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David was pursued by Saul for what may have been around ten years. Saul was after killing David. Saul was after cutting short the plan of God for David. There was no king before Saul in the land, and when so much power was bestowed on a person for the first time over people in Israel’s history, Saul became obsessed over it. He never understood that God can give and God can take away. And here, poor David was hunted by him for being anointed by Samuel in his place as the king of Israel. David was having the anointing to rule Israel. But he was hunted like an animal for ten years at least. In those days, the promises were there with David, the favour of the Lord was there. Simply, the Lord Himself was with him. Yet he ran for his life every day. The weight of the calling never went easy on him. It was heavy. What gave him strength to stand through it all? The answer is in Psalm 18:1: it is the love for the Lord. God saw his heart when He anointed David. And after Saul was no longer there to pursue him, David sang Psalm 18. Still, his heart was after loving the Lord his God. When he ran against Goliath, he was having the same love for the Lord, and he went against Goliath by keeping the Lord as His strength. Through all battles, from the time of being a shepherd, then during the slaying of Goliath, and during the time of rest from the enemy, David remained the same in loving the Lord. The ten years of pain never changed anything. Instead, it added more fuel to the love he had for the Lord. It is true that Saul was after David, the enemy was after David, isn’t it very true that the Spirit of the Lord was protecting David for ten years? Isn’t it true that the Spirit of the Lord delivered David from his enemy? As much as the enemy tried to kill him, isn’t it true that God was fiercely keeping David alive and made His promises come true by making him king over Israel? I understood one thing: as much as the enemy is after destroying your anointing, the words that are spoken into you to rest over your head by the Lord, the Lord, with all His might, is on your side, fighting for you, protecting you, delivering you, and is going to fulfil His promises unto you. David says in Psalm 18, He saved us from the cords of death, He shatters our enemy, He drew us out of deep waters, rescues us from our powerful enemy, from those who are stronger than us. The one who ran away now says, “You have made me the head of nations; people I did not know are subject to me,” in verse 43. God did it for him. Wouldn't He fulfill his promises unto us? The anointing didn't remove the wilderness. The promise didn't remove the pain. The calling didn't remove the waiting. But God's presence never left him. Hey friend, God anoints us, He strengthens us. Though the lost years look great before us, like David, God will make us say that He has done what He has promised unto me. Dear God, we trust You in our waiting, we trust You when we are not able to see the end, we trust You in the midst of war. You are the faithful God. Like David, we will say, “Who is like our Lord?” We love You, Lord. You are our strength. Thank You for giving us victory over our enemy. We know that in all these years, You protected us, never failed us, and never left us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

One of the most beautiful things I love about our God is His heart for the poor. It can be evidently seen in Isaiah 25, verses 4 and 5. The verses go like this: “But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.” How true when the Bible says He is the helper of the helpless. When we look back, many good people were in our lives for a season and must have left. But the One who was with us throughout all the difficulties and challenges is The Great I Am. The above verses clearly talk about Him being a tower of refuge for the poor. This surely will change our perspective on people who have no shelter, no roof over their heads. Yes, the Lord Himself is their shelter. And God knows how the cold and heat are going to affect them. He knows the harsh reality and says He is their refuge. What is a home? It is a place where we have a sense of belonging. Can a house give us that? Certainly not. Our safe Home is the Lord. These verses certainly flashed the memories of days when God has been my continuous help during the extreme harshness of life's weather. Looking back, not one moment did He leave me alone to face it. It is true that I might have run away from Him for a while. But He was rooted for me. Hey friend, He is our Home, He is our Shelter, He is our tower of refuge. May we always know that He is welcoming us back into His arms as we pour out our hearts like Hannah, as we surrender like Jacob, as we cry and repent like Peter. The same God who turns and fights against the enemy with might is the same God who protects us gently and holds out His hands gently. Verse 5 says He silences the roar of nations; He stills the boastful songs of people against us. Verse 2 says He turns mighty cities into heaps of ruin. But He is cool shade for the poor, for the helpless. He cares enough that the heat does not bother them, that the storm does not suppress them, and that the distress does not crush them. Dear God, You are our mighty Savior, You are our gentle Father, You are our Home. In You, we are being protected from everything that is coming against us. You are our cool shade. Thank You for Your care, dear Father. May we always remember to come home and know and be assured that You are for us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Two things can happen when the Lord lives among us. Judgement and restoration. Zephaniah 3:5 talks about the Lord staying in the midst of rebellious and polluted Jerusalem. What was the nature of the Jerusalem that God was talking about at the beginning of the chapter? It was rebellious and polluted. It was filled with violence and crime. It refused all correction, and it didn't trust the Lord. The leaders of the city, the judges of the city, the prophets, and the priests lived for their own gain, hurt the innocent, and never had the fear of God in them. Verse 5 says, "But the Lord is still in the city." The rest of the verses talk about the fierce judgment Jerusalem received from the hand of God. Today, when I was listening to a message, I was stunned to hear a pastor saying, "In a Christian walk, you may not have signed up for suffering, but I am sure you signed up for sanctification." And sanctification will happen through suffering. God Himself worked on the rebellious, haughty Jerusalem to bring it back on track. In verse 11 God says, "I will remove all the proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no more haughtiness on My holy mountain." God brought down His judgments and purified His people by living in the midst of them. How true it is when the Bible says, "The Lord detests the proud." It is in Proverbs 16:5. Dear friend, we expect blessing after blessing when we feel that the Lord is in the midst of us. But the Lord puts us through sanctification before He lifts us. He purifies our speech, as in verse 9: "Then I will purify the speech of all peoples." The rest of the verses, from verses 11 to 20, are so beautiful and talk about how God blesses the nation, the city, and the people who are sanctified to be humble before Him. The sanctified people trusted the Lord. They did no wrong, they stopped lying and deceiving, they were not afraid of anyone, and they slept in safety. And now comes the beautiful moment where the prophet calls the people of God to rejoice and dance, as the Lord is going to live in the midst of them. This time, it's not about judgment. This time it is to clear away the disaster, to wipe away the tears, to get rid of the enemies and the trouble. This time it is to comfort those who mourn, this time to protect His people from disgrace, this time to remove mockery and shame from His people, this time to bring them back to their home, to their God, this time to give them a good name, a name of distinction, and finally, this time to restore the fortunes of His people before the very eyes of their enemies. Yes, dear people of God, are you tired of the suffering that you are going through? Are you fed up with the discipline you are receiving? It is the Lord who purifies, and again, it is the Lord who comforts. He is in the midst of us through the suffering, through the sanctification, and throughout the restoration. Dear God, We thank You for who You are to us. May we humble ourselves when You correct us. May we be sanctified in our speech. Remove every unholy thing in us, dear Lord. May we be assured of every promise that You are going to fulfill for us. Thank You for the hopeful future You have for us. Thank You for the days of restoration that are not far away. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God the One and Only "I'll wait as long as He says. Everything I need comes from Him. So why not?" says David in Psalm 62 (The Message Bible). This verse is again repeated to add emphasis to the never-changing nature of God, on whom we can rely, put our trust, and wait. Why should we trust God like that? David says He is his Rock. David was a man who had braved bears, lions, Saul, the Philistines, and Goliath with God's help. Where was he running when he was under search and attack by Saul? He hid himself in hills, rocks, and mountains: the Cave of Adullam, the Forest of Hereth, the Wilderness of Ziph, Maon, En Gedi, and the Hill of Hachilah. Scholars say that David was running like this for almost 7 to 10 years. So, he uses this imagery. The Message Bible describes God as David's "granite strength." It is in verses 7 and 8: "My help and glory are in God—granite strength and safe harbor God." What is granite? Granite is one of the hardest and strongest rocks in God's creation. It does not crack or wear away easily. It can withstand heat, rain, wind, and storms for millions of years. Because of its strength, it is used to build strong buildings, bridges, monuments, and foundations that last for generations. Granite can carry great weight without breaking, making it a symbol of strength, stability, and endurance. These are the qualities of a rock that was in God's creation. When David calls God his Rock, how much more could He be for him? How much stability we have in God. How strong a foundation there is for us in the Lord. Isn't it amazing that we have Someone awesome in whom we can wait? Yes, why not? We will wait. David thus says God is his hope in his waiting. He knows salvation is very sure in the Lord. He knows God will protect him and his generations. Even under severe pressure, it is He who will hold him. He can brave any season when God is his help. David is so firm in his faith that he asks again, "So why not?" Waiting was not a burden to him when he knew on whom he was waiting. He knew that God would never, ever fail him when he put his expectation on Him and waited for Him to redeem, waited for Him to save. Hey, friend, is God the center of your waiting? As long as He is your anchor, He is your granite, He is your Rock, salvation is very near. The prolonged seasons of waiting cannot wear us down as long as we wait on Him—God, the One and Only. Prayer Dear God, thank You for Your love. You have helped us overcome the challenges in the past. You will help us face what is ahead. You are our Rock, our firm foundation, and our trust for generations. We will wait for You, Lord, with firm trust. We confess that our expectations come from You. You are our Rock. In Jesus' name, we thank You. Amen.

Isn't it so wonderful when we receive a "Yes" from God for our prayers unto Him? And how do we react when we get a "No" for our prayers? Hmm... sometimes I have been very much disappointed with God for rejecting my plea. Yes, sometimes the "No" hurts. But God taught me some valuable lessons from people who reacted in another way to the "No's" they received from Him. I was reading the Bible with my husband, and we were discussing the same. The topic was about David. David was so excited and grateful to the Lord that He had made him king over Israel. He loved God so much that he wanted to build a temple for the Lord. When the prophet Nathan heard it, he appreciated the thought, but after enquiring of the Lord about the same, he came back with a different answer—not a favorable one. But David humbled himself before the Lord and submitted himself to His will. 2 Samuel 7:12–14 says: "When you die and join your ancestors, I will make one of your sons the next king, and I will set up his kingdom. He will build a house for Me, and I will let his kingdom rule forever. I will be his Father, and he will be my son." After hearing this, David never murmured. He humbled himself and thanked God for revealing what was in the future and for being so kind to him. The "No" never stopped him from gathering everything that his son would need to build the temple. The "No" never stopped his love for the Lord. This message came to me when I was pondering the many losses I have had in my life. Yes, we have so many unanswered questions. So many "why's." Then God shifted my mind to look at how He changed my own plans for my life when I was about to enter my college days. I then regretted it and cried so much because my dream was no longer there, and God had replaced it with something else. But if you ask me to go back and reverse the past toward the dreams I once had for myself, I would never, ever do that. God fulfilled His purpose beautifully by literally destroying what I wanted for my life. That one incident is enough to let me know that He thinks only the best and most excellent things for me. Hey friend, are you worried or sad that God said "No" to your choices, your wishes, or your dreams? Yes, it is hard to pay the price for our calling. But remember, ten years from today, five years, or maybe even two years from today, when you look back, you will see how good God has been to you by not giving a straight "Yes" to all your pleas. When the devil brings before us another imagined reality, do not sin in your mind. Know that we can never have a better plan than being rooted in God's plan. Let us learn from David to be humble when receiving the "No." Cry it out if that is what you want to do, but know that you and your future lie safe as long as you are in His hands. In the Bible, we see no one described as a man after God's own heart more than David. God sees our hearts too. May God call us daughters and sons after His own heart. May we allow Him to write our stories. May His will be done. Dear God, thank You for writing our stories. May we never write our own chapters. If given a chance, may we still write, "Let Your will be done." We are Yours, Lord. May You be immensely glorified in our choices. May we continue to choose You over everything. We thank You for all the "No's," for all the tears, for all the broken dreams and wishes. In Jesus' name we pray and give thanks. Amen.

Isn't it a privilege to be born and raised in a family that knows and teaches Jesus? It is one of the greatest privileges, writes J.C. Ryle, the 1800s author known for his deep, uncompromising teaching. He has written a book called Holiness, and there he mentions a chapter titled A Woman to Be Remembered. I was expecting to read about Hannah, Deborah, or Esther in that chapter, but surprisingly, I found Lot's wife there. The Bible does not give us much of a story about Lot's wife. But how was her beginning and ending? If we look closely, she lived very close to Abraham, the father of faith. Lot lived with Abraham before moving to Sodom and Gomorrah. In those days, they never had the Bible. But God selected the privileged family of Abraham to know Him personally. I can't even comprehend God reaching out to a family to reveal who He is. She began like Jacob, David, and Peter but ended like Esau, Saul, and Judas Iscariot. Staying much closer to Jesus, yet not knowing Him. That really scared me. Ryle says she was like Mr. Facing-both-ways, a character in John Bunyan's book. She wanted God and also the world. God took her looking back so seriously and took away all that( her life) He had given her in a second. How disastrous. Was looking back really such a big sin to be punished? A crack in the wall of a house points to a problem much deeper. It says the foundation is shaken. Our God is a jealous God. He is not going to take it lightly if we replace Him with riches, or with any man, any woman, success, or anything else. Ryle says, "Little things will often show the state of a man's mind even better than the great ones. Little symptoms are often the signs of deadly and incurable disease." Turning to look back, even while holding the angel who directed them to move forward, was a grave mistake by Lot's wife. Hey friends, most of us are privileged to know God, surrounded by everything about Him. But are we able to make our life all about Him? Is He given the priority? Are we ready to sacrifice our own will for Him? Or are we longingly looking back at the things God willingly took away from us? When the Bible talks about Lot's wife, it uses the word "Remember." It means we can never forget what she did and what really happened to her. Remember to be careful and remove the problem when the sign first shows up. How dangerous it is to walk closely with Jesus and have a heart that can betray Him at the same time. The fatal end of both Judas and Lot's wife was immediate. They died in their sin. I don't see a story of redemption there. "Remember Lot's wife." — Luke 17:32. Let's settle it firmly in our minds. Dear God, Thank You for raising us in a God-fearing family. Protect us from every wilful sin that leads to total destruction. May we look forward and move towards the mountain. May we move towards You, leaving behind everything that tries to hold us back. We submit our heart, our mind, and our body to be covered and sealed to fulfil Your will and Your purpose for us. May we never take lightly the things that can remove Your grace from us. Protect us, dear Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Have you felt that the things happening to you are unfair? Then you are not alone. But from where can we get the strength to move on? Verse 1 from Hebrews 12 guides us: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." What a profound statement. I felt the beauty of this verse when I met my grandpa in the beautiful Sencottai, a place known for its lovely weather. It is also the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He has now crossed 85 and is living with his lovely daughter, who is alone after losing her dear husband. After spending my day with the family, experiencing the bond they have for each other and the love they showered on me, I asked my grandpa to pray for me. He quietly said the following words, as gently as a person who had braved life's storms. He said, "Suffering will come into our lives. But when someone is going through suffering, will they accept it when we say it is for good? It will not make sense to them." He continued, "See, I have lost my two sons and a son-in-law. You losing your dad was unexpected. It was sudden. Did we ever expect things like that would happen? Yes, life is hard. When Joseph was going through all his suffering and unfairness, was it easy for him to believe that God had a purpose? But we know the ending. So whenever something bad happens to you, keep in mind that something good is there even in the suffering." I have not felt so much peace as I did after I had that conversation with him. I thought, if my grandpa can find peace and strength to move on after the losses he has faced in life, then God would make it possible for me too. I lost my dear little Moriah baby when she or he was just 17 weeks in my womb, whom we conceived after nine years. I understood that when God strengthened my grandpa's weary heart, He would strengthen mine too. Hey friend, if you are going through the unfair treatment of life, if you are facing losses that you are not able to come to terms with, look at the people around us—the great cloud of witnesses. God helped them move forward. Even after so many heartbreaking losses, they are still running the race that is set before them. They are running with perseverance. Dear God, thank You for surrounding us with such a great cloud of witnesses. May our hearts be strengthened, healed, comforted, and able to move on and run the race that is set before us with Your help. Be with us, Lord. You have been the hope of our ancestors, and You are our hope. In faith, I say You will be the hope of my generations after generations. Build us again, Lord. Heal and mend what is broken. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

It was a God moment for me when I read Hebrews 11. It strengthened me to overcome my tiredness. The first verse goes like this: "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." What a verse. It holds a timeless message about God, who strengthened people's faith. Yes, it's not about the people; it's about Him who strengthens our faith. What has God done for the people as in Hebrews 11? He helped Abel bring an acceptable offering. He helped Noah build an impossible boat to save his family. He helped Abraham believe that he would have an inheritance. He helped Sarah believe and have the child of promise. He helped Abraham receive his son back from death. He helped Joseph believe that his bones would go to the Promised Land. He strengthened Moses' parents to disobey the king's order to protect baby Moses. He helped Moses flee from the pleasure of sin and the privilege of being called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He helped Moses not fear the king. He helped Moses keep his eyes on Him who is invisible. He helped the Israelites sprinkle the blood of the lamb on their doorposts to protect their children. He helped the Israelites cross the Red Sea. He saved Rahab from destruction. He made Jericho fall before the people of Israel. He helped people overthrow kingdoms. He helped people receive the promises that He gave them. He helped Daniel by shutting the lions' mouths. He quenched the fire to protect Daniel's friends. Yes, it is He. Our God did this. He also helped some go through torture( persecution). He strengthened His people to stand bravely in the face of death. He placed the hope of resurrection in their hearts. Persecution, death, mistreatment, and cruelty could not stand before the God who strengthened His people to face them. Why is it God who did it? The Bible says He is the Author of our faith. He is behind our trust, our faith in Him, and in His promises. Whatever He has promised is secure in Him. Be it good or bad, high or low, plenty or nothing, in every season He is with us, helping us hold on to Him. Dear God, how blessed we are to have You in every step of our faith. Through You, we declare that we will offer the offering that pleases You. We will do the impossible when You guide us with Your plans. We will have an inheritance. We will have the child of promise at the appointed time. We will see our sons and daughters protected by Your blood. We declare, like Joseph, that our generation will walk in God's promises. We will stand unshaken and protect our families like Moses' parents. We will flee from the pleasures of the world. We will not chase privileged titles. Our steps will be guided not by the world but by the invisible King. We will see the barriers and walls before us fall. We will cross the Red Sea before us. We will be saved from destruction like Rahab. We will overthrow kingdoms. We will walk quietly even when lions surround us. We will not be consumed in the fire. We will believe You when our faith is challenged. We will stand for You with the hope of resurrection. We will receive our loved ones whom we have given over to death (in heaven). In faith we say, Lord, You did it for Abel, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Rahab, and Noah. You will do it for us. Do it again, Lord. Do it for us. Do it through us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

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.