There is a song by J Moss titled “Don’t Pray and Worry”. This line has been replaying itself in my mind today and I was thinking about it all day long.
This line questions our faith in God. You pray for something and you expect results. You feel like your prayers are not answered and you start worrying. You start getting anxious that probably your prayers are not heard. You start questioning your position with God and that leads you deeper into depression. The answer is simple, don’t pray and worry!.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him,” (1 John 5: 14 -1 5).
The bible tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. We need to stop doubting and believe because we serve a faithful God. What more can we do than rejoicing in the name of the Lord? Let us work our faith and believe that God has heard our prayers and he has responded to our prayers. DON’T PRAY AND WORRY!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Why Are You Helping The Next Person?
One of the things I have observed is that we tend to help others with the expectation of receiving more. That in itself is so fine. However, the most critical thing is WHY ARE YOU HELPING THAT PERSON?
The simplest answer is that you are helping the person because he/she is in need. If you can dig deeper, is that the real motive you are helping the person? If your honest answer is YES, continue doing so.
In some cases we find ourselves obliged to help the needy because it is the right thing to do (in the eyes of the witnesses). We help others because we are driven by the belief that we shall receive more, especially where money or wealth is involved. Our focus then is not on the actual assistance we are giving to this next person but on what shall come to us.
Let me simplify this: So many companies are involved in corporate responsibility programmes. This is commendable because they are investing their profits to help the needy. Honestly speaking, for some companies they are investing in such because they really support a good cause but for some their eyes are set on the (marketing) benefits of such initiatives.
Why are you helping the next person? This is a question that has troubled me the last few days. I am involved in charity work, and I try in whatever way I can to help the next person. Help comes in different forms, depending on the needs of the individual.
Recently I asked myself this question, “Why is it that when I complain about being broke, a stranger comes along and ask for the last coins I have in my pocket?” I have lost count of such instances but the peace and joy I feel inside once I have helped this person is immeasurable!
Two weeks ago I was looking for vegetables at the bus rank and had budgeted for E5 packages sold by the vendors. I bought a package of Green Pepper from one lady and she was selling it for E3. Instead of taking back the E2 change, I asked the lady to keep it. I did the same for another lady who was selling lettuce for the same amount.
I asked myself why I did this. E2 is such a small amount of money but you may not realize how much it means to an old lady who plies her trade as a street vendor (you can paint a mental picture of a street vendor’s life). I suddenly felt I could do more for these ladies. I WAS DOING IT OUT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION!
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (I John 3:17)
My point is that we need to evaluate the things we do and understand why we are doing them. Whatever we do, we should do it as if we are serving the Lord. When we extend our hand to help the next person, we should not do it for our selfish reasons but do it out of a loving heart. In that way we are demonstrating our love for God.
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10). Let us continue helping our brothers and sisters who need our support in any way and do it because we love them!
The simplest answer is that you are helping the person because he/she is in need. If you can dig deeper, is that the real motive you are helping the person? If your honest answer is YES, continue doing so.
In some cases we find ourselves obliged to help the needy because it is the right thing to do (in the eyes of the witnesses). We help others because we are driven by the belief that we shall receive more, especially where money or wealth is involved. Our focus then is not on the actual assistance we are giving to this next person but on what shall come to us.
Let me simplify this: So many companies are involved in corporate responsibility programmes. This is commendable because they are investing their profits to help the needy. Honestly speaking, for some companies they are investing in such because they really support a good cause but for some their eyes are set on the (marketing) benefits of such initiatives.
Why are you helping the next person? This is a question that has troubled me the last few days. I am involved in charity work, and I try in whatever way I can to help the next person. Help comes in different forms, depending on the needs of the individual.
Recently I asked myself this question, “Why is it that when I complain about being broke, a stranger comes along and ask for the last coins I have in my pocket?” I have lost count of such instances but the peace and joy I feel inside once I have helped this person is immeasurable!
Two weeks ago I was looking for vegetables at the bus rank and had budgeted for E5 packages sold by the vendors. I bought a package of Green Pepper from one lady and she was selling it for E3. Instead of taking back the E2 change, I asked the lady to keep it. I did the same for another lady who was selling lettuce for the same amount.
I asked myself why I did this. E2 is such a small amount of money but you may not realize how much it means to an old lady who plies her trade as a street vendor (you can paint a mental picture of a street vendor’s life). I suddenly felt I could do more for these ladies. I WAS DOING IT OUT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION!
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (I John 3:17)
My point is that we need to evaluate the things we do and understand why we are doing them. Whatever we do, we should do it as if we are serving the Lord. When we extend our hand to help the next person, we should not do it for our selfish reasons but do it out of a loving heart. In that way we are demonstrating our love for God.
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10). Let us continue helping our brothers and sisters who need our support in any way and do it because we love them!
Give Thanks In All Circumstances
All I want to say is ‘THANK YOU LORD!’
One of the simplest things we often overlook or forget is being grateful for everything. Many a times we are so engrossed in our current situation and oblivious of what’s happening around us. We fail to even recognize the most important things that mean so much to us.
There are times when, for instance, your career means so much to you. After all it brings food to your table. You spend so much time and effort to ensure that your career blossoms. You have people around you who support you all the way in a subtle way and you are flying high.
The trick is that you will feel good about your success and attribute that to your hard work. Well you are right; you worked hard to be where you are. If you pause and think about it, in the process there are people who prayed for you to succeed. In the process there are people who gave you courage when the going got tough. In the process there are people who were determined to see you fail but you persevered. In the process somebody ensured that you have eaten something in between your busy schedules. The list goes on…
We tend to forget that whatever we are, it is by the grace of God. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
On the flipside of the coin, when we are going through hard times and through pain, we tend to forget to thank God for his grace. It’s easy to start sulking and blaming everyone else for our suffering. It’s easy to even question ‘Why me Lord?’ when we are going through hardships.
We forget that our current suffering is nothing compared to the Glory promised to us. We forget that because we are children of God, the suffering we are going through is only a way in which the Father is disciplining us. We forget that the trials and tribulations we go through are a test of our faith in Him. We forget that the sufferings we go through are only meant to build our character.
The bottom line is that we need to do the will of God at all times, whether good or bad times. The other day I was praying to the Lord that he teaches me to do his will and after that I read the word and this is the scripture he directed me to:
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5 : 16 – 18).
By the Grace of God we were saved and this grace was not because we deserved it, but it was a gift from God. We need to thank God all the time for that. We need to thank God for everything we have. We need to thank God for the people around us. We need to thank God in all circumstances because of his love.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
One of the simplest things we often overlook or forget is being grateful for everything. Many a times we are so engrossed in our current situation and oblivious of what’s happening around us. We fail to even recognize the most important things that mean so much to us.
There are times when, for instance, your career means so much to you. After all it brings food to your table. You spend so much time and effort to ensure that your career blossoms. You have people around you who support you all the way in a subtle way and you are flying high.
The trick is that you will feel good about your success and attribute that to your hard work. Well you are right; you worked hard to be where you are. If you pause and think about it, in the process there are people who prayed for you to succeed. In the process there are people who gave you courage when the going got tough. In the process there are people who were determined to see you fail but you persevered. In the process somebody ensured that you have eaten something in between your busy schedules. The list goes on…
We tend to forget that whatever we are, it is by the grace of God. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
On the flipside of the coin, when we are going through hard times and through pain, we tend to forget to thank God for his grace. It’s easy to start sulking and blaming everyone else for our suffering. It’s easy to even question ‘Why me Lord?’ when we are going through hardships.
We forget that our current suffering is nothing compared to the Glory promised to us. We forget that because we are children of God, the suffering we are going through is only a way in which the Father is disciplining us. We forget that the trials and tribulations we go through are a test of our faith in Him. We forget that the sufferings we go through are only meant to build our character.
The bottom line is that we need to do the will of God at all times, whether good or bad times. The other day I was praying to the Lord that he teaches me to do his will and after that I read the word and this is the scripture he directed me to:
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5 : 16 – 18).
By the Grace of God we were saved and this grace was not because we deserved it, but it was a gift from God. We need to thank God all the time for that. We need to thank God for everything we have. We need to thank God for the people around us. We need to thank God in all circumstances because of his love.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)