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.
God brought an interesting nugget of wisdom my way recently.
And I am delighted to be telling you this.
The Bayes Business School in England observed people who live in almshouses.
These are institutions that provide housing for the poor and elderly.
They analyzed 100 years of data, and they found that the residents in these communities live two-and-a-half years longer than their counterparts in the wider population.
Why do these people live longer even though they are usually more poor and have fewer comforts?
Well, the answer is quite simple.
And it goes to show how our God cares for us even in ways that are not obvious.
The real reason these folks live longer is because they interact with each other daily.
And this is something that we also do as Christians.
In our Christian churches, we are more than individuals living in proximity.
We are a family, bound by our faith, love for each other, and commitment to mutual support.
This collective, grounded in shared experiences and mutual empathy, forms a shield against loneliness and isolation
Elements known to be detrimental to our physical and mental well-being.
Our communities are living embodiments of “love thy neighbor,” a command that’s not just about morality but health too.
When we care for one another and provide emotional support, we are actively contributing to our own health and longevity.
This study underscores the importance of companionship, showing how the power of a Christian community can significantly enrich our paths and extend them.
While the study’s context might be specific, its message is universal.
It helps us recognize and embrace the power of our faith.
So let us continue praying, going to church, and strengthening our bonds with our Christian brothers and sisters.
Best Christian Prayers for Strength and Healing (At Least in My Opinion)
I always try and learn new prayers that I’m nit very familiar with, and I found a few Christian prayers for strength and healing that I would very much love sharing with today with both Christians, and non-Christians, alike.
Please use these Christian prayers in any situation where you need strength, hope, healing and courage.
Prayer for Healing and Strength
Father, thank you that you sent your Son to bring me life. Life in the fullness. Life for eternity. Thank you that I share in Christ’s resurrection life. That Christ is alive in me. And His Spirit dwells deeply in my being. Right now I receive your healing. I receive the same power that raised Christ from the grave. I receive Your life. I receive Your strength.
Thank you that all things are possible for those who believe. Thank you that you are moving in me right now. May I continue to receive from you. This hour and every hour.
Our journeys are full of surprises, both good and bad.
We can’t ever be certain about what the future holds.
Sometimes we expect good things and bad things to happen.
Sometimes we anticipate hardship, and find that things work out more favorably than we thought.
Most people hate this.
They want to feel in control.
As Christians, however, we understand that things are not happening randomly.
We know that everything is part of God’s plan.
Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
This verse reminds us that we should accept the events in our journeys without judgment.
This doesn’t mean that we can’t have opinions or preferences.
God gave us the ability to think for a reason.
But we should trust that God knows what He’s doing, even if we don’t always understand it.
When we experience blessings, we should recognize them as blessings from God and thank Him for His goodness.
And when we face challenges or difficulties, we should trust that God is with us and doing everything for our good.
Proverbs 19:2 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Our plans and desires may not always align with God’s will, but we can trust that His purpose will ultimately prevail.
Of course, we can still control a lot of things.
We can remain kind and forgiving to our loved ones.
We can support the less fortunate.
We can have a lot of impact on our journeys and the people around us.
But we shouldn’t forget that ultimately we should live according to God’s teachings.
So let’s commit to accepting everything without judgment, knowing that God is at work in every situation.
Whether we’re facing significant problems or small ones, we can trust that He will guide us if we seek His wisdom and follow His lead.
Let’s trust in His divine providence.
No matter what you may have seen on social media…a lot of people are lonely nowadays.
Numerous studies have shown that loneliness is on the rise – even if you can’t tell at first glance.
The rise of technology and decline of in-person social interaction has pushed people toward isolation.
And after being stuck in their houses for two years, a lot of people have stayed shut inside their shells.
The real issue, however, is that they are too ashamed to admit it.
As a Christian, I want to remind you that you are not alone in this struggle.
And that there are ways to care for yourself and manage feelings of loneliness, through the guidance and love of God.
One of the most important things we can do to manage feelings of loneliness is to practice self-compassion.
The reason this is so crucial is that a lot of people are too hard on themselves.
They take on too many responsibilities and feel guilty when they can’t complete everything.
So they blame themselves even for things beyond their control.
We have to remember, however, that God wants us to love ourselves.
When practicing self-compassion, you should be treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would show your loved ones.
Once you do that, you are in a better position to move to the next step…
Improving your relationships.
It’s clear that we are social creatures.
And that we need to regularly interact with friends and family.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.“
There is no replacement for genuine interaction with other people.
So make sure you strive to improve the connection with the people closest to you – or even create different connections.
Another thing we have to remember is that God is always with us, especially in times of loneliness.
He is a loving companion that can help us make it through everything.
It’s important to cultivate a relationship with Him through prayer, reading the Bible, and meditating on His word.
God will help us as long as we let Him.
So remember, it is okay to be feeling lonely. Everyone does at some point.
The important thing is to not be ashamed of it and live as God would want you to.
Disappointed in how the media is always talking about doom and gloom…
Disappointed in how pessimistic everyone has become…
And disappointed in how people have forgotten that their lives are a gift from God.
As Christians, we have to remind everyone (and ourselves) that no matter how bad things might seem, we always have things to be grateful for.
We are blessed with the love and grace of God, and that alone is something to keep us going.
We have a purpose and a plan, and we can trust that God is guiding us on our journey.
As the Bible tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I am conscious of my thoughts about you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope at the end..”
We also have the gift of salvation, which will forever give us hope.
As the Bible tells us in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
We have the ability to forgive and be forgiven.
We have food to eat, a roof over our heads, and the love and support of our family and friends.
It’s easy to take these things for granted, but when we pause to reflect on them, we realize how truly blessed we are.
It’s important to remember that we are not alone in our struggles. God is always with us and He is in control.
He has a plan for our lives and we can trust that He will see us through any hardship.
So, let’s take a moment to give thanks for the blessings in our lives.
Say it with me:
“Thank you, Lord, for everything you have given me.”
Let’s be grateful for the small things, as well as the big things.
And let’s be a light in this world, proving good morale and support in these trying times.
Say This Prayer To Acquire Abundance (Takes 30 Seconds)
Matthew 7:7 says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
The Lord helps those who ask for help.
When we are faced with difficulties, we should always seek guidance.
God knows what’s best for us.
But it’s up to us to reach out to Him and receive His gracious help.
If you want to acquire wealth and prosperity, then before you do anything else, you should first ask for it.
Let us say this prayer together:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You in humble gratitude for the blessings and provisions You have given me. I acknowledge that everything I have comes from You, and I am deeply thankful for Your love and generosity.
I ask, Lord, that You guide me in making wise decisions, and help me to be a faithful steward of the resources You have entrusted to me.
Teach me to prioritize Your Kingdom and to use my wealth for Your glory. Let me be a channel of Your blessings, sharing Your love and goodness with those around me.
I claim Your promises of abundance and prosperity, trusting that You will provide for my needs according to Your riches in glory. Help me to walk in faith and obedience as I seek to align my actions with Your plans and purposes.
Amen.”
You might be wondering, why does this prayer work?
There is nothing special about it
Anyone could have thought of it.
But that’s the point!
It’s not what you say.
It’s how you feel when you say it.
The key lies in the goodness in our hearts.
When we pray with sincerity, faith, and gratitude, we make ourselves receptive to the blessings He has in store for us.
This prayer works as a tool to remind us that God is our provider and that we should be faithful stewards of His resources.
God’s ways are higher than ours, and His timing is flawless.
Sometimes, the blessings may not come in the way we expect or when we expect them, but God always knows what’s best for us.
We must always remain grateful for the blessings He bestows upon us.
Cultivate a heart of thankfulness for everything that God has given you.
And you’ll find that your faith and trust in Him will grow, paving the way for the miraculous to take place.
May your prayers lead to abundant blessings.
Best 3 Short Prayers to Help Christians Start Their Day
I always tend to pray multiple times per day.
I also understand that most people are extremely busy throughout their day,
and they may not find enough time to set aside for daily prayers.
So I want to share with all of your “way too busy to pray” Christians,
three very short prayers that you can always find time to do!
Christian Prayer for Healing
Healer of all, touch those who are suffering and bring your comforting and restorative presence to their lives.
Christian Prayer for Strength
God, give me the strength to face challenges with courage and the faith to overcome them through your guidance.
Christian Prayer for Guidance
Heavenly Father, lead me in your ways, for I trust in your wisdom. May I walk according to your will and find your purpose for my life.
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.
We doubt the promises God has made. We doubt the abilities God has gifted us with. We doubt the provision God has over our lives. We doubt that God has joy set apart for us, because our current suffering doesn’t seem as appealing as our neighbor’s prosperity. We doubt that God is working out all things for His good.
Sometimes we just have questions that we don’t have the answers to, and the quest for those answers turns up empty. Yes, we can even doubt God’s existence.
“Spiritual doubt has been a reality of the Christian journey since the disciples — and today is no different,” said Roxanne Stone, managing editor of the Religion News Service and former editor in chief of Barna Group. “Just like first-century Christians, their twenty-first-century counterparts question aspects of their theology, doubt the existence of God, and mourn His seeming absence during hard times. Doubt remains a flip side on the same coin as faith.”
Many Christians, understandably so, seek answers for these doubts both in their own studies of the Bible and from pastors or leaders at their local church. But what do we do when our pastors and church leaders experience doubts as well? They’re supposed to have the answers for us, right?
Pastors Can Have Doubts, Too First, it’s important to understand that it is normal for pastors to experience doubt.
“I have had doubts and, in fact, sometimes pastors have more doubts than those in the pews, given the pressures pastors face in terms of leadership and the depth of human brokenness pastors see on a daily basis,” said Daniel Darling, a pastor and author in Nashville, Tennessee. “I think most of our doubts center around the mystery of what God is doing in the moment. I think of spiritual leaders in Scripture who doubted like David and Habbakuk and Jeremiah and Paul.
“The key to answering doubts is to rest and remember what we know to be true about God, what we’ve seen him do in Christ, what we know of his goodness and grace. This is where a foundation of thick theology, a reservoir of hymn lyrics, and a community of saints is vitally important.”
While our pastors will indeed have many answers, we cannot expect them to have all the answers. God is a marvelous mystery. He is an infinite being. Our finite minds simply cannot fathom or understand everything about God, nor were we created to.
None of us — even pastors — were given the capacity to fully understand God. This is why we have faith.
Responding to Those Who Doubt Expecting our pastors to have all the answers is simply unrealistic and puts too much pressure on someone who, like us, is merely human. Pastors are susceptible to the same sins, temptations, heartache, and — yes — even doubts that everyone else is. Oftentimes, as Darling noted, it’s the trying seasons or traumatic events that bring about doubts, even with pastors.
As churchgoers, it is vital that we understand the reality that our pastors can and will experience doubt, and it’s equally important that we pray and support them during seasons of doubt. We must encourage them in their quest for a deeper understanding of who God is and pray for them to find contentment in their limited earthly understanding of God.
“I think churchgoers should welcome a spiritual leader who has doubts in terms of understanding the mystery of what God might be doing in the world,” Darling said. “I think a good shepherd is vulnerable with his own real wrestling with God. Pastors are not content machines or Bible bots, they are flesh and blood people.
“I do think when pastors face doubts, they can model a way to navigate them in ways that help others find their way back to what they know is true. I’d be concerned if a spiritual leader was openly doubting and questioning the basic tenants of the Christian faith. It may be time for a season of rest and stepping away from leadership. But a pastor who has doubts — like David, Abraham, Habbakuk, Jeremiah, Paul — about what God might be doing in a given moment: this is the stuff of real-life as we walk by faith and not by sight.”
When someone expresses doubt in their faith, they are sometimes met with judgment, as if enduring a season of doubt is an affront to God. That misconception can be amplified when the doubt comes from the pulpit. How could a pastor have doubts about God?
Here’s how Adam Weber, pastor of Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, put it on Twitter:
“Note to Christians: One of the best answers you can give in response to someone’s questions about God, life, Bible, Heaven,… that you don’t know is: ‘I don’t know,’” he tweeted. “Don’t try and dance around their question. Don’t make up an answer. Thank them for asking and say, ‘I don’t know.’
“You can faithfully search for an answer in addition and share it with humility if you do find answers. I think often we think we lose credibility if we don’t have all the answers to questions. Not true! We lose so much more when we try and sound like we know something that we don’t.”
Not knowing an answer is not always the result of doubt, but accepting that “I don’t know” is a legitimate answer for any Christian will remove any pressure that we might feel to understand it all or seek to understand it all. We simply can’t, and we won’t. And that’s okay.
1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people”
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
The Christian Tech-Nerd 