The Bible says: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119 verse 11.
We live in a world where we face a lot of temptations. Our hearts and minds are not strong enough to resist them. We need God’s help. At the same time, we need to store up and hide God’s Word in our hearts. Why?
Because God’s Word is living and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword. God’s Word is like fire and a hammer that breaks a rock into pieces. Therefore, storing it within our hearts gives us a fighting chance and resisting power against sin. God will bring to our minds the right word at our time of need.
Therefore, let us try to memorize God’s Word and hide it in our hearts. Yes, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119 verse 11. Amen.
You are reading this probably because you are going through a period of low self-esteem. It can happen due to a lot of reasons. But it need not stop you from moving ahead successfully in life.
There are many external causes for low self-esteem. Being unable to do what you are good at, lack of finances, words of criticism, emotional or physical abuse during childhood, rejection from loved ones, breaking up of relationships, ill health; can all contribute to low self-esteem.
The chances are, low self-esteem you feel is based on others’ negative opinion and false estimates about you. When someone says, “You’re an utter failure,” or “What benefit do you get when you help others?” it is bound to make you feel low and down.
But are those estimates true? Maybe that’s how someone feels about you. Their ideas of success might be totally different and influenced by the crowd they mingle with.
Whatever it be, feeling low on self-esteem is painful and can take away the enthusiasm to do anything purposeful. There are three things you should keep in mind when you go through a period of low self- esteem:
One, God values you and sees infinite worth in you so much so that he sent his one and only Son Jesus to shed his blood on the cross and die for you. Believe God’s truthful estimate about you.
Two, patiently keep doing your good work knowing that its fruit and reward will come someday without fail. Do not mistake slow-moving phases of life as failure.
Three, the pain of low self-esteem can make you a better person. It can make you more creative, more compassionate, and more humble before God. In due time, God will exalt you. Trust in his perfect timing for you.
So when low self-esteem troubles you, pour out your sorrow before God. He will listen to you, for he is compassionate. You can lean on him for strength in times of low self-esteem. The night is darkest, as it is said, just before dawn!
Forgiving someone who has done you harm or wronged you in some way is not easy. We hold a grudge against a person who has wronged us. This can go on for years.
But consider. Who are you harming in the long run? It is you yourself. I do not know about the chemical changes that happen in the body due to this; but I can assure you it is certainly negative.
You are like a person poisoning yourself a little bit each day. You fail to enjoy the good things of life because the grudge you hold in your heart colours your emotions black and ugly. No matter what you do the grudge puts up its ugly head to distract and discomfort you.
Having said this much, is there any solution to it? Saying that you should forgive the person is easy. Because no matter what you do you are unable to forget the wrong that the person did to you. You might even get angry and burst out at the one who suggests to you to forgive the other.
That’s quite normal. But should it be left like that? Therefore seek God’s help. If you sincerly ask him for wisdom to deal with the situation, he will give it to you without finding fault.
The point is it is humanly impossible to let go of a grudge. Because it persists. It irritates. It clouds your mind and thinking. It makes you hate.
I don’t have solutions. But I know only to point you to the One who can provide you the grace to let go the grudge you have. Seek God and his help today. For his mercy is great and his compassions never fail. He will surely help you to give up the grudge you have.
Maybe it doesn’t happen like you switch on the lights. But when God gives you grace, there will be a diluting of acidity that has been eating away the peace in your heart and mind.
A world in which people are becoming more self-centred and busy, kindness holds a miracle-working power. Possibly kindness is a kind of tender-hearted and compassionate love in action. The Bible calls kindness a fruit of the Spirit; meaning that God makes that quality grow in us as we increasingly connect with him like a branch in a tree.
Regarding kindness, I wish to share with you four quick thoughts:
One, kindness begins with an attitude. It begins with you and me having open eyes and ears to see and listen to others. Most people are hurting in one way or other. They need a listening ear. They needed someone to tell them that there is hope ahead so as to help them find strength in God.
Two, kindness is also action-oriented. It can be the gift of a smile, a loving and understanding touch, a phone call or a message to cheer up a heart. Some need help in material ways like money for education or hospital expenses. Seeing someone in need and then not helping when it is in your power to act is quite the opposite of kindness.
Three, kindness has to be cultivated. As said earlier, it is a fruit. When we show kindness we reflect that quality in God who is compassionate and showed tender-hearted kindness to us when he gifted Jesus his Son to come to this earth and bleed to death on a cross. So kindness is about showing love in action to those who might not even deserve it. It is not easy. It requires a spirit of sacrifice and often a forgiving spirit too.
Four, kindness is often shown outside but absent within our homes. It has been often pointed out that we show kindness to everyone but often forget to show it those who are our loved ones at home. This is a serious neglect we need to address. Home becomes a light of joy when kindness is shown to each other. For example, not shouting at your loved one when a mistake is made is an act of love and kindness.
So my dear friends, let me conclude saying that kindness is a much needed virtue in today’s world that is increasingly busy, driven by artificial intelligence, and powered by selfish attitudes. Kindness can be that one thing which will bring a miracle of love, affection, friendship, and joy being restored in your homes too. May God give you the strength and courage to exhibit kindness to all; especially to those who are close to your heart.
It doesn’t matter if the beginning seems small
Or having not significance great;
For God is at work
And his eye is watching over you.
There will come delays:
People might oppose you;
Some friends might leave;
And others slander you.
But then those are the very things
That make you, in weakness and fear, tremble;
And make you turn to the Lord for strength.
Look to Jesus;
Who stands by your side.
And when obstacles seem too big to overcome;
Step out in faith, and there will a way for you open,
Right in the middle of what threatens to drown you.
Now, do not lose the vision;
Its end awaits an appointed time.
Till then, toil and labour on in tears and sweat;
Someday there will be a reward;
For being faithful to the task you were given to do.
Therefore let no one despise
The day of small beginnings,
For what you’ve begun with God;
He’ll surely complete.
Even when others might call you a failure; God doesn’t call you so. For the blood of Jesus shed on the cross was to give you a new beginning in life. So, thank God for all your failures.
Believe that God can use all your failures to make you a better person. A broken and contrite heart; and humility often comes as a result of failure.
God looks at your heart and your motives more than your failure; whatever that be. Therefore, if at all you have failed, do not give up hope.
For stars in the heavens still twinkle at night. And no failure in your life is final; if you can accept God’s help to rise up once again.
Lavender skies;
Is neither blue nor the red I knew.
The morning broke
But my heart still heaved
For the night before had seen
Yet again me go down.
Was it the pain of rejection?
Was it sheer loneliness?
That emptied my cup
Of joy, of love;
Which never ever was full.
Oh, lavender skies!
How my heart heave and sighs
As the past grinds over me
Like a cart with grain loaded;
And those merciless wheels
That crush underneath.
Like a worm;
I feel no worth.
Yet the morning brings
That word of hope:
“Lavender skies!”
It came, just came
When I’d thought all was lost.
Oh, lavender skies!
You tell me when I forget:
God’s compassions never fail;
They are new every morning;
So me can begin again
To hope, to believe,
There’s more to life
Than the moments I have failed.
Oh, lavender skies!
You’ve brought me
That splash of white
To mix with the red and the blue;
That whisper of hope
To stand up once more
In the strength
Of the love of my God;
On that mercy note
Seen on the blood of his cross.
— Note: The two words “Lavender Skies” just came to mind on Sunday morning, 5th of December 2021, as I sat a bit fatigued. It mixed with some themes that were already in mind; and I had no other choice but to allow, under divine compulsion, words to flow and pen these lines.
It is amazing that prayer often comes last in the list when we are in trouble. Isn’t it because we forget that we have a Helper who helps us to pray?
God knows that we faint when we have to stay awake and pray in the hour of our need. Therefore, he has sent into our hearts the Holy Spirit who will help us to pray.
Yes, there are moments when our hearts are too heavy that we are unable to pray. Then the Spirit of God, with groans and sighs which cannot be heard by our ears, lifts up our hearts to God in prayer. Those prayers are heard and answered, for he prays for us always according to God’s will.
When such a person is given to us; what a gift he is! And like many other gifts that God has given us; we’ve forgotten him and treated him like a stranger.
Prayer can be a joy when the Spirit of God is called upon to help you pray. He will remind you of the promises of God, and give you the boldness to pray. He will counsel you with wisdom and knowledge to take action in answer to prayer. The Spirit of God helps you to praise when there is a spirit of despair clouding your heart and mind.
He helps you look to Jesus with unwavering faith. He will help you to stand at the foot of the cross and draw near to God crying out “Abba, Father,” through the precious blood of Jesus. He will help you go to God’s throne of grace with boldness and confidence; where Jesus now alive for ever and ever, is at the right hand of God interceding on your behalf.
He makes God’s presence real to you. God’s friendship warms your heart like a lit fire on a cold day when the Spirit of God makes your heart his home.
And when you read the Bible, he makes it come alive for you. The Word of God then speaks to you not as history but as truth and as the living words of God. Guided by the Spirit of God, its wisdom becomes the answers to your prayers; a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.
The best in prayer is that the Spirit of truth shows us how ugly our hearts really are; and burns away, if we are willing, all that is not pleasing to God in our lives. So let us pray that the Spirit of God come and search our hearts, and give us the courage to change.
Prayer is not limited by language, when the Spirit of God prays in us. God becomes real and intimate to us when the Spirit of God is called alongside like an advocate or friend to help us pray.Therefore, let us simply call on the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Father in heaven, who was sent to us in the Name of Jesus, to help us to pray.
It does not matter if your life is like the valley of dry bones; for when the Spirit of God comes, the dry bones shall come to life in answer to prayer. So also, there shall be a revival of hope; a season of refreshing, and abundant showers of blessing, when the Spirit of God comes with mighty power like the wind, and with a mother’s comforting love.
Mighty God he is, Lord God; yet gentle like a dove. He is grieved by our sins, and our cold,complacent attitude towards him.
My friend, will you give the Holy Spirit a chance; to make things right in your life? If yes, pray continually in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Prayer is the language of love that brings together God and you; and the Spirit of God will not fail to bring you joy when you approach God in prayer.
You’re not alone! For God will not leave you comfortless and helpless; but he has promised to come to you; the Spirit of God makes that promise true. Then the peace of God which Jesus had promised will be yours and mine.
Above all, it is the Spirit of God who makes the love of God pour out into our hearts like lights flooding a stadium at night.
“Oh, Spirit of God, come and light again that first love lost, anoint me with the oil of gladness, and restore within me the joy of God!”
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself interecedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
There is a gentle whisper:
Why give up, my child?
Am I not with you?
You’re no failure in my eyes.
Just believe.
I have seen your tears.
I have heard your prayers.
Though troubles mount
And you feel the pressure much;
I will hold your hand to guide and help you,
And make you strong.
Even when things do not turn out the way you had hoped for;
I Am the Almighty; who bled for you.
I know the plans I have for you.
Your tomorrows are mine. So do not fear.
Just believe.
I will not let go of you.
My heart pounded as I heard. I battled doubts and fear.
My Lord and my God, I cried out.
I do believe,
Help me overcome my unbelief.
I heard again: I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.
Is anything too hard for me?
Just believe.
Praising God does not come naturally to any one of us. We are reluctant to give God, praise. And when it comes to our failures which certainly includes mistakes made; there is no chance or even a remote thought of praising God. Even if we try, it is going to be painful. But praise has got power. It has the power to change us and transform us. Let us look at how it does so.
Praising God simply takes the burden of failures off our back. When we praise God we are saying that our analysis of our failures is not going to help us beyond a certain point. When we praise God, we are saying that we are already in the pit of self-pity by brooding over our failures and we want to get out of it. Praise puts us on the gear forward to victory.
Praising God is one of the best ways you can tell God that “I give total control of all circumstances that I find myself in to your hands.” You can now confidently expect God to carry your burdens. When you praise God, you can look forward to God making your failures work for a good purpose in your life. You may not understand how; but even the storms obey his will.
Praising God defeats all spiritual forces of darkness. One thing you can be sure of: You cannot fight spiritual forces of darkness with weapons of your making. Logic, intellect, or academic brilliance will not help in any way. But praise turns the battle around. In the midst of your greatest failure; start praising God for who he is—God Almighty; full of goodness, compassion and mercy. It is then the battle turns around to give you victory over all that has been troubling you.
Praising God can open doors that were closed. It can bring down barriers and make a road for you even in the wilderness. It does not matter how long you’ve stayed defeated; what matters is whether you can start to praise God with unending enthusiasm. As I said at the beginning, praise does not come naturally to any one of us. But music helps. If you can sing a song of praise; then the language of praise will start to overflow from your hearts and lips.
Praising God is the best way to overcome the spirit of despair that often pulls you down. Jesus came to set captives free. And he does so by giving you the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. So just put on praise. It simply is a joyful lifting up of God’s holy name. Then failures will yield you greater returns because praise changes doom and gloom into joyous shouts of victory.
Finally, praising God shifts your focus from your failures to God himself. It is such a liberating truth. Suddenly you’re free of the burden of shame of your failures. So go ahead and praise God for all your failures and he will fight for you for the battle is the Lord’s and victory rests with him.
Arise, shine, for your light has come. There is a moment when God touches your life. You can never be the same again. Neither the present crisis in your life; nor the baggage of the past is going to prevent the future glory that God will bring into your life.
Arise, shine, for your light has come. There is a moment when God will shine his light in your life. You can then never be in love with darkness again. Though darkness never gives up easily; God’s light that shines is powerful enough to drive all darkness away. And there shall be light.
Arise, shine, for your light has come. There is a moment when God will show you compassion like never before. You’re hurting and you’re troubled and you’re anxious and worried about your future. God will comfort you like a mother and you will know who God really is. His love is strong and gentle.
Arise, shine, for your light has come. There is a moment when God will make a change in your fortunes. Yes, there will come a time when you will forget the shame of your youth. There will come a time when gifts will be brought to you. Those who had despised you shall then honour you.
Arise, shine, for your light has come. There is a moment when God will rebuild your life. You might be looking at the ruins of what once was glorious. You might be thinking of how big a challenge it is to bring back to life all that is lifeless and looks like trash. But God will help you rebuild your walls once again.
Arise, shine, for your light has come. There is a moment when God will better everything about you. There will be a qualitative improvement in your life’s situation. Instead of trouble; there will be peace. Your present circumstances will prove no match for the might of God who will demonstrate his power and deliverance on your behalf.
Arise, shine, for your light has come. There is a moment when God will not delay any longer. He will make a quick response to your cry. He will come to help. The swiftness with which God will act on your behalf will take all by surprise. For God is working in your life even now when no outward act of his is seen. Let hope overflow because Jesus bled for you on the cross where God’s light of compassion, mercy, and forgiving love had shone to remove all despair and darkness from your life.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1 Bible NIV 1984.
— Note: This motivational speech is inspired by Isaiah Chapter 60 in the Bible.
Words do have the power to hurt. Therefore speeches that do not build you up can pull you down. Surprisingly, most of these speeches originate with you; and you do not even know it. But students need to be aware of this in order to avoid these dangerous little speeches.
What are these little speeches and how do they hurt? And how do they pull you down? Let us try to find out.
First of all listen to all the I can’t speeches you tell time and again. Without knowing it you are creating a belief for yourself that you are not capable. The truth is that you fear failure. Therefore you do not want to try. Failure is Ok; but saying I can’t is not Ok.
Secondly, listen to all the negative stories you tell. They might be true incidents when people might have hurt you, criticized you or made fun of you. The more you tell those stories the more you believe that you are helpless and a victim of circumstances. Is that true? I doubt. With trust in God, can you not rise up above all that pulled you down in the past?Yes, you can.
Thirdly, listen to self-deprecating comments that you make. Occasionally that can be part of humour. But if you use that constantly, it can be an indicator of the struggle you have with your sense of self worth, esteem and significance. Therefore cut off that kind of talk. It only pulls you down.
Finally, listen to little speeches of despair that escape your lips. You might have never noticed it. But after spending time with you; your friends will leave with their hearts heavy, with lack of happiness, and clueless why their minds are feeling drained. It is because of the pessimistic, no-hope-ahead, kind of talk you might be tempted to speak. Avoid that at all costs or you’ll lose your valuable friendships before you know it.
To conclude, let me say that identifying these four kind of speeches and avoiding them is not enough. You need to start thinking differently. St. Paul tells us: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”1 When you do so, quite naturally, you will learn to speak words that, instead of pulling you down into a spirit of despair, will build you up.
—
Prophet Isaiah predicted that Jesus came, “to bind up the brokenhearted . . . to comfort all who mourn . . .” and to give them “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isiaah 61:1–3).
1 Philippians 4:8 Bible NIV 1984.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
Red, Green and Yellow are the colours in traffic lights. They give you directions to stop, move, and wait. When translated to daily living, these lights can be guiding lights. But even when the meaning of these lights are plain; there is a lot of confusion when people take decisions. Therefore people seek God for guidance. And sure he does guide you.
Let me start with two promises in the Bible. God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”1 And yet again, This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”2
The first and foremost thing to note here is that God is interested in guiding you. He is not watching you from a remote place far away and see you struggle and offering no help. In fact, he is very keen on helping you and guiding you. In this respect, the light is green.
The second thought is that God has your best in mind always. Therefore he seeks to help us understand what is best in our lives. Often it is here that conflicts come. We want to move in one direction and God switches on red lights. But we tend to ignore them generally. Sometimes logic is not what works when God moves in your life. There is a gentle impress of the Spirit of God in your heart. There is no mistaking when he nudges you to move, stop, or wait.
The third thought is about speed. Of course, we all love to reach our destinations quickly. But in God’s economy of things; waiting has a prominent place. We might not know when God is going to move things forward; but he will only give the assurance that he will act. Therefore we have to learn to wait for God’s time in our lives. And trust that his time is best till yellow gives way to green.
Let me end with yet another truth that the Bible highlights. It says that God’s Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.3 Its guidance is about what God’s mind is about. The reading of the Bible and meditating on it ensures that you learn to recognize red, green, and yellow when it shines. Yet isn’t it amazing that people who seek Google Maps to guide them to locations find it difficult to trust God and his wisdom for guidance in their lives?
So let us spread our sails to the wind. Let us keep a steady eye. If the waters grow troubled and the night stretches long; let us anchor on hope till break of dawn.
Therefore my friends, I ask of you to look beyond the present moment. I tell you not to lose courage. The waves might roll and the waters may become troubled; but we will sail on.
It doesn’t matter if you feel afraid and see no way ahead. Whatever happens don’t yield to despair; for though I steer the boat it is the unseen hand of God, my Captain, who guides my boat.
It is not the safety of the shore that we shall seek; but the adventure on the seas. For if my life is a boat on the seas; there is no joy in mooring it to the shore.
So sail on with me my friends; for our time is brief; our task ahead great; and our purpose true.
Ask! Seek! Knock!1 Here are three words that can change your life. Those words come to you from the One who changes lives and transforms the hearts of people.
Ask! Seek! Knock! Those three words invite you to approach God with freedom, boldness, and confidence. It is an invitation to come and know the Giver before you look at the gift.
Ask! Seek! Knock! These three words increase in intensity. Ask begins the search, seek intensifies it, and knock is desperation. Only those who have a real desire to connect with God get answers to prayer.
Ask! Seek! Knock!! But why should you ask? God already knows what you need; doesn’t he? Then why ask? Good question. You need to ask. Only then will you know whether you really need what you ask. Sometimes in the process of asking you realize the foolishness of what you started asking for. And that is a eureka moment! It is that moment when you come to your senses.
Ask! Seek! Knock! God has kept hurdles that you may develop character. He is more interested in putting boldness and courage in you by his delays and denials to your requests. But none of that is meant to hurt you.
Ask! Seek! Knock! You need to get your eyes opened wide. God has bigger plans for you. Often you limit him by going to him with a begging bowl. Let me ask you, do children beg at home? Those three words, Ask! Seeek! Knock! are meant for children. You are one of God’s children; aren’t you?
Ask! Seek! Knock! Jesus always prayed with the confidence that his Father in heaven heard him. There was no doubt; no uncertainty; and no confusion. Why? Because he always did what pleased his Father. And always sought to do his Father’s will. So when you Ask! Seek! Knock! it will be surely answered when you earnestly wish to do what God wants you to do.
Ask! Seek! Knock! Finally, when Jesus prayed, he had an utterance of thanks in his lips and in his heart. That is faith in action; when you thank God for the answer even when there is no possibility of an answer. For God “gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”2
Therefore, Ask! Seek! Knock! Those three words can truly change your life!
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” — Jesus Christ in his Sermon on the Mount 1(Matthew 7:7, 8 Bible NIV).
Techniques and tips might help but those don’t bring success to you in interviews. You have to choose to have what it takes to succeed. Failures in interviews happen not by chance, but because you did not care enough to choose what helps you succeed. So what helps you succeed in interviews? Of course, the choices you make. Come on, let’s take a look at them:
One, have a grip of fundamentals. Brush up your knowledge of the basics of your subject before you attend interviews. It is the simple questions that are likely to trip you rather than questions that probe deep into the subject.
Two, if you have passion for what you do and what you have applied for it will show. So be genuinely interested in the profile and the organisation you are seeking an entry to. Make them know your skills set match what they are looking for.
Three, interviews are not decided only by the correct answers you give. It is more or less decided by the confidence about you you are able to inspire in the interview board. You can inspire confidence by your knowledge, your attitude, your past performances, your passion, the clarity of your answers, and the intensity or burning desire with which you are focused on getting through.
Four, past experiences can be assets if you can tell them convincingly to prove your leadership, communication, organising, or other skills. Be prepared with stories of how you exhibited your skills in the past. Even if it was a project or assignement which was done by a group make sure you highlight your role in the effort.
Five, good communication skills do help a lot. When combined with a positive attitude it is a winning duo. A little bit of being persuasive in communication is good; no need to be aggressive. Attending some training program just before the interview can help; but it cannot match with long-term preparation in developing communication skills. The least you can do is to listen to good English on a regular basis.
Six, you can only be who you are. The interview board will easily pick out whether you have fear, whether you are biased, whether your real ambition lies somewhere else, whether you harbour resentment or you have gratitude, whether you are responsible or someone who plays the blame game, whether you pursue excellence or chase wishful thinking and so on. So be yourself and build character right from school days; though it is never late to begin.
Finally, it is a personal thought. Sometimes you don’t make it in spite of your best effort. That doesn’t make you a failure. If you trust God, then know that he opens and closes doors. In the end a closed door can be the best thing to have happened. For failure in an interview is not the final word, if you can still believe, hope and trust for better days ahead.
Capturing attention of the audience at the beginning is one of the keys to successful public speaking. It is best illustrated in this incident1 recorded in the Bible.
At one point in time and history in a desert a bush caught fire. But this burning bush did not burn up. Becoming curious Moses went near.
When God saw that he had Moses’ attention, he called out, “Moses! Moses!” “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Moses shielded his face for he was afraid to look at God who had come down to speak with him in the flames of the burning bush.
God had an important message to communicate to Moses about himself as well as his plans for the exodus of his people from Egypt where they were in slavery.
But God wanted to capture the attention of Moses first. The burning bush thus became an attention-grabber.
For God was telling Moses that he had seen the misery of his people and have come down to rescue them.
It was a message of hope with a promise of deliverance. It was a message that God was coming down to set captives free with wonders, signs, and miracles.
But God chose to capture attention first before he would give his important message. The burning bush will never be forgotten.
Our introductions in speeches might never be this dramatic. Yet we cannot afford to forget that without capturing attention it is meaningless to try to communicate an important message.
And remember, especially when you are discouraged and downcast, God might be trying to capture your attention. Lift up your eyes, and look around; you might then be able to see one of God’s attention-grabbers for he truly cares for you!
Grace is often described as the favour of God which we do not merit or deserve. On one occasion the LORD Jesus said to St. Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”1
Paul was praying to God for having a difficulty in his life removed. He prayed thrice. This man through whom God had done many miracles was given an emphatic NO in answer to his prayer.
But the real answer given was a greater lesson. “My grace is sufficient for you. ”
Now what does that mean? It means that God knows that we are weak vessels. He knows that we carry the treasure of God’s wisdom in jars of clay.
So he gives you grace to stand up under pressure. He brings consolation to your soul when you have great anxiety.
He shapes your character when you pass through troubles and difficulties; and you then emerge as gold passed through and tested in the fire.
When troubles sustain, God’s grace sustains us all the more. When we are truly weak; our pride is kept in check, and God’s power is perfected in us.
In other words, we are kept humble and all the more dependent on God. There is less burden on our hearts and minds this way than if we tried to live our lives in our own wisdom and strength.
This is God’s grace. The ability and enabling he gives is sufficient to meet our pressing needs. In other words, you will not lack the supply of his grace. He will hold you by his right hand.
Yes, God’s grace is sufficient for you and for me.
— 12 Corinthians 12:9 Bible NIV 1984
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
King David wrote in his famous Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Yes, he was looking to the presence of God with him for strength in the difficult times of his life.
What an assurance the promise that God himself is with us does give you and me: “I am with you always.”1
Life is a journey where we need companionship. Our loved ones and friends do give us needed support in different phases of our journey. But then is that enough? Isn’t there that vacuum in your heart that only God can fill?
It is when you feel lonely and without hope that you should be able to hold on to this reassuring promise of the Risen Christ: “I am with you always.”
When God himself is with us, it is a treasure that no riches of the world can compare to or is a match for. The realization that God is with you is the greatest motivation for you to walk out of discouragement today.
Yes, the presence of God with us gives us courage to face life and all its challenges. In God, you have a constant companion and friend. When you walk along with him, you need to align yourself with him to walk in step with him. The easiest way to do so is to do what pleases him. But is that easy? I doubt.
Yet the assurance “I am with you always,” is that of God and isn’t it comforting to know that he holds your hand even when you falter and lifts you up when you fall down?
— 1“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:20b Bible NIV 1984
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
Most of us worry constantly. It can depress you and make you lose hope. In the midst of your anxieties, one way to stay afloat without losing hope is to ask yourself the question, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?”
Asking that question will compel you to think. It will make you confront the basis of your confidence, hope, and trust: “Who am I trusting my life with?” If it is God, then there is no reason for your soul to be downcast or for you to be disturbed within.
See, the present crisis in your life is yet another opportunity to trust God with. His arm is still strong to save and he is willing to help you. Do not give up hope. Your trust in God will be rewarded. You will not be put to shame.
Instead of the sighing you are going through now; your mouth will sing forth praises to God. Look forward to that moment. God has a way of making the end better than the beginning, the latter half more glorious than the former one.
The delay has always been in his sovereign control. He will never be late but on time. And when he acts, he will do it swiftly in its time. It will be immeasurably more than what you asked for or imagined.
Therefore say to yourself in the words of the Psalmist, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.”1
— 1Psalm 42:5, 11; and 43:5 Bible NIV 1984
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
There are times when the flowers are in bloom, the sky is clear and blue, and everyone seems to sport a smile, but you are down; unable to see any good in things around you! It simply means you are depressed. And there seems to be no way out. But wait. There is still one thing you have; that is, hope in God. It will be your strength in these difficult days and times.
Even when there seems to be no way forward; even when no one seems to care or understand; even when there is no end to criticism against you; even when everything you’ve tried to do have seemed to have failed; there is God above it all, watching over you my friend. You are the apple of his eye. No trouble will separate you from his love and he will not give up on you. So hope in God and he will be your strength.
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.”1
Many people are disappointed with prayer; maybe you too are! In this short speech you’ll discover four reasons why your prayers can go unanswered. Do keep in mind that your failure to wait to listen to God in prayer contributes to the problem of unanswered prayer as much as the four reasons that are going to be mentioned.
Prayers can go unanswered when your asking is not with right motives. God’s searchlights penetrate and light up every nook and corner of your heart. It shows up what you hide.
And when your lips say one thing and your heart means something else, that means you are asking with wrong motives and those prayers can go unanswered.
Faith looks more at the Giver than at the gift you expect to get. If this kind of faith is absent, then prayers can go unanswered.
Prayers can go unanswered when there is no persevering in prayer. God is not an ATM that delivers cash when you put in your card. He is more interested to see you grow in character. Therefore like a wise parent, he often delays answers to prayer. That will make some people quit praying. But those who are desperate for answers to prayer keep on praying.
This is not vain repetition but it is more of a “Do not give up” attitude Jesus taught about prayer. When this kind of perseverance is absent, prayers can go unanswered.
Prayers can go unanswered when they are not in tune with God’s will. This is very perplexing to many. We wish one thing to happen and we pray about it, and it does not happen. We become angry with God about it. Quite natural that we react like that. Yes, there are questions to which we don’t have any answers to.
Therefore Jesus taught us to pray to God, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” If our desire is in contradiction to God’s will, that prayer can go unanswered.
Finally, let me end by saying God is interested in answering your prayers. But he is more interested in changing you to be ready for the answers when he is pleased to give them to you.
So pray with right motives, pray in faith that God will answer prayer, pray with perseverance, and ask God for wisdom to pray according to his will.
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:17. 18 Bible NIV 1984.
All Sermonettes List In these speeches you’ll find hope in God to meet the challenges that you face in life!
Napoléon Bonaparte said, “A leader is a dealer in hope.” Martin Luther King spoke about the buoyancy of hope while Barak Obama wrote and spoke about the audacity of hope. Whatever it be, God is the source of all hope and he is the One who can cause you to abound in hope or overflow with hope.
St. Paul said that when childish things are put behind, among three things that remain one is hope. Yes, whatever be the context, hope is what you desperately need today.
We live in a time when hope itself is a scarce resource. People are not finding time to spend with God because they are too much distracted with what can be consumed on mobiles. Therefore they fail to plug in to the one source of all hope, God himself!
There is brokenness in relationships that is creating divides that take time to heal. Yes, hope is what you desperately need today.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit“
How many people know you by name? That question is deeper than you think. In that sense the question is, how many people know you truly?
Your name represents you. Isn’t your name sweet to your ears? Your name gives you your sense of identity and your sense of uniqueness and to a great extent you are not an impersonal alphanumeric code because you have a name.
When others call you by name they respect you as a person. In fact, by calling you by name others are not dismissing you as an lifeless thing or object.
And when God says, “I have called you by name; you are Mine!” it is the highest honour you can have. It means that God knows you like no other. He knows your heart’s true desires. He knows where you fail.
But beyond that when God says, “I have called you by name,” it means that he knows your future. You need not worry about it any more for you are known and intimately known by the One who holds you future.
Isn’t that comforting? But then do you know the One who calls you by name? Do you know the One who has even all the hairs of your head numbered? Therefore, try your best to know him who knows you by name!
“Am I good enough?” The truth is you are not. If you wait till you get over this feel to speak, you will wait for ever. So find comfort in the thought you are good enough with all your faults, shortcomings, and imperfections.
One speaker expressed it like this. “In gully cricket sometimes an opening batsman gets out for a duck the very first ball. Then the opposing team allows him a second chance by starting the game afresh once more. This is similar to God’s grace.”
Often I have heard speakers say that God is a God of the second chance. Is that true? What if he stopped with that second chance given? I believe that God has given us multiple second chances.
The point is simple. It will take a bit longer than your life on earth to get all your problems solved. Therefore learn to speak in spite of all your difficulties, all your “I am not good enough” feel.
You can keep on waiting. Or you can take a bold step and start speaking. The choice is entirely yours. Positive Thinking
Exams cause a lot of fear to you; don’t they? Expectations of parents and teachers, comparison with siblings and friends, comments from neighbours and even strangers add fuel to the fire. Now what can you do to overcome your fear of exams? Here are 7 few thoughts for you:
Of course, God blesses you with good memory and ability to understand your lessons and calmness of mind to write exams without undue pressure.
The second thought you need to remember about exams is that you need to discipline yourself to prepare long-term. Refer to question papers of previous years. Write down notes on your own summarising content from textbooks while you study. Use your own codes, diagrams, and tables to reduce content to points you can easily revise at the time of exams.
Writing down notes on your own will help you internalize content without having to memorize. Use these notes to have a quick look the day prior to your exams. It will help you write exam well.
The third thought is that you shouldn’t try too much to study new content at the time of exam. It will create more fear and tension. Instead focus on what you already know and try your best to make it thorough.
See, isn’t it practical to think that generally the one who sets the question paper will not be asking all the tough questions together? So don’t worry too much. There will definitely be a lot of questions simple enough for you to answer.
The fourth thought is about getting good sleep. The more you lose sleep it will affect your good judgement while you write exams. You might forget to write your hall ticket number. Or in a much worse situation, you might number your answers wrongly after having written all answers correctly. And that is disastrous!
Even more worse is you forgetting the answer you knew best. All this can happen as a direct result of losing sleep. By the way, start your exam by writing the answer you know rather than waste time thinking on the question to which the answer doesn’t come easily to mind.
The fifth thought is about efficient time management. Why is this important? Due to procrastination and postponing, many students find exams staring at them at the end of term or semester or year without them being prepared for it. Learn to plan your time using a time table. Stick to it in spite of unexpected interruptions. And when you start writing your exam first have a quick glance at the entire question paper whenever that is possible. That will give you a fair idea how to utilize given time wisely. And leave five minutes at the end of writing your exam to cross check whether you have written all the answers.
Sixthly, one of the best ways to learn is to teach. Try to teach your friends the subject most difficult for you to learn. You’ll find it surprising how fast you learn and retain what you’ve picked up. Now with online options it is easy for you to interact with friends in a combined study context; isn’t it? When you teach, you master your subject much faster than when you just try to study it for yourself.
Finally, in spite of all that you do well, it is quite possible to lose marks. Take it as part of the game. Do not allow negative thoughts to dominate your mind. If you had done your best be happy. You will have your reward.
A day will soon come when Jesus will call the dead to life. And those who hear his voice will come back to life. Yes, life will come forth from ashes and people will awake and rise from the dust.
What is the meaning of this? And how does it apply to you?
One, God’s ultimate plan for you is life, not death. That means death is not The End but a new beginning with God whom you’ll see face to face. Therefore those who trust in Jesus and die are in their sleep and will rise one day. The time between death and new life will seem to them like the twinkling of an eye.
Yes, life will come forth from ashes and people will awake and rise from the dust.
Two, God does not forsake any who trust in him. When he says, no one will snatch you out of my hand1, it means that no evil force or death can wrest you away from his love and out of his mighty hand. There is an eternal security you can find in God alone. Yes, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” 2
Yes, life will come forth from ashes and people will awake and rise from the dust.
Three, God will wipe away your tears. It is true that there is brokenness of all sorts in your life. It is true that you despair at times. It is true that you feel forsaken by God in certain moments. But hold on to life and believe that his life is at work in your life—it is life that death has no hold on and which it cannot touch. One day, God will reward you for being true and faithful to him in the midst of your tough times.
Yes, life will come forth from ashes and people will awake and rise from the dust.
Therefore my friend, look beyond your present difficulties and troubles. “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”3 There is glory beyond the grave. Be courageous in your tough times and hold on to God for the Spirit of God shall give you strength. Oh, what a joyous day it’ll be when you meet God face to face and be with him for ever and ever!
But then when Jesus is willing to step into the empty boat; will the nets return void? And when he says, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch,” you can raise a lot of objections; for you Simon Peter are an experienced fisherman in the sea of Galilee; aren’t you? And he is just a carpenter from the obscure town of Nazareth. Or isn’t he?
Is it positive thinking that what creates miracles? Or is it obedience to the voice of him who commands the winds and the waves?
But the greater miracle was not the miraculous catch of fishes.Instead it was Peter’s confession, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”
Isn’t that amazing?
Instead of striking a deep-sea fishing deal with a man who knew the seas better than he, Peter falls at Jesus’ knees. Worship is recognizing the worthiness of him who commands the winds and the waves. And in that process knowing my own unworthiness before his holiness.
The Master’s voice comes across to you today. “My child, have you been toiling hard? And are your boats empty? Do you really know what you need? Is it that you need a boat full of fish? I can give that to you. But is that what you really need? Or is it Me?”
And who is he?
He who angels worship;
before him demons trembled; in him sinners found a friend; the outcasts found mercy;
those who strayed met with compassion;
the sick found healing;
to the guilty, forgiveness was gifted;
he taught with authority;
the wild waves and stormy winds obeyed instantly and calmed;
death bowed down low and licked the ground at his feet; as he triumphed over the grave
by his blood shed on the cross;
he opened heaven for all
who is willing to trust, obey, and follow him.
So, here is he standing across the sea watching you dock an empty boat and washing the nets which did not bring a catch saying, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
—
Post inspired by Luke 5:4 A Haiku Poem:
The empty boat docks.
Cast nets to blue deep says he.
Do that; fishes catch!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
കർത്താവായ യേശു ക്രിസ്തുവിൻ്റെ ധന്യ നാമത്തിൽ ഏവർക്കും സ്നേഹവന്ദനം.
വളരെ വർഷങ്ങൾക്കു മുൻപ് വില്യം കൗപ്പർ (William Cowper) എന്ന കവി ഇംഗ്ലണ്ടിൽ ജീവിച്ചിരുന്നു. ഒരിക്കൽ അദ്ദേഹം നിരാശനായി തീർന്നു. ജീവിതം അവസാനിപ്പിക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു. അതിനായി ഒരു ടാക്സി വിളിച്ചു അദ്ദേഹം ലണ്ടനിലെ തേംസ് (Thames) നദിക്കു മുകളിലുള്ള പാലത്തിലേക്ക് കൊണ്ടുപോകുവാൻ ഡ്രൈവറോട് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.
യാത്ര തുടങ്ങി കുറച്ചു നേരത്തിനുള്ളിൽ തന്നെ അവിടെ കടുത്ത മൂടൽമഞ്ഞുണ്ടായി. ടാക്സി ഡ്രൈവർക്കു മുന്നോട്ടു വണ്ടി ഓടിക്കുവാൻ കഴിയാതെയായി. ഒരു മണിക്കൂറായിട്ടും മൂടൽമഞ്ഞു മാറിയില്ല. അപ്പോൾ വില്യം കൗപ്പർ ഡ്രൈവറോട്, “എന്നെ തിരികെ വീട്ടിൽ കൊണ്ടാക്കാമോ?” എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു. “തീർച്ചയായും,” എന്നു പറഞ് ഡ്രൈവർ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തിരികെ വീട്ടിലെത്തിച്ചു.
വണ്ടിക്കൂലി നൽകിയപ്പോൾ ടാക്സി ഡ്രൈവർ അത് നിരസിച്ചു. ഉദ്ദേശിച്ച സ്ഥലത്തു എനിക്കു താങ്കളെ എത്തിക്കുവാൻ കഴിയാത്തതു കൊണ്ട് എനിക്കു ടാക്സി കൂലി വേണ്ട എന്നാണു ഡ്രൈവർ പറഞ്ഞത്.
നദിയിൽ ചാടി മരിക്കണം എന്നാഗ്രഹിച്ച വില്യം കൗപർ സുരക്ഷിതനായി തിരികെ വീട്ടിൽ എത്തി. ആ അനുഭവം അദ്ദേഹത്തിൽ ഇടയനായ ദൈവത്തിൻ്റെ കരുതലിനെ കുറിച്ച് ഒരു വലിയ ധൈര്യപ്പെടുത്തൽ ഉണ്ടാക്കി. ആ സമയത്തു അദ്ദേഹം എഴുതിയ പ്രശസ്തമായ ഗാനമാണ്,
God moves in mysterious ways
His wonders to perform.
അതെ യഹോവ എൻ്റെ ഇടയനാണ്. അവൻ അത്ഭുതകരമായ രീതിയിൽ എനിക്കായി കരുതുന്നു. അവൻ എന്നെ അറിയുന്നു, എന്നെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നു, എന്നെ പുലർത്തുന്നു.
സങ്കീർത്തനങ്ങളുടെ സങ്കീർത്തനം എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്ന സങ്കീർത്തനം ഇരുപത്തിമൂന്നിൽ പറയുന്ന സത്യങ്ങളാണ് ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളെ ഓർമപ്പെടുത്തിയത്.
യഹോവ എൻ്റെ ഇടയനാണ് എന്നു പറയുമ്പോൾ അവൻ എന്നെ നന്നായി അറിയുന്നു എന്ന സത്യം ഞാൻ മനസിലാക്കുന്നു. എൻ്റെ തലയെ എണ്ണ കൊണ്ട് അഭിക്ഷേകം ചെയ്യുന്ന ഇടയൻ എൻ്റെ തലയിലെ മുടി പോലും എല്ലാം എണ്ണിയിരിക്കുന്നു.
എൻ്റെ ജീവിതത്തിലെ എല്ലാ ആവശ്യങ്ങളെയും അറിയുന്ന ദൈവം മുട്ടുണ്ടാകാതെ പച്ചയായ പുല്പുറങ്ങളിലേക്കു എന്നെ നടത്തുന്നു. സ്വസ്ഥതയുള്ള വെള്ളത്തിനരികെ എന്നെ നടത്തുകയും എൻ്റെ പ്രാണനെ തണുപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.
ഈ ഇടയൻ എപ്പോഴും എൻ്റെ കൂടെ ഇരിക്കുന്ന ദൈവമാണ്. എന്നെ പേർ ചൊല്ലി വിളിക്കുന്ന ഇടയനാണ് അവൻ. ഈ ഇടയൻ്റെ സ്നേഹം ഏറ്റവും പ്രകാശം പരത്തിയത് കാൽവരി ക്രൂശിലാണ്:
അവിടെ യേശു കർത്താവ് എൻ്റെ പാപങ്ങൾക്കു വേണ്ടി രക്തം ചിന്തി മരിച്ചു. ആ നല്ലിടയൻ എനിക്കു വേണ്ടി തൻ്റെ ജീവനെ തന്നു. ആ സ്നേഹത്തെ ഏവരെയും ഓർമ്മിപ്പിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ എൻ്റെ വാക്കുകൾ നിറുത്തുന്നു. ആമേൻ.
