Author: Pastor Ray Patrick

Evangelism. Outreach. Ministry. Pastor Ray Patrick is a R.E Teacher at The Eden School
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Christian apparel

Christian apparel refers to clothing and accessories that feature religious symbols, messages, or themes, specifically those related to the Christian faith. This type of clothing is worn by individuals who wish to express their faith and make a statement about their beliefs.

Some examples of Christian apparel include t-shirts with Bible verses or religious symbols, crosses, and Jesus fish. These clothing items can be worn as a way to share one’s faith with others and start conversations about Christianity.

Christian apparel can also be worn as a way to identify oneself as a member of a particular religious community. This can be especially important for youth groups and church groups, as well as for Christian events such as retreats and conferences.

There are many different types of Christian apparel available, from casual wear to formal wear, and it is often made by companies that specialize in creating religious clothing. Some Christian apparel companies also donate a portion of their profits to charitable causes, such as missions and disaster relief.

Overall, Christian apparel is a way for individuals to express their faith and to build a sense of community among believers. It can also be a powerful tool for spreading the message of Christianity and encouraging others to learn more about the faith.

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Adam’s Tragedy, Christ’s Triumph

man in black shirt and gray denim pants sitting on gray padded bench

The first human beings were created good. You may ask the question if God created all things good, including humankind, then why is there so much bad in the world and in our lives? Where did sin come from? This question has intrigued people through­out the ages.

The Bible tells us the sad story of the fall into sin. God had called Adam and Eve to obey him freely and willingly as they cared for his creation. But they failed to obey. Because of their disobedience, the world and our lives are now filled with brokenness, pain, and sorrow. Furthermore, our lives will end in death. Are, you experiencing the devastating effects of sin around you: the death of a loved one, a life-threatening disease, hunger, homelessness, or the ravages of war? Let’s Thank God that the story does not end there.

Today Paul in scripture compares Jesus and Adam. While Adam, the first man, brought sorrow and death, in Jesus we receive new hope and joy. He goes on to say that God sent his Son to heal this sin-scarred world, to forgive our sins, and to give us eternal life. What an awesome gift! And here’s more good news: you don’t need to wait until your birthday or Christmas to receive this gift. Why not trust Jesus as your Saviour and Lord today?

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank you for the gift of Christ, who came to restore us from all the effects of sin caused by Adam. We long for that day when Christ returns, and we will see him face to face! And sins will be no more in Jesus’ name Amen.

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The Mother Of All Living

When sin entered the world, grief and pain entered the lives of Adam and Eve. Think of the joy this couple experienced at the birth of Cain. Genesis records her saying, I have acquired a man from the Lord. Then, shortly after, they were blessed with another son in the birth of Abel. It did not take long, however, for trouble to brew between the brothers. When God showed preference to the offering that Abel brought before Him over Cain’s offering, jealousy showed its ugly face. In his anger, Cain killed his younger brother, Abel.

Imagine the grief that Eve faced. Not only did she have to face the death of a son, but that death came from the hand of her firstborn. God continued to bless Adam and Eve with children, but the Bible does not give us the names of these children until Eve gave birth to Seth. God even identifies Seth as the replacement for Abel.

Through Mother Eve, we see the birth of the church. Because these three sons played a significant part in the birth of the church, they are the only three children of Adam and Eve mentioned in the Bible. Abel, the Godly son, was to be the continuance of the Godly seed. After his death, God chose Seth to continue in this role. We discover later that Noah was descended from Seth, the Godly seed. Abraham, descended from Noah’s son Shem, became the father of the nation of Israel with whom God made a covenant, and was, in essence, the father of the church.

Today God has maintained a Godly seed on the earth. When pondering this, we realize that Eve, the Mother of All Living, the nation of Israel, therefore the mother of God’s church. Yes, through Eve sin entered into the world, but also through Eve came the birth of God’s church, her birth and influence of Seth gave birth to the father of faith. A people set apart for God’s use. Also, through Eve came the birth of the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of all mankind. So before we crucify her let’s give her some alcaides for allowing God to use her to fix her mistakes and giving us hope.

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living.  Genesis 3:20, NKJV 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I’m weary. My energy is sagging, and my motivation is lagging. Father, I am so in need of you. Like Eve I need your strength and your fresh touch to get back up after mayor setbacks. Please God keep me on track again. Your Word says the joy of the Lord is my strength. If that’s true, then I need your joy to replace all the tired parts of my mind, body, and soul. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

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Press Release: Godinterest design services to the public.

Godinterest, a Christian lifestyle clothing company, is excited to announce the launch of its design services to the public. Godinterest is dedicated to proclaiming Christ through edgy, contemporary designs made of high-quality soft fabrics. With the launch of these services, customers can now sign up on HostRooster to have a custom Christian t-shirt designed by the Godinterest team.

The company’s mission is to save and empower lives through their designs, which are meant to serve as a form of evangelism on the move. Each piece is crafted to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Godinterest is confident that customers will experience a comfortable fit and that their designs are on trend.

Godinterest clothing and accessories are also very affordable and exclusively available on HostRooster. The company is committed to being a body of believers and thinkers seeking the truth together, drawing on the breadth and depth of Christianity.

In conclusion, Godinterest is excited to offer their design services to the public, and for customers to experience the best quality and affordable Christian lifestyle clothing. Sign up on HostRooster today to get your custom Christian t-shirt designed by Godinterest. Visit this link for more information: https://www.hostrooster.com/user/Godinterest/

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Hi ChatGPT, what does God Interest mean to you?

Building Your Faith Through Community

“God interest” is not a commonly used phrase, so I do not have a specific definition for it. However, it could be interpreted as an interest or curiosity in the concept of a higher power or deity. It could also refer to the study of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions related to a god or gods.

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Overcoming Sin And Temptation

Sin, Happiness, and Breaking Out of Spiritual Boredom

Just as pollution demoralises the planet today, sin devastated the Garden of Eden. Through man’s disobedience, sin gained a foothold in God’s garden and turned it into a garbage dump.

Adam and Eve had always enjoyed protection in the garden, they fell for the serpent’s deception and exposed themselves to danger. In the middle of the garden, God had placed a special tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and He had instructed Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of this tree.

When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their disobedience infected all of humanity with the virus of sin. But Jesus’ perfect obedience led Him to the cross, making it possible for His followers to receive forgiveness of sin.

Remember temptation always brings a choice. It is an opportunity either to come under God’s authority and have victory or to go our own way and suffer defeat. Alone we are helpless victims, but with the Lord we are more than conquerors. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus, the perfect God-man, obeyed the Father fully. Satan got the upper hand in the first garden. But in the second garden, Jesus submitted to His Father’s will, guaranteeing Satan’s defeat and giving us victory over sin.

Today, if you are not walking in the power of the one who defeated sin, then sin is defeating you. But just as one tree of temptation held sway over Adam, through the tree (cross) of Calvary, Jesus defeated death and gave all who call on His name hope.

“[T]he Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9) 

 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, help me recognize and resist the enemy’s schemes. Father, give me strength to emerge victorious from times of temptation. God teach me to resist the devil so that he may flee from me in the Christ’s name. Amen.

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Overcoming By Grace

Overcoming By Grace

The strength in our verse today does not come by gritting our teeth. It does not come by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. It won’t be wrought with statements of self-affirmation – “Yes, I can!”. The strength Paul described to Timothy doesn’t come from within. We only become strong through the grace that is in Jesus Christ.

Just like the old hymn says, grace is truly amazing, and it will carry us through. Consider how many ways grace works in our lives: We are saved by grace. We are justified by grace. We are sanctified by grace. We are to live every moment of every day by grace. And we are empowered by grace to overcome every struggle that comes our way in our daily lives. However, we must accept the grace that God offers.

Our lives are filled with distractions, and we have busy schedules. That’s why, all too often, we forget what the power of Christ can accomplish in our lives. How many times have you found yourself in a challenging situation, facing an unsolvable problem—only to respond with panic, anger, or blame? How often we forget to call upon the Lord and ask for His wisdom in our times of need!

Today you may ask how do we begin to do this in our daily lives? We start by immersing ourselves in the Scriptures and dwelling on God’s Truth. The Bible delivers God’s promises to us afresh and reminds us of the beautiful story He is writing with our lives. Are you lonely? God’s Word will comfort you. Are you burdened with guilt? God’s Word will set you free. Are you full of bitterness and resentment? God’s Word will show you how to forgive. Are you discouraged? God’s Word will lift your spirit. Are you lost? God’s Word will light your way back to Him. You can know triumph in times of defeat. You can know peace in the midst of chaos. And when fear, shame, and discouragement threatens your joy, you can stand strong in the grace of God.

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit, who gives me strength and Your Word that reveals Your sure promises. Father, I have hope because You are with me. Your grace uplifts me and gives me courage. Grant me boldness to serve You and Your Kingdom. I pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.

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Stop Pleasing People

Short End of Year Prayers

While talking to some youth, I realised an important truth – people pleasing is alive and well. From fashion, to language and everything in between, there will always be people who try to squeeze you into their mould; people who try to pressure you into being who they want you to be. They may be good people. They may mean well. But the problem is – they aren’t your creator. They didn’t breathe life into you. They didn’t equip you, empower you or anoint you; Our Almighty God did!

If you’re going to be all that God created you to be, you can’t focus on what everybody else thinks. If you change with every criticism, trying to win the favour of others, then you’ll go through life being manipulated, and letting people squeeze you into their box. You have to realise that you can’t keep every person happy. You can’t make everyone like you. You’ll never win over all of your critics.

Today, instead of trying to please people, when you get up in the morning, ask the Lord to search your heart. Ask Him if your ways are pleasing to Him. Stay focused on your goals. If people don’t understand you, that’s okay. If you lose some friends because you wouldn’t let them control you, they weren’t true friends anyway. You don’t need others’ approval; you only need Almighty God’s approval. Keep your heart and mind submitted to Him, and you will be free from people pleasing!

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” (Proverbs 29:25, NLT)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I come humbly to You today. I invite You to search my heart and mind. Let my ways be pleasing to You. Father, take away my need for people’s approval. Please let my thoughts be Your thoughts and not the thoughts of a corrupt man. God, thank You for setting me free from people pleasing, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Promises Delayed Not Denied

a close up shot of a woman holding a rosary while praying

It could be that your faith is not the kind that thinks God owes you anything. Lucky you! God will never disappoint. But Abram was of the other sort. God promised him more than once that he would have a son to carry on his name and he would hold him to that. In our age of a million ways of leaving a legacy after our passing, it might be hard for us to understand why childbearing was so important for Abram. But it was everything.

 

It seemed like despite God’s very clear promises, He failed to deliver, for decades. Until long past Sarai’s procreative years. It must have seemed that God was toying with them: either distracted with a million other concerns or worse, teasing and never intending to follow through.

 

Today, what does it mean when we think God has made a promise to us that is not kept … at least for a very long time? Does God have a short attention span? Is God prevented by other forces? Is God waiting for something in us to finally be receptive, for the combination lock of our hearts to click open? Or does God, who lives in the past-present-future, know exactly the right timing? I believe the latter is true. Don’t lose hope, God will deliver at the right time so the blessings and the praise is maximised.

 

Abram said [to God], “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord. – Genesis 15:3-6 (NIV) 

 

Let’s Prayer

Yahweh, give us the courage to ask you for what we really want and to listen for your answer, and trust your promises. God, give us the patience to wait as long as it takes for you to make good on all you have said. In Jesus’ name Amen.

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A Dream of Hope

Today Americans celebrate the life of the great Christian leader Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Below are four quotes from him that will give us hope in this hopeless time.  

“I say to you today, my friends . . . even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’

“. . . I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; ‘and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together’. . . .

“ . . . With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

Today these words of Dr king not only give us hope for now but in the years to come “this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring! . . .”

“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” – Isaiah 40:4-5 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, have mercy upon us. Father forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be. God, give us the intelligence to know your will and give us the courage to do your will. Please give us the devotion to love your will. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Don’t Allow Your Confinement To Hold You Back  

Parenting For Eternity If someone asked you what you wanted most for your children. Your automatic response would properly be, “Success!”

In scripture, a Prophet finds himself in captivity in ancient Babylon. In exile, the prophet sees angels and hears a voice of judgement that will immediately chastise and eventually restore his nation.

By age 28, Beethoven began to lose his hearing, and by the time he was 44, he was completely deaf. But in the last 15 years of his life, Beethoven composed some of his most cherished and awe-inspiring music. 

Born out of wedlock in 18th century Britain, a scientist by the name of James Smithson was denied the right to use his father’s last name during his younger years. Upon his death, Smithson left his hefty estate to his nephew, with the stipulation that if his nephew died without an heir, Smithson’s estate would go to a country he’d never visited to establish an institution of learning. Thus, we have the Great Smithsonian Institute. 

Born Michael King on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta GA Martin Luther King the great civil rights leader end in jail. From a cold dark jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote one of the greatest apologetics for non-violent resistance to injustice that the world has ever known. Many say this was the greatest work ever published on this subject. The document has inspired peaceful protests around the globe ever since. 

Today, we are reminded, that some of our greatest insights have come in the midst of our hardest restrictions and inhibitions. Inhibitions of health, identity and human rights cannot diminish the power embedded in dreams, visions, and imagination. In fact, I believe inhibitions are the incubators of our greatest insights and innovations. 

“While I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” – Ezekiel 1:1 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, help me to never allow my confines to restrict the content of my visions. In Christ’s name Amen. 

In reflection 

What context of confinement will God use as a conduit to give expression to your next big idea? 

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Let Go Of Anger Before As You Sleep

My Anger and Need for Control Was Killing My Marriage (And My Faith)

Scripture reminds us that the Lord longs to pour out blessings on us even while we are sleeping! During these difficult times, many people struggle with sleeping at night. They stay awake or get poor sleep because they are constantly focused on their problems and worrying about tomorrow. But that’s not God’s plan! He wants you to enjoy your sleep as a time of blessing and refreshing. Understand that God has His hand on your life even in the midnight hour. He wants to speak to your heart and restore your dreams. He is taking care of those things that concern you.

Today, cast your cares on God and trust Him to work out every detail of your life, you’ll be able to enjoy that sweet sleep that He has promised even in these hard times. Make the decision today to enjoy the blessings of the Lord as you sleep. Say a prayer before you go to bed and cast your cares, worries and stresses on God, let go of anger and wrath and rest in Him.

“…He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.” (Psalm 127:2, AMP)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your promise of blessing me as I sleep. Father, I ask that You teach me how to receive Your blessing and refreshing while I sleep. God, I cast my cares worries and stresses on You, trusting that You will work all things for my good. Lord, thank You for watching over me and protecting me each night as I sleep, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

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Do Not Sin When You’re Angry  

This has been a frustrating week for me, as I had to contend with health issues. Lots of ‘why’ questions led to angry thoughts. We all get angry. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to handle our anger. The wrong way will lead to more wrong and destructive things. Moses handled his anger the wrong way and it cost him the Promised Land. After Moses let the Israelites’ quarrelling and complaining get to him, he didn’t remind them of the glory of the Lord. So, God told Moses that he wouldn’t see the Promised Land, instead, the task of leading the Israelites into it was given to Joshua. 

Jesus handled His anger the right way, and those who took advantage of the poor were exposed and thrown out of the temple. ‘Jesus went straight to the temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling… now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus, and he healed them (Matthew 21:12-14 MSG). The Bible says: ‘Be angry and do not sin’ which means instead of just complaining about the problem, we’re supposed to do something about it.  

When we let our anger build up without dealing with it, we can end up letting all our anger out in the wrong way. Instead of letting it build up, we need to deal with it. When we begin to feel angry, we need to assess why we’re feeling like that, and talk to the people involved calmly. The Bible tells us that we not only shouldn’t sin when we’re angry, but we also shouldn’t ‘let the sun go down on our anger’. And that means we shouldn’t leave any anger unresolved. 

Today, we need to sort out issues with other people, and with ourselves, by inviting God into the situation and dealing with conflict in a mature and Christ-like way. Do you have any built-up anger? Take it to God and ask Him to help you deal with it calmly and maturely. 

‘Be angry, and do not sin.’ (Ephesians 4:26) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for being my God. Thank You for caring for me and teaching me valuable lessons for life. Father, I seek to do things Your way. To solve conflicts and treat others the way You would. God, help me control my anger so I’m not offensive or destructive. Lord, teach me how not to sin, so I will be pleasing to You, in Christ’s name! Amen. 

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God Take Away My Anger And Give Me Peace 

What Would Jesus Pin

The doctors shared the bad news with the family, They were all in shock. After he delivered the bad news gasps, shouts of “no”, swearing and anger filled the room. The spirit prompted me to pray for peace, quoting Matthew 4, I stated “peace be still” in my prayer. No matter what may be going on around you today, you can still live in peace. Scripture encourages us not to let our hearts be troubled. In other words, don’t meditate on all the negative things in this world to the point that it steals your peace.  

Remember, the enemy knows this, and his goal is to steal your peace. He tries to set you up to get you upset. But when you choose to receive God’s peace, then no weapon formed against you shall prosper! Hallelujah! 

Today, if you have fear, worry or anxiety about anything, recognize that those feelings aren’t from God, because He has promised to give you a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. There is tremendous power in peace. When you are at peace internally, you can think more clearly. You can hear the voice of God more easily. You’ll make better decisions. Even your physical body responds to peace. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for Your gift of peace in my life. Father, I choose to receive Your peace in my heart and hold it close to me always. Despite what happens in life, I receive Your Word as truth and life to my heart and soul. God, I ask for Your healing hands upon the prime minister, his family and the thousands of others who have been unwell by this virus. God, I claim and receive Your promise of peace in our lives today, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

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Choose Honour And Avoid Strife 

Will Jesus Find Faith on Earth?

One of my terms for this year is to avoid strife. Strife is a very destructive force. It can creep into relationships by starting small, maybe through a comment or a wrong look from someone, and it can then escalate into something much bigger. But when you choose to cease from strife and overlook an offence, you are acting honourably and honouring God. 

How do you avoid strife? Scripture tells us that love covers many offences. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe someone was cross with you at the office, but they may also have a loved one in the hospital. Instead of getting upset, walk in love—be patient, be kind to them. Extend grace. 

Today, look for ways to walk in unity with the people in your life. When we walk in unity, there is a commanded blessing. Always avoid strife, choose peace, and watch the hand of God move mightily in your life! 

“It is an honour for a man to cease from strife…” (Proverbs 20:3, KJV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, today I choose Your ways. Father, I invite Your plan to unfold in my life. Help me avoid strife so I can walk in peace, and unity, and honour all the days of my life in Christ’s name. Amen. 

In Reflection

How can I stay calm and avoid strife in my life?

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It’s Time To Grow Up 

women wearing brown dress close up photography

God’s intervention can feel poorly timed, perhaps even prickly, sharp, and uncomfortable. But convenience is not something we should expect from God.  

God may not operate on our time frame, but He is always on time. Any attempt to schedule growth or to wait until life isn’t so busy, to wait until the children are older, to wait until God’s commands feel less confrontational will mean missing out on what God is doing now and in His big picture. 

It is easy to slip into comfortable religion, consuming morsels of truth sporadically to dilute their impact. But the same way that eating ice cream for every meal isn’t good for our physical health, sticking only to the Scriptures we like isn’t good for our spiritual health. God invites us to feast on all of His Word, enjoy all of His promises and heed all of His hard instructions. 

Today as we learn to eat well-balanced spiritual food, we start to grow up in faith. We start to see how the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Remember, God is more concerned with your spiritual growth than your secular comfort 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, life seems to be a journey full of stumbling blocks and challenges. Father, with each hurdle, there is growth. With each setback, a valuable lesson. Lord, I ask that You give me the wisdom and presence of mind to learn from my mistakes and pitfalls. God help me to appreciate the rebukes, reproofs, and difficult things you ask me to do. Please give me the strength to approach these things with spiritual maturity, knowing they are for my growth bringing me closer to You. In Jesus’s name Amen. 

In Reflection: 

What does this passage teach us about God? How does it apply to you? 

Is it possible to hear the truth and remain unchanged by it?  

Is your commitment to growth and change more acceptable now? How? 

 

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