail against You.” He knows the army may look mighty to him, but before God they are mere men. How did the Lord take the prayer? It is awesome to see that the Lord Himself warred against Asa’s enemy. Verse 12 says, “So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah.” Hey friend, whatever we are facing, like Asa, let us ask God to take charge of the battle. What looks mighty for us is just a mere thing before Him. Let us not trust our forts or our gates, but only the Lord. Dear God, You are mighty, not our enemy. The enemy or the situation against us may look undefeatable to our eyes. With our own strength, we cannot push them away. We cannot overpower even one or two men against us in our strength. But take our battles, Lord. We pray that You help us just as You helped King Asa. May we defeat and plunder our enemy. May the enemy run before us. May we overcome everything—every force, every plan, every power against us—with Your help and Your help alone. Lord, bring our redemption, our salvation, and our victory in Your name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

King Asa was a great king who was loved by God. His life answers many questions. Hey friend, do you wish to know how to find the Lord, how to have peace in your life, and how to have rest from all the battles? Do you know what to do when God gives you rest in your life? Let’s learn all these from King Asa. Who was Asa? What kind of king was he? Asa was the son of Abijah, and after his father’s death, he became king. One admirable thing about this king, which led to peace during his reign, is the way he sought the Lord. The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 15:17 that Asa’s heart remained completely faithful throughout his life. How was his kingdom? What about his people? 2 Chronicles 15:15 says, “They earnestly sought after God, and they found Him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.” Isn’t it clear? To be safe and to stay away from the attacks of the enemy, we must seek the Lord. Asa and his people had hearts that were willing to obey the Lord. In chapter 15, we see the prophet Azariah speaking to them. Verse 2 says, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with Him. Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you abandon Him, He will abandon you.” This was not just a message—they responded to it. Asa and his people chose to seek the Lord just as the prophet instructed. Because of this, God made a clear difference between them and those who did not seek Him. Verse 5 describes how people everywhere were in trouble. Those who did not seek the Lord were going through dark and unsafe times. Cities were fighting against cities, and nations against nations. There was confusion and unrest all around.But in contrast, verse 7 says, “But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.” While others were facing trouble, Asa and his people received reward and rest because they sought the Lord. Now the question is—when God gives us rest, what should we do with it? 2 Chronicles 14:7 gives us the answer. Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God, and He has given us peace on every side.” They did not become careless in their time of peace. Instead, they used that season to strengthen their protection. In the same way, we are in a spiritual war. Life is a battlefield every day. When the Lord gives us rest from the enemy’s attacks, it is not a time to relax without purpose—it is a time to build. We must build our spiritual walls, towers, and gates. The Bible teaches us to bind the enemy even before he comes against us. If we do not guard our lives during peaceful times, how will we stand in times of battle? So how do we protect ourselves spiritually? We pray under the covering of the blood of Jesus. We place ourselves daily under His protection. His precious blood, shed for us, is our safety. The Bible also says that the name of the Lord is a strong tower. When we remain in His name, we are secure. Our prayers, our seeking, and our surrender under His name and His blood must become our daily routine—not only in times of trouble but also in times of peace. Even when there is no visible battle ahead, we must continue building and strengthening our spiritual guard. When Asa faced war, God gave him victory. One of the important things he did after winning the war was to remove all detestable idols from the land. Then he repaired the altar and offered sacrifices to the Lord. So , not only building our fort is enough. We need to remove what we are keeping in the place God deserves in our lives. Then we should correct ourselves and offer sacrifices (offering our will) to the Lord. Dear God, build in us a heart that seeks You earnestly. May we always be actively building our walls, forts, and gates even in our times of rest. May we remove everything that should be removed from our life. May we repair it and offer a pleasing sacrifice unto you. May we be like the people of Asa, who were rewarded by You. May we experience Your protection over us in a very special way. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

God has given His word to us. We call it the Holy Bible. We are supposed to grow closer to God by loving His words. That is the way out for every situation in life. Jesus is the Word. In the Biblical times of Jesus, people gathered around Him in crowds to listen to what He says. When we read Mark 2 verse 2, it says, “So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door.” We can see people's thirst for the words of Jesus here. It is so beautiful to see four friends who wanted their friend, a paralysed man, to get healing. They wanted the powerful, healing, forgiving words of Jesus not only for them but for their paralysed friend. Paralysis will keep you in a numb state. Sometimes the person with paralysis can speak but with a weak, hoarse, or breathy voice. He is simply not in a position where he can seek help for himself. But thankfully, he had friends who carried him toward the wonderful presence of Jesus. They didn't just pray for his healing but carried him to the presence of Jesus. The Bible is not talking about the faith of the paralytic man, but in verse 5 we see Jesus appreciating his friends' faith. The verse goes like this: “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Soon we can see the people who despised the power of Jesus around them. Surprisingly, they were among the crowd which sought the word of Jesus. Hey friend, are you trying to help someone with your prayer in their paralytic state, where they are numb physically and mentally because of what they go through? Put your full effort, like those friends, into helping your friend reach the presence of Jesus. Sometimes our two-minute prayers are not enough. God expects us to remove the roof that is standing between them and Jesus. Yes, break the barriers. In New Testament days, the house roofs were made by laying branches over roof beams. Mud was packed over the branches. Clearly, it shows that the friends must have put in hard effort in breaking it. They opened it layer after layer. No matter what, they wanted healing for their paralysed friend, even if he was in a state of numbness spiritually. When people go through storms, sometimes the hardship makes them go numb spiritually. They would lack faith and energy to go to the presence of Jesus. But God has kept us in each other's lives because we need to carry each other to God's presence no matter what. God takes our friendships seriously. And God will make our paralytic friend walk and rejoice once again. In the book of Job, we can see God asking Job to pray for his friends. It is in Job chapter 42 verses 7 to 9. If we read everything about them, we can see they added no comfort to Job's heart when he was going through loss but added more grief by blaming Job for his loss. Sometimes God will ask us to pray for such friends too. But verse 10 says, “God restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave twice as much as he had before.” No matter what kind of friends we have in life, may we understand God's plan behind it and hold each other in prayer. Deliver each other through prayer. May we, as friends, draw each other closer to God. Dear God, thank you for the friends you have given in our lives. We pray that you rescue, heal, forgive, and comfort them. May we stand for each other and draw closer to you in the time of our weakness and numbness. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

God's ways are different. We went through a devastating loss of a precious life in our family in recent days. But God showed me how He protected a family. This is the family of Noah. I would like to call this family a God-proofed one. Noah obeyed God, and God protected him and his family. I learned one fascinating thing about Noah's family. Bible scholars calculate that it must have taken 75 to 120 years to build the ark that God instructed Noah to build. And till they finished it as a family, God didn't allow the flood. God was determined to keep them inside the ark, which was like a four-storeyed building, with the size of one and a half football fields. God shut their doors, and then came the floods. God has different family stories in the Bible to teach different things. Job was also a righteous man, and he lost one thing after another till he sat on the floor with nothing. Was he different from Noah? God proved that sometimes He selects people like Job to challenge the enemy. He believes them so much that He allows them to go through loss also. Job lost his house, camels, and most importantly his children. God was silent for a long time. We can see Job struggling mentally, physically, and emotionally to cope with the loss. If this is not the test of fire, what is it? But what Job says is, “After He has tested me, I will be like gold.” “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Hey friend, you know when the gold becomes pure. When it's refined, when it went through fire, the maker's reflection will be mirrored in it. Sometimes God protects our families like Noah by waiting till we enter the ark, shutting it, and keeping us away from destruction. Sometimes God, like in the case of Job, will be silent, making us go through the test of fire. But be proud—you will be an example of God's strength at the end. The enemy will see you becoming more and more powerful with His backup. If you are in Job's path, through the pain stand for God. It is indeed too painful to say, “God gave and God took away,” as Job said. But when God chooses you, He strengthens you to declare as Job declared. He knows our journey. Just like He never left Job, He will never leave us alone in the fire. https://youtu.be/9zHDlobrdZ0?si=g4K1uTYK7SiT31Vz Truth is, when God is silent, too much is happening in the other realm for you. Dear God, thank you for the times You have protected our families like Noah's family. Also, we humble ourselves when You make us go through the test of fire. Hold our feeble hands, Lord. Comfort us in Your loving arms. Be a cloud over us and our families. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

How many of us remember our salvation experience? I remember mine. I was studying my sixth standard, and my parents sent me to a student's camp at Sencottai. It was a small town in Tirunelveli district then. I was happy that my parents allowed me, with my church friends, to attend the meeting. It was like a small refreshing outing with friends. I never knew God was going to touch my life and separate me for Himself in those days. The camp started with vibrant songs. We felt like we were under the wings of the Almighty, covered by His presence. No other thought came to our minds. They taught us about the Good News which has transformative power. We can see Paul writing about the same in Colossians chapter 1 verse 6: “This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace.” How true is the above verse. How much change it brought to my mind. I was someone who was usually drawn towards worldly music at that young age. But when God touched me, He touched my tongue like how He touched the prophet Isaiah. I separated myself unto Him, devoting myself to get rid of these unclean attractions. God sent not just the Good News. It is Good News which entered my heart like a fire with transformative power. When it touched me and transformed me, how could I hold it within myself alone? I shared the joy with my friends, with whomever I encountered, even though I am an introvert. My close circle would clearly know that I have become more joyful. How is it possible to live a life pleasing to God? When we get salvation, we can pray for it as Paul prayed in verse 9. It says, “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honour and please the Lord.” Hey friend, when the Good News transformed Saul into Paul, he became unstoppable in sharing, spreading, and preaching the Good News to everyone. In 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 17, he says as follows: “If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.” God is trusting all of us who know what salvation is with the same trust. Let us understand the depth of our calling and do accordingly. Dear God, thank you for the powerful Good News that we have a Saviour in Jesus Christ from the sinful life. We have tasted the transformative power of it. Help us to also live a life that does Your will and grow in You every day in a way that is pleasing unto You. Use us, Lord. Use our generation as well to share Your Good News with the world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Is Waiting on God Easy? Those who wait know the tough fight they are in right now. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” I like the Tamil version better here: நெடுங்காலமாய்க் காத்திருக்குதல் இருதயத்தை இளைக்கப்பண்ணும். Yes, waiting makes the heart weary. Waiting is supposed to be filled with praise, but in reality, it is also filled with questions like, "Am I waiting for years because God has forgotten me, or because God is angry with me?"But trust me: when God makes you wait, He is more concerned about you than ever. God is more pleased with you in your waiting. He knows your struggle; He knows how weary it is. And one day, when God reveals to you why He made you wait so long, the answer will be to glorify His name through your waiting. When Hannah waited on God, what happened to her? God gave her Samuel, the prophet of the whole nation of Israel—the nation trembled before him. He was mighty before the people of God. They looked to him to get God's guidance. Many young women waited for the promise of the Messiah's birth to be fulfilled through them. When God chose Mary, He said the words, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). https://youtube.com/shorts/3zhupRslopM?si=Ndp5MkTyPJT_UrGP Hey, friend—for each of us who are waiting on God for one blessing or another—God is calling us the highly favored ones. And like Mary, we will praise God for remembering us. Most importantly, remember: God is with you in this fight, in this wait. https://youtu.be/JY7ixjP5bzg?si=ixcsjcUeZOMIgI3w Dear God, In our waiting, we confess that we are highly favored, with whom our God's presence is there. Strengthen our weary hearts, dear Lord, and may we never forget that You never forget us. You are the God who remembered Noah in his waiting, the God who remembered Hannah in her waiting. In Jesus' name we thank You, Lord. Amen.

When we were children, whom did we seek when we were hungry? Obviously, it is our mother. They put their care, love, and heart in what they prepare to feed their kids. Mothers take care of the nutrition a child needs. The Bible talks about God raising children by nourishing them with good food. It is in Isaiah chapter 1, verses 2 and 3: “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” The chapter goes on and on, telling how sad God feels when we go against Him. How can we go against Him? Through backsliding, by sinning against Him. How God nourishes us is with good food—by giving us a good church, fellowship, godly friends, and our daily manna. But Israel, when given everything, rebelled against Him by falling into sin and drifting away from Him. When I work in college, I always want to give the students the best class possible from my end. And when I see some who are mindless of it, when they rebel as they do sometimes, I have really felt sad. And I make sure I correct the rebellious nature in them. Hey friend, it is not only about getting the nutrition that God gives, but it is also about how we respond when receiving that. How grateful are we? How mindful are we in growing up with the nutrition we got? Are we giving the right fruits to God? Is God happy with our lives? God is so loving when He feeds us, but He is also a Father who corrects us. May we, our children, and our generation be found faithful and never a rebellious one against Him. Dear God, give us the love and gratefulness to live a life of truth for You. May we always love You with the fear of God. May we and our generation always bring joy and not sadness unto Your heart. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Isaiah 62:3 says, “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” I found this beautiful verse in an unlikely place. Yes, it was a rainy day in November, and the roads were chilling after the cool rain. The breeze was cool around us. I was traveling with my husband on his bike. I was thoroughly surprised when I saw a garbage-collecting vehicle loaded with garbage that had this verse pasted on the left corner of the vehicle. It put a huge smile on my face. How beautiful God’s Word is. How much beauty it adds unto us. The garbage man was busy doing his work, and God’s Word was adding more beauty to the whole thing he was doing. I understood one thing: the work we do on earth may look great or poor in someone’s eyes, but when we are with God, He adds beauty to our soul every day. Even though the garbage man was looking like a poor guy with no standing in society’s eyes, he was a royal diadem in God’s hand. How undeserving we are to receive the abundant love of God. And surely God’s Kingdom is for such people who are humble in the world’s eyes but priceless in God’s eyes. Look at the life of poor Lazarus. He was living a poor life while the rich man was enjoying his luxury. But God decided to comfort him in heaven, whereas the rich man, who never cared about God during his lifetime, ended in hell. This brings me to another person who had a small shoe-repairing space near a popular gold shop in Nanganallur, Chennai. It was a contrast to see his humble space near the glittering golden shop. When we had a talk with him, the passion he had for God was remarkable. God was immensely glorified in this man’s life. He told us that whoever comes and talks to him in a day, he makes sure he talks something about Jesus to them. He showed us the pamphlets he keeps in his place. He talked about the care cells he goes to as a prayer cell leader. How great it is to know that God is building His heavenly Kingdom through people who have very humble standards in the world but are extremely rich and beautiful in God’s sight. Hey friend, how do we treat the poor and humble? Can we see how honourable they are in God’s eyes? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:27: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” Simply put, the way God looks at people and the way God chooses people is different. It is wonderful to see His great hands and plans at work through humble, simple, and poor hands. Dear God, may we always be poor in spirit, carrying the humility we need to be used to build Your heavenly Kingdom. May we have a heart to honour and look at people through Your eyes. Fill us with Your will, with Your way of seeing things and people around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. This verse has a lot to tell about God. It says for us, God is the strength. Secondly, it says He is our ever-present help in trouble. Life must have taught us this one lesson: not everyone who says that they will be there for us is good, but only those who stay when we are in trouble are our true people. But people have their limits and cannot be there for us even if they wish to be so. It was a busy morning where roads were chilling after the cool rain that drenched them a few hours back. As it was a Friday, my morning was busy as usual with cleaning, cooking, and getting ready. When I got ready, my husband got an immediate call to be at work. So I told him I would take care of my journey to my workplace. I have a strict rule when it comes to signing in on time because of the work policy in my workplace. I got ready on time, went out to the road, and booked Ola as it was an emergency need. The driver called me and confirmed. Then again, he called me requesting the route. And then again, he called me requesting landmarks. I clearly understood he couldn't pick me up on time. I was beginning to get tensed when he finally called and requested me to cancel the ride. I started to walk towards my workplace, which I couldn’t reach even if I walked for 45 minutes. I couldn’t think much; I couldn’t even think clearly, but I just kept walking. Before I could even say a prayer about it, I saw a woman wearing a similar uniform like mine stopping her bike and looking at me. I couldn’t believe my eyes and was wondering whether she might help. When I went closer, she introduced herself as my colleague from the same campus, and she invited me to ride with her. I quickly said “yes.” Then she started talking, saying she usually crosses that road earlier but today she was late and found me. I was thoroughly surprised at how God extended His helping hand to me through this woman. Isn’t it very true that God orchestrates our life from behind? Isn’t it true that God is an ever-present help in trouble? She was a Christ-loving woman, and she was happy that she helped me, and we both reached our campus on time. Hey friend, you want to know what I learnt from this incident that happened to me? God is watching us every minute of our life. He knows where we travel, where we stay. He knows our moves. He knows our needs even before we express them to Him. He knows when we are tensed and can’t keep our mind clear. He knows, He helps, He calms us. He makes sure that we don’t stand anywhere helpless. He makes sure that we are helped all the time in every little thing. He cares about every tiny detail of our life. Are we not too blessed to have this God as our Father, as our caretaker? Dear Father, thank You for being there for us. We are grateful that we have a Father who is truly our ever-present help in trouble. We love You, dear Lord. Help us to always be reassured that our lives, with its twists and turns, rest in Your hand—the One who cares, watches, and protects us all the time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

How was the desert experience for the Israelites? They never had a settled life. They were moving, travelling from one place to another. For all their needs they relied on God; they found no other supplier in the desert to satisfy their needs. Naturally, everyday supplies were not available in the desert. It was a season devoid of that. They were living in freedom under the kingship of God. Numerous questions must have been in their minds. The answer for all this lies in Exodus 13 verse 17. It says, when the king of Egypt let the people go, God did not take them by the road that goes up to the coast to Philistia, although it was the shortest way. God thought, I don’t want people to change their minds and return to Egypt when they see that they are going to have a fight. Instead, He led them in a roundabout way through the desert towards the Red Sea. God is someone who sees the big picture. When He allows a path which is devoid of any pleasure or abundance, which is even dry, He has His own reasons to protect us from the slavery of Egypt. The God who is the God in the season of the desert is the God who will also lead us through the season of abundance. When we question the path, we should surrender our thoughts to God who knows everything. The answer lies in His hand. The challenge for us is to trust and hold His hand and face everything that is ahead of us. As in this season He will show up as clouds, as fire, as water, and the wind that breaks through and makes the way through the Red Sea; as the power that destroys the walls of Jericho; as the King of kings who makes us defeat kings; as the provider who gives manna and quail every day. Simply, He will show up as the God who makes the impossible possible. Sounds exciting, right? The path is difficult, but we have the way maker who is going before us. He makes sure we reach the promised land and not go back to the slave land of Egypt. Dear God, thank you for your goodness. We believe in you in all seasons. Thank you for working out miracles after miracles for us in everything. You are our provider and protector. You will bring us to the promised land. We praise you for everything you allow in our lives. May we hold your hand and walk through everything. In Jesus’ name we thank you. Amen.

When in a teaching profession, we can do our work effectively if we have students who love to learn from us. When I did my studies in college, I was always passionate to learn from my professors. The world of literature amazed me. I loved to hold their hand and enjoy that world as they explained each and everything. In life, we feel encouraged and appreciated when someone listens to us. Some used to say you can earn respect and cannot demand it. Here in the Bible, in Exodus 3:18 and 21, God talks with Moses. Moses didn’t want to lead Israel when God gave the call, as he thought they would not listen to him. Such a situation can be really painful—being in a leadership position and not being listened to by anyone. But immediately, God gave him help. He said in verse 18, “ My people will listen to what you say to them.” And in verse 21, God said, “I will make the Egyptians respect you.” After reading it, I understood it is God who makes people listen to us, and people respect us. It is not just about us earning or commanding it from them . When God appoints us with a task, He empowers us; He gives us power over others’ ability to listen or respect us. Hey friend, whatever task is in front of us, when it is He who appointed us for the task, He makes people listen to us or respect us. Take the lead and do not be afraid. May the God of Moses, who calls and equips us, be with us. Dear God, thank you for the authority you give us when you appoint us. We bless your name, Lord. May You strengthen us to do Your will like You strengthened Moses. May we be used by You to bring redemption to many. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

For a few days, God helped me to meditate on this particular passage about Joseph in Genesis chapter 49, verses 22 to 24: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a wall; The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.” Joseph was deeply loved by his father, and the father gave him a multicoloured dress, which added to the envy that his brothers had for him. When I watch old Jesus movies or movies about Moses, Jacob, and Abraham, I used to wonder why it wasn’t so colourful. All of them wore plain-coloured dresses. Later, I came to know that the dye which could add colour to clothes was considered a luxury in those days. They treated it as we treat gold now — simply expensive. The brothers envied the love Joseph received from his father and the vision he received from God. The above-mentioned verses say the archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him, and hated him. It means they attacked him for no reason. I read about an African man who spent almost a lifetime in prison because of a wrong accusation. Joseph went through prison life, a life of slavery for years together. It was so tough that it grieved him. But the beautiful truth behind all these is the hand of God, which was with him, strengthened him, and made him strong. The Bible says in the story of David, when he lost his wife and his people in a war, he cried bitterly and strengthened himself in the Lord. That is one story. But here, we see God coming to aid, comfort, heal the broken heart, and strengthen Joseph, raising him mightily with His mighty hand. We all know the integrity Joseph showed towards God, and God showed His faithfulness to Joseph. Hey friend, are you experiencing a similar situation where people hate and attack you for the love you receive or for the vision you are believing? The God of Joseph — the one who never leaves, the one who strengthens your arms, the one who is going to raise you with His mighty hands — is with you. Dear God, thank You for Your loving presence, which we long to be in always. Thank You for being a God who strengthens Your chosen, the ones You have called. May Your presence be with us. May Your mighty hand strengthen our arms. We praise You because You will help us rise above every challenging situation we are facing. Be with us, dear Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase,” says Job 8:7. After Joseph died, a Pharaoh rose up and tried to afflict the children of Israel. As a ruler, all his vision for the children of Israel was giving them a lower life as slaves. What was God's vision for them? God raised Moses, made Pharaoh's daughter to eradicate Pharaoh’s plans with his own hand. Isn't it true and incredibly real when God says, no weapon formed against these shall prosper? Pharaohs around us can have their own plans to put an end to our growth. But God, without their knowledge, works through them to bring us salvation. Literally, Pharaoh raised his own enemy and the leader of God's army. Pharaoh made him learn the Egyptian art of fighting. He wanted a slave but unknowingly raised a prince. Moses fled and was in his uncle Jethro's house. God intervened in the normal life of Moses in an extraordinary way and caught his attention toward His greater plan. When Moses struggled to believe the calling in him, God was envisioning him leading the people out of Israel. Verse 12 says, “And He said, ‘I will certainly be with you, and this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’” Immediately, we see Moses speaking all of his negative points. Still, as readers or believers, we know the ending. Till today, we see a great nation, Israel, before our eyes. Hey friend, the vision we have for our future, our calling, our family, and our career can never be compared to what God has envisioned for us. When we struggle to find a breakthrough, He is envisioning us giving a breakthrough to many; in Moses' case, it was for the whole nation. Hey friend, are we having a challenging situation in our family? Can we ask God for a heart that trusts Him like a child? Like Abraham, a heart that believed the blessing of a nation coming through him? For our understanding, we may see the blocks, the reasons before us saying that God can, but maybe not through me. No, dear reader, when God chose Moses, it was him only. He is able to finish what He started in us as in Philippians 1:6: “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Dear God, thank you for the vision you have for us, thank you for the hope you have for us. When we see ourselves as slaves, you see us as a thriving nation that you can use to do mighty wonders in the world. Strengthen our faith, dear Lord, we believe everything in our life has a wonderful ending in your hands. Thank you, Lord, for your plans and visions. We trust and commit ourselves to you, Father. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

A man of gratefulness, a man of prayer, a man of vision, a man of humility, and a man passionate about God—all these come to my mind when I think about my dad, Sobitharaj. My dad Sobitharaj lived for 54 beautiful years, and on October 19, 2015, he went to be with the Lord. October 20 was one of the heaviest days I have ever endured. Yesterday, while reading my Bible, God reminded me of him — of how he inspired me to love the Word. I received salvation when I was in the sixth standard, and from that moment, the Bible became the most cherished book of my life. Every detail in it stirred countless questions within me, and my dad was always there to answer them. Those answers were pure revelations from God, not from the internet — for back then, such a thing didn’t even exist. When Pastor Arulraj (from Chennai) once prayed for my dad, he laid his anointed hand upon him and said, “Can we find anyone like this man [Joseph], a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” — Genesis 41:38. My dad truly walked with the Lord. He never had a day without prayer or Bible reading. He never asked me to read the Bible every day — I simply saw his life, and I couldn’t resist following his path out of my own interest and admiration. This Sunday, when my pastor was preaching, he spoke about how God has different angels assigned for different works — like the angels mentioned in the book of Revelation. He said we can, in Jesus’ name, ask such angels to wait before they pour out their assignments upon us. Immediately, a memory of my dad came to mind — one that he had also written in his diary. In that diary entry, he shared this: while writing for the Jesus Calls Ministries, he saw dark clouds approaching. Seeing this, he spoke with authority and said, “I am the servant of the Lord God. I ask you to wait until I finish His work here.” Instantly, the clouds dissolved. He completed his work peacefully and left the place. That story always makes me wonder — amidst all the challenges we face each day, how powerful it would be if we lived with that same understanding of the authority we have in Christ! How great it would be if we refused to drown in the depths of our trials, choosing instead to rise in the strength and authority of God. Hey friend, are you going through grief? A day will come when God will wipe away your tears and bless the sweet memories you have of your dear one. And never forget WE WILL MEET THEM AGAIN Dear God, I pray for everyone who has lost someone in their life. May You comfort them just as You have comforted us. May Your presence be with them. Release them from their burdened hearts, Lord. Let them find a friend, dad, mom, son, or anyone they have lost in You. Only You can understand them and help them heal, Father. We love You, Lord, for Your comforting, ever-loving, everlasting presence. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.