Monday, February 12, 2024

Prayer of a Believer

For a believer who walks with God, Prayer is more than just a practice, it is talking to a living, unseen omniscient God. Prayer is a profound experience in God’s presence characterized by Spiritual communion where not only we speak to Him, He speaks to our hearts, hence, Prayer becomes a natural response to EVERYTHING in life (good times, hard times and anytime) that is not defined by the hour of the day, or the day of the year.

I have learnt, for a believer, it is a naturalized communication, no, a naturalized communion, no matter what the circumstances. Though it can become difficult to pray at times due to distress in life, but because it becomes naturalized, we become comforted by the hope in HIM through God’s provisions, to speak with Him. God's love and kindness shows His mercy on us, as written in the book of Titus. Although He is invisible now, yet, He is as real and powerful by HIS presence as He was to the Israelites in the wilderness, by being a visible spiritual pillar of fire by night and a visible cloud by day, in every situation in life (and of course for the certain beyond).

Titus 3:4-7 reads thus,

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

The Great Escape from Fire and Tragedy

On the very first day of 2024, Japan faced one tragedy after the other! First, it was a 7.1 Earthquake without notice - this was of a natural cause but killed 62 people and the Second tragedy was one of grave human error - where 5 people of a Japanese Coast Guard Plane, who were taking relief supplies to the survivors of the earthquake, were tragically killed when a Japan airlines plane crashed on it while landing. 

Life is not only fragile but it is also shockingly snuffed out without notice. While remembering the loss of human life and thinking of the earthquake affected people who lost their homes, belongings and everything they had till moments earlier, now stand alone - and then the entire crew and passengers of Japan airlines, which crashed on to the Coast Guard plane, survived in 18 minutes after the aircraft caught fire while landing is a reminder to all of us, that indeed, life is more valuable than things - anything! All the passengers left the plane unharmed, as is, not carrying anything with them except the clothes they had on. 

As intensely terrifying these events are, we can be left hopeless if we value things more than life. For the survivors, leaving everything they carried in the plane, meant nothing, when their lives which is more precious was spared in a matter of a few minutes. So, if this life which is here today and gone tomorrow is so precious, we certainly have to pause and think of what we should do to save our souls which never dies. It is eternal. There are just two places it can be for life. Heaven or the Lake of Fire.

If we can get out of a burning plane in under 18 minutes just to save our lives, how much time would we need to take to save our souls from the Lake of Fire in which it has to live eternally. This is something we all can act on (Romans 10:9). Needs no better lesson.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. -Romans 10:9

JD