Tag: Joy

The Top Thing to Do When You Feel Forgotten

Posted on by Diego Vogel

Written by Dr. Faith Pierce

“Do I matter? Has God forgotten me?”

Have these refrains been reverberating in your head?

Maybe you are used to shoving your needs aside to prioritize work, an aging parent, or a selfish spouse. But time continues to zoom by while your life is stuck on idling. 

Take your co-worker, for instance—former co-worker, that is. Now that the big boss has bestowed her a promotion, she saunters into the office with a new Prada purse and pinstripe suit.  

What about your raise? When is it coming?

At the end of another blurry week—when “desire fulfilled” (Proverbs 13:12) feels more foreign than a French menu—do you question whether God sees you? If He cares about what you are going through? Is the Lord too preoccupied to keep track of yourpuny plight?

Working at a ministry which features so many in need of so much, I never exhaust the list of hurting souls to attend to. Getting lost in their needs is easy as exhaling.

What is more, Does God care about me?—a taboo thought—strives to sneak in with every breath.

Straggling back to my office one Monday—muddled between miserable and morose—I barely notice the approaching man. 

The brisk bounce in his steps announces his tenacity to tackle the day with joyful eagerness. 

So contrary to my mood. 

As the guy passed, he tosses two infectious words my way. 

“Hi, Sister!” 

Brief, but bursting with meaning.

His chipper tone is not what perks me up. It is that he captures my core identity: a fellow Christian—a sister in the faith. A split second is all it takes for him to highlight the one thing that matters in the midst of my melancholy. I’m a daughter of the Most High! 

Reality is registering. Of coursethe Father has not forgotten me. As though building on the man’s words, God assures my heart. “I’ve seen what you’ve been through, dearest. You’re never alone.” 

That brief encounter was like a spritz of fresh oxygen to my spirit, I have to pass it on to you. This is how we are going to do it: read one line, then do accordingly.

  • Scrutinize your hands. (Yep, I am doing it now.)
  • Flip them palm-side up, and examine each hand. Do your palms look identical? (Mine do not, because of a couple of moles on my left hand.)
  • Aside from the meandering lines etched on each palm, what else is there? (I spot said moles on my left palm.) 
  • Rub your right palm with your other hand. Appreciate the texture of that palm. Then do the same with your left palm.

Why are we doing this, you ask? 

To imitate God. After all, He gazes at His palms—a lot—and for good reasons:

Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you. I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence (Isaiah 49:15-16, GWT).

Next time doubts squawk, “God’s forgotten you!”, look down. 

Peer at your palms.

Remember that He will never forget you. 

Ever.

Since His palms bear a tattoo of your smiling face, why should you frown? 

Dr. Faith Pierce is a licensed psychologist in California. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and an MA in Theology.  Other than her name, which is a pseudonym, everything else about her is true.

Is it Bad to Compare Myself?

Posted on by Mallory

Do you sometimes feel like you are less than enough? My dear friend, I hope this resonates with you today. You are God’s creation; He made you exactly how He wanted to. You are not lacking. You were dreamed up and made uniquely with characteristics all your own.

We always hear “comparison is the thief of joy.” But what if our perspective of comparison is skewed? We try so hard not to compare ourselves to others because all we come up with are negative ways in which we are lacking. Stop hating what you are NOT, and start loving what you ARE!

As humans, comparison is a natural thought process. It is how we relate ourselves and things to reality. If done in a healthy way, it is essential to growth and maturity. Telling ourselves to stop thinking will just result in shame and guilt.

Abandoning comparison would be disregarding the desire to be more like God. We are told to renew our minds to be more Christ-like. We can rewire HOW we think!

Guide your thought process. Abandon envy, jealousy, pride, and self-pity. Call out the godliness others have applied in their lives with humility and grace. Build them up! Thank God for how He made your brother or sister in Christ.  Then pray and apply God’s characteristics in your own life.

Ask Him to shepherd you in those areas in need of maturing and ask for peace in the season of life you are in, with the knowledge that it may differ from someone else. Relate everything not to a person and their differences from you but to God’s character, the truth of His Word and the foundation of what it says about your identity.

We are all different. However, sometimes this knowledge drains us of joy and replaces it with insecurity. Instead, let us allow it to fuel our growth!  We are beautifully and wonderfully made.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 

Pray this prayer with me today: “Dear ABBA Father, thank You for how you lovingly and intricately pieced me together.  When I am feeling worthless and unloved, help me to stand on Your promise that I am beautifully and wonderfully made.  I destroy all lies from the enemy that make me compare and envy others.  I pray that I would be an encouragement and bolster to others that calls out the godliness and identity in them.  Help me to renew my mind constantly and be more like You every day.  Please be my Shepherd, Lord, and help me to grow and mature.  Help me to love You, love others, and love myself as Your creation. Amen. 

Keys to Your Divine Promotion

Posted on by kiara

God’s plan for us is that we move from glory to glory, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18. As we grow and mature, God will move us into new assignments, or promote us. There are keys to divine promotion.

David is an example of a man who was promoted. David was the youngest child to Jesse, who tended the sheep for his family. His father did not even summon him when Samuel came looking for the son who would be king. David learned many lessons during his life. He learned to protect the sheep from wild animals. In his days of shepherding he learned how to abide in God’s presence. In time, he moved to the palace where he played his harp to soothe King Saul. He learned how to minister to the king even during fits of rage. When Goliath began to threaten the Israelites, David refused to listen to the taunts of the enemy and went out to defy him. David defeated Goliath with the 5 smooth stones and the power of God. He ended up in the wilderness running for his life as Saul tried to kill him. Even during this wilderness time, David refused to retaliate when he had the opportunity.

Eventually, David became King, just as Samuel prophesied. But in every season of his life, David overcame many obstacles and matured and grew in God. Even when David sinned against God, he repented and came back into right standing with God. God called David a man after His own heart. We can see from David’s life that as he overcame in each season, God promoted him to his next season.

Another key to promotion is humility. James 4:10 says that if we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will exalt us. That means that even as we have successes in life, it is important to stay humble and let God will promote us. Trying to promote ourselves is ineffective. If we manage to manipulate circumstances to promote ourselves, we will have to continue to use the same tactics to keep ourselves there. It is important to trust that God will promote us at the right time, when we’re ready. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Promotion comes when God determines that we are ready. As we are faithful to do what He has given to us each day, He is ever molding and creating us into the image of Christ. It is our Christ-likeness that He is looking for in us. Psalms 1:1-3 illustrates this well. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Our prosperity and promotion are connected to the way we conduct our lives. When our hearts are pleasing to God, He can trust us with more. Psalm 20:4 says, “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purpose.”  As we walk through his process of preparation, our hearts are changed and made ready for promotion. And as we wait upon Him, He promises to renew our strength so that we will be ready for the next season.

Are you ready to unlock your promotion? Check out Isik’s guide for additional scriptures and prayer points!

Is it possible to heal from childhood sexual abuse?

Posted on by kiara

Today, people everywhere are struggling through life with damaged emotions and broken hearts. They’ve endured a lot of negative things, causing untold damage that needs to be dealt with. But too often, these hurts are simply swept under the rug in an attempt to make them go away.

Through my own life experiences, and from helping others through this process, I’ve discovered that although God wants to help those who really want emotional healing, there are some very important steps these individuals must take for themselves. If you want to receive emotional healing, one of the first steps you must take is to face the truth. You can’t be set free while living in denial. You can’t pretend that certain negative things didn’t happen to you.

I’ve come to realize that we’re experts at building walls and stuffing things into dark corners, pretending they never happened.

I was four years old when I was sexually abused from a fifteen year old boy. It was a dark memory that I kept suppressed for about twelve years, until I confronted the truth of what happened. For years I made myself believe that it must have been a bad dream or even something I saw on tv by accident as a kid. I finally made the decision to ask my mom about this memory that I couldn’t shake.

Why don’t we want to bring things like that into the open? We’re afraid of what people will think. We’re afraid of being rejected, misunderstood, or unloved by those we care about or that they might have a different opinion of us if they really knew all about us. The feeling of unworthiness and filth is overwhelming. That’s what the devil wants, he wants you to keep quiet. His goal is to make you feel alone and unloved. That is why it is vital for you to speak up and allow light into the darkness.

There’s something about verbalizing it to another person that does wonders for us, but use wisdom. Choose someone you know you can trust. Be sure that by sharing your story with someone else, you don’t simply put your burden on that individual’s shoulders. Also, don’t go trying to dig up old hurts and offenses that have been buried and forgotten.

When I finally worked up the courage to share with someone what had happened early in my life, I actually began shaking and crying in fear. It was an emotional reaction to the things I’d kept buried within me for so long. Now when I talk about my past, it’s as though I’m talking about somebody else’s problems. Because I’ve been healed and restored, my past doesn’t bother me anymore.

Nobody can be set free from a problem until they’re willing to admit they have one.

Do you want to be free of the shame and trauma of your past? Download our prayer guide from Dr. Frank Meadows here!

Even though our problems may have been brought upon us because of something done against our will, we have no excuse for allowing the problem to persist, grow and even take control over our entire life. Our past experiences may have made us the way we are, but we don’t have to stay that way. We can take the initiative by taking positive steps to change things, and most importantly we can ask for God’s help.

I encourage you today to get whatever hurt you have out in the open. Find someone to pray with. Don’t just let them pray, pray yourself for your own healing out loud. Remember the devil wants you to stay quiet. Fight it with God!

Face the truth—it can be the beginning of a happier life!

Shame and Self-Contempt: Embracing God’s View of Me Instead of the Lies

Posted on by kiara

Shame is an insidious liar, hiding in memories and early foundational messages sent to us by our enemy even as children. Shame whispers to us that we are a mistake, without value, marred and damaged property. This message can derail us from reaching our fullest potential and from walking in true freedom.

God’s intent for us is that when we fail or sin, our heart will feel the guilt of unrighteous behavior, causing us to seek cleansing and giving us motivation to make things right. Jesus made a way for us to be cleansed by His blood, to receive His forgiveness, and to be restored into fellowship with Him. 

Shame however, causes us to hide. Shame makes us feel unworthy, without value and beyond the reach of love. But shame is a liar. This message that has been imprinted on our soul can be difficult to discern, but it is one of the biggest lies that the enemy sends us. Shame can come as a result of rejection and abandonment, especially when parents or persons of authority in our lives do not fulfill our greatest needs of nurture and bonding. It can come in upon abuse, neglect, or dysfunction.  When we experience severe trauma, especially at a young age, we may subconsciously come to the conclusion that the fault is ours, due to some flaw in us.

There is a way to be set free from shame. God always has a path to freedom. The way to freedom is to partner with Holy Spirit and the word of God to reveal where the lie became our reality. Holy Spirit can take us to a memory where we received that lie, and we can use the word of God to replace that lie with truth.  As we recall those painful moments, we can ask Him to reveal His truth. We must receive that truth and allow it to replace what the enemy planted in us. It is the truth that we receive and apply that will make us free. God desires that we live in the freedom for which He paid dearly. Cooperate with Holy Spirit and be set free!

 

Additional Resources on this topic:

Jesus, Healer of the Brokenhearted by Frank Meadows

Expressing Feelings and Emotions Appropriately

Posted on by Lauren M

When we are born, we are “hard-wired” for basic emotions. These emotions include anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise. Adults learn to control these hard-wired emotions throughout life. However, children need help in learning to regulate these emotions, beginning in infancy.  You help by comforting your child when he/she is feeling overwhelmed by feelings.  When your infant is hungry, cold, fearful, lonely, or overstimulated, he/she can experience intense emotion and anxiety, resulting in stress.  Staying with your baby until he/she is calm is teaching your child how to manage his/her own emotions.

Other feelings, such as humility, forgiveness, hope, compassion, sympathy, patience, cooperation, and gratitude must be learned.  As your child gets older, you will need to teach him/her the words and meanings of these emotions.  In this way, your child will learn how to appropriately express emotions in adulthood and avoid becoming overwhelmed during stressful situations.

Generally, humans deal with emotions by suppressing them, verbalizing them, or acting out with inappropriate behaviors. Just like an overstuffed trash can, harmful emotions that are suppressed will eventually overflow, causing a person to express sudden anger or experience depression. Many illnesses can be attributed to suppressed emotions.

Expressing feelings through words is a positive way to share emotions.  Sometimes, a child does not have the words to describe his/her feelings.  As a parent,  you will need to teach your child the words to respectfully express an emotion or feeling.

Acting out through aggressive, angry behavior is never an appropriate way to express feelings.  Sometimes, there is an underlying problem that a child is unable to express in words, such as fear, worry or pain. Look for the child’s hidden messages.

Because anger is one of the most poorly handled emotions in society, we will take a closer look.  Helping your child handle anger is one of your most important jobs as a parent and one that requires your ability to manage your own anger.

Anger is a very intense emotion that is triggered by an event or interaction between people.  It’s a primitive emotion and is usually a response to pain or fear.

As we saw earlier,  we are hard-wired with this emotion at birth.  It’s a self-defense response and its purpose is to defend or protect us from danger.  If not handled properly, anger can result in broken relationships and guilt.  It is often the basis for depression and anxiety.  It can cause physical illness.  Anger can cause more heartache and destruction in families than any other emotion.

We see anger inappropriately expressed in several ways:

  • Through body reactions, such as facial expressions, sweating, tears, tantrums, or loss of self-control
  • Through verbal expression by means of screaming, cursing, or arguing
  • Through physical aggression, such as hitting, kicking, or throwing things
  • Through passive aggressive behaviors, such as uncooperative behavior, procrastination, forgetfulness, and stubbornness
  • Through depression, resulting in feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and suicidal thoughts

Families have different ways of expressing anger.  How was anger expressed in your childhood family?

Holding anger inside, or pretending that something doesn’t bother you can be very dangerous, resulting in depression,  dependence on drugs and alcohol,  eating disorders and health problems.  Heart attack, stroke, lowered immunity, or suicide are often attributed to suppressed anger.  In many families, the expression of anger was considered to be unacceptable, but we now know, that acknowledging and working through anger in appropriate ways, is better than keeping it inside.

Children, just like adults, can experience anger.  Below is a partial list of common causes for anger in children.

  • Moving
  • Feelings of being misunderstood
  • An overloaded schedule
  • Feelings of being ignored or unappreciated
  • Feelings of helplessness
  • Repeated abuse or unjust treatment
  • Being forced to takes sides in a parental conflict

How can you help your child manage anger in positive ways?

  • Be a role model by expressing your own feelings in healthy ways.
  • Help your child identify his/her own feelings and provide words to express those feelings.
  • Be emotionally available to your child by spending time, using good eye-contact, touching, and focusing on your child’s needs.
  • Listen to what your child is saying.

As you listen attentively to your child, avoid

Denying his/her feelings. Example: “You don’t hate your teacher.”

Minimizing his/her feelings. Example:  “You’ll forget about it tomorrow.”

Talking him/her out of a certain feeling. Example: “There’s no such thing as a monster.”

Ignoring your child’s  feelings.

Reassure your child that he/she can say anything to you, but that it must be said with respect. It’s never appropriate to say mean and ugly words to you.  Give your child time to process his/her feelings and offer your child words to express those feelings.

Let’s look at the following examples.  Help your child use appropriate words to express his/her anger in certain situations.

“I feel angry about that rule.”

“I feel jealous of my brother.”

“I’m mad. The teacher was unfair.”

Use the words sad, disappointed, and frustrated in the sentences below to express feelings in healthy ways.  The first one is done for you.

“I feel sad that my friend is moving away.”

“I feel disappointed_____________________________.”

“I can’t_______________________________________.  I am so frustrated!”

Let’s look at the following examples.  Help your child use appropriate words to express his/her anger in certain situations.

“I feel angry about that rule.”

“I feel jealous of my brother.”

“I’m mad. The teacher was unfair.”

By giving your child words to express angry feelings,  you are training him/her to respond to emotions in healthy ways as he/she matures.

Below are some additional ways to manage anger in your family.

  • Be watchful at the first signs of anger.  Don’t wait too long to address it.  If too much time is allowed to pass, a person loses the desire to work through a conflict.
  • Plan ahead. Anticipate things that could create a conflict between you and your child and find a creative way to avoid them.
  • Allow yourself and your child to calm down before addressing an issue.
  • Speak calmly.
  • Be willing to ask forgiveness if you were too angry in dealing with a conflict.  Ask yourself, “Did I contribute to the problem by reacting in anger?”
  • Breathe and count to 10.
  • Exercise.
  • Encourage your child to write his/her feelings in a journal or draw a picture. This strategy is good for parents too.
  • Pray and ask the Lord for wisdom.
  • Seek help from a professional, if necessary.

Try Something New

Be an observer of your emotions and those of your child. Try to respond during stressful situations in a way that is calm and logical, rather than reactive. Think ahead.  Plan how you will respond in certain situations.

Verses for Encouragement

Learn how to manage your own anger so you can live the kind of life that pleases God.

James 1:20

For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Maintain a calm voice with your child during stressful situations.

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Work through conflict as soon as possible.  Don’t allow anger to control your life.

Ephesians 4:26

And don’t sin by letting anger control you.  Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.

Signs of Toxic People

Posted on by kiara

There are people who we know who might be labeled toxic. How do you know if someone is toxic? How can you identify toxic behavior?

Toxic people have many traits in common. Most toxic behavior is designed to fill an emotional need. Toxic people have usually been through some type of trauma or neglect, and spend their energy trying to fill this seemingly insatiable need. Toxic people will manipulate people and situations to make themselves the focus of attention. If they do not receive the attention they so desperately need, the may become angry, sullen, or passive-aggressive.

Toxic people struggle to let others receive attention or accolades. This may be subtle or overt. They may take credit for a job well done or they may always have to have the last word or story.

Toxic people are usually controlling. They try to control every situation in order to steer the outcome in their favor, or make themselves look good. They fear giving control to another, knowing that their deep-rooted needs will not get met. They will use many different behaviors to control and manipulate a situation, even to the detriment of those that should come first, like their children, for instance. Toxic parents may manipulate their children so that they appear to be better parents than they really may be. Romans 16:17-18 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve.”

Identify the toxic people in your life and learn how to establish boundaries with Isik’s downloadable guide.

It is important to realize that toxic people do not want to resolve an argument. They feed off of drama. They maintain power by keeping you emotionally off balance. If you interact with someone who continually drains you without resolution, it may be that you are dealing with a toxic person. Proverbs 22:24-25 says, “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”

What is the best way to handle toxic people? Establishing healthy boundaries with toxic people is crucial. Boundaries let others know what is expected and what behaviors will not be tolerated. Toxic people will have difficulty with boundaries, and most likely they will not respect them at first.  If a toxic person will not respect your boundaries, it may be that you need to cut all ties with them. Once they respect your boundaries, they can be allowed to interact with you again.

 

 

Deep Waters

Posted on by Wes Shinn

By Keiko Chibana-Shinn | Rediscovering Prayer

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called… 2 Timothy 4:7

Every day we have a choice to make. We can either choose to accept You or deny You, to welcome You in or reject You for the day ahead. God, our Father gives extraordinary gifts to His children. Every good and perfect gift comes from above; from whom the heavenly lights flow into our lives.

There is a battle between two kingdoms: the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Sometimes the battle is external, sometimes it’s internal, and many times it’s both waging against our hope. Thankfully, we can be reminded that Jesus made a mockery of the effects of sin, doubt, and pride on the cross. Jesus equips us and trains us for every uncertainty that may entangle us into confusion and isolation. It’s time to fight with the power of His might rather than by human strength and reasoning. For His authority is unparalleled to any other in all of time and history.

Jesus fights for you. It’s a good fight because you can hold your peace alongside Him. Jesus has not only won your battle but has the victory over death and every kind of loss. He ripped the devil to shreds when He took upon himself your illness of body, mind, and spirit; all the effects of sin swallowed up by the Light of Life. He fought until the end of His life to gain yours. Now you are free and armed to live in determination to persevere with resurrection power working for you by the Lord’s Spirit.

The Word of God says we are to continually demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we are to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

You have the power to choose life or death. Choose to step into your today with a Jesus-perspective. Let us ask Jesus to have His way whether we find ourselves stuck in cyclical patterns of defeatism manifesting in depression, fear, and a divided heart. Fight the good fight and be not weary in well-doing for the recompense is joy in His Spirit. All the days of your life have been ordained by the Maker and Lover of your soul. He spared no cost to Himself to see you raised into an abundant life according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus.

You may feel stumped in the waiting but God is building your character to attain self-control and a sound mind. You may find yourself internally struggling from anxious striving but God is asking you to trust in Him beyond the weight of your worries so that you may rest in Him like never before. You may feel limited in your own means but God is sparing you from further heartbreak. It’s your moment to call upon Him. Wait on Him to recenter you. Be still and know He is God. Jesus is working behind the scenes to bring about the best outcome for the testimony of His appearance to overflow in your breakthroughs that will eventually pour into the generations to come.

Although Jesus maintains the victory it is up to us to take Him at His Word and believe in season and out of season. We were once darkness so the enemy’s intent is to keep parts of your heart and mind in that darkness. But we are now light in the Lord so let us walk as children of light. Press in and trust God to sustain you even when you can’t perceive Him near you. Believe Him to be with you in every step you take, declare and decree God’s promises to be “yes” and “amen”. Weeping may last for the night but His favor lasts a lifetime.

The Lord says to us: Go deeper and further into My Kingdom. Discover the potency of my eternal joy, peace, and righteousness. Advance forcefully into Who I am. Don’t surrender to anything less than what my Spirit reveals. Receive my Kingdom mandate to follow Me and I will increase in and through you. I am your deliverer from the deep waters, your healer, your source of life. Do not slumber in dissatisfaction and in lack for I came to remove the chains to supply you with everything you need for life. My love for you is so great that you cannot conceive the things I have prepared for you, who love Me. Pursue Me with all your heart and you will be found by Me, for my grace is more than sufficient for the journey ahead of you. I take hold of you. Arm yourself under the shelter of my wings today.

Additional Verses: James 1:17; Col. 2:15; Ps. 144:1; Jn. 10:17-18; Ex. 14:14; Eph. 6:10-11; 2 Cor. 10:4; Gal. 5:1; Jn. 16:33; Eph. 5:8; Jn. 8:12; 1 Cor. 15:57: Duet. 30:15; Rom. 5:3-5; Gal. 6:9; Ps. 139:6; Ps. 144:10-12; 2 Ti. 4:2; 2 Cor. 1:20; Ps. 30:5; Rom. 14:17; Matt. 11:12; Ps. 18:16; 1 Cor. 2:9; Jer. 29:14; 2 Pe.1:3; 2 Cor. 12:9; Ps. 91:4

What Does God Think of Me?

Posted on by Lauren M

God knows everything about us…every detail of our lives. He formed every part of us and planned every day of our lives before we were born.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:116)

God thinks about us all the time. In fact, His thoughts concerning us outnumber the grains of sand. The One and only true God is interested in you and me. Psalm 139 says that He knows when we sit down and stand up. He knows what we’re thinking. He sees us when we go from place to place and when we’re relaxing at home. He even knows what we’re going to say, even before we do. He is there with us as we go throughout our day; as we prepare meals, work in the garden, go to work, to the market, spend time with our families and when we’re alone.

For some of us, the idea that the Creator loves us and is interested in every part of our lives is hard to imagine. For some of us, there is no one on earth who really cares about us or is interested in what we do. Some of us have no loving relationships on this earth.

Who is this great God, then, who loves us so much and is interested in what we do? Who is this God who desires a relationship with us? How can I know Him?

We can only know Him, if we can live in close relationship with him. But we cannot since there is a vast separation between Him and us. God is holy and perfect but we are sinful and therefore, are separated from Him. When we are separated from Him we cannot know Him. This separation must be removed in order that we can know Him and be in close relationship forever with Him. It sounds like an impossible situation, but with God, everything is possible. And in fact, He does the work to make this possible.

God had a plan from the beginning. He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth in human form. Jesus lived a sinless life on this earth, but chose to sacrifice His own life for our sins on the cross, so that we could live in close relationship forever with God, the Father. He took our place as the sacrifice for sin. Jesus is the only way to overcome the separation between a perfect God and us.

The Bible says, in John 3:16, that God so loved the world that He gave us His only son, that who ever believes in Him will have everlasting life. I urge you to believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that He died on the cross for your sins. Ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you from sin. Thank Him for saving you from your sin. You will experience a life on earth filled with peace and joy and have assurance that you will live abundantly forever with Him. God wants a relationship with you and wants you to be with Him forever. God loves you and is interested in all you do.

Jesus Takes Away Your Shame and Guilt

Posted on by Lauren M

Some days I receive thousands of messages from people who want to share their stories of deliverance.  There are testimonies of how God is setting people free and of the wonderful things he is doing in their lives.  Many of these people are giving testimony of being set free from the bondages of Shame and Guilt. No one in the church of Jesus Christ should be in bondage caused by shame or guilt, because he came to set the captive free.   And today we are going to say, “No More Bondage, No More Shame, No More Guilt”!

My heart is touched when a listener shares their struggle with shame from the past. I grew up in a Muslim culture which operates through fear using shame and it produced much shame and guilt on me.   I was told that it was wrong for me to laugh in public.  And I never laughed out loud until I came to America.   This oppressive spirit is a demon of oppression.  This demon puts guilt, shame and condemnation upon you.  We also see this in America, other parts of the world and even in the church.

Here is a verse that I want you to memorize:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1)

Condemnation means that you feel as if you have no self worth because the devil has told you lies saying that you are worthless.  He is always whispering lies in your ears.  And many times he uses other people to whisper the lies to you.

God will not put shame and guilt upon you, so you can be sure that if you are feeling shame, guilt or condemnation that it is not coming from God.  You can stop being so hard on yourself as you realize the lies from the devil and stop believing those lies.

Maybe your home life was terrible and you are carrying the shame of that.  Maybe you have seen some things that cause you trauma.  The Lord wants to dig deeper in you and bring healing from trauma.  If you don’t know the power of the cross, Today is your day to know that power!

There may be things in our past that we have trouble forgiving ourselves from.  I murdered my 2 unborn babies and 2 years ago I could not forgive myself and I had disqualified myself.  I carried the shame and guilt so long until God came and set me free.

Possibly you were molested at an early age or you were raped and escaped from sex trafficking.  Much was stolen from you and in your heart you disqualify yourself from a bright future because of this abuse.  I want you to know that this was not your fault.  If someone did something to you, you are not to blame.  The shame is not yours to carry.

Maybe you abused someone and you are carrying the shame of that.  Until you confess and repent, you cannot get rid of the shame and guilt.  Now when you do confess and repent then you must receive the power of the blood of Jesus which was shed at Calvary for you.  Now receive your freedom!!!

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Jesus took the shame upon himself that was ours.  He took it from us.  He said, “Give me that shame.  Give me that guilt.  I will pay the price on the cross for you.”  All you need to do is take all the shame, the guilt, the self condemnation, the self rejection and give it all to Jesus.

We have more good news from God’s word.  Isaiah 61:7 says, “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.”

Also, people with disabilities have a difficult time fighting off the devil’s lies.  Because of their disabilities, the devil may whisper that they are not as good as someone else.  And he tells them that they are useless.  This gives them a poor self image.  I always say, “99% of the time when you see a disabled person, you also see a person who is disabled on the inside.”  I know a man with only one leg.  It was difficult to be around him because he was always like, “Me, Me, Me”.  It seemed that someone had to compensate for that lost leg.  The disabled person may have emotions and a heart that are also disabled and might have anger and bitterness to deal with.

I love how God pays attention to people.  In 2 Samuel 9:1-13 we see that he had a plan for one such disabled person;

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”  Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”… When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor…”Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.  I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul and you will always eat at my table.”  Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”  Notice the self rejection, self condemnation, that he was disqualifying himself from any good thing because of his disability?   “…So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.”

King David had all of King Saul’s land restored to Mephibosheth and he had Ziba and his sons and servants farm the land and bring in the crops for him, so that Mephibosheth would be provided for.

Shame and guilt steals from you but everything that was stolen from you can be restored to you.

The king of heaven is inviting you now, “Come and eat at my table.”  Come and receive your Abrahamic blessings because through Jesus Christ we are his heirs.  The king is inviting you, “Come”.

You can eat at the king’s table for the rest of your life if you accept his freedom.

Receive it!

Cutting the Root of Bitterness

Posted on by kiara

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.

-Hebrews 12:14-15

Cutting out the root of bitterness:

There is no doubt that the root of bitterness is motivated and sustained by the enemy. It’s one of the most powerful methods of the enemy to isolate and destroy us. This doesn’t take away our responsibility to live a bitter free life. The old excuse of ‘the devil made me do it’ doesn’t work. The truth is that we allowed it to take root, and it’s up to us to face it and address it. It’s not something to sugarcoat and allow. It has to be dealt with completely and without delay.

The first step is confession and repentance.

We will never be free of the root of bitterness if we don’t come honestly to God and acknowledge our sin. As it works so closely with unforgiveness, we often need to address that as well. Then, the root must be completely cut off. It must be totally uprooted, so that no small part remains. To do this requires humility and willingness allowing God to work in this area in your life. We must choose the life of Christ with complete surrender. We must willingly choose to obey the commands of God and turn away from the bitterness that has taken root.

Grace is the answer to the root of bitterness.

The verse above centers around grace, because grace is the only way to free ourselves fully from the root of bitterness. It is God’s grace that gives us the spiritual wisdom to recognize the root of our bitterness. It also strengthens and enables us to confess and repent. Then, grace works in us to receive forgiveness and to be re-rooted in Christ. As we reconnect with Jesus, His life begins to flow through us and His grace will begin to wash away the poison we have lived with for so long.

Grace is a free gift which let’s us to do things that we cannot do in our own strength and ability. The reality of a root of bitterness is that, even though we may have dealt with the unforgiveness that first caused it to grow, it may remain stronger than ever. If we do as our verse today tells us to do, then we are intentionally choosing God. Our choice is empowered by grace because we are rooted in the eternal vine who is Christ. As we turn our eyes to God, we turn them away from bitterness and He is able to cleanse us.

How to avoid a root of bitterness:

The only way to avoid a root of bitterness is to be intimately connected to the living vine, which is Jesus Christ. Intimate meaning “so close, so connected” that the life of Christ flows without hindrance. This might sound “superspiritual”, but it’s actually very simple and practical.

A root of bitterness grows when things happen that are not surrendered to Jesus. If we continually build a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, He will be first in our everything. Grace provides everything for every situation wisdom, discernment, strength, humility. The list is endless, but if we remain in the vine, when things happen that could cause a root of bitterness, grace will enable us to respond in Christ rather than in our flesh.

Pray:

Jesus, help us to remain rooted in You. Grant us the grace to recognize our weakness and the discernment to identify a root of bitterness before it grows and takes hold. Strengthen us and fill us with Your life, so that we can look to You in all things and allow Your grace to work Your will in us.

Breaking the Cycle

Posted on by Lauren M

My Muslim family trained me well.  They trained me to tell little white lies.  I was a lying machine.  Lies were normal for me. I used to live with masks.  No one knew the real me.  But after I met Jesus, I had to break the habit of lying.  Those lies got me into trouble.  It is a good thing that my mouth got me in trouble, because every time, I had to go back to God in confession.  He did an amazing job in my life to break that cycle.

To break old habits, there needs to be repentance, confession and asking for forgiveness.  These are the steps I took and you must, as well.  You must repent to, confess to and ask God for forgiveness.  No More Hiding.  Take off the masks and be real.

Can you believe that 70% of people who get out of prison return to prison?  They can’t seem to break the cycle which sent them there.  Those 70% say that they don’t know how to live out of prison.  How sad it that?!  However, many people outside of prisons are living in prisons of their minds.  That was me.  I was a Christian and also an inmate.   God wants to set you free today.  Jesus Christ died on the cross for your freedom.

Change can be difficult.  I have seen people in their 50s, 60s and even 70s who have wasted their lives.  They are in a prison of their own.  What about you?  Do you prefer your prison/your chains?  Do you want to break that cycle and change?  Are you teachable?  You might be 80 years old but still, it is not too late to break free if you are teachable.   It is never too late to do the right thing.

If you want to break the cycle and you are stuck in your circumstances and if you are un-teachable, you must surrender to Jesus Christ and tell The Lord, “Lord, I don’t want to be a stiff-necked, hard-hearted person any longer.”   Surrendering is in the mind.   Church people, we can crucify the old self and become completely new creatures.  “I am crucified in Christ.  I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). 

When the devil has your mind, he has control of you.  He will manage you.  He will manage your eating, your sleep. He will manage every area of your life.  He will tell you, “You need comfort food right now.”  He will get you into depression if you allow him to continue.  We need to be concerned about the small stuff.  And break his power to control our minds.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).  As Christians, we have the mind of Christ.  This is what we need to pray; “Lord give me your mind.  I have the mind of Christ, like it says in your word.”  When we memorize scriptures we can recall and proclaim those scriptures.  And when we proclaim scriptures, this helps to memorize them, as well.  This is the main scripture to learn today, 1 Corinthians 2:16.  Claim that you have the mind of Christ.  As you do this, you are breaking the cycle which has you locked in chains and you are breaking the devil’s power to control.

Repentance means changing the mind.  Repentance is evidence of your salvation.  The two hardest things to change are your communication and eating habits. You may be saying, “I can’t change.”   You are right.  You cannot do this by yourself, but with Jesus, change is possible.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”  If you have Jesus and say that you cannot, then you are lying.  You may say, “I am praying and praying, and it’s not happening.” Or you say, “I proclaim the word of God and it’s not working.”   Again, you are lying.   That negative speech needs to stop.  You are accusing God for not answering your prayers.

Break your agreement with lies and deception.  People told you lies about yourself when you were young and you accepted those lies as truth.  You were deceived about your worth.   Now that you are in Christ, you are free to not believe those lies any longer.  You are a new creation.  Break off that agreement that you grew up with.  Rip that agreement to shreds and throw it into the garbage.  That is a decision you must make and act upon.  If it helps, you may want to write those lies on paper and actually rip it up.

Leave the past in the past and Break the generational curses.  No matter what our family of origin was like, we don’t have to continue those old ways.  Galatians 3:13 tells us that, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”, so we take God at His word by faith and repent of the old beliefs that held us back.  In God’s word, Isaiah gives us more hope that we can change, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 43:18-19)  Christ redeemed us and He is doing a new thing!  That is so wonderful!

Remember that we have the mind of Christ.  So we need to pray, “Lord, give me your mind.  I have the mind of Christ.  Instruct me about the new thing that you are doing in my life.”

Maybe the lies have kept you from completing important milestones in your life.  There was a man working for me who was very talented with his hands. I called him and asked if he had a high school diploma.  He said, “No. Nobody in my family for generations has a high school diploma.”  See, he thought that he wouldn’t be able to accomplish more because no one in his family ever did.  I told him that he must get his diploma or he will be fired in six months.  Maybe, yes it was manipulation but I was a manager and I wanted to do good for this man.  He was upset because he couldn’t read or write.  I already knew that he couldn’t because he had not been filling out his forms.   

He did learn how to read and write in six months.  And he became the first person in his family to get a GED.  Then I gave him a promotion with more money.  And I told him that if he would take college courses that I would pay for it.  He took advantage of this and afterward his whole family had a big celebration in his honor.  Today he has a higher position in a different company.  He broke the cycle of his generational curse.   And you too, can break any cycle that you are in.  It is possible through Jesus Christ.

We learn from Luke 18 in the story of the Persistent Widow that God will bring about justice, “And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice and quickly.  However, when the son of man comes, will he find faith in the earth?’” (Luke 18:6-8). You need to have persistent faith like this widow from Luke 18.  Go to God with your troubles believing He wants to help you.  And don’t stop believing.  Be persistent.  You will get justice.

Also, you should Forgive yourself for your past mistakes.  Repent of them and move on.  Think on scripture and remind yourself that you are forgiven.  Keep coming against the negative thoughts with the word of God.  You have the power of the cross of Christ.