Lifting the Human Veil

In Christ we have boldness and access God with confidence by the faith Him. Eph 3:12

Tozer in his book "The pursuit of God" says, "Self is the opaque veil that hides the Face of God from us.” Many of us are so self-sufficient today that we barely sense the need for God. How can we tear this veil of self sufficiency today?

He goes on to say, "Let us beware of tinkering with our inner life in hope ourselves to rend the veil. God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust." Often we try hard on our own to make our inner lives stronger scarcely realizing that it can be only done by the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. All we have to do is yield and trust God to complete the work he has started.

Moses in Exodus 33:18-23 pleads with God to see his glorious presence. Yet God denied this request by saying that no one can see His face and live. Later Philip longed to see God the Father, and asked Jesus to reveal Him to them that they may be satisfied. But Christ’s words to him were, “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves (John 14: 9-11).”

If we yield ourselves to Jesus, He will lift this veil of self that separates us from God, and restore us into an abundant life in the glorious presence of His mercy and grace.

A Prayerful Reflection on the Blessedness of Being Poor in Spirit

Heavenly Father,

As we reflect on the profound words spoken by your Son, Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, we are reminded of the blessedness of being poor in spirit. We acknowledge that in our weakness, we find strength, and in our emptiness, we find fulfillment in You.

Lord, we come before you with hearts longing for deeper intimacy with You. We have tasted Your goodness, and yet we hunger and thirst for more of Your presence in our lives. Help us to recognize our insufficiency and to yearn for a deeper encounter with You, O God.

Forgive us for the attachments we hold to worldly pleasures, for the reluctance in our hearts to fully surrender to Your will. Father, we confess our desire to know You more deeply, but we tremble at the thought of letting go of the comforts and securities of this world.

Yet, in the midst of our struggle, we cling to the hope found in Your transformative grace. Root out from our hearts all that hinders true union with You, O Lord. Strip away our earthly desires and dependencies, and fill us with a longing for Your presence alone.

Lead us on this journey of spiritual poverty, not in despair, but in hope. May we find solace in the promise of Your kingdom, where the lowly are exalted and the weak are made strong. Help us to embrace our poverty of spirit as a blessing, for it is in our emptiness that we are filled with the fullness of Your love.

Renew within us a clean heart, O God, and create in us a right spirit. Guide us ever deeper into the blessedness of being poor in spirit, that we may find true fulfillment in You alone.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray.

Amen.

Trusting in God's Sovereignty

Finding Peace in the Midst of Tribulation:

In a world fraught with uncertainty and adversity, finding peace can often feel like an elusive pursuit. Yet, amidst the chaos and turmoil of life, there shines a beacon of hope: the steadfast promise of God's presence and deliverance. As we journey through the ups and downs of existence, let us take solace in the timeless words of John 16:33, where Jesus assures us, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Indeed, the reality of tribulation is an undeniable aspect of the human experience. As the psalmist declares in Psalms 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." In the face of adversity, it is natural to question the fairness and purpose behind life's trials and tribulations. Yet, even in the midst of suffering, we can find comfort in the unwavering faithfulness of our God.

Author Max Lucado beautifully encapsulates this truth when he reflects, "Bad things happen—tragic and horrible things. Good things happen—amazing and miraculous things. And all this happens randomly to us. But it is not random to the God who cradles our aching hearts. He knows. . . . Suffering will come. But God is . . . larger than the events that seem to contradict God’s goodness."

While sickness, accidents, sorrow, and death may be inevitable companions on our earthly journey, we are not left to navigate these trials alone. Proverbs 17:22 reminds us, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." In the face of adversity, may we cling to the hope found in God's promises, allowing His peace to permeate our hearts and minds.

As we confront the challenges of life, let us anchor our trust in the unchanging character of God. He is the One who holds the universe in His hands, guiding us through the storms with unwavering love and grace. Though the road may be fraught with obstacles, we can walk forward with confidence, knowing that our ultimate deliverance rests in the hands of the One who has already overcome the world.

In the midst of tribulation, may we find peace in His presence, strength in His promises, and hope in His unfailing love. For He is our refuge and our strength, a ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Right Moves

911 - Wisdom

I returned, and saw under the sun, 

that the race is not to the swift, 

nor the battle to the strong, 

neither bread to the wise, 

nor riches to men of understanding, 

nor favor to men of skill; 

but time and chance happen to them all. 

Ecclesiastes 9:11 

 The New York times carried a story about this famous author who wrote a best seller on running (Jim Fixx (b.1932), author of the seminal 1977 best seller "The Complete Book of Running). Prior to taking up running seriously, Jim was 214 pounds and addicted to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. However Jim became devoted to running in 1967 at the age of 35. A decade later, The Complete Book of Running (on the best-seller list for 11 weeks) was published by him. He was 60 pounds less and smoke free. His book inspired many people. He extolled the benefits of physical exercise and how it considerably increased the average life expectancy of people in the book and in television talk shows. 

 But he collapsed and died suddenly at the age of 52 of a massive heart failure in Hardwick, Vt. He became the father of a running revolution in America. In memory of the legacy of the running guru a carved granite book with an inscription to him now stands in Hardwick Memorial Park, Vt . He had three partially blocked vessels (95%, 85%, & 50%). The medical experts say "Exercise helps reduce heart disease, but it's not absolute protection." Jim had a family history of poor hearts and his early unhealthy lifestyle caught up with him. His running may have extended his life by a few years, but could he have prevented the inevitable? It is true, life is unpredictable and whatever we do cannot protect us when the time comes for us to move on. 

 In life all of us are not equally endowed with all the gifts. To some although they may have been the fastest runner, strongest warrior, wisest person, or competent person, they are not always the ones who finally are the most successful. Overtime, due to various factors some become successful or victorious. Some become very rich and lead prosperous lives. The most important goal in our lives as Christians is to live our lives loving, trusting, obeying, and serving God. Paul says in Philippians 2:3 do not try hard to make a good impression on others, but be humble and think others as better than yourself. Paul further exhorts us to work hard and cheerfully as if we were working for the Lord rather than for people (Ephesians 6:7). We must learn to treasure each day that we live with gratitude and appreciation for God's presence in our our lives and the promise of the gift of eternal life with Him.