We associate the term faithful with someone who is trustworthy. When we have faith in people, we are assured of their unconditional support. For example, we have faithful friends who give comfort and confidence in challenging life situations. They lift us up with their support at just the right time. Isn’t it truly amazing to be surrounded with people who pour out God’s love on us?

While God works through flesh and blood, He works directly too — expressing His love through Christ to a receptive heart. He has it all; unconditional support love and care, trustworthiness, and above all — the power to change our ‘bad’ to ‘good.’ Would it not be a privilege to share in a relationship with such a power?

Many yearn to get associated with those in strategic positions. It gives them a sense of prestige or security perhaps. Well, those relationships can be built on self-interest alone. But here we have the most influential persona in the whole creation, extending a hand of friendship through His Son Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t you want to get associated with Him? He promises all – comfort in dejection, strength in weakness (be it mental, emotional, physical, financial or spiritual). Plus, He guides and leads the believer onto perfection in Him, changing foes into friends, always on the believer’s side, taking charge of every situation placed in His hands.

God promises to satisfy all your longings in Jesus. And the best part is He would not be just your friend, but a friend to your future generations too! (Psalm 37:25-26 ESV). Whoa!!! Now that is like ‘the cherries on the cake.’ God waits for the acceptance of his invitation. You would know abundance of joy, peace, laughter, healing, and prosperity; hope that not just blesses you, but hope that passes to many through you. How about accepting God’s invitation today?​

​“So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) NRSV

Sometimes answers to our prayers are immediate and complete. But other times we may have to wait. That which God seems to withhold at first, He grants later in response to our earnest and faith-filled prayers.

Delayed, but definitive answers come to those who persist in prayer and in Scripture, Jesus uses examples of others to drive home His point. Examples of persistent asking are found in stories about the woman from Canaan (Matthew 15:21-28), the widow before the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) and the friend who knocks at midnight (Luke 11:5-8).

Faith-filled prayers that are grounded on the Word of God and those that continue to pray earnest, humble prayers, end by gaining victory. Be encouraged. James reminds us that the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective (James 5:16). And our dear Lord Himself encourages us when He promised, “Will not God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night?” (Luke 18:7).

God’s timing is perfect. He will delay anything He sees necessary and then speedily bring the answer at just the right moment. God does both and our faith must grow big enough to understand this. Whether He answers our prayers immediately or not, we continue to persevere praying with faith in Him.

Let us grasp the answers to our prayers and the graces we seek to stand firm as if we have already received them, but wait with patience for the answers that are yet to come.

by Jennifer Woodley
South-East Queensland, Australia - info@grace-line.net​

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NRSV)

There is a truth worth knowing: nothing escapes God’s wisdom, power and sovereign purpose. Though it may seem that the mountains of stability and security are tumbling upon us, though it may seem that the waves of torment and trouble are crushing us, and though it may seem all that is sure and steadfast has disappeared forever, we can still trust that God knows exactly what He is doing. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him and nothing is beyond His good purposes.

Like Job, we may feel like we have gone from a happy past to a miserable now. Days of affliction have taken hold. Our pain is intensified when we reminisce upon how good things used to be. Where have the former days of glory gone?

Despite the times we live in, we must not despair. God’s covenant with His people, makes Him binding to His promise to be showering us with steadfast love and faithfulness. His love for us means He will keep us. God is with us, even when we don’t feel that way. We must walk by faith, not by sight.

For those of us who have placed our trust in God, we need to wait patiently. He will hear our cry and bring us up out of the desolate circumstances we are in (Psalm 40:1-2). Trusting in the nature of God (that He is love and can only do good) will carry us through the storms of life. Today, though we suffer, let's resolve to trust in the sovereign goodness of God.

“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 NLT

Recent disappointments, ongoing frustrations with my own “besetting sins,” and distress over life in general, had overwhelmed me. Telling myself to simmer down and trust the Lord wasn’t helping and I was on the verge of a major meltdown.

God could have rebuked me for my little tantrum. He could have told me to “just stop it” because my pain was nothing compared to real suffering. Instead, he stilled the storm in my mind and sent a wave of calm and love washing over me. A soft swell of joy and gratitude replaced my turmoil. My eyes seemed to open with a new appreciation for the small blessings around me: birdsong, fresh, cool breezes, a child’s laughter, sunshine and clear skies, color and beauty that now seemed more intense and lovely.

'Daddy' God gently urged me to give him EVERYTHING, to trust him with it all, even the weak, sinful parts of me that cause me so much grief. He reminded me to let him work things out, to allow him to redeem the disappointments, restore the losses, to change my heart. I was awestruck.

God’s grace is truly amazing and he wants us to receive it and rest in it. That grace, like a gentle breeze, cools our fear and bitterness and opens our hearts to His presence, love, and provision. It doesn’t depend upon our hard work, our worthiness, or our striving for hours in prayer. It’s unexpected, undeserved, and awesome. It’s like a mother holding her fretting child in her arms and soothing away his distress until he rests quietly in her unconditional love.

And all we can do is say a breathless, “Thank you, Father. You are wonderful.”

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Rom 8:15 NLT

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them... Matthew 4:21 NIV

It was not the voice of the calling sea that turned us from our work, that day, on the net-mending lake; nor was it the whisper of a tantalising wind, luring us out to seek illusive shoals of harvest.  But a call, which broke from human lips, yet, carried with it all the force of deity, struck upon the air and turned our heads, as the Spirit turned our hearts.

We forsook the hustling harbour and the sea, our lightened craft left tilting on the tide. Dad, still busy with his mending crew, preparing nets and gear, looked on in disbelief, as we, believing, went.

Now in the shadow of the master’s footsteps, now at his side; now, in endearment, ‘Boanerges’ named: tempestuous spirits becalmed in the sea of his countenance, in the joy and power of his evangel, in the marvel of words and works to which even devils yield. 
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Now apostles, duly wrought; moulded and shaped with others thusly called; forged together by the power of the Spirit in the presence of the Christ (the light of whose glory, we once, with Cephas, beheld,) to the glory of the Father.

​Now made partakers in the Saviour’s mission: as foundations of faith,11 as leading heralds, sent to gather the lost in the safe, secure dragnet of his grace.

​by Richard Dempsey
Cambrdgeshire, England - info@grace-lines.net

​It is always good to remember that God is still in control and can use all things for our good. 

When Jesus walked among us, the Jews were under forced Roman occupation. In response to Pilate's claim to have the authority to take His life or release Him, Jesus replied, God is in charge. 

Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over Me, if it were not given to you from above. Because of this, the one having delivered Me up to you has greater sin." John 19:11 BLB

When Paul said the following, he was referring to his Roman oppressors. A government that did not adhere to Jewish or Christian values, promoting many immoral things still seen today. 

Let every soul be subject to the authorities being above him. For there is no authority except by God; but those existing are having been instituted by God. Rom 13:1 BLB

Paul submitted to Roman rule. He obeyed it to the point of imprisonment and later beheading. Paul knew, "for God so loves the world" meant God loves even our enemies. The only reasonable answer for Paul's actions is that he recognized God's higher calling and knew for sure that God was in control of his eternity. Paul's evangelism eventually led Rome to embrace Christianity, spreading it worldwide. 

In the big picture, Paul knew that live or die, Christians cannot lose. We are qualified to participate in the inheritance of the Saints – Col 1:12. We remain here primarily as our Father's ambassadors to demonstrate His love and lead even our enemies to a saving knowledge of Christ, so they can't lose too. None of us know God's ways fully. But he is on the throne and sees us seated in Christ at His right hand. In this spiritual battle, His heart desires that we will invite others to join us. 

Like Paul, we can walk in Jesus' peace and contentment in this struggle. He tells us to fully trust God and focus our thoughts and faith on our eternity with Christ that cannot be shaken.

​“For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3 (NRSV)

What matters is Christ: not our accomplishments, credentials, experiences, knowledge, or position. Let’s not be deceived. If we think we have or are anything great, before Christ, it is “rubbish” as Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians.

Boasting signifies that we are pleased with our own self. However, the victorious Christian glories not in themselves. Their attention has shifted from self to Christ. What they are or are not, is no longer their prime interest. The believer knows that they have been crucified with Christ. But even more than this, they agree with Paul who said, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who died and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

Of course, it is much easier to type these words than to live them out. Self-boasting takes a firm hold upon our hearts and is not easily removed. Just when we think we have mastered its destructive hold upon our lives, it turns up again to spoil the peace and fruitfulness we experience through humility and dying to self.

Yet in Christ, we have the victory! When our faith rises to claim the risen life of Christ as our own, the root of self will be destroyed completely. Let’s be encouraged. Allow the work of the cross to do its work in our hearts and only then will we make our boast in Christ alone.

​“…the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.” (Genesis 39:5 NIV)

In the familiar story of Joseph in the Old Testament, it was the Lord’s will to prosper and be with him. God confirmed his favour to Joseph through several prophetic dreams. In the beginning, Joseph’s dreams angered his brothers who were driven by jealousy and fleshly reasoning. They revolted against their brother’s favour and sold him into slavery, but the Spirit of God and His favour showed up repeatedly in Joseph’s life.

So it is with the believer in Jesus. The strength of the Spirit abides and confirms His presence whenever we’re in trouble. During hard times it flows out as a respite to our soul. Other people in our lives may also benefit from God’s favour shown to us. Joseph’s master Potiphar achieved success because of the favour that rested on Joseph. He respected and simply received what he saw in Joseph and gave him a highly trusted position in his household. If we examine Joseph’s life, the favour of Lord was clearly revealed through prophetic dreams and deliverances. Those who rejected Joseph and the favour he received would suffer loss. But those who received Joseph and trusted in his favour from God were blessed.

The same favour rests on us through Jesus. As we live in God’s favour, others will recognize His favor is with us, too. The Spirit will confirm his presence in His time and in His way and point them to the firm foundation in Christ for future blessings.

In your witness for Christ, do not follow the promptings of the flesh, but be led by the Spirit. In this way you won’t undermine the Spirit’s work. Joseph was a soil ready to be cultivated, and he brought forth a harvest wherever he went. He suffered many trials, but God took him to heights he never thought would come to pass. Are you ready to pay the price to bring forth a Spiritual harvest? Will you reveal to others you are the Spirit’s cultivated soil?

by Deepika Emmanuel Sagar
​Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India - info@grace-lines.net