Night shift

Ps:134:1-2

Oh, praise the Lord all you servants of the Lord

You who serve at night in the house of the Lord

Lift up holy hands in prayer and praise the Lord.

In the Holy Temple, there were priests entrusted in the night to continue the rituals and worship and prayers.

How often do we wake up in the night? May be a distracting noise. May be disturbed sleep. Even without any reason you may wake up. But then what do you do? Sometimes you are not able to sleep even after turns of rolling around in the bed. You count sheeps. You plan and scheme. You try to indulge yourself in your own fantasy world. But nothing happens.

Why are you reluctant to sit up or kneel down and pray. For you, for your life, your family, your spouse, your children, your ministry, people around you who need your precious prayers. There are lot of things to thank Him for. Lot of things to pray for

Be on night duty. God will give you adequate rest.

Sometimes even after 8 hours of sleep you might still wake up groggy. Spending time with your Father in heaven refreshes your spirit.

What did Jesus do? The previous day He works late night and then early morning before it is dawn, He goes to pray.

If Jesus felt the need of doing this, then how much more a feeble person like me. And do not think of prayer. It will distract you easily to the tugs of the world. Pray aloud.

Let your children wake up in the night and see you on your knees, hear your voices of prayer. Let that be the memory etched in their minds about their parents.

Let them dream to be men and women of prayers like you.

You are called to be a house of prayer. Do not make it a den of thieves

Image credit: https://www.amnhealthcare.com/blog/nursing/travel/night-shift-nursing-how-to-create-a-better-work-life-balance/

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Thresh

Micah:4:12 That He is gathering them together To be beaten up and trampled Like sheaved of grain on a threshing floor. The Lord gathers together to beat and trample. Oh! Isn't it mean? How can a loving God allow this? He is supposed to be our fortress and our refuge. He is expected to protect. He should in fact gather to bless. Not to trample. Not to beat up. Oh! I am bleeding. Doesn't He see it? My tears have gone waste? The query that came to the bard's mind, as he was pondering whether God is good or cruel, a blessing God or a naive entity is this - What is blessing? How do you define blessing? Very often the word blessing is linked to - all would go well. Well that is true in one angle. But the problem is man is tuned to think only finitely. All would definitely go well - for sure. God speaks about eternity. Not about the riches we inherit. But about character. About transforming into the image of Christ. About abundant life. And this threshing is the

The Holy Temple

Micah:1:5 Where is the center of idolatory on Judah? In Jerusalem; it's capital. The very place which was supposed to be kept sacred and holy, has now been defiled and become the very center of desecration. Fully polluted and corrupted. Why should He not be wrathful? The heart of holiness; which was supposed to be the throne of the most High God with all His richness and glory has been befouled and debased. The very heart dear bard - which is supposed to be the temple of the most Holy God, what all do you entertain? Confines the king to a corner in your quiet times and church and bible study. As if you give charity and satisfy Him and then you do whatever you want, the rest of the time. You think you can fool around with His holiness? This is one chant that goes up in heaven for eternity - Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty. Oh! Don't nullify it with your fancies. He is serious about His holiness. And that is why sin had to be tackled with. Not just brushed

What are we supposed to do Lord?

Micah 6 V:3 What have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? V:5 Don't you remember, my people? When I the Lord did everything I could To teach you about my faithfulness. V:6 What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give Him? V:8 This is what He requires of you. To do what is right, to love mercy And to walk humbly with your God. This is the only thing you're supposed to do Oh! bard. Only thing He requires of you. Not to accomplish great things for Him. Not to conquer nations for Him. If that is your calling, well yes, do it. But more important for Him is this. Very simple thing He expects of you. To do what is right. According to His heart. According to His standards. To love mercy. To deny all self righteousness and self centeredness, be filled with compassiin and consider others better than yourself. To walk humbly with your God, denyinh your own self. To keep aside all your pride. To love each other more than y

Delight

Ps:147:11 The Lord's delight is in those who fear Him If you delight in Him, He will delight in you. Oh! Is it like tit for tat? No dear bard! He has already delighted in you. He has loved you while you were still His enemies. You are mine He declares. You are His signet ring, He proclaims. Not because you fear Him. Not because He foreknew you would fear Him. But because He loves. Hosea was asked to marry a harlot and he continued to love her despite her unfaithfulness. Just like He continues to delight in you oh! Bard despite your persistance and adamancy. Oh! What love. Where else can you find such love. Image credit: https://butternutbakeryblog.com/moist-chocolate-cake/

Keep your promise forever

Ps:146:6 He keeps every promise forever. Everyone loves promises. It is even more beautiful when the promise is fulfilled. God is a God of promises and He is faithful. What He promises He always fulfills. Not even one goes wayward. There is no doubt about the general promises He makes in the Bible. One by one we see them fulfilled through the story of Israel and early church. There are enough and more personal promises which are staring at you face on. He is faithful to fulfill all of them too forever. It is upto us to believe and live a peaceful life trusting in the One who called us. Rather than like a high tension wire, ready to snap. Can we believe - He will take care. He is enough. He is sufficient. He is faithful. He never changes. He will not sleep nor will He slumber. He keeps His promises forever. Amen. Image credit: https://everydaypower.com/promise-quotes/

When you don't have anything else to do......

In the fish's belly Jonah was there for three days and three nights. In that dark place, he could only look to God. He could not run away, which he was so specialized in. He couldn't do anything else which he was an expert. He couldn't do anything he wanted to desperately do. All he could do was to sit in God's presence. Sometimes God places you in circumstances where you can only pray. You can do nothing else. And at that time, please pray. Do not try to do anything else. Even if you do not feel like praying, that is the time when you are supposed to. Helpless as you are, you can open up to your Father. Words do not matter at that time. Even a drop of tear is enough. You might not be a prolific pray-er. But remember the Father is always listening. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/man-praying-on-knees

RRRR

Obadiah 20-21 As Edom receives all punishments, Israel is blessed. Israel is chosen to come back from exile. From the ends of the earth, they are called back into God's bosom. They - Return Resettle Rescued Rule Not because they repented and came back to the Lord. Even before they repented, He paved the way back. The door was already kept open for coming back. The choice had to be made though for them to actually return, to resettle, to be rescued, to rule. They had to make that choice. Yet the road was already set to accept them back. There was no uncertainty whether God would allow. The cross has already paved the way, the ship has already been set for return, for bringing them back. But I have to board the ship. If I don't, the loss is all mine. The ship with all its aboard passengers will sail to the promised shore, for sure. Jesus is calling- to return, to resettle, to be rescued and to rule. Will you accept? Image credit: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cr

The halfbaked Bard

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