Life is an amazing journey. It can be euphoric and exciting and at the same time equally frustrating and anguishing. This is what makes life so thrilling and unpredictable. As days and years roll by, we grow from time to time. For some, each year is a stepping stone towards their long cherished goals, and for some others, it is a slippery ground as the quality of life deteriorates and slides towards the lowest point.
As we look closely into these events, all depends on the choices that we make. At every stage of our lives we are destined to make choices and that’s what measures our success, or writes our failure. As this New Year 2010 approaches, let us take a moment to analyze the choices that we made in 2009, and delve into the outcome of those. This is one of the most important things that we need to do at the start of the New Year.
It is true that we need to make resolutions for the New Year, but if we choose not to learn from the previous year’s failures, we cannot make the New Year exciting. We need to take the good things into the New Year and leave the worst one’s behind. We should be determined to make the New Year special for us and for that we need to be mentally prepared and wise enough to make the right decisions.
We all make resolutions on diets, finances, education, entertainment and what not…but we forget one most important thing. The Bible says that “Every perfect gift is from God”. Everything in this world belongs to Him. But the sad thing is that we receive so many things from Him, and forget Him amidst the celebrations and the busy schedule that we have. God stands as a silent and lonely spectator, closely watching over us.
We must also understand that it is God’s amazing grace that makes us to run in this world. It would be a matter of seconds before we come crashing down on life, if God’s grace does not abide in us. Every day we hear news of wars, accidents, serious diseases, job losses, relationship breakdowns and so many other infirmities of life. What shielded us from these things? It is grace.
God gave us the greatest gift of all by sending His son Jesus Christ to the cross, so that we may be happy. But sadly many of us have not still accepted Him as our personal savior. It is one of the most important choices that we should make in our life. It is the one choice that decides where we our eternity. He promises joy and peace in this life as well as eternity.
Why don’t we make this greatest resolution to accept Him this New Year? , maybe we made a resolution to accept Him and spend time with Him last year, but we didn’t do that. It is not late yet, let us renew that and rededicate ourselves to Him. Trust me, it is the most important decision that we would make in our lives, and we will never regret for that.
If you had made that resolution or renewed it, Please pray this prayer.
Prayer
Loving heavenly father, I come to you at the start of this New Year just as I am. I cannot change myself. I am so wicked and sinful. Wash me and cleanse me through the blood of Jesus Christ. I want to become a new person and want to experience the joy and peace that you offer. I believe you have accepted me. I give you all glory and honor. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Be joyful always
Joy is something that we long to have all the time. Many of us still think of happiness and joy to be the same. But there is a vast difference between the two. Happiness is situational but joy is everlasting. We can experience happiness whenever something of our liking happens. A new car, a new house, something good happens in our family life and so many things like this brings us happiness. But how long does it last?. May be for a day? or a week?. Thats what most of us are used to and that is why there are lot of pain and frustration left in our life and we are always not contempt with what we have.
The fascinating thing about Bible and a life with Christ, is that in contrast to the worldly system, here we find everything to be eternal and everlasting. The world's offering to us are momentary,but with Christ everything is eternal. Be it peace, joy, salvation, everything is unlimited and available freely, because everything is paid for by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary.
Apostle paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, that "Be joyful always" and in Phillipians 4:4writing from prison, he says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!".
How could someone be so joyful and think about others when he is in a dark prison cell, where everything seems gloomy and hopeless?.Where lies the secret?.
Well, the secret lies in the fact that Apostle Paul always trusted in the heavenly abode, the Lord Jesus Christ and He was the source of everything for him. This is what made him to praise, sing and shout all the time. Though he was persecuted and beaten, he always rejoiced because Christ was in him.
What about our condition today?. Are we struggling to live with contempt and always dreaming of something that we don't need at all?. Are we not satisfied with the blessings God has given us currently and pursuing after things that are not meant for us and in the process lose all the peace and joy?.
Dear friend, turn back from such a state of mind and make Jesus Christ, the source of all our providence. We will not lack anything when we trust in Him and we will be filled with joy beyond every measure that we can ever think of. Would you make that shift in your mindset today?. God bless you!
The fascinating thing about Bible and a life with Christ, is that in contrast to the worldly system, here we find everything to be eternal and everlasting. The world's offering to us are momentary,but with Christ everything is eternal. Be it peace, joy, salvation, everything is unlimited and available freely, because everything is paid for by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary.
Apostle paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, that "Be joyful always" and in Phillipians 4:4writing from prison, he says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!".
How could someone be so joyful and think about others when he is in a dark prison cell, where everything seems gloomy and hopeless?.Where lies the secret?.
Well, the secret lies in the fact that Apostle Paul always trusted in the heavenly abode, the Lord Jesus Christ and He was the source of everything for him. This is what made him to praise, sing and shout all the time. Though he was persecuted and beaten, he always rejoiced because Christ was in him.
What about our condition today?. Are we struggling to live with contempt and always dreaming of something that we don't need at all?. Are we not satisfied with the blessings God has given us currently and pursuing after things that are not meant for us and in the process lose all the peace and joy?.
Dear friend, turn back from such a state of mind and make Jesus Christ, the source of all our providence. We will not lack anything when we trust in Him and we will be filled with joy beyond every measure that we can ever think of. Would you make that shift in your mindset today?. God bless you!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Do you want peace?
"Peace" is a word that has been used so frequently amidst us. There are lot of organisations striving to bring peace into the world in many ways. We all try to bring peace into every aspect of our life. But the hard fact is that inspite of all these efforts, we find the world still longing for peace.
Peace has different meanings and context for each of us. Some of the common thoughts about peace are
1. Peace abides when there are no problems in life
2. Peace can be brought in if we have the wisdom to solve the problems of life.
3. Peace depends on situations and relations.
Friends, if any of us think peace is all about the above listed things, then we haven't understood the real meaning of peace.
Then what is peace?. How can we be peaceful amidst turmoil? How can peace abide in our families?. These are some of the questions that come to our mind. Let us dwell on these things below.
As everything has a source, peace too has a source. That source is not human, it is divine. We can never create peace, unless we are at peace with God. The Bible says in Isaiah 26:3 "God will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in Him". and in Numbers 6:26 we find "The LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace."
The above scriptures clearly reveal us that only God can send peace into this world and He had sent it long time ago when He sent His only son Jesus Christ into this world 2000 years ago. In Isaiah 9:6, we read that Jesus is the Prince of peace, and only He can fill our hearts with peace.Ephesians 2:14 says "For he himself is our peace".
We can never have the eternal peace inside us if we have not found Jesus Christ. We have to turn away from our old sinful ways and seek Him. We read in Isaiah 48:22, that there is no peace for the wicked. If we still have secret sins in our life, we can never have peace.
The first thing we need to do is to be peaceful within ourselves. For this, all our sins need to be forgiven. When we surrender our lives to Jesus, He cleanses us and makes us clean and peaceful. Then we can radiate this peace to our family and in turn to all others who are around, and finally to the whole world. This is what needs to happen if we have to have a peaceful world.
Each and every person need to reconcile with God first. This is the starting point. Without this, there is no beginning in our efforts to establish peace. The peace that God gives will withstand all the trials in the life as we would not be depending on anything earthly for our peace. Jesus said in John 14:27 that "My peace I leave you". That peace is still there, but we need to cling on to it.
It is not too late yet. Would you open your hearts to Jesus this Christmas season?. Probably we would have celebrated so many Christmas's in our life. But let us try to make this Christmas something special for ourselve and those who are around us by reconciling with God and giving that peace to others.
Prayer:
Loving heavenly father, I have come into your presence with a desire for peace. I believe that only you can give me that. I confess all my failures and sins to you. Wash me with the blood of Jesus and make me clean. Make me a new person. Let this Christmas be a turning point in my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Peace has different meanings and context for each of us. Some of the common thoughts about peace are
1. Peace abides when there are no problems in life
2. Peace can be brought in if we have the wisdom to solve the problems of life.
3. Peace depends on situations and relations.
Friends, if any of us think peace is all about the above listed things, then we haven't understood the real meaning of peace.
Then what is peace?. How can we be peaceful amidst turmoil? How can peace abide in our families?. These are some of the questions that come to our mind. Let us dwell on these things below.
As everything has a source, peace too has a source. That source is not human, it is divine. We can never create peace, unless we are at peace with God. The Bible says in Isaiah 26:3 "God will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in Him". and in Numbers 6:26 we find "The LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace."
The above scriptures clearly reveal us that only God can send peace into this world and He had sent it long time ago when He sent His only son Jesus Christ into this world 2000 years ago. In Isaiah 9:6, we read that Jesus is the Prince of peace, and only He can fill our hearts with peace.Ephesians 2:14 says "For he himself is our peace".
We can never have the eternal peace inside us if we have not found Jesus Christ. We have to turn away from our old sinful ways and seek Him. We read in Isaiah 48:22, that there is no peace for the wicked. If we still have secret sins in our life, we can never have peace.
The first thing we need to do is to be peaceful within ourselves. For this, all our sins need to be forgiven. When we surrender our lives to Jesus, He cleanses us and makes us clean and peaceful. Then we can radiate this peace to our family and in turn to all others who are around, and finally to the whole world. This is what needs to happen if we have to have a peaceful world.
Each and every person need to reconcile with God first. This is the starting point. Without this, there is no beginning in our efforts to establish peace. The peace that God gives will withstand all the trials in the life as we would not be depending on anything earthly for our peace. Jesus said in John 14:27 that "My peace I leave you". That peace is still there, but we need to cling on to it.
It is not too late yet. Would you open your hearts to Jesus this Christmas season?. Probably we would have celebrated so many Christmas's in our life. But let us try to make this Christmas something special for ourselve and those who are around us by reconciling with God and giving that peace to others.
Prayer:
Loving heavenly father, I have come into your presence with a desire for peace. I believe that only you can give me that. I confess all my failures and sins to you. Wash me with the blood of Jesus and make me clean. Make me a new person. Let this Christmas be a turning point in my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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