Someone once asked me, “I have reached out to God so many times but didn’t ever hear back from Him. Doesn’t He want to talk to me?”
This heart-wrenching question is not uncommon. Especially during the trying times we are currently going through.
When we find ourselves in the midst of storms, it’s natural to yearn for a clear, reassuring voice from above. A voice that would calm our troubled hearts and affirm that we are not alone.
I want to assure you that God does indeed hear you.
And he does more than that. He always responds.
But His responses might not be what we expect.
He often communicates through subtle hints. Seemingly insignificant events that nudge us in the right direction.
These are the instances that we often overlook, dismiss as mere coincidence, or perhaps fail to acknowledge in our quest for more evident signs of His presence.
The buddy who reaches out just when we’re feeling low.
The unexpected resolution to a lingering pain.
The gentle, comforting breeze on a particularly challenging day.
These are God’s whispers, His silent assurances that He is with us, guiding and protecting us.
The key to noticing these instances is developing a heightened sense of awareness.
Amid the noise and commotion of our experiences, it requires us to quieten our minds and attune our hearts to the subtleties of His divine orchestration.
It’s about recognizing His voice in the silence, His presence in the solitude, His guidance in the seemingly mundane.
I encourage you to pause, breathe, and keenly observe the world around you.
Look for these subtle indications of His presence.
They might be unassuming and easy to overlook, but they are there, waiting to be found, affirming His guidance and love.
God’s communication often comes in the softest of whispers, rather than in roaring thunders.
So keep reaching out to Him.
And as you do, listen intently. His answer may be subtly disguised in the happenings of your daily experiences.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that Christians are against science.
And that we can’t believe in science if we also believe in God.
However, this is nothing but a misunderstanding.
Science is also one of God’s creations.
It is the study of the natural world and the laws that govern it.
And it is simply a tool that helps us understand how the world works.
Faith, on the other hand, is the belief in God and His plan for our lives.
And what most people don’t realize is that faith and science can coexist.
The Bible tells us that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) and science helps us understand how and when that happened.
For example, the evolution theory helps us understand species’ development on earth.
While the Bible tells us that God is the creator of everything.
Both faith and science can be used to understand the beauty and complexity of God’s creations.
Another critical aspect of the relationship between faith and science is in the area of ethics.
Science helps us understand the natural world and the consequences of our actions.
But it is our faith that guides us in making moral decisions based on the teachings of God.
The Bible tells us “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
People should continue to evolve according to God’s Will and help one another.
Science is simply a tool for that.
And we are not against it like most atheists think.
To make a long story short, science helps us understand how things work.
While faith helps us understand why they exist in the first place.
Together, they can give us a deeper understanding of the world and our place in it.
So let us continue to explore the world around us, with the guidance of our faith and the understanding provided by science.
Together, we can work to fulfill the purpose that God has for our lives and make a positive impact on the world.
A lot of Christians in my church have talked to me about the same subject
People accuse them of being selfish for trying to reach Heaven.
They say that they follow God’s Will simply for their own personal benefit.
Instead of becoming defensive, let’s try to stand from the accusers’ point of view.
Doing everything in our power to go to Heaven might seem like selfish behavior to atheists.
If our primary concern is our own salvation, then we are not living out Christ’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.
We might become so focused on ourselves that we neglect to show love and compassion to those around us who are also in need of God’s grace.
In this sense, trying to live forever can indeed be selfish.
But is that accusation fair?
From our perspective, the desire to reach Heaven is simply a natural response to the love and grace that God has bestowed upon us.
It is not about personal gain, but about living to serve and glorify God.
In that way, following God’s Will could be considered the ultimate expression of selflessness.
So, which is it? Is trying to reach Heaven selfish or selfless?
The answer, I believe, lies in the heart behind the motivation.
If our motivation is rooted in a deep love for God and a desire to support the less fortunate, then it’s pure and right.
We are seeking to align our will with God’s Will, not because we want to gain salvation or escape punishment, but because we want to grow closer to Him.
However, if our motivation is solely to escape hell or gain entry into heaven, then it is selfish.
We are reducing God to a means to an end, using Him as a tool to achieve our own ends rather than loving Him for who He is.
And that is not right.
That is why we have to be certain of our motivations before we try to glorify God.
Let us examine our hearts and our motives for following God’s will.
Let us seek to love God and others because of the goodness in our hearts, minds, and souls.
And let our desire to reach Heaven be rooted in that love.
What Scripture says about selflessness.
May God grant us the grace to follow Him with pure hearts and selfless motives.
One of the most pressing questions that we Christians must grapple with is the issue of pain and hardship.
If God is good, then why does He allow such things to happen?
This is a question that has been asked by believers and non-believers alike for millennia.
And it is one that continues to trouble us.
First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge that pain and hardship are real and difficult experiences that many of us have to go through.
Whether it is physical pain, emotional pain, or the pain of loss, these experiences can be incredibly difficult to bear.
It is natural to ask why we must endure such trials, especially when we believe in a loving and compassionate God.
What everyone must understand, however, is that God did not create a world full of pain and hardship.
In the beginning, everything was good.
But sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve.
This disobedience caused a separation between humanity and God, which resulted in the pain, hardship, and brokenness that we see in the world.
However, just because sin is the cause of pain and hardship does not mean that God lacks the power to intervene.
God has done everything possible to restore our relationship with Him and to redeem the world from the effects of sin.
This is why He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to undergo the crucifixion for our sins.
Through Jesus, we have the hope of living eternally and the assurance that one day pain and hardship will be eradicated.
In the meantime, we must remember that God is with us in our hardships and that He can use even our most difficult experiences for good.
As Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
We must stay strong.
Are You Too Nice of a Christian?
As Christians, we are called to love and serve others.
As it is written in the Bible: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
We are taught to be kind, compassionate, and understanding.
However, there is a fine line between being kind and being too nice.
Being too nice can actually be harmful to both ourselves and the people around us.
When we are too nice, we often put the needs and wants of others before our own.
And this can lead to feelings of resentment and burnout…even if we don’t realize it right away.
Additionally, when we are too nice, we can often run away from difficult conversations and situations.
We may not confront someone about their behavior or even stand up for ourselves.
This is how unresolved issues are made.
That’s why we should always be direct and honest.
It doesn’t mean that we should be rude or attacking.
We can still be kind and compassionate.
But if you are too nice, how can you even begin to do that?
Well, this is the reason I’m writing this Christian Blog article.
I’ve gathered several ideas you can follow to continue living according to God’s will without putting other people’s needs before your own:
Set boundaries.
It’s important to understand that you have the right to say no and to have your own needs and wants.
Communicate effectively.
When someone is crossing your boundaries or you are feeling taken advantage of, it’s important to speak up and communicate your feelings.
Take care of yourself.
Make sure you are taking care of your own physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
We are responsible for our health. And we should take care of ourselves just like we take care of our loved ones.
Stand up for yourself and others.
Jesus stood up for the marginalized and oppressed, as it is written in Luke 4:18:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
We can do the same by speaking up and stepping forward when we see injustice.
As Christians, we can sometimes forget about our own needs and wants.
But we should be compassionate towards ourselves, just as we do with others.
So don’t fall for the “nice trap”, and always remember these 4 tips.
How Many Calories Do You Need To Survive?
Did you know that the average person needs just about 1200-1500 calories to survive?
It’s true. Researchers have found that we don’t need as much food as most people think to keep ticking over.
But let’s not become too excited, folks.
That’s just for pure survival
For your basic physiological functions like breathing, heart beating, and maintaining temperature.
This is essentially what you need to stay alive.
If you are a prepper, then you know that surviving is not the same as thriving.
When you’re trying to make it through a tough situation.
Whether it’s a natural emergency or some other type of situation
You’re not just going to be lying around.
You’ll be active.
You’ll be under stress.
You’ll be using your body and mind in ways that demand much more than those 1200-1500 calories.
So how much do you actually need?
To give you a ballpark figure, an average moderately active man needs around 2,500 calories a day.
And an average moderately active woman needs around 2,000 calories a day to maintain their weight and health.
When you’re dealing with a survival situation, it’s essential to have high energy, nutrient dense foods to keep you fueled.
Things like nuts and seeds, dried fruits, canned goods, protein bars, and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) can provide a substantial amount of calories in a small, portable package.
Remember, folks, planning is key.
Knowing how many calories you and your family will need in an emergency and preparing your food stores in advance can make a world of difference when the chips are down.
So the next time you’re out shopping, instead of grabbing that pack of ramen noodles, why not invest in some nutrient-rich, high-calorie foods that will really give you the energy you need when SHTF?
Survival is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And for this long haul, you need to fuel yourself properly.
So let’s keep our survival instincts sharp and our health well-nourished.
Trust. A word filled with powerful meaning. Where do you place trust? Perhaps in yourself, other people, things, or situations? Or do you trust in the Lord with all your heart? Maybe the answer is a little of both. Some moments trust is in the Lord, and other moments, trust is put in the wrong place or person. Times have come and will continue to come where we will have to decide where to place trust. The decision we make can impact us and others. Trusting God is important to developing a closer relationship with Him.
When we cross the street, watching for vehicles helps us to trust we will cross the road safely. When receiving a disturbing medical diagnosis, we trust the doctors to provide the correct treatment. Has someone trusted you to keep a secret? Perhaps you have asked someone to trust you during a stressful time. Uncertain times can be filled with fear and worry. Placing our trust in the Lord will help us navigate through every situation.
Humans make mistakes. God does not make mistakes.
Sometimes when wrong decisions are made, trust has to be rebuilt. Trusting that a relationship is honest and will continue in a positive way can cause grief if that trust is broken with mistakes and dishonesty. Trusting that person again may take time. God can help heal relationships when we ask Him for help if that is His plan.
With God, trust never wavers. We can trust Him with all our heart and know His love is forever. God will always listen and hear when we cry out to Him. If our hearts are troubled and we aren’t sure where to place trust, we can find strength in knowing we can trust God with all our heart.
Problems can’t be solved on our own. Placing our trust in God can give us the courage to face obstacles. We are not alone and don’t have to face any situation alone. God is with us.
What Does it Mean to ‘Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart?’ Have you heard someone say “I trust in the Lord with all my heart.” or maybe “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”? What does the person saying those words mean? If you have spoken or written those words, what was the meaning you were trying to convey? The statement may be a way of hopefully making someone feel better. Trusting in the Lord with all your heart means that you have given your full trust to Him. You have placed your faith and trust in God.
Knowing that God is with us in every moment can help us through troubled times. A situation may not turn out the way we hoped and prayed for, yet our trust and hope are found in going to God.
There are times when we may try to solve problems on our own. A busy life may cause us to put aside prayer and worship time. The list of things to do overwhelms us. Worship and prayer may not be at the top of the list due to the focus being placed on self and our circumstances.
As those times arise, go to God. Ask Him for help. Place your trust in the Lord and release your burdens (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).
Not trusting in God with all our heart can mean that a person trusts someone or something other than God. Trusting God helps us worship and praise Him. In trusting God, we give Him the glory.
Is it Really Possible to Put Your Full Trust in the Lord with All of Your Heart? You may have heard someone say, “I trust the Lord, but, I want to move things along.” Someone may make the comment, “I try to trust in the Lord. I need the answer to come quickly.” As we hear those words or possibly speak them ourselves, we may realize that we are not fully trusting God.
Fear is not from the Lord. As humans, we often fear the unknown. Once we recognize that we are afraid, we can pray and ask God for guidance. Prayer is a great step in placing our full trust in the Lord (Psalm 28:7).
God will answer in His timing and in His way.
Placing our full trust in the Lord brings us to a closer relationship with Him. He knows our thoughts and our hearts.
As we place our full trust in Him, we acknowledge our own weaknesses and the need for Him.
Praying and giving thanks to God in every situation can help our faith grow. We are leading by example when we trust in God.
What Does the Bible Say about Trusting in the Lord with All Your Heart during Uncertain Times The Bible provides words of encouragement and reminders of how we are called to trust God in uncertain times. We are also called to trust God in good times. In other words, trust God at all times (Psalm 46:1-32 NIV).
Going to God allows us to find refuge and strength. He will provide the peace, comfort, and rest that we seek.
Scripture shares how we will go through troubled times, and God will never leave us. Placing our trust and faith in God reminds us of the mercy and love He has for His children.
We may not know the reason for everything that happens. Although we may want to know why God has allowed certain events, placing our trust in Him allows us to remember He has the answers. Our call is to follow Him and help lead others to Him. God’s love is steadfast and faithful.
10 Beautiful Things That Happen When You Trust in God with All Your Heart What will happen when you trust in God with all your heart? Will your life be changed? The possibilities are endless. His love for us is immeasurable. We can place our trust in Him and rest assured we are safe in His arms.
Trusting God with all your heart allows beautiful things to happen.
Our relationship with God becomes stronger.
We are released from carrying the burdens alone.
We are reminded of the love God has for His children.
Peace and comfort are found in trusting God.
Rest and renewal can fill the body when trust is placed in God.
Through trusting God, we can help lead others to Him.
In trusting God, we are able to give up control.
We are following the call to rely on God, and not ourselves.
When we place our trust in God, we are showing our love for Him.
When we trust in God with all our heart, we acknowledge His plan and His love for us.
Trust in God with all your heart. Worship and praise Him in every moment through words and actions. Share your faith with others. Trusting God releases the need to control events in life. How wonderful to be loved by Him.
Father, thank You for loving us. Thank You for helping us when our trust is placed in other places or in other people. Thank You for searching for your children and leading us back to You. We acknowledge that at times we try to control situations. Please forgive us. Help us to remember You have a plan and that plan is best. Father, help us to place our trust in You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Before you being reading, if you’ve ever been a victim of Christian discrimination I’d love to learn how you stood up against those that criticized you so I can share your story with other Christian that are currently suffering from Christian discrimination…God bless.
I just learned that Christian students nationwide are being encouraged to share their faith during ‘Bring Your Bible to School’ Day. I wish “Bring Your Bible to School Day” was encouraged during my time in grades K-12, and of course the University I go to would NEVER advertise a “Bring Your Bible to School Day” even though they proclaim that students would feel safe to be who they are and that no one should criticize anyone for their beliefs…that is unless their beliefs are based in Christianity.
It’s so strange that every group on campus, such as LGBTQ groups or BLM, just as examples, are offered a safe space without criticism, but Christian groups are widely mocked and looked down upon by other groups that have suffered discrimination in the recent past. I don’t know, I just find this strange.
Anyway, enough of me rambling on, let’s get back to the article I read in regards to “Bring Your Bible to School Day”.
Article:
Last week, Focus on the Family led its 8th annual “Bring Your Bible to School Day” as hundreds of thousands of Christian students were encouraged to share the Word of God with their classmates.
“This annual campaign empowers Christian students of all ages to speak God’s grace and truth into the culture around them, starting with two simple steps — bringing their Bibles to school and sharing what God’s Word means to them,” Focus on the Family Program Manager Bret Eckelberry explained in a statement last week.
“It opens doors for students to talk to their friends about the gospel. It connects them with other believers in their school,” he continued. “And it allows them to celebrate their religious freedoms in the United States.”
In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Focus on the Family’s Vice President of Parenting and Youth Danny Huerta explained that the majority of participants are high school students or junior high school students, but students “all through college” can participate as well.
While it was too soon to tell whether more students participated in this year’s event than from last year, which had 514,000 participants, Huerta did note that registration for this year “surpassed last year’s registration numbers.”
“Our eventual goal is to get 1 million kids bringing their Bible to school or more,” he continued. “It’s basically just a starting point … for kids to maybe start Bible studies in their school, [or] pray together in their school.”
Huerta stressed that students have “the freedom to bring their Bible to school in a public school setting as long as they’re not disruptive in the school.” Additionally, he pointed out that the best times for students to share the Word of God with others were before and after school as well as lunch and recess.
While students have previously faced opposition from school staff from sharing their faith, Huerta said that the Focus on the Family has referred parents and students to the religious liberty law firm Alliance Defending Freedom as a resource in the midst of adversity.
He hopes that the annual event can unite American students in “hope and love” amid the division seen across the world today.
“We’ve really been focused even more so now on the opportunity to offer hope, to invite peers and students into conversation about God’s Word and about their faith and just standing courageously and with love and hope,” Huerta said.
“It’s about inviting people into something that is very loving, which is a relationship with their Heavenly Father and with God’s word,” he asserted.
Once again, please let me know if you’ve ever felt discrimination due to your Christian beliefs and how you stood up to those that criticized you so I can share your story with others that could use your advice!
When the disciples walked the earth with Jesus, they had the privilege of being able to ask him any question they wanted. (We have that same privilege as well.) But of all the things that they asked Jesus, one of the things that sticks out above the others is when they asked him to teach them to pray.
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples’” (Luke 11:1).
What is it about prayer, or what is the power of prayer, that would cause the disciples to want to learn how to do it correctly? A basic definition of the power prayer is when you invite heaven’s resources to intervene in your earthly situation. Since heaven’s resources are unlimited, then you are inviting the omnipotent God into the equation and asking him to fix or do something about your circumstance. When you grasp that, then you are getting hold of what the power of prayer is.
What Does the Bible Say about the Power of Prayer? There are numerous scriptures throughout the Bible that encourage us to pray and highlight the true power that is in prayer. Here are just two.
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven”
(Psalm 107:28-30).
“’Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:28-30).
From these two verses and so many others, you can see that one of the powers in prayer is when God’s people ask for his help in their current situation.
Why Is Prayer So Powerful? There is an old expression that says, “God helps those who help themselves.” Many people think this is in the Bible, but it is not. Not only is this not in the Bible, but this is also not really true. If you hold onto this type of thinking you will nullify prayer’s power.
When you think about what the real power of prayer is, it is not coming from a person who believes they can help themselves, but from a person who knows they can’t.
In the gospel of Luke, Jesus told this parable, and when you understand it you will understand what the power of prayer is.
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
‘But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted’” (Luke 18:9-14).
There is a stark difference between these two men praying. One came with full confidence, knowing he had done everything right and his praying was just the icing on the cake of his self-righteousness. The other one could barely lift his eyes toward heaven, yet he is the one that experienced the power in prayer. There were two simple but important reasons why:
Reality
If there is a key to experiencing power in prayer, it is making sure you pray from a place of reality. What I mean by this is that you don’t hide the truth of your situation and how you feel about it.
One reason we never have real times of breakthrough in prayer is because we often approach God like the Pharisee, either falsely believing we have it all together or thinking we must get it together before we approach God, because “God helps those who help themselves.” The truth is you need to come to God just the way you are, bring the situation just the way it is and be open, real, and honest before God. This is what God wants from you and when you do this, you position yourself to experience the real power in prayer.
Humility
I mentioned earlier that statement about God helping those who help themselves. The truth is the opposite. God helps those who realize they can’t help themselves – those who cry out to him for his help. When you invite heaven’s resources into your situation, that means you are acknowledging that what you have is not enough.
If you are repenting of sin, you are admitting you don’t have enough righteousness on your own.
If you are praying for opportunities, you are admitting you can’t create them on your own.
If you are praying for wisdom, you are admitting you don’t have all the answers.
It does not matter what you are praying for, when you humble yourself and recognize that without God’s help this is not going to happen, then you have positioned yourself to know and experience what the power of prayer really is.
Does Prayer Physically Aid Us?
As great as the spiritual benefits are from prayer, there have been studies that show there are physical ones as well. Admittedly this is not my area of expertise, but here is information from a 2009 study:
“A 2009 study by Koenig and colleagues found that six weekly in-person Christian prayer sessions with patients at a primary care office lowered their depression and anxiety symptoms and increased their optimism.”
Because God understands fully all the benefits of prayer, it is no surprise that he would encourage us to do it. It is why verses like this make more sense.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
As these patients continued in prayer, their anxieties and worries were lowered. This happens because in prayer, they transferred their anxieties from themselves to God and allowed him to carry them.
In prayer God is not just concerned about your need, he is concerned about you as well. Part of the reason God desires you to pray is because he knows it is good for your health. The things you let go of and give to God are not only good for your spirit, but they are also good for your body and mind too. This is a power of prayer that we most certainly overlook.
Is There Anything Prayer Cannot Do?
As powerful as prayer is, there is one thing that prayer, faith, or anything else can’t do. Prayer cannot supersede or override the will of God. You can pray as much as you want, for as long as you want, and with as much faith as you can muster, but it will not change what God has willed to do. For this reason, one of the most powerful weapons in prayer is agreement with God’s will. Not only are we encouraged to pray God’s will be done (think the Lord’s prayer) we are also assured that when we pray according to God’s will, he will do what we are praying for.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
When we consider this verse, we get an even better understanding of the power of prayer. The real power of prayer is when your will and desires come into alignment with God’s will and desires. When this happens, there is nothing that God will not do in answer to prayer because your prayers are already aligned with what he wants to do in the first place.
The Bible is the most important book ever written. The one true God chose to reveal Himself to us through the written word. Amazing and humbling!
Yet sometimes we get it wrong. We misunderstand or misapply the truth God has given us. Although there are countless causes, through my experience I’ve seen two primary problems crop up again and again.
Perspective – Too often we read God’s Word with our own purposes and goals in mind. But the Bible is all about God. When we read it with His eternal purposes in mind, we will better grasp the truth of His Word.
Context – The Bible may have unlimited applications, but its meaning never changes. It means the same today as it did when it was written. To understand the original meaning, we must pull back and understand the context – of the passage, of the chapter, of the book.
Here are 10 verses that are often misunderstood due to perspective, context, or both:
Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Many Christians claim this verse as a “promise” that God will never allow them to experience more difficulties than “they can handle.” Yet, the larger passage (1 Corinthians 10:1-13) deals with temptation and our ability to withstand it. God promises He will always provide a way for us to say “no” to temptation. In fact, Paul learned by experience that God will allow us to face circumstances “beyond our ability to endure” so that we will learn to rely on Him (see 2 Corinthians 1:8-11).
Proverbs 22:6
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Misunderstanding Proverbs 22:6 as a promise has led to grief for many parents. The book of Proverbs is wisdom literature, which offers general principles for successful living. A proverb is not a promise. Instead, let us use it as a tool for wise parenting and decision-making, and entrust our children to our faithful God!
Matthew 7:1
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”
Is all “judging” wrong? Jesus did condemn a harsh, critical “judging” motivated by a self-righteous, hypocritical attitude. But in the whole of Scripture, God clearly commands Christians to lovingly point out sin and exhort each other to holiness. It is not our place to determine their motives, but it is our responsibility to gently identify behavior God has already judged to be “sin.” The goal is to reconcile that person with God and others and to keep the sin from spreading (Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:5-7, Hebrews 12:15, James 5:19-20).
Psalm 37:4
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
If I find joy in God, will He fill my life with all the things I value and enjoy? Wait – remember context and focus. In this psalm, David contemplated the age-old question of why evil people seem to prosper while the righteous often struggle. David wrote to encourage his readers – and us – to widen our perspective, to live in light of eternity and to set our hope in God’s everlasting purposes. When we commit ourselves (delight) to God’s capable hands, our desire for the righteous to prevail will be realized in His timing.
James 1:2-3
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
We would think that James meant we could find joy in Christ in spite of our trials. That makes more sense! Yet, James really did say – and mean – because of our trials. While God cares very much about our physical circumstances, James knew He uses trials to refine our faith and make us more like Jesus. That is something to rejoice about!
Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Considering just this verse, we might believe that Jesus is with us only when we are with other believers. But the context of the larger passage is church discipline. When another believer sins, if he will not listen to one, two or three fellow believers should bring the matter to the church (Matthew 18:15-20).
Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Does God control all the circumstances of our lives to make things turn out great for us? Let’s take a step back to grasp the glorious truth of Romans 8:28. First, this promise is not for all people, just Christians who love and follow Jesus. Second, in the larger context, (Romans 8:18-39), Paul reminds us that although we must temporarily endure earthly suffering, God works through it to continuously work out His greater, eternal plan for us (Romans 8:28-30). The “good” God is working towards is not temporary, earthly “success,” but the eternal purpose of us being “conformed to the likeness” of Jesus (Romans 8:29).
Habakkuk 1:5
“Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”
If we read this verse by itself, we might believe God is going to do something wonderful and glorious before our eyes. Well, He definitely did, but probably not what you’d expect. God sent the prophet Habakkuk to pronounce judgment on Judah for turning away from God. The amazing thing God planned was to send the brutal nation of Babylon to conquer His people and carry them into captivity. This verse should stand as a strong reminder that God does discipline His children.
Jeremiah 29:11
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
This verse is definitely a promise. But it’s a promise for a particular people in a particular time. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God promised that after Judah’s pre-determined exile in Babylon, He would bring them back to the Promised Land. We often misappropriate promises. And while God does make a lot of promises to all believers, this particular promise isn’t one of them.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 is probably the most misused verse in the Bible. We pull it out of the surrounding passage and hold it out as God’s obligation to empower our plans and dreams. Yet, Paul was writing about being content no matter his earthly circumstances. He could endure any difficulty or physical need through the strengthening power of Christ. Oh yes, Philippians 4:13 is a great promise indeed! Jesus will give us the strength we need to endure desperate need. His empowering presence will be with us through every difficult circumstance.
The Christian Tech-Nerd 