Once a Jewish Rabbi started his prayers for the people in the congregation. He wanted that God should listen to his prayers and forgive the sins of all those who had assembled in the synagogue. That moment he heard the voice of God. It was something like this: “Let Tam pray for you. If Tam prays for you, I shall forgive your sins and bless you.”

When the Rabbi heard the voice of God he was terrified. However he gathered courage and turning to the congregation, he asked, “Tam, where are you? Come forward quickly!” The Rabbi did not know who Tam was. As he was waiting anxiously for Tam, a poor man came forward trembling all over with fear and anxiety.

As the poor man was standing there quiet puzzled not knowing why he was called, the Rabbi told him what he heard from God. Tam told the Rabbi, “I will pray for you, let me go and take the prayer.” But Tam returned to synagogue with a small earthen pot in his hand. He raised the pot and prayed like this: “Holy God, You know that I don’t know how to pray. But whatever I have I offer You. This pot contains my tears.”

“When I pray to you in the night, I remember my wife and children. My eyes get filled with tears when I think that they cannot get to Synagogue because they do not have proper clothes. Then I remember the poor people and the beggars. I see how they suffer from bitter cold, scorching heat, hunger and thirst. Then I cry again. Before those tears are dry I remember how we brothers scream and fight with one another. Then again I cry. I further remember how you suffer and cry remembering our trespasses. My sorrow then overflows beyond bounds. All these tears I have collected in this pot.”

The prayer of Tam was heard by God and He blessed all those who were present in the Synagogue.

————————– ————————– ————————–

The Bible asks us to be always ready because the Son of Man may come at the most unexpected time. Reciting prayers by rote in a mechanical fashion, without meditating upon their content and meaning will not bring Heavenly blessings. Build up your life by meaningful prayers. Become aware of the miraculous strength of prayers. All prayers reach God and He responds.

The divine spirit that flows into us through prayers will help us to face any crisis of life with equanimity and optimism. God knows all our needs. What we need to do is keep close proximity to God. Jesus asks us to pray constantly. It is when we pray for others that God showers us with greater blessings. So let’s become children of prayers.

It is when we pray regularly, heartily and sincerely that God interferes in our lives and good things happens to us. Let us believe in God firmly and behave sincerely with our brethren.

- – - written by Surjith Jacob

25 Beautiful Christian Phrases

1. Give God what’s right… not what’s left.

2. Man’s way leads to hopeless end… God’s way leads to an endless hope.

3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma, but never let him be the period.

6. Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.

7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.

8. When praying, don’t give God instructions… just report for duty.

9. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.

10. We don’t change God’s message… His message changes us.

11. The church is prayer-conditioned.

12. When God ordains, He sustains.

13. Warning: Exposure to the son may prevent burning.

14. Plan ahead… It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

17. Exercise daily… walk with the Lord.

18. Never give the devil a ride… he will always want to ride.

19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

21. He who angers you controls you.

22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

23. Give Satan an inch and he’ll be a ruler.

24. Be ye fishers of men… You catch them and He’ll clean them.

25. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

I hope you liked all the 25 beautiful Christian phrases given above.

Also please read Beautiful Quotes For Your Beautiful Day

If you really want to have 2012 as a new beginning, you got to decide what you want to accomplish this year. It’s not enough that you have a desire. You need to have a plan, a goal or a vision.

I know some folks who say that they will not make a plan because they are afraid that by doing so, they may miss the plan of God! But that’s not true. You may be familiar with this adage: “It is difficult to steer a parked vehicle. But when it starts moving, it’s easy to direct it”.

As we look around, we find that comparatively, it’s those who don’t have a vision suffer discouragement than those who do have a vision. That is why Proverbs 29:18 declares: Where there is no (prophetic) vision, the people are discouraged.

However, when you prayerfully create a goal, the amazing thing is, God starts working on your behalf. Besides, discouragement wouldn’t be found anymore!

Here are 3 smart tips that help you in creating your goal for 2012.

1. Check your passion

What are you passionate about? If you can do only one thing in life, what would be that one thing? Your goal must be closely connected to your passion.

2. Check what you dislike

What do you consider as “I can’t stand it!”? What stuff, situation or scenario produces a (righteous) anger in you? Though you may not realize, your God-ordained purpose is connected to that! Incorporate it into your goal.

3. Check your track record

What have you been through the past 5 years, especially 2011? It may be a mixture of good and not-so-good circumstances. But God used them to prepare you for 2012. Seeing these from a ‘mountain-top’ angle will help you create a ‘heavenly’ and realistic goal.

So, remember: it’s your decision to accomplish something specific that helps you begin 2012 afresh!

In the next post, we are going to deal with the third step to starting 2012 afresh. Meantime, what are some of the past experiences that help you in creating your 2012 goal? Pen your comments below in the comments section.

- – - written by Joe Abraham from www.joeandancy.com