One of the most important things that Jesus did during His ministry was to love everyone. As Followers of Christ, we don’t need lists of rules, we need to do this every day or every week. We need to do as Jesus did -love people.
It’s disheartening to me to see how some religious leaders hurt or abuse people in the name of Christ. They shame their members into feeling guilty about that life they are living. I think the essence of Christianity is love. We don’t need to complicate it with a thousand rules. We don’t need to use tools of guilt or shame to manipulate people into conforming people to religion, to demand ultimate obedience with the threat of eternal damnation hanging louver our heads. We can just love each other.
When the disciples asked Jesus what the important stuff was, He said, number one, love God will all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second it love your neighbor as yourself.
Many people don’t want anything to do with religion or any part of Christianity because of a religious trauma they experienced or the many horrible things that have been done by people to claim to represent God or act with divinely granted religious authority.
We are all on a spiritual journey to become more like Jesus. We all have unique life stories. As a Christ follower I an aware of my inadequacies to meet the holiness of God. No human being is without sin or wrongdoing. But know God loves each of us and He desires to have an intimate relationship with us, and the relationship is intended to last into eternity.
God created a way for our sins to be paid. The path to forgiveness is not complicated. When we repent and turn away from our wrongs we are forgiven. Jesus came to save us from the trouble that comes to us in this life. Saved literally means the power of God comes in and fixes whatever’s wrong or broken, whatever’s out of line. God straightens it out.
Jesus didn’t die so we could be forgiven an unlimited amount of times. He did so we could be made holy, so He could come and live inside of us. And with His power and strength inside of us we will be able to quit sinning.
Following Christ is about love and forgiveness. It’s not about clothing or any kind of addiction. It’s about being a better version of yourself everyday. And talking to God daily for guidance.
People engage in risk taking simply because they enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with it. Risk taking gives people the chance to experience a thrill followed by emotions of relief or triumph.
I had wanted to go zip lining for a very long time, it was something that was on my bucket list. Some people thought I was crazy, and others said go for it. A few years ago I went for it. I was nervous at first, but once they got me strapped in the pushed the of the platform it was an adrenaline rush. I was glad I took the risk.
How do you keep your focus on God and not your problems?
We stop focusing on our problems and start focusing on God when accept the fact we have control over our lives and instead rest our minds and hearts in the full assurance that God is complete control. In other words, we must learn to trust God.
Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we will ever have in our lifetime. Family will pass away, friends will come and go, but God is with us every single day of our lives. God will never leave us or forsake us. When we walk in the truth of God everything else in our lives fall into place.
God Is Bigger Than Your Problems
God has designed everything we see and don’t see in this world. He creates and sustains everything. Our problems are often inconveniences that are here one day and gone the next.
I like to think of my life as a jigsaw puzzle. I might be looking at one little piece that looks strange and confusing but God has the top of the box of my life, and to Him it makes perfect sense.
To help keep our problems in the right perspective we can look at a few Bible verses:
1. The pain is temporary and can bring us closer to God. Psalm 34:17 promises us that God is near the brokenhearted.
2. No matter the struggle we have in the world, we know Jesus has overcome the world. John 16;33 tells us that Jesus had done so.
3. God can and will use everything in our lives for good. Romans 8:28 promises that He will work all things together for good if we love Him and we are called according to His purposes.
4. Hardship is to be considered joy because it tests our faith. James 1:2-4 tells us this. So if it’s not joyful, we need to ask God for help in that area. “What are you trying to teach me through this? Joy must depend on the Lord who never changes and not the circumstances which are always changing. Nehemiah 8:10 can teach us about joy in the Lord.
We focus on God because He is the designer of our lives. He holds all the knowledge, wisdom, and insight not only into our most intimate details in life but also the world around us. God surpasses the size of our problems and we can get a clear understanding of that when we focus on Him.
I have found that when I keep my focus on God I am able go make better decisions for myself and my family along with those whom I come in contact with daily. By making the decision every day to put God above all else I renew my mind and it becomes easier to reject the evils of this world.
Romans 12:2 tells us,
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God,”
There a saying that goes, “Big problems, small God. Small God Big problems.” What’s important is the truth in the saying. The more we are focused on God, the bigger He is, and that’s why it’s so important to keep Him at the center of our thinking throughout every day. When we keep our focus on God, His control and goodness will be more evident on our lives.
Lean On God, Not On Others
How do you lean on God? Go to God first with every concern you have in your life. Whether it’s a stubbed God or a huge decision to make, make God your go-to always. By doing this, you will not only be leaning on God but trusting Him with your life.
One of the hardest things I’ve learned in my walk with God has been the concept of going to Him before anyone else. It’s easy to pick my phone, send a text, or grab my husband about a problem I’m having.
It’s easy to just ask someone else about a problem you’re dealing with. So easy it becomes a temptation. But it’s harder to stop what your doing and seek a few minutes of peace in prayer.
If we truly want God’s help first, there a few things we should keep fresh in our minds in order to accomplish this type of reliance on Him.
You won’t go to God first if you aren’t already thinking of Him. This is one of the reasons why daily prayer and Bible study are so important. If He’s fresh in our minds, we are already thinking of Him. And we will naturally start talking to Him first.
About 6 months ago I had to get a different vehicle because my other one had some major problems. One November morning I was in a hurry to get to a meeting. I had started my car to let it warm up. When I got in to leave, it wouldn’t go into gear. Being an older car, I immediately panicked thinking it was the transmission. I grabbed my phone to call my husband at work. After waiting a few minutes for him to come to the office I started rattling off things I thought was wrong. He told me to shut off the car and he would look at it when he got home that night. I was embarrassed to call to cancel my meeting on such short notice. After I hung up, I thought “I should pray.” After praying I just sat there waiting, I immediately felt the urge to shut the car off, open the door and try again. When I did that I could put my car into gear and drive off.
We need go have a habit of praying and going to God first. We already have habits when we wake up, when we eat when we shower, we should have a habit set up when you pray. Make time with God a habit.
Don’t let failure stop you from trying again. Just because we mess up it doesn’t give us permission to give up.
Follow God Instead Of The World
How do you follow God instead of the world? By learning to love God with all your heart. This comes from dedicated times of study and prayer, learning more about God through His Word, and understanding who His is on deeper levels.
“Draw near to God and He will draw closer to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, you double-minded”- James 4:8
God desires our hearts. When we read the scriptures and learn more about God. We will see the truth shine through all of the Bible. From the Old Testament, and His desires of Isreal’s heart and into the New Testament with Jesus’s ministry we see that He wants a relationship with us -All of His creation.
Stay Focused On God In Relationships
How do we stay focused on God in every relationship we have? By keeping at the top of each relationship. He must be the One true love of your heart, let Him rest in His rightful position at the top. No relationship will be successful with God in it. We can become better-equipped spouses, parents, friends, and family members when we keep God first. Every long-term relationship depends on truth, love, respect, and communication.
We can do this by becoming so dependent on God that it’s like oxygen to us.
Stay Close To God At All Times
There’s an old story about a teacher who was asked by a student “How do I find success in life?
He told the student, “Meet me a 5 o’clicj tomorrow morning at the ocean.”
The student went home slept, and got up early to next his teacher.
He found him on the beach, in the water. He motioned the student to cone into the water.
As the student went into the water, the teacher went further into the water, still motioning the student to come closer.
Finally, the teacher stopped and the student came, the water about to his chin.
The teacher asked “ do you still want to know how to find success?“
The student nodded, trying to keep his head above the water.
The teacher said, “good.” Then he placed his hands on top of the student’s head and pushed him under. He held his head underwater.
After a few moments, the student needed air and so he fought to come up, but the teacher kept his head underwater.
Finally, just moments from blacking out, the student mustered enough strength to fight his way to the surface to breathe.
The teacher said, “you have to want success as bad as you want air.
The point of the story is, that if you stay close to God at all times, you have to be desperate for Him that way the student in the story. You will have to fight every day to stay close to God.
Proverbs 3 tells us the way to reach success:
“Trust in the Lord will all your heart, And lean not on your own under; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths” -Proverbs 3:5-6
Let the Bible become more than just words on pages, and instead let them become part of who you are as a person.
Focus On God First, Others Second
How do you focus on God first? By having everything in your life by an outpouring of your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It’s through a relationship with Jesus through faith, that will enable you to focus on God every single day.
This doesn’t mean people are not important, it just means that they come second to God. Jesus showed us this by example through His ministry. While He was here on earth, He went away to pray. He kept God first and foremost throughout His time here.
I used to think there was no way I was going to be able to do this. But with time people learned to respect my walk with God. They learned that God comes first before anyone else.
“And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray” – Mark 6:46
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” -Luke 6:12
Above are a couple of examples of when Jesus went off to pray. Focusing on God first means communicating with Him. We can do this through prayer and Bible study. Through daily habits of connecting with God, we will be able to focus on God fully and to do His will in our lives.
Putting God first means having no one and nothing more important in our lives. This follows the Biblical command that is laid out in the Ten Commandments, “Have no other God’s before me.” (Exodus 20:3).
Today, we don’t have the traditional gods we see in ancient times of the Bible (no sun god, no fertility god, or storm gods, no god of Baal). Instead we have modern day-gods such as self, sports, celebrities, social media, or cell phones, materialism.
When we don’t put God first, we will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-9). It’s important to notice, you do not reap in the same season you sow. So, a person might not see an impact in their life as they go day by day, but throughout their life, they will see (or reap) the lasting consequences of their actions. This can come in the form of lasting hardships, unwise decision making or other unforeseen consequences. Ultimately, when a person decides not to put God first, there are lasting consequences in their life.
You might be sowing seeds right now you might not want to reap later in life. Galatians 6 tells us,
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall real if we do not like heart” – Galatians 6:7-9
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will alsi reap bountifully” – 2 Corinthians 9:6
The Bible makes it clear that there are lasting consequences for a man or woman who decides not to put God first. This is true in relationships are well as life in general.
Making God A Priority Every Day
We make God a priority by actively seeming Him through prayer and Bible reading, as well as seeking Him through our actions, thoughts, and speech.
We live busy lives and it’s easy to lose track of priorities. If you are a person who struggles to make God a priority you are not alone.
Many people love the idea of reading the Bible and praying more, but can’t seem to shake the struggle to actually accomplish it in their life.
Set aside time for reading the Bible every day even if it’s only 5 minutes to start.
Thank God in prayer when you first wake up, in the car, and when you lay down at night.
Say prayers with your family over meals.
Ask yourself often if what you’re about to do honors God. Do this often.
God’s priority is saving souls for His kingdom.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy” – Matthew 28:19
When we are focused on God we are not concerned about our problems, instead, we are focused on His top priority, which is making disciples for Him.
When we stop focusing on our problems and focus on God and His desires, our minds and hearts become aligned with His. We start thinking with God sized thinking.
What happens when we prioritize God?
When we prioritize God in our lives, something amazing happens. We begin to trust Him more which leads to less stress knowing we have a loving God who is taking care of us. We begin to love other people because of the surpassing love we have received from the Father God. Our lives are transformed and lived out in a way that brings Glory to God.
We must trust God is truly who He says He is, and walk by faith.
Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?
A time when I took not action, but wish I had. When I graduated high school I had the choice to stay here and get a job or go to college. I chose the work route. My life could have been very different if I had chosen college and pursued a career.
Sometimes I regret making that choice. But good things came to me and I’ve lived an amazing life. I maybe didn’t get to enjoy some of the things I wanted to. But God always helps us in the end.
I have learned that everything we think, say, and do has consequences. It’s like ripples in a pond our actions spread out and affect others because everything is interconnected. Actions are irreversible, and consequences are where our thoughts and action meet reality.
“When you do the right things in the right way, you have nothing to lose because you have nothing to fear” – Zig Ziglar
When I look at the world today I am reminded of how important it is to stand up for what is right, even if it isn’t easy. Even though it takes a, or of courage to stand up for what’s right when we are in a situation that requires us to stand alone. But no matter how intimidating a situation or how afraid it might be it is always worth it to do the right thing.
It’s easy for people to get sucked into situations where they can start thinking they can justify doing the wrong thing in order to get the right result they hoped for, I think we have to do everything in our power not to let ourselves sucked into that trap. We need to constantly remind ourselves that no result is ever worth doing the wrong thing.
When we are willing to stand up for what is right and uphold the truth we can walk away without regrets, regardless of the outcome. Because right is right and at the end of the day all that matters is that we live our lives with integrity because our integrity defines who we truly are.
“People of character do the right thing even if no one else does, not because they think it will change the world, but because they refuse to be changed by the world“ – Michael Josephson
I was reading Psalm 25 today and I was reminded how important it is that the anchor of hope be in my soul and my focus on the Lord.
As time goes by and the world becomes darker. We have a greater necessity to find the 3 unwavering assurances that King David found in God. And allow God to lead and direct our paths. So, we can experience the same protection, and guidance the King David was allowed.
King David had 3 unwavering assurances that everyone needs in these dark and perilous times.
There is an old proverb that says, “Do not judge by appearances, a rich heart may be under a poor coat.” This is so such a true statement.
We are a society that is quick to judge the success of others based on external appearances. But I can’t think of a more foolish metric to utilize.
Some psychologists argue that it is natural for humans. Our unconscious mind starts from whatever objective data is available to us -usually spotty -and helps to shape and construct a more complete picture we consciously perceive.
But here’s the problem with that. We are terrible at it.
In fact, in one study, scientists asked students at a Chinese university to look at pictures of people and evaluate the personalities of the people in the pictures, and tell of five key personality characteristics. The students were wrong 80% of the time.
80% of the time they were unable to determine the personality or character of a person based solely on appearance.
External appearances are easy to manipulate. Symbols of success can be easily acquired by those who are not successful. And many successful people choose not to display their success with external symbols.
I know a young lady who is mentally handicapped. To look at her or listen to the way she talks, the first appearance of her would assume she is stupid. Many people judge her by this. Yet, she is the is the strongest kindest, compassionate personI know. She holds down a job, and helps pay the bills at her sister’s house. It breaks my heart that some people treat her as not very intelligent. Yet, when you take the time to talk to her, she is wiser than most anyone else in a room. And her heart is beautiful.
That’s the thing about judging by external appearances. Most people who try to impress you aren’t worth emulating. And those living the most meaningful lives have long since given up trying to impress you with a fancy coat.
1 Samual 16:7 tells of an account when, God said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the God looks at the heart.”
Maybe more people need to take this advice and start looking at people’s hearts instead of people’s faces, or the way they dress.
The one thing J gets nervous about is and probably also will. Is the fear of someone judging me. I get really anxious when I’m put in the spotlight. I sometimes don’t speak up because I’m afraid people with judge me and tear me down. I don’t do certain things because I know what people have said about someone in that situation. I don’t wish for people to treat me the same.
I know it’s unreasonable to think that way. But I cannot seem to get past the things my mother told me over and over. My negative experiences and traumas in life have given me a cognitive bias.
How do I unwind after a long day? My go to is taking a hot shower, listening to music, now that’s in getting warmer where I am. I will be able to sit outside and read.
Prayer always seems to help me when I’m stressed. There is nothing like being in the presence of God.
Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I wish God talked to us the way He spoke to His people in the Old Testament?“
Many times, Scripture describes God speaking to His people through a voice or an angel, or a cream. He even writes on a wall in one account (Daniel 5). So it’s natural to want to hear God’s voice or see a “big sign” that will help you feel confident in God’s direction.
We all experience confusing circumstances. Sometimes you may just want God to send a text message to tell you what to do. Maybe you feel God is far away and want Him to reach out reach out to reassure you He’s still there. Maybe you’ve heard people say the that God of the Bible is personal, but you have never interacted with Him before or how to begin.
He is the same God today that He was in the time of the Old Testament. He still speaks to us today. When Jesus died in the cross and rose again He made it possible for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him which involves talking together every day. He communicates with us.
Many in us just have never learned how to recognize His voice, or we’ve forgotten how we did in the past. I think sometimes with all the distractions in our world His voice gets flooded out or we think our thoughts are from God which leads us down the wrong road.
In 1 Samual 3, God spoke to Samuel as a child in the temple. In Exodus 3, He spoke to Moses out of a burning bush. In 1 Kings 19, He spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.
So God can and does speak with an audible voice, but it’s not often how people hear from God in Western Culture. Because God is the same today as He was then, we can believe He still can and does speak audibly today.
Another way God speaks to us is through miraculous events, such as signs, dreams, and visions. God is speaking and warning us through what is happening in the world today. Yet many people laugh it off and ignore them.
Signs come in many forms in biblical times, from the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) to the disciples finding a donkey colt exactly when and where Jesus said they would (Matthew 21:2-7).
Dreams and visions are depicted from the beginning of the Bible to the end. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, tells how John, one of Jesus’s closest followers, received a vision of heaven with streets of gold (Revelation 4). Dreams and visions communicate in one of two ways: with specific instructions or with symbolism to be interpreted by the Spirit as a message to people.
God tells us very clearly in the Bible that the more we seek Him, the more we are going to experience His presence in our lives.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
He also says in Psalm 14:2, “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”
God never leaves us once we invite Him into our lives, but He does respond to our desire for more of Him. Som hoe do you demonstrate your desire for more of God? Pursue Him somehow every day.
Reading the Bible, spending time in prayer, and talking with other followers of Jesus are not just part of a to-do list. God encourages us to do these things because they help us learn about His character and learn how to recognize His voice.
He uses our knowledge of who He is and what He has done to help us respond to situations we face.
Setting aside the distractions of everyday life to focus on God is not just a physical or mental activity. It’s a way of centering your heart on God and communicating that He has your complete attention. It’s just like relationships with other people. If you sit down to listen to a loved one but check your text messages every few seconds they will not feel like you are listening to them, and you’re less likely to hear everything they want to communicate.
How much more does God deserve your complete attention?
You cannot expect to hear God’s voice if you do not regularly focus your attention on Him as fully as you can.
God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, we mostly read about God speaking to people from outside of themselves. But Jesus promises the people who believe in Him something more.
On the night Jesus was arrested before His crucifixion, He spoke to His disciples (His closest friends). He knew that He was going to return to His Father in heaven soon. His disciples had spent several years walking and talking with Jesus every day. They never had to struggle to hear His voice in that sense.
Jesus would commission His friends to take the message of what He had done to the whole world. But They would not need His guidance every day to make decisions about where to go and what to do next.
Jesus wanted them confident that would have everything they needed. So He revealed to them the news of the future, that God would live within them in the person of the Holy Spirit. God would continue to be someone apart from them, but He was placing His actual presence inside each person who believed in Jesus.
Jesus said:
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear to hear them now. However when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears He will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify Me, for He will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. All things that the Father had are mine; therefore I said that He tales of mine and will declare it to you” – John 16:12-15.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life changes everything about hearing God’s voice. If you have chosen to begin a personal relationship with Jesus, His Spirit lives within you. So rather than wondering where God is and how to connect with Him, you can have complete confidence that He lives within you and is always ready to guide you.
God speaks to you through the Bible. In it, God tells you how to live the life He has called you to live. The Bible is full of accounts with lessons, with God speaking the truth and revealing what you need to hear to leaf a life that blesses Him and you.
The Holy Spirit prompts you to act in obedience, to turn away from sinful things, and to reach out to believers around you for support.
God wants to make His voice known to you. Be has no desire to confuse you (Confusion comes to. Satan not God). The combination of His Spirit within you and His living Word, the Bible, in front of you is His plan for teaching you to recognize His voice.
Many people live their lives wondering exactly what God is saying or if He is still speaking at all.
The answer may lie in understanding what distracts them from hearing God.
Our lives are full of things that distract us and compete for our attention. Many are just a part of daily life, so we don’t realize how they are coming between us and God.
A few of them are busyness, outside influences, our behaviors and attitudes, and apathy.
God speaks in many ways, and He speaks often. But there are a lot of voices trying to speak to us all the time. God wants us to be confident about hearing from Him, so He gives us scripture and affirms His word through others, He gives a persistent message. He does not give up. He tells us things over a period time and perhaps in different ways so we can hear Him and be confident that it’s Nis voice.
This is a learning process. If at any point you feel like you misheard God, go back to Him, admit that and ask Him to speak again so that you can understand Him more clearly.
You can future in Christ with time, and become more confident the longer you walk with Him.
God will never tell you go hurt or hate anyone. That is Satan trying to trick you.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from Him” – Psalm 62:1
If you have ever had a packed schedule, a full day or an excessive load of responsibilities, you probably know how easy it is to become tired. When we are burnt out, we need to remember to rest, not only physically but also spiritually.
One thing I’ve learned from being a wife and a mother is it can be a full time job. And then when you add a job or career onto that life can become unbearable.
We cannot find spiritual rest through our own power. We must rest in God and the hope and peace He has to offer.
Many people think that they should work until they drop. But even God took a break, “On the seventh day God finished His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day…”
Whether it be a limited time, guilt over not doing anything or conflicting priorities, some people believe taking a break is a misuse of time or an inappropriate choice. Working ourselves nearly to death for 6 days of the week and then taking 1 day off and calling it rest seems useless to me.
God will refresh your soul and make your paths straight when we rest in Him.
Taking the time to pray, remove distractions, read your Bible, practice thankfulness and being still, waiting go obey what God tells you will give you the spiritual rest you need and leads you to a healthy, restful, life.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” -Matthew 11:28
How do j use social media? I use social media to mostly stay in contact with extended family, and friends. I am careful not to listen to the news there because it is usually one-sided. And I like to think for myself, not have people tell me what I should think.
Social media has many drawbacks and few advantages. Social media tends to distract us from reality and can become an addiction if we are not careful. I know people who spend 4-5 hours on social media. Some have pit their personal relationships by the wayside.
From Pity to Praise 