Soul Chargers for You: Devotions to Jump-Start Your Day!

By Hushai W.

The day dawns. The alarm goes off. You have to get up, face the day, a day filled with known and unknown pleasures and pains, challenges and conquests. How do I face this day? Are you wondering?

Of course, make sure you have a good cuppa coffee. But what about your spirit, your soul? Doesnt your soul also need some coffee and breakfast?

Here is a soul-charger for you! A devotional. Something that charges you as you launch your day. It challenges and feeds soul food like a good breakfast. Helps you meditate on His word day and night as David says (Psalm 1:2).

Its like a cuppa coffee that sets the tone for your morning. A bite of spiritual food that helps you stay close to the Lord in your lifes journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490884769

Hushai W.

Hushai W communicates creatively at seminars, camps, and conferences. Counseling young people and helping youth leaders to do so have been a passion with him over the years. Teaching physiology in a medical school, Hushai balances work, worship, and family, along with preaching, counseling, and facilitating in Christian seminars. A creative Christian writer, he has published articles in Christian magazines such as the Light of Life from Mumbai, India. His book, Choices for Life, deals with the three main choices faced by youth: choice for Christ, career, and a consort. His wife is a teacher and they have two grown up sons.

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Copyright © 2015 HUSHAI .W.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8477-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8478-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8476-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015910012

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/17/2015

Table Of Contents

January Connecting To Get Charged…

Two way communication

February Connecting To Others

Friendships and more

March Charged Up To Grow

Prayer, Praise & Worship

April Overthrowing Idols

One God, One Lord

May Virtual Or Real Connecting

Linking and living

June Charging To De-Stress

Dealing with stress

July Charging To Feel!

Emotions matter

August Does Money Matter?

Money matters

September Charging Our Talents And Gifts

Build up and bless!

October Charging And The Market Place

In the world, but…!

November Charging Others

Mentoring others

December Charging To Use Time Well

Time is too precious!

HOW IT ALL HAPPENED…

How did this book come to be? Good question. As I ministered to young Christians, I felt that there was a need for a daily devotional book to aid them. There are many available in the market, I found out. But somehow the newborn believers, children of God I was mentoring, were not using them. Some were perhaps too basic for them and some were very tough to digest.

There should be something in between, I thought. Some devotional which connects with the majority of young Christians. Young in age, young at heart and young in faith! Felt inspired to share my thoughts on relevant topics in writing. One of my friends suggested that I do a 366 day devotional. I took it up one day and began in earnest.

It was difficult as I am not a full time writer. Juggling job, family and ministry, it took all of five years for me to complete!

It has experiences, insights and plain expositions of the Word of God. These are spread out in daily digestible doses. I have grouped them monthly into some general themes as you can see in the table of contents.

All glory and thanks are to the Lord my God for inspiring, motivating, and empowering me to start, continue and complete this book you hold in your hands today! (Or view in your screen). To Him be all glory, honor, thanksgiving, praise, honor be! Blessed is Yahweh El Shaddai indeed!

My gratitude is due to the team of dear friends who helped out by vetting parts of this book. The final version has been made much more readable thanks to your critiquing, friends. These friends include my classmates, mentees and mentors. However, if errors persist, they are due solely to me! Some other friends encouraged me as I wrote. Thank you friends!

So here goes! Getting your soul charged is a continual process as we are all dynamic, changing, and mercurial, as it were. May our Father God keep you stable, resting on the Rock of Salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son as the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit God wafts from within you all! Stay blessed!

- Hushai.W

FOREWORD

How many people have you met in your own walk through life who are truly passionate about spiritual realities? Personally I have had the privilege of working for twenty-five years in a Christian ministry and for many years before that I was fairly involved with Christian activities, but I have not met that many men or women whose souls burn with spiritual passion for God, a love for his people, and a fervent desire to communicate the good news of the gospel.

Soon after meeting Hushai, I realized that he is such a man. No, he does not talk loudly in archaic spiritual language and he does not posture on the world’s many stages to gain attention, but he burns quietly on the inside for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of all humanity. Perhaps he will not travel to the end of the earth as a missionary, but his time here on the island of Mauritius, where we met, is clearly being used for the advantage of the gospel and he has been a bright light to those with whom he has been in contact here, not to mention his long-standing work among young people back in India, teaching, writing and communicating the love of Christ out of his deep commitment to the Christian faith.

The content and value of this book will need to be unravelled page by page by the reader. My privileged perusal of it has confirmed to me that Hushai’s insights and advice will be found of excellent value by anyone looking for that time-limited accelerator that we all need each day as we rush off, often too quickly, to face life’s challenges and opportunities. His sensitive heart and his strong convictions have combined well, to provide an excellent kick start to each morning!

I am confident that each reader can be blessed through this helpful book and commend it to you.

Andrew G Phillips

Saint Antoine

Mauritius

Previously Ministry Director at Carmel by the Sea, Holiday & Conference Centre, in George South Africa

AN ARCHBISHOP’S COMMENDATION

I am very happy to commend this book Soul Charges for You! Devotions to jumpstart your day by Hushai.W.

From his medical professional perspective Hushai has spent time reflecting on the biblical passages and written this booklet with daily devotions to guide the believers and to give the believers a spiritual jumpstart for the day.

He has referred to several biblical passages, outstanding personalities as well as other relevant literature to produce this inspirational book.

He has given guidance for connecting to the living God through worship, praise and prayers. He has developed devotional exercises, for linking, connecting and living with others.

He has developed spiritual strategies to deal with emotional matters like trust and distrust. He has also covered dealing, money and market place.

On the whole, it is very helpful for spiritual growth and mentoring others so that our precious time is well spent for both in reach or outreach.

I wish and pray that this book will be a good resource for your faith and spiritual journey.

The Most Reverend Ian Ernest

Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Mauritius

And Archbishop of the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to:

My loving wife and our two supportive grown-up sons!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It is with a grateful heart that I acknowledge the following:

1.Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Scripture quotations unless otherwise designated, are from

The ESV (C) Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright (C) 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

SOUL CHARGERS FOR YOU

The day dawns. The alarm goes off! You have to get up! Of course after you put it off you can snooze still. But eventually get up you must, and face the day. A day filled with known and unknown pleasures and pains, challenges and conquests. How do I face this day? Are you wondering?

Of course make sure you have a good cuppa coffee first perhaps and later a good breakfast. But what about your spirit, your soul? Doesn’t your soul also need some coffee and breakfast?

Here is a soul charger for you! A devotional. Something which charges you up, as you rush off into the day. It challenges and feeds soul-food like a good breakfast. Helps you meditate on His word day and night as David says. (Psalm 1:2)

It’s like a cuppa coffee or tea which sets the tone for your morning. A bite of spiritual food which helps you stay close to the Lord, in your life’s journey.

Read the scripture portion at the beginning. Then read the thoughts put down for you. Pray the prayer at the end of every devotion. Think about this through the day and meditate. The titles for each day are catchy and as you roll them over in your mind, you can meditate on the theme of the day. Have a small note book around and write down the thoughts that you have. Or perhaps jot them down on to your cell phone or Tablet!

So off you go! Get set and go on, face the day, charged by God, and His Word. On your mark! God is with you, and in you, as you set out!

January

Connecting To Get Charged…

January Index

Connecting To Get Charged

ONLY ONE THING IS NECESSARY

Luke 10 : 38 – 42

January 1

Only one thing is necessary. – Luke 10 : 42 (ESV)

My friend’s voice crackled on my cell phone. It suddenly died. My mobile switched itself off. I was wondering why. Then it dawned on me. I had not charged my cell.

The Creator God walks the streets of Bethany. He visits friends. The lady of the house, Martha, goes into a tizzy. Haven’t we seen our moms also rush? Go and get the fresh greens. I hope your dad will hurry with the chicken. Be quick!

In the midst of this frenzied preparation, Martha wonders, Where’s Mary? Peeping into the living room she discovers Mary sitting quietly and drinking in the Master’s words.

Martha barges into the room. She confronts Christ. Master, don’t You care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand. The Master says, Martha, dear Martha! You’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential and Mary has chosen it. It’s the main course, and it will not be taken from her.

What is this one thing? It is simply this: getting charged with God and hanging on the words of the living Lord Jesus Christ.

You ask, Today is a New Year’s Day, in the 21st century. Will this Lord walk into our home now? Remember, our Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews13:8)

He is knocking on our heart’s doors just now. When you open, He will come in and commune with you. His words bring us salvation and security. They empower, enlighten and enrich us. Today, the Lord gives you a choice. Choose life!

Speak Lord, as we listen. We do not know what’s in store for us this day and this year, but we know You will come with us. Help us to listen to you and start our day, however busy we may be. Let us sit at Your feet, Lord and hang on to every word You speak. Thus empowered and enlightened, may we go out! We ask this in the name of the Word, our Master and our Savior Jesus Christ! Amen

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GOD-BEGOTTEN NOT BLOOD-BEGOTTEN

John 1 : 1 – 14

January 2

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. - John 1 : 12 (ESV)

What should I do to become God’s own? is a question often repeated in different ways and different contexts. I remember my young friend Jeff (not his real name) asking me such a question one evening. I told him, It’s simple, Jeff. Realize that you are a sinner, repent from all your sins and reach out to accept the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Master. Immediately Jeff decided to do just that. We knelt down and prayed. As we got up from our knees, there was a sparkle in his eyes. I’ve made the right choice now.

The apostle John writes,

But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child of God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten. - John 1:12-13 (The Message)

Connecting to God is simple. Realize your need for a Savior. All of us sin through our lives. Only the one sinless Man can help us. And this deliverance He got for us was not free. He paid the full cost for it. He left aside His privileges in heaven, came down to earth, and took birth in a smelly stable in Bethlehem. He grew up as the only sinless man on earth and walked towards the cross. There on Calvary hung between the earth and the sky for you and for me, He died and was later buried. On the third day He arose a victor! He is thirsting for you! He wants you to take this opportunity to repent and accept His free offer of salvation. Yes, my friend, you can become the son or daughter of God. All you need to do is to accept Him. You too can become a God-begotten child of God. Born not of human will but by the will of God.

Why are you hesitating? Go ahead.

Dear Lord Jesus, I see that You and You alone can save me from my sins. I confess my sins before You. Save me from them. I accept You as my Savior, my Lord and my Master right now. Walk into my life Lord and connect me to Yourself. May I be forever connected to You. Thank you for making me God-begotten today. Thank You Lord. Amen.

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THE SUCCESS MANTRA

Joshua 1 : 1 – 9

January 3

…And then you will be prosperous and successful.

– Joshua 1 : 8 b (NIV)

May you have a happy and prosperous new year! We have all received many such greetings these days. But just a minute. Where do success and prosperity come from?

Money means everything to me, said one colleague of mine. Everything he did, he calculated its worth in terms of money. Investing wisely in shares he earned a lot. He thought he could buy anything or anyone with money. One day he took ill. Soon he was on his death bed. Then, too late he realized that he couldn’t buy some things with his money. Peace of mind and joy of the heart, are not available for sale with money!

Joshua, the young leader of Israel, had been trained to follow in the footsteps of his mentor and guru, Moses the servant of God. Joshua had a long period of apprenticeship. He learned leadership skills hands-on from the master /leader Moses. Yet when he was commissioned as the new leader of Israel, he became fearful of the responsibility. The Lord God spoke to him and encouraged Joshua.

He said, And then you will be prosperous and successful And when? Only when Joshua was careful to obey all the Law… not turning from it to the right or the left. Only when he meditated on the Law day and night, being careful to do everything written in it. This then is the key to success. The mantra to prosperity!

We can become successful and prosperous if we connect to God! We need to read, and meditate on His Word. His Word, the Bible is readily available to us. We need to just connect to Him through His Word daily. Read His Word daily. Think deeply on what it says. Then apply it to ourselves. We need to listen to what He says and do it! James asks us to do what it says (James 1:23)! Then, and only then do we achieve true success and prosperity.

Dear Father God, Thank You for making it clear to me. I now know Lord that reading and thinking deeply on Your Word, and following what it says is Your mantra for my success. I now commit myself to Your Word Lord! Help me enjoy the success and prosperity You will give me. Thank You Lord, amen.

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INSIDE OUT

1 Samuel 16 : 1 – 13

January 4

Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

- 1 Samuel 16 : 7 b (RSV)

They looked very sincere, these two men who asked for help. We lost our purse and are struggling to go back home from here. Please give us some money to help us buy our tickets home, they begged, As soon as we go home, we’ll send back your money to you, they assured us. We were students with paltry pocket money living in a hostel. We pooled together some money and handed it over to them. That was the last we saw or heard of them or our money! As humans we look at people and decide about them. We make mistakes. Many people are not the same inside out!

Samuel is sent by God to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem. He is told to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel. When he sees the majestic personality of Eliab, the first born son of Jesse, Samuel is impressed. Here must be the king that God wants to rule Israel, he assumes.

But God says, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16: 7)

We are very much concerned about how we look outwardly. I am not tall enough, fat enough, slim enough, or fair enough, we complain. Why? Because we want a good outward appearance. We want a good image in front of our friends and others in the society.

But wait a minute. God looks at us from inside out! What He is concerned about is the inner person. Are we connected to Him? Do we possess the faith that charges us? Have we become His children? Have we accepted His Son after repenting and become His children? These are His questions. Don’t worry if you are short, thin, fat, or dark. How you look on the outside doesn’t really matter, in God’s view. What matters, is your heart. How is it?

Dear Father, You are my God and my Father. I thank You that it doesn’t matter to You how I look. Help me to have the faith to be Yours and to have You in the center of my heart and my life. May my inner being be pleasing to You Lord! In Christ’s Name. Amen.

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DO WHAT IT SAYS

Psalms 119 : 1 – 16

January 5

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

- Psalm 119 : 9 (ESV)

Everyone thought Amar (not his real name) was very pious. On the day of his wedding he arrived, with a new Bible in his hand. The bride Anita (not her real name) also brought her own Bible and they got married in church. In due course, they got a lovely son. But soon differences cropped up. Sadly, their parents began to take sides. Soon hatred and distrust made their way into this marriage. After having a meeting to reconcile them, Amar’s dad suddenly collapsed with a heart attack. He was hospitalized and died in the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital.

Now Amar and Anita live apart, separated. Why did this happen? One reason is that both of them, spoke the Word, learnt the Word, but did not live according to the Word! The key word here is to live or practice the Word. The Psalmist is clear. The only way a young person can keep his way pure is to live according to God’s Word.

Of course we need to read His Word and meditate on it. We need to flood our minds and spirits with His Word. But that is not enough. The Lord Jesus Christ said this of the teachers of the law and Pharisees: Do not do what they do, for they don’t practice what they preach. Matthew 23:2.

Unfortunately even today we have some elders who preach. They don’t practice what they preach. Look at mentors who may be humble but who practice the Word. James is clear as he writes: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

My dear readers, are you a doer of the Word? Or are you a mere listener? Take care to do what you hear!

You may say it is difficult for me to follow all that the Word says. Do not worry. The Lord Jesus Christ has sent us the Holy Spirit God. He is within us. He will empower us. Once we repent and invite the Lord to come in, we become indwelt with the Lord. He will help us do what is in the Word.

Apply whatever truths the Holy Spirit God is impressing on you from His Word. Start small. But do start! Slowly walk on the road of sanctification. You will become more and more like Jesus!

Dear Father, When the morning breaks and when I awake this my prayer will be; Lord today I would ask of Thee, more like Jesus I would be. More and more like Jesus, only by His grace; More and more like Jesus, till I see Him face to face. In Jesus’ Name we ask. Amen

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WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Acts 16 : 16 – 34

January 6

Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

- Acts 16 : 30 b (ESV)

Bala (not his real name) was an addict. He was an addict to alcohol. His long suffering wife committed suicide leaving him with their three children. He used to drink alcohol, pour it on his head and lap it up as it dripped down. One day he got a vision. The Lord Jesus Christ was beckoning him to follow. Slowly he began to change. He started working in a menial post in an institution. Some students, who used to meet for prayer at lunch time, befriended him. Their leader, faculty member, presented him with a Bible. Slowly Bala began to be transformed. He turned to adoring the Lord. Later he became an Evangelist. Started helping many to know and grow in the Lord!

Paul and Silas were stripped and beaten on orders. The magistrate ordered the jailer to guard them carefully. So he put their feet in stocks in an inner cell of his jail. There’s no way they can escape now, he must have thought as he turned the key in the lock.

But at midnight there were two strange events. One, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God! What an attitude! Secondly there was a violent earthquake. The foundations of the prison were shaken. All the prison doors flew open, the prisoners chains came off! As he woke up, the jailer was in a fix. He wanted to kill himself rather than face the wrath of the magistrates. But Paul shouted, Don’t do that! We are all here! So he rushed and fell trembling before Paul and Silas and brought them out of their cell. It was then that he asked them, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Paul and Silas replied simply, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved; you and your household. Beginning thus, these evangelists explained to the jailer and his family all about God’s plan for our salvation. Though it was late in the night the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. Then immediately he and his family were saved and baptized!

What about you my dear reader, as you read these stories? Have you believed and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If not, today is the day and now is the time, to do it! Go ahead!

Heavenly Father, I ask, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ Thank You that I too can be saved by believing in Your Name, just like Bala, just like the jailer. As I ask the same question and come to seek Your forgiveness, hear me Lord! Come and save me Lord. Thank You! Amen

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IMMEDIATELY THEY LEFT

Matthew 4 : 18 – 22

January 7

Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

- Matthew 4 : 20 (ESV)

Two sets of brothers. Both busy with their work. Both were called by Christ. Called to follow. He said, I will make you fishers of men. They were professional fishermen in the Sea of Galilee. Hardworking men with calloused hands either mending their nets or catching fish every day. They were surprised. Fishers of men? they must have thought. But when the Lord called, they responded. What was their response? Implicit and instantaneous obedience! They left their nets. When did they leave their nets? Was it after some time? No. Immediately they left their nets to follow the Lord Jesus Christ!

Often we are busy with our own avocations- our studies, jobs and careers take precedence on our time and energy. If the Lord calls us, what will we do?

The Lord may call us in different ways. He may use different circumstances to reach us. He wants us to follow Him.

Laura (not her real name) was a young girl who came to visit her missionary parents. A man came knocking at their door, seeking help for his wife in her delivery. She said, My father is a doctor who can help her. Let him go with you. But the man insisted that Laura come with him, as they won’t allow a man to attend on a woman in their village. They would rather let her die! Laura was shocked. She felt the Lord calling her. She went back home, qualified to be a doctor and came back to the same country to serve the people. She set up a one bedded women’s clinic there. Soon she succeeded in opening an exclusive school to train women doctors. Prayerfully and with vision she groomed the institution. Today, a century later it still stands as one of the top institutions in that nation, offering quality medical education to many men and women. Aren’t you reminded of the hymn, Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart!

The Lord is looking for you and me to follow him, dear reader. To seek the dying and the lost! In our own corners, in our own settings, He has something for us to do. Let’s get close to Him and know what He wants us to do. Then, shall we follow Him, immediately?

Dear Father, Help us to seek Your will, connect to You, listen to Your call, follow You immediately! Connect to us charge & change us Lord. And help us to go out into the world to serve others our brothers and sisters! Thank you Lord, Thank you! Amen

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PRAYING IN SECRET

Matthew 6 : 5 – 15.

January 8

But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret… Matthew 6 : 6 (ESV)

The Lord Jesus Christ contrasts the public prayer of the Pharisees with the secret prayer of his followers. He instructs his disciples to pray in secret. Not in the glare of the public, but rather in one’s own secret room. Not to be praised by public but to be heard by the Father God.

He gives us a lovely model prayer. Why do we pray? The Lord wants us to pray so we can connect to Him as His children. It is to nurture the vertical relationship we have with Him. Just as we communicate with our parents, our spouses, our children, our loved ones – share with them our deepest desires and fears, we need to connect also to our divine Father!

The model prayer that the Lord gave us has first, a God-ward focus. It helps us to have the divine perspective. At the outset we pray for three things: hallowing His name; coming of His Kingdom and doing His Will on earth as it is in heaven.

Only after that do we turn towards our own needs and ask Him Give us today our daily bread. We are not to ask for an annual grant or for food security for a year, but rather, for our daily bread! For what sustains us, for a day. The Lord wants us to ask Him for spiritual energy to help us go through the day in front of us. We also ask next for deliverance from evil which is prevalent in our world. A conditional seeking after God’s forgiveness, as we forgive those who sin against us is part of the prayer which ends again giving honour, praise, and glory to God!

Israelites in their exodus, received a special sweet food, manna(literally, What is it?) from God. God rained manna from heaven for them every morning through their exodus of forty years. They were to go and collect enough for the day. If they collected more, it would rot. If they collected less, it would suffice. How about us? Every day we need to pray in secret, connect to God and ask for provision for the day, not more than that! Then we can go ahead in His strength!

Dear Lord and Father, We thank You for providing for us, every day. Even this day we come to You Lord, to connect to You, to seek and to find You. We want to do Your will today in our lives. Speak to us Lord and grant us our manna for today. Thank you! Amen

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WHAT IS MAN?

Psalm 8 : 1 – 9

January 9

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? - Psalm 8 : 4 (ESV)

King David begins this psalm praising God: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens

One way we can connect to God is to consider who we are in His sight. He is the Creator of all that we see. The majestic heaven, the sun, the moon and the stars which we see, spread out over the sky, are all what He made with His fingers. In this cosmic view point, what are we humans? Men and women are but tiny creatures running around on a magnificently created planet, in an average solar system in the Milky Way. Does man matter? Does this creature mean something to God who fashioned the entire universe?

Yes, man matters to God. He made man and crowned him with glory and honour. Made him ruler over all the creation on earth – cattle, wild beasts, birds and fish. It is God who gave us charge over all the earth – the flora and fauna. Our hearts sing when we think about this. Yes they do sing praise to God. We want to lift our hearts in adoration to the Creator God!

Having made us in His image, He gave us charge over this wonderful earth and all that is in it! Blessed be His name! Can we ever be able to look at ourselves from God’s point of view? I wonder.

One day, early in the morning my flight was taking off. As I watched from the window, the traffic, the buildings and people down below became smaller and smaller as the aircraft gained altitude. Finally they disappeared. Does God see us all like little ants busily going about our busy schedules? I wondered. Do any of us pause and look up to our Creator God to offer Him praise and worship? Yes, the Lord is majestic indeed! He is all powerful and ever present and all-knowing– the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God! In spite of this, He cares for you and for me! He wants us, to connect and communicate with Him. Every day to get charged with His power. Let’s not forget to get charged today!

O Lord, Our Lord! Majestic is Your Name indeed! What am I Lord that You care for me? Yet You love me. I am so glad Lord. Help me to gaze at You as my Creator God. Let me seek You and get help. Help to go forward into today’s world. Let me reflect Your glory. Thank you Lord! Amen

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MISSING, NOT DEAD

Hebrews 11 : 1 – 6

January 10

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him - Hebrews 11 : 5a (ESV)

Man missing, presumed dead. This is how we think of missing people. If they can’t be found by intensive searching, they are thought to have died somehow. But here in Enoch we find a difference. Enoch also was a man who was missing. He was missed on earth because God took him away, just like that! Why? Hebrews 11:6 says that, he was commended as having pleased God.

Yes friends, Enoch pleased God and was commended by Him. How? First of all by having faith in God. What does that mean? Foremost, we must believe that God exists. That’s not all. The Bible says that the man who draws near to God must believe that He exists and that He does reward those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 b Moffat)

How to seek the Lord? Remember that He wants to find us. In fact the Lord Jesus Christ came to seek and find the lost, the dead in sin, that means you and me! He came to seek, find and save us. All that we do, our good works, are futile. We can never score enough brownie points to merit salvation. Only the Lord Jesus Christ- fully divine and fully human can save us. He took the form of a human. He shared our feelings, our pain. He was crucified and He died on the cross for our sins – yours and mine. Then He arose a victor on the third day! His blood and resurrection power can be ours.

The other day, Orpah (not her real name) had severe chest pain as she sat in a church service. Her husband and son were perplexed. They brought her out of the church, rang up for an ambulance. Within minutes the ambulance rushed her to a hospital. She was treated immediately there and became better. Thanks to the prompt services such as these!

A simple telephone call summoned the ambulance. The ambulance brought healing to Orpah. Just like that, all you have to do is to call on the Lord Jesus Christ. Tell Him that you have sinned and you need Him. He will rush in to you and help you. You will be saved – saved for eternity – saved from certain death! Do call Him today!

Dear Lord! I want to be connected to You! Just like Enoch of old Lord. I beg You, come and cleanse me from within. Make me Your own today, Lord and every day of my life. With You in me I need not fear death. Thank You Lord. Thanks for saving me! In Jesus’ Name, I ask. Amen

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THE LORD WILL ANSWER

Psalm 3

January 11

I cried aloud to the Lord and He answered me from his holy hill

- Psalm 3 : 4 (ESV)

A king fleeing for his life. Fleeing from his own son who wanted to displace him. Such events have occurred in history. King David was running away from his rebellious son Absalom. Absalom had collected people and replaced David, his father as King over Israel. Suddenly David had to leave his home and hearth and flee. Leaving his comfort zone, he had to be on the run. Be a fugitive in his own country. It is in this context that David penned this psalm. He confessed his insecurity. But he affirmed that the Lord will be a shield unto him.

David is sure that he belongs to a God who will answer him. I cried aloud to the Lord and He answered me from his holy hill, he confirms.

If God is with and for us, we can withstand anything and everything! With David we can affirm that deliverance comes from the Lord.

What do we base our security on? If it is money, position or possessions, or even family, one day we may be forsaken. Money may leave us; we may have to give up our positions or our possessions. Even our family may give us up sometimes. In such circumstances, remember God.

When we lift our hearts and cry out to Him, God will hear. The Lord Jesus Christ who came down to earth to personify the grace and truth of God. Promises us that He will hear us. We only have to call on Him. He will hear us. We can get connected and charge ourselves like this. He will enable us to sleep well and wake up too as He sustains us. (Psalm 3:5)

Kalyani (not her real name) had to decide. Her dad was not a Christian. She had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized. It was time for her to get married. Kalyani didn’t know what to do. On one hand her dad was pressuring her to get married as he got a good match for her. On the other hand her Bible commended her to choose a believer in God. She read Psalm 3 and committed her choice to God. It took a couple of years of concerted prayer. She had to go through troublesome times. But at the end of it all she came through victorious. God provided a loving believer. Her dad also accepted her choice. Both of them were married with parental blessings. Today they live as a blessing to many. May the Lord continue to answer you in your dilemmas!

Dear Heavenly Father, You answer prayer. You enable us to sleep and wake up. Help me to seek guidance from You in my life. There is no security Lord in money, positions or possessions. In You I find all I need God. Bless me today Lord, I thank you. Amen.

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KNEELING, PRAYING AND GIVING THANKS

Daniel 6 : 1 – 22

January 12

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open towards Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously - Daniel 6 : 10 (ESV)

Daniel became prominent as the Chief Administrator of King Darius. He was appointed to be the chief over 120 satraps and three administrators. Why? He had the spirit of God in him. How? He communicated with God everyday, at least thrice.

Daniel’s elevation rankled the other administrators and satraps. They could find no corruption in Daniel. Nor was he negligent in his duties. He was trustworthy. What about us? How do our colleagues or classmates view us? What made Daniel so pure? Was it not the excellent fellowship he had with his God?

If you and I also want to live like Daniel, we need to kneel, pray and give thanks to God everyday of our lives.

Kneel? Why not? It shows that we pay respect to the Lord Our Creator, Our Redeemer, Yahweh El Shaddai.

Pray : Simply talking to God. Sharing our concerns, cares and burdens with Him.

Giving thanks: Yes we need to thank our God, everyday, every minute if we can. Why? You may well ask. The Lord wants us to be always thankful (Psalm 107:8). Our attitude should be one of gratitude. Then and only then, can we have a victorious Christian life. Yes, you may not be feeling too well; you might not have achieved all that you wanted to. Yet I can assure you that you have at least a dozen or more things to give thanks to God for. The fact that you are alive, are able to pray and spend time with God, and read this is cause enough for gratitude!

These are the very basics of our life. Every day at least thrice Daniel connected to God. He connected to get divine charging. How about us? Do we regularly pray and talk to God. Do we listen to Him by reading what His Word has to tell us? Resolve today dear reader, to connect consistently with our Creator!

O Lord our God! I praise You for all You have done for me. I thank You for all I am and have. It is because of You. Bless and use me as I begin this day Lord. May Your presence be with all my decisions today. Thank You for listening to me. In Christ’s Name I ask, amen.

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INTERCESSOR ISAAC

Genesis 24 : 62 – 63 & 25 : 20 – 22

January 13

Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived - Genesis 25 : 21 (ESV)

We hear a lot about his father. And also a lot about his son. His father Abraham is called the friend of God and the father of the faithful. His son Jacob went on to become Israel, the father of the nation. What about Isaac, who was in between? The Bible speaks very little about Isaac.

Eliezer, Abraham’s steward was given an assignment. To go and get a bride for Isaac from Mesopotamia. He brought Rebekah as a bride to meet Isaac. Where was Isaac ? He was out there in the fields. What was he doing in the fields? He was meditating. Having his quiet time, perhaps. Connecting to God.

How about you and me? Are we regularly reading, concentrating and meditating upon the Word of God? Are we studying the manual of our life here and life above? What happened to Isaac as he connected to God? The right bride for him is led all the way from Nahor in Mesopotamia!

Pray. Pray. Pray. Prayer helps us know the Lord’s will. It was perhaps this meditative prayer of Isaac as well as the flash ‘SMS’ prayer of Eliezer that led Eliezer to the right girl, Rebekah, in far away Mesopotamia!

Our lives are full of text messages, echats, twitter messages and What’s app messages these days. We spend hours on Face book, twitter, my space etc. But how much time do we have to meditate on His Word? Let’s introspect.

Another incident in the life of Isaac. His beloved wife Rebekah was childless. So he interceded for her. He asked the Lord God to open her womb. And what happened? The Lord answered – and how? A double fold answer? Rebekah conceived the twins Esau and Jacob.

Yes my friend it’s true. If you connect to God and depend upon Him and Him alone, if you ask Him, He will answer. Many believers can tell you how they were blessed by God. Why not meditate, intercede and be blessed by the God of Isaac today?

O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Help me to meditate on your Holy Word today Lord as did Your servant Isaac in the fields of Canaan. We want to be interceders and prayer warriors like Isaac. Bless our prayers and intercessions Lord and answer them. We ask in Jesus’ Name! Amen

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THE LORD GIVES SUCCESS

Genesis 39 : 1 – 6a; 20 – 23 & Gen 41 : 41 – 46

January 14

The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

- Genesis 39 : 23 (ESV)

Dad’s darling boy yesterday, abandoned in a dry well, sold to traders as a slave, deported as a displaced person, deposited in a new country, amidst a new and hostile culture. That was Joseph. A young man who thrived through all these difficult circumstances. But how?

Joseph connected with God. He was faithful to his God, and to his family. He continued to be faithful to whoever happened to be his master. Whether it was Potiphar, the captain of the guard, the prison warden or the mighty Pharaoh, Joseph continued to be faithful. He was faithful to whomever God put him under, as a servant or a slave. What was the result? Fruitfulness, prosperity and success. The key phrase in Genesis 39:23 says it all: "And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed."

Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. He was impressed by Joseph’s wisdom. He gave him full charge of his entire kingdom. Asked him to execute the 7 year plan for the future survival of Egypt. What a responsibility! What a phenomenal success for a slave boy! A teenager thrown in a dry well, a slave deported abroad, a household servant, a forgotten prisoner, Joseph, becoming the Prime Minister of the kingdom of Egypt! Indeed this is success! Remember dear readers that Joseph was successful in whatever he did: whether he was in the house of Potiphar, the prison or in the Pharaoh’s palace. The secret of his success was the Lord God was with him.

If we take time to pray every day and connect to God, He will indeed be with you and me too. Are you saying, Well that was for Joseph in those days, how about me, here in this millennium and year? Sunil Roberts, a modern writer, shares his story in his compelling book, entitled I will survive". He talks about battling mediocrity in his home town, to become a global, award-winning communicator. A recent Joseph story indeed! May the Lord make you like a Joseph or a Sunil and help you succeed in whatever you do!

Dear Lord and Father, We thank you for the lives of people like Joseph and Sunil Roberts. Help us to emulate them even as we pray, meditate and plan our lives, we plead. Be with us Lord as You were with them. Let Your presence make our every act today, a resounding success! Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ Name! Amen

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CONNECTED CALEB’S CLAIM

Joshua 14 : 6 – 15

January 15

So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day… the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out just as the Lord said.

- Joshua 14 : 12 (ESV)

Caleb and Joshua were young men, two of the twelve chosen by Moses to scout out the promised land for Israel. They went into Canaan in the beginning of the exodus of Israel. While ten of the other spies dwelt on the height of the people living there, Caleb and Joshua begged to differ. They said that with God’s help they can and will conquer Canaan.

Forty years later, after a meandering journey through the wilderness, Moses had passed away and Joshua becomes the leader of Israel. How about Caleb? The octogenarian (80 years old) confronts his old friend Joshua. He says, I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions. I however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.

Caleb connected with God on a regular basis. His convictions were different. What about us dear readers? Do you dare to differ from the people of this world? Do you form the counter trend? Do you swim upstream and walk the solitary walk in the path of righteousness? Take heart if you do so. Remember what happened to Caleb who followed the Lord wholeheartedly. Caleb claimed to be as strong as when he as forty, 45 years ago! Is it possible? Yes indeed. The Word of God says, "He (the Lord) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31.

To continue the story, strengthened by God, Caleb takes the hill country. He conquers and acquires the city of Hebron in the hills. (Judges 1: 10 – 15)

The Lord will reward you, my brother my sister, if you are faithfully connected to him. May you prosper like Caleb under the wings of Yahweh El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty, the Provider!

Heavenly Father! We want to follow You wholeheartedly. Please let us talk to You,