Joshua 3:5
Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”
 
When a new season is getting ready to happen, we need to prepare for it. Joshua asks the Israelites to prepare themselves. He says in Joshua 3:5, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”
 
After living in wilderness for 40 years, it was time for the next season. Are we ready for that next season? Are we preparing for it?
 
Purifying is separating one self from things that displeases God. Anything that contaminates the relationship between you and God needs to be removed.
 
More importantly spending time in prayer, praise and His word. Draw closer to God and set yourself for His amazing things to come to pass in your life.
 
Set yourself apart to seek God and get ready for God to amaze you.

Mark 4:41
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
 
When the storm came, disciples got nervous and fearful. They saw that Jesus was sleeping peacefully and wondered if He cared. Sometimes, we wonder if Jesus really cares when we go through storms.
 
After Jesus quieted the storms, He asked the disciples “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”(Mark 4:40). What if Jesus asked the same question to us, how would we answer?
 
In Mark 4:41 we see disciples were completely fascinated by how Jesus calmed the storms. If you are going through storms, believe in Jesus that He will calm it. Replace fear with faith.
 
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrew 11:1). Where as, fear is false evidence appearing real.
 
Activate your faith today and believe that Jesus will calm the storms in your life.

Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
 
God created each one of us uniquely; each one of us is God’s masterpiece. He made you the way you are for a purpose. He has given each one of us unique gifts to be used for Him, to serve Him and glorify His name.
 
God already planned what good works we will do. When we obey His word and serve Him with our unique gifts, we are fulfilling His purpose.
 
Because each one of us has unique gifts, we have unique contribution to make to the body of Christ. Each gift is important and it fits the puzzle perfectly.
 
Since we are God’s masterpiece, we don’t compare ourselves with others. Cherish the God given gifts and glorify His holy name. There is no greater joy in fulfilling His purpose for each one of us.
 
Remember, You are God’s masterpiece and created anew in Christ.
 
Happy Mother’s day to all the Moms!

Matthew 6:6
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
 
Secret place is a place where there is honesty and transparency with God. This is the place where we open our hearts fully to God and share our deepest concerns.
 
God knows even before we tell Him (Psalms 139:4). He is just looking for us to come to Him personally and show that we trust in Him deeply.
 
Jesus not only prayed in public but He also prayed alone. And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
 
Each one of us should always make time to spend alone with God. He invites us daily to spend time with Him in the secret place.  We can pray alone to God, anytime and anywhere. 
 
God who sees us in secret rewards personal prayer.

Psalms 113:2-3
Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
 
We were created to give God praise, as long as we have breath we are to praise the Lord. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalms 150:6).
 
Throughout the Bible we see examples of the power of praise. King Jehoshaphat and his nation were preserved by the power of praise; the wall of Jericho fell by the power of praise; blind men praised Jesus and received sight; desperate women praised Jesus and received healing. Always, praise the Lord.
 
Whether you feel like it or not, praise the Lord. Even when you are uncertain of the future, praise the Lord. Make a choice to always praise the Lord. God’s power is revealed through our praises.
 
Our Lord is worthy to be praised.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
 
During this holy week, we meditated and reflected on His love and goodness in our lives, and His sacrifice of His only Son for our sins.
 
Jesus paid the price on the cross for you and me. It is fully evident that His grace and mercy are abundant for us. We are all saved by His amazing grace through faith.
 
Don’t ever think it is because of our own good works. It is freely given to us, and not a reward for our good works. It is the gift from God.
 
Rejoice with grateful hearts for this gift of salvation.
 
Happy Easter !!

Psalms 91: 9-11
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
 
Refuge means safe place. No matter what the situation, God is our safe place. He can only protect us from unseen and unknown things of this world.
 
His word promises us that when we take refuge in the Lord, neither evil nor plague will come near our homes. He will always protect us and He orders His angels to guard us in all our ways.
 
Hold on to God firmly and submit your worries to Him. God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He is our true anchor and He never lets us down.
 
Let’s take refuge in our Holy God and find peace during these unknown times.

Isaiah 61:1-3
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
 
In several instances in the Bible, ashes represent a time of grief, pain, repentance or distress. As we look in
Esther 4:1
When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
Jonah 3:1-5
And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
 
In Isaiah 61, Israelites were taken captive and were oppressed, people were confused and grieved. They thought God left them. Then the prophet Isaiah reminds them the suffering is due their sin but he also said that God’s anger is temporary and it won’t last. Our God is merciful and forgiving.
 
Isaiah 61:3 clearly promises us beauty for ashes, oil of joy instead of mourning, garment of praise instead of spirit of despair. So, let us all put our trust in God and seek Him with all our hearts.
 
Let’s hold onto God’s promises that He delivers us from all these ashes and gives beauty.

In the times of uncertainties, our human minds tend to be fearful and anxious. We don’t even know what tomorrow holds, but we know God has the total control of our tomorrows. Bible says not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34).
 
When the changes are happening quickly, we tend to get worried more. In these times we need to put our trust in God and hold on to His word and find peace. Spend time in God’s presence and receive comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Our God comforts us in all trouble. Receive comfort from God then pass it to others with encouraging and uplifting words. Share and care in these trying times. Be compassionate and help others in need.

God comforts us so that we can comfort others.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

In the middle of chaos, it is hard to be joyful, patient and faithful. But the bible says to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. It may sound simple and easy when you are not going through tough times.

In reality, it is hard and impossible for any normal person. These character traits can be achieved only when we have one on one relationship with God. Only God can pour into you these impossible traits that the world cannot give.

When we continually seek God and spend time in His presence, He will bless us with His supernatural joy, patience and faithfulness. Each one of us can achieve these characteristics directly from Him.

Let’s all fervently seek Him and overcome these worldly hardships.