GLORIOUS GRACE! - 37

Isaiah 53:4 – Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases

While waiting for the manifestation of their healing, some people find it hard to believe that Jesus really took their sicknesses and pains, just as He took their sin and shame. If the Holy Spirit has opened your eyes to the word “surely” in the verse, then that will really revolutionize the way the whole passage will be understood.

Notice the first word in the verse? It says, “Surely…” Surely, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Now, look at the next verse: “He was wounded for our transgressions” Every Christian knows and believes that Jesus was wounded for our sins, yet the word “surely” is not put here but in the earlier verse. I think God knew that we would find it hard to believe that Jesus also bore our sicknesses and carried our pains, so He put the word “surely” there to help us believe!

Are you or your loved ones suffering some sickness or pain right now? Then stand on the promise of God and say, “surely, yes surely, Jesus bore that sickness. I don’t care if I still see some symptoms, Hallelujah!”

Thought for the day!
Surely our Lord Jesus has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. And as we believe this truth, surely, our healing and breakthrough will come, even as we are waiting for the manifestation of the healing!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 36

Matthew 8:3 – He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!"

It is God’s will for you to be healed! In fact, Jesus always healed the sick who came to Him. The blind, lame, maimed, mute, deaf and demon-possessed—He healed them all! (Matthew 8:16)

Unfortunately, there are some Christians who say, “It is God’s will for me to be sick. God has some purpose, some mysterious purpose for my situation. It is all part of His divine plan and we shall all know in the sweet by and by, the reason why!”

God wants you well. He wants you whole. His will is for you to be healed! He allowed Himself to be beaten and scourged, so that by His scourging—by His stripes, wounds—you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5).

If we are sick, know that God did not give us the disease. But He is aware of it.  Read every healing miracle that Jesus did in the Gospels and see how Jesus is the Lord who heals us. (Exodus 15:26). Hear His gracious words, “I am willing, be healed,” and know that they are as much for us today as they were for the leper!

Thought for the day!
Jesus is the source of all healing. He is gracious and willing to heal us! Lord, increase my faith! Help my unbelief!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 35

Genesis 8:4 - Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

For 40 days and nights, it rained so hard that the whole world perished, except for Noah and those who were with him in the ark. On the 17th day of the seventh month, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.

In Hebrew, the word “Ararat” means “the curse is reversed”. The waters of judgment receded, causing the ark to rest on the mountains of Ararat, on new ground where the curse is reversed and new life would begin!

When Christ rose from the dead, we were raised together with Him. (Colossians 2:12). We who are in Christ our true ark, stand on resurrection ground where the curse has been reversed (Galatians 3:13), where diseases, poverty and failures have no right! On the resurrection ground we will have a resurrected new life!

Thought for the day!
As Christians, we stand on no-curse ground. If we are in Christ, then we stand in the blessings zone where it is very easy for God’s blessings to rain all over us!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 34

Galatians 3:13 - Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us

But why did Jesus have to die on the cross, when the capital punishment of Israel during the time of Christ was stoning and not crucifixion?

Jesus hung and died on the cross because He knew the law which says that “anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse.” (Deut 21:23) He wanted to redeem us from every curse of the law, so He went to the cross, “having become a curse for us”. Jesus took all our curses at the cross, so that we can take all His blessings!

So if there is an area in our life in which we feel oppressed or a condition that refuses to heal, say, “Christ has redeemed me from this condition. I refuse it and reject it in Jesus’ name because by His stripes I am healed!” (1 Pet 2:24). Believe it and say it until you see it! The Word will become flesh!

Thought for the day!
With Jesus, every curse in your life stands destroyed. (Rom 8:1). Therefore, expect only the blessings of Jesus to come upon you and overtake you! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 33

Revelation 1:8 - “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord

Doctor’s reports are not final. Jesus declares to you, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” He has the first word as well as the final word in your situation. The experts and medical reports don’t!

When Jesus hung on the cross, He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. (Mt 8:17). That is why sickness does not have the final word in our life. Jesus does, because He took our sickness upon His body and paid for our healing with His blood. When Jesus hung on the cross, He took our curse. (Galatians 3:13). Today, we take His place and His blessings fall on us!

So why settle for the curse of sickness or even poverty when the price for our healing and provision has been paid by Jesus? Sickness and poverty do not have the final word in our life. Jesus does, because He redeemed us from every curse! When man says that it is impossible, Jesus says that it is possible.

Thought for the day!
Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, has the final word in our situation! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 32

John 6:57 - Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.

One of the primary ways (apart from Holy Communion) in which you feed on Jesus is when you read your Bible, soaking up everything on Jesus. Before you know it, His divine health flows into your body, driving out every symptom of pain, sickness and disease. Even your discouragement dissolves effortlessly. You find yourself encouraged, refreshed and your darkness giving way to light.

God wants Jesus to be food for us. We feed on Christ by seeing Him unveiled in the Word, (He is the Word!), by seeing and meditating on what the Holy Spirit reveals of His beauty and glory. That is how we enjoy Jesus. It is like having a good meal. And when you do that, Jesus Himself promises that “he who feeds on Me will live because of Me”!

Thought for the day!
There is no way you can feed on Jesus through reading and hearing His Word, and still remain the same. He said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 31

John 1:3 -  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made, that was made.

Any product you buy, will usually come with an instruction booklet which says, “Send only to authorized centres for repairs.” Similarly, when something in your body or life breaks down, you go back to Jesus, your Creator and Maker. You go to Him because God’s Word tells us that “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made, that was made”.

The Bible says that in the beginning, God created everything by speaking (Genesis 1), and Jesus was the Word who caused everything to come to pass. (John 1:1–3, 14) So when relationships break down, when your finances are low or when some part of your body isn’t functioning well, you go to Jesus who can fix it and even make it better than before!

When man handles something in you that has not been going well, it is usually not as good as before. But when Jesus handles it, all things become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17). The One who made the heavens and the earth is more than able to make it better than it was before!

Thought for the day!
When something in your body or life breaks down, go to Jesus, your Creator and Maker, who can fix it even better than before!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 30

Matthew 26:26 - While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of BREAD, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; THIS is My body.”

When the disciples were told this, they could practically visualize what it meant because they had lived and walked with this Jesus.  The disciples had seen people with deformities made whole when they touched His body. (Mt 15:30–31)

Even His clothes were soaked with His health! A woman who had a haemorrhage for 12 years—no doctor could cure her—was healed immediately when she touched the hem of His garment. If the hem of His garment was soaked with His health, energy and divine radiance, how much more His body!

So that night, when He said, “Take, eat; this is My body,” they knew what it meant. They were probably thinking, “We are going to ingest His health into our bodies! Hallelujah!”

That is what you must believe when you partake of the Holy Communion. It is not just a ritual or symbolic act. And when you eat of His broken body with this revelation, you will have life in abundance and the health of the Lord!

Thought for the day!
Believe that Jesus is the true bread from heaven who took your cancer, diabetes and heart disease, etc., so that you can have the supernatural health of the Lord when you eat of His broken body!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 29

Acts 2:46 –  Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts

Back then in the early church, Christians would meet each other every day, either in the temple or from house to house in smaller groups. And when they met in their homes, the Bible tells us that they would break bread. That represents the Holy Communion, and they took it every day!

The truth about receiving the Holy Communion daily is this: If you are sick, you can be made well very soon. This means that you get healthier and stronger from day to day—first thirtyfold, then sixtyfold, then a hundredfold! The more you receive it, the better you become. Isn’t God good?

What if one takes the Holy Communion three times a day, just like they would take medicines! Why not? Why not boost your recovery rate? And the next time you eat the body and drink the blood of our Lord, you can just find your disease totally gone!

Thought for the day!
The more you partake in the Lord’s Supper, the more you boost your recovery rate

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 28

Hebrews 4:16 -  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

If you are facing a challenge right now, then know that you have a standing invitation from our heavenly Father to come boldly to the throne of grace to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

When you are in a crisis and need mercy, God’s Word assures you that you will find mercy when you come boldly to God. Mercy means that you don’t get the bad things you deserve, such as condemnation, poverty, failure, loss, etc.

And mercy is not the only thing that you will obtain when you come boldly to God. You will also find grace. Grace means that you get the good things that you don’t deserve, such as health, protection, anointing, favour, good success and life more abundant.

So come boldly to the One who loves you passionately, unconditionally and with an unending love. Come boldly to Him. He has wisdom far beyond the doctor you highly respect, the lawyer you greatly honour and the best experts you can consult. Come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace to help in your time of need!

Thought for the day!
Come boldly to God who knows everything about your situation and has the solution.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 27

Matthew 18:21-22 –  Then Peter came and said to him, "“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy times seven” indicating that you forgive all the time!

There is no such thing as a “partial sinner” or “great sinner”. All of us are great sinners but Jesus forgave us and saved us. And when we realize that we are forgiven much, we will love the Lord much. (Luke 7:47)

So if someone has wronged you, tell yourself this: “I did not deserve God’s forgiveness, but He forgave me through Christ. So I forgive this person also.” If you say something like, “He does not deserve it,” it makes no sense. Neither did you deserve God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness is not for people who deserve it. If they deserve anything, it is punishment. But forgiveness means that you extend grace and mercy—like how God extends undeserved favour to you.

If you choose to hold on to bitterness, no one suffers but you. You lose your peace, then possibly your health. It is just not worth it. God tells you, “Let go. Forgive them their debts, just as I have forgiven you yours.”

Thought for the day!
When we realize that we are forgiven much, we will love much!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 26

Romans 4:17 -  God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Many a time, when we look at ourselves, we don’t see what we can become. But when God looks at us, He sees what we can become by His grace.

When Jesus met Simon, whose name in Greek means “reed”, He changed his name to “Peter”, which means “rock”. But did Peter instantly become someone with the characteristics of a rock—solid, stable and unshakable? No, for a long time, he continued to act like a reed that bends every which way the wind blows.

Throughout his reed-like behaviour, Jesus kept calling him “rock” until one day, the way Jesus “saw” him, began to take root in him. That day, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up to preach and 3,000 people were saved! (Acts 2:41) Peter had indeed become a rock, a pillar in the early church.

God did not tell us to call those things which exist as they exist. What is the point of stating the obvious? It is not going to change anything. No, God tells us to call those things which do not exist as though they did, and they will!

Thought for the day!
God tells us to call things which do not exist as though they did, and they will! Call it the way God calls it! ??

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 25

Ephesians 2:8 -  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

If you want God’s promises to be sure in your life, you cannot depend on yourself. If you depend on yourself—your obedience, goodness, service and even faith—you will not be able to receive God’s promises. But when you depend on God’s grace & mercy—that is when His promises become sure in your life.

This was true of the woman with hemorrhage (Mt 9:20–22) She didn’t go around saying, “I must have faith…I hope that I have enough faith…I will have faith…I will not lose faith.” No, she was only conscious of the grace and power of Jesus—how He always healed the sick, how powerful He was in raising the dead and how willing He was to use that power for her healing.

She said, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well”. When the woman saw His grace, God saw her faith! And so it was by grace, through faith, that God’s promise became sure in her life. You too will be made whole, kept healthy, preserved and blessed, by His grace and mercy.

Thought for the day!
When you see God’s grace, He sees your faith, and you will receive the breakthrough you need.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 24

2 Peter 1:2 - Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord

Word of God says that grace, which is the undeserved favour of God, and peace, can be multiplied to you. Peace is the word “shalom” in Hebrew. Its definition includes wholeness, health, safety and provision. So when you walk in divine grace and peace, you will walk in blessings in every area of your life!

But how do the undeserved favour and shalom of God increase in your life? It is not by your labouring or toiling to earn it. The Bible says that it comes as your knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord increases. So, get to know the Lord your God.

Also, speak forth God’s Word in faith. On your way to work, say, “God’s favour surrounds me as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:12). As you continue to speak God’s favour over your life out of a revelation of Jesus and His salvific work, you will see more of it being released.

Expect to receive preferential treatment wherever you are. And see God’s favour work for you!

Thought for the day!
You don’t have to struggle for the favour of the Lord. Get to know the Lord your God and speak forth God’s Word in faith.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 23

Hebrews 12:2 -  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith …

If you are sick, you must know that you are already healed (Isa 53:5; 1Pet 2:24), because of the salvific work of Christ. Don’t ask, “Do I have enough faith to be healed? Do I have the right kind of faith to be healed? What if I am lacking in faith?” You are focusing on yourself and your faith, instead of Christ and His finished work.

You should be saying, “Jesus took away my sickness and He has done a perfect work.” In other words, fix your eyes on Jesus and His perfect work. Mt 8:17 says, that Jesus Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.

Remove the hindrance—your focus on your faith— by looking unto Jesus and His power. The more you focus on your faith, the more faith slips away. But if you focus on the finished work of Christ and see God’s grace toward you, God sees that as faith! Believe that Christ Himself has already borne your sickness, and you will see your miracle manifest!

Thought for the day!
Fix your eyes on Jesus and His perfect work. Jesus Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 21

1 Corinthians 1:27 -  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong

You may think that you are a “Mr. nobody”, maybe even a “Mr. was” or a loser in the eyes of the world. Take heart because God’s Word says that if you are not wise, not mighty or not noble according to the flesh, then you are a prime candidate for Him to call on! And when He begins to use you, you will see His favour, power and grace change your life.

In the eyes of the ancient world, Moses was the rising star of Egypt. The Bible tells us that in the first 40 years of his life, “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds”. (Acts 7:22) But God could not use him then because he was too smart, strong and full of himself.

It was only 40 years later, after having been in the unglamorous desert of Midian, emptied of himself and thinking that he was a “has-been”, that God sent him to confound the might of Pharaoh.

Thought for the day!
God chooses the weak, the small, the forgotten and the losers to confound those mighty in the world. That's grace!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 19

1 John 4:10 -  In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

You may have tried your best to love God, only to fail miserably. But what is the truth about love? “this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us”. Yes, it is not about our love for Him, but His love for us!

The Bible says that you must love God with all your heart, soul and strength!” How can this happen? We will love Him when we realise how much He loves us. The graces (undeserving) we receive, tell us that God loves us first, not that we love God. (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 3:1; 4:9; 4:19).

God has seen you trying your best to love Him. And because He loves you, He wants you to sit down and be still, and first understand His love for you instead. He loves you unconditionally regardless of who you are or what you have done because His love is not dependent on you but on Himself. He will never stop loving you, because that’s His nature.

Thought for the day!
The more you recognise and comprehend His love and mercy for you, the more you will love Him! God loves you with all that He is and all that He has.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 20

Matthew 15:27 -  And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

The Canaanite woman desperately seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter came to Jesus. (Mt 15:22–28). She pretended to be a Jew, calling out, “O Lord, Son of David!” (Vs.22) (Only the Jews addressed Jesus as the “Son of David”). Jesus did not answer her. His silence made her drop her pretence and cry out, “Lord, help me!” (Vs.25)

Only when her pretences had melted away did she see the grace of God extended to her. So when the Canaanite woman took her place by dropping the title “Son of David” and just leaned on Jesus’ compassion for her, her daughter was healed from that very hour!

You do not need to depend on pretensions to receive a miracle from Him. Come as you are and lean on His grace. If He has delivered Jesus up for us, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”? (Romans 8:32)

Thought for the day!
Just come as you are to receive all that you need from God. You don’t have to pretend to be someone else to appear more deserving to receive from God.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 18

2 Corinthians 9:8 -  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Jesus sees differently from us. He sees the invisible. We see only the visible, which is tangible, temporal and which seems so real to us. In every healing, Jesus released the over abounding grace to envelop the sick person and they were made whole.

It is possible for someone who is sick to have super abounding grace upon him and yet that grace does not heal his body. That is because he keeps acknowledging and confessing the lack or the problem he sees. He is more concerned with that which is visible and temporal. So even though the surplus supply of grace is available, it is there in vain. By His wounds your are healed!

We must call forth what we want to see. Visualise and picture your wholeness! Say, “Father, I thank You that right now, though my health is under attack, there is super abounding grace available for my healing and health. I call it forth and receive it now in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!”

Thought for the day!
Don’t be conscious of what is lacking or missing. Be conscious of God’s surplus grace for you and avail yourself of it! See the mercy and grace of God ever-present in every situation.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 17

Galatians 3:5 -  Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Imagine that you are at a healing service where an alcoholic and a very pious person are present. Both need physical healing and you witness the alcoholic getting healed but not the pious person. Most people would get upset and confused with such a story, because they believe that God heals the deserving.

But that is not how God works. God looks at faith, not works. So if we go back to the above example, God wants to heal both the alcoholic and the pious person. All they need to do is to receive by grace, (or unmerited favour), through faith.

We cannot earn the blessings of God. We receive them by believing God’s love and grace toward us. When you believe that you receive your blessings based on the atoning work of Jesus and by His merits and grace alone, you will receive your blessings!

Thought for the day!
God’s power is made manifest in those who trust His goodness instead of their own goodness.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 16

Philippians 2:13 -  for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

You probably found that when you tried to break a bad habit or attitude by sheer willpower, you saw improvement for a while, and then bounced back to square one. The changes were temporary because it was you doing it.

Turn your life over to our Lord Jesus Christ and experience God’s grace, as you pray… “Lord I cannot, but You can break my habit. I am trusting in You O Lord. It is entirely Your grace O God and none of me!"

When you receive the grace of God to do what you cannot do, you will experience effortless and permanent change on the inside, which in turn changes your actions on the outside. Then, what you experience will not merely be behavior modification, but true and lasting inward transformation!

Thought for the day!
It is God who removes your old habits and attitudes and gives you new ones.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 15

Matthew 6:11 -  Give us this day our daily bread.

Doctors have discovered that worry, stress, fear and anxiety can cause stomach ulcers, high blood pressure and other health problems. The Bible says that a merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) It also says that God wants us to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. (3 John 1:2)

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:34). If you worry about tomorrow, you are trying to live tomorrow today itself! God does not want you to do that. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” He did not say, “Give us this day our weekly bread.”

By all means, do your homework, but don’t worry about it or the result. Just trust the One who wants you to give Him all your cares (1 Peter 5:7), and enjoy His peace and life today!

Thought for the day!
Don’t worry about tomorrow for when tomorrow comes, the bread—provision and grace—will be there. Rest and trust in His grace.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 14

Hebrews 11:6 -  And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

In other words, the faith that pleases God is the kind of faith that believes that God exists and that He is a rewarder.

The Bible also says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. (Hebrews 11:1) So even in times of difficulty, when we don’t see good things happening in our circumstances, we are to believe that God will turn things around and reward us.  God has pleasure in this kind of faith.

Thought for the day!
Believe that God is a rewarder of your faith in Him!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 13

Philippians 3:13–14 -  Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Are you living a life of regrets thinking, “If only I had…” ? Is your past robbing you of the joy of today? Put your past behind!

Consider St. Paul. If the devil had anything to bring against Paul, it would be reminders of how he had persecuted the early church and caused the deaths of many, including Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Now Paul says, “forgetting what lies behind…”

God’s Word says, “The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:8). His glory will cover your past. It has been wiped out. It is gone! So don’t let your past rob you of today’s joy any longer! (Must read Heb 10:17 and Rom 8:28).

Thought for the day!
Because God’s glory covers your past, you don’t have to let your past rob you of today’s joy!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 12

Hebrews 2: 18 -  Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. (Also ref Heb 4: 15)

Private pains, deep hurts, shameful addictions... You may think that nobody understands what you are going through, but God does. He can identify with all your pains and is able to help you. (Heb 2:18, 4:15)

Jesus also suffered at the hands of men—slanderers who misunderstood Him… insinuations that He was born out of wedlock (John 8: 41). That scandalous remark, probably not the first, must have hurt Him.

Consider also the temptations He faced. Perhaps there were more than three. Because God’s Word says that He was tempted for 40 days! (Luke 4:2).

Thought for the day!
There is no temptation or suffering that you are going through that Jesus cannot identify with or give you His grace to overcome.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 11

1 John 4:4 - Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

You would be familiar with the act involving a lion and its trainer in the circus. But have you ever wondered why, besides holding a whip, the trainer would arm himself with a stool and point its legs toward the beast?

The whole idea is to distract the lion. You see, as powerful as the beast is, it can be immobilized by distractions. If this man-eater is not distracted from time to time, it might just decide to maul the trainer to death!

The devil is like the trainer. He knows that you have God’s power inside you because the Lion of Judah is in you, and so what the devil tries to do is immobilize you with distractions.

For example, he may bring to your attention a pain in your body to distract you. And you find yourself going to a few medical journals or the Internet to find out more about the symptoms. You also decide to consult more than one doctor. And because you know of someone who has the same condition, you talk to him about it.

In the end, you are distracted by the pain, the symptoms, your findings, the doctors’ reports and your friend’s experience. And you find it hard to believe and focus on God’s Word about your healing. You have become immobilized, powerless and fearful.

So the devil’s trick is to get you to focus on your condition. When you are conscious of the symptoms in your body and your findings, you will see sickness manifest. But God wants you to focus on who you are and what you have in Christ. When you are conscious that you are the healed in Christ, you will see healing manifest.

Thought for the day!
Be conscious of Christ, who is all the power of God inside you, and you will see that power manifest in you! What you are conscious of, will manifest!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 10

Romans 8:16-17 - it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

Everything produces after its kind. In the same manner, when you are born again, you are born of God. You are a child of the Most High God. And His Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are His child.

So when the devil reminds you with a negative thought,... “Well, your father died of this or that sickness, and you are going to die of that too,”... just know in your heart that you are like your Father in heaven! Declare, “I am a child of the Most High God. He doesn’t have any sickness, so neither do I!”

Thought for the day!
Because you are born of God, you are born to win. Like Father, like son!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 9

Philippians 4:6 -  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

God does not want you to be fearful, fretful or anxious. Instead, when you have a care or worry, straightaway, turn that care into prayer. And in the midst of that prayer, thank God for having released His healing and provision, and that becomes thanksgiving.

Keep on praying (in tongues, if you can), until the worry dissipates, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7).

Thought for the day!
Our Abba Father is so strong that there is nothing He cannot do, and He is so loving that there is nothing He will not do for us! So, turn your cares into prayers!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 8

John 10:10 -  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Jesus is God in action. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus going about healing the sick. If God wants some people sick, then there should be at least one incident in the Gospels where you see Jesus refusing to heal someone. But no, never once! In fact, “Jesus went about all the cities and villages… curing every disease and every sickness”. (Mt 9:35)(Mt 4:23-24).

God does not give anyone sickness to teach some lesson or to glorify Himself. To think so is to talk out of a warped mind.

Hear God speaking this to your heart today: “I do not wish you ill. I will not give you a tragedy to teach you some lesson.”

Thought for the day!
God wants his children well and joyful and live an abundant life.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 7

Proverbs 4:20–21 -  My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.

Find time to nourish your inner man with the Word of God. Believe that if you give time for God’s Word first, God will take care of all your needs.

All your work can wait. First, one thing is needful —that you spend time in the Word of God. (Luke 10: 39-42)

Your health and well-being will be blessed. (Proverbs 4:22). It will make your way prosperous (Joshua 1:8–9)… you receive divine health and good success!

Thought for the day!
You will not lose out when you take time to sit down to study and listen to God’s Word.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 6

Jeremiah 32:17 -  ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. (Ref Jer 32:27 also)

Our minds tend to see our problems as big or small. We think of headaches as small problems and cancers as big ones. But that is not the way God thinks. There is nothing too hard for Him who made the heavens and the earth!

With God, there is no such thing as a “big” problem. It is so encouraging to think that it is not too hard for God to heal even cancer.

Thought for the day!
With God, your  problem small or big is never a problem because there is nothing too hard for Him!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 5

Psalm 5:12 - For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield.

What do you believe and say to / for your loved ones every day ? For the Jews, on Friday evenings, the father lays his hands on his children and pronounces God’s blessings over them. No wonder they become some of the world’s greatest inventors, bankers, musicians and entertainers.

In the New Testament, the apostles pronounced blessings over the churches they were preaching to. (Philippians 4:19) (3 John 1:2).

Bless your loved ones. Declare over them, “The Lord blesses you and surrounds you with His favour as with a shield.” Speak forth a blessing upon yourself also, by declaring, “Thank You Lord, You supply my needs and You heal me!”

Thought for the day!
Pronounce God’s blessings over your children, even if they be far and they will grow up to be winners in the fight of life.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 4

2Cor 3:18 -  And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

When you look in a mirror, what do you see? Of course, you see yourself as you are. But God does not want you to see yourself in the natural.. God wants you to see yourself the way He sees you—healed, strong, favoured and whole because Christ is in you. (Colossians 1:27)

Begin to behold the glory of Jesus who is in you, and you will begin to behold the miracles that you need!

Thought for the day!
As you behold the glory of Jesus who is in you by His Spirit, you are being transformed from sick to healed, loser to winner!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 3

John 6:28–29 -  Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God,  that you believe in him whom he has sent."

If you are asking, “What must I do to receive my healing?” the answer is this: Believe in Jesus, who “Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses”. (Matthew 8:17).

The greatest miracle in your life happens by you simply believing in Jesus who died to save you from eternal damnation and to give you eternal life. Why then, should the lesser miracles of healing or other breakthroughs be any different? (Rom 8:32).

Thought for the day!
The greatest doing is believing—believing in Jesus, who has done it all for you!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 2

Mt 6:34 -  So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.

This is God’s principle even in the Old Testament. God gave the Israelites fresh manna from heaven every morning. (Exodus 16:13–16, 31) They did not have to worry about tomorrow because when tomorrow came, there was fresh manna again.

Today, God’s manna is the grace He gives us every day. When we see a problem looming in our tomorrow, let us not be afraid or dismayed. Let us look to the Lord, and see His grace deliver us from the snare. God wants us to simply rest in His ability to heal, deliver, protect and provide for us every day.

Thought for the day!
God gives us all the help we need for today. When tomorrow comes, so will fresh help come from Him.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 1

Romans 4:16 - For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham for he is the father of all of us..

God’s grace is His undeserved, unearned and unmerited favour. And because it is undeserved, unearned and unmerited, all of us qualify for it. But how do we walk in it?

Just as a password gives you access to an ATM, faith enables you to walk in God’s unmerited favour.

When you believe that the favour of God is on you because of Christ’s work, His promises of provision, healing and restoration become sure to you. They are not just sure to the Jews, but also to you and me because we “share the faith of Abraham”.

Thought for the day!

All of God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ! (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! Testimony ~ V.5

Hope these messages will re-energise you and you will inspire the people around you so that they may also discover Jesus, through your innovative leadership and your new evangelization, helping them to become the-best-version-of-themselves.

My plea now is as in  2Thes 3:1-2 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the Word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith.”

One of my short refrains: Ps 71:14-16

One of my great experiences: Jer 15 : 16 & 19. Hallelujah!!!

May God bless you with a prayerful spirit and a peaceful heart. Amen and Amen!

Yes, do not forget that God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! Testimony ~ V.4

I hope you enjoyed the messages, as much as I did in compiling them. I am aware that not everyone read all my messages word by word, but for me it has been a great divine privilege to write these messages.

Even if one person read some part of some of the messages, it would have set that person thinking, (unless he is hard-hearted), because  "Indeed, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12).

Testimony to continue…

Meanwhile, remember, God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! Testimony ~ V.3

This series contained a profound invitation for us to mature in spiritual wisdom; practical insights that help us to know both Jesus and ourselves in a new way. Bible study encourages us in our weariness, challenges us in our comfort, and invites us to rediscover the beautiful possibilities God places before us daily.

My deep longing is that these messages should facilitate a powerful encounter between you and Jesus, because, whether you are aware of it or not, what you and I need more than anything else is to encounter Jesus.

Testimony to continue…

Meanwhile, remember, God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! Testimony ~ V.2

In this series, each day's post took me quite some time to compile, with the choice verses, words and questions. In the quietness of my room, the Holy Spirit put words into the messages.

The headers... Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself; ponder; consider; answer; implore; surrender (play on words) and also all my earlier messages and headers, were all promptings of the Holy Spirit and the stimuli received from my various studies, (and also with your prayers for me), to help practically integrate the reflections into one's personal life.

Testimony to continue…

Meanwhile, remember, God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! Testimony ~ V.1

This series and also the earlier messages came about as a result of the love of God, grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit. 2Cor 13:13 (14).

This series had Sixty versions on Sixty days! Praise the Lord! I thank the Holy Trinity for the extra-ordinary insight and energy to work on this series. These messages and also all the earlier ones were reflections from my Bible study and study of various authors like Jon Leonetti, Mathew Kelly, Thomas À Kempis, Scott/Kimberly Hahn & others, and my preaching notes and life experiences.

I must acknowledge the intercessory prayers and the resolute back up support from my better half, as I worked on these messages and my various preaching assignments.

These messages were not "forwards", but became "forwards" for the glory of God!

Testimony to continue…

Meanwhile, remember, God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.60

Ponder : This is the final challenge! As often as you can, find an empty church and sit with Jesus for an hour. Don't place great plans or expectations in that one hour. Just sit with Him as with someone who needs your company, for a full hour, in silence, and experience the "dunamis" energy of the Holy Spirit --  AN HOUR OF POWER!  You can learn more in an hour of silence with the Lord, than you can, in a year from books. (May be you can start with half an hour and increase to one).

Consider : Ps 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God! (Zechariah 2:13; Habakkuk 2:20).  Mt 26:40 - So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?

Answer : Will you draw back from the world for an hour, to be with the Lord, so that you can live more fully in the world? How many hours have you spent / will you be spending on the pleasures of the world? Is one hour too big a price for you to sit with the Lord, your provider, healer?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me Lord to pull away from the world and discard its pleasures, and be with you for one full hour. Fill me with your power and inspire me O Lord, to be an inspiration for others. Amen!

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.59

Ponder : Forget about all your yesterdays. You cannot change them. God is more interested in your future than He is in your past - but He is most interested in your  NOW! Starting right now, today, God wants you to begin "intentionally living" your best life of Gospel values.

Consider : Revelations 22: 11-12 - Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work.

Answer : Where will your adventures take you? Do you realise that your unshakeable faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ will be the "defining difference" and a "game changer" in your life?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to realise that there is a direct connection between my effort to live the Gospel and the inner joy in my soul. Guide me to give myself over wholeheartedly to the pursuit of Gospel life.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.58

Ponder : Consider the big question -  What if?  Yes, what if everything Jesus talks about in the Gospels is true? What if we really do need to give an account of the life we have lived? Life, death, heaven, hell, God, eternity, good and evil - What if it is all real? (and it is!). { Dare you to read Rom 2: 6-11; 14:12; 2Cor 5:10; Mt 25:31-46; Mk 9:43-48; Lk 16:19-31; Jn 5:28-29}.

Consider : Mt 16:27 - For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. (Try reading Mt 12:36).

Answer : What if it is all true? How would that change the way you approach life today and in all your tomorrows? How would it impact the choices you make and the goals you pursue?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, guide my words, thoughts and actions so that I can live my best life filled with Gospel values and help me realise that I have to give an account of the way I live.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.57

Ponder : Christians should be the ultimate "people of possibility". Our churches should be "palaces of possibility". Let us never be pessimistic. Pessimism and cynicism are twins and enemies of faith. Whenever and wherever the teachings of Jesus have been taken seriously, the results have been astounding.

Consider : Lk 1:37 - For nothing will be impossible with God..., Phil 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Read Mt 19:26; Mk 10:27; Lk 18:27; Job 42:2; Jer 32:27).

Answer : Have you ever tried to live Christianity wholeheartedly? If not, will you make a beginning now?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to avoid pessimism and cynicism and see the possibilities around;  transform me from being a mere shadow of a Christian into a shining example of your real self by spreading joy, compassion and wisdom to others.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.57

Ponder : Christians should be the ultimate "people of possibility". Our churches should be "palaces of possibility". Let us never be pessimistic. Pessimism and cynicism are twins and enemies of faith. Whenever and wherever the teachings of Jesus have been taken seriously, the results have been astounding.

Consider : Lk 1:37 - For nothing will be impossible with God..., Phil 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Read Mt 19:26; Mk 10:27; Lk 18:27; Job 42:2; Jer 32:27).

Answer : Have you ever tried to live Christianity wholeheartedly? If not, will you make a beginning now?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to avoid pessimism and cynicism and see the possibilities around;  transform me from being a mere shadow of a Christian into a shining example of your real self by spreading joy, compassion and wisdom to others.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.56

Ponder : You can't give what you don't have! Think about it. Can you teach piety to your children, if you are not pious? Can you teach Scripture, if you haven't learned it? Can you spend time with your children and spouse, if you haven't managed your time well?

Consider : Deut 6: 6-7 - Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. (Read Col 3:16).

Answer : Are you a Christian example to your children? Have you ever taught them the Scripture or the Gospel values to change their conduct and behaviour?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to be a chaste, humble, modest and well behaved Christian and thereby manifest your values as I live my life.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.55

Ponder : The family is called "the school of virtue". Parents show their children what "life in the Spirit" really looks like, and by their prayerful example show their kids what it means to be a Christian. Parents are to give their children more than just information - they are to teach them transformation.

Consider : Eph 6:4 -  And, fathers,... bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Titus 2:3-5, says, ...they are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. (Read Prov 1:8-9; 22:6).

Answer : How have you fared? How is your school of virtue, "the domestic church"?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to be a good child, a good spouse with Gospel values and let me not convert the school of virtue into one of vices.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.54

Ponder : We need God's grace to create "holy moments" in our lives. But it is not that God's grace is lacking, but rather what is lacking is our willingness to cooperate with His grace. Some holy moments can be created by controlling our temper; by patiently coaching our children; by doing something out of the way for our spouse; etc.

Consider : Heb 12:14 - Pursue peace with everyone, and  the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Read 1Thes 4:7; 2Cor 7:1; Mt 5:48).

Answer :  Do you realise that you were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless? (Read Eph 1:4; 1Pet 2:9). Will you discharge your responsibility to be holy and remain set apart from others?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to know that opportunities to create "holy moments" are everywhere. Teach me to grab these opportunities one moment at a time and to receive a special dose of joy. Let me never forget that the holiness you desire from me is possible.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.53

Ponder : Holiness is possible and we can overcome the debilitating lie of the devil. To begin, take just one moment and make it a "holy moment". A holy moment is a moment when you are doing what pleases God. It is not confusing. You are just being the person God created you to be. From one moment, make it two moments and so on...

Consider : Leviticus 20:26 - You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples to be mine. (Read 1Pet 1:15-16)

Answer : Do you now realise that you have to be different and holy, because, as a Christian, God has  separated you from other peoples, as His own?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, forgive me for living a life in the culture of the world. Help me to understand that holiness is achievable and immensely practical. Teach me to reproduce more "holy moments."

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.52

Ponder : The world culture and all its distractions can prevent us from living a holy life. It is astounding that just one lie can neutralise the Christians and turn them into mere spectators. This becomes satan's biggest triumph as he makes us repeat the lie that holiness is not possible. Remember, Holiness is possible.

Consider : Eph 5:6-7 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. (Read Prov 13:5).

Answer : Do you realise that you have the responsbility to be holy and not just enojy the privileges of being Christian?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, remind me of my great destiny and help me to let go of the world culture and surrender myself to live a consecrated holy life that you desire.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.51

Ponder : The world culture and all its distractions can prevent us from living a holy life. It is astounding that just one lie can neutralise the Christians and turn them into mere spectators. This becomes satan's biggest triumph as he makes us repeat the lie that holiness is not possible. Remember, Holiness is possible.

Consider : Eph 5:6-7 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. (Read Prov 13:5).

Answer : Do you realise that you have the responsbility to be holy and not just enojy the privileges of being Christian?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, remind me of my great destiny and help me to let go of the world culture and surrender myself to live a consecrated holy life that you desire.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.51

Ponder : The lies of the world destroy our joy. These lies sow doubts in our hearts and minds and erode our faith. But one lie has a satanic impact on Christians. It is the biggest lie and that is -  "Holiness is not possible". Many think that it is possible only for some grandmothers or some medieval saint.

Consider : Col 2:8 - See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. (Read Jer 7:8).

Answer : Didn't you think that holiness was not possible for you? Do you realise that you cannot live a holy life, if you accept the lies of the world?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, protect me from all the lies swirling around me and in my mind that prevent me from living a life of holiness that you desire. Grant me the grace to live a worthy life pleasing to you.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.50

Ponder : God wants you to have "complete"  joy and only God can give you that joy. The Gospel is an invitation and a blueprint for that complete joy and it has a long track record of leading people to that joy. The truth is that you can test it yourself by "intentionally" living the Gospel and getting instant proof as your stress and anxiety vanish.

Consider : Isaiah 35:10 - And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Read Jn 15:11).

Answer : Is your joy complete? What is standing in the way of that complete joy? Are you willing to give up those things which offend God? Are you so stubborn as to deny God from giving you that joy?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to give up those things which stand in the way of the complete joy that you desire to give me. Help me to come out of the "alternate paths of joy" that I have taken and teach me to intentionally live a Gospel life.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.49

Ponder : God considers gluttony and greed, a character trait of an evil person to be avoided (Prov 23:20). Our self-discipline is tested every time we see an advertisement for any product or food, exhausting us of perseverance for good and draining us of resistance to evil.

Consider : Phil 3: 18-19 - For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ... Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. (Add  James 1:14-16).

Answer : Do you control your desires or do the desires control you when you enter a kind of "all-you-can-eat" function or restaurant? Do you realise that it's a disgrace and you dishonour God by your greed? (Lk 12:15; Ps 10:3).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, transform me and remove greed and gluttony from my system. Fill me with self-control and teach me to deny myself, and thus be a good witness.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.48

Ponder :  Life is not about getting what we want. We are confused with our many "disordered desires", which scream so loud, that we cannot hear God's voice. "Wisdom is the realisation that it is insane to want something other than what God wants for us."

Consider : Phil 2:21 - All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. (Read Phil 3:19; Mt 16:23).

Answer : Does getting what you want, bring you lasting happiness? Have you ever probed what God wants for you?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to begin the daily quest to seek your will in my life. Teach me the discipline of reflection, unending persistence and ever-increasing self-awareness, so that your joy may be in me and my joy may be complete. (Jn 15:11).

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.47

Ponder : The ability to deny yourself some comfort or pleasure is an essential life skill. Each time you deny yourself, it becomes a spiritual exercise, a spiritual push-up that strengthens the soul and contributes to a  successful marriage, parenting, career, etc.

Consider : 1Pet 2:11 - Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. (Read 2Tim 2:22; 1Cor 9: 24-27).

Answer : Will you consciously practice the Gospel habit of denying yourself? Being a Christian, have you ever considered the exhortation in Mt 16:24?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, thank you for all the comforts you have given me and let me not to be addicted to these. Teach me to discern that daily denial of self, allows me to open up to the grace I need to overcome my sinfulness.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.46

Ponder : One of the greatest temptations in life is to get comfortable. It is so easy to make comfort a priority in our lives. This leads to "comfort addiction" and then even the slightest discomfort makes us irritable, restless and discontent, making us burst into an angry rage over the tiniest thing.

Consider : Rom 5:3-4 - we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope...

Answer : When was the last time you denied yourself some comfort? What efforts will you take to deny yourself some pleasure and comfort, in order to serve others?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to come out of my "comfort addiction" and be able to bear up some inconvenience and discomfort. Teach me Lord to serve the less fortunate who have no comfort whatsoever.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.45

Ponder : The most devastating dimension of sin is that it fractures our fellowship with God. The only way to fix the "symptoms" in our life is to cure the "disease". As you study the Scriptures, you will discover that Jesus is the antidote for the mess in your life. Reflect on the reason for the brutal death of Jesus Christ.

Consider : Isaiah 59:2 - your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Read Isa 1:15; Jer 5:25; Micah 3:4; Prov 15:29).

Answer : Have you discovered the barriers and obstacles in your fellowship with God? Are you reluctant to demolish these "walls" because of your personal pleasures and thus abandon God's fellowship?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to realise the cause-and-effect between "the symptoms" and "the disease"; between the mess in my life and sin. Teach me to explode the walls I created between you and me.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.44

Ponder : Every sin makes the world a little bit more of a mess. Not just the big wide world, but even our own little personal world. The mess is only the symptom, but sin is the disease.. it is the real problem. When we turn away from God, our lives become miserable. (John 10:10).

Consider : Ps 38:3-4 - There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.

Answer : Are you abetting the mess in the world? Are you trying to cure the symptom or the "disease"? Is "your own world" moving in the right direction?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to identify my "disease" and realise that you can heal me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.43

Ponder : We have a natural aversion to speaking of sin. Don't ignore the real problem of sin. It is not someone else's problem. You can try to run from it, but soon you will discover it is futile, because you cannot run from yourself. Confront this problem with guts and dust yourself off.

Consider : Jer 2:19 - Your wickedness will punish you, and your apostasies will convict you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts. (Read Num 32:23).

Answer : Can you shortlist three of your most frequent sins, confess them and  forsake them? (Read Prov 28:13).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, I repent. Have mercy on me and forgive my sins and save me from the bondage of worldly inclinations. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.42

Ponder : So much of our frustration in life is caused by rejecting the Gospel and trying to find a worldly solution to a spiritual problem. Every problem we experience has a spiritual dimension, but we don't consider it. (Read 1Cor 2:9-15; Eph 6:11-12). We are busy planning and manipulating to march ahead in life.

Consider : Prov 19:21 - The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established. (Read Prov 16:9; 21: 30; Isa 46:10).

Answer : Are you aware of a spiritual realm directing your inclinations and events in life? Are you more focussed on yourself and your plans?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, replace my confusion with clarity and spiritual wisdom; my anxiety with your peace; fill me with gratitude and joy even in the midst of great difficulty and teach me to accept your plans.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.41

Ponder : The Gospel equips us with a "new lens" with which we see The Trinitarian God, others, the world and ourselves in a fundamentally different way. This is the "Jesus effect" and it changes our priorities, transforms our lives and determines who we become.

Consider : 1Cor 1:18 - For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (Read Rom 1:16).

Answer : What are you allowing your mind to be filled with? (Read Ps 7:14-16; 36:4). Do you ponder the ways of Jesus and His teachings? Do you discuss Gospel with your spouse, children, others?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to possess the "Scriptural Lens" and change my priorities in life. Teach me Lord, to know what matters most and what matters least.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.40

Ponder : God's ways and our ways are poles apart. The Lord is kind and merciful.. but we experience the world as cruel, harsh, merciless, mean..  Jesus envisions a world that is lovingly directed by God's ways and He invites us to be His partners.

Consider : Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Answer : Have you tried practising the Sermon on the Mount, including the beatitudes? (Mt Ch 5, 6, 7). Can you study these and make notes for your "course correction"? (Read Hosea 14:9; Isaiah 53:6).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to value your way of doing things above all other ways. Help me to let go of my ways and be open to your ways.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.39

Ponder : In order to understand and benefit from the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we need to be docile. We need to be meek and "coachable" and listen to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit can guide us, with His counsel, to accept certain things or to avoid some things.

Consider :  Jn 16:13 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (Read Jn 14: 26; Acts 1:8)

Answer : How well do you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in moments of decision taking? Are you stuck in your own ways and in your wisdom, or are you open to being coached in new and better ways?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, make me meek and docile to listen to the gentle and quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. Help me to humble myself in being quiet, prepared, aware, open, ready, and patient to hear His voice more clearly.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.38

Ponder : Pride prevents us from allowing God to transform us radically. Only the humble soul can be led. Only the humble soul is "coachable". Only the humble soul can truly advance in spiritual life.

Consider : Prov 22:4 - The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. James 4:6 - But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (Read Mt 23:12; Lk 1:52; Prov 16:5).

Answer : Are you wise in your own eyes? (Prov 3:5-6). Do you place confidence in your own wisdom or power, and seek the praises of men rather than appreciation from God?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to subject my arrogant nature to humility. Banish all lingering sparks of self-importance that could make me elevate myself and spurn You. Let my heart always imitate Your humility!

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.37

Ponder : We all have blind spots and we don't see things as they really are - especially ourselves. Our past is full of experiences that are influencing our present and our future. Some experiences have given birth to fear and insecurity which create huge blind spots.

Consider : Jn 8: 32 - you will know the truth, and the truth (Jn 17:17) will set you free... Jn 8: 36 - So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Answer : How are your blind spots affecting your relationships? Are you allowing your past experiences to make you cynical or suspicious or offended? Do you realise that only Jesus and His Word can set you free from your past hurts?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, I beseech you Lord -- by the merits of the great, open wound in your heart, to heal the small wounds that are in mine. Heal the pain of my memories, so that I will not remain in pain and anguish, filled with anxiety and insecurity.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.36

Ponder : Very few take their faith seriously and approach it with the rigour of a champion. Living in the presence of God causes us to dance for joy. It is easy to become blind to His presence as a result of our crippling selfishness.

Consider : Rom 14:17-18 - For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. (Read 1Pet 1:8-9; Prov 10:28).

Answer : Who or what is robbing the joy of the Lord in your life? Is anything in your lifestyle denying you the joy that God wants to fill your heart with?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to recognise your presence and live in the joy that you desire to grant me. Help me to realise that a cheerful heart is a good medicine (Prov 17:22).

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.35

Ponder : The world is a mess. We experience this mess every day. But governements can't legislate virtue and morality. These things come only from a heart open to God. If Christians simply behaved as Christians, the world would be a different place in a matter of time.

Consider : 2Tim 3: 13-14 - But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed... (Read 1Tim 4:1-2; 2Pet 3:3).

Answer : Have you strived to close the gap between the life you are living and the powerful life Jesus invites you to live through the Gospels? What stops you from closing the gap?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, strengthen me to live my life based on Gospel values and help me to realise that when I fail to live as you desire, the incredible joy of the Lord begins to leak from my life.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.34

Ponder : You cannot be a Christian, if you are not able to practice self-denial -- willingness to say "no" to indulgent gratification. Self-denial refines the soul, sharpens the senses, strengthens the will and controls our desires. Self-denial promotes self-control.

Consider : Titus 2: 11-12 - For the grace of God (Jesus) has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly... (Read Lk 9:23).

Answer : In what area of your life do you show greed and lack of self-control? Can you make a decision to say "no" to your pompous vanities and live a simple life? How self-controlled are you? (Read Gal 5:22-23).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, give me the grace and the strength to say "no" to my greed and fill me with the fruit of the Holy Spirit so that I may exercise self-control.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.33

Ponder : Throughout the Gospels, people call out to Jesus in a variety of ways and each is a prayer! (e.g. Mt 8:2; 8; 25; 14:30; 17:14-15; Mk 10:47; 51; Lk 23:42; Jn 20:28; etc). These one line prayers were casual, practical and dripping with humanity.

Consider : Lk 18: 1- Then Jesus told them a parable about their NEED to pray always and not to lose heart. (Read Lk 21:36).

Answer : When was the last time you consciously acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah? Have you ever said it LOUD to Jesus Himself? (Mt 16:16). When was the last time you KNELT down to pray? (Mt17:14-15). Will you try kneeling beside your bed at night and pray ALOUD? (Mk 10:48).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, give me the desire to kneel and pray before you. Help me Lord to confide in you, being at ease with you, as with a familiar friend.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.32

Ponder : God delights in your spontaneous casual conversation with Him. Turn to Him during different moments of the day to thank Him, to ask for help, encourage-ment, etc. When we neglect our dedicated daily prayer time, our casual conversation with God becomes less frequent and will soon die out.

Consider : 1Thes 5: 16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Answer : Have you realised that God is always available to help you make the best decisions? Have you been unmindful of the God "in whom you live and move and have your being" (Acts 17:28). (Read Ps 116: 12; Mk 8:37; 1Cor 4:7).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, let me not forget to converse with you casually in the moments of my day. Help me to realise that you are by my side to guide me, like a father by the side of a little child.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.31

Ponder : Our focused time of prayer every day, to converse with God, is INDISPENSABLE. The prayer process should grow in us as we grow  and it will transform us in UNIMAGINABLE ways. We can "survive" without prayer, but we can't "thrive" without it.

Consider : Phil 4:6-7 - Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. AND "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding," will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Answer : Are you thriving or just surviving, without "the peace of God" ? How often have you neglected your prayer time and thus disappointed God your provider and healer, who waits to converse with you?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, fill me with the grace to set aside few minutes each day to spend just conversing with you. Forgive me Lord for using my time on mundane activities, which I could have otherwise saved up for prayers.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.30

Ponder : Nothing compares to the habit of regular prayer in our lives. Each day we need a time set aside for personal and family prayers. A family that prays together, stays together. How will the converse read?  Your relationship with the Holy Trinity becomes intimate with a daily conversation.

Consider : Col 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. (Read 1Thes 5:17; Eph 6:18; Rom 12:12; Acts 1:14; Luke 18:1; Mt 26:41).

Answer : Do you realise that God "yearns" to spend time with you everyday in prayer? Have you despised this desire of God? What efforts are you taking for your spiritual growth?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, create in me a desire to set aside a time each day to pray, as you did. Help me to realise that I cannot remain a dynamic Christian without a consistent and persistent prayer culture.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.29

Ponder : If you make studying and meditating on the Word of God a habit in your life, it will soon become a touchstone of inspiration and solace. This will help you to develop a living, breathing, practical intimacy with the Holy Trinity.

Consider : Mt 5:13 - You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

Answer : Will you allow the teachings of Jesus to sink their roots deep into your life? "Where" are you when you are in the Church or in prayer? Have you lost your "saltiness"?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to make Your Word a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Help me to ingest your teachings into my spirit and become the person you want me to be.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.28

Ponder : Many Christians go to the Church on Sundays and in many ways, appear good members of the society; but an early "Gospel inoculation" (a little bit of "Gospel" vaccinated early in life, and so immunised!), makes them think they know all about it.

Consider : Revelations 3:15-16 - "I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Read Rev 2:5).

Answer : Can you develop a routine habit to study (make notes!) the Gospels at least for 15 minutes EVERY DAY? Won't you give at least 15 minutes for the Lord from the 1440 minutes He is giving you per day?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to delve into the Gospels and find you therein. Lord reveal yourself as I begin studying Your Word and teach me to boldly accept the Gospel habits.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V. 27

Ponder : We are required "to strive" (Lk 13:24; Phil 3:13-14; 2Pet 1:10-11; Heb 4:11) to live as Jesus invites us to live. And that means working "diligently" to change our habits. Our lives change when our habits change. God uses our new Gospel habits to transform us.

Consider : Lk 6:46 - Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? Luke 11:28 - But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!"

Answer : What aspects of your lifestyle would you like to see changed, one month from now? Do you feel embarrassed to be seen with Gospel habits?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to embrace your teaching with diligence and enthusiasm. Help me Lord to resist any temptation to put it off. Help me to begin now and spend some time with your teaching everyday.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.26

Ponder : Everybody has a gap to close! Our lives would change radically if we just "lived 100%" one teaching from the Gospels. See if there is a gaping hole, not just a gap, between our lives and the life Jesus is inviting us to live in the Gospels.

Consider : They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not obey them. For flattery is on their lips, but their heart is set on their gain. Ezekiel 33:31

Answer : Have you ever strived to go out of your way to live a life as taught in the Gospels? Are you resisting the happiness that God wants to fill you with?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, give me the courage to begin afresh to change my lifestyle and the courage to continue to live prayerfully according to your word.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.25

Ponder : God wants to turn your life upside down for the better. Jesus radically transforms the lives of those who "follow" Him, by re-arranging their priorities. But we avoid a personal encounter with Jesus, because we are afraid of that radical transformation.

Consider : A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Ezekiel 36:26-27 (Read Ps 51:10; Rom 12:2)

Answer : What's preventing you from making yourself available to God, your provider, your healer? Are you willing to be transformed? What change is your heart "prescribing" for your life? Are you resisting the change?

Implore : Loving Father, help me to make myself available to proactively seek Jesus (Jn 6:36; 44; 65) and make efforts to experience Him. Give me the courage to live a life pleasing to you, in accordance with Your Word, unmindful of what people may say.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.24

Ponder : God desires a dynamic collaboration with each one of us through His Word. One of the reasons we don't study the Bible, is our increasing impatience and busyness, and remember, the more impatient and busy we are, the more our relationships will also suffer.

Consider : You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self,... Eph 4:22-24 ( DARE YOU to read Mk 12:24; Jn 3:3, 5, 20-21).

Answer : Be honest and examine if you really desire God to overhaul your life and totally transform you? Have you ever prayed for a complete transformation in you, to be a new creation?

Implore : Loving Father, here I am. I trust that you have an incredible plan for me. Transform me and my lifestyle. Teach me to collaborate with you for my transformation.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.23

Ponder : God has a mighty, awesome, and wonderful transformation in mind for you! One of the reasons, knowingly or unknowingly, we don't study the Bible, is to avoid transformation in our lives. The Bible helps us to know the heart of God and the heart of man, including our own.

Consider : 2Tim 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (Read 2Cor 5:17)

Answer : What will be the things or attitudes you want to adamantly hold on to, preventing God from transforming you and your lifestyle? Do you recognise God as your owner and your Father, who wants to transform you, like  parents desire for their children?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, keep the desire for transformation alive in my heart and help me to give up the things and attitudes which stand in the way. Remove the heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.22

Ponder : It is not our natural inclination to love unconditionally and the type of love seen in the society is outrageously conditional and so, relationships give birth to all types of paranoia and neurosis, the fruits of "control & manipulation." 

Consider : This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:12-13.

Answer : What are you laying down your life, your time, resources, for? Do you apply the Gospel teachings in your life, which are the guide to "agape" love, the selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love? (Ref Jn 13:34-35 - Check the first two words in verse 35)

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to love everyone unconditionally, like parents sacrificially loving their children, not because of what their children do, but simply because they are theirs. Thank you Lord for loving me unconditionally.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.21

Ponder : There are many prayers of people that God wants to use us  to answer. Only very few prayers require God's direct intervention. Many prayers go unanswered because we, whom God wants to use, do not respond to the people's pain & needs.

Consider : Very truly, I tell you, the one "who believes in me"  WILL also do the works that I do and, in fact, WILL do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 (Read Mk 16:17-18; Lk 10:17; Acts 3:6-8).

Answer : Today, whose prayer can you be the answer to ? If you could perform one of the miracles of Jesus, which one would you choose and why? (Read again Mk 16: 17-18 - just do your part).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to recognise the opportunity for everyday miracles in the midst of suffering people. Let your Holy Spirit guide me to be an answer to the prayers of the people suffering around me and ease their pain.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.20

Ponder : Nothing gets between us and God like the desire for money. Nothing will mess up our values and priorities like the craving to earn money.

Consider : But those who want to be rich, fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of ALL kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith AND pierced themselves with many pains. 1Tim 6: 9-10 (Dare you to read Eccl 5:13-17; 1Tim 6:17-19)

Answer : Has your lust for money blinded you to the real and legitimate needs of the less fortunate? Are you being seduced by the decaying culture of the world?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to change my lifestyle and to understand that I am "only" a privileged custodian of "your wealth" placed under my care. Let me not chase after vanities and fall into the rotting culture of the world.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.19

Ponder : People are to be loved and things are to be used; but these days, things are loved and people are used. Take an honest look at your expenses - the cheque book and credit card statements to see the things you spend money on - you will know your priorities.

Consider : And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Luke 12:15 (Read Mt 6: 19-21; 1John 2:15-16)

Answer : Do you have Jesus' priorities? Would you be willing to consider loving people as the primary priority?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to rearrange my priorities. Help me to live simply so that others may simply live. Help me to live more like you.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.18

Ponder : The types of people we avoid and ignore are the ones Jesus was most interested in - the despised, the afflicted, neglected, oppressed, the sick, the poor, beggars, lepers, etc - people on the fringes of the society.

Consider : Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Ps 82: 3-4

Answer : Are you being invited to change your attitude towards the people you have been avoiding? What are you afraid of? What will be the positive outcome if you embrace this invitation of Christ? (Read Gal 1:10).

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, help me to go beyond the comfort zone of my life and explore the people on the margins and see them as you see them.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.17

Ponder : Suffering is an inevitable part of life, (Jn 16:20 & 33), but it doesn't have to be meaningless. Suffering becomes a powerful prayer, if we don't become angry or disgruntled with it, but we surrender and offer it up to God as a prayer for ourselves, our family, friends, the world...

Consider : If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. 1Pet 2:20 (Read 1Pet 4:15-16; Rom 5:3-4).

Answer : Are you willing to accept suffering and make it a prayer, so as to be filled with a deep and abiding peace, and yield yourself to be transformed in unimaginable ways?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to embrace the mystery of unavoidable sufferings of life and help me to be ever mindful of others who suffer and "reach out to them in their distress."

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.16

Ponder : We need to take custody of our eyes and remain self-controlled to avoid being 'visually harassed'. Images are powerful to cause dents in our minds. You cannot 'unsee' things. Controlling the eyes is a sure path to spiritual growth and peace.

Consider : The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Mt 6:22-23 (Read Luke 11:34-36).

Answer : Is there a constant struggle to take custody of your eyes? Have you unceasingly prayed about it? Do you allow your eyes - God's incredible gift of sight - to feast on unhealthy movies or medias?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, purify my heart, my mind, my body. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Ps 51:10). Help me Lord to keep my ways pure by living according to your word. (Ps 119:9).

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.15

Ponder : The Gospels tell us of our serious and mandatory obligation to the poor - think of some poor relatives, others in your neighbourhood, etc... It's easy to say "I love God" or that "I am a Christian". But Jesus challenges us to prove it in action. Faith without works is dead! (James 2:14-17).

Consider : Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him - Prov 14:31.  Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse - Prov 28:27 (Read Mt 25:40; Micah 6:8).

Answer : How have you treated God's special friends, "the least of His brothers", the poor, the needy, the hungry, the lonely, the afflicted, the sick, the ignorant... ? Do your values align with those of Jesus?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, open the eyes of my heart so that I may see "the least of our brothers" around me, the sick, the afflicted, the suffering, those who need clothes, food, or with other needs. Help me to live like a Christian, by your grace.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.14

Ponder : Examine your conscience with the mini-Gospel in Mathew 22:37-39. We are often less willing to love and forgive ourselves and others, than God is willing to love and forgive us. Remember, God wants to raise you up.

Consider : Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 1Pet 4:8-10 (Read Jn 13:34-35).

Answer : Are you loving God, others and yourself in the way God wants you to love?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, begin a revolution of radical love in my heart and teach me to love you, others and myself as you love with that divine forgiving love, so that all who cross my path will know that your Spirit is controlling me.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.13

Ponder : Jesus wants to teach you how to live an incredible life, by transforming the root of your heart. The more we place Jesus at the centre of our lives, the more life begins to make sense.

Consider : Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. Mathew 7:24.

Answer : Have you ever really considered Jesus to be your teacher? Have you applied any of His teachings to change your lifestyle? Which of His teachings do you find it most difficult to live? Why not strive to practise it?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, teach me to be an obedient student. Help me to act upon your teachings and apply them to change my lifestyle.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.12

Ponder : The Gospel liberates us from selfishness by inspiring us to be generous. Check your collections.. see the numerous clothes, shoes, beverages, etc. When was the last time you even used some of those? What about the food items wasted? Total up the cost.. Charity can flow if these areas are checked.

Consider : Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. Prov 11: 24-25. (Read 2Cor 9:11)

Answer : How is God inviting you to be more generous? With your time, talent, treasure (money) - *3-T*s; with your compassion, patience, praise, encouragement..??? Have you surprised or astonished people with your generosity?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, liberate me from being extravagant and wasteful with your gift of money and from my inclinations to be stingy and uncharitable. Help me to give and forgive.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!

Becoming the-best-version-of-yourself! V.11

Ponder : Everybody NEEDS to forgive somebody. There can be no peace without forgiveness. Unforgiveness can prevent the flow of some healing into your body. When we don't forgive, we are telling God that we don't need His advice.

Consider : Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mk 11:25

Answer : Whom is God inviting you to forgive? Have you stood praying without forgiving? Have you ever prayed for your enemies and those who hurt you? (Mt 5: 44). How seriously do you take Jesus' invitation to forgive?

Implore : O Jesus my Lord, thank you for forgiving me even though You and I know that I am going to trespass again. Teach me to be generous with my forgiveness so that I can remain healthy by liberating myself from anger and resentment.

God wants to transform you AND the way you live your life! SURRENDER!