I'll pray because....

Psalm:17:6

I am praying because I know you will answer O God

That's the confidence we have when we pray. Not that all our wishes will be granted. But that God would not remain silent.

His yes is for our best.

His no is for our best too.

But He doesn't leave us there. He continues to be with us. To give us strength to accept and the peace. He gives us understanding that this is for our good. He continues to protect us and guard us from harm, both from the inside and from the outside.

Psalm:17:8

Guard me as you would guard your own eyes

Hide me with the shadow of your wings.

Let the answer be a yes or a no. The fact that He listens and the fact that He answers is so comforting. And He continues to hide me in the shadow of His wings.

That's the best place we can aspire to be.

Hide me now, under your wings

Cover me within your mighty hands

When the oceans rise and thunders roll

I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are King over the flood

And I will be still and know you are God.

Comments

For you

They began to spit ------ Beat him with their fists ----- Some slapped him, jeering Matt:26:67-68 It would be humiliating to be spat upon the face. His face would have been fully red out of bruise. A racoon eye probably. It is menial to be made fun off - more menial when people make fun of you disbelieving what you claim or what you really are. Matt:27:26 Jesus was flogged with a lead tipped whip Skin might have shredded to pieces, pieces of muscles torn away, splurting blood everywhere. Pain unable to be described in words. Psalm:129:3 The plowers plowed upon my back. Hematomas everywhere. Anaemic because of the blood loss. Internal organs lacerated. Excruciating pain from the tip of the hair to the toe. Dehydrated. Stinking. Stripped naked and made to walk through the streets in front of the ones you loved, the ones who loved you. Thorns on His brow. Nails driven through the median nerve. Struggling to breath hanging on the cross. He has to pull Himself up to expand ...

Not my will, but yours - a poem

Yes, Jesus was distressed and anguished too He was also grieved to the point of death So it is okay, dear one to be frustrated It might not be as grievous as that of Jesus, but it's fine. But how Jesus handled, that is a lesson for us He did not over react. He did not brood over. He did not vent it over. He did not blame Himself He just prayed - not my will, but yours. How you handle your stress makes you stronger and bolder Either you succumb and grow weaker But face it in faith, and you will grow stronger. Equipping you to face the next one. Ultimate purpose is to be transformed into His likeness Live as Jesus lived. Do as Jesus did. Here how did He handle stress and anguish? Not my will, but yours He prayed. Image credit: https://www.artisor.com/artwork/morgan-weistling/thy-will-be-done/

Plain and true

Mark:1:1-8 John the Baptist preached the gospel - plain and true. v4: He proclaims about repentance and turning to God to be forgiven. v7: He proclaims that Jesus is the only way. Acknowledging my sinfulness is the first step to salvation. By nature I am sinful. By my choices I am sinful. Realisation that I need forgiveness is the next step. And only God can give that. I need to turn to God to be forgiven. And finally Jesus is the only way to reach to God. He is the only way that this forgiveness is practicalised. Once I can approach God, through the forgiveness granted on the cross, of the sinfulness of mine, then the beautiful amazing journey starts. Have you taken this first step? If not, all other efforts are wasted Image credit: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/what-does-gospel-mean/

Silence

I am often amazed by Jesus' silence on the cross. For all the accusations and false testimonies, how could he keep quiet. There was no " I never said that" or " "for whom am I doing this, why should I go through this for them" or "why don't you understand". Why can't I keep quiet when falsely accused or pointed fingers at? Why should I justify? Will that bring about a change in the situation? Will they stop accusing? Why do you want to defend? More or less because of the pride. To protect our own self. By defending ourself we think our tarnished image would be protected. Learning from Jesus' example is a difficult thing to do. Let the accusers say whatever. As long as you are a child of God. As long as you are loved by Him. As long as you are His beloved. Be secure in His love. Image credit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/pictures-of-jesus-nails-feet-6723253?lang=eng

Joseph of Arimethea

Joseph of Arimethea had chosen Jesus but was secretly following Him. We never come across him elsewhere in the gospels apart from the time of burial of Jesus. But at that point, he decided to go public. This is the time I should stand up for Jesus to give Him a decent burial- and that is how the prophecies came true. Being a silent follower of Jesus is good. Yes it is between you and God. But openly proclaiming that you belong to Jesus is a different level. It is a higher way of obedience. In your workplace do people know that they cannot mess around you? In your college / school, do people approach you to pray for them? Do people fool around you? Do they hush their conversation when you enter the room? Would your presence make no difference? Do people want to gossip about others to you? The basic question is - Do others know you are a Christian? Do others know you are a child of God? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinf...

Not me! Yes me! - A prose

Matt:26:31-35 Do not be overconfident of yourself. Pride tells you that. But humble yourself. Tell yourself that you are prone to fall. Tell that you are not indispensable. Tell that the show will go on even without you. Do not tell yourself that you will not fall that low. Let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall. 1 Cor:10:12 Peter had full confidence. That night was his fall. All other disciples vowed the same (v:35). But they all fell. Oh! I am strong in that area. The moment you think thus, there begins your downfall. For pride goes before a fall. Why? For God resists the proud. He gives grace to the humble. Oh! I am good at this. I will do it well. The moment you think thus, the roots are nibbled. What can you do without His Spirit. What can you do without His power. Image credit: https://www.bhmpics.com/wallpaper-super-heroes.html

What was in His mind at the cross?

Matt:27:32-44 What was in Jesus' mind when He was on the cross? Save yourself - they said looking at Him. He could have. But He didn't. Why? He was thinking of saving you. So He chose to stay. But He can't save Himself - they said. He could have. He could. But He didn't. He was mindful of you. His mind was full of you. Let God rescue Him if He wants Him - they said. The Father wanted the Son. But the Son knew the heart of the Father. Who yearns to. Who wants to have you. In order to have you back, He chose to be there. He was not there helplessly on the cross, but willfully. Thinking of you. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=jesus+christ+cross

The halfbaked Bard

Search This Blog