Saturday 7 September 2013

Walking in the Positive

So often we people because of our mere human intellect, misunderstand the meaning of positive living. We hesitate to sacrifice our efforts for those in dire need. We see only our goal, what we can achieve from such and such an effort. If we are busy in doing a hard job and suddenly see someone fainting how easily do we continue with our work. It is because we will finish the job well and get a good result. Whom do you prefer?A labourer who toils day and night for his family alone or a labourer who works with full effort but also sacrifices some of his precious working moments to do some other works, like guiding someone who has lost the way? Students gain good marks in their college levels just for the sake of good marks in their exam, to get a bright future and a good paying job. No one toils hard for people outside their family. To be positive means to do something for OTHERS even though our efforts do no good for us, gladly bearing all, knowing that not we but someone else is being benefitted through our strength. Is this not the way we ought to live?

Next common misunderstanding about positivity is that we all only welcome things that make us happy. If doing some noble thing leads to our destruction, we will not do that workable goodness. The thing may shape the society but because we do not want to sacrifice our well-being for the good position of others we hesitate to do the particular good task. What can be an example of such a thing? You may have heard about brave people who lost their hands or legs while saving some child or blind person who has unknowingly come before a speeding bus. They offer themselves to self sacrifice for saving another. The soldiers who go for war and die a brave martyr's death or become handicapped due to being fired by the enemy force are a powerful example of this. Salute to Jesus who poured out His even last drop of blood for the cruel mankind.

Positivity does not welcome wellness which has nothing to do with the good of others, but takes pleasure in sacrifice. It does not say, "I want to be successful. So let me concentrate on my job rather than on someone else's problem." You may be understanding what I want to tell from this article. But what has this teaching got to do with our primary topic, 'happiness', readers may ask. It is understandable that leading such a life will create a happy world. Those who are of a sacrificial heart only make others happy. But now, what about their own joy? Such people cannot rejoice in worldly terms but their delight is in reading and meditating God's word and finding solace and happiness in Christ. This is a spiritual mystery. All outward reasons for their happiness may be burned up, but my Lord the God gives them happiness that can not be comprehended. They are people who truly believe that true happiness is not at all from material things but only from God. What a shame for us who pray to God for material well-being in order to be happy!

But this never means that God wants us to live a poor life. But it only means that we should find true happiness by keeping our minds in the care of God. "Do not keep your eyes on the things of the world but let your hope in Christ increase as you keep on discovering true life of sacrifice. of concern for others and most importantly a life that pleases God and we enjoy His pleasures." This statement is the core meaning of 'Walking in the Positive'. It is to do all good things not worrying what will go or come, or what we will have to gain or lose, protecting our relationship with our Father in all its fullness. It does not mean that our sacrificial living is the basis of our spiritual walk but it means that because we are new creatures in Christ we can live a sacrificial life. May God help each one of us to BE POSITIVE!

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Happiness in the Lord: The root cause of an undaunted heart

A life full of courage in midst of life's perils and problems is indeed needed for a successful living. People who get discouraged seeing their circumstances never reach their destination. But even great people are in certain times, bound to discouragement. The Prophet Elijah's life-incident proves this fact. "Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don't make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow. Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-Sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, but he went on a day's journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, "[I have had] enough! Lord, take my life, for I'm no better than my fathers." (1 Kings 19:1-4 HCSB). It is not compulsory that saints and children of God are always brave and bold. It is human nature to feel fear during threats. Now, when a child of God feels discouraged, God Himself plays the role of strengthening His child. He doesn't abandon him halfway. God doesn't need people who do not need the Lord's strength and encouragement but He desires those who humbly appeal for His grace and strengthening. This fact leads us to yet another amazing truth: The cause of success is courage and courage is given by the Lord.

Those who are happy in the Lord are those who get His strengthening and thus live an undaunted life. According to mere human wisdom, to be ever-happy, man needs to be courageous before life's difficult situations. But according to the Christian way of living it is the happiness and solace found in the Lord that helps a man to be courageous in his endeavours. When a child of God feels threatened, he doesn't need to run here and there for safety, but God himself comforts him miraculously and reminds to him His promises in the Bible and the ways by which God lead him thus far. The Holy Spirit works in his heart and mind and ensures him that God is already dealing with his problems and He has a purpose and plan for him, a purpose even through the problem or threat he is currently facing. Every thing that occurs in a believer's life is pre-planned by the Lord Almighty. It all happens because He wants us to come out as pure gold from the fiery furnace of tests and trials. We may feel that we are broken completely, but we must assume that God is in the process of moulding and making us according to His concern for us. Isn't this enough to make us find happiness in the Lord and thus live an undaunted life?

The next powerful truth is that God not only encourages us, but also provides a solution for us beforehand, makes all arrangements for us that we face our situations courageously and even walks with us in our path to victory. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:13 HCSB). What a profound promise of God! What a great love and concern of the Lord God Almighty! The reading and meditating of the Bible allows the Bible to speak to us which enables us to feel God's presence. This spiritual and supernatural experience leads our hearts to complete rejoicing in Christ. If you feel you are discouraged and there is no one to help you, just develop the habit of daily Bible meditation. Read it during good as well as bad times. You will get your daily strength and rejuvenate yourself. The common-to-man daily worries will not bother you on the day you have read your Bible passage. To whom does God provide a way of escape? Only to those who are willing to pass through the temptation. Those who fear and move back, those who start blaming God are of no use in the spiritual arena.

Friend, how is your life today? Are you living a victorious life by finding joy in the Lord and thus boldly and undauntedly facing all problems in life through the strength and grace given by the Lord and through His speaking from His Word, the Bible? Happiness in the Lord does not need to delete all problems, but it surely deletes our fear and anxiety. "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Pet. 5:7 NIV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6, 7 NIV). "---- I will always be with you; I will never abandon you. Be determined and confident. Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Don't be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:5, 6 & 9 TEV). "Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isa. 41:10 KJV). "Be strong, be courageous, all you that hope in the Lord." (Psa. 31:24 TEV) "You that are righteous, be glad and rejoice because of what the Lord has done. You that obey Him, shout for joy!" (Psa. 32:11 TEV). "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate." (Psa. 34: 15, 17-19 & 22 KJV). "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1 KJV) "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." (John 16:33 KJV). "---And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20 HCSB). "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matt 5:4 NIV). "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:22, 23 NIV).

All the above promises of God are for the sake of us to find immense strength and happiness in the Lord. When we follow the precepts of man, we get discouraged soon. But when we grow spiritually by feeling His presence by daily reading His word, we find strength and happiness in the Lord which is the root cause of an undaunted heart. Leading a life as such will enable individuals to live boldly with daily victory. May God bless you.