‘Loving Wounds”

It is far better to be smarting from the correction of a friend who cares for you, instead of being led on the wrong path by people who try to deceive you with false approval. If you choose to base your life on positive feedback only and you block out any form of correction, you will end up with the wrong people advising you. Positive feedback is great. It can boost you, it can get you motivated, and it can make you feel good. But if that feedback is blinding you from the areas in your life that you need to correct, you will find yourself on that fast track to making a series of mistakes.

Correction is necessary for our growth as Christians. We need correction in our spiritual lives in order to ensure that we are reflecting God and His love and righteousness. We also need correction in other aspects of our life. We can never know everything or get everything right. When we are corrected, we are alerted to the areas in our lives that we need to work on. When we work on those areas, we become better people. If we don’t receive that correction, how will we grow? Correction may be hard to receive, especially from the people we love, but it is worthwhile. 

The people who love you will always desire to see you become the best person you can be. In order for that to happen, they have to correct you when they see that you are headed in the wrong direction. People who are trying to use you will not care about what is best for you. They will only be concerned with how you can serve their hidden agenda. They will take advantage of your shortcomings in order to gain a  one up on you.

Discernment is required when it comes to who you listen to when you are in need of counsel. If you surround yourself with people who will tell you what you want to hear, you will not get very far in life. But if you choose to have honest people around you, who are convicted by the love they have for you and not their selfish interests, you will be able to grow. You should also aim to be the person who corrects, in love. Lying to someone or overlooking their errors in order to make them happy is not love! 

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“The Spiritual Truths of Suffering, Hardships, & Pain”

I was raised in the church as a little girl and I renewed my relationship with God over 4 years ago after deciding to go my own way for many years. If you are anything like me, you thought that once you completely surrendered your life to Christ that all the suffering would end. Unfortunately, suffering is a part of life and it is also a part of the Christian’s life. The difference is that once we enter a new life with Christ, our suffering takes on a new meaning. Our ability to understand the spiritual truths concerning testing and hardship is vital to our continued spiritual growth and development.

I want to share with you four spiritual truths that have helped me to overcome many difficult and trying times in my life:

1.) Suffering is temporary. “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation” (1 Peter 5:10). While you are in your season of suffering, it seems to feel as though it will last forever. It’s easy to get caught up in the “fact” that you are experiencing hard times to neglect God’s truth. The truth is that He has called you to share in His eternal glory because He loves you and your suffering is only temporary. Focus more on what’s waiting for you on the other side of suffering: restoration, support, strength, and stability. If you rejoice in the truth of God’s eternal word, it will ease the pain of what you are currently experiencing. Remember it’s only temporary! 

2.) Your suffering does not define you. “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are” (Romans 8:18-19). Many times, when we experience very difficult or trying times in our lives, we allow our temporary hardships to define us. You are not the events that have transpired in your life. God has yet to reveal the fullness of who you are and His Word confirms that what you are currently facing is nothing compared to what He has in store for you.

3.) Suffering produces fruit. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So, let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4). The Word of God tells us to consider the troubles and hardships we face in life as an opportunity for great joy. 

4.) Suffering opens the door to God’s grace. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So, now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). When you are facing situations that just seem to suck the very life out of you, the door to grace is wide open. 

We are to embrace God’s grace. When you are weak, God is waiting to stand up on your behalf. Your job is to step back and allow Him to do just that. Allow the power of God to work through you and carry you through hard times.

#TheSpiritualBattle #ConsultGODFirst #ThePowerofGOD #TheFAITHWALK #DelieveranceIsMyTestimony #DiscoverYourPurpose #AWomanClothedInStrength

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Godly Relationships

Johnathan and David had a friendship that was bonded in love. They didn’t just see each other as friends, they treated each other as if they were brothers. They were so close with each other the Bible records that they “knit with the soul” which means that they were in one accord. They loved each other like brothers. The friendship continued until Johnathan’s death, David pledged to take care of anyone who was part of Johnathan’s family.

When David discovered that Johnathan had a son who was born with a  disability  he took him in and treated him like royalty. He remained loyal to the promise that he made. This is one of the examples of the way a godly friendship should be. Friendships should be rooted in love. It helps to have godly friends because when the two of you walk in one accord, you’ll be doing so with Jesus at the center of your friendship. It is sad to see that friendships have a completely different meaning nowadays.

People tend to become friends for all the wrong reasons. Some use friendships as a way of getting things that they couldn’t get on their own. There are a number of friendships were loyalty is non-existent. This is not the plan God had when it came to companionship. Our friendships should reflect the love of God in them When people take a look at you and your friends, they should see the bond of unity- not a heap of distrust. It will be hard for you to minister effectively if people notice that all of your friendships are founded in dishonesty.

Follow the example of Johnathan and David and love each other as if you are family. If you know that there are friendships  in your life that do not glorify God because they are based on the wrong things, you need to walk away. It will help the other person too. Godly friendships should be about loving each other, looking out for each other, and striving to bring out the best in each other-the same way Christ loves you, looks out for you, an d strives to ring out the best in you. 

#ConsultGODFirst #TheFAITHWALK #ThePowerofGOD #TheSpiritualBattle #DeliveranceIsMyTestimony #DiscoverYourPurpose #AWomanClothedInStrength 

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Call On Him

” And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. -Isaiah 30:21

God’s guidance is always with us, every step of the way. The reason why God chose to be omnipresent, through the Holy Spirit, was to ensure that we would always have access to His instructions no matter what. Every day we are faced with a set of choices that we have to make. We are often unable to make the right decisions on our own-especially if they have to do with the direction in which our lives are headed. When it comes to decisions like this, we have to be conscious of what God is trying to say to us. If we don’t pay attention to God’s instructions we will end up making unnecessary mistakes.

God is always there to guide us no matter what we face. In times of confusion we should not try to rely on ourselves or the counsel of other people. We should first turn to God and pay attention to what He is trying to tell us. God will always answer you if you ask Him. He is not a wicked Father, sitting in silence and watching you wonder around aimlessly. That is actually the last thing God would want for your life. God desires to see you walking confidently in the path that He has set out for you.He takes no joy in seeing you make mistakes. 

It’s not that He becomes angry with you, no. No Father enjoys seeing their child end up in despair. God is concerned about you. He is concerned about every aspect of your life. That is why He has made such a great effort to give you as much access to Him. You don’t have to tremble on your way to communing with God. You can boldly call upon Him, knowing that He will respond to you-giving you the direction you need to walk in. 

 

 

“Hope In Trials”

We are at peace with God, the Father, as a result of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us when  He came to earth to fulfill the will of God. Through faith, which is expressed through receiving salvation and submitting to Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior of our lives, we activate that personal reconciliation with God. We have to make an active and conscious decision to be saved. It won’t fall on us from the sky. The Bible states, in Romans 10:9-10, that the one who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and they believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead then he will be saved.

This all has to do with the actions  we take to affirm our salvation. Confessing and, most importantly, believing the Gospel in our hearts. Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the grace that we did not merit in any way. This grace is what has made us children of God. It is by grace we can look at our futures with eager expectation of the glory that is to come. It is because of Jesus Christ, and the peace that we have with God, that we can rejoice and be steadfast in times of trials ad tribulations. Instead of shaking and cowering away, we stand boldly because we know that God is with us. Our hearts are strengthened during the challenges we face.

We build up patience so that the next time a similar trial comes our way, we will confidently endure. That is what we call experience. Experience is when we are familiar with a situation that has come our way. We won’t shake or fret as much. If anything, we will be far more confident because we know that we got out of it the first time, we will get out of it again. This is what we call hope. Knowing that we are safe in the loving embrace of God, never to fail or fall away. Christ is the source of our strength. In Him, we can face all things, boldly knowing that we will come out just fine.

#ConsultGODFirst #TheFaithWalk #ThePowerofGod #TheSpiritualBattle #DeliveranceIsMyTestimony #DiscoverYourPurpose #AWomanClothedInStrength 

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The Importance Of Faith

Faith is developed over the years by the various trials and testing’s that God allows into our lives. Many Christians have wrongly chosen to associate faith with their feeling. This kind of emotional faith can survive only if life is understandable and within their control. But what happens when the rug of human understanding is pulled out from under them and events in their lives turn chaotic or uncontrollable? These Christians sink because their faith is built on emotionalism and not on the SOLID rock of faith in Christ JESUS. 

Faith is strengthened when we choose to believe in the unfailing character, faithfulness, and perfect love of God, no matter what surrounds us. When we choose to wallow in fear and doubt, however, faith is weakened. All unbelief and all debate concerning the integrity of God must be repented of and all argument and controversy concerning God’s promises must be abandoned. We must choose by faith to believe that God will forever be true to His Word. God is not only the AUTHOR of our faith, but He is also the FINISHER of our faith.

Faith begins and ends with Him. It is not something we can manufacture within ourselves, but something that resides in our personality or something that is determined by heredity, intelligence, or even religious belief. Faith is simply being fully persuaded that God can do all that He has promised. Here’s a spiritual example: Abraham in the Old Testament is a perfect example of one who had unshakeable faith in God. He got to the point where he offered no arguments, no debate, and no questions when God told him to do certain things. This automatic obedience needs to be our response also.

Abraham wasn’t always a man of unwavering faith. In fact, he once lied to protect himself from the Egyptians (Genesis 12:11-20) and then fought with unbelief concerning the personal promise God made to him (Genesis 16). But in his later years, this same man agreed to sacrifice his son Isaac in perfect obedience to the Lord (Genesis 22:11-18). As the story of Abraham’s life unfolds, we see this flawed man moving steadily from cowardice to faith, from fear to love, and from doubt to obedience. This is the response God wants from every one of His children. We can either choose to trust and mature into an Abraham, or doubt and diminish into a Judas. #TheFAITHWALK

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How To Use The Power Of GOD

The Gospel is the power of God to save those who believe. By human power alone, truly we never could determine how to obtain eternal life. God meets our needs by giving us the means to know and believe the truth if we study diligently with an honest and open heart. Jesus gave the right (power) to become children of God to those who believe His name. Faith alone, without obedience, does not make one a child of God, but simply gives the power to become a child. The power that makes us children of God is in God’s spiritual need, His Word. 

To be purified and born again, we must obey the truth. This includes repenting, confessing, and being baptized. Jesus can give us the uttermost. By human power alone, we could never obtain forgiveness and become children of God, but God has made this power available to us. You can have the power to resist every temptation. People often excuse their sins saying obedience is just too hard. “I just can’t do it! God will just have to understand!” We may even blame God for being too demanding. But I’ve learned that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. But temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able too bear. 

The Lord provides strength and power so that we can stand against the power of Satan. We can quench every one of his fiery darts of temptations. Again, this is not possible by human power. Perhaps, Satan can defeat us if we face him alone, but we can succeed by the power of God’s armor. You can have the power to endure suffering and hardship. Often hardship, grief, sickness, and persecution tempt us to quit serving God. We think, “What’s the use”? In  Corinthians 1:3-10 states, Paul suffered beyond power such that he despaired even of life. Someone may ask, “Doesn’t that prove there are temptations that are beyond our power”? Yes, perhaps we may face temptations beyond our power, but not beyond God’s power.

We should learn to trust God fully. NO suffering or hardship of any kind can separate us from God’s love. We are more than conquerors! We can defeat them all if we are on God’s side. Nowhere does God say He will remove all our problems. Rather, He promises we can endure, remain faithful, and receive eternal life despite our problems. You can have the power to serve others, but discouragement comes when we try to help others and we see no positive results. We may describe to quit trying, thinking, “It just do us any good.” God can supply all our needs, so we can abound in every good work and increase the fruits of righteousness. 

Jesus is like the vine that supplies the needs of the branches. Apart from Him, acting by human power alone, we can do nothing. But in Him, we can bear much fruit. There is no need for Christians to live barren, unfruitful lives. We can accomplish much good for God if we will make use of His power. God can do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think according to His power that works (Ephesians 3:20). Nowhere does the Bible teach that it is impossible for a child of God to fall from grace. It teaches that it is not necessary for us to fall. Further, the scriptures in the Bible are involved in every area in which we need power, they are the basis of knowledge and faith, and they tell us how to overcome temptation and comfort us in the time of trouble. 

There is power in God’s armor, but we are to take it on with prayer. We should make our requests known so God can supply what we need to serve Him. There is no need to bear our burdens alone. We can give them to God. But again, there are conditions. We must use the privilege of prayer. Too many of us are like a man with a powerful automobile who instead of getting in and turning on the engine, stand behind the car pushing it. He tries to do it all himself and gets nowhere. Again, the strength God supplies is conditional. We must make use of it. #ThePowerofGOD 

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