be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

King James Version (KJV)

33 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.

Jesus says to cheer up when there is tribulation. What happens exactly is that an incidence in itself does nothing, but the thoughts about is, the past dwellings, the remembrance of it. To break that chain which causes us to fall off with that kind of taught is to cheer up.

Cheer up not because of the consequences, which may be devastating. Say for a failure in exam the devastating effort is to pass again, a wastage of an year, financial loss and a loss of hope. But cheer up because everything happens for a reason. The way we need to think is as Jesus taught, if we were to think of death without any reason, persecution in-spite of doing good, rejection by his own friend and tortured for being God in human flesh. We would have lost hope and told all the possibility of the wrath and the power of what we can do, but even at the last moments what Jesus does is - Washing disciples foot, healing and ministering other, praying for others - Pray, that you will not fall into temptations, asking forgiveness - "Father, Forgive them for they does not know what they are doing", crying out for help to the heavenly father "Father, why have you forsaken me?"

So to overcome this world of difficulties, failures, depression it is not easy with our own strengths, its not only those thoughts about feeling good and taking some steps to get relief for sometime, but the only way is to look at Jesus. 

Hebrews 12:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Its a matter of renewing and refreshing the soul:
Hebrews 6:19 NIV
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

We are the temple of God. We never should underestimate the cost for our righteousness that Jesus shed on the cross, we should never let go of the wonderful and amazing Grace by our simple understanding and the situations.

We should never let the situations let go of our cheerfulness, we should be cheerful even when we are giving up, when we are at the most difficult situations. God calls us to be cheerful when we are giving offerings.
2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.


Cheer, for Jesus says to cheer. We know and are sure about the tribulations in this world, how far should not we about being cheerful at this tribulations, being sure about his word, his promise?

Jesus gives us the rest

Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28 NIV
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Either be it PEACE, JOY or REST what our God offers is a different one, not the one the world offers. We know either by trying too much or by falling often our souls and our physical being weary. But it is for this very reason that God offers his limitless and abundant PEACE, JOY, MERCY and the most important REST.

John 14:27 NIV
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.


John 16:22 NIV

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.


I saw the scripture Matthew 11:28 NIV
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. In an hospital a few years ago when one of my friend passed away in an accident. As I read this scripture I taught it is the most meaningful verse at the most important time of life. I turned to Lord Jesus and said, "Lord, I come to you to seek that rest".

We see the wariness due to the cares of the world.

Let it be our worry or weariness, Jesus will give the Rest, when we do what he wants us to do and not get distracted or to compare with others. Let us put our selfish motives, our pride or our failures in front of his, let us also put our greed, grief and sorrows.

Luke 10:38-42

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Martha and Mary

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with [a]all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

For whatever our life's gift is, we have to utilize it for his glory. "Let his will be done, not mine". We should never complain or grumble about our gifts, we should thank and hope for the better.

Isaiah 40:28-31

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who [a]wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will [b]mount up with [c]wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary. 

Lessons from Solitude

Solitude is not a word to be misunderstood. It is not with the worldly way of looking at things to be alone, loneliness, separated or castaway. But it means a valuable time spent with the Heavenly Father, A one on one conversation with the creator. Jesus himself most of the times took time for himself to be away from the people and to seek the guidance from the Heavenly Father. Some other times he was left alone by his own disciples and friends.

These are some of the learning from the Solitude.
It creates opportunities: It is said that Adam being alone he had created a bad communication gap between himself and eve, that created the whole issue of sin in the garden. Solitude gives opportunity for one to build bridges to fill the gap of communication, it was up to Adam to initiate a conversation about the fruit of life and its consequences, but he missed the opportunity.
Romans 5:12 NIV
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
We are not to worry about this one man's Solitary act, but we are to rejoice about the one man - Jesus Christ. His Mercy on forgiveness of our sins and his Grace through which we live a Godly life for his glory.

Romans 5:15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

When Jesus heard about John, He went to a solitary place. Here Jesus focused on his purpose of life than focusing on the circumstances and the situation. We know when the people followed his later - "He felt compassion for them and healed their sick".

Matthew 14

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 At that [a]time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist;[b]he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3 For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4 For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded [c]John as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced [d]before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Having been prompted by her mother, she *said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of [e]his dinner guests. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 His disciples came and took away the body and buried [f]it; and they went and reported to Jesus.

Five Thousand Fed

13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the[g]people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 When He went [h]ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

In the temptation of Christ also Jesus was all alone, but he defended with the power of the Word of God.

To converse with the Heavenly Father:
Jesus went alone to Pray: - After cleansing and healing the sick in Luke 5:16 - it is said that:  "But Jesus Himself would often slip away [f]to the[g]wilderness and pray".

Matthew 6:6 NIV
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus reminds us that we are not alone:

John 16:32

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

32 Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

Jesus praying in Solitary place in the early morning: Showing us Prayer is the Key -
Mark 1:35 NIV
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

To be Abiding and Indwelling:
We need to understand that we are never alone or lonely, as Jesus said "Because the Father is with Me"
we need to be confident about this then our solitude to pray for one another, to seek his guidance and to worship his makes sense.

In John 15th chapter, Jesus says what if we abide in him means - John 15:7 NIV
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Romans 8:9-11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is [a]alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [b]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

We know from the Parable of the Lost Son, When he came to the senses and when he went to his father and said I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Luke 15:21 NIV
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

When Samson comes to his sense he was too late to realize his mistake, it is Solitary that should have helped his to be away from Delilah Tricks.

Samson Is Avenged

28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord [o]God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” 

Joseph in the old testament is a very good example for the one who really appreciated his solitude and the one who victoriously won the race with the grace of God. When he was put out of his family members and sold as slave to the Egyptians, he learnt the lessons of solitude because the reason they put him out is because of the love of his father and their ego when Joseph told about his dream. His act of amazing maturity and assertiveness came when he encountered with the wife of potiphar's wife. He by all means would have said yes because he was always dreaming about being great and he would have taught this was an opportunity, but with Godly wisdom he was able to discern the thereat, the dilution in that call.  The ability to overcome such great temptation was not with his strength but the presence of the God in his solitary life.


Paul's experience in Prison gave us a wonderful book in the bible - Philippians:

believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24 NIV
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Many of us doubt. In belief that God is going to do a miracle there should not be any doubt. As Jesus says to believe that we have already received it. It means that we have so much confidence that God will provide.

In The Offering of Isaac: Gen 22:8
…7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.


Genesis 22:14 NIV Jehovah Jireh - 

So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

In the book "The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind" - Joseph discusses about the same principle of getting things. He quotes Mark 11:24 and says we have to first believe in our mind that we have already received it, then we will surely receive it.

How can Jesus so confidently say to believe that we have already received it? He says so assuredly because of the work of the cross. He has already done everything that we can ask for, it is in his hand to give us that or those things which we deserve and also those things which we desire, If it is the will of God.

Jesus when teaching about the prayer, He taught us that we are to ask for our daily bread... To forgive one another...

He asked us to believe for those things which he has already have in his mind. For he know the past, present and future.

Worrying is an other thing. It is one more step of doubt. It is believing in God not making it for us.

Matthew 25:14-30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Parable of the Talents

18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his [b]master’s money.....

24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.- Zig Ziglar

 John 13:34 NIV
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

What do we do? We Judge and misjudge. Say, we know a person who is very truthful, generous and perfect. Who always fulfills the promises he makes. We trust him, we know he has higher credibility. We also think good for him, and think good about him. At the same time we know someone who has cheated us, who never keeps his word. His credibility is low. We never think anything good about him and we never think anything good for him.

Now how does it change? If we know he never keeps his word, So we think that he is going to be the same. How does it matter. Only our thoughts will get proved. Are we going to be happy with that thoughts about others? Or taking a step further and believing that he will change this time, may be not, but yet I will think good for him and think good about him.

If we think and it happens about this untrustworthy person, what benefit is that we are going to get other than our thoughts being correct. But if we thing good and even if that does not comes to pass we should never give up. We are to Love one another.

Just after giving us guidance us to Ask, Seek and Knock. Jesus said:
Matthew 7:12 NIV
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus knew the imperfections and the sin of the woman who was caught in the adultery. He instead of allowing them to throw the stones, forgave and gave an other chance, saying "Sin no more".

Matthew 5:44-48

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [a]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous andthe unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?48 Therefore [b]you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Count on your blessings

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep
Counting your blessings

 Irving Berlin 

Counting on all the blessings is not easy..

Jesus said, Matthew 6:34 NIV

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

When we curse the time, when we blame others, when we excuse because of circumstances we are sure of not remembering of our blessings. Its difficult. The Israelite blamed Moses for bringing them out from the Egyptians, where though they toiled they were having meat, then they complained about water. etc.. 

When Jesus was travelling on the boat and when the storm stuck, the disciples feared death. They forgot to remember those days when Jesus did miracles. It is easy to complain of things, it is easy to say it wont work when things are not going good, but it takes great courage to withstand those moments of trials and temptations.

Jesus asks us to pray when there is temptations, Matthew 26:41 NIV

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  

We learn to appreciate God's blessings and be happy about the situation by looking at Jesus.

The Way The Truth The Life

John 14:6 NIV
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The problem with many of our life is, we does not know where we are suppose to go and where we are going. It is as if we have given up our hope, those things which we thought were once the most intelligent and intellectual and amazing, until we find that was thought centuries before. Those moments of success and victory were something like no one has ever achieved, until we find there are many more achievements in the hands of men. Courage, boldness, beauty... and the list goes on and on. But this is a deception. We know from the parable of talents, where the one talent guy who hid his gift and also was angry on his master. How often we miss this opportunity of one talent and disguise like this guy.

Jesus answered to Thomas in John 14:6 as "The Way" - Because Thomas said "Lord, we don not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?".

Jesus did not explain him anything, but straightforwardly his answer can saying "I am". The answer to many of our problems is Jesus. We try to find the solutions from other sources. But Jesus says "I am".

Jesus then says about himself as Truth. This he says because he also reminded about false prophets coming in his name: Matthew 24:5 NIV
For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.
Jesus also said us what will let us free - John 8:32 NIV
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Jesus also reminded us about the Spirit of the God, who guides us into the truth:
John 16:13 NIV
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.


Finally Jesus says about life:
Matthew 16:25 NIV
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Life is the most precious gift of God. All the experiences, gifts, talents are given us freely. Those sins which could never been redeemed without the blood of Jesus, the Salvation, the Everlasting life in Jesus. Everything we ever thought about, what we asked about, what our hears could not hear, eye cannot see, the mystery that our thoughts cannot think, The things that our hearts cannot perceive are gift from God.

All that makes the difference is our choices:
Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Hebrews 12:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 6:19 NIV

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Taking A Giant Leap Of Faith

The Bible contains the lives of people who by Faith in God took giant steps, either forsaking everything or forsaking anythings in life.

When God called Abraham, he has to leave everything behind and follow God's instructions.

Genesis 12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Abram Journeys to Egypt

12 Now the Lord said to Abram,

“[a]Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so [b]you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who [c]curses you I will [d]curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

When Moses was called, He has to leave his luxury life.

The Choice of Moses
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.—Hebrews 11:24-26.

By Faith many have come to the understanding that God works everything for our good.

Bear with each other

Helping other - What does it mean?

What does it take to help others? Expectations, Pride, Fame or Genuine Faith in Lord Jesus Christ.

If we are genuine in faith with God we will help each others. Some of us have limited ability to help others, we have put a box and only if others fits into it they get the help, other with bias and prejudice and rewards. Others for selfish motives, but God wants something different.

Luke 6:27-35

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who [a]mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your[b]coat, do not withhold your [c]shirt from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 [d]Treat others the same way you want [e]them to treat you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, [f]expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.  


It is difficult for all of us to love the way that God wants us to love others, loving Enemies.... Doing good for those who hate us...and Praying for those mistreat us....
The value system and the way we look at others is to find the optimum solutions for our problems, we find our self as the burden bearers and expect them to treat us in a different way, but when God took all our sins, He expected us nothing. As the scripture says:

Romans 5:6-8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; [a]though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Bear with each other is helping others expecting nothing in return from them. We all have come across many instances but failed to see how we can help others rather than getting help from others. We have sub-consciously helped others so that we could be helped by them. We have done good for expecting the same and in many instances even more goodness for us. The way of our thinking, the way the world looks at this things are like this - to get what we want in cost of hurting others and no matter what happens we should get it, either by force or by fear. But God wants us to think differently, He wants us to call with one word which transforms our lives, "Love".

Mark 12:30-31

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Bear with each other - At their times of trouble.

Many of us lack a word of wisdom, a word of encouragement at the times of trouble. We are made to help one another in these times of trouble rather than criticize and condemn, anyone can criticize and curse and condemn, but it is only through genuine faith in Jesus Christ that one learns it is not by condemning that we proclaim true accountability of one another, but by being bearing others burdens as ours.

Sometimes it is just a word of encouragement from the word of God that will transform the way the other person thinks, feels and lives. Just words where words of God alone is enough, taking a step further is by doing good to those who have nothing, the poor, the sinners, the lost.

James 2:16 NIV

If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Sometimes it is very difficult to set our self from our high seats to bow down and help these people, but nevertheless we should do.

We know from the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 
We do know from the act of servant hood of Jesus:  Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet John 13:1-17 -  

Philippians 2:5-11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 Have this attitude [a]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be [b]grasped, 7 but [c]emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, andbeing made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [d]on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Himthe name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 3:13 NIV
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.


 Ephesians 4:2 NIV

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.


Ephesians 4:32 NIV

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Galatians 6:2

English Standard Version (ESV)

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.