Daily Thought – When is the time for fulfillment
at the very time God had promised him Gen 21:2
Story: The Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said when she was 90 years old, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. This is written as is in the Genesis 21
Lesson: Even in the worst situation, when Lord is gracious the miracle will happen. Though it looks hopeless, His promises will be fulfilled. Lord who set the time for earth to rotate and revolve, His timing for His promise will be perfect. So issue is not the delay, but it is our patience. Lesson to learn is faith and not to fall into fear.
Prayer: Father Lord, when I do not see things working in my way, I get anxious. Teach to trust in the perfect timing of the Almighty God. Amen.
Will I make it?
The bad news is you won’t! The good news is He won’t let you down.
You of little faith, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31)
Have you ever felt low and ashamed immediately after a high achievement? It’s a weird feeling of discouragement that no one can explain in words. Almost the entire memory of your recent high will be masked in shame and embarrassment. We all go through this experience at some point in our life. Peter in the new testament is one of the best example who has gone through this experience. One day he received a great promise and praise from the Lord Jesus himself. Jesus said to Peter,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
But immediately after this experience Peter received one of the harshest rebuke the Lord has ever given. The bible says,“Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
What would have gone through Peter’s mind after this experience? He would have got discouraged and questioned himself whether he is the right person for the job. He would have questioned the promise he received from the Lord days before he received this rebuke. He would have asked “did the Lord mistakenly gave this promise? I am so weak and fickle. Will I really make it and live up to the mark?”. May be you are going through the same experience and asking the Lord “Will I make it?”. The bad news is you won’t! The good news is He won’t let you down!
Always remember when you fall short, sometimes God will rebuke you. It doesn’t mean he will let you down and leave you there. When God rebukes you, you better behave and make things right. It’s a warning that you need to make some adjustments in your life so that you can live for the calling you received. God will rebuke you but it doesn’t prevent God from reaching out for you. When you fall short he will reach out to you.
I enjoy playing football with my 2 year old son. I love to see those tiny feet hitting the ball with all might but the ball won’t go anywhere nearer the goal. Sometimes I notice disappointment in my son’s eyes that he couldn’t hit as far as the goal. I will see frustration in his eyes. So the next time when he kicks the ball with frustration I will immediately jump and bring the goal posts closer to where he hits the ball and shout in excitement. My son will immediately think he kicked the ball inside the goal and will start to celebrate with me. Words cannot express the excitement and sense of achievement in my son’s eyes. Even though my son fell short I reached out and brought the goals closer to where he hit.
That’s what happened when Peter tried to walk on water. The bible says, “So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came TO JESUS.”. His goal was to reach the place where Jesus was. Peter made a great achievement as he started to walk on water. But immediately after this high note he reached the lowest point as he began to “sink”. His friends in the boat would have asked each other “Will he make it?”. Have you reached this lowest point in your life? Are you asking yourself “Will I ever make it?” Peter fell short and started to sink. He didn’t reach the place where Jesus was. But the good news is Jesus reached out to him! He moved the goalposts closer to where Peter was. He caught him. The finish line came closer.
It’s better to try and make a mistake than not to try in fear of making mistakes. God wants you to try. God wants you to walk on water and doesn’t matter if you fall short. God wants you to hit the ball. He will take care of the remaining job. Your mistakes are not a surprise to God. So next time when you ask the question “Will I make it?”, remember, the answer is “No but He will do it for you!”.
(This article is written by Bro. Davidson Samuel who is an IT Professional / Subject Matter Expert in Banking domain, based out of Scotland, UK)
Daily Thought – What should be our ambition ?
Verse: to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you 1 Thess 4:11
Paul wrote this letter from Corinth to Thessalonians the church he established. Paul’s purpose in writing this letter was to encourage the new believers in their trials, to give instruction concerning godly living.
Paul gave lot of instructions, one of it has spoken to me so closely. That we need to have an ambition to lead a quiet life. No showing off, not trying to impress other people, not fighting to be in limelight, not comprising God’s standards to keep everyone happy.
Paul in the above verse again talks of minding our own business, not keen to know about other, not comparing with others, not gossiping nor slandering. But our focus is to work hard in the place where God has placed us.
Prayer: Father Lord, help me to lead a quiet life, focused to fulfill the plans and purpose Lord has for me. To listen to the Almighty not running behind men. Amen.
Daily Thought – Prayer of Elevation
‘I will surely make you prosper” Gen 32:12
When Jacob was about to meet Esau, Jacob felt Esau was coming to him to take revenge. Jacob felt really afraid and he prayed; Lord delivered him. A very beautiful short prayer by Jacob.
Name of God: Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, Gen 32:9a Jacob started by Addressing God, we can Address God in Heaven and pray to him in Jesus name.
Promise of God: you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ Gen 32:9 Even in tough times, Jacob remembered and held on to the promises of God. Do we trust in His promises?
Blessing of God: I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. Gen 32:10 Jacob remembers the ways in which the Lord led him thus far. Testify what the Lord has done.
Request to God: Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, Gen 32:11 He openly told his need and confessed the exact state of his mind. Oh Lord I am afraid.
Reminder to God: But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” Gen 32:12. Jacob is reminding God of His promises, that night Lord met Jacob and changed his name to Israel.
Prayer: Lord God who is in Heaven, you are the Lord who promised to prosper, protect and deliver, Lord who in the past who led me will do it now and forever. Lord you are faithful Amen.
Daily Thought – In midst of challenges
… planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him Gen 26:12
In midst of challenges, we will have divine direction and expansion from our Lord and saviour. Let us take courage and meditate on Isaac’s life.
Challenges: Now there was a famine in the land Gen 26:1. Isaac faced a famine in the land. Let us also realize that we will also face challenges.
Comfort: The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, Gen 26:2,3a. Lord is reminding us; do not run from the tough situation. Stay in the same place, although we see nothing ahead let us listen and stay back.
Covenant: I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham Gen 26:3b It is the promise of the Lord that he will bless us in the place we are in. He will give us inheritance where we are.
Claim: Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. Gen 26:12. In tough times, let us claim the promise and work hard. Result and reward of hard and good work is from God.
Confirmation: The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. Gen 26:13. Lord will bless us abundantly when we listen and obey. Trust and stay still and know the mighty hand of the Lord.
Prayer: Lord; we will claim your promises. We will stay where we are and will trust in you although we see no visibility. Yes, we will continue in your strength. Amen.