Category: Category 3

The time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord. Charles Stanley

I Am Anointed

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:13

 

When David was finally presented before Samuel, the prophet took a horn of oil and anointed him in front of his seven older brothers. This would have been quite humiliating for the other brothers; the youngest was chosen ahead of them to be blessed by the Lord. This same experience can happen to any one of us; it may be at a church service, through a prophetic word or a special visitation. When we have such an encounter, we will experience the mighty power of God in our lives and may give expression to our feelings through crying, laughing or simply being quiet and enjoying His presence.
The important thing, however, is that we need to be filled on a daily basis so that we can move in His power. This can only happen when we truly abide in Him so that it will not be just a one-off experience but a daily occurrence. The initial encounter will be just the beginning to living continuously in His presence.

As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in Him.1 John 2:24

The word says that if we remain in Him, He will teach us all that we need to know. Let me encourage you to abide in His word so that you may be blessed and anointed by the Lord to stand tall before your fellow men.

 

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day; my desire is to abide in You so that You will teach me all things and I will be able to live as an overcomer. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

 

Least Important
So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
1 Samuel 16:11
In school, when we wanted to play a game, teams were selected to play against each other. The best players would be chosen as captains who would pick the people they wanted to be on their team. Usually, the better players got picked first, leaving the weaker players to be chosen last. If you have ever experienced being selected last, you will know that it is quite an embarrassing position to be in!

 

Being the youngest son, David was given the task of looking after his father’s sheep and when the prophet Samuel arrived unexpectedly, the family did not even consider calling him in. All the other brothers were brought before Samuel but David was left out. Young as he was, however, he was developing a deep relationship with God while tending the sheep and was therefore, later able to say in Psalm 27:10 “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.”

 

Have you ever felt the same way as David? The Lord wants to encourage you today. The world may see you as not capable of anything but the Lord has the best for you. He takes the weak things of the world to put to shame the strong so that His power may be revealed and the glory is given to Him.

 

Dear Lord,
I want to thank You for this day. When I am weak and insignificant, You are my portion and my strength. Thank You for lifting me up and setting my feet on higher ground. Amen.

 

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Faith makes all things possible… love makes all things easy. Dwight L Moody

Keep My Commandments

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Exodus 19:3-6

When the children of Israel arrived at Mt Sinai, the Lord called Moses up the mountain because He wanted to establish a covenant with His people. He reminded Israel of how He had delivered them from the yoke of slavery in Egypt, setting them free from bondage.

 

Now, He wanted to make the nation of Israel His own special people; if they obeyed His commands, they would be set apart from all other nations because by entering into a covenant relationship with God, they would be made holy.

 

Today, when we enter into the New Covenant that was initiated by Jesus at the Last Supper, we enter into a special union with Him. He has delivered us from the law of sin and death and wants us to be set apart for Him. In 1 Peter 2:9-10, Peter says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

 

As we experience His grace and mercy, let us be faithful to keep our covenant with the One who loved us so much that He gave His life for us. As we receive His Holy Spirit, may our lives be transformed and renewed to be a living testimony of His great love.
Dear Lord,

May Your love overflow in my heart so that I can draw closer to You. Help me to keep Your covenant, living by Your Word so that I may walk in union with You and with the Body of Christ. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you’ll stand firm if you stand on His love. Charles Stanley

The Lord Is Our Defence

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
Isaiah 41:10-13

 

Although we may not be faced with the physical battles that the children of Israel had to endure, our modern day lives are filled with attacks from the enemy who continues to wage war in the heavenlies against those who choose to follow Christ. We may rest assured, however, that the Lord remains faithful to those He calls His own; He will strengthen and uphold us with His righteous right hand.

 

Just as He protected and defended the children of Israel with the pillar of cloud and fire, He is our Protector and Defender, lighting the path that we should follow and shielding us from the enemy over whom He has the victory. As we place our trust in Him, let us give Him our thanks and praise for defeating the one who seeks to rob us of our health, joy and peace.

 

Do not be weary and worn down by fighting your own battles because the Lord is our Deliverer; let us proclaim the finished and perfect work of the cross, trusting in the power of His blood to overcome the snares of the enemy so that we may live the victorious life that He desires for us.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day. My trust is not in horses or chariots but in You, my Defender and Deliverer. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Dear All,

Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He’s sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped. Charles Stanley

Grumbling

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
Exodus 17:1-3

The children of Israel were witnesses to the mighty hand of God throughout the plagues, their exodus from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea but that did not stop them from grumbling before the Lord.

 

Three days after crossing the Red Sea, they complained that the water at Marah was bitter and so Moses threw a tree into the waters to make it sweet. A couple of months later, they regretted leaving Egypt for want of meat and bread to fill their stomachs and so the Lord provided quail and manna for them from heaven. Now, as they camped at Rephidim, they complained again, accusing Moses of bringing them out of Egypt so that they would die of thirst. In all these circumstances, we see the manifest grace of God towards His children.

At Rephidim, the Lord did something significant when he asked Moses to take some of the elders to the rock at Horeb and to strike the rock with his rod. As Moses acted in faith and obedience, water poured forth from the rock and so, again, the Lord provided for the needs of His people.

 

The striking of the rock foretold the coming death of Jesus, our Rock and Saviour. As water came out of the rock to satisfy the people’s thirst, so would the living water from Jesus give eternal life through Him who was struck, beaten and nailed to the cross for our sins.
So be encouraged that even when we are wandering in the wilderness, feeling dry and thirsty, the Lord is with us. As we approach the Rock in faith and obedience, He will meet our every need; He is the source of the living water that gives life to our spirits.
Dear Lord,
I thank You for the patience and love that You show me every day. Thank You that You hear my cry, that You are my Rock, my Saviour who provides all that I need. Amen.

 

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. Henry Ward Beecher

Stand Firm

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:13-14

It would have taken a lot of courage for Moses to tell the people of Israel to “stand firm” when Pharaoh’s army was behind them and the waters of the Red Sea before them.
When God speaks to us, we need to declare His word in faith, believing that when we exercise this kind of faith, we will see the hand of God move in our lives.

When we speak with our mouth what the Lord has promised, faith is applied to the situation and we can be confident of the result. When an athlete applies anti-inflammatory cream to an inflamed muscle, he expects to be relieved of the pain. Similarly, when we apply God’s word to a difficult situation, His faith is activated in us so that we can expect to see the Lord win the battle for us.

 

As we stand firm on His promises, let us proclaim His goodness and declare His faithfulness, knowing that we shall see the salvation of the Lord.
Dear Lord,
I give You all my fears and stand firm in Your word. You are the rock of my salvation and the strength of my life. I believe and trust in You alone. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Earthly wisdom is doing what comes naturally. Godly wisdom is doing what the Holy Spirit compels us to do. Charles Stanley

Stretch Out Your Hand

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
Exodus 14:21-22

Stretching requires physical effort in any person but when we stretch out our hand in expectation of seeing the power of God, we also need to exercise faith. Peter and John stretched out their hand to lift up the lame man, fully believing that he would receive God’s healing to start walking. When Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, his faith was focused on the God of miracles to perform the miraculous.
When we stretch out our hand in faith, many significant things happen. Firstly, as the Lord parted the sea to open a door for His people, so will He show us the way we should go, the path that we should follow. Secondly, as the pillar of cloud moved to protect the children of Israel, so the Lord will be our Protector, shielding us from the attacks of the enemy. Finally, as Pharaoh’s army perished in the waters, so the Lord will fight for us, His children, giving us victory over our enemies.

Let us be challenged today to stretch forth our hand when He speaks to us, not trusting in our own ability but putting our faith in the Almighty God, and we will see the supernatural hand of God transforming our lives and others around us.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for this day. Increase my faith and open my ears that I may heed Your voice to stretch forth my hand and witness the power and might of the supernatural works of Your hand.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Every test, every trial, every heartache that’s been significant, I can turn it over and see how God has turned it into good no matter what. Charles Stanley

Lack Of Faith

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?”
Exodus 14:10-11

The people of Israel had seen and experienced the supernatural power of God when He set them free from the oppression of Pharaoh. They saw how the Lord separated and protected them from the plagues which fell upon the Egyptians. But when they lifted their eyes and saw the Egyptian soldiers marching after them, they were terrified and blamed Moses for their predicament.

In that one moment of fear, they forgot about the victory won over Pharaoh; they lost their faith in Moses and in the Lord who had protected them and freed them from bondage.

 

This is very typical of many of us who have experienced the love and power of God in many ways. We have witnessed the might of His supernatural hand but the moment when things do not work according to our plan or there is a delay, our faith goes out the window.

Today, let us ask the Lord to strengthen our faith by looking back at our past victories; let us give Him our praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He will not let us down but will always be faithful to deliver us from our enemies.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for all that You have done for me. I know that You are with me even when I go through the darkest valleys; I will fear no evil for You are always with me. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo & Manju

God is more interested in your future and your relationships than you are. Billy Graham

The Longer Route

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt. So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
Exodus 13:17-18

 

The children of Israel had been living in bondage for many years, serving as slaves in the land of Egypt. When they were released, they experienced freedom for the first time, completely unaware and unprepared for what lay ahead of them.

The Lord, therefore, led them toward the Red Sea, away from the land of the Philistine enemies. Although this was a much longer and circuitous route to Canaan, He thought they might be tempted to return to Egypt if they faced the prospect of war soon after being set free.
When we are weak and vulnerable, it is easy for us to make wrong decisions. In such circumstances, it is wise to follow the path that the Lord chooses for us, even if it takes us longer to reach our destination. If we follow His pillar of cloud and fire, we may be assured of His protection and guidance at all times. Although the answers to our many prayers may be taking a long time in coming, the Lord is faithful and He will complete the work that He has begun in us.

 

So be encouraged today that the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves. Like a parent who cherishes their new born baby, He is devoted to our welfare, caring for us, providing for our every need. Although the route may sometimes seem long and arduous, He remains beside us along the entire way.
Dear Lord,
You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Amen.

God bless you.

Your obedient servants in Christ,

Theo and Manju

God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain. CS Lewis

The Grace of God

Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.
Daniel 4:29-31

Nebuchadnezzar was a very powerful and prominent king. Although he experienced and witnessed the power of God working through those whom he had taken captive from Judah, he did not give God the glory but instead, boasted of his own strength and power. He was warned in a dream to repent of his pride and arrogance but he did not heed the warning and had to learn the hard way.

The Lord caused him to become insane, behaving like an animal and eating grass like oxen. After Nebuchadnezzar was humbled, he understood the purposes of God, acknowledging Him as the supreme ruler over the entire universe, the One who was able to give and hold back all power on earth.

We, also, are sometimes warned by friends and spoken to by God but are we humble enough to change? If not, we may be faced with difficulties and uncomfortable circumstances until we learn our lesson and submit to His correction.

The Lord desires all men to come to repentance and is not slack concerning His promise. He is long suffering toward us. (2 Peter 3:9) After seven years, God restored Nebuchadnezzar as king, a king who had learnt valuable lessons about the sovereignty of God.

Just as the Lord is patient in His dealings with us, so He desires that we show the same grace to others.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace that has saved me. Please help me to extend the same grace to others, serving them in love and humility, because You first loved us. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo & Manju