"Savior's Precious Encouragement Comforts, In All Lives (S.P.E.C.I.A.L)"/"How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy

Updated on Wed, Jan 15, 2020 at 02:07 p.m. (EST) & Thurs, Jan 16, 2020, 12:37 p.m. (IST), JAN 2020 Edition

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�Savior's Precious Encouragement Comforts, In All Lives (S.P.E.C.I.A.L)�

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
"I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." (Philippians 1:12)

Observation:
I asked myself what cause-effect relationship do I see here?
BeCAUSE of what has happened to Paul, the EFFECT is that it has really served to advance the Gospel.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is the significance of the cause-effect relationship here?
When Paul mentions about himself: 'what has happened to me', he is actually rejoicing in the Lord, encouraging himself, and the Philippians not to feel bad for him. It is really hard for the Philippians to think anything good can come out of this and Paul understands that so he uses the expression: 'really served to advance the Gospel'. He is basically letting the Philippians know though he is in jail, it is still a time for joy and His identity is in Christ because it is knowing Christ and letting Christ be known as Paul is known by Christ is what makes Paul feel special enough to be able to encourage the Philippians.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
Though I am not in jail, at times it has felt like I was in prison unable to support my family because after 22 years of working for Sodexo, I lost my job due to family sickness. Yet, through the pain, I can say, 'What has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel'. How so you may wonder? After prayer and reflection, I have been publishing devotionals and 'This Day in Biblical Verses' almost daily to reach souls for Christ. We want to do fulltime ministry through Pittsburgh Standard to reach souls for Christ! Those that are partnering with us through their prayerful and financial support are also playing a key role in helping us to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ so we can go beyond the EXPRESSIONS SECTIONS through the writings to influence souls from a Biblical perspective. Thank you Jesus. I have even had opportunities to have office hours from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm for anyone who wants to talk, pray, study the Bible, etc, Tues and Wed. If you are reading this and want to pray, talk, know more about the Bible, Jesus, etc, please call me at 412-641-9426 so we can meet or chat over the phone.

No matter what circumstances I face in my life, it should be a reason to rejoice in the Lord if I find my identity in Christ knowing that I am special and precious in His sight and that He uses all things to work together for good to them that trust God and are fitting into His plans. For me that means finding my identity in Christ is what will help promote the Gospel because instead of complaining I will be thankful, praising the Lord.

I learned the purpose of today's devotional is to know that I can feel special in the Lord's eyes no matter what is happening around me that He will use it to advance the Gospel when I am focused on Him! Wow, though situations can be painful, Jesus can use those situations for good just as Paul shared.

I ask you now dear friends, how can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?
Dear friends, when things are not going people's way many people don't usually feel special. If anything they might feel like a loser or a hopeless cause. The things that have gone wrong could also pile up on them and that makes them live in the negative past. Paul could have kept thinking or saying 'only if' or 'what if' for what happened to him, yet he was using this negative circumstance as a positive opportunity for the Gospel. He knew his place with the Lord. It was hard for any of us to feel special after losing my job but my precious wife Chandra reminds me when God closes one door, He opens another. We are excited to do ministry as our family and friends support us prayerfully and financially. It has not been easy but I am so thankful for the people the Lord Jesus has placed in our lives from all walks of life who have decided to support us as we move into ministry. Their support makes us feel special.

There was another time when it was so hard to feel special. It was hard for any of us to feel special when my dad went into cardiac arrest but I praise the Lord that though He was bedridden for 3 months, my mommy got to read him the Word of God almost everyday from Gospel of Matthew to Revelation including the Psalms. I don't even remember how many times my mom finished the New Testament aloud so my dad could hear the Word of God. Later, our mom shared with us in the hospital that my dad gave his life to Christ and the night he gave his life to Christ is the night the Lord Jesus took away all the pain and took him home to be with him in Heaven!

My mommy found her identity in Christ and knew even in our sorrowful situation, the Gospel can be advanced. Thank you Jesus. Through this all, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was advanced for His honor and glory because a dear friend of mine, Ryan, now Dr. Ryan Li, told me when he looked at my dad's charts, he saw how in the report, one of the medical students who looked after my dad had written there about the faith the Reddy family had in Jesus and how strong it was without being shaken even though their dad was in the ICU. It was special to hear about that because the medical student's religious background was that of an Indian Hindu. She was so impacted that she wrote about Jesus in the medical charts during her debriefing time. She was specifically speaking about my mom's faith in Christ through this terrible hardship. My mom did get to speak to her about Jesus a little. I got to share about Jesus with my dad's dialysis doctor who was Jewish. He did not believe in miracles, let alone Jesus but I shared with him that my dad can be healed if Jesus chooses to. I shared with him how even in this century, miracles have happened through the power of Jesus Christ and we will not give up. I was reminded of Jesus' words: 'The purpose of his illness is not death'. My dad died physically but became alive spiritually and is with Jesus in heaven.

My mom got to share her faith with so many in the hospital. Pastor Hugo would come and visit us to be a counselor for my mom, praying with her and us. It was a time of blessing in times of sorrow. Even though my dad went to be with the Lord Jesus, and could not be healed physically, the greatest miracle is the miracle of the healing of the soul that he could give his life to Jesus and how God gave our entire family confidence of that. My dad is with Jesus now and though we miss him, we know he is special in the eyes of the Lord and so are we. Through the years in different kinds of pain, the Lord Jesus has made me feel special.

I do not know friend if you feel special in your life when things are going so wrong but I want you to know that you are special and precious in the Lord's sight. This does not have to do with the things you do for the Lord but because the Lord loves you and wants you to see yourself as His precious creation.

Oh yes, He does! If you were the only one living you would still experience His love. Praise the Lord. Jesus reaches out to you. He shed His precious cleansing blood on the cross to pay the ransom you nor I could pay for our sins. Jesus did that for you and me and offers us His grace to be saved through faith. Jesus took upon Himself our sins so that we can become righteous through Him when we turn our lives over to Him. That is exciting to know!

Whatever you are feeling or going through come as you are to the One who saves and wants to make you feel special. You are never out of His love and never out of His reach.

Hear what the Lord says to you friend! He loves you! He loves you! He loves you!

"BUT NOW the Lord who created you, O Israel [your name], says, Don't be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up--the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 43:1-3)

Our family has experienced that and we always need Christ in our lives to strengthen us and help us through. Even in the worst of circumstances, look to the Lord who wants to carry you and show you things unimaginable to you. It is in times like these when things go wrong in our lives, we are vulnerable to Satan's attacks if we are not on our guard. So let us look to Christ, the Solid Rock on which we should stand, all else is sinking sand.

Allow the Lord to work through your pain. Give Him room to come and heal you. Whatever wounds or scars you are facing, His love for you is so strong that He will walk you through this pain. He will also give you strength and endurance to bear. For in Christ is your hope of glory. I have been through some rough times in the past so I speak from experience.

No matter what is happening in your life, the most important concept to realize is that we are so special to the Lord and precious in His sight. He loves us so much than we can even imagine and He will get us through.

When we find our identity in Him rather than careers, our accomplishments, our athletic ability, our academics, our relationships, etc we will experience the peace our Prince of Peace wants us to experience. Once we know we are accepted by Jesus and are in His loving care, we can go on.

If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for our sake, how much more will He do for us! Praise the Lord!

Please take time to read Romans 8 for the Lord will speak to you through this passage. Listen to the Lord and claim His promises.

You are special and you will know that as you receive the Savior's precious encouragement in accepting life.

"Savior's Precious Encouragement Comforts, In All Lives (S.P.E.C.I.A.L)"/"How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?"

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we live in a world where fame, fun, and fortune are emphasized. It is so easy Lord Jesus to find our identity in so many things but you. Lord we do know that only you can rescue us and set us free. You alone can free us from the pain and hurts that haunt us. You are our Counselor who can deliver us from the wounds and scars we may have faced in the past or currently face. We come to you Lord for your healing. Jesus, we thank you that you see us as so precious and special no matter how our past looks like. We thank you that you can take the worst of circumstances & worst of sinners and can bring something good from it even now. We know that you are Sovereign and depend on you whatever we are facing. We thank you for the comfort and love, you send our way. I pray right now Lord Jesus for those who are suffering, for those who are still haunted and trapped by their past. I intercede on their behalf and ask you Jesus please to set them free, wash them completely by your Blood, and please let them receive your forgiveness. I thank you Lord no matter what we have done in our past, you remember those sins no more but set us free. We thank you that we can be free in you no matter what our sin has been and become a new creation as you work in us and through us! Thank you Jesus so much that you hear us and answer our prayers! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called �All in All�)

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don�t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help!

No matter who you are, it is not ever too late to join a Bible-believing church or a college fellowship. I highly encourage each of you to come to Small Group on Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Oakland International Fellowship on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. for prayer, 10:00 a.m. for Community Bible Time in Gospel of John, worship at 11:30 a.m, and fellowship lunch at 12:30 pm.

May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don�t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory@gmail.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response based on?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 14, 20, 6:51 a.m)

Philippians 1:7-8: "How can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 13, 20, 11:00 a.m)

Philippians 1:7-8: "Why can you only be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 13, 20, 10:51 a.m)

Philippians 1:3-6: "Why be C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in the Lord?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 08, 20, 09:44 a.m)

Philippians 1:3-5: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 08, 20, 09:44 a.m)

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 07, 20, 10:07 a.m)

Philippians 1:2: "When do you B.L.E.S.S others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 06, 20, 11:10 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 04, 20, 11:55 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of a sinner?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 03, 20, 9:53 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Who will you be a S.E.R.V.AN.T to in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 02, 20, 6:55 pm)

"What will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2020?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 01, 20, 1:13 pm)

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