The other day I was watching the Christian television network and there was a program on it and it had a news section where they were telling us what’s happening in the global Christian world. One of the news was large number of people especially from Canada and America send in special prayer requests to the Vatican. When they send in requests, they pay a cost and it will be prayed for. Because of the huge volumes of these requests coming in and because of the recession, the news said now it’s been outsourced to India. All these requests are sent to India and a priest would pray for it there... I found that news very interesting.
Can prayer be outsourced? Now that leaves us with numerous questions in our mind. Now what is prayer? Isn’t that a way we communicate with our heavenly father? Isn’t that part of our relationship with God? In a human relationship say between a husband and wife, think about having a third person in between them to communicate and they don’t talk directly, isn’t that funny? Do u think a relationship can work that way? We can have people praying with us, but the key is our own prayer. Unless we pray ourselves things won’t change. It’s becoming a trend with many of these new age evangelists especially on TV, claiming that they can pray for us and change our situation. It changes the way people think now… many think we can pay a cost and get someone else to pray by that they can get away without prayer. In our busy, fast track world, it seems to be a good solution. And these people are happy cos they get what they want. Money, which is the root for all evil. Friends let us be aware not to be trapped in situations like these. We have the great privilege of speaking to God directly and he speaks to us directly, what an amazing privilege that is. We don’t need any mediator.
He has given us the privilege of calling him Abba father and so believing in him, we become his heirs. Dream about it…… wouldn’t you want that beautiful relationship? Talking to God directly, when you see the big picture, you would want to do it yourself and not outsource.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
If God be for us... who can be against us?
Recently I was reading through the life of David, one of my favorite characters from the Bible. I still remember the graffiti board I use to have in my room when I was in college and once I wrote “David - A man after Gods own heart, when will I be?” and one of my friends scribbled below ‘Never’ when I was not there, that’s another story. But then I strived earnestly and I know for myself how God has molded me to what I am today, but still striving to be the man after his heart…
When I was reading I was trying to do a study about Saul and David. It was amazing the journey David took from a shepherd boy to a King. It was not an easy journey, we normally think of David as a King but then to become a king he went through a lot. First when Samuel came to anoint him, he was not even considered to be chosen, then He had to run for his life for years, even though he was anointed by Samuel and knew one day he would be the king. Couple of things which inspired me among the many was
• God was with him through out… that was the main difference between Saul and him. He was the chosen by God.
• He inquired of God before every single step he took (well mostly), so even he chose God to be with him
He saw success in all that he did, whether be a lion, Goliath, Saul or even his enemies because God was with him and made it possible. Isn’t that very true even for our lives too, I am sure you would have felt this too. When God is with us, suddenly impossible becomes possible? Recently I and Caroline saw Gods hand in two such incidents.
Few weeks back someone broke into our brand new car and tried to steal it, we woke up in the morning and were devastated to see it all ripped off. Anyway we had to call in the cops and finally the insurance told us that they would look after it but then we cannot have a car rental or replacement. So we were wondering what to do for two weeks without our car, but When we went to the Toyota dealer the guy took our car and gave us a replacement car within 5 minutes and here we go, we had the privilege of having another car till we got our new car back and we dint have to pay a thing. It was Unbelievable for me to see Gods hand even through the devastation and trauma we went thru.
The second thing was recently I applied for my U.S visa as I wanted to visit my brother in law and my friends. This was the first time I applied for a visa by myself without anyone’s help, the day I had my interview just before I left, someone who is an expert in visas told me I did a mistake by applying and I probably wouldn’t get my visa. I even thought of not going in, but then I prayed and felt to go ahead. In the interview I did not have much solid answers to support my argument. I had just come in to Canada and the lady asked what’s the assurance that I would come back? I don’t have a property here or something, I just prayed, and finally she said she will give me a tourist visa. I was happy in a way but then my friends told me it would be for just 6 months, I wanted for at least a few years, I prayed and left it to God. Two days later I was more than surprised to see my passport stamped with a visa for 10 years. It’s yet another moment for us to realize that Our God is with us, the battle is for us and it’s already won.
If God be for us (you and me) who can be against us…? Amen
When I was reading I was trying to do a study about Saul and David. It was amazing the journey David took from a shepherd boy to a King. It was not an easy journey, we normally think of David as a King but then to become a king he went through a lot. First when Samuel came to anoint him, he was not even considered to be chosen, then He had to run for his life for years, even though he was anointed by Samuel and knew one day he would be the king. Couple of things which inspired me among the many was
• God was with him through out… that was the main difference between Saul and him. He was the chosen by God.
• He inquired of God before every single step he took (well mostly), so even he chose God to be with him
He saw success in all that he did, whether be a lion, Goliath, Saul or even his enemies because God was with him and made it possible. Isn’t that very true even for our lives too, I am sure you would have felt this too. When God is with us, suddenly impossible becomes possible? Recently I and Caroline saw Gods hand in two such incidents.
Few weeks back someone broke into our brand new car and tried to steal it, we woke up in the morning and were devastated to see it all ripped off. Anyway we had to call in the cops and finally the insurance told us that they would look after it but then we cannot have a car rental or replacement. So we were wondering what to do for two weeks without our car, but When we went to the Toyota dealer the guy took our car and gave us a replacement car within 5 minutes and here we go, we had the privilege of having another car till we got our new car back and we dint have to pay a thing. It was Unbelievable for me to see Gods hand even through the devastation and trauma we went thru.
The second thing was recently I applied for my U.S visa as I wanted to visit my brother in law and my friends. This was the first time I applied for a visa by myself without anyone’s help, the day I had my interview just before I left, someone who is an expert in visas told me I did a mistake by applying and I probably wouldn’t get my visa. I even thought of not going in, but then I prayed and felt to go ahead. In the interview I did not have much solid answers to support my argument. I had just come in to Canada and the lady asked what’s the assurance that I would come back? I don’t have a property here or something, I just prayed, and finally she said she will give me a tourist visa. I was happy in a way but then my friends told me it would be for just 6 months, I wanted for at least a few years, I prayed and left it to God. Two days later I was more than surprised to see my passport stamped with a visa for 10 years. It’s yet another moment for us to realize that Our God is with us, the battle is for us and it’s already won.
If God be for us (you and me) who can be against us…? Amen
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