வேதப் பகுதி மத்தேயு 25 : 1 - 13. புத்தியில்லாதவர்கள் புத்தியுள்ளவர்களை நோக்கி: உங்கள் எண்ணெயில் எங்களுக்குக் கொஞ்சங்கொடுங்கள், எங்கள் தீவட்டிகள் அணைந்துபோகிறதே என்றார்கள். புத்தியுள்ளவர்கள் பிரதியுத்தரமாக: அப்படியல்ல, எங்களுக்கும் உங்களுக்கும் போதாமலிராதபடி, நீங்கள் விற்கிறவர்களிடத்திற் போய், உங்களுக்காக வாங்கிக்கொள்ளுங்கள் என்றார்கள். புத்தியுள்ள வாழ்க்கையை எப்படி வாழ்வது என்பதை பத்து கன்னிகைகளின் உவமையிலிருந்து காணலாம். பிறருக்கு கொடுத்து வாழ்வதை வேதம் சிறப்புற பாராட்டுவதை வேதத்தின் பல இடங்களில் நாம் கண்டிருக்கிறோம். மாறாக இங்கு தனக்குரியதை தனக்கு தேவையாக இருக்கும் நேரத்தில் மணவாளனுக்கு காத்திருக்கும் பரிசுத்த பெண்கள் (புத்தி இல்லாதவர்கள் இடமிருந்து) தங்களுடையதைக் காத்துக் கொள்வதை இந்த பத்து கன்னிகைகளின் உவமையில் நாம் காணலாம். இவர்கள் புத்தியுள்ளவர்கள் என்று வேதம் இவர்களை பாராட்டுகிறது! தேவனுடைய வருகைக்கு காத்திருக்கும் நாம் எதிர்பாராத நேரத்தில் ஒரு வேளை,நாம் உறங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் நேரத்தில் தேவன் வரும் பட்சத்தில் நாம் புத்தியுள்ள ஸ்திரீகளாய் ஆயத்தமாய் இருக்கிறோமா ?ஒரு நிமிட ஜெபம் ஒரு நிமிடம் ஆவியில் நிறைதல் அதே நேரம் 3 மணி நேரம் செல்போனில் கழித்தல் என இருப்பது எந்த விதத்திலும் நமக்கு உதவப் போவதில்லை. சமையல் செய்தாலும் வண்டியில் வேலைக்கு சென்று கொண்டிருந்தாலும் தேவனோடு பேசிக் கொண்டிருங்கள். அவரோடு சஞ்சரியுங்கள். புத்தியுள்ள பெண்களோடு ஐக்கியமாய் இருங்கள். உங்களில் உள்ள அக்கினியை அபிஷேகத்தை அவித்து போடாது,அனல் மூட்டி எழுப்பிக் கொண்டே இருங்கள். கைவிடப்பட்டவர்களாய் எவரும் மாறிவிடாதபடிக்கு பிறரையும் ஆயத்தப்படுத்துங்கள். ஜெபம்: அன்புள்ள இயேசப்பா கொடுத்தலில் புத்தி உள்ளவர்களாக இருக்க எப்பொழுதும் ஆவியில் அனலாய் இருந்து ஆயத்தமாயிருக்க எங்களுக்கு உதவுங்க. புத்தியுள்ள பெண்களோடு எங்களுக்கு சிறந்த ஐக்கியத்தை தாருங்க. இயேசுவின் நாமத்தில் பிதாவே ஆமென்.

"பெரும்பாடுள்ள ஸ்திரீ" என்று வேதம் குறிப்பிடும் ஸ்திரீயினுடைய வேதனையை நம்மில் அநேகரால் புரிந்து கொள்ள முடியும். இந்த ஸ்திரியிடம் இருந்து ஒரு விஷேஷித்த குணத்தை நாம் கற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம். "தன் வாழ்க்கை போராட்டம் மாறியே ஆக வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணமும் அதற்கான விடாமுயற்சியுமே அது". மத்தேயு ஒன்பதாம் அதிகாரம் வசனம் 21 இவ்வாறாக சொல்லுகிறது:நான் அவருடைய வஸ்திரத்தையாகிலும் தொட்டால் சுத்தமாவேன் என்று தன் உள்ளத்திலே எண்ணிக் கொண்டு அவர் பின்னாலே வந்து அவர் வஸ்திரத்தை தொட்டாள் . அன்பான தோழியே, வாழ்வின் நெருக்கத்திற்கும், துன்பத்திற்கும், மாறவே வாய்ப்பில்லை என்கிற உறவுகளுக்கும் நாம் பழகிவிட்டோமா? அப்படி இருப்பதினால் நமக்கு எந்த தீர்வும் வரப்போவதில்லை. இன்றே கிறிஸ்துவை தொட்டு உங்கள் சுகத்தை, சுகவாழ்வைப் பெற தீர்மானியுங்கள். நீர் என்னை ஆசீர்வதித்தால் ஒழிய உம்மை நான் போக விடேன் என்று கூறி அவரை தொடுங்கள். அவர் இரங்குவார். நம்மை பார்த்தும் "மகளே திடன் கொள் உன் விசுவாசம் உன்னை ரட்சித்தது" என்பார். அது எத்தனை வருடமாக இருந்தாலும் அதை நீக்கி நமக்கு புது வாழ்வு தருவார். ஜெபத்தை விடாதீர்கள் அவரைப் பிடித்துக் கொண்டு உங்களுக்கான விடுதலை வாழ்வை பெற்று அனுபவியுங்கள். அன்புள்ள இயேசுவே, எந்தவித பெரிய பாடுகளையும் நீர் நீக்க வல்லவர் என்று நம்பி உம்முடைய வஸ்திரத்தை நாங்கள் தொடுகிறோம். உம்மையே நம்பி இருக்கிறோம். எல்லா பாடுகளையும் நீர் மாற்றத்தொடங்கிவிட்டதற்காக நன்றி. இயேசுவின் நாமத்தில் ஆமென்.

கர்த்தருடைய நாமம் மகிமைப்படுவதாக. பெண்கள் விடுதலையோடு வாழ்வதை குறித்து இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவிற்கு கரிசனை இருந்ததா? அதன் விடையைக் காண என்னுடன் வாருங்கள். நாம் பயணிக்கலாம் இந்த அற்புதமான லூக்கா 13-ஆம் அதிகாரத்தினுள். அன்று இயேசு கிறிஸ்து ஜெப ஆலயத்தில் போதகம் செய்து கொண்டிருந்தார். இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவின் மனதுருக்கம் நிறைந்த பார்வை 18 வருடங்களாக பிசாசினால் பலவீனப்படுத்தப்பட்டு நிமிரக்கூடாது கூனியாய் இருந்த பெண்ணின் மேல் பட்டது. நிமிரக்கூடாத பெண் எதைக் கண்டிருப்பாள்? மண்ணையும் தரையையும் தானே! இயேசு தொட்ட பொழுது அவள் வாழ்வே மலர்ந்தது. அப்பொழுது அவள் கண்டது எல்லாவற்றிலும் மேலானவரான இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவின் முகத்தை. அருமைதோழியே, மண்ணானவைகளை, மண்ணுக்குரியவைகளை(வாழ்வின் பிரச்சனைகளை) சிந்தித்து மேலானவைகளை நோக்க கூடாது பிசாசினால் கூனியாக்கப்பட்டு குறுகி நிற்கிறோமோ?வருடங்கள் எத்தனை அப்படி சென்றிருந்தாலும் தேவன் உனக்கு குறித்த வாழ்க்கை அதுவல்ல. இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவின் தொடுதலுக்கு வந்துவிடும் பொழுது, அவர் மேலான அவரது முகத்தை காண விடுதலையாய் துதிக்க நம்மை விடுவிக்கிறார். தோழியே சமையலறை, வேலை ஸ்தலம் என்று நாம் எங்கு இருந்தாலும்,எத்தனை வருடம் அதனுள் புழுங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்க போகிறோம்?. நாம் எங்கிருந்தாலும்(எந்தப் பாவ கட்டினுள் இருந்தாலும்) விடுதலை வாழ்க்கைக்கு அழைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறோம். வசனம் 13-ல் சொல்லி இருக்கிறபடி அவர் தொடும்படி அவர் அருகில் வருவோம் அவர் முகத்தைக் காண்போம். 13 - அவள்மேல் தமது கைகளை வைத்தார்; உடனே அவள்நிமிர்ந்து, தேவனை மகிமைப்படுத்தினாள். நிமிர்ந்து தேவனை மகிமை மகிமைப்படுத்துவோம். பாடி கொண்டாடுவோம். மேலானவரை சொந்தமாக்கி கொள்ளுவோம். அன்புள்ள இயேசுவே, விடுதலையாய் உமக்காய் வாழ என் எல்லா பலவீனங்களையும் நீக்கும். உம்முடைய முகத்தைக் காண உம்மை துதித்து மகிழ்ச்சியின்,விடுதலையின் நாட்களை அனுபவிக்க என்னை தொட்டருளும். இயேசுவின் நாமத்தில் ஆமென்.

Have you loved someone with all your heart? You must have! Have you hated and bullied someone with all your heart? Thankfully, the second statement is not possible for all. In most cases, one who was treated badly or bullied by someone will end up as a bully himself. The soldiers bullied Jesus. In Matthew 27, verse 41 says, "The chief priests, elders of the law, and the elders mocked him." Verse 44 says, "In the same way, the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him." There is no evidence of love in the whole scenario except for Jesus. But God lifted him from death, and in Chapter 28, verse 2, it says, "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men." Where is the courage of the bullies now? Why can't they hurt, insult the mighty being? They insulted, tortured, and killed a man; now they were shaken and became like dead men. This is just the introduction to the whole scenario of Jesus Christ's Resurrection. In verse 18, he says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me... And surely I am with you always to the very end of age. "Hey friend, are you afraid of people and the way they threaten you and ill-treat you, whoever they may be? We are with the resurrected Jesus, who is mightier and more powerful than anyone in this whole world. Walk before the bully like you are walking with the lion, the lion of Judah. No power or authority is bigger than him. He is the great and mighty one, and we are his children. We ought to face our everyday with his power, with his might. Dear Jesus, strengthen us to stand relentless before bullies who are trying to crush us. Let them see your powerful angels and your powerful presence with us. Whoever tries to bind us will be stood like dead as we walk with the lion of Judah beside us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Whenever life throws challenges our way, how do we react? Here is Prophet Jeremiah bringing his case to God about wicked men who cause him trouble. The reply from God is astonishing; in Jeremiah 12:5, God said, "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?" For most of us, the path set before us in this race of life is not easy. God clearly knows that. He allows such challenges so that we will soon be competing with horses and not just men, and winning over them. The vision God has for us is too big. The stumbling blocks in our lives toward blessing, the financial crises that crush us, the cunning men and women who manipulate and control—these are just part of the race with men. Instead of whining, ask God for strength to stay strong amidst this. He is Yahweh who broke the walls of Jericho, the God who fed the widow's household by blessing her oil, and the God who overthrew Pharaoh who tried to control the Israelites. Be it any struggle, run to God for strength. He gives us strength not just to race with men but with horses. Dear God, thank you for filling us with your anointing to face every struggle in our race. May we not grow depressed by our circumstances, but may we look unto you, as our help is from you. Thank you for strengthening us and helping us, Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Some people still find the truth behind the cross as not relatable. Questions might arise as to how the blood Jesus shed on the cross is the remedy for their sin. Most of us are familiar with blood donations, and some of us have done the same. When my husband went to donate his blood on his birthday, I asked my mom, "If it is an emergency, why are they waiting for blood instead of using the blood that was stored in blood banks?" To which my mom said, "No, for patients who are critical, they need fresh blood; only then can we save that life." Like that, to cleanse our sin, a blameless blood needs to be shed (not any blood is enough like animal blood). Who can be blameless but God (Jesus)? So, he came by himself and gave his blood to save our souls. He is the pure sacrifice to save the souls from the impurities of sin. Even today, tribals in some places have the practice of shedding the blood of infants as it is innocent blood. But the sacrifice is already done for every human that was born, that is living, and those who will come in the future. No more bloodshed is needed. Our only duty is to accept the blood to save our souls. That is why it is called salvation. The Bible in Romans 5:9 says, "By His( Jesus') sacrificial death, we are now put right with God." You might ask, "Why should I care about God? Or about my sin?" It is because we are not just the body. We are living in there, and we have our soul which will live forever. It is eternal. So we need an eternal place to live. It is our life on earth which decides where we spend our eternity. Heaven or Hell. Seek God, my friend, make Him your friend. None of us deserve Hell. It is not a place for us. But, the denial of salvation will lead us there as there is no salvation except through the blood of God. By receiving that, we are being cleansed and will spend eternity in the Holy place, Heaven with the Most Holy One. Make your decision. We have one life and one savior. Dear God, open our eyes to see and receive your salvation. May we get saved and be a part of the eternal life that you will offer us. May none we know on earth die without knowing you and the salvation on the cross. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Who needs power? Kings, soldiers, or sportspersons? The Bible calls us all of that. Corinthians 1:18-31 says, "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." We all have our souls, which are being nourished by God's word. The message about the cross adds strength to our spiritual man, the real us. When we feel hopeless or lacking strength inside us, meditate on the cross. Sing of the power we receive by the blood of Christ. My dad used to say, "Whenever we are strong in our spirit, evil spirits will run away when we just turn and look." Build your inner man's muscles. Take care of your Bible study and your personal time with God. How much God loved us to love us when we were still sinners, and how great he has loved us to redeem us with his own blood. Rebecca Brown, in her book, said she has this habit of covering the new houses whenever she shifts to with the blood of Jesus Christ. She takes a bottle of oil, prays, and applies it to all her doors. Yes, it has all the power to destroy every darkness in our lives. Rejoice, my friend, as we have everything we need in Jesus. Sing, "பாக்கிய நாள் பாக்கிய நாள்!இயேசு என் பாவம் தீர்த்த நாள்". Dear Jesus, thank you for the power of the cross, for the power of your blood. Thank you for the salvation. May we celebrate the freedom you have given every day. In Jesus' name, we thank. Amen.

A joyous scene can be seen in Revelation 19:7-9. It says, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." We must have seen people getting ready for marriage; they will make sure to keep the bride and groom in good health. They will work to present themselves as worthy of each other in every way on the day of marriage. God is calling us the bride. His bride is made beautiful by the cleansing of sins by the blood of the lamb. God has given His bride more power than the bride (us, the church) may know. Imagine a man: His head is the symbol Husband, that is God; His body is the church, that is the bride. Under the power of them lies Satan. In Genesis 3, God says, "He shall bruise your head." So under Christ lies Satan as he won him over at the cross. We, the body of Christ, are standing over the crushed head of Satan when we are connected with Him. Hallelujah! Our commitment to stay united with Christ is the key to staying over the evil powers and beings. One important warning to the born-again Christian is that we, as the body of Christ, are the bride. We should be united in the body, that is the church. As in Hebrews 10:25, "Let us not give up Meeting Together, as Some are in The Habit of Doing, but let us Encourage one Another." Dear friend, you are more powerful than every evil power in this world. I encourage you to be part of the body of Christ, that is the church, to live a victorious life. Dear God, thank you for the cross, thank you for your victory there. Thank you for making us your bride. Thank you for crushing the power of evil under your feet. May we always live a life of victory over sin by being united with you as your bride. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in the highest heaven!” says Matthew 21:9. What a glorious, joyful day for all on that day. The followers of Jesus would have been overjoyed. They must have thought Jesus is about to launch his kingship on earth. They will rule earth. But soon they found themselves scattering away from him. They saw Jesus carrying the cross. Hey friend, we are also facing joyful moments which make us think life is great when Jesus is blessing us with such moments. But Christian life is also about taking the cross. The cross is the symbol of death. The most painful memories of every one of us is about losing someone. But when we decide to follow Christ, we are deciding to lose ourselves. How does that sound? Terrible, right? But we will find Jesus when we lose ourselves. Our everyday Christian walk is not only about happy processions alone. Since Christ has bought us with a price, we must remember that we are in a battlefield every day. To guard our salvation. Resist every temptation. Train your whole body under the rule of Christ. When the enemy sees Jesus in us and not us anymore, the battle is won. Dear God, as David says in Psalms 144:1, "Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle." Train our hands, Father, for the war that is set before us. May you grow larger in us and we less. We commit our lives to your hands. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The teachings of Christ are very pleasant to read, but one has to submit humbly to fulfill them. Have we ever thought that we want to become big, powerful in the world? The disciples of Jesus had disputes over that. On hearing that, Jesus showed the contrast between the worldly way and the godly way of leadership. In this world, the one who has authority is the leader, but for God, the leader is someone who serves. In Luke 22 verse 27, Jesus asks: "For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? But I am among you as one who serves." Often, if we remember these words when we are in a position to serve somewhere even when we do not like, we can clearly see Jesus serving alongside us. Then we will know it is joyful to serve like the son of God. And when we understand this, we will not crave to receive respect or honor from people, young or old, rich or poor. We will care only about serving. Next time when your ego rises up saying, "He didn't respect me," or "She didn't respect me," curb it, put it in its place, and ask, when Jesus is someone who is with people who serve, who am I to raise myself to seek respect? Kill your struggling self and let your self serve along with the Christ in you . Dear God, we pray for us to see your presence along with us whenever we serve. And when we are being served, let us know Christ is honoring them by being with them. Help us to curb our ego when it tries to create chaos by seeking to be respected or lifted in families, among friends, or even in public places. May we know and feel that you are close with us when we humble ourselves. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

We call our nation Mother India. Similarly, the city Jerusalem in the Bible is referred to as "She". The villages around the city Jerusalem are called Daughters of Jerusalem. It is a Hebrew idiom. Luke 22 verse 27 says, "A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him." But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."It can be taken into two different meanings. One is that the people rejected the hope (Messiah), so Jesus is telling them to pray for themselves and their generation. Another interpretation is Jesus calling the followers to pray for themselves, the daughters, and the villages around Jerusalem. As followers of Jesus, we ought to pray for our Mother India. We are soon facing elections. However difficult the situation seems, with God there is always hope. It is our duty to believe that God will give us a righteous government and pray for our Mother India. We are called by the Lord, as in the following verse, to turn from our wicked ways and pray and seek His face. God will forgive our sins and remember the whole nation. "2 Corinthians 7:14: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. INDIA needs good advisors; our nation needs guidance. Pray that there is no lack of guidance and advice for India. "For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers" (Prov. 11:14). Pray that this election result should not try to suppress the truth but should propel it forward. The resulting government should be a catalyst in spreading the truth throughout the country. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). Pray for the parties, people in power, Election commissions, Judges that there should be no selfish ambition in them. If there is any disorder and evil practices by any of them, pray that in Jesus' name it should be powerless. "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice" (James 3:16). "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1) Our nation has been torn already; we are living in a different India now where no one can live freely. May God give our nation some comfort. God's plan for us is not destruction but of hope. May God bless the future of India. May the people get comfort from Him. "He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.” (verse 23-24) Pray that God destroys every evil ruler who stands against His Gospel, His name. Let them end up like chaff. Let them know that they are mere men. Matthew 21:44 says, "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." Let people who raise themselves against the name of Yeshua know that it is not just another stone. It is the foundation of the world itself. It can never be uprooted by mere men. Dear God, we pray for our mother INDIA. We humble ourselves and ask you to cleanse our sins and remember our nation. Heal our land, dear Lord, and Comfort our people. Give us leaders who are led by your guidance and advice. May this election pave the way for the truth to spread in each and every corner of our nation. Wither everything that needs to be withered from our nation. Lord, uproot all the evil practices, malpractices in the election processes. You are the king of the kings and the Lord of the Lords; we pray that your mighty hand come over our nation and heal our land. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Pilate is considered a man who didn't act responsibly when Jesus was given to him by the Jews. When he talked with Jesus, he immediately understood there was no basis or reason to crucify him. When he heard the Jews say, "He claimed to be the Son of God" (In Verse 7, Chapter 29 from Luke), he was even more afraid to kill Jesus. He took Jesus out with the crown of thorns and went out to the crowd and asked, as in verse 15, "Shall I crucify your king?" For that, the chief priest answered, "We have no king but Caesar." How pitiful it is. It was very true that the people of God were led by blind men who can't see the truth before them. They denied Jesus the king and crucified him. And they willingly surrendered to Caesar, who is their real oppressor and enslaving them. I wonder what these priests were reading when they read about the prophecies on the Messiah. They had their own idea about redemption and wanted to have their own way in getting their Messiah, not the real Messiah. In the Old Testament, we can see the people of Israel rejecting God to be their king and wanting a man to rule them as a king. They wanted to be a normal nation ruled by a man, not a supernatural nation ruled by God. What do we desire today? A normal life ruled by our own wishes or a life supernaturally submitted unto the King of Kings' rule? Only there lies the real freedom. Are we still saying the one who is ruling the world is the king of our lives, like how the Jews then said? By saying so, we are subjecting ourselves to bondage and slavery. Are we letting Jesus be our king? Are we opening our eyes to the word, to the prophecies, and are we meditating and reading it to understand the truth in it? Or are we simply letting our own small understanding, egos, or self-desires drift us away from God? It is of no use for the priests to be priests if they are not able to recognize their true king. Even when they denied God, Pilate wrote, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," over the cross of Jesus. Pilate refused to change it as he was asked to change, as Jesus claimed to be the King of Jews. God even used Pilate to proclaim that Jesus is the King of Jews. May we not wait to hear from our enemy Satan to reveal that Jesus is the real king. But may we willingly submit unto His kingship. Dear God, be the king over our lives. We confess that we have no king over our lives but Jesus, the Lord alone. May we have open eyes to see your glory. May we have a clear vision to see your plan for us in faith. May we never willingly submit under any worldly power (that is from the evil one) when you are our king. May we live a life of freedom by submitting under your rule. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

A year ago, I was attending a meeting where the esteemed ex-DGP Ravi gave a speech on women. He was quietly listening to everyone (who were talking before his speech) when they told men should stand for women. Then he took the stage and said, "It is women who should be bold and stand for themselves." How true his words were. I have always admired when women are bold and make a mark with their living. The Bible talks about brave women with the newness (Christ-likeness) that they got in themselves. Let us look at the New Testament women who can teach us a lot. Can a Godly woman do business and succeed? Here is the example of Lydia. She was from Thyatira. She was a seller of purple. She was introduced to the Gospel by Paul. Verse 14 says, "She was a woman who worshiped God, and the Lord opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying." After she and the people of her house were baptized, she invited us, "Come and stay in my house if you have decided that I am a true believer in the Lord." And she persuaded us to go. She was quite a marvelous woman who persuaded the man of God to trust her faith, and she had a place good enough for them to stay. The key to her remarkable life is that she let God open her mind to the word of God. Can a woman preach God's word? A lot of people think this is a controversial question. Look at Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea, the port of Corinth. In Romans 16:1-2, Paul says of her, "Phoebe our sister, who is the servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also." Next time when we see a woman who works for the Lord, let's us remember Paul's words and honor their service unto the Lord and assist them when they are in need of us. Meet another quiet, lovely New (a woman in Christ) woman. This is Tabitha, the widow woman who was raised by Peter to life. Not everyone can understand the struggle of widows. The Bible praises and adores this woman of God who displayed nothing but generosity! She was praised for her alms-deeds and good works. She presented nice dresses which she herself made to the women around her. (Acts 9:36 to 43). She was undoubtedly loved and cherished by many. Here is a mother who was praised by Paul for raising her child by providing not only delicious food but scriptures: it is Eunice, the mother of Timothy. Her husband was a Greek. (2 Timothy 3:15). Paul says of her son as follows: "Ever since you were a child, you have known the holy scriptures." She was praised by Paul for her faith. Are we teaching our kids about scriptures? Are they growing with sound knowledge of God's word? Do they know what salvation, eternity, anointing are? God has entrusted us with the children to raise them to be His generation. May we not get deceived by worldly music and stories and pass it to them. They deserve to know God; our children deserve a godly mother and a godly upbringing. Can people like Paul look at us and say that we have given our children scriptures from their young age? Meet this woman called Priscilla, who is always mentioned along with her husband. Paul can't talk about them separately as a man and a woman. He appreciated them as one, as a couple. This couple sets an example for us to serve God as husband and wife together. May God give us wisdom like Priscilla to do the work of the Lord with the godly husband that God has given to each of us. May we not stop by enjoying only family outings and tours, but may the men of God see us together in doing God's work. Dear God, bless us like Lydia to do successful businesses. May we provide shelter for Godly people. May our minds be open to the word of God like hers. May we work for the Lord, like Phoebe labor for Christ, and honor every woman who works for you. May we be like Tabitha, who is remembered for her love in giving others good gifts. May we use our skills to make others joyful. Bless us to be like Priscilla, who was always mentioned along with her husband in serving the Lord. May we be mothers like the mother of Timothy, who raise children with scriptures from their very young age. And above all we thank you for giving us godly mother, grand ma, sister, friends and women of God who continuously inspiring us to live for you . In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

It is really good to feel secure in the Lord. In truth, whether we feel it or not, when we walk in God's ways, we are secure in the Lord. But, as humans, when we go through loss after loss or any separation from a loved one, we end up feeling that we are being forsaken. The same was felt by King David in Psalm 22. We can see David crying desperately for help from God; he was surrounded by his enemies. In verse 8, he is talking about people who question him. Verse 8 says, "You relied on the Lord," they say, "why doesn't he save you? If the Lord likes you, why doesn't he help you?" Such questions have the power to make us feel insecure. These were not only the words of David but the prophecies about Jesus. Jesus utters the same words when he is on the cross: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" is in Matthew 27:45. It is a helpless statement. But when we look at the life of Jesus, He went through suffering only to get glorified. Since he went through the momentary separation from God because of the burden of sins he carried for us. Now sin cannot seperate us from God. As we have saviour in Christ. The path of suffering is real for all, but through it all, we have a God who can understand our fragile feelings, doubts, and insecurities and help us to get through it. Whenever life brings challenges, know that they too will pass. Night( which might look like an year or so) will go away, and joy will be back in the morning. There can never be hopelessness for anyone who believes in Jesus. Go to His feet, my friend; He never ignores or abandons anyone who seeks Him. One thing we tend to do when we feel forsaken is to not go to God; our only hope is in Him. His presence can satisfy every need in our heart. Someone once beautifully said, "No separation is greater than His presence is able to bridge." The only answer for any insecurity is His Presence. Talk to Him; He will satisfy you. Dear God, may we always remember that we have you by our side in every time of our lives. Though we feel it or not, you are present. Help us not to ignore sitting in your presence when we feel helpless. May you strengthen us and comfort us. In Jesus' name, we pray.

Darkness appeared over the place where Christ was crucified by noon time. It was like nighttime. Some said beautifully that it is the symbol of how nature mourned for Jesus. The soldiers around Jesus were clearly evil. They hurt, humiliated, and tortured him to death. They surely were living in darkness, and there is no light in them. John 12:24 to 26 says, "Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives." Jesus did not fight to keep his life. He was determined to save many sinners. How marvelous is the love of God that he loved sinners and gave himself for them. Mark 15 verse 38 says, "The army officer who was standing there in front of the cross saw how Jesus had died. 'This man was really the son of God!' he said." This proves the following verse, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." Isaiah 9:8. The Roman soldier saw the light, the salvation, the son of God when he saw the death of Christ. Hey friend, are you praying for someone to be saved? God's love and grace are so big and beyond comprehension to save the chief sinners of sinners. Or if you are living in guilt, know that Christ loved you when you were a sinner. May you know that His love for you is unquenchable. And to those who have already seen the light (son of God), spread the light, shine brightly for His glory. Dear God, thank you for your love that you have shown us in the cross, which no one can give us, the sinners. May we live in light and overcome every darkness. May we live by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

We are living in an era where we see people spending uncountable amounts to celebrate weddings. Money plays the game almost everywhere, sadly, even in families. What is the end of someone when they keep money as an idol and trade anyone for that? We are now talking about Judas, the disciple of Jesus. Mark 14 verses 10 and 11 say, "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. They were pleased to hear what he had to say and promised to give him money. So Judas started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them." "Hey friend, we might think, how can someone trade Jesus for money? He must be a fool. Now let's analyze whether we are trading our friendships or relationships inside our family for money. Is money playing a crucial role in us deciding whom we are giving more importance in life? Is money the deciding factor which says who we will betray next? Beware, we are in no way better than Judas if we love or prioritize someone based on money. Jesus came as a poor man, not a rich man. Jesus himself threw that identity away and was born to poor parents. He is not asking us to accept him because he is a rich God. Don't be deceived; the love for money will make us trade God himself. Decide whom you will serve: God or money? Dear God, give us a heart to love you and serve in the midst of our financial needs or crisis. May our hearts be fixed on you for the love of you. May we never prioritize anyone in our lives for the money they have. May our hearts be filled with compassion and move towards the poor people like how yours went. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

One of the great sins against God, as mentioned by C.S. Lewis in his book "Mere Christianity," is "Pride". It is good to be proud of a good father. But if you are proud because someone is your father and think you are superior because of that, then the problem begins says Lewis. Jesus humbled himself to the core on the cross. He never boasted about his authority or His father when he went through humiliation. In Mark 15, we can see him being beaten by the Roman soldiers to whom he had done no wrong. They spat on him and took his clothes from him. We can never imagine putting ourselves there. It is clearly a nightmare. But he endured and humbled himself to go through the path of suffering, pain, and humiliation. Hey friend, we all should be going through some kind of humiliation, pain, or suffering in some areas of our life or at one point in life. May we learn from Jesus to humble ourselves through such a path. And we know for sure no one can go through the humiliation that Jesus went through for us. When you squeeze a rotten tomato, you will get a sauce with a foul smell. When we are being squeezed or crushed, let not the rotten pride come out; may the humility come out. Dear God, give us patience when we are targeted and humiliated for no reason. Help us to learn from you to have humility. May we be proud of your name being lifted in our lives and nothing else. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

One of the popular things about our times is fitness. We care about it a lot. Being fit is many people's New Year's resolution itself. Persistence matters when we want to become fit. We go to a particular place,do particular exercise be it walking, cycling to train ourselves. We completely change what we eat to get fit in body. Here in his letters to Ephesians 4 Paul talks about staying fit in our inner selves. In verse 14 Paul says, "I ask God, from the wealth of His glory, to give you power through his spirit to be strong in your inner selves." Being strong in our inner selves makes us do spiritual things( like loving God and living by His words) with more efficiency. God's word is the food for our souls. May we practice fitness for our souls by trying to be in God's presence every day (eating God's manna). A clue that we have been made strong in our inner selves is that we will obey the Holy Spirit. Can we keep our diet properly or are we consuming everything we see on the internet every day? Do we have a place to exercise and develop muscles in our spirit? Verse 17 says, "I pray that Christ will make his home in your heart through faith." By taking care of our inner selves, we are giving a prime place for Jesus to rule our hearts. Hey friend, we have one life, one heart. May we keep it clean, fit, and may we train our inner man every day. Dear God, we commit our lives to you. Strengthen our inner man, Lord. May we overcome every temptation every day by submitting ourselves to your Holy Spirit. May Jesus make our heart his home. May he always find it a happy place. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

We are living a very busy life, with more commitments, worries, and burdens, some even with guilt. We are in very much of a need of refreshment. So where can we find it? Nowhere but at the feet of the cross. All the grace and mercy we need to carry us through our days are in the cross. How can we inherit such refreshing? Acts 3 verse 19 says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Peter said the above verse when he addressed his fellow Israelites who crucified Christ. How good our God is! He is extending grace and mercy to everyone, even to the one who crucified him. Hey Friend, do you know Jesus? And are you living with a guilt that you hurt him with your sinful ways? There is a way for everyone in Jesus. No big sin can separate from God unless you let it do so. Take guard, my friend. Take control. Repentyour sins, commit your life to God. As C.S. Lewis says, "Have a clear understanding that there is no option but to live a sinless life. This is like a compulsory question in an exam. If you try answering it, at least you will get some marks. But leaving it will make you end up in Zero. Make your choice wisely, my friend. Offer yourself to God to stay sinless. God will help you to keep your commitment to Him. No matter how slow or small your progress is, don't lose heart, and be assured that God is by your side, encouraging you to fight a good fight." Dear God, we commit our lives into your merciful hands. Forgive our sins, dear Lord. May we shun our sinful ways and strive to keep our commitment unto you. May our mind understand that for us, the children of Christ, we have only one way to live. That is to live like the Son of God. Strengthen us, dear Lord. We love you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Are we someone who concerns about cleanliness a lot? The Bible talks about someone who valued being ritually clean even if their heart sought to kill someone. This can be seen in John 18. When the Jewish authorities went to Pilate to ask him for permission to kill Jesus, verse 28 says, "The Jewish authorities did not go inside the palace, for they wanted to keep themselves ritually clean."They were so ignorant that they could not even see the prophecies on the Messiah being fulfilled before their own eyes. Pilate, in verse 35, says it was the chief priest who handed Jesus over to Pilate. The priest had every access to read and meditate on the word of God. But the priest and the people failed God by focusing on keeping themselves ritually clean and killing the innocent blood at the same time. Hey friend, are we able to see everything happening around us or everybody in our lives in the light of God? Are we able to recognize God's word? May God protect us from being ritually clean and killing innocents while reading God's word. Dear God, open our hearts and eyes to know you in the way you want us to. May we understand your heart. May the light of your word help us recognize you and your people. May we never fight and kill each other like ignorant people. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Long before I read a book where the author talked about his heavenly experiences with Jesus. There, he wrote an incident like the following: He was taken to a meeting where Satan was discussing hurting God's people and His church. And the angel who stood near the author said, "Look what is going to happen now," and whispered the name of Jesus. When the name was uttered, Satan fell from his throne. He was baffled. No matter how far the plans of the devil were against us, he deserves no throne to rule the world or our lives, when the name of Jesus, who suffered for us on the cross, rules over us. In John 12, after submitting himself to suffer for God's will, Jesus said in verse 31, "Now the ruler of this world will be overthrown." Every time when you submit to do God's will, we are throwing the devil away from ruling over our lives. How powerful our submission could be! Dear God, help us to submit unto you in every area of life. And may you always reign over us and may we not succumb to the rule of the devil. May our submission to you overthrow him from being in throne in anywhere in our lives, be it in our house, work, or elsewhere. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Hebrews 10:6 says, "You do not want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me." This verse is about the body of Messiah/Jesus Christ. The Bible says, when the Jewish people sacrificed for God, they did that as just a faint outline of good things to come, that is, the sacrifice of Christ. It is good to enjoy life. At the same time, we have been called by God to take the grace he has shown in the cross seriously. The Bible warns us not to sin again and again willingly. Verse 28 says, "Anyone who disobeys the Law of Moses is put to death without any mercy when judged guilty from the evidence of two or more witnesses." What, then, of those who despise the Son of God? Who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God's covenant which purified them from sin? This is not just another story to be ignored. This is the only way to live in peace with God. We have one life to live and one way to heaven. May we listen and obey the Lord when we still have time here. As people who have accepted Christ, we are more accountable for our sinful action than any. May we not live Christianity by fighting for one single argument and leaving the rest. May God give us wisdom to know the ways of Christ and follow Him fully in this one life of ours on this planet Earth. In the same chapter, the way to live wisely is written. It says we have to write or keep God's commandments written in our heart; then, it says we ought not to leave the fellowship of believers, that is, the church. And finally, we have to encourage each other to stand for Christ. Dear Father, give us grace, power, strength to live according to your words. May we not ever consider the sacrifice of Christ as least. May we guard our salvation with trembling. May we never ignore the church gathering. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Yes, it is true that we are called to live for Jesus. The meaning of the statement is dying for our sin. We have received salvation from the cross, which we receive by His grace. And Paul says, after receiving Christ it is time for a life of action. Only then, a person starts living for God. The importance of Baptism, the symbol of us receiving the new life, is described by Paul in Romans 6 verses 4 and 5. We ought to receive baptism when we are with clear understanding and taking the decision to follow Christ with our own mind. By doing that, we are dying for Christ and living for Him. We shouldn't be ashamed of it as any religious duty or man-made practice. Most importantly, this is not about joining a denomination. It is from God. It should be done for the sake of living for Christ. By doing so, we are leaving our old self at the feet of the cross and walking as a Freeman. Only those who were once in darkness know the value of light. The Bible says, all of us were sinners and all of us are in need for salvation, all of us deserve a free life, a life that is freed from darkness. Paul strictly asks us to dedicate our bodies unto God. In Romans 6 verse 12, he says, Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self. We are not now slaves to sin to obey it. We are rulers in Christ to overpower it. Stay strong, my friend, take the authority that you have over sin in your hand. You are a new man or woman in Christ. You are not a slave to sin but the son or the daughter of the Most High, Most holy God. Dear God, thank you for the truths you have given us in the Bible. May we live as free men and women. May we walk in power and authority that comes through the name of Christ. May we never dare to talk or think ill of a baptism that is taken from a clear consciousness of a person by himself. May we live according to our calling in Christ. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Can we pray for an hour every day, or simply can we pray every day? Jesus, when he was surrendering himself to suffer on the cross, went and prayed. Luke 22:43 says, "An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. In great anguish, he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Our God took our sin and paid for it with his blood. Now we are asked just to live for Him. Pray unto Him, Read His word. Look at Jesus, he prayed more fervently when he went towards the cross. The angel came and strengthened Him. Now how are we praying? Some of us can't pray. Whatever situation we are in, may we always remember Jesus paid for it to redeem us from it. Rise up, my friend, pray and be an angel for someone who can't pray. Strengthen them to pray. Pray fervently, pray for an hour or more. Dear God, when you look at us from heaven, may you always find us praying to you. May we never be found lacking in prayer. May all the laziness move away as you send your angels to strengthen us to pray more fervently. May the Holy Spirit help us to pray through everything. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

The prayer of Jesus: The Father God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, for us, and the Son bought us all with His blood. Every day we are being transformed into His image. Here is the way our dear Lord Jesus prayed for us,(inJohn 17)His disciples. May the Holy Spirit help us to pray as Jesus prayed for us. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for saying this prayer for us. We now look up to the Father and give glory to Him. We praise you for having authority over all mankind. Thank you for giving eternal life to those who accept your name. Thank you, Jesus, for letting us know you, the only true God. Thank you, Jesus, for finishing the work that the Lord had given you. And we praise you as you will strengthen us to finish the work you have given us. We praise you, Lord Jesus, for your matchless glory. We praise you for the messages you have given us as the word of the Lord. May we cherish it with all our heart. May we receive it with all our heart. Dear Lord, thank you for lovingly telling us that we are your everything. May you be our everything, Lord Jesus, just as we are to you. We praise you for keeping us safe by the power of your name. Thank you for protecting us without getting lost. Dear Jesus, bless us always with the fullness of joy in our hearts. Though we are not of the world, you are keeping us safe from the evil one. We praise you for your divine protection, dear Lord. May we dedicate ourselves completely unto you and your truth. Help us to be one, Lord. May nothing in this world, such as ethnicity, nationality, caste, class, color, or denomination, separate us. May we be one in you, dear Father, as Jesus was with you. Thank you, Jesus, for coming for us. Thank you, dear Father, for loving us and sending your Son for us. Dear Jesus, may we always be with you, seeing your glory. Thank you, dear Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for letting us know you. May the love the Father has for the Son be in us. May Jesus reside in us always as the Holy Spirit of God. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

It is easy when everything in life is good and perfect according to our own will and desire. But in John chapter 12, verse 27, we can see Jesus saying the following: "Now my heart is troubled- and what shall I say, 'Father, do not let this hour come upon me'? But that is why I came- so that I might go through this hour of suffering." Here we can see Jesus Christ, the son of God (God himself), compelling himself to submit to the will of God the Father. His heart is troubled; he dreaded the hour coming towards Him. He compels himself to go towards the death on the cross (taking the burden of sin and undergoing the separation from Father God).In verse 28, Jesus says, "Father, bring glory to your name." (By doing God's will, he brings glory to Him.) Then a voice spoke from heaven, "I have brought glory to it and I will do so again." "Anagkazo" is a Greek word which means "to compel." When we find ourselves struggling to do God's will, we have to seek the help of the spirit to give us the "anagkazo" obedience. It's the force which turns our stubborn self-will and helps us to do God's will. We might dread to take the decision, obedience unto God but against our own wish. But pray that the "anagkazo" force helps you to do His will over every desire of yours. It will bring many to God. Often when we do as per our wish or lust and call it God's will, we only satisfy ourselves. We may try to persuade a few to believe it also. But only when we submit ourselves and do the perfect will of God, we can bring Glory to God's name. If we are so believing in the rules of the world in following our heart, we can never be someone who brings Glory to the name of the Lord as Jesus did. When we carry the cross, the will that is of God for us in pain, loss, trouble, and in suffering, we become someone who carries His glory. In 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18 says, "That same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of Glory."Hey friend, submit yourself to do His will. May Jesus fill your heart, reside in you as you carry out His will through your life. May you carry His glory. Dear God, we seek your help in making us submit to your will. Help us to carry our cross, help us to do your perfect will like you did. May we always remember by doing so we bring you glory. In Jesus' name we pray.

One of the close disciples of Jesus Christ is Peter. Peter was given more responsibility by God when Jesus was lifted to heaven. John Chapter 18 in the Bible talks about Peter encountering some difficult people during the trial of Jesus. John (who loved God dearly) went inside the place where the trial was happening while Peter was standing outside. He knew the situation in the country is not favourable to even say that he knows Jesus. And this Peter was shown a great miracle by Jesus when he first saw him. In Luke chapter 5 When Peter put the net over the side which Jesus mentioned he got 153 fishes. The number 153 in Hebrew means "He is God". Jesus introduced himself as God at his first encounter with Peter. Here we see Jesus himself saying that Peter will deny thrice. Jesus knew Peter's wavering love for Him. Good for Peter, he repented and loved Jesus and started to stand boldly for Him with the help of the Holy Spirit. Hey Friend, how are we behaving when someone asks, "Are you with Him(Jesus, the people who love him, His church) ?" Can we boldly stand for Jesus? When we see churches being persecuted around us. People and ministers of God targeted and persecuted can we stand for them or simply deny them. Be bold my friend, our mission fields, local churches and our fellow believers need our prayers and support when persecuted. Dear Jesus, give us a bold heart to stand for your name and not deny you when we see tough things happening around us. May you always say, "This is my son/daughter who will stand for my name." In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Are you a quiet person or a loud person? Are you someone who loves to work behind the scenes or in the limelight? People differ in this from one another. In Mark 14, Mary enters the room where Jesus was dining and starts to pour the very expensive oil over his head. Suddenly, all of them started to talk about it. Looking from the outside, it was as if she did it to get the limelight towards her. Her motive was to lift Jesus and worship Him with the best she got. But verse 4 says, some of the people became angry and said, "What was the use of wasting the perfume?" Verse 5 says, they criticized her harshly. Hey friend, can we dare to do something like this? The people who were around her had no motive to lift Jesus, as is clearly visible when they said that she is wasting the costly thing. They acted as if they are too concerned about giving to the poor. Hey friend, if God is motivating you to give that which is expensive with you for His glory, go ahead and do it for Him. In Verse 8, Jesus said, "She did what she could." God honored her by inspiring this writer to record it in the Bible, and we are reading this after centuries. God never fails to record and honor the things you do to glorify Him. Let's lift Him high with what we have (expensive). Dear God, may we worship you and give you glory with the expensive things that we have. May we never stop lifting your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The incidents leading to the cross start almost from Mark 14 itself. Jesus was dining in the house of a man called Simon (not Simon Peter). We can see Mary (sister of Martha and Lazarus) coming there to Jesus to show how much she honors Him. Mark 14 verse 3 says, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume in his head. Previously, we could have read about a sinful woman pouring costly oil over Jesus' feet. Her act was coming out of sincere repentance, and Jesus forgave her. Here, Mary does this only for the sake of doingit forJesus. Can we do things like this—talking to Jesus just for the sake of talking to Him and without any agenda, reading the Bible, His words, just for the sake of loving it? Can we show our true love, the first love, to Jesus? Can we try giving what we have without calculating it? It can only come out of the heart that loves Him. How can we truly love someone if we talk with them, listen to them, to get something from them? Jesus saw the pure motive of Mary and said the following words: Mark 14 verse 6 says, "She has done a beautiful thing to me." May our actions unto God, what we do for God, be motivated by nothing but the love we have for Him. Dear Jesus, stir our hearts to pour nothing but our first and best love for you. May you see everything we do for you as a beautiful thing. Love you, dear Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God," says Ephesians 5:2. The essence of God's love is sacrifice. The cross for Jesus was not a joyous walk. The cross can be carried only because of Love. Jesus carried the cross so that he could save us. As much as we love Jesus, we will carry the cross. The whole journey of the cross is killing the self and doing God's will until there is no more self but Christ. The Bible always says cutting the flesh is a symbol of cutting the sinful desires or habits. How can we cut a habit? By submitting to God and exercising better habits, submitting our body, spirit, and soul to the still voice of the Holy Spirit.We as Christians have no need to literally carry the cross again like Jesus did. We ought to live for the glory of God. Kill your struggle and walk freely with God. Are we struggling with addictions, anger issues, or eating with no control? Make a commitment to God to keep Him as God and get rid of anything that controls you. May we train ourselves in godly habits. Sitting with the Bible for a long time and listening or talking to God cannot happen in a day. Let us exercise such habits. It is good to concentrate on our soul while also having control over our body and its desires. Cutting out non-vegetarian food during Lent, if it is controlling your eating habits, can be a great way for you to control yourself. If your mobile device occupies a prime place in your life, commit your eyes to God and make an effort to keep it at bay. We should balance both physically and spiritually to grow closer to seeing God clearly. Dear God, we make a commitment today to grow in godly habits and shun everything that is taking Your place in our lives. Take control of our will, Lord. May we become like Jesus as we learn about the love that You have shown for us on the cross. Help us to overcome our physical selves and their desires and be victorious. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Have you been in a season of life where you have felt you lost the joy in your life? Were you waiting for a change or a miracle to happen in some area of your life for a very long time? Here is Sarah, who waited more than a lifetime (75 years) to receive her miracle. Genesis 21, verse 6 says, "Sarah said, 'God has brought me joy and laughter; everyone who hears about it will laugh with me.'" Verse 3 says, Abraham named him Isaac. The name Isaac in Hebrew means "He laughs." Verse 8 says, "The child grew, and the day that he was weaned, Abraham gave a great feast." When the waiting was over at Abraham's house, it was simply being joyful in the Lord and laughing and feasting. God literally cared about them smiling. Hey friend, the wilderness may be long and tiring, making you to just living the life without joy and hope. But remember, we serve the God who is the God of Abraham and Sarah. He will never stop working in your life until he brings not just a smile but laughter in your life. Dear God, thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness in the life of our father Abraham. Thank you, Lord, for going to fill us with laughter like you made them laugh. We are surrendering ourselves to your unfailing love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

In Genesis chapter 20, the Lord closed the womb of every woman in the house of Abimelech. Verse 18 says, "Abraham prayed for Abimelech, and God healed him. He also healed his wife and his slave-girls, so that they could have children." Abraham was waiting for God to bless him and Sarah with a child. But a situation arose where God expected him to pray for Abimelech and his wives to receive the healing necessary to have children. God answered his prayers and healed them. In chapter 21 of the Bible, it is simply said, "The Lord blessed Sarah, as he had promised, and she became pregnant." It also says, "The boy was born at the time God had said he would be born." Like Abraham, may we pray for people who need healing to receive the miracle. The Bible says the Lord healed Abimelech and his wives to enable them to give birth to children. But for Sarah and Abraham, it is said that God blessed them, and gave them the promised child at His time previously told by God himself. For some, it is the healing that comes through prayer, but for others (like Abraham), it is the timing of God. May we trust God and wait to see His timing and promises fulfilled in every area of our lives. Dear God, may we also trust you to bless us like Abraham. May we know that you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of generation after generation. May we and our generations, know and trust the Lord always, who never ever fails to fulfill all His promises. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Lot chose to live in a place that was good for his eyes. He faced numerous consequences as the result of his choice. When the Lord came to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He took them to his home. Men of Sodom and Gomorrah were evil and wanted to be with the guests of Lot (physically). They did not respect Lot and called him a foreigner. Lot thought he was responsible to save the strangers at his house and not his own daughters. He was foolishly willing to exchange his own daughters in the place of the strangers. The two men inside Lot's house took him inside the house and caused blindness to those who were outside. No new sin is happening in today's world. Men marrying men, women marrying women, and fighting all those who openly say it is evil. According to the Bible, God is Love. But not all that is named as Love is from God. Later, we can see Lot was disrespected by his sons-in-law when he warned them to move away from the city. They simply laughed at him. Where is our dwelling? Is it with godly people, or have we voluntarily built our tent amidst the wicked? Lot was definitely influenced by them. It can be revealed in his willingness to offer them his daughters. Genesis 19 verse 16 says, "The Lord, however, had pity on him." It is not because of him. Verse 29 says, when God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot was living, he kept Abraham in mind and allowed Lot to escape to safety. Hey friend, how is our decision making? Is it just what is pleasing to us, or are we crucifying ourselves and taking the cross in decision making? Let us not be deceived by saying we should respect everybody's choices. We should love and respect every human being as we are all created in the image of God. But, there is absolutely no need to respect any sin or sinful choices that are against God's word. May God help us to discern and protect our family. Dear God, may we dwell in your presence. May your choice be ours in every decision. May we live in safety. Protect us, our family, and our generation, Lord, from every deceptive lie of Satan. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I have two questions today: What does the Lord require to save a city, and with whom does the Lord not hide His plans? When the Lord came to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin cities, Abraham interceded with the Lord. Genesis 18 verse 32 says, "He said, 'I will not destroy it if there are ten.'" The Lord requires ten men who are righteous before His eyes to turn away the wrath that will destroy the city. May the Lord find us as one among the ten. Intercede with the Lord for your city, state, and country so that it will be saved. The Lord knew that Abraham would tell his children and his generation about the works of the Lord and the ways of the Lord. The Lord trusted Abraham with that and wanted to reveal His plans to Abraham. In verse 19 the Lord says, I have chosen him in order that he may command his sons and his descendants to obey me and to do what is right and just. If they do, I will do everything for him that I have promised." Can the Lord trust us with our children and our generation? Are we teaching our children the ways and works of the Lord? Do the children God has graciously given us know the Lord? Dear God, help us to intercede for our city, state, and nation. May we be responsible to pass on the name of the Lord to our children to be adorned and worshipped. May we be found as one among the ten righteous who will stop the door of destruction that is open towards our city. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Are we able to recognize the heavenly interventions while we carry out our everyday life? In Genesis chapter 18, Abraham welcomed three strangers. Verse 10 says, "One of them said, 'Nine months from now I will come back, and your wife Sarah will have a son.'" It is obvious that He is God. Abraham was able to recognize them and served them. Verse 8 says, "There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate." But on the other hand, we can see Sarah has no full understanding that someone beyond her little brain's understanding is in her midst. She was laughing at His (God's) words when He promised her a son. God saw her disbelief or her doubting God's words of promise to her. Her mind quickly calculated the practical side of the issue. She knows (based on human understanding of the body) that her physical body has no ability to respond anymore to childbirth. Are we like Abraham or like Sarah? Are we able to recognize the divine hand at work in our lives every day, or are we laughing at our situation thinking there is no hope? But to Sarah God answered directly in verse 14, "Then the Lord asked Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh and say, "Can I really have a child when I am old?" Is there anything too hard for the Lord? As I said, nine months from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.'" Though Abraham and Sarah are one family, they differed in their understanding when it comes to knowing who the Lord is. May we as a family never get satisfied with such progress. May we determine to grow in the Lord together. May we know Him. As a family, let us recognize God and put our trust in God. Dear God, thank you for being there in our everyday life. May we always recognize your divine works in our lives. We confess that nothing is hard for you. We confess that you will make the impossible possible in our lives. Thank you for your loving presence. May we serve you and commune with you like how Abraham did. Help us, Lord, to get closer to you in the midst of all practical issues we face. May we live by faith and not by sight. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

In Genesis chapter 16, God made a covenant with Abram and his generation (Isaac, who was not born then) through circumcision. Then, he changed his name to Abraham and his wife's name to Sarah. In his old age, Abraham obeyed God and submitted himself to Him. The cutting of the flesh is called circumcision, setting apart God's people as holy in the Old Testament. After receiving salvation from Jesus Christ, God expects us to have a circumcision of the heart, setting it apart for God from its sinful nature. Cutting the flesh here means shedding our sinful nature to become a new creation, children of God or God's own people – the spiritual Jews. "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God," says Romans 2:29. God has given us the power to resist sin. The Bible says, "Resist (fight against) the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Be strong and believe that God has equipped you with His words, a sword that can slay any enemy. Do not be afraid but cut off the flesh and walk in the victory that Christ has earned for you. Dear God, may you find our hearts circumcised and ready to submit to Your will. May we live a life set apart for You. May we cut off the flesh and be renewed in our minds. We ask this all in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The birth of a child is very special in every family. When we consider Sarah's life, she had to wait a long time for Isaac to be born. In the meantime, she made a series of mistakes, such as giving Hagar to Abraham and treating Hagar very badly. Eventually, Hagar left. However, God remained faithful to His promise to Abraham. God told Abraham, "As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation" (Genesis 17:20). God saw Hagar and gave her a promise to make the child a great nation. Sarah solely depended on her own understanding of the situation and took decisions. It was not a decision which came out of faith in God. Those were series of decision came from that which is exactly opposite to trusting n God. How are we reacting while waiting for God to fulfill the promises He gave us, be it regarding a job, a child, etc.? Let us learn from Sarai that we can only bring trouble by trying to plan something using our own knowledge to fulfill God's promises. Let us wait and let God work to fulfill His word. Dear God, strengthen our faith as we wait for You to fulfill Your promises to us. May we never follow our hearts and their ways, bringing unnecessary trouble. May we patiently wait for You. We confess that even though we wait long for You, You will fill us with joy by fulfilling Your promises, for You are a faithful God. In Jesus' name, we thank. Amen.

Abraham is called the father of us, believers. However, in many instances, we can see him asking questions. C.S. Lewis, in his book "Mere Christianity," talks about how God changes our "selves" into a new creature – not like a slow horse learning to perform well, but more like a normal horse changing into a winged horse. In the transformation process, Abram, like all of us, started slowly but submitted himself to become a new person. From asking questions to the father of the believers, in Genesis chapter 15 verse 8, Abram wonders, "How can I know that it will be mine?" God patiently makes a strong covenant with him, asking Abram to bring a cow, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a pigeon, cut them in half, and sacrifice them. By sunset, a smoking fire-pot and flaming torch suddenly appear and pass between the pieces of the animals, signifying that the Lord is committed to keeping his promise to Abram. The supernatural flame which is from God moving through the flesh that is cut half signifies that if the promise given by the promise giver is not fulfilled the same will be done to him. God slowly reveals his plan for Abraham's generation, including a blessing of a large land and a tough time of slavery in Egypt. When faced with unpleasant events, we should not get alarmed but understand that it is also God's plan with a purpose behind it. In times of questioning our growth in the Lord, we should recognize that we are in the process of becoming a new creature, a new winged horse, in C.S. Lewis's language. The growth might seem funny at times, but God is capable of blessing and transforming our lives, just as he did with people like Abram. Let us be patient with ourselves, remembering that the Promise Maker proved in Abraham's life that He is a faithful God who keeps his covenant with Abraham's generation.May we be ready to grow supernaturally, and may God work in us and in our generation, just as He worked in Abraham's. Dear God, thank you for blessing Abraham, making a covenant with him, giving promises, and fulfilling them. We pray for the transformation of our faith, that we may continue to mature into the new creation you intend us to become. Thank you for all the plans you have for us and our generations. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The dictionary gives the meaning of "reward" as something earned for our good actions. What big rewards have you been presented with so far? A trophy, a substantial sum of money, a scholarship—what else? Can you imagine having been given something larger than life itself as a reward? In Genesis chapter 14, Abram chose not to receive anything from any man. After this, the Lord showed up again to Abram. This time, in Chapter 15, verse 1, the Lord said to Abram, "After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying: 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield🛡, your exceedingly great reward.' Can we find any shield better than the Lord himself? Can you imagine your enemy trying to touch God? It can never happen. For Abram, God was the shield. No one can imagine touching Abram. We live among powerful people, politicians who have escorts to protect them with their lives—they will always travel with him/her. In danger, they surround him/her like a shield. Here, God is Abram's shield. To my limited understanding, it means the enemy can never ever come near Abram. The other half of the verse is more challenging, where God says, "He is the reward for Abraham". God is someone who lacks nothing in Himself. Whatever we need is in Him—emotional, physical, or spiritual needs lie in Him, or He himself is what we need. No things of this world, no relationships, no feelings of ours could ever satisfy us but God. He is the one person who makes us full. May the God of Abram be our reward and shield, as He was to him. Poor Abram, when God spoke these powerful, matchless words to him, said he needs a child. God didn't reprimand his worries but addressed them by coming down to him and showing a practical example that he will have descendants like stars. Abram asked for a child, but in God (Abram's reward) lie the descendants of Abram who are like stars. Dear God, help us have a wide perspective. Help us understand your heart. Be our reward, Lord. As children, help us grow in faith in you. Let us not be troubled by the small view we have of our life. May we be assured that the God who is much bigger, greater, and more real than anything in this whole world is our reward. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Is it wise to receive everything from everyone? The Bible says it is better to give than to take. Acts 20:35 says, "I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.’" We can see Abraham fulfilling the above verse. His men, whom he trained, went and saved Lot and his people. But when the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Keep the loot" (verse 21), Abraham said, "I solemnly swear before the Lord Most High God, maker of heaven and earth, that I will not keep anything of yours, not even a thread or a sandal strap." Then you can never say, "I am the one who made Abram rich." Abram was careful not to get anything from the king of Sodom, who is a mere human pretending to have given Abram all he owns. We can learn something crucial from Abram here.Abram left his place and followed God with his all when God told him that He would bless him. He humbled himself before God because he clearly knew it is only God who can lift anyone. No man can make anyone rich. Such words will come out of people who are simply proud at heart, as no one has anything that is eternally his to say that he can make another person rich. We can't even say we can give something to someone and be proud about it, as all belongs to God. Abram was careful to give glory only to God for all he had. At the same time, he made sure his workers received their share. As a leader, he was careful to give what is due to them for the work they have done. May God give us the wisdom to get the share we have earned by working. Also, let God take the glory for everything we have.Dear God, may we be wise like Abram to discern people when they are trying to give us something. May we receive anything only from Your hands. We praise You for all You have given us already. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.