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Thursday, April 27, 2023

Short Reflection from Psalms 20-41

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (AG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟘:𝟙

"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!"

Trouble is certain in our life. It will come and go. But there's a God in heaven who can help us go through the trouble. Prayers like this must be made for one another.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟙:𝟙

"O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad, And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!"

I am weak but God is strong. I am prone to fall but God is near to deliver.

My faith is wanting but He remains faithful. Like David, I am and must continue to be glad and rejoice in Yahweh!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟚:𝟚

"O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest."

David, the man after God's own heart had moments in his life when God seemed so far away from him. And some people pretend to act like they are always walking with God.

And some people gave up prayer so easily. Some people got upset so easily. David wasn't. He kept praying. I think everyone will pray if God answers all the time. Whether there's an answer or not a prayerful person keeps praying!

 

[7:50 pm, 23/01/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟛:𝟞

"Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Indeed, 3 decades of my life on earth have taught me that the goodness and lovingkindness of God is better than life. This truth is deeper than hell and higher than heaven. For God is over hell and heaven!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟜:𝟙

"The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it."

God hasn't forsaken the world. The world is not bad as we think. In a sense, a lot worse and better than we can ever know. 😃

It's God's creation, and He, still, is preserving it. It's not Satan's world. It's the Lord.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟝:𝟛

"Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed."

That's why it is good to wait upon the Lord! 👍

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟞:𝟚

"Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart."

Wow, do we have faith and integrity to say like this!?

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟘

"For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the LORD will take me up."

Friends, family may abandon us, but God shall not.

Parents, bf/gf, spouse may even abandon us, but God shall not.

Happy is he who finds delight in the Lord. He shall not lose what He treasures most—God.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟠:𝟝

"Because they do not regard the works of the LORD Nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up."

Positively, we must regard the works of the Lord. We must give Him glory. We must be thankful to Him. That's what Romans 1:18-23 is saying also.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟡:𝟙𝟙

"The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace."

Psalms is a wonderful book. It comforts us every time we read. Look at such verse.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟘:𝟡

"What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?"

Last time @___________ said that David is very cunning in praying like this. But it's true also.

Who says "cunning" is bad if it's right? 😎

Who says killing is bad? Killing harmful bacteria is good but killing a human being is bad. Cunning to cheat people is bad but cunning to please God is good. Something like that...!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟙:𝟙𝟝

My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me."

This is my prayer too for tonight. Only God is great enough to deliver!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him."

This is a good verse to tell an unrepentant person that the way of sin is hard and sorrowful.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟠

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,"

A good reminder for the people of God to keep walking with God.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟜:𝟙𝟡

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Troubles and Problems in our lives do not mean that we are abandoned by God, they are opportunities to rejoice in God and to glorify God.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟛

"But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, And my prayer kept returning to my bosom."

Wow! What a contrast! David loved them and they hate him. May we think for the welfare of people like David!

 

[11:37, 18/08/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟞:𝟙𝟘

"O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart."

This is my prayer this morning for myself and you all. Where are our strength, comfort, and joy if not the lovingkindness of God?

 

[12:01, 18/08/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟟:𝟚𝟙

"The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives."

Have you borrowed anything from anyone and not paid/returned/gave back still? You are a wicked person.

Have you ever borrowed and given back in time? Still, you aren't a righteous person. Be a righteous person.

[The book of Proverbs says that everyone who borrows is a slave of a lender. Why do you want to be a slave of Axis bank Or SBI by taking a loan from them? Why not try saving now and buying later on? Why not wait on God? This is what this Psalm is talking about—to wait on God.]

What does the righteous do? They don't borrow. They aren't lenders either. They are givers. No matter what if you are righteous, you can be a giver.

I have not remembered myself borrowing money from others, and I hardly lend it. But I have given it to a lot of people, of course, not much, just a few rupees. 😃

Giving is not a matter of circumstances, it's a demonstration of who you are.

I don't mean to say borrowing money or taking a loan is a sin. It depends according to circumstances. There's even a Parable of the Talents in the New Testament. But what the Proverbs says "a slave" and the Psalm says "the righteous gives" still stand correct in all situations.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟠:𝟙

"O LORD, rebuke me not in Your wrath, And chasten me not in Your burning anger."

God disciplines whom He loves. God doesn't do so in wrath. He doesn't do so in full measure. If He does who can stand against Him? Still then, discipline from the Lord comes like abandonment or in His fury for a moment. David knew what it means to be a Christian (man of God) in this world.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟡:𝟙𝟛

"Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again Before I depart and am no more."

Have you been feeling abandoned by God? Has your plan and dreams been shattered? Don't rebel against God by running away. Rather like David, ask God to let you smile again!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟜𝟘:𝟚𝟞-𝟙𝟟

"Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God."

Remember, the saints of God in the Bible had moments when they had a ‘far away from God’ experience. A psalm like this should encourage us that "I am not alone; godly people faced such situations."

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟜𝟙:𝟙

"How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble."

There are a lot of helpless people and I don't seem to have helped them at all. But there are a lot of people who need help here and there, and those, I can understand.

Still, then, to help others even in times of difficulty is the intention I desire to think of.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Short Reflection from Psalms 1-19

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (AG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[1:43 pm, 01/01/2022] S.R: I shall be updating a line of reflection or two from the books of Psalms each day, one psalm a day! Not only push-ups (physical discipline) but psalms (spiritual discipline) also, nah? 😎🙏

 

[1:48 pm, 01/01/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙:𝟞

"For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish."

We love to say, "God knows," well, be righteous, or else, it's not comforting. Every Christian is righteous positionally by the propitiation of Christ. But to be righteous practically, we must practice like this blessed man of Psalm 1.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚:𝟜

"He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord mocks them."

Psalm 2 can be summarized in this way: God shall have the last laugh!

The world says, acts, and campaigns to defy God and His righteous ways. Well, God is laughing at them because He has already planned for their destruction!

Rejoice that we shall have the last laugh with God. Those who are laughing at us are actually laughingstocks in the divine scheme of God!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛:𝟠

"Salvation belongs to Yahweh;"

Psalm 3 was written when David was in great trouble. Everyone remembered David's sin, and his adversaries thought that David couldn't possibly be saved. They thought everyone including his family members and friends, and God has forsaken David.

Yet David slept in peace (v5) because he knew Salvation does not depend on man's praise or self-righteousness! Salvation is entirely on God! David knew earthly salvation and eternal salvation, any kinds of deliverance from any troubles are in the hands of God!

Right view of God helps us to sleep in peace and live in peace, and also rest in peace!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟜:𝟝

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in Yahweh."

You may not have much money to offer: Christmas collection, giving, offering collection, church building, jubilee, etc. Anyway, money is not the best offering.

The best offering to God is a righteous lifestyle. On top of this is Trusting God. God loves those who put their trust in Him. God is pleased when we trust Him. Even we, mere people are glad when people trust us.

Anybody, even class 10 failed, the poorest can make this greatest offering. Cheers! 👏😇

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟝:𝟙𝟙

"But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You."

Let's learn to pray like this when we pray for others! 👌👍

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟞:𝟙-𝟛

 "O Yahweh, do not reprove me in Your anger, Nor discipline me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, for I am pining away; Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are dismayed. And my soul is greatly dismayed; But You, O Yahweh—how long?"

God disciplines whom He loves. Yet, we can still ask for His grace like David. Indeed, who can bear the wrath of God!?

Actually, our strength is our prayer, our confession, and our trust in Him!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟟:𝟙𝟚

'If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and prepared it."

David asked to be punished severely if he had any known unrepentant sin in his life. Wow!

Then, He gave the theology behind his piety, that God shall not tolerate any unrepentant sin! Indeed, God cursed the whole human race and the world because of just eating a fruit. He hates any and every sin!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟠:𝟚

"From the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease."

God shall humble the mighty intellectuals, who are ignorant of His power, by the little children! Indeed, the greatest of this world is still smaller than the least of the kingdom!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟡:𝟙𝟡-𝟚𝟘

"Arise, O Yahweh, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O Yahweh; Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah."

Looking at the world, a need for prayer like this has increased day after day!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟝

"Arise, O Yahweh; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted. Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require it.” You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan. Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, Seek out his wickedness until You find none."

It's right to pray for the persecutors as well as to pray for the persecuted.

It's right to pray that God will forgive the persecutors and grant them salvation. It's also right to pray that God will remove the persecutors and strike them dead!

There's indeed a time for everything!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟙:𝟜

"Yahweh is in His holy temple; Yahweh’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men."

God is alive, active, and all-seeing! Let's not fret.

 

[9:46 am, 12/01/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟚:𝟙

"Save, O Yahweh, for the holy man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men."

David is lamenting that there are no longer godly people and faithful men as it used to be. They have disappeared and society is getting worse. We need God more than before.

Well, I also have decided to no longer put up a daily reflection in this group anymore! I hope, I have demonstrated enough last year and this year so far that daily reading and meditation from the Bible are doable for all!

Btw, I have a lot of groups where I shall continue with them. You still can join any of those groups if you like!

 

8 months later – [9:12 pm, 12/08/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟛:𝟙

"How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?"

I am on my way home after visiting a young woman who has been bedridden for 2 years spending all the money they had, in Imphal and Guwahati for her Spine Bone TB treatment.

She asked in tears, "I want to get healed from the Lord. How long do I need to sleep more?"

I couldn't answer her question. I couldn't even comfort her. The worst is I didn't even remember which Bible verse to quote. I reassured her that God warrants us to pray and that He hears prayer.

It would have been good had I remembered and read this short Psalm of David: David, longing for the deliverance of God.

[Updating inside Delhi Metro...]

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟜:𝟚

"The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God."

The just/fair news of the Gospel is that there's no partiality in God in condemning anyone. Because no one is righteous. No one is interested in God.

Definitely, no one wants the fairness/justice of God. We want His grace and mercy which is demonstrated in Christ.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟝:𝟝

"He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken."

This person shall dwell with God v1. Friends, don't be a miser; be generous. Don't love money; love people. Don't accumulate treasures on earth but accumulate friends in heaven by the wealth you have on earth.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟞:𝟚

"I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.'"

If you have no God in your life, nothing you have can substitute God. Everything you have is vanity without God. But if you have the presence of God in your life, world, and this earth, you can rest assured that God shall protect, provide, and prosper you v9-11.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟝

"As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake."

By beholding God, we shall be like Him. And that's the greatest that can ever happen to a mortal man. Behold our God!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟠:𝟙

"I love You, O LORD, my strength."

Do you use to say like this when you pray alone in your room? Hmm! I hardly said like this. Maybe, I have got to do.

 

[9:58 am, 19/01/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟙

"Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward."

Negatively, a child of God is warned of anything that God hates.

Positively, a child of God is motivated to do all things that please God, thus reaping blessings, rewards from the Lord.

All through His word!

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Prayer Walk In Imphal

However it be

No goodness did I see

I marched towards that tree

In my agony.

 

I shook that tree hard

To awaken my Lord

Yet not to hear a word

Just to ease my heart

Friday, April 21, 2023

Short Reflection from Job 28-42

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DRU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟚𝟠:𝟚𝟠

"And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Before King Solomon, Before Moses, Before Abraham, Job knew this truth concerning wisdom.

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟚𝟡:𝟚

"Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me"

Job felt forsaken by God. He recalled his life before this suffering. What a testimony he had! What a life he lived! Indeed, Satan would want to tempt such man to shame God.

I think it's Lee Strobel, who said that before his conversion he would love to date Christian girls to let them commit sin.

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟘:𝟙

"But now those younger than I mock me, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock."

Job not only disliked egg without salt 🙂 He disliked mockery too! At least I can identify with Job in some areas! 😂

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟙:𝟛𝟛

"Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,"

Satan defeated Adam but couldn't defeat Job. Even here, Job talked about his life's principles, and was striving to be better than Adam. We must also...

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟚:𝟙𝟙

"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, While you pondered what to say."

A positive lesson from Elihu: to wait silently!

A negative lesson: to not speak harshly!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟜

"Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one notices it."

Indeed, God has sufficiently spoken. And His revelations are sufficiently available! No one can find fault with God.

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice."

That's why I am glad when Apostle John said Jesus is our advocate. And He said I belong to Him. So, what do I care what the chorus of hell, heaven, and earth says? The justifier is my advocate! And everything He does is not only just but good and for my own good!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟝:𝟞-𝟠

"If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand? Your wickedness is for a man like yourself, And your righteousness is for a son of man."

Elihu is basically saying no action of ours affects God, it only affects fellow man. There's a truth in his statement, which I find so fascinating!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟞:𝟝

"Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding."

People often trample others to be seen. They exalt themselves in the humiliation of others. But God is mighty, He does not need to do such. He does not need to trample, humiliate, or despise anyone to exalt himself.

Let's learn this attribute of God as we seek glory for ourselves—not to pull others down.

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟟:𝟚𝟛-𝟚𝟜

"The Almighty--we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness. Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart."

But in reality, most people hardly fear God because they don't know the greatness of God!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟠:𝟜𝟙

"Who prepares for the raven its nourishment When its young cry to God And wander about without food?"

The question implies that God cares about the needs of the raven. And if God cares about the raven, will He not look after us? Jesus would likewise ask, are we not worth than two sparrows? 😇

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛𝟡:𝟙𝟛-𝟙𝟟

"The ostriches' wings flap joyously With the pinion and plumage of love, For she abandons her eggs to the earth And warms them in the dust, And she forgets that a foot may crush them, Or that a wild beast may trample them. She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned; Because God has made her forget wisdom, And has not given her a share of understanding."

God is really great. His creations declare so.

I remember a story about a man who was questioning the wisdom of God. He was lying under a big tree which bears small nuts. He also saw a climber that bears big pumpkins. He thought these to be highly mismatched saying that it looks fitting for a big tree to yield big pumpkins and a climber to bear small nuts.

As he was murmuring, a nut fell upon his tooth. And he shouted in pain, "Ouch!" Then he said, "Oh! If it was pumpkin, I would have died. God must be wiser than me!"

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟜𝟘:𝟛-𝟝

"Then Job answered the LORD and said, ‘Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.’"

God is so great that everyone will humble themselves at His appearing! How fortunate that we are told the greatness of God before we face Him.

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟜𝟙:𝟙𝟙

"Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine."

This puts us in the proper perspective of our life, possession, and situations. God can do whatever He wants. And how great that He does everything good for those (and only) who love Him (Rom.8:28)

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟜𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold."

Hmm! God is a restorer! What seems lost on account of living to glorify God shall be revealed to have yielded manifold according to the story of Job and the promise of our Lord in the New Testament! 😇PTL!