23 Candles

ANDLES Year 6

Issue No. 23 Editorial Please send your suggestions & Articles for the next issue of CANDLES to “Mr. Chiradeep Patra, 11A/1A, Mahendra Chatterjee Lane, Kolkata - 700 046;

E-Mail:

asmideep@in.com Cell: 08013165711

Does God Really Listen To Our Prayers?

I

t was at 3:30 am in the morning on 28th January 2011, when my mom called me. I was shocked to see her number flashing on my cell at that hour of the night. I answered her call in fear and she told me crying, “Danny is no more…”

We had prayed for him so much. I posted so many prayer requests on the web. My other cousins did the same, when they heard about Danny that he is in the hospital, fighting with death. All the family members and relatives gathered and pleaded to God for His mercy on his life. There were prayers going on for him in the churches and fellowships both in India and abroad. But he never came back.

'Why God didn't listen to our prayers…?’

That's the question came to our minds instinctively. There were loads of questions creeping inside our minds and troubling us along with this question too. We were unable to concentrate on anything.

But He answers our prayer. I just remembered a pastor saying, “God listens and answers our prayers in 3 ways.”

1. YES!

2. NO!

3. WAIT!

In our case, it was a 'NO', though it's pretty hard to understand the reason behind it and accept the fact.

Local Address for New Delhi

I was reading a devotional of 'Our Daily Bread.' The verse to ponder on was “So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll.” Revelation 5:4.

John was disturbed and sad as he could not see anybody worthy to unfold the mystery.

That's why he wept. But if we read that passage further we find, an elderly person comes and consoles him saying, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then John saw Jesus and his tears dried up. The angels sang, “Worthy is the Lamb.”

Contact: Rev. Joshua 109-B#Pkt - I, The writer concludes with this assurance from a statement of Dave Brannon, “Are you Dilshadgarden crying? Behold, John's friend Jesus. He is worthy. Turn things over to Him.” New Delhi - 110 095 I am still searching for answers regarding my brother but I believe he is safe in His arms Cell:09810364986 and our God is worthy and will definitely reveal the reason behind all what He has done. Let’s trust HIS Intentions, HIS Plans & HIS Actions in our lives.

E-mail: Chiradeep Patra, is the accountant of National seva_network@hotmail.com “For Private Circulation Only”

Fellowship, a Social Organisation. He is a psychological counselor and an author of many articles. He can be contacted at: ‘chiradeep.nf@gmail.com’

r al e n Ge

Pray Continually

D

uring the course of His teachings, Jesus often stressed on the importance of prayer. Christ Himself stands before us as the best example we can emulate. Many times He retreated to quiet lonely places to pray to His Father in Heaven (Mark 6:46). Although He was the Son of God, He got up very early in the morning while it was still dark and prayed (Mark 1:35). In the garden of Gethsemane, before He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, He knelt down and prayed to His Father in Heaven to fulfill His will. He also put in a word of caution for His disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).

The Parable of the Persistent widow enumerated in Luke 18:1-8 is one of the many instances in which Jesus encouraged his disciples to always pray and not give up.

The parable puts before us the following messages:

VPray without ceasing (vs.3) Many times people ask, “Does God want us to leave aside our studies, our families, our jobs and go on praying 24hours a day?” Not always so.

True, some people have received God's calling and have been ordained by Him to devote a major chunk of their time and energy in prayer. However, by encouraging us to pray ceaselessly, Jesus wants us to persevere in prayer to pray without giving up, whatever be the circumstances. Just like the widow in the parable kept coming to the judge with her plea, we need to be persistent in prayer. Generally, we run to God when we are in trouble, in debt, when there is sickness in the family, in the time of examinations, when near and dear ones have deserted us and the whole world seems dark and hopeless. But, it is very essential for us to kneel before His throne everyday in times of sunshine as well as in rain.

VCry out to God (vs.7) At times we feel that God knows our needs and we need not bother Him with the same issues again and again. But the Word of God says that we need to cry out to Him and wrestle with Him till He answers our prayers. True, God knows all our wants and needs. But at the same time He does not want His children to be passive receivers of His Grace. He wants us to sweat it out. And, He is not a God who sits silently and watches the game. Rather, He is our compassionate Father who hears our cry and does justice to our needs. When the Israelites cried out to God, He raised Moses to rescue them out of captivity. When Hannah poured out her heart before God, He blessed her womb. Likewise, we need to wrestle with God as Jacob did and cry out to Him, “Lord I will not leave you till you bless me.”

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VRemain faithful till the last (vs.8) The world around us is so very fanciful and alluring that sometimes even without our knowledge we tend to deviate from the path which God has ordained for us. The Word of God says that in the last days, there will be such times that even the chosen ones will waver in their faith. In today's world where everyone seems to be running the mad race for attaining name, fame, power, wealth and success, there is a lot of scope to stray away from the right path. During such times, when one is bogged down by conflicting messages from all sides friends, family, books, newspapers, TV, internet only a close relationship with our Father in Heaven would help us to remain faithful till the very last.

Rajnandini Sahu from Cuttack, has done her Post Graduation in Psychology & is presently pursuing higher studies. She is also an excellent writer. She can be contacted at: ‘rsahu1023@gmail.com’

cia Spe

l

FEAR

“The seven constituents of emotional make-up are: joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hatred, and desire. A man of superior emotional make-up will display these emotions in a balanced manner.”

Han Yu

F

ear, an aspect of human psychology that provokes emotion, caused by threat of some form of harm, sometimes manifested in bravado or symptoms of anxiety, and prompting a decision to fight the threat or escape from it. But, what do we generally regard as 'fear'? Is it not the deepest emotions of our life going astray to a befalling doom?? Or is it only the super natural element of this universe that ignites fear in us??

Fear can be categorized into many types depending upon its cause, effect & nature. Fear is one of the primary reaction to the emotions of human mind, which occur either as an immediate response to the external stimuli or as the result of an indirect subjective process, such as memory, association, or introspection. Sometimes 'fear' is also provoked when we remain in a company of a person of superior quality than us.

One's fear is basically revealed by his/her Behavioral Outlook. So, what does actually give the birth to fear in us? Is it for our limited knowledge to the unknown aspects of life & nature, or is it just simply caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors? Many would argue on the fact with different views & ideologies. But, what does Page 3

one's fear ultimately result into?

According to the Holy Scriptures, 'fear' is used as a designation of true piety. It is said that 'fear' is said to cause reverence to somebody or something. But, how can be respect be formed through the cruel outlooks of fear? Respect to one, comes through the feeling or attitude of admiration and deference. To me, it is only possible when someone loves the other person unconditionally. So is it not, a fear conjoined with love and hope, that is not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence?

So, how can we overcome fear of this world?? We can reduce our established fears, surely by associating a feared object with a different stimulus capable of arousing a positive reaction. Thus it will arouse a sense of security & confidence in us, helping therefore to overcome the cause of it.

But still 'fear' is indeed sometimes good. As Jesus said holy fear is enjoined as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence.

So, now it is for us to choose. Whether we want live in 'fear' or with a 'HOLY FEAR' or Godly Fear, which would illuminate the course of our life.

1 John 4:18 - “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

W I S H Y O U

Arka Saha, is from Kolkata and a student of class 12th. He is a thinker and a thought provoking writer at this very young age. He can be contacted at: ‘arka.james@gmail.com’

Let’s Face 2011

by HIS strength...

As, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

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