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.

What Is The Angel Hierarchy?

We all have our ideas of what angels are, whether it’s a glowing figure in white robes and massive wings. Or cherubim’s that look like plump little children with halos, tiny wings,and white loincloths, floating around on clouds with their harps.

But, it is inaccurate by biblical standards. Though the Bible doesn’t give a specific form for all angels, it does describe a few of them and this description is very different from what many people have imagined.

So, how did the Bible Describe Angels? Let’s take a look what the Scriptures say about them:

Luke 20:36 says “ The are spiritual beings and are immortal. “and they can no longer die; for they are like angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.”

Hebrews 1:14 say they are messengers. “Are not angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.?” They carry God’s command on earth.

Psalm 78:49 says Some are warring angels and those meant for destruction. “He unleashed against them His hot anger, His wrath, indignation, and hostility – a band of destroying angels.”

Biblically accurate angels make God’s heavenly Army. They constitute the warriors that went to war in heaven before Satan’s fall, and they still provoke war and destruction at God’s command.

They have emotions. Old Testament angels were desirous of the women of the earth and so mated with them and created the Nephilim and giants.

They also had the choice to choose to rebel against God with Satan or not. This means they possess a will and even desire.

They are not to be worshipped. A biblical angel is God’s messenger or servant. As awe-inspiring as they are, the point back to the Lord and are not to be worshipped in place of Him

An angel in Revelation 22:9 reinforces this by saying to John,

“You must no do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

They do not take any glory or any form of worship in God’s stead.

Revelation 4:8 mentions four living creature before God’s throne that has six wings and were covered with eyes all around, even under their wings,

In Ezekiel 1:16-18, Ezekiel also describes creatures that are like a wheel within a wheel with each of their four rims filled with eyes all around.” This particular angels serve as the wheels of God’s throne.

Ezekiel also describes other angles called cherubim’s, that have four wings and four faces, one of a Lion, an ox, a man, and a eagle. (Ezekiel 10:14).

On the other hand, maybe look at the accurate angles, also appeared to men in a form of humans. Daniel describes the one who appeared to him as having the form of a man. (Daniel 8:15).

In Genesis 18:22, the three angels, who appeared to Abraham also looked like human travelers, and that was why he was hospitable to them. The same angel led a lot, and his family out of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah.

In the New Testament, the ones who were at Jesus‘s tomb, on the morning of his resurrection, were described to have been two-man and dazzling clothes (Luke 24:4).

When Jesus ascended to heaven and acts 1:10, it was recorded that there were two men with white cloth who addressed His disciples. Biblical scholars, naturally, assume them to be angels.

You can note that the Bible consistently gives a bizarre description of angels when it comes to revealing the glory of heaven, to men, like John, Daniel, and Ezekiel.

But when it comes to earthly errands, all the people who saw them in a form they could relate to.

This tells us that they can probably take any form, because they are spirits, but God makes some simple things our mind still can’t comprehend.

Just imagine one of the Hazard, looking angles around gods throne, appearing to a human to give them His message. The words “fear not” wouldn’t do the slightest thing too quell their fears. They’d probably have a heart attack on the spot from fright, or take off, screaming their heads off.

Taking on a human like figure helps people focus on God’s message, rather than the messenger.

What is the angel hierarchy?

First-tier Angels

  • Seraphim

Their name translates to mean ‘the burning ones.’ They are described in Isaiah 6:2 as having six wings; 2 to cover their feet, 2 for their flight, and 2 covering their face. They are attendance of God’s throne, and praise Him forever.

  • Cherubim

Ezekiel 1:19, in Ezekiel’s vision of God Cherubim’s are described as having for wings, 2 for covering their feet and 2 for flight and have four faces: human, lion, ox and an eagle. Their name means ‘fulfillment of wisdom.’ Satan was once a cherub.

  • Thrones or Ophanim

These beings bear up God’s throne. They are described by Ezekiel as wheels wishing wheels and have eyes all over their body. Like the Seraphim, they also chant God’s glory. They are the most unique in appearance compared to others.

Second-tier Angels

Their tier of biblical angels goes forth to fulfill God’s plan in the world.

They include Dominion, Virtues and Powers.

  • Dominions:

Mentioned in Ephesians 1:21, they Lord over humanity and the remaining choir of angels.

  • Virtues:

Also, mentioned in Ephesians 1:21, they are majorly associated with control over the elements. They also go on the earth in human form after receiving orders for God to bring help or miracles to humans. Their primary appearance is a beam of light,

  • Powers:

They are the warring beings and are mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. They are also tasked with governing the natural order.

Third-tier Angels

This tier of angels interact with humans more closely than the rest.

They include Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.

  • Principalities:

They guard over places in groups, like nations, states, communities, and churches,

  • Archangels:

These are Leader angels. Angels, like Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael fall under this category. They are tasked with Carrying out God’s specific plans.

  • Angels:

Regarded as the foot soldiers of heaven, they work the most closely with humans.

To answer the question of what is the highest level of angel among these? The Seraphim is believed to be the highest in the rank of biblically accurate angels.

Instead of the wings and harps we’ve come to know, we found wheels and numerous eyes in biblically accurate angels. However, their role in the divine order doesn’t change.

They are ministering spirits created for the benefit of believers. Imagine the power of God, who created these beings. They display His wisdom and majesty in a special kind of way.

How Does Satan Keep People In Spiritual Darkness?

According to Scripture, Satan does the following things to keep those who do not believe in Christ in spiritual darkness.

1. Deny His Existence

One of the favorite ways in which Satan operas to get people to deny that He exists. He seems to be most effective when people do not believe there is such a creature as Satan. If he can get people to doubt his existence, then he can do much of his work with them even knowing.

Disguise

In the Bible it talks about how often Satan approached people in disguise. In Genesis 3. It talks about how he came to Eve as a serpent. In 2 Corinthians 11:4 Paul warned the Satan appears as a angel of light

To His Advantage

This unbelief in his existence works to Satan’s advantage. When people are either uninformed if misinformed about the existence of Satan, they become like the Sadducees in Jesus’s day, who did not believe in angels of spirits. When someone rejects the idea of Satan’s existence they are a easy target for him to manipulate.

2. Blind’s People Of God’s Truth

The truth of the gospel is what sets people free. Satan attempts to blind people from the truth.

And even I’d our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

3. Energizes His Own Ministers

Satan gives power to his own ministers.

It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:15

4. Controls People’s Hearts And Minds

Satan has the ability to control and minds.

And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, being of the number of twelve.

Luke 22:3

5. Hinders The Gospel

The message of the gospel in hindered by Satan

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away when as sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.

Matthew 13:19

6. Prevents People From Hearing The Gospel

Satan’s main goal is to prevent people from hearing the good news about Jesus. The message of forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ sets people free. Jesus said.

7. Misrepresents The Truth

Satan lies, denies, and misrepresents the truth. To Eve he said.

And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die

Genesis 3:4

8. Takes Away The Gospel

He also takes away that which the unbeliever has heard.

And those by the way side are they that have heard; them comes the devil, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

Luke 8:46

Satan attempts to get the unbeliever to think about subjects other than the gospel of Christ.

9. Encourages False Trust In Religion

Satan attempts to get people falsely place their trust in themselves, religion, or good works. He wants people to feel satisfied , but without having the saving knowledge of Christ. The Bible says.

There is a way which seems right unto a person, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25

10. Satan’s Goal Is Destruction

His ultimate goal is the destruction of people.

And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

11. The Hope For Escape

Fortunately, there is hope for unbelievers to escape the traps of Satan.

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

2 Timothy 2: 24-26

Satan has his methods with unbelievers. He wants to keep them from hearing the good news about Christ – the forgiveness of sins. To accomplish this he prevents people from hearing, blinds them to the good news, takes away the good news once they have heard it, and had them falsely trusting something apart from Christ and His gospel. This is his strategy to keep people from hearing and believing the truth about Christ.

We live in a time where Satan doesn’t even hide anymore. And people still don’t see him.

What Is God Trying To Teach Me?

When tough times strike, do you find yourself saying “why me?” Sometimes I think issues happen over and over and you think “it’s happening again.”

It’s normal to want to be free of our problems. We seek immediate answers in the hopes of returning to normal. You might ask yourself why is it happening to me again? But what if we asked what is God trying to teach me.

But is that what we’re really asking maybe what we’re really asking is, “what is God trying to teach me, then we can learn from it, and this problem will go away.”

Our first priority is to escape, and we so secretly think: i’m supposed to learn something to make that happen, them let me know what it is. Just get me out of this.

There’s some flawed assumptions when we think this way, however. The first is that everything has to happen to us is all about us. In reality, everything is about God, not us, and there’s no hope in the world that we can live perfectly. Not that God expects us to. What does He expect is that we grow closer to Him in times of joy and suffering.

There is no education like adversity, not all of our problems exist solely to instruct us. It’s a flawed assumption that our problems can be shortened by discerning what God is trying to teach us.

The second flawed assumption is that bad things always come with instructions from God. If we had lived perfectly, nothing bad would ever happen, because God wouldn’t need to teach us anything.

There are other very real possibilities. Maybe instead of teaching us something. God is giving us an opportunity to live out our faith in front of others. Maybe the adversity reface is an opportunity to deepen our trust in Him when the outcome is unknown. Or maybe it’s simply that we can be an example to others that joy doesn’t need to be based on circumstances, but on Jesus.

So when the next challenge comes your way, and you find yourself, asking what God might be teaching you, remember that not every trial is wrapped in a lesson for you, and you can’t learn your way out of adversity. The only thing that you can do is draw closer to God as you trust Him for your future,

Maybe that’s all God is ever trying to teach us.