Growing Spiritually

Christian growth is simple, but that doesn’t make it easy. Growing spiritually can feel difficult, so we naturally assume it’s complex. The isa dangerous trap that can keep us from health. When we believe the formula for growth is too complex to master, it lets us off the hook from even trying. It’s like physical health it isn’t easy, but it’s simple; eat right, exercise, sleep enough, and drink a lot of water. But there is so many plans out there, eating routines, and sleep studies that it’s easy to get lost. As a result, how many of us never start or stick to a plan because we aren’t quite sure if it’s the right plan ? Spiritual health can be the same way. With so many pastors, podcasts, books denominations, the theological positions, it’s easier to through our hands in in frustration than to nail down a plan.

There is no one size fits all. There is no formula to growing in a relationship with God. I’ve heard it all. But, nothing could be further from the truth. God must give us a desire, and all growth is a gift from His hand, but when Christians grow, it comes from steadily leaning into God’s design.

The basic pattern is to gather, group, give and go. While this pattern is reinforced in the New Testament, it’s easy to see in Acts 2:46-47, and day by day, attempting a place of worship together (gathering) and breaking bread together in homes (groups), they received their food with gladness and generous hearts (give), praising God and having favor with all people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (go).

It’s a straightforward path to Christian growth. However, it’s not that a believer ever needs to learn or do any personal discipline, membership, spiritual gifts, or study the Bible. But if we lean on these four practical steps it will take us a very long way down the path of growth.

Along with the four steps above, the Lord has put these three words in my heart:

  • Spurn – Give rid of the deceit and hypocrisy in your life. Reject ungodly ways.
  • Yearn – Really want to have a relationship with God.
  • Learn – Be open to God’s guidance and grow in Him daily.

Decide today you no longer want to be stagnant, stuck, or apathetic towards the faith. Put God’s Words into real-life application and deeply consider what you need in your life to conform with the Bible,

Ways To Overcome Fear And Anxiety

Everyone has fear’s and anxiety in their life. The best way to deal with them is train your mind to defeat it.

Here are a few ways to face these challenges:

  • Take Time Out

It’s impossible to think clear when you are flood with fear and anxiety. The first thing you have to do is to take time out so you can physically calm down.

Take the time to go for a short walk, or listen to music that calms you down.

  • Breathe Through Panic

If you start to get a faster heartbeat or sweating palms, the first thing is not to fight it.

Stay where you are and simply feel the panic without trying to distract yourself. Place you hand on your stomach and breathe slowly and deeply. You should be able to feel the breaths in the stomach.

The goal here is to help your mind get used to coping with panic, which takes the fear away.

I used to think breathing techniques were rubbish. I was surprised it works. When you breath through you stomach count 5 seconds and then hold your breath for 5 seconds. I do this 5 times. You can repeat if you have to.

  • Face Your Fears

When you avoid your fears it only makes them scarier. Whatever your fear, if you face it, it should start to fade. For example if you have panic attacks around large group of people and leave, the best thing to do is to go into a large crowd the next day.

  • Imagine The Worst

Try imagining the worst thing that can happen – perhaps it’s panicking and having a heart attack. Then try to think yourself in to having a heart attack. It’s just not possible. The fear will run away the most you chase it. More times than not everything will turn out okay.

I used to have a horrible fear of speaking to people. I would go places at night just because there was less of a chance I would have to speak to anyone. When I chose to say “hello” to people all my worst fears never happened.

  • Look At The Evidence

It sometimes helps to challenge your fearful thoughts. If your scared of getting trapped in a elevator, ask yourself if you have ever heard of this happening to someone. Ask yourself what you would say to a friend who had a similar fear.

  • Don’t Try To Be Perfect

Life is full of stresses, yet many of us feel that our lives have to be perfect. Bad days and setbacks will always happen, and it’s important to remember that everyone’s life gets messy from time to time.

  • Visualize Your Happy Place

Take a minute to close your eyes and imagine your happy place of safety and calm. It may be a beautiful beach that your walking, or snuggled up in your bed with a cat or dog next to you, or a memory from your childhood. Let the positive feeling soothe you until you feel more relaxed,

  • Talk About It

Sharing fears takes away a lot of their scariness. If you can’t talk to a partner, talk to a friend or family member. If your fears aren’t going away talk to your doctor.

  • Get Back To Basics

A lot of people turn to alcohol or drugs to self-treat anxiety. But this will only make it worse. Simple every day things like a good night sleep, or a healthy meal, are often the best curses for anxiety.

  • Reward Yourself

Give yourself a reward. When you’ve made a call you’ve been dreading, reinforce your success by treating yourself to an ice cream, a peaceful walk, a book, a DVD, or a little gift them makes you happy.

If The Foundations Are Destroyed, What Will The Righteous Do?

In these chaotic times of cultural decay and spiritual apostasy, many believers asked the age-old question, “if the foundation or destroyed what can the righteous you?“

The foundation is the most important part of a building, you just talk to parable about the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. When the wind and rain came, it collapsed. A building can only stand if the foundations are strong enough to hold it up

In July 2021, a Surfside building partially collapsed near Miami, Florida. 24 people were confirmed, dead, and 124 were on accounted for by officials. It is devastating when a building fails.

The word destroyed mean literally you beat down, destroy, overthrow, pluck down, or ruined. There is an intention to destroy the foundations in Psalm 11:2.

In fact, the previous verse, explicitly call out the enemy seeking to destroy the righteous.

For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They said they’re arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in the darkness at the upright in heart.

Psalm 11:2

David was inspired by God to write Psalm 11 during the first few times Saul tried to kill him while serving the king. Saul was David’s king, general, and father-in-law and turned on him seeking to take his life. The foundation of David’s citizenship, occupation, family, and safety we’re crumbling, yet David chose ho trust in the Lord, rather than to flee.

In the Lord, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, flee as a bird to your mountain?

Psalm 11:1

If the foundations are destroyed?

Who would be foolish enough to bulldoze the pillars of the building in which we are living?

Who would be suicidal enough to rip up the wings of an airplane and which we are all riding?

“If” has become now.

There’s an organized effort to destroy the foundation upon which our civilization rests. The wicked, under the direction of Satan, attack the foundations of the righteous. This battle has raged, since Lucifer was lifted up with pride against the Almighty.

Satan attacked the foundation belief in God‘s word in the Garden of Eden. Israel’s foundation of worship in the One True God buckled, and with it the powerful nation crumbled.

We have been relatively safe from the walls of this world and recent generations in America. But now, the battle is at our door. The enemy is making gains at warp speed. Who would have thought of Nations citizens would except the corruption, sin and tyranny. The government not only is destroying the people of America, but are so foolish they don’t realize they are destroying themselves in the process.

There are 5 foundations being destroyed intentionally in our lives today.

National Foundations Under Attack

  • Language

People are united by language. That’s one reason why illegal immigrants that come to America must learn to speak English. God divided the wicked at the tower of babel through a language barrier. Furthermore, Satan changes, definitions of words to cause division. Consider how the meanings of words such as gay, justice, equality, racism, etc…have been altered to hijack the national conversation.

  • Songs

Throughout history, songs have been written about significant people, and to commemorate remarkable events. The National Anthem has brought Americans together for generations. Today, it is a matter of contention for those who are breaking our national foundations.

  • History

America has been uniquely blessed by God. This fact is evident through a basic understanding of a US history. Ungodly people, revise history to hide the beauty of our nation, prove its guilt, and recruit others to destroy the foundations.

  • Laws

America’s laws were based on a Judea-Christian view of the world and the Holy Bible for much of our history of our country. Progressive politicians, seek to “fundamentally, transform” our nation through ungodly laws.

  • Politics

According to dictionary.com, politics “are the activities associated with the governance of a country or other areas, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.” Every family, tribe, or nation must have rules to decide the differences and delegate power. America’s Constitutional Republic form of government has been under attack for years by those espousing detrimental philosophies such as socialism and communism.

Cultural Foundations Under Attack

  • Values

Since America was erected on a Judea-Christian foundation, her cultural values were anchored in Biblical ideas of morality and spirituality. Although cultural drift from God has been evidence since our nations founding, it has accelerated exponentially in recent years. The wicked constantly attack biblical values.

  • Music

Every culture is defined by its music. Popular music in America has become worship hymns to hedonism for heathens. Most music, promotes concepts of self worship, sinful indulgence, and violent aggression. Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll or not just the anthem of the 80s. It has become a way of life for a nation. And if you listen to the words of today’s music, it has gotten more profane.

  • Entertainment

Heathens have hijacked American entertainment. The intentional poisoning of our nation is evident when you study the history of amusement, who television, radio, and celebrity culture.

  • Monument/Artifacts

Monuments reminds a nation of its history. they remind citizens to learn from the good and the bad of history. Artifacts, such as the Constitution, are the anchor for society. No wonder enemies who attempt to destroy our cultural foundations, attack, monument, and artifacts.

Social Foundations Under Attack

  • Family

The family is the building block for every society. The historical idea of a family consists of one husband, one wife, and children is under attack more than ever. Widespread divorce, same-sex, marriage, and children, born out of wedlock, wreaks havoc on family, thereby causing the foundations of the nation to crumble.

  • Gender

God made two genders. In the beginning, He created a man and a woman. If truth deniers can get you to surrender this fundamental truth, there is no end to their tyranny.

  • Sexuality

Make your excel teaches us that God made men and women to fulfill sexual desires for one another. The Bible goes further, stating that these pleasures should only be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage. Sodomy, homosexuality, cross dressing, lesbianism, gay, bisexuality, pedophillis, beastiality, and panesexuality are sinful departures from God’s originak intend. It is an attack on the person, the family, and a culture at large.

Personal Foundations Under Attack

The Bible teaches that you are a special creation of God, created for a meaningful purpose. Other worldviews attack that fundamental boy contended that you are a cosmic accident with a meaningless existence.

  • Why am I here?

The Bible teaches. You are here too, for feel God’s will for his glory, bringing Him pleasure to fellowship and obedience. Those who reject God, replace Him with all manner of foolish philosophies. When these attacks on this bedrock belief are followed to their logical conclusion, they lead to hedonism, existentialism, determinism, and/or hihilism.

  • What is my place in the world?

God teaches us to find meaning in Him through acceptance, and His truth and belief in the Savior. The enemies of God, teach that you can only find meaning in yourself, and must make others see your version of the truth.

  • Personal Liberty

God teaches us that we can be made free from sin and live righteously. Satan attacks the foundation by teaching that liberty is a license to sin without consequence.

Spiritual Foundations Under Attack

  • The Person of God

Unbelievers attack the person of God has revealed in His Word, transforming Him into a fake god of their own creation.

  • The Word of God

The wicked spread the lie, that the inspired, preserved, inerrant, and indestructible Word of God is simply a book of fairytales written by men.

  • The House of God

The local church, the pillar and ground of truth, made up of saved, baptized, believers, has been turned into a social club of pride, and lasciviousness by the unprincipled who are knowingly or unknowingly lead by the evil one.

  • The People of God

The holy temple of God, has been corrupted by the sins of the people they were meant to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. in their pride, they reject passionate preaching of the Word, preferring teachers who will tickle their ears and rubber stamp their carnal desires.

The statement paint a pretty dire picture. What can the righteous do when the foundations are destroyed?

If the foundations are destroyed, the people will end up destroying themselves and the world we live in-there will be nothing left.

There is only one thing for us to do when the foundation we rest upon our crumbling. We must trust in the Lord!

Are You Paralyzed by Uncertainty?

If we look at the world today it’s easy to sink into despair. If we look at our own lives, , it isn’t always clean and neat. While many of would tell the story of our lives in a somewhat straight pattern, the reality is that our experiences are like an overwhelming number of intersecting lines.

Our ups and downs, challenges and successes along with the blessings and struggles. It seems we often remember the difficult times and forget the way that God worked in the midst of our difficulties to get us through them.

Believers in Christ seem to have an enteral view, but sometimes everyone gets trapped in the craziness, and lose sight of the fact that God is still in control. We often substitute the truth of God’s Word with the bad news that’s happening in world right now. It’s easy to accept the prison of hopefulness that’s going around today. But, try not to forfeit the comfort and peace that Christ free,y gives for them who trust in Him.

We get hung up in something that seems insurmountably painful if we don’t focus on the true blessings given by Christ. If we focus on the good and don’t just move on with life once the situations drift into the past, only to have the same issues hit us the face time after time. We often remember the bad, while forgetting the way God works it out for the good.

In this world you can expect hardships, but more importantly we have to expect the good things.

The Bible tells us to expect the challenges, and grow in them.James 1:2 4 says, “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance.”

In the midst of these trying time, God is working and developing your faith and character for His glory.

It’s o doubt that life is hard, and the pain we endure is very real. But, if we cling to the promises of Christ in the midst of our suffering and understanding “that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Then we will have no reason to retreat, instead of the despair we sometimes feel, we will claim the victory in Who saved us.

This victory isn’t the momentary successes that happen day to day, it’s not tied to a disease, or the loss of a job, or the death of someone dear to us. In a temporary existence, the victory will be eternal and unchanging.

In John 16:22 Jesus states, “So will you pass through a time of intense sorrow when I am taken from you, but you will see me again. And then your hearts will burst with joy, with no one being able to take it from you. This is the hope of Christ Jesus.

A Firm Foundation

How To Build A Firm Foundation For Your Life

Have you ever thought about what your in foundation is? What helps guide your choices? Your inner structure helps you to live your life with less stress and overwhelming circumstances.

Having a strong inner foundation in an important part of intentional living, because it help you make decisions that shape your future for the better. If your foundation isn’t solid, you might feel like life is constantly knocking you down just when things seem to be getting back on track.

Even if you already have a sturdy foundation, that doesn’t mean it can’t sway side to side at times. Our strength is constantly being tested by the pressures of the world, and it can take a lot of effort to stay upright.

With a strong in her foundation, you will be able to handle the winds of change. You will grow more when you were in a secure place and rooted and what you need and want.

There’s a lot of pressure in our daily lives, put on ourselves or by others, Which means we need a firm foundation to help us stay strong, if you’ve been feeling, overwhelmed and unable to make any real changes in your life, it may be that you need to work on your foundation. You need to have a firm foundation that keeps you grounded and keeps you planted . Without a solid foundation to build your life on, it’s easy to bend and break under pressure. Sometimes it necessity to bend a little, but you don’t want to break.

Think of you inner foundation in terms of what supports you and give you strength. You can build your inner foundation on your:

  • Mindset: the quality of your thoughts
  • Values: what’s important to you
  • Habits: daily routines that keep you grounded
  • Strength: the things you’re naturally good at
  • Relationships: what or who make you feel secure and supported

If you’re constantly trying to make changes in your life, but nothing seems to happen, consider first, whether you have a foundation necessary to support you.

Building your foundation isn’t a one time event. Habits with it and you will need to rebuild them periodically. Your goals may change, but a firm foundation will keep you strong.

I refer to Psalm 61:2 when my life is on shaky ground. “ from the end of the earth I can call to You, When my heart is overwhelmed and weak; Lead me to the rock that higher than I.”

Here are some thing to think about when it comes to your own foundation in life:

Mindset

  • What thoughts do you need to believe about yourself to feel supported?
  • how can you become more mindful of your own feelings and behaviors?
  • How can you focus on the current moment, more in the past or the future?

Values

  • What do you value in friendships and relationships?
  • What do you value in your work?
  • What are the top three values you want to uphold in your life?

Habits

  • What are your current daily habits?
  • Are your habits, self-supporting or self defeating?
  • What habits would help make your life feel more balanced?

Strengths

  • What are your biggest strength or where? Or where do get your strength?
  • how do you the strength help support you in life?
  • How can you make better use of your strength in your daily life?

Relationships

  • What makes you feel more supported in a relationship or friendship?
  • Who are the people in your life that keep you grounded?
  • Are there any relationship you need to let go of to feel more stable?

Ultimately, a strong inner foundation is what keeps us, balanced, stable, and secure.