Righteousness and Justice are the foundations of Your throne; Steadfast Love and Faithfulness go before You – Psalm 89:14 (NRSV)

Greetings in Jesus’ Most Holy Name!

Everything is built on a FOUNDATION; kingdoms, nations, ministries, families, marriages, building structures, careers, jobs, businesses and even the very life that we live! Foundations are nothing but ‘principles’ or a ‘set of values’ that act as a base for us to grow. Our foundation will determine how successful we become and how far we will move on in life.

Building a good and solid foundation is necessary and takes time. Our real attitudes are displayed during testing times when our foundations are shaken. The trials and problems that come against us are the very things that will test our foundations! It’s the foundation that keeps a house where it should be. In the Gospel of Matthew verses 24-27, Jesus speaks about setting foundations based on ‘hearing’ His Word and ‘doing’ what He says, which simply means to abide in Him in obedience! – ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall!’

3 types of tests will be used to test our foundations – rain, flood and wind, which are nothing but life experiences of trials, sufferings and persecutions. And God conducts these foundational tests to prepare and strengthen us for executing His plans through us. For example, in the OT, we read about Joseph who went from the pit to the prison and finally to the palace. Elisha, who was successor to Elijah’s prophetic ministry, served Elijah for many years as his humble servant.

In Acts 16: 25, 26 we read – ‘About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.”

Amazing! Just TWO people were praying and worshipping God in a prison, and the very FOUNDATIONS of that prison were shaken and ALL doors were opened and EVERYONE’s chains were unfastened!

What caused God to shake the foundations of the prison of Paul and Silas? I believe it was their complete trust and faith in God to get them out of there and also their prayer of agreement where the two of them agreed and believed that God would set them free. Paul and Silas certainly must have prayed according to Matthew 18:19, 20 and more significantly, they must have definitely interceded for all the other people (prisoners and jailer) around them in that prison, because we see God’s plan of salvation manifested in the life of the jailer and his entire family – Acts 16: 30 – 34.

Even God’s throne has a foundation – that of righteousness and justice! God always shakes and tests foundations. Throughout the generations, we have been witnessing the acts of God through worldwide events as He continues to shake the foundations of nations, kingdoms, religious cults, false ideologies and even individuals across the universe. In recent times, we’ve witnessed tsunamis and earthquakes across nations, the growing turmoil in the Middle East, the fall of immoral and corrupt leaders, the crackdown and toppling of terrorist leaders and groups.

In the Old Testament, we know that the walls of the city of Jericho fell because they did not have a Godly foundation! Anything that is not built on a Godly foundation will surely fall! JESUS CHRIST SHOULD BE OUR ONLY FOUNDATION in life, not people or false values - 1 Corinthians 3: 10, 11 – ‘According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.’

Jesus Christ - our ONLY foundation!

JESUS CHRIST will continue to shake foundations until ‘His kingdom’ is established in the hearts and lives of all those who believe in Him, repent of their sins and accept Him as their only Lord and Savior. Hebrews 12: 26-29 speaks of God’s sure promise to shake earth and heaven – “At that time, His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, ‘Yet once more’ I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ This phrase ‘yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.” Jesus Christ’s first message of proclamation was - “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” – Matthew 4:17. “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” – 1 Peter 4:17.

As we build our foundations in life, it’s also important NOT to destroy what God has built and NOT to re-build what God Himself has destroyed. Anyone who tries to build what God has destroyed and tries to destroy what God has built will be cursed. Why? Because His Word says so! Let us read Joshua 6:26 – ‘Cursed before the LORD be anyone who tries to build this city – this Jericho! At the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates!’ In 1 Kings 16: 34, we read – ‘In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho; he laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua son of Nun.’

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are you in a prison? There is a famous quote – “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them!” Is God shaking the foundations of your life, your family, your business, your marriage or ministry? Some of us, including our families may be in prisons of fear, pain and bondages, sickness and suffering, trials and frustrations for months, years and even generations. Some of us may have been placed in our prisons by others. Perhaps your home or marriage has become a prison. Some of us walk into self-made prisons due to our sins and addictions and become so accustomed to the environment there that we do not wish to get out or we could be struggling to come out of these prisons!

Do you want God to shake the foundations of your prison and set you free? Jesus Christ, the Living Word is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He tells us in John 8:31, 32 – “If you abide in My Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” The right attitude towards God and His people will enable us to shake the very foundations of any prison! To build Godly foundations in life, we need to practice love, forgiveness, truth and justice as Jesus Christ teaches us.

Therefore, let us set our hearts and minds on becoming Spirit-filled persons of prayer, praise and worship. Even the evil one tries to lay foundations and strongholds if we grant him access into our lives. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, but when the Word of God directs our lives and we abide in Jesus as our only foundation, he may shake us for a while but once he sees us firmly rooted in Christ, he will flee!

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for being my rock and stronghold. In the Name of Jesus Christ and through His Precious Blood that was shed for me, I uproot every evil foundation in my life and family. Beloved Lord Jesus, lay Your foundations in my life, so that I will be rooted and grounded in You. AMEN.

Blessings,
Monisha Rebello

You may submit your prayer requests, which will be treated with absolute confidence. Remember to glorify our Lord as soon as He blesses you. You can email your testimonies with permission to publish them online at www.heavensmission.witnesstoday.org

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NRSV)

Greetings in Jesus’ Most Holy Name!

It’s so easy to thank people and even God when life is good. But when problems arise and people persecute us, ‘thank-you’ is the last word that comes out of the heart. And yet, God’s Word commands us to give thanks in ‘EVERYTHING’, for this is His will for us!

“Everything”?? – But how can I thank God for those situations that seem hopeless, difficult and downright painful? How can I thank God for people who seem irritating and almost get on my nerves? How can I thank God for the death of my loved one? How can I thank God when I don’t ‘feel’ thankful?

We cannot let our feelings control our lives. God desires that we walk by faith and not by sight. The only prayer that pleases God the most is this – ‘praising’ and ‘thanking’ Him in the midst of the storms in our life! When we thank God in this manner, we acknowledge that He is God above all and in control even of life and death. When you thank God specifically for a particularly difficult situation or person, you are inviting God into that situation or person, trusting that He will do what is best, for He can do ALL things.

   

There are no co-incidences in life. God has destined every situation and every person connected to you right from the moment of your conception for just one purpose – to experience His presence and to teach us lessons in life! It is His perfect will and plan to have each of us communicate and fellowship with Him in order that our wrong attitudes are corrected and perfected by His transforming love. We take so many situations and people in our lives for granted and only begin to realize their true worth when we lose them. Choose to be thankful rather than grumble, because you will notice that your attitude will soon reflect as your way of life – in your thinking, in your speech and in the way you deal with situations and people. One sure way to check our attitude is to check our speech; whether oral or written. Few days ago I met a person who’s very religious and was on his way to a prayer meeting. He stopped by to speak and more than half of his conversation was grumbling about his wife! When we tend to look at situations and people as problems, life becomes difficult. But when we change our outlook and look at problems and people through God’s perspective, then life becomes a blessing! It’s like looking at a jar of sand – You can say it’s ‘half-filled’ or ‘half-empty’. I believe 99% of all relationship problems occur because of clash of ego’s and lack of healthy communication. When the lines of communication are closed at home, we take our problems and pour them out to well wishers (friends, advisors, counselors) who may listen, empathize and guide us but cannot solve the problem. Families must encourage daily prayer as ‘dialog’ between parents and children, husbands and wives, so that whenever a fight or argument in the home occurs, let the people involved begin by thanking God for it and what He wants to teach each person in that situation. Then with a humble heart, listen to the other person’s viewpoint as the two of you thrash out your differences or misunderstandings and see each other the way God intended.

When was the last time you thanked God for an argument or fight between you and your spouse, a friend or family member? Perhaps God allowed it to happen to reveal a side of this person that perhaps you’ve never seen before, not so much to condemn but to accept him or her and to teach you about your own imperfections; to correct and perfect them in an atmosphere of trust and love.

Ever wondered why healings and miracles always take place in an atmosphere of worship, praise and thanksgiving during prayer meetings? That’s because when we offer thanks and praise out of a pure heart, the anointing power of God just flows into our lives. God is enthroned on the praises of His people! As Catholics, it’s our belief that the Holy Eucharist is the highest form of thanksgiving prayer because Jesus Christ is truly present as the Living bread! The best place to offer our heart-felt thanks to God is at the Eucharist. However, our mighty omnipresent God is not limited to just a church or chapel, hence our thanks and praise should be a continuous flow not just from our lips but from the very depths of our being at all times and everywhere!

When you begin to thank God, your situations and people may remain unchanged, but ‘you’ will definitely change or rather your outlook and attitude in life will surely change as God transforms you with His love, peace and joy! In the scale of balance of your life, you’ll be surprised to see how much you are thankful for. Begin to thank God and start counting your blessings; you’ll automatically notice the list of positives increasing and the negatives decreasing!

Brothers and sisters in Christ, life is too short here on earth. Thankful people are happy people :) Let our attitude be that of gratitude! Begin today!

Spiritual Exercise: Practice the ‘attitude of gratitude’ by thanking God even for small trivial things in your life and watch how your heart and mind will be moved to thank Him constantly for EVERYTHING.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of life and Your many blessings. I thank You Lord, for my good days and bad days too, for both are necessary for my spiritual growth in this school of life. Transform my heart into an altar of Thanksgiving so that my constant prayer will be of praise and thanks dedicated to You. Amen.

- Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 43:1

Blessings,

Monisha Rebello

You may submit your prayer requests, which will be treated with absolute confidence. Remember to glorify our Lord as soon as He blesses you. You can email your testimonies with permission to publish them online at www.heavensmission.witnesstoday.org

Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? - 1 Corinthians 15:54.b; 55 (NRSV)

Greetings in Jesus’ Most Holy Name!

The following article was written by me last year and today, I dedicate it to a dear brother in Christ who went to be with our beloved Lord yesterday after a painful battle with cancer. Yes, death indeed brings painful separation from loved ones here on earth, yet at the same time death re-unites us with our Creator. We know this for a fact because of God’s Word – ‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ – Romans 8:38, 39.

“Because of our Lord Jesus' triumph of death and sin on the Cross, we should be living victorious lives daily. Is the Light of Easter still burning brightly or has it dimmed with trials, sufferings, sickness & problems all around us?

And in the midst of all this, if God decides that today will be your last day here on earth, how would you live this day? What would be included in the list of things that you would prepare to do? Whom would you call or meet to say your goodbye's, sorry's, love you's etc.

In reality, very few get opportunities to take care of these things & people before their final moment, but more important than all these things, is the ''attitude of the heart.''

What is the attitude of your heart, today? Is it still attached to things & people of this world? God gives us families, friends, loved ones to share, care and love each other but yet why are we still searching for love that's so much more deeper and true? Because God Himself has created in each of our hearts a void that can only be filled by His presence & love; No duplicates or substitutes can ever fill this space!

Would you recognize Jesus Christ here on Earth? Will you recognize Him in Heaven? Because death inevitably brings us face-to-face with the One true God who alone has power over life and death. Even His disciples doubted & failed to recognize Him after His resurrection. Only the ones who knew His voice & words, who sat at His feet daily & spent time in His presence recognized that it is the Lord.

When we place Jesus first in our lives & love Him, He reciprocates this love by revealing Himself to us in different ways. His ways and thoughts are always higher than ours. He is always true to His words in ways we cannot perceive.

Even thru' her tears, Mary Magdalene bent down to look inside the tomb – Refer to John 20:11. When we are broken-hearted & afflicted, even thru' our tears, we must humble ourselves and look with expectant faith towards our Lord.

When we feel lost and sad, even though we may receive divine inspirations and comforting messages from people, our hearts will still search for our beloved Lord - Even though Mary Magdalene may have been comforted or further confused with the angel's words at the tomb, she answers them but still turns around to look for Jesus as her heart was still searching for Him. She would only believe until she saw Him with her own eyes & touched Him – Reference: John 20:12-18

In today's times, we too need evidence and tangible proof in order to believe. Yet our Lord tells us that we are blessed because we believe even though we haven't seen Him yet - John 20:29. True Faith is recognizing God in action in our day-to-day lives as we place all our trust in Him and in His promises to us.

All our cries & broken feelings only tell us one thing - that our hearts are still longing & searching for Someone, that Someone who alone can wipe away our tears, soothe & comfort our hurts and pain; one who can understand us like no one else does. Only Jesus can do all this for us!

At the tomb, Jesus called Mary by her name – John 20:16. Why did He call her by name? Because in doing so, there was an intimacy and familiarity between them. We call people by their names only when we know them closely. And Jesus knew the heart of Mary just as He knows each of us.

God tells us that He already ''knows'' us even before we were born – Jeremiah 1:5. Do you ''know'' Him or do you ''know about'' Him?

When Mary heard her name thru' Jesus' lips, only then did she recognize Him. Truly His words are sweet promises to us - ''My sheep know Me and recognize My voice,'' and ''I have called You by name. You are Mine.''

When we recognize our Lord and His voice, we must cling to Him, but cling in such a way so as to take Him along with us to others who are still searching to recognize Him. We cannot keep Jesus to ourselves once we recognize His working in our day-to-day lives.

Did Mary go alone to tell the other disciples about the risen Lord? No! Surely, our Lord was with her, in her heart, because He has promised that He will never leave us and is always with us. That is why Mary ran with joy to tell the others the good news of her risen Lord! And this is what we too are called to do as devoted disciples of Jesus.

Since we are destined to spend eternity in the loving presence of God our Father, Jesus our brother & the Holy Spirit, we must spend maximum time daily in getting to know and love Him intimately. He loved us first, a love soo deep that He died on the Cross to prove His love for you and me!

My Beloved Jesus, like the lyrics in the song, “If tomorrow never comes” for me - Will You know how much I really love You, Lord? Did I try in every way to show You every day, that You are my only One.

And when my time on earth is through, and I will face You in Heaven, will the love I received from You and shared with others be enough to last?

'Cause I know Lord, You have lost loved ones here on earth, who do not know how much You love them. Some live with the regret, that their true feelings for You & others never were revealed.

So I make a promise to myself, to say each day how much You really mean to me, and avoid every circumstance, where there's no second chance to tell You how I feel. I love You, Lord. Amen.”

Spiritual Exercise: During your personal prayer, be still and allow the Lord to fill you with His presence and His love. Then, tell him how much you really love Him. And believe in your heart that NOTHING can separate you from the love of Christ, not even death!

In union of prayers,

God bless you!

Monisha Rebello

You may submit your prayer requests, which will be treated with absolute confidence. Remember to glorify our Lord as soon as He blesses you. You can email your testimonies with permission to publish them online at www.heavensmission.witnesstoday.org

For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life – Ephesians 2:10 (NRSV)

Greetings in Jesus’ Most Holy Name!

Have you ever wondered about the real meaning and purpose of your life and existence here on earth? Why was I born, what is God’s divine plan for my existence? Am I walking on the path that God has prepared for me?

I’m sure we all have encountered such questions at every stage of our life, no matter what your current vocation or state of life is. For some people, life just unfolds and they transit smoothly from one stage to the next. Some are blessed with a divine calling and just know deep within, that this is where and what I need to be doing. Some may even be forced and influenced into a particular vocation by others or due to their own needs or unforeseen circumstances. For others, they need guidance, inspiration and discernment because they find themselves confused or stuck with their decisions and choices. Despite the choices made, some are filled with doubts as life progresses for them and even give up. On the other hand, there are some who are bold to take risks and venture into the unknown, prepared to face whatever lies ahead. Some are already performing good works, yet they may feel what more can I do?

No human life on this earth is a mistake. Every time I read Psalm 139, which is one of my favorite Psalms, I like to think of Abba Father, our ‘Creator Daddy God’ as busy designing His masterpiece (i.e each individual human life from birth till death); uniquely involved in shaping and crafting every minute detail of our lives. (Psalm 139: 13-16)

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God has already prepared beforehand those good works, which will become our way of life? Not the works that we choose on our own, but those works that He will guide and inspire us to walk into. Yet, what seems good thru’ our Lord’s eyes can seem harsh and painful to us at times. For example: Sickness of a loved one. It brings pain to the person suffering as well as to the ones taking care of the sick person. How can sickness be a part of God’s plan and good works? We know and have read testimonies of people where individuals and even families have been saved, reconciled and re-united, love has been restored, lessons of patience and commitment are learnt, all because of the sickness and suffering of one person.

Rick Warren states in His book: ‘The Purpose Driven Life – What on earth am I here for?’ – “Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you. God has never been impressed with strength or self-sufficiency. In fact, He is drawn to people who are weak and admit it. Jesus regarded this recognition of our need as being "poor in spirit." It's the number one attitude He blesses - Matthew 5:3”. Through the Biblical examples of Paul, the Samaritan woman, Zachaeus etc., and the lives of Saints, we know that God transforms and even uses sinners and imperfect people to perform His good works and draw lost souls back to Him. Here, God’s Word in Romans 8:28 comes alive – “We know that all things work together for good; for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

You may have encountered certain people who give off negative vibes. And then there are people who are perpetually calm and you feel peaceful just to be in their company. What is your way of life? Does it radiate love, peace, warmth and happiness? How can we radiate these qualities to others unless we ourselves are filled with them? And in order to be filled with good, we need to first empty ourselves of the negatives. Where you empty yourself is also very important. Our lives can become dumping grounds; full of filth if we empty the negatives in wrong places, because soon the polluted environment will contaminate and corrupt your lifestyle.

 



How then, can we come to know what are those specific good works that our Father has prepared for each one of us to be our way of life? God’s ways are not our ways. His will and plan for our lives can be discerned when we are in daily communion with Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ invites us to empty ourselves daily and dump all our negatives into His Sacred Heart. The life of Christ within us will then spring forth like streams of living water – John 7:38; Galatians 2:20.

 And this living water is the Holy Spirit who purifies and sanctifies our lives so that we can walk in holiness into those good works already prepared beforehand for our unique calling. Just as a goldsmith purifies gold through fire and it comes out shining, likewise God polishes and refines our lives with sufferings and trials for months and even years until His light shines forth in and through us.

Dear Brother / Sister in Christ, are you at a cross road in your life, not knowing which way to turn? Does life seem messed up and monotonous for you? Have painful and bitter experiences extinguished the light from your life and you wonder, where do I go from here? Maybe people taunted you and told you that you’re a loser and will never move on in life and perhaps you even believed this lie to be true. Maybe you are struggling with important decisions that can make or break your life. Or perhaps you are dependent on the decisions of loved ones that will change the course of your life. Maybe you are still feeling stuck in the past and are afraid to step out in faith, fearing what lies ahead.

Whatever be your life situation, come to our Lord Jesus in all humility and offer your life into His hands just the way it is, trusting that He is at work! The criminal, who was crucified along with Jesus, repented and offered his life to Jesus at the very last moment of his life and Jesus accepted Him. We need not wait till our last moment to draw near to Our Lord. Remember that even this day and this very moment that you are reading this article have already been written by God in His book of life. God can alter the course of your life in the twinkling of an eye because Nothing is impossible for HIM! Allow Him to hold your hand so that He can guide you in your decisions, as you profess ‘Lord, may Your will be done’. Do not give up on God for He has not given up on you. Your best is yet to come and your way of life will become HIS way of life!

Spiitual Exercise: During your time of personal prayer with our Lord, claim His Word in faith. Repeatedly, read aloud Ephesians 2:10 until His Word becomes rooted in your mind and heart and you are filled with His deep peace.

Spiritual Tip: You can write the above Scripture on a piece of paper and keep it in a place as a constant reminder for you to pray daily. You can also personalize it – ‘For I am what You have made me, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which You prepared beforehand to be my way of life’.

Prayer: Abba Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, re-create me in Your image and likeness. Make me know Your ways, O Lord. Teach me Your paths, that I may walk in Your Truth. I call forth those good works, which You have specially prepared beforehand for me, that I will walk in them and glorify Your Holy name. Amen.

- Psalm 86: 11, Psalm 25: 4,5  

Blessings!
Monisha Rebello


You may submit your prayer requests, which will be treated with absolute confidence. Remember to glorify our Lord as soon as He blesses you. You can email your testimonies with permission to publish them online at www.heavensmission.witnesstoday.org



I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation - 1 Samuel 2:1 (NKJV)

Greetings in Jesus’ Most Holy Name!


Are you sad :( or happy :) today? We can smile when we are happy and when we are sad too, but the difference in the quality of your smile is known only to you and to God.

What enabled Hannah to smile at her enemies? She had been enduring deep sorrow and taunts from people around her. And how did she respond to this? She expressed the anguish of her soul by pouring out her heart to God in prayer and with tears. It’s interesting to note that she was no longer sad after she expressed her grief to God - 1 Sam 1:18. I believe she was able to make this transition after being filled with a deep conviction and peace in her heart that God would indeed grant her prayer. She continued to worship the Lord and we know that God did grant her request. Her persistent trust and confidence in God to answer her heart-felt prayer was rewarded. Did she have reasons to smile? Oh yes indeed, because she who was barren was blessed with a son and she bore 3 sons and 2 daughters!

Crucified smiling Christ

Hannah was able to smile at her tormentors because her focus was on the Lord as her only source of strength and joy. Her heart was rejoicing in her Lord, who made her smile at her enemies. This verse from 1 Samuel 2:1 also reminds me of the image of the smiling crucified Christ. We are in the joyous season of Easter, celebrating Christ’s triumphant victory over sin, death and evil! Jesus had endured betrayal, cruel treatment, humiliation and a painful death at the hands of His enemies, yet He endured this cruelty and proclaimed, “It is finished.” HE who was sinless died for the sins of the world and out of deep love, He too must have smiled at His enemies because He was rejoicing in the work of salvation, which He had accomplished once and for all by His death on the Cross!

Few years ago, while in deep contemplation before an image of our Lord Jesus, I had seen Him smiling and had not known what this meant. A preacher had explained to me that when God smiles, it means He is answering prayer. I believe this is true! I’d read an SMS – ‘A person who truly loves you and knows you is someone who still sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else still believes the smile on your face.’ These words are apt only for our Lord, because only He, who created each one of us, knows us uniquely, loves us and truly understands us. Yet, how often do we tend to seek human consolation first and God comes last on our list. You may pour out your woes and even your heart to a human being (a close friend, spouse, loved one, or a spiritual advisor) who will empathize and console you. You may feel comforted and relieved for some time by doing this, yet you will realize that a void still remains in your heart and soul, until you offer it to the Lord and spend time with Him. He alone can heal and fill this void because He understands your pain like no one else does and He longs to help you. Human beings will disappoint us but not God! Only in HIS loving arms will our heart and soul find rest.

Brothers and sisters, are you in the midst of a battle, waiting for your prayers to be answered? Perhaps, days, months and years have passed by and you wonder – Is God listening to my prayer? How long must I wait, Lord? Begin by BELIEVING that God has not forgotten you and your situation and even right now as you are reading this, He is at work in ways, which you cannot imagine. Keep thanking and praising God for whatever situation you are undergoing, however difficult, painful and traumatic it may be. Yes, thank Him even for your enemies and forgive them because He will surely fulfill His Word concerning them as you place your trust in Him and invoke His mercy upon yourself and your tormentors.

Today, as we celebrate the Divine Mercy feast, let us draw close to our Lord, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, thus fulfilling His Holy will which is LOVE and MERCY itself.

God loves you and is deeply aware of all that you are enduring and He will never forsake you. The prayer answering living God of Hannah is still the same; today and forever. He is never late and in His time, He makes all things new and beautiful!

 Spiritual Exercise: During your time of personal prayer with our Lord, claim His Word in faith. Repeatedly, read aloud 1 Samuel 2:1 until His Word becomes rooted in your mind and heart and you are filled with His deep peace. Rejoice in Him for whom nothing is impossible and watch as He fills your mouth and life with smiles and laughter! Remember the key word here is – REJOICE in Him!

Spiritual Tip: Do not just read and repeat the Word in vain. If you find it difficult to focus while praying with the Word, repeat the verse meaningfully during recitation of the Rosary before every Hail Mary; thus you can complete a Scriptural Rosary!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word. Grant me the grace to rejoice in You even in the midst of the storms in my life, so that Your joy becomes my strength and is fulfilled in me. Amen.

- John 16:24; John 15:11; John 17:13; Nehemiah 8:10

In union of prayers,
God bless you!
Monisha Rebello

You may submit your prayer requests, which will be treated with absolute confidence. Remember to glorify our Lord as soon as He blesses you. You can send in your testimonies with permission to publish them online at www.heavensmission.witnesstoday.org