Design Thinking : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

In the professional world, "Design Thinking " is a powerful, tool/process to organize and point your thoughts to a desired action, especially in the creation of solutions.

Thoughts are powerful stuff. Thoughts lead to dreams. Dreams to desires. Desires to demands. demands to plans, plans to actions and actions to achievement.

As we can see, thoughts are the precursor to action and achievement. Whatever our input thoughts are, the action will be in the same direction.

It is the same in the spiritual world. If we indulge in spiritual thoughts, the action and achievement will tend towards the spiritual. If we allow thoughts of coveting, it will lead to acting on it which could be disaster. If we have thoughts of hate, we will end up destroying relationships. If we only think of ourselves, we will do things only for ourselves as well.

For Christians, thought control therefore is extremely critical. Paul says in Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things".

Why is thought control so important? For two reasons -

A. Thoughts influence our actions and effect our spirituality as well as physical actions.

B. God speaks to us through our thoughts. Hence it is crucial to keep our thoughts devoid of evil so that God can fill us with His knowledge and plans. He will talk to us if we still our minds and listen.

Here is what Peter says in 1 Peter 1:13-
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"

3. God gave us free choice but our thoughts and desires influence that decision. Deuteronomy 30:19 says

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"

So friends, this was the power of our thoughts. Let me end with this verse and advice from Paul in Romans 12:2

"Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect".

So you're a Christian : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Devotional

So you're a Christian! What are you doing about it?

Starting with 12 followers 2000 years ago, Christ has a following of more than 3 Billion people today. This is unprecedented growth.


So how did it happen?

A simple answer is sharing. Sharing the spiritual and the physical blessings, sharing Gods word and sharing strife.
And that is our mandate even today.

Sharing God's word doesn't always mean evangelizing to people who don't believe in Him. Sometimes, it means getting together with other believers and strengthening each other as well. 

Today, we have one simple request to make of you, our reader: participate with us and share these posts in your Christian friends circles. 

“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”

Someone, somewhere needs to hear God so please help us to spread the word as far and wide as possible.

God Bless you. 

Give God a Chance: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Psalm 22:1

"For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?"

David starts Psalm 22 with this cry from the depths of his despair and our Lord cried it out as He hung on the tree.

Like David and Jesus, haven't we all felt forsaken at some point in our lives? Maybe today? When it seems everything is going against us? When it seems even the God we believe in has turned away?

There is nothing wrong if one feels like that. Our Christ felt it as well. But what does one do in such a situation?

1. Question God. God is our father, he listens to us, hears us and answers us. If we have some doubt, we should question Him and I believe He will answer.

2. Sit still and listen for His answer. "Be still and know that I am God" is Gods instruction to Israel to stop their frantic war activity and let God do His work. The same holds true today. 

What we should not do is panic and do many things to help ourselves or grumble and start calling friends and family hoping for some help or advice. In all this frantic activity where is the faith and belief in God ?

Where is the chance we give to God to do His work? Most importantly where is our acceptance of His will to be done? Did God answer David's prayer? Sure He did. David's was one of the most successful Israeli kings. Did God help him? Sure. 

The Bible contains so many instances of how God helped His people, instructions to them on how to receive His help etc. Why not fall back on His word and ask Him? 

Checkmate!

Hebrews 2:14-15

"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives".

The greatest gift God has given to mankind is Jesus Christ. When mankind fell due to it's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, the devil thought he had destroyed the vision and dram of God for humanity. Little did he know that God is the creator of all things and never runs out of ideas and sent His son Jesus Christ to destroy sin by offering Himself on the cross. He brought the promise of unconditional love, unending hope and eternal life to every person who believes in Him. 

But the strangest thing about this gift is that it is for everyone. If I have received it today, it becomes my duty to pass it on. Pass on that hope. Pass on that love. And pass on that promise of eternal life.

Satan was checkmated and he will be defeated again and again and again and again.....