Megha Rai

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You." — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) Every morning, before the sun rises, I never find myself wondering, "What if it doesn't come up today?" I've never stayed awake worrying that tomorrow will remain dark. Why? Because I've seen the sun rise every single day of my life. My confidence isn't based on seeing tomorrow's sunrise. It's built on witnessing yesterday's faithfulness. One day, while watching the sunrise, I felt the Lord gently ask me: "If you can trust the sun to rise every morning because you've seen it do thousands of times, why is it sometimes harder to trust Me, the One who created the sun?" That question stayed with me. Isaiah tells us that God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on Him because they trust Him. Notice that peace doesn't come from knowing what tomorrow holds. It comes from knowing the One who already hold...

Joy Is Cultivated by Noticing Ordinary Graces "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." — James 1:17 (NIV) Have you ever noticed how quickly we stop seeing the blessings we once prayed for? The house that once felt like an answered prayer becomes "too small." The job we once thanked God for becomes "just work." The family dinner becomes routine. Even the sunrise becomes ordinary because we've seen it a thousand times. I wonder if one of the greatest thieves of joy isn't suffering. Perhaps it's familiarity . When something becomes familiar, we stop noticing it. Lately, God has been gently teaching me to slow down and notice what I call ordinary graces. My morning cup of coffee. The Book resting on my table. The tall trees outside my balcony that remind me of God's majesty. The laughter of my children echoing through the house. The quiet moment before the ...

  Love – Fruit Is Never for the Tree "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." — Matthew 22:37–39 (NIV) When I think of fruit, one simple truth always amazes me. An apple tree never eats its own apples. A mango tree never enjoys its own mangoes. The fruit it bears is always for someone else. Isn't that interesting? Then why do we often think the Fruit of the Spirit is primarily for us? When Paul speaks about love as the very first fruit of the Spirit, I don't believe he's inviting us to become people who feel more loving. He's inviting us to become people through whom others experience the love of God. That led me to another question. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, why didn't He simply say, "Love one another"? Instead, He answered, "Love the Lord your God..." Then ... "Love...

Understanding the Fruit of the Spirit "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." — Galatians 5:22–23 Welcome to Day 1 of our 10-day journey! Before we begin exploring each of the nine characteristics listed in Galatians, I wanted to share a little of my own journey. When I first came to faith, I genuinely wanted to become more loving, more patient, more kind, and more self-controlled. I thought that if I simply tried harder, prayed a little more, and was more disciplined, I would eventually become the person God wanted me to be. But the harder I tried in my own strength, the more I noticed my failures. I would lose my patience. I would struggle to show kindness. I would become anxious instead of peaceful. I found myself asking, "Lord, why is this so hard?" One day, my prayer changed. Instead of praying, "Lord, help me do bette...

  10 Days with the Fruit of the Spirit "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." — Galatians 5:22–23 Dear Readers, I'm so excited to invite you on a special 10-day devotional journey together! Beginning Wednesday , July 15 , we'll spend ten days reflecting on one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture— the Fruit of the Spirit . While many of us are familiar with these nine fruits, this series is about much more than simply knowing them. It's about inviting the Holy Spirit to cultivate them within us, so they become evident in our everyday lives. Our journey will look like this: Day 1: Understanding the Fruit of the Spirit—what it means, why it matters, and how these fruits are produced in the life of every believer. Days 2–10: Each day we'll focus on one fruit—Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Ge...