Last summer, we were in France when the record-breaking heat waves hit the country. At no other time had plain cold water tasted so good on my tongue as in those days when we walked under the scorching sun, breathing in hot humid air. Although I had known about the benefits of eight glasses of water per day, rarely had I made it a habit. In fact, I had wondered how anyone could consume that much on a daily basis. However, I couldn't keep count of the number of bottles of water I emptied down my throat on those days in France. With my throat parched, if I had been given a choice between a bottle of Parfum D'Or, a pearl necklace, or a chilled bottle of sparkling water, I would have wisely lunged for the last. What good is the perfume or the shining necklace if I do not get the water to quench my thirst? Though the perfume and the pearls have their glamour and lure, they lack the power to quench my thirst.

Likewise, what good is money, success, or power for someone at the brink of death, if he doesn't have assurance of eternal life? The living water, which Christ offers us, becomes our strength to walk through this life. There are days when we go through dry seasons — parched, deserted, and withered, both emotionally and spiritually. Then there are days when we seem to hit the wall with no way out, or see no future. It's at such times that we tend to marvel at the replenishing power of His Word and Spirit as living water. When the desert sand blinds our vision, and doubts creep in, let us learn to sing like David, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." (Psalm 42:5 NKJV)

Prayer: Loving Lord, You are our hope and strength. You've walked us through hard times and good times. Help us to quieten our souls when fear and anxiety cross our thoughts. Teach us to sing praises even when the path ahead looks rocky and deserted. Amen.

On a Christian programme, Bruce Marchiano, a Christian speaker and a Hollywood actor, stressed the importance of prayer for the entertainment world. "This starry world, which has a strong influence on our children and society, goes unmentioned in our prayers," he said sadly. "Even though some Christians in this industry are trying to make a difference, their struggles outweigh their strength," he added.

As a prayer intercessor, I've been praying for my family, friends, church, and, at times, for the missions. But, never did it occur to me to pray for the entertainment world. Quite often, I'm too quick to point my finger at this world for the violence and vulgarity in our society. Little did I know that I, too, contribute in some way to its decay by withholding my prayers.

Praying hands bring better results than pointing fingers, I realized, and I have started to include them in my prayers. Any unguarded territory is prone to the enemy's attack. If the guards on duty are not alert, it becomes the enemy's playground. We cannot blame anyone but ourselves if we fail to guard this world in our prayers. "It's too late; we cannot do anything about it," we might say. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible," says the Bible in Matthew 19:26 (NKJV).

Prayer: Loving Lord, help us to remember that nothing is impossible with You. Amen.

I felt as if someone had splashed cold water on my face, and woke me up to a brand new concept, when the guest speaker on a Christian television programme spoke those words: "Remember, God is your provider! Not your employer; not your bank; and not even your spouse." Until then, as a stay-at-home mom, depending solely on my husband's income, I'd spent sleepless nights whenever uncertainty threatened our financial stability.

Now, seeing God as my provider brought tremendous relief and consolation to my soul. I felt free, and lighter. My attitude towards circumstances took a new turn. The truth really set me free from worry and anxiety. For the first time, I realized that quoting scriptures, and truly believing them, can be two different things. I can be a scholar in Biblical studies, but unless and until I grasp the truth, and live by it, my life will not be much different from that of an unbeliever. Only the truth has the power to set us free from our bondage to worry.

Jobs come and go; financial markets rise and fall; spouses may leave or die. But God neither changes nor deserts us. Provisions do not go dry in His storehouse. When we grasp that concept, we no longer need to shudder at the thought of losing a job, or to walk around like zombies when uncertainty threatens our future. It's easily said, but hard to put into practice, we might say. But it's a choice we have to make. We can focus on our problems, and live a stressful life, or we can focus on God's promises, and live a stress-free life in His strength.

Prayer: Lord, help us to believe Your words whole-heartedly. Teach us how to focus on Your promises, and live victoriously. Amen.

What an awesome assurance to know that we're hedged behind and before by God's love and protection, when we put our trust in God. However, there are times, instead of marvelling like the psalmist, we tend to resist, wrestle, and question God's love because we see God's principles, intended for our protection, as hindrances to exercising our own free will.

This reminds me of the time, when my kids were toddlers, that, out of love, I had to barricade them with child safety gates, from entering the kitchen or going down to the basement. The tiny tots didn't seem to understand or appreciate my act of love. Instead, they saw me as someone restricting their freedom to have fun. So, they thumped their feet, banged on the gates, and hollered their lungs out, to show their frustration. They weren't mature enough to understand how dangerous it could be to crawl into the kitchen cupboards, or to wander in the basement, which the furnace sits in. Only when they grew up, were they able to understand the danger and appreciate my action.

Likewise, only when we mature in our spiritual growth can we sing like David, at all times and under all circumstances.

Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for bringing us within Your kingdom, and hedging us with Your protection. Help us to grow out of our toddling stage, and become mature enough to embrace Your principles and Your will with gladness. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

As a kid, I hated to see spinach on my plate. "Taste it and see; it's good for you!" my mother would say, to persuade me to eat it. At age eight, I saw no good coming out of a dollop of cooked spinach. I preferred to munch on a cookie instead. To stimulate my palate, Mom even made spinach balls with sweet rice and yogurt, and arranged them beautifully on my plate. Gladly, years later, I took a liking to spinach, and enjoyed its benefits. Today, it's my turn to coax my children to eat this vitamin-rich vegetable, while they in turn give me the look that I gave Mom years back.

The psalmist calls us to taste and see the goodness of God. But we are somewhat reluctant to heed His call. Like kids, we like to run around snacking on junk food, losing the appetite for the living bread. Unless it's presented with fun and excitement, some of us wouldn't want to touch it. For some, the "do's" and "don'ts" of religion have left a bitter taste. We no longer reach out for the bread. As a result, we become malnourished and deny ourselves the blessings of God.

David, the man after God's heart, faced life's challenges common to you and me. He knew the agony of losing a child, the terror of enemy attack, and the pain and guilt after committing sin. Yet, he remained unmoved in his trust in God. Amidst his troubles, David saw God's hand protecting, comforting, correcting, and guiding him. These are the blessings he saw when he said, "Blessed is the man who trusts in Him."

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, increase our appetite to know You better. Help us to become men and women after Your heart. Amen.