Dear Friends,

“You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard and
saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices. You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon. Awake north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance
may spread everywhere.” Song of Solomon 4:12-16

Reflection: Church is the bride and Jesus the bridegroom. When He looks at the church today, what does He see? Springs and fountains of living waters overflowing with life? Does He see orchards of fruits of goodness and good deeds? Will He find fragrant spices of love, joy and
peace and grace?

You and I are the members of that church, the garden He looks at. In the church collective, maybe there are some pockets of deadness in her; may be there is not as much fruit as God would desire; not much fragrance either. But what about you and I and our families as
members of that garden – is life overflowing in us, are we fruitful and fragrant?

Only when we are flourishing, fruitful and fragrant will the Lord send the “north wind” and “south wind” to blow on us and we become the “aroma of God” to the world.

Other passages for meditation: John 15:5-8; 2 Cor. 2:14-16a

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi
Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Warm greetings from Person to Person!

In this devotional, I encourage you to take moments out of your busy schedules to retreat, rest and renew your spirits. This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would
have none of it.” Isaiah 30:12 Let us heed His voice.

Some of us are busy doing different things and others are weighed down doing the same things day after day. Whatever is our situation, all of us need moments when we can withdraw from what we are doing and rest. To rest on a Sunday is a precious gift from the Lord. Let us
protect it as much as possible and ensure we rest.

Sometimes, we need more than a Sunday. May be once a month or once in two months, take a day off and rest, read scriptures and pray. Stay away from gadgets, order simple food, sleep and talk to God. May be journal your thoughts, feelings and prayers. When we set apart times, let us create spaces for God to speak, He will surely “sup” with us.

Vacations are good. Minimise stress by avoiding too much travel for sightseeing, activities and creating reels. Settle down, enjoy the place and take in the beauty of nature. Stay away from gadgets but get close to God and journal – tell Him all that you are enjoying. Write a Psalm of your own. Read the Psalms for inspiration.

Once in a while, instead of celebrating birthdays with family friends (with lot of activity, chatter and stress), consider celebrating with the Lord and your spouse and children (silently, restfully and happily. When a program or an event is cancelled, celebrate it as a child would a holiday due to rain, by taking rest. Do not jump to the next project!

Passages to reflect: Matthew 12:5; Luke 6:5; Matthew 12:15; Psalm 8; 32; 46

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi
Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Warm greetings from Person to Person!

Some of the most popular videos on the YouTube are about restoration of old bikes, cars and houses. There is something magical that emerges when people put in hard labour, ingenuity and love. Where many people see corrosion and dilapidation, a few see life and beauty.

Selwyn Hughes quotes an author who described human beings as “glorious ruins.” Quite paradoxical. Yet that is our state after the fall. Adam and Eve were created by God in all His glory. But it was all ruined when they committed sin. We need not despair. God in His tender mercies sent Jesus Christ to display all the glory that God meant for us. He also made a way possible to regain that glory.

The work of God can begin the day we see His love in Christ (John 3:16), accept the work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Romans 5:8) and receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour (John 1:12). It will continue when we submit and surrender our whole being, every part of us for an
ongoing sanctification of our spirit, soul and body. The Holy Spirit works in every such surrendered person (Philippians 1:6).

As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit through obedience to the word of God, we are transformed to become like Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). The glory of God will be revealed in all such people. Every believer is hungry for the glory of God to be revealed in them. How about you?
When the glory of God is revealed then we are no longer “glorious ruins” but glorious temples of the Holy Spirit.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi
Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Please see the poem below, by Ellen Sturgis:
“I slept, and dreamed that life was joy;
I woke, and found that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.”

Source: The Dial (July 1840)

Service is no doubt joy. People offer voluntary services at orphanages and old age homes and find great satisfaction. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to the least of these my brethren (hungry, naked, sick and prisoners), you did it to me (Matt. 25:31-40).”

But Jesus put service in perspective when Martha asked Him to instruct Mary to help her in preparing dinner for Jesus and his disciples. Jesus was no doubt grateful for their hospitality but He made it clear that Mary chose something good – to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His word (Luke 10: 38-42). Mary choses to sit at the feet of Jesus hanging on to every word of Jesus. Martha, on the other hand was concerned about every dish that was to be prepared for Jesus. Mary was all for a time with the Lord and Martha was all about service for the Lord. Service that flows from supping (intimacy) with the Lord is acceptable to Him.

As counsellors, let us prioritise the practice of the presence of the Lord over service to the Lord, even providing counselling services. It pleases the Lord and there will be much fruit.

Yours on Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

The following poem by Edward Martin is amazing. The Holy Spirit has brought me to see my self in a new light.

My Name is Legion

Within my earthly temple there’s a crowd;
There’s one of us that’s humble, one that’s proud,
There’s one that is broken-hearted for his sins,
There’s one that unrepentant sits and grins;
There’s one that loves his neighbour as himself,
And one that cares for naught but fame and pelf,
From much corroding care I should be free
If I could once determine which is me.

I reflect and see myself no different from the man in the Gadarenes (Luke 8:26-30). I went to the Lord with a contrite heart and I hear the Him say:

I am the deity of your heart; I see your love for me.
In your humility I see myself; In your pride, I am crucified, yet again.
In your brokenness, I see my scars that make you whole;
In your sinfulness, I find myself put out of your heart.
Loving your neighbour as yourself is my glory;
Your lust for fame and pelf, is my agony.
Keep your eyes on me, let your cares be my concern.
You are mine and we are one.

Yours in Christ,
Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

This month, on June 1st, we celebrated 28 years of PtP ministry. The figures as on April 30th, 2025 are: Counsellors Trained (at various levels): 29215; Individuals Taught (At practical Seminars): 56351; People Counselled: 6940; Counselling Hours: 9447; From over: 120 cities in 13 countries.

I recall Christine’s words to a few PtP friends some years back when we were discussing PtP ministry: “I thought that Samson will sit in this one-room office and talk to one or two people who may come for help with their personal problems. But I never thought that tens of thousands will be trained and helped.”

It is true, PtP started like a mustard seed. But slowly it has grown in its reach and impact. The
key factors for its fruitfulness are:

1. The Mission of PtP is to train counsellors for the church and community. (We offer
   counselling for a small number of people on a referral basis)
2. The curriculum is rooted and grounded in the Bible
3. PtP is blessed with qualified faculty who are rich in experience
4. A dedicated team of staff have faithfully conducted the programs
5. A godly board gave us freedom to implement its decisions
6. Some of you generously supported the ministry financially
7. A band of brothers and sisters pray for PtP regularly.

Our heart overflows with gratitude to God because He makes everything happen in Christ. We
give Him all glory and honour.

Yours in Christ,
Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

Ecoanxiety is a new term coined by those who are in mental health space. People are anxious about the way climate change is causing fires, floods and earthquakes and that the world is not a safe place to live or raise a family in.

I am not a climate change activist neither do I debunk the claims of those who believe in it. But I only reflect and contemplate on how the scriptures can inform our conversation to maintain a sense of well-being.

In Mark 4:35-41, we read about how the disciples experienced a sudden change of climate … I mean weather. There was a wind storm and the waves beat into the boat. Jesus was right there with them in that boat, peacefully sleeping; blissfully unaware of the blinding storm and billowing waves. Fearful for their lives, the disciples woke Him up and said, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus arose, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!”
The disciples marvelled at His prowess. But Jesus said, “Why are you so fearful? How is it you have no faith?”

Climate change is one of the many storms we are facing today; wars, rumours of wars, earthquakes, soon to hit larger earthquakes, economic collapse of countries are a few others. Jesus is still on the throne. He still has the power to still the storms. But the question is, “Do we have Jesus in our boat?” Are our petitions going up to Him? He will not only quieten our hearts but also give us peace within the storm. Let us always look to Him in faith.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

Very rarely Jesus changed His mind (relented would be a more appropriate word). In the second chapter of John, we read that Jesus did not want to perform that miracle of turning water into wine as His time had not yet come. But he relented and saved the day.

There is another instance where He changed His mind. It was when the Syro-Phoenician woman fell at the feet of Jesus and pleaded for her daughter’s healing, to free her from an unclean spirit (Mark 7:24-30). In response, Jesus used some strong language – He said, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the

little dogs.” Most people would have taken offense to be called little dogs. Not the devoted

mother; she had faith and she persisted. But she persisted in remarkable humility.

She answered, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” Jesus was talking about sharing the bread from the table but she was willing to accept the crumbs that the children would drop. She did not want anything that was meant for God’s children but only the crumbs they may drop. This powerful combination of faith, humility and persistence impressed Jesus so much that He relented and healed her daughter.

Importantly, she was not offended by Jesus’ words. That attitude helped her to exercise her faith and persist in humility. You may be exercising faith, but holding anything against God? It may be blocking God’s goodness from reaching you. Exercising your faith in humility and persisting in it can be rewarding.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

People tend to interact with you based on your past or present – if your past has been questionable, they tend to avoid you, but if you are doing well, well-placed and resourceful (present) then they befriend you. But not so with God. He does not value you based on how good or bad, successful or unsuccessful you were in the past or where you are now. What He wants you to know is where you can be if you will trust and walk with Him.

God gave a dream to Joseph and fulfilled it because he was faithful to Him. Joseph was a nobody; just a kid when he saw that dream. But he held on to it even when his father chided him and his brothers tried to get rid of him. He did not lose faith when he was sold as a slave or when he was put in prison. God made that dream come true even when people and circumstances were against him (Genesis 37, 39-41).

King Saul was a nobody when he was given the honour to become the first king of Israel. But he gradually lost his kingship and subsequently, his life. All because he started looking at life through the lens of “how to please people and protect his kingdom” forgetting that it was God who gave the kingdom to Him and only He could safeguard it. Even though Saul recruited strong men into his army, tried to get rid of David (a perceived threat) and pleased people, none of them were able to save him or his kingdom (1 Samuel 9-15).

Friends are good and necessary but they cannot save the day when Jesus is not your best

friend (John 15:13-16).

Yours in Christ

Dear Friends,

PtP is organising a Counsellors’ Training Course on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation course this month in Mumbai. PtP friends in Mumbai noticed significant increase in the number of cases of youngsters who were struggling with these issues. They felt the need for trained counsellors in this field.

The church by and large is either silent or condemning of those who experience confusion in their gender identity or same sex attraction. The parents are even more clueless about these
issues. What they see and hear in the media is a social and political narrative and there is no sound content that is biblically informed. As a result, those who have these issues are secretive and struggle silently. Fearful of being condemned and rejected, they seek solace at wrong places and in risky relationships.

Why young people are attracted to the others of the same sex or why someone feels different from their gender is perhaps a question for doctors and researchers. But what they need is a relief from their fears, anxieties and guilt. They need to be accepted without condemnation and guided to submit to Christ for salvation and ongoing sanctification.

Nobody can say that they are without sin (1 John1:8). Just as one who has a desire for a person of the same sex needs forgiveness, the one who has a desire for a woman who is not his wife is equally in need of forgiveness. At the foot of the cross, it is a level ground. Just as we resist a temptation and do not think or act in a sinful way and keep ourselves pure (by the grace of
God), those who have same sex attraction can in the same manner keep themselves pure (by the grace of God). All can and must pray to receive victory by the blood of Christ through the power of resurrection. When we falter, we can run to the cross and receive forgiveness from Jesus moment by moment and if necessary, till Christ returns.

Denying the problem, shying away from it or sweeping it under the carpet will not work; it will only aggravate the problem. It is time to act immediately. Please pray for the program.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi
Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Astrologers, scientists, and economists have made doomsday predictions for 2025. Economists talk of severe depression worldwide; scientists talk of another pandemic and astrologers predict severe calamities – natural and man-made. No matter how 2025 unfolds, we will not be deterred. The message of Christ for His first disciples is still valid for us. We are to be the salt and light of the earth.

Salt gives taste. Jesus said it is useless if it loses its taste; it will be thrown away to be trampled. How do His disciples offer taste to the world? I believe, we do so when be bear fruit – the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus said, when we abide in Him, we will bear fruit and much fruit. Primarily it is the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. When we do so, there will not be room for adultery, fornication, uncleanness, hatred, envy, jealousies, and the like. To be salt is about being! Bearing fruit by being in Christ. People will then can “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

World is dark. Light dispels darkness. When we do the works of God we radiate the light of Christ. Our works are done for everyone in the world. People will see and glorify God. When God is glorified, He will draw many unto Himself. What works have we been doing in 2024? What good works can we continue to do in 2025? And what new works should we be taking up? If God has increased our faith, we must do more and better works. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the crushed, accepted and cared for the rejected. To be light is to be doing! Doing the works of Christ. That people may see and glorify God.

The gospel has not changed. In its purest form, we are to be salt and the light of the earth.
Till our last breath or till He comes!

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi
Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Christmas will always be special! For many reasons: wonderful climate, soul stirring carols, a rich variety of cakes; churches, streets and shops lit up, travelling to be home and enjoying delicious food and many more. Christmas is definitely a time to celebrate.

However, Christmas is more than celebration. Christmas is to behold the final and perfect expression of God’s love for humanity. His love come down in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come with the power and pomp of a Crown Prince or as a Viceroy, a delegated ruler of the King or with a diplomatic immunity of an Ambassador. He came utterly vulnerable as a babe, born in a manger, grew up as an apprentice carpenter. Lived the way He wanted us to live; laid down His life that we may not have to die; rose again that we may live with Him forever.
Christmas is this and much more. Let us bow down and worship Him before we celebrate.

Every celebration assumes a new meaning when we bow down and worship Him. Have a blessed Christmas and wish you a peaceful new year.

Warmly in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

You and I are in the ministry of training counsellors and offering counselling. As ministers of God, we are acutely aware of our limitations. If something good happens, I sometimes wonder that that good has happened inspite of me not because of me! Being able to touch lives, seeing them transform is a gift of God.

Yet we fret constantly as to how best we could keep working and improve our effectiveness. We want to grow in our influence and expand our reach. Which is not wrong. But what I read of C.S. Lewis as reported by Lyle Dorset has piqued my interest: “Never worry about the breadth of your influence, everything about the culture worries about that, instead you worry about the depth of your relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will take care of the breadth.”

Isn’t that true? The story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) proves the point. When the disciples-in-training returned reporting their power and breadth of their influence, Jesus sobered them down to worry only that their names were written in the boom of life (17-24). Jesus taught His disciples by example that they must withdraw (run away) from healing and feeding, preaching, and teaching (all ministry) and spend time in solitude, silence, and prayer (Luke 5:16). We tend to do the opposite – run towards ministry and offer public prayers and crisis prayers. Not much of closet prayers! We must live to pray at all times but minister when necessary.

The prayer of Jabez, asking the Lord to “enlarge my(his) territory,” is recommended to all of us today to enlarge the ministry and influence (1Chr.4:10). But it is important to note that it is God who granted him what he requested. We are reminded to leave the job of enlarging the territory to the Holy Spirit. And we are encouraged to be with the Lord. Isn’t that what we notice in the life of Peter and John when their adversaries realised that their boldness was because they were with Jesus (Acts 4:13)? Their influence increased as they were with Jesus.

I hope to fret less about the breadth of my ministry and increase my depth-time with the Lord. How about you?

Warmly in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

Temptations are a challenge to anyone who wants to be disciplined, and particularly if you want to be a disciple of Christ. James, writing to the dispersed church, encourages us to endure temptations. But most importantly, not to say that we are tempted by God (James 1:12-15). Satan is the one who tempts us. But before we give any credit to him for our temptations, let us also examine if they are our own carnal desires.

God does not tempt but He tests us. So how do we understand Tests and Temptations? Perhaps, the table below will help bring clarity in our understanding.

For a growing disciple, tests of faith are inevitable. Let us persevere to grow to be mature disciples. Pray that God will give us the wisdom to discern a test from a temptation. Crucify fleshly desires, resist the temptations of Satan and take the test of faith that God allows.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

“The horse is prepared for the day of the battle, but deliverance is of the Lord (Pro. 21:31).

Men and women by nature are survivors. Therefore, they conserve energy and minimize effort; study hard today to fare well tomorrow; save today for a better tomorrow. Armies train hard in peace time to fight hard when at war. But success, prosperity and victory are not always assured to those who save, work and train because it is not a perfect world and not even a fair one. In our fallenness and insecurity, we do not want others to succeed and some even try to spoil others’ efforts. Therefore, our best efforts may not secure success. But as it is written in the verse given above the victory belongs to the Lord. Let us trust God, depend on Him and commit our ways to the Lord and He will grant us success.

Secondly, if we think that our own strength can deliver us, we will be disappointed. As it is written in Jeremiah (given below), those who trust in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord are blessed. But those who trust in other men and their strength are cursed.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord (Jeremaiah 17:7).” But “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord (v5).

Warmly in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

We have planned a trip to visit our boys and their families in US this month. Our excitement is growing by the day. We cannot wait to see them. Especially, our youngest granddaughter, Jubal whom we have not seen so far. Thankfully, we celebrate the first birthday of Leah our granddaughter in Hyderabad before we leave. We are buying gifts and preparing for the trip.

May be Jubal would also be eager to see us if she had known us and we had been talking and sharing our life with her. As I was reflecting on these warm thought and feelings, I could not but ask myself if I was feeling the same about meeting Jesus. I felt happy when my soul leaped with joy at the thought of seeing Him. Yes, I cannot wait to see Him.

Unlike meeting Jubal, I cannot secure a visa and book a tickcket to see Jesus and look forward to the day of travel. I must wait. While waiting, I must enjoy my time with Him; He would whisper: “I do not know when I will come to take you. Only my Father knows. Till that time, let us be about the things that will please Him. We will have many things to talk about then.”

Let us trim our lamps, carry enough oil, and be prepared to meet the Bridegroom with our lamps lit. Let us not be ill-prepared for His coming and lose out on entering His presence. While we wait, let us ask ourselves, “Is our light, our good works – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and prisoned – lighting up the lives of people around us who may
glorify God?

When God decides to send Jesus, He might see us doing the will of the Father and joyfully
exclaim: “I cannot wait to see you.”

Warmly in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

For reflection: Matthew 5:16; Matthew 25:1-4; John 14:2-6

Dear Friends,

I wonder what will be the result of the election on June 4th. Many are seeking a change in the way our country is being governed. Polarization of communities, alienation of poor and demonisation of weaker neighbours is making the soul of this nation sad and weak.

Hebrews were a small and powerless people living under an oppressive nation. Their cries to God went on for almost 400 years. God heard and delivered them.

We thank God that we are not slaves nor are we living under such an oppressive rule. We are a democracy; no matter how undermined it maybe we can still cast our vote and chose our leaders. We also have a voice to express our views to foster peace and resist hate. There is so much to be grateful to God about our country.

We can pray for our country (our circle of concern) but more importantly, act and work in such a way that Christ is seen in us by our neighbours (our circle of influence). How can we love our families? How can we be kind to our neighbours? How can we serve in our churches? How can we be more generous? Let our speech be marinated in love, peppered with grace, and seasoned with salt of kind words. Let us make our families and neighbourhoods pleasant and heal the soul of our land. Let us light up the dark spaces with truth and season relationships with salt of love and grace.

Yours in Christ,
Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,

Genesis 3:17-19
¹⁷ And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the treeof which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’cursed is the ground because of you;in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;and you shall eat the plants of the field.

In my attitude of entitlement, I have always seen that creation was cursed because Adam sinned and he had to suffer as a consequence of his rebellion. I never saw the suffering that came upon creation as a result of Adam’s sin. Earth being inanimate, I never thought that it had feelings of its own and it was in pain. It is in extreme pain.

Read Romans 8:22: For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

When Jesus Christ returns not only humanity but the whole creation will be free from corruption. However, I also see that the creation is suffering due to Adam’s sin. Likewise, is it possible others suffer because we mess up. We often deny, justify, or take forgiveness for granted when we are wrong. But how is our attitude when we suffer because others have messed up? Can we forgive from our hearts and wait for the complete redemption when Jesus returns? Till that time can we be kind to nature – our earth and all that is there in it. Let us be good stewards of all the natural resources given to us.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,
As disciples of Christ, we are called to minister. In Galatians 6:1-5, Paul is giving us a few
guidelines.

1. We are asked to help someone who is caught in sin (v1). Sounds like counselling? But that responsibility is given to those who are spiritual. We are spiritual when we live and walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The Holy Spirit gives us a clear conscience when there is no known sin in our lives. Such a person can counsel others to overcome sin. Regular time of reflection and introspection in the light of the scripture and guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential.
2. When we help others, we must do so with grace as we ourselves are saved from such sins by the grace of God. Thinking that we are able to resist temptation in our own strength can make us conceited and proud. This will surely bring us down (v1).
3. Jesus gave us a new commandment (law) in John 13:34, 35. When we carry each other’s burden, like in counselling, we express the love of Christ. In doing so, we fulfil the golden rule of Christ (v3). However, carrying each other’s burden is not a ‘burden’ in that sense because God, in Christ has given us grace to do so. Moreover, it is a privilege to share in the ministry of Christ!
4. The more we minister, the more we will begin to think of ourselves as something great. That is another pitfall. As we do it by His enablement, we cannot take any credit. All glory belongs to Him. Only the joy of saying, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty (Luke 17:7-10)” is ours (Gal. 6:3).
5. As servants of God, we must not compare either our ministries (Mat. 25:15) or our rewards (Mat. 20:12). But humbly examine our own actions before the Lord (Gal. 6:4). He will reward us with joy (Mat. 25:21).

May God give us grace to follow these principles for a joyful ministry.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi

Dear Friends,
As disciples of Christ, we are called to minister. In Galatians 6:1-5, Paul is giving us a few guidelines.

1. We are asked to help someone who is caught in sin (v1). Sounds like counselling? But that responsibility is given to those who are spiritual. We are spiritual when we live and walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The Holy Spirit gives us a clear conscience when there is no known sin in our lives. Such a person can counsel others to overcome sin. Regular time of reflection and introspection in the light of the scripture and guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential.
2. When we help others, we must do so with grace as we ourselves are saved from such sins by the grace of God. Thinking that we are able to resist temptation in our own strength can make us conceited and proud. This will surely bring us down (v1).
3. Jesus gave us a new commandment (law) in John 13:34, 35. When we carry each other’s burden, like in counselling, we express the love of Christ. In doing so, we fulfil the golden rule of Christ (v3). However, carrying each other’s burden is not a ‘burden’ in that sense because God, in Christ has given us grace to do so. Moreover, it is a privilege to share in the ministry of Christ!
4.  The more we minister, the more we will begin to think of ourselves as something great. That is another pitfall. As we do it by His enablement, we cannot take any credit. All glory belongs to Him. Only the joy of saying, “We are unworthy servants;
   we have only done our duty (Luke 17:7-10)” is ours (Gal. 6:3).
5.  As servants of God, we must not compare either our ministries (Mat. 25:15) or our rewards (Mat. 20:12). But humbly examine our own actions before the Lord (Gal. 6:4). He will reward us with joy (Mat. 25:21).

May God give us grace to follow these principles for a joyful ministry.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Samson Gandhi