Category: Daily Devotional

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:8

God created us to be partakers of His perfection and blessedness, to show forth the glory of His love, wisdom & power.

And as humans, we are only partakers not possessors of such glory. Therefore, the relationship we have with Him is of one with unceasing and absolute dependence where we present ourselves to Him as empty vessels.

In the garden of Eden, the fallen angel, through the serpent breathed the poison of his pride and the desire to be like God, the possessor of all things.

Sadly, our first parents fell into the trap and came rolling down from the high position into all wretchedness in which man is now sinking.

And so, pride, or the loss of this humility, is the root of every sin and evil.

Even today in some manner we exhibit the same attitude of pride when we try to be god over our own lives as if we posses it, trying to fix our lives with our self-efforts and dependence on our experience, knowledge and skills. When in fact, what God wants from us is to humble ourselves and lean on him, the author and finisher of our lives.

But Jesus came to bring humility back to earth, to make us partakers of it, and by it save us. The humility that we couldn’t produce, Jesus, the prince of heaven, stooped down from his highest position and achieved it for us.

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:8

His humility is our Salvation;
His Salvation is our humility.

Brothers & sisters, let us yearn and desire to seek humility restored in us, which is only produced by the Gospel. That’s where we belong.

And unlike what the serpent made us believe, to live a humble, surrendered and dependent life under the authority of our heavenly Father is the highest privilege & honor we can ever have.

Lord, help us acknowledge that we are nothing without you, help us to draw near you every single day of our life.

“Show me your ways, Lord Teach me your path” – Psalms 25:4

Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with the Lord. It is through the sacrifice paid by the blood of Christ that we have been saved. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3: 16).

When we talk about relationships, the foremost important thing is the amount of time and energy we invest in those relationships to nurture them and further evolve with time.

Our God doesn’t need rituals and empty praises. He is looking for a relationship with us.

What does that mean?

It means more than just attending the church service every Sunday. Jesus wants us to be his church. He wants to have a personal relationship with us. What do we do with our relationships? We talk, we share, we cry, we laugh, overall we spend time together. BINGO.

Christ Jesus longs the same from us. So spend some time daily in the presence of God but not just as one of the activity off your checklist. It’s practised. Practise is a verb, an ongoing action word. It needs action. Just knowing about Jesus doesn’t make us a believer. Even the devil knows about God. We need to know and experience Christ as our own personal Saviour every day.

We can spend time with God in numerous ways. Here are few mentioned below –

1. Pray

Pray about everything. Prayer doesn’t mean using elaborated words but simply speaking our heart to Jesus and depending on his strength over the course of our lives.

2. Journal

Write a short prayer, the things you want to thank God for, about anything which is a burden on your heart and submit it to Jesus, your prayers. It’s very interesting to turn back the pages of your book and be filled with gratitude when you see how many of those prayers were answered.

3. Be silent

Relationships are not only about us speaking. It’s also listening to God. Listen and meditate on God’s word. Just be silent. Let God speak to you and reveal his plans for you.

4. Read God’s Word

Read a psalm or a chapter or just a verse. It doesn’t matter how much you read but how much you understand what you read. It can be a verse which you are meditating for the entire week. We are in no competition to show anyone how much knowledge of Jesus we have gained.

He is waiting to have a solid relationship with us and be our companion. He loves to talk to us and spend quality time with us.

Are you ready?

Lord, help me to spend time with you. Fill me with your spirit and help me acknowledge your presence always. Help me surrender my life to you. Amen

“Be filled with the Spirit” – Ephesians 5:18

Since the last couple of weeks as we’ve been studying through 1 Thessalonians on the subject of ‘Abiding Faith’, I’m learning to become more aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.

After reading through various scriptures, and reading Ephesians 5:18, it is evident that without the presence of the Holy Spirit, we cannot live our Christian Life the way we are supposed to live.

If we want to have a healthy Christian life, we need the filling of the Spirit.

We need the Spirit not only for our emotional satisfaction, but we need Him in every aspect of our life, whether in studies, at work, in business, in ministry. He is our heavenly helper who helps us with everything in life.

And unlike what people popularly believe that the Spirit only comes with a mighty stirring of the emotions, a sort of heavenly glory that comes over us, I believe He also comes as a gently filling of the whole being with the presence and the power of God.

Brothers & sisters, let us desire more of the Holy Spirit. The first step is to desire of Him, and the second is to ask the Father, who gives generously.

In Luke 11:11-13 Jesus said “What Father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus, through this life, death and resurrection made it possible for us to desire fully and receive fully of the Spirit of God in us.

Lord, we desire the filling of your Holy Spirit, and we ask you for an abundant outpouring, not few trickles.

And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? – Joshua 4:21

It is overwhelming to live in times of a pandemic and times of uncertainty. God in different ways reveals our sinful behaviours and gives us a chance to repent. There are times when we receive what we prayed for and at other times when the answer to our prayers is delayed. In the latter scenarios, do we still remember past times where God was faithful?

Recently, at the start of the workday, I made a to-do list. The day was going on well as I had planned but suddenly the WiFi got disconnected. For those working from home, you can imagine what a disaster this can be. I couldn’t go ahead with my plans for the day. I was frustrated. When the Wifi reconnected, I could get back to work.

Just as I needed WiFi to get along a simple workday plan, we need the Lord our God, for our lives. Without the WiFi, the to-do list has no significance; without Jesus, our life has no purpose. Certainly, we should introspect the areas where we have not allowed Jesus to take over. Jesus has plans for us, plans to prosper and not befall. He wants us to be his testimony. We have a purpose for which we are born here. It is not by mere coincidence that we are where we are. God has placed us strategically where we are to fulfil His purpose.

The times God has been faithful to us should not be just turned like a page in the book but re-read in moments of confusion and waiting. This is probably why Joshua was told to stack the stones in Jordan, to remind the next generation of how faithful God is to his people and the promises that he has given to us.

When he has told that he loves us, He loves us. Our life is a testimony to show the love of Christ. We are set apart as Christians to love one another. The way we love each other is a distinguishing factor which shows others what Christ-likeness is.

It is not only the good times but also the tough times where we must be showing the grace of Christ.

It will be very creative and thoughtful to put a thank you note in a jar every time you have to Praise God for his grace. And when the times are rough just look at that Thanksgiving Jar and remember Our God is good. ALWAYS.

Jesus, help me remember your love and faithfulness in difficult times when I rely on my own abilities and strength. Thank you for being my provider and help me glorify you at all times. Let me surrender all areas of my life to you. Amen.

James 5:8, NIV: “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

In this fast-paced generation, we are so used to getting everything instantaneously. Right from Eno, which cures acidity in 6 seconds to a handwash which claims to scrub your hands clean in 20 seconds. 

In our careers especially, we get so busy with trying to reach the top, that we forget to pause whilst on the way. It is imperative to pause to see how far we have come and introspect if we have shifted our focus and dependence on someone or something else. When life gets difficult and we face struggles, we soon look to God for help and depend on Him. Yet how easy it is to become self-reliant when life is smooth!

In this chapter, James is reminding us that life cannot always be like the Eno or handwash. The verse starts with ’You too’ in which James tells us that just as the farmer waits for his crop after he has done all that he could, we are told to Wait on the Lord. It is also mentioned to stand firm. 

God’s word says to believe what we have prayed for. It is very common to think, “Why do we need to pray if God knows everything?” Prayer is an act which shifts our focus from our own strength and depends on Him. It refocuses our trust which we put in the Lord.  When we are waiting on the Lord, we need to stand firm as it is very easy to lose our focus at such times of waiting. 

The Greek word for “stand firm” is a military term referring to a soldier standing his ground in battle. We are in a spiritual battle not only concerning our souls, but also the souls of mankind. And so when we face opposition from the enemy, we dare not back down but must stand our ground. God does not allow trials to come our way because He likes to watch us suffer or struggle, but because He knows it is the only way to grow us into stronger and make us more like Him.

As Jeremiah 29:11 mentions,’“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

We must wait patiently on a solid ground of faith in God. He knows everything and nothing is a surprise to him. He is working all things for your good as GOD LOVES YOU.

Make use of the waiting time to discover what is God trying to speak to you. Make good use of your waiting times by exploring what God may be trying to teach you. 

Today, just pray to Jesus with an open and candid heart to renew our spirit with his Hope. 

LORD, I pray for a spirit of perseverance and patience. Teach me ways to depend on you for each and everything and use my time of waiting to know you more and grow closer to you. Amen

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5

It can be so easy to fall into the trap of self-illusion and self-righteousness. Our good looks, our perfect ways, our talents and gifts; so easy to get carried away. We often forget that our foundation and cornerstone is Christ Jesus. He loved us even when we didn’t know Him. He provided for us even when we didn’t shed a sweat for Him. Isn’t this an act of His infinite grace?

Grace has been mentioned about 170 times in the Bible. How is it different or similar to mercy! 

Grace is when God gives us something we don’t deserve whereas, mercy is when God doesn’t give us what we do deserve. (Worth reading again)

Grace, originates from the Latin word gratia, which came from the Greek word charis, which originally meant “favor,” as in a gift or act of kindness that one person extends to another, in a gesture of offering. The shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross of Calvary was the ultimate offering given for us. 

We have done absolutely nothing to earn this love. It is not by any of our works that we have received this salvation from Christ, our Saviour.

When we were soaked in our lawlessness, our God through Jesus, chose to love us.  It’s his mercy which has saved us from the umpteen punishments. We deserved to be torn apart but by his mercy we are intact in him

Few lines from a hymn which summarize as below – 

Amazing grace — how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see. 

Lord, we are grateful for your grace that saved us from our transgressions. You chose us much before we even knew you. Help us to remember this and walk in faith spreading your love wherever you place us. Amen.

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” – 2 Timothy 1:7

Recently, I was working on an engagement event for my team at my workplace. I just couldn’t get my thoughts aligned to execute it. Moreover, I had already released the announcement about the event, timings etc; barely having any idea about the execution. This was especially when I was struggling in my prayer time.

Somehow in the midst of this, a day prior to the event I realised that it was ‘I’ who was trying to make this happen. It was my self-dependence, leaning on my own ability and strength that was getting in the way and thereby led to fear of how all this will turn out. The Holy Spirit pointed this sin in me and I just looked to God in prayer, not during my typical prayer time but in the midst of my workday; just calling out to Jesus to help me.

When I stepped back from myself and stepped forward in Trusting Christ, out of nowhere the entire blueprint was ready. His heart reaches out to us. It reminded me ways in which our loving God wants us to speak to him, in my case not merely speak but just depend on him.

In Psalms 55, the Lord reminds us to cast our burdens on him and he will sustain us. Sustain means to make something continue for a long period of time without becoming less. That’s the promise which we have received from God, through his Son, Jesus Christ.

When we turn to Jesus, we are reminded of his immense love for us which helps us give up our own control and give Him complete control. We serve a God who works out all things for the good of those who love him. Today, pray and think about one area you are struggling with and surrender that to God. Build your faith in Jesus, trusting him with his divine plan.

Lord, I am broken and sinful. But through your infinite grace, I can come to you and cast all my worries and cares on you. Help me to have a spirit, not of fear but of hope ignited by faith in your promises. Lord, reign in me. Amen

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13

There is no doubt that God expects absolute and full surrender from us. God claims it from us, and He has the right to demand it from us. And though He wants to do great things in and through our lives, he cannot work with a half surrendered heart.

Imagine the pen in our pocket, and because the pen belongs to us, that pen must be absolutely surrendered to our hand if we are to write with it. If another holds it partly, we cannot write the way we want to write.

Similarly, we belong to God for His purpose, and unless He has full control over us, He won’t be able to use us the way he wants.

At the same time, God is not asking us to give the perfect surrender in our strength, or by the power of our will. Instead, it is God who accomplishes our surrender to him, and that is what we learn from our above passage “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure”.

We grieve the Holy Spirit by trying to accomplish absolute surrender by our self-will, self-confidence and self-effort. We have to learn to cast this self-life and flesh-life at the feet of Jesus and trust Him to accomplish it for us.

Brothers & sisters, let us learn to trust in our Saviour, let loose the firm grip we have on our strength, wisdom and abilities, and let him take reign of our lives.

Lord, forgive us for putting our trust on our corrupt and rotten flesh in accomplishing absolute surrender to you, instead, help us lean on you and in your strength and power.

‘Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…’ – Deuteronomy 7:9

There are times when nothing makes sense to us. There are so many what if’s and why me. In such moments we forget that the LORD is our God. He is the ‘I am’. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

In the above verses, it is profound how God is reminding us of the truth that he is the One who fulfils his word. When we say that he has redeemed us, he has actually paid the price and gained possession of us in exchange for a payment.

This payment is the blood of Christ Jesus, his Son. Hence, we are called ‘Saved’.

It is the word that He gave to our forefather Abraham which holds true even now. And Abraham is our forefather not by genetic lineage but by faith. It is so deep to ponder over the importance of faith in the Christian life. We are believers, His sons and daughters, His redeemed people by his grace, through faith in Him. He has kept and will continue to keep his covenant for generations to come.

God’s love does not wither like the flower but it is the fragrance of love which remains even after the flower has withered. Jesus loves us even when we don’t, his love is not dependent on our actions and it is unwavering.

Let this sweet promise and the infinite love of Christ draw us to him and cause us to rejoice. Jesus doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs but is quick to forgive when we confess, repent of our sins, cast our burdens on him, and trust him with his plan.

Prayer ~ Jesus, we are not worthy of this love which you shower on us. But still, you remind us how precious we are to you. Let us be soaked in your Word and live the purpose for which you have called us. Help us to look beyond our earthly life and set our eyes on giving glory to you and your kingdom.

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing” – Hebrews 5:11

About higher teachings on the scriptures, especially on the heavenly priesthood of Christ, Paul writes it’s hard to explain because you have become dull of hearing.

Making progress in Christ is essential for every child of God, and the primary way of achieving that is not by doing but by hearing, doing should follow the hearing. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” – Romans 10:17

In this modern and technology-driven world, the one thing that is affected the most is our capacity to hear and pay attention to God’s word communicated in all forms, mainly through the scriptures.

The solution is not to put away the things that distract us, and I’m not talking about developing mental power to become more attentive.

Spiritual truths can only be received by a Spiritual mind, by a heart that longs and thirst for God, and it begins with a deep love for Christ and a deeper understanding of the Gospel.

However, the goal is not to get stuck in the basic principles of the oracles of God, but rather aim to become teachers of this oracle (every believer, not just leaders and pastors) (Hebrews 5:12), and for that to happen, we have to develop an appetite for God’s word, by attentively hearing what God has to say to us.

Perhaps most of us fail because of laziness, reluctance to make the sacrifice needed for progress, and unwillingness to forsake all and follow Jesus.

Let’s search our hearts today and ask what’s stopping us from making progress in Christ.

Lord, forgive us for our laziness, reluctance to sacrifice, and forsake everything that stops me from growing in you.