Doubt is not an enemy!

Very many folks consider it a weakness to doubt spiritually.

If you don't doubt, you don't believe, for no one can doubt what they don't believe!

Even spiritually, from the human logic perspective, it is by doubting and resolving, that faith is reaffirmed. A quick belief, a blind faith, is also quick to fade away over time or a rocky road.

Consider, then, doubts as the growing pains of the faith.

So, it's ok to doubt, but it's not ok to leave it at that. Unresolved doubt will surely lead to apathy and apathy is the enemy of faith which will direct you to failure when it matters most.

John the Baptist doubted too. But he did something about it. He asked questions! No one stops us either.

How does one resolve doubt? By seeking answers diligently. First from His Word and then from His appointed shepherds. Research, read and double check. Don't just depend on Google. Read. The most researched book is the #Bible. There is no dearth of information. But, come to a conclusion. Don't just ask an opinion. Form your own. Ask God. As Yancy Arringtom says - "ask big questions of a very big God".

A lot of folks, when in doubt, simply look back on their own life and remember what God has done for them. They recall His work. Others look for inspiration. Yet others look for examples. Whatever your preferred way, one thing is certain: if you want to find, you need to seek. The key word here is "want".

Francis Bacon said -If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties. True That!

What Is Your Comfort Boat? :

 

***Based on a KJV Devotional

"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Matthew 14:29-31 KJV

When God calls us to go deeper in our relationship with Him, it takes deep trust and stepping out in faith in order for us to accomplish what He is calling us to do.
Consider the Apostle Peter, who was the only one who boldly got out of the boat and took the risk and leap of faith in order to come closer to Jesus. Like most of us, Peter got so distracted by the surroundings that he almost drowned; but Jesus came to the rescue.
Things like bridling the tongue, practicing speaking only words that bring life, and so on may seem an impossible quest, for we are weak and easily tempted. But Jesus only wants us to step out of the boat of our comfort and put our trust in Him as we step out in obedience. If He didn’t let Peter, who doubted Him, drown, He wouldn’t leave you all by yourself on this journey. The more you obey His Word and apply His commandments, the more you grow closer to Him.
What is your comfort boat right now? Step out in faith, and don't be afraid. He is with you in all seasons of your life, in good times and bad times. You can do all things through Christ Who gives you strength!
Many of us may be going through some tough times, maybe in health, or finances or relationships. There may be challenges we are scared to face or try and overcome. Yet, God expects us to face them and overcome them, with His strength and Grace. He wants us to step out onto that sea of challenge and he will be there to save.
Prayer point: Lord Jesus, You know the comfort boat I am in. Thank You for giving me the courage to step out and walk closer toward You, even though there are uncertainties of circumstances. I put my faith and trust in You, for You are always there to rescue me as I step out in obedience toward Your call in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Prayer is Useless!

 

Hemant Mehta, author of "The Young Atheist's Survival Guide, wrote in New York Times, "prayer is useless (without action...It lulls believers into a false sense of accomplishment".)

All of us at some time in our life have faced situations when, in spite of intense prayer, the answer does not seem to be forthcoming. When that happens fear, uncertainty and doubt creep in. We may feel that it is futile to pray as God does not seem to be listening. It may be a prayer for a job, or the life of a loved one, or sickness or financial disaster. It could be so many things life throws at us. Or it could be something we crave for- like a new home or a car or a life partner.

When we feel it is all futile, we need to remember that delay in answer is not dismissal. 

Furthermore, what is the purpose of prayer? Dr. Michelle Bengtson says this - " Our prayers are not just an avenue of petition. While God does encourage us to ask Him to meet our needs, it’s only part of the purpose of prayer. Prayer is also a vehicle of expression of praising God for who He is and thanksgiving for all He has done and all He is going to do. Prayer is the avenue He has created for us to repair our relationship with Him, by confessing and repenting of the times we have gone our own way". Answered (or unanswered payers, are an outcome of this relationship. 

However, before we ask, we really need to examine three things.

1. Godly motive

Will prayer right a wrong deliberately committed and spare us the consequences? Is our prayer to cater to a lifestyle or a need? Is our prayer what Jesus would pray for? What really is our motive? Is it mechanical prayer or is it heartfelt?

2. In line with Gods plan

None of us, no matter how strong a believer and follower, can change Gods sovereign will. We have free will to choose or reject God. But once we choose to accept, we also have to accept Gods will for us. We have free will to choose to act in any manner here on earth. But once we choose to follow Jesus, our actions are determined and guided by His life and Gods will for us, which, in faith we believe to be the best for us. 

3. Is it in line with His Timeline? 

Who really knows Time? God created Time and He knows how to manage it best. He knows when we need something or when we need to wait for something better. 

Consider a story of a factory worker whose job it was to lift and place lumber on to trucks for being exported. He had a very good relationship with the owner, so he asked for a crane and the owner of the mill agreed with one condition: The worker had to go to the crane factory 500 miles away, for 5 days, and learn how to operate it like a pro! 

The worker thought he was crazy: After all, he could have learned how to operate the crane after it was delivered! It was so frustrating! 

We would love to know what our readers think? Was the mill owner right in putting that condition? Why do you think he did? How would that one condition benefit the worker? 

How do we accept the Gift?

Read James 2:17-26

17 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead....."

A gift needs to be accepted. I can buy the best gift I can think of and afford for someone, but if he/she/they do not accept it, it is a wasted effort. Non acceptance can be through silent rejection, recycling or any other way of getting rid of it. We all do it sometimes.

God's gift to us is Jesus. How do we show acceptance of that Gift? In the quoted verse James makes that pretty clear- that the way we show acceptance and appreciation of God's gift is through our actions.

As Rev. Francis Taylor says - "Our works will never earn us salvation, but it will let God know that we have accepted the gift".

Is God's gift reflecting in our day-to-day life? Do we show prejudice? Do we show integrity in even small things, at work or at home? An example of integrity, very common at work, is simply doing what one has promised to do. Not making a commitment and then making excuses.

Unless there are behavioral changes in our personal and professional lives, in line with the "Jesus's way", we really are not reflecting acceptance and gratitude of God's gift to us, are we? And if we don't, how then can we expect to be invited to the great banquet? 

The difference between rapture and rupture is U.

The Building

Have you ever wondered why is a structure called a building when it is already been built? 

The simple truth is nothing is ever completely built, whether it's a building, or a company or a human being. Everything is work in progress.

This also reminds about Nehemiah in the Bible, the governor of Persian Judah, and his efforts in rebuilding the temple and one often wonders Why is it in the Bible in the first place? 

Is it for historical reasons or is God trying to tell us something today?

This rebuilding of the temple, in the face of great odds, represented the people's renewal of faith, and the reforming of their conduct. 

Like the Israelites of old, we too backslide and tend to forget our God. We tend to let life overcome our duty. Nehemiah was not an ordinary man, he was an important man and occupied a high position. Yet he made it a point to make the time and effort for this great endeavor.

Today, we are the temple of the Lord 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and as stated in the opening paragraph, we need to keep building it to keep it in good condition, physically and spiritually.

We also need to rebuild physically, taking care of health and physical needs of our bodies, not abusing them with use of harmful habits but being conscious to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Like Nehemiah, no matter how important or busy we are, we need to keep rebuilding and repairing the temple of God within us. Repair our relationship with Him, repair our trust and faith and rebuild our faith growing it constantly.

Growth never ends. Learning never ends. Nothing is ever complete, because it is always growing, always learning. 

The day it is complete is when it's life is over.

Vagaries of war

*** Image from Mashable

We take War too lightly. We even teach our children war and other violent games on video games, XBoxes and other devices, including phones. Gaming is big industry and war gaming as big and as popular. We have call high level meeting rooms as War Rooms. 

Yet, when it happens in real life, we are shocked. Why? 

On the 8th of October #Israel was attacked once again, after 50 years, to the day, by a terrorist uprising in Gaza. A huge public outcry followed, with one of our readers sharing the Israel PMs speech (available at the link below). 

What does this war mean to us? Will it end in a peace treaty with lots of fake handshaking by world politicians and we soon forget the thousands of innocent people who have and will have, lost their lives, families destroyed, and homes lost, as we, the people of this world are prone to do? Some countries have sworn to destroy Israel. Can they?

Zechariah 12:3–4 God says, “I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves” (NLT)

Meanwhile rape, murder and torture continue by terrorists and armies as they are want to do to prove their superfluous superiority. A news video of a father tearfully saying he was glad his daughter was killed and did not suffer the atrocities some other women and children had to go through. That says it all.

We believe Bible prophecies are coming true before our very eyes. Scattering and gathering of #Israel has been foretold and has happened. What next? Will there be a bloody end to this or a peaceful end? While we can pray for a peaceful end, and for the peace for the murdered souls and their families, what will prevail is God's word and His promises. No country and no person.

So, what do we do as followers of Christ and #Christians?

Firstly, The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). We want to pray that they arrive at some kind of peace. We want to pray that this horrific #terrorism stops, and that they’re able to get their hostages back. That Gods hand of protection remains over Israel and her people.

Secondly, As Christ's followers we should do what He said to do:

Jesus said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28 NKJV). 

That’s what we need to be doing, looking for the soon return of Jesus Christ.

Why Pray?

 

*** Pic from Wikipedia

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. — Lamentations 3:41

Why do we pray? Boyd Packer said -" Prayer is your personal key to heaven.". Here is a deep but beautiful explanation from the KJV devotional.

"The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us Favours without constraining us to pray for them, we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. 

While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The healthiest state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. 

Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer. 

Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God’s warriors and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. 

An earnest pleader comes out of his closet, even as the sun arises from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. 

Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians. 

Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do! We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvelous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!"

The King's Table.

Read Luke 14: 15-24

Those of us who have said "yes" to the invitation, must continue to say that "yes" with the quality of our lives.

It's not always the believers who say yes to Jesus' invitation to the banquet. But those who do accept, must ready themselves (as one would if one was invited to the King's table). One would pick the best clothes we have, make sure they were clean, learn table manners fit for the kings table and practice good behavior.

How do we ready ourselves for Jesus' banquet? By the quality of our lives that we lead. And that quality is mentioned again and again in the Bible. Here is a quick recap:

First off is the Fear of the Lord. Possibly the most difficult as well. It's not about being afraid but embracing and respecting His authority by putting Him first. What comes in the way of this is our own pride, selfishness, materialism and love of the world. These are our idols, and when added together, you have the perfect formula for non-fear of God as He becomes a distant dream.

Karina Zolotarev in Just Disciple says this: "God is all-powerful and has authority overall. If one is a child of God, one can rest in the knowledge that He is in control. When we realize and see God as the highest in command over this entire universe, one can know there is no need to fear anything else. But to do this we need to be humble enough to not let pride come in the way, but let God take over".

Next take the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities should be a daily practice, because it is so easy to fall out. WE SHOULD MAKE IT A PRACTISE TO PRACTISE THESE IN OUR DAY TO DAY AND MINUTE TO MINUTE, LIFE.

Sadly we slip on this up day to day and minute to minute and second to second, The trick is to remember these as a guideline and be conscious of them as a practice. Not easy at all. During a difficult time, how does one stay joyous? How do we practice love for another when that person has hurt us? 

It's because we let that difficulty or that hurt become an idol in our life, dictating our actions. We need to remove those idols and replace them with God. God is bigger than any difficulty. God is bigger than any enmity and hurt. Not easy to do because we need to first kill our inherent pride and let God take control of that difficulty before us or that hurtful situation and patiently let go.

In management, one reads about something called a force field. In anything we do, there are forces pulling and pushing us in different directions. This is as true in our day-to-day life. Self-control, when combined with fear of God and the other fruits of the spirit, help us choose the right path and direction.

Today let us be thankful for being invited to the banquet and pray that we may become worthy to sit at the king's table.

Thus says the Lord

“Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.” (Esther 8:3)

Shock. Horrified. Anger. Weeping. 

These words are not light nor meant lightly. We are reeling at the sights and stories flooding our screens and phones from Israel.

The attacks on Israel over the weekend by Hamas is the most serious threat to the security of that nation in 50 years. It is no coincidence that the attacks were orchestrated while Israelis enjoyed a public day to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. As families gathered and IDF members relaxed at home, thousands of rockets were fired into Israel and 100s of armed militants crashed through border fences and began killing and kidnapping.

Sneaky, treacherous, intent on cruelty and slaughter - as terrorists are want to do. Their cruelty and horrid torture does not spare man women or child. Even foreigners who have nothing to do with the enmity (Shani Louk from Germany) and many more.  

More than 1000 people are known to be dead and 1000s injured, and the situation is far from over.

What is our response? 

6 Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, 
because they carried into exile a whole people
to deliver them up to Edom.

7 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, 
and it shall devour her strongholds.

Amos 1 verse 6-7

There is something every Christian can do today. We can pray. We should pray. There is, after all, Biblical warrant for praying.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you be secure.

May there be peace within your walls

and security within your citadels.”

For the sake of my family and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your prosperity. (Psalm 122:7-9)

We pray for peace. We pray for justice. And we pray for mercy.

Murray Campbell. 

A Hotline Serving 8 Billion!

                                    

Read 1 Kings 19:11-13

Suppose you had a problem which was so, so, huge only the President or Prime Minster or king or the head of your country could resolve it. So, you approach his office and send a mail and weeks later you get a reply that you have been granted an audience and he will meet you for 15 mins six months later. 

Now you wait eagerly for that date, preparing your application, file, arguments and case details. You hope you will get a favorable decision. This is a real-world scenario!

Now think about the heavenly world. We face a problem today, and right now we get to escalate it to the Heavenly king through a personal hotline and even if His answer may take time, He provides interim relief. How great is that!

And He does it day by day, minute by minute, looking after the lives of 8 billion people! 24X7!

We may not meet God in wind, earthquake or fire, but for sure He is with us today and every day in the simple ordinary events of life. And when we call on Him, I know He will always be there to pick up the hotline or open the door, because we need not wait for an appointment to speak to Him; we simply start talking and communicating. 

Remember Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Like Paul our belief stands firm in this verse from 2 Thessalonians 3:3 -

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.