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. (NKJV)
ஆதலால், நாம் இரக்கத்தைப் பெறவும், ஏற்ற சமயத்தில் சகாயஞ்செய்யுங் கிருபையை அடையவும், தைரியமாய்க் கிருபாசனத்தண்டையிலே சேரக்கடவோம். – எபிரேயர் 4:16

Colossians 1:9“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Psalm 121:3

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (NKJV)

உன் காலைத் தள்ளாடவொட்டார்; உன்னைக் காக்கிறவர் உறங்கார். – சங்கீதம் 121:3

Job 37:5-6“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

True gentleman

In two of my previous blogs, I pointed out how Joseph showed certain characteristics of our LORD Jesus Christ, when he went after his brothers and when he was sold as a slave. But more important than those two characters was how he responded when accused of a vile crime.

When Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of trying to assault her sexually, Joseph decided to keep his mouth shut. Probably in today’s world, it may be considered ‘guilty’ or even ‘cowardice’, but for me, that is the true sign of a gentleman. Joseph did not try to prove his innocence, instead he realized the hand of God working mightily for him even in that situation.

We probably would have tried our best to prove our innocence in such a situation, would have painted that adulteress in vivid colors so that everyone knows about her. But not Joseph.

Also, nobody came to his defense. So, he did not tell others about her advances. Again, in today’s world, he would be considered a ‘loser’, but, no, dear friend. I have seen people posting tweets, Facebook comments, Instagram pictures and what not of things that are supposed to be personal between a man and a woman. It is really sad to see that chivalry is not in fashion anymore.

But, Joseph took the high road. Just like the other Joseph in the Bible – from the New Testament, who decided to divorce his wife secretly, when he found out she was pregnant.

No matter what happens in our life, no matter how much bitterness the other person has caused in our life, there are certain boundaries that we are not supposed to cross. They may really not deserve such a dignified silence, but the dignified silence speaks of your character.

When it gets really tough when someone blames us for something we didn’t do, instead of getting upset over the slander, let us look at the One who endured everything thrown at Him – for our sake. Let us look at Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the World, the Lamb without any blemish. Let us remember how He responded to all the insults, beatings, all the spitting, strikes, slaps… need I continue on that? 

When He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. – 1 Peter 2:23

Isaiah 1:18““Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Jeremiah 29:13

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (NKJV)

உங்கள் முழு இருதயத்தோடும் என்னைத் தேடினீர்களானால், என்னைத் தேடுகையில் கண்டுபிடிப்பீர்கள். – எரேமியா 29:13

Isaiah 1:18““Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

… for You.

I am in the midst of wilderness. Losing everything that I had valued. There is a thirst in me, a thirst to regain everything I have lost. And, it is not easy for me to have faith in God during this toughest time. Finally, somehow, by His grace, I am able to call unto Him, with faith, saying, “O God, You are my God; I will seek You early in the morning.”

Now, when I seek the presence of the LORD early in the morning, the LORD is there according to His promise. This is the time for me to ask Him what I want, whatever I want. This is the moment I was waiting for… in this wilderness. I need to ask the LORD to bless me more. I need to ask Him for prosperity, for good health, success, joy, peace of mind, happiness,… the list goes on and on. I even started to tell Him, “My soul thirsts….”, but I could not tell Him about everything that I have wanted.

Why? Why could I not tell my God about all those things that I needed from Him? Why is my tongue-tied? Don’t I need all those things in my life right now? Yes, I do need all those things right now, like yesterday. Doesn’t my soul yearn for all those things? Yes, 24/7, these are the things that I have been yearning for so long… yet, when that right moment has come, when the LORD has blessed me with His presence, I am not able to ask any of them. Why?
Now, I understand. I am looking at the LORD in all His glorious splendor. As God is enthroned in His mighty throne and looks at me, I am not able to see the wilderness around me. I can’t think of all those things that are missing in this world. Because, the One who is seated in His majesty has captured my mind.

The eyes that are filled with grace, oh my, those gracious eyes fill my heart with so much love and warmth. The beautiful smile in His lips makes me smile too. The radiance of His face has made my face radiant. There is something so calm and serene about the way the King of kings is looking at me, and suddenly I am filled with a serenity I have never heard of before.

I suddenly realize that there is nothing on this earth that I want, when the LORD Almighty Himself is my Shepherd. That all the blessings on this world is not good enough for what I am experiencing right now. And most importantly, I realize that whatever blessings I need, blessings I want are in Him… and there are even more blessings with Him, blessings I have never known to exist.

Wait, the King is speaking. My Heavenly Father is asking me something… The LORD God is asking, “My dear child, you were saying that your soul thirst… for what? Tell me and whatever you want, I shall give you at this moment.”

There is no hint of sarcasm in His loving eyes. The LORD God is sincere and faithful as always. So, I know that if I ask for anything, I will get it. So, I open my mouth and with a sincere heart, I asked Him the one thing that I need most in my life – something that I didn’t know that I needed till now. As the words blurt out of my mouth, I see my King smiling happily at me. I can see that my heavenly Father is filled with joy by what I asked. My heart, in turn, is happy and filled with joy unspeakable. Now, I know my life is really blessed, blessed forever and ever. Amen. For, all I asked my heavenly Father is:

“O God, my loving Father, the King of kings, my soul thirsts for YOU.” – Psalm 63:1

Joshua 24:15“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Romans 11:36

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. (NIV)

சகலமும் அவராலும் அவர் மூலமாயும் அவருக்காகவும் இருக்கிறது; அவருக்கே என்றென்றைக்கும் மகிமையுண்டாவதாக. ஆமென். – ரோமர் 11:36

Joshua 24:15“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Fleeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

In one of my previous blogs, I talked about how Joseph was able to overcome temptation by keeping his eyes on the LORD. Faith and focusing our eyes on the LORD are two important things that we need to do to overcome temptation.

But there is one more thing to do when we are facing temptation. Our faith may be really strong, but the moment we stand on our faith, rather than the grace of our LORD, there will be problems waiting for us.

While Joseph did everything right in overcoming temptation, he relied so much on his ability to withstand temptation and did something that gave a chance for Potiphar’s wife to take advantage of Joseph.

And it happened about this time that he came into the house to do his work. And none of the men of the house were inside. – Genesis 39:11 (MKJV)
Joseph was very sincere in his work and though, no one else was there in the house, he went inside to do his work. He would have know that the temptress was still there, yet, I am sure he was confident that he would be able to overcome temptation.

If you are strong in your faith, and if your eyes are focused on the LORD, there is no temptation that can overcome you, no matter how tempting the circumstances are. But, the temptations do take a strong and aggressive approach when they have chance to be alone with you. It does not matter what kind of temptations you are struggling with, they do become aggressive when you are alone with them.

And, though Joseph was still able to overcome temptation, he had to leave his robe behind. Which was used against him as a witness by his temptress.

Dear friend, when you are facing a temptation, may be the LORD’s Name be praised, you may have enough faith and strength to overcome the temptation. Still, when you know there is a chance for you to be alone with whatever it is tempting you, don’t venture. You may still overcome the temptation by the grace of our LORD, but still may end of leaving a robe behind, giving a chance for that person to take revenge on you.

So make sure that if someone is tempting you, never ever be alone with that person. You may not cave in, but just being alone with that person could cost you your good name. In such a case, it is better to follow Paul’s advice to his young disciple, Timothy, rather than following the example of Joseph. And, Paul’s advice to his young disciple was:

Fleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Flee the evil desires of youth. – 2 Tim. 2:22

1 Timothy 2:1-2“[Instructions on Worship] I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. (NIV)

கர்த்தரிடத்தில் மனமகிழ்ச்சியாயிரு; அவர் உன் இருதயத்தின் வேண்டுதல்களை உனக்கு அருள்செய்வார். – சங்கீதம் 37:4

1 Timothy 2:1-2“[Instructions on Worship] I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Lamentations 3:22

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. (NKJV)

நாம் நிர்மூலமாகாதிருப்பது கர்த்தருடைய கிருபையே, அவருடைய இரக்கங்களுக்கு முடிவில்லை. – புலம்பல் 3:22

Romans 13:6“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

My soul thirsts…

When in the wilderness, where there is a shortage of water supply, it will be redundant to say that I am thirsty. It is sort of given, that if there is one thing that makes me weary in a dry and barren land, it will be my thirst.

“Ask and it will be given to you.” – Matthew 7:7

It is a promise our Savior has given us. So, if there is something we need, let us ask God our Father, through His Son Jesus Christ.

David, when he was wandering in the wilderness, realized the hopelessness of his situation. And in such a situation, he came to the feet of the LORD and first, he affirmed his faith in our LORD, saying, “O God, You are my God.”

Dear friend, no matter how hopeless your situation looks now, there is always hope in our God. Come to Him and say, with faith, “O God, You are my God”.

And David sought God early in the morning. Dear friend, seek the LORD early in the morning. But, David did not stop with seeking God early in the morning and affirming his faith in Him. David opened his mouth and said what is bothering him.

“My soul thirsts…” – Psalm 63:1

Dear friend, are you in the wilderness? Are you in despair about your future? Fear not. Seek the LORD early in the morning and tell Him exactly how you are feeling. Sad, hopelessness, despair, angry, upset, disappointment – whatever you feel, tell Him. Tell God what you want from. Tell Him what is your thirst this day.

When David did that, when he told God that his soul thirsts, the LORD did not forsake him. Instead, God honored David’s faith and David saw the fulfillment of all the promises that the LORD had given him. Yes, dear friend, with faith, tell our LORD what is your thirst and the LORD gives you one promise this day.

They shall not hunger nor thirst; nor shall the heat nor sun strike them; for He who has mercy on them shall lead them; even by the springs of water He shall guide them. – Isaiah 49:10.

May the LORD have mercy on us and shall lead us; even by the springs of water, our LORD shall guide us on this very day. May the LORD of David bless us this day. Amen.

Romans 13:6“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.