Tag: the truth

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Are You A Witness Or A Spectator?

In court, witnesses are more than just spectators. They are active participants who help determine the outcome of a case. The same is true of the Christian’s witness of Christ. We are to be active participants in a matter of absolute importance— sharing the truth of Christ life, death, and resurrection.

John the Baptist was the ultimate witness of Jesus. He shared all he could about Jesus, the light of the world. John’s disciples recorded the events, testifying of his experiences with Jesus: “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”.

Today, all Christians have been summoned before the courtroom of this world not to be mere spectators but active witnesses. We must tell the world the truth about Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. Like John the Baptist, the voice crying in the desert, our voices should be heard in our workplace, neighbourhood, church, and among our family and friends. We must be active witnesses, telling all about the reality of Christ who lives in our lives.

[John] came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. (John 1:7).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank you for giving me the boldness to be an active witness for you. Father, I thank you and glorify you for all the testimonies and experiences you have guided me through, so I can share everywhere I go. Lord, please don’t let the devil silence my witness about you in Christ’s name, Amen.

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Don’t Sweep It Under The Rug

Do you remember the popular song with a catchy tune called “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”? It’s bright melody and simple message could almost convince you that by brushing all your worries under a rug and forcing a smile, you could fill yourself with happiness. But true happiness doesn’t work like that. Instead, it is bundled up with gratitude.

Gratitude depends not on ignoring what’s going on in our lives, but in choosing to see and accept the deepest reality about our existence. Jesus’ encounter with the woman “who lived a sinful life”, demonstrates this beautifully. You see, the Pharisees had swept all their sins under the rug of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency. They chose to ignore the truth of their brokenness and his deep need for forgiveness. Their ingratitude produced a toxic bitterness that caused them to completely miss the fact that the Saviour of the world, and their souls, was standing right in front of them.

Today, this sinful sex worker who anointed Jesus didn’t miss her Saviour. There could be no sweeping of sins under the rug for her. Everyone seemed to know about them anyway. So, in acknowledgement of her brokenness and receiving the forgiveness Jesus offers, her heart and her hands poured out her gratitude. What’s under your rug? What’s under mine? Let’s bring it out, acknowledge it, and accept the forgiveness that only Jesus offers.

I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. (Luke 7:47).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, today I overflow with gratitude for your forgiveness of all my sins. In Jesus name, Amen.

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God’s Anointing Is On You

We normally focus on what we do not have, as opposed to what we do have. We focus on how big our obstacles are, and how bad the economy is etc. “I don’t have the connections… I’ve got this problem,  but I don’t have anybody to help me… I’ve got this dream, but I don’t have the resources”. Yet here is the truth, everything you need to fulfill your destiny is within reach. God will always use something that’s close to you. It may not look extraordinary, but you have what it takes to fulfill your destiny.

Like when David faced the giant, Goliath. All he had was a slingshot and five stones. It looked ordinary. He could have thought, “I’m not going to face Goliath. That would be foolish. I don’t have a chance”. But David knew that with God on his side, those ordinary stones would be exactly what he needed. Sure enough, David defeated Goliath with what he had and made history.

Today, remember victory isn’t about what you have, it’s about God’s anointing on what you have. With God on your side, all things are possible! Focus on Him and what He has given you. God can do great things in your life because He has placed extraordinary things in you, use them today.

“So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.” (1 Samuel 17:50, NIV).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for equipping me for success and victory in this life. Help me to clearly see the opportunities, connections and resources You have ordained for me. I trust that with You, all things are possible. In Christ’ 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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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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When Plans Fail 

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

What do you do when your plans fall apart? Where do you turn? Who do you run to for answers?  

In my life, I’ve had many plans fail. What about you? Have you ever had your plans fail? Have you ever made plans and had them changed on you at the last second? Have you ever planned something to work out one way, but it went the total opposite way? 

In scripture, Proverbs 21:30-31 says, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” When our plans fail, we can have hope because our God never fails. 

There is nothing wrong with planning and preparing in life. However, our plans are always subject to change. Solomon also tells us, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” If we are faithful no matter what happens in our lives, God’s purpose for us always comes through. 

Today, our heavenly Father wants what is best for us. We serve a great God who gives good gifts to His children. He loves us so much that He promises us an abundant life. So, we can trust that His plans are better than ours. And even when it feels like everything is going wrong, He is using those circumstances to bring us to where He wants us to go. So next time your plans fail, take hope in the truth that God’s purpose for your life will prevail. 

“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.” Jeremiah 29:11 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for another year to serve you and be your hands and feet. I’ve made my plans for this year and now I lay them at your feet because you know best. 

If these are the things you want me to do, I pray that you’ll give me the energy, focus and discipline to get them done. God, I’ll trust you for the outcomes. Father, if you have other plans for me, change mine, rearrange them and blow mine up. I put my confidence in you. Your will, not mine. In Christ’s name Amen. 

In Reflection: 

When was a time your plans failed, but you eventually saw that where God was taking you was better than where you planned to go? 

How can remembering that give you hope the next time you see your plans start to fail? 

What is one way you can seek God when making your plans, so they more closely align with His plans for you? 

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How To Make Most Of The New Year

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Many people give advice on how to make the most of the New Year. They may suggest a new diet, a new exercise routine, new learning programs, new money management, or new relationships, but there is something else we should consider. Something that includes all those areas of our lives and more.

God’s word! Read your Bible. It’s as simple as that.

The goal isn’t just to read some verses and walk back into the rest of your life unaffected. The goal of reading your Bible should be to know God better and do what He says. How will the Bible change our year?

God communicates His truth and love through the Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). By reading the Bible, we are learning that God came to rescue us and give us what we need for our lives, through purpose and meaningful connections. When we experience the truth revealed in Scripture, we are given the opportunity to change. Since the Bible is full of truth, we have so many things to learn and ways to grow.

Scripture is a powerful tool God can use throughout our lives. Even if you’ve read the Bible for most of your life, there is always more to learn. Each time we open the Bible, God shows us something new and leads us further than we’ve been before.

Today, Jesus wants us to have a better New Year than we want for ourselves. The best way to discover what He has in store for us is to listen to Him and do what He says. That process begins with the instructions He has given us in His Word. As you move forward into this year, walk with Yahweh by reading the Bible and obeying Him. Scripture itself promises that God’s words would not return to Him void but accomplish what He desires (Isaiah 55:8-11).

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 may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, as the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family and our friends. Father, help us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains. Let us spend time daily in your word. Learning to live in the most loving and God-conscious way. Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, colour or creed. God may my year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May blessings shower upon me and bestow upon each of us a bright, healthy and peaceful new year. In Christ’s name, Amen

In Reflection

Do you want to see how much your New Year and your life can be changed by God? Read your Bible and follow Jesus, step by step.

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Scars: A testimony of a lost soul

man standing in the middle of road

I’m all alone in this world. I don’t know what I am doing. I always make bad choices. People say I’m ugly. My face is long, and my nose is big. So is my butt. I’ll never finish school. I can’t afford cute clothes. I had an abortion. I don’t deserve to live. My kids deserve better. Nobody loves me. My parents kicked me out. My dad is on drugs. My mom is a drug addict. I’m an alcoholic. I used to sell my body. I have a lot of tattoos. I am a single parent. All my friends are fake. 

If I really listened to everything people told me, I’d already be dead. But I chose a new life. I decided to take my old life and kill it. I choose to be an optimist and know that God has a plan for me.  Amen.

Most people seem selfish and self-absorbed, so why should their opinion matter? I choose to surround myself with people who like me for me. Even if it is only one or two people. One true friend is worth more than many fake ones. The many who surround themselves around me for my beauty, my talent, my self-worth, or just to be in my entourage. I’m glad God showed me the way. I’m thankful for second chances. I accept myself and give second chances to the people around me. I will accept the positive and shield against the negative. Now I know I have a purpose and my talents will not be wasted. I plead with you today, for you to never give up on yourself or your dreams. Things change, and people can change physically and emotionally. Money does not rule the world, God does. 

Today, it is difficult to believe in things that seem so unreal and impossible, but that is what faith is. It is believing in the presence of doubt. So, take this step of faith, tell God that you are hopeless and helpless without Him. Tell God how afraid you are, how angry and frustrated you are with life, how worried you are about the future. Just close your eyes and start pouring out to God, until you feel the weight on your shoulder is lighter. Let the tears, all the hurts and pain pour out from your heart. It is between you and God, no one else. There’s no pretence, no hiding, no holding back. Be transparent in front of Jesus, lay all your junk and burden at His feet, for it is not for us to carry all these burdens in life. It was never meant to be ours to bear. Our bondage has been broken. Today, we bind ourselves to chains, when the key to these chains is in our hands. Let’s make Jesus’ death worthwhile. Go back to basics, go back to your first love, and go back to the roots of why you call yourself a Christian. Going back to basics is always the best move to make when you find yourself lost. 

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for your unconditional love.  Father, it is because of your great love that I live in the freedom that Jesus has given me.  Thank you for opening my eyes to the truth that is found in your Word. Mighty Saviour, thank you for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness into your kingdom of light.  God, I am so heartbroken because some of my family and friends have not accepted Christ, as their Lord and saviour.  Please Lord, use me as your vessel to go and tell them the gospel so that they can become part of your family.  In Christ’s name, I believe and pray, Amen. 

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5 Christian Living Tips That Can Change Your Life

Christians face many challenges in their daily life, and the decisions made at their core are often the cause of many problems and hardships. The decisions that most affect the Christian are the ones to sin and live a life of sin, or to follow Jesus and live a life of obedience. The Christian life is not easy, and the temptation to sin is constant. But, there is hope. With the help of God, the Christian can not only overcome sin and live a life of obedience, but they can also live a life of freedom, and experience peace.

Christian Living is a tough road to walk. If you are new to the Christian faith, or if you’ve been away from the church a while, you may think that everything is going to be tough. This is why it is a priority to learn the basics and polish up your walk with God. Here are 5 Christian Living Tips That Can Change Your Life. We all can benefit from the wisdom of the Bible, but not everyone knows how to live out what it teaches.

Life is filled with decisions, and many people find that their lives revolve around making the right decisions. And while it may seem like we make all of our decisions based on logic and sound reasoning, sometimes our decisions are made for us by God. The 5 Tips below will help you break out of your rut and take your life to another level.

1.Make time for God

As Christians, we are called to live faithfully, loving God and others. Below are five Christian living tips that can change your life and the lives of others for the better.Living out your Christian values in everyday life is not always easy. It’s easy to get distracted by all the things that are wrong with the world and to be discouraged by what we see happening around us. It is easy to get lazy about living out your faith.

But God wants us to live the Christian life. God wants us to love and serve others. God wants us to be a light in the world. God wants us to grow closer to God. But we can’t do this on our own. God wants us to rely on Him. God wants us to let Him lead us. God wants us to know that He is with us, and He is watching over us.

We all go through different seasons in our life. Whether it be a season of joy where everything seems to be going right or a season of life where everything seems to be going wrong.

2.Pray more

Our prayers don’t just affect the people we pray for. Our prayers affect those around us as well. Sometimes our prayers are filled with positive intentions, such as asking God to forgive our sins. Other times our prayers are filled with requests, such as asking God to help us with our problems. But whatever your prayer is, remember, others are affected by your prayers.

Prayer is the most powerful force on the planet. However, many people don’t feel they can pray or don’t know how to pray, or they think prayer is too wimpy for them. But the truth is, prayer is powerful. You can pray about anything, and you can have your prayers answered. Prayer is simply communication between you and God. And prayer works if you sincerely pray from the heart.

3.Good works

Good works is a topic that gets talked about a lot in Christianity. There is a small group of Christians who believe that the Bible teaches a works-righteousness doctrine, and that good works are the only way for a person to be saved. But there are others who believe that good works are just a way that God graciously shows His love for his children.

Good works is the name given to works done that are pleasing to God. One’s works, especially their good deeds, matter based on how good one’s intentions are, or whether they have been doing good works consistently.When you are struggling to find meaning in your life, good and faithful works may be exactly what you need. Good works do not have to be amazing or earth shattering, but they can give your life something to focus on, and help you feel a sense of fulfilment.

4.Meet with other Christians

Meeting with other Christians is a great way to find new friends, share your current faith experiences, and grow in your faith. It is a simple way to grow in your faith. It is a simple way to grow in your faith. There are many times in our lives when we feel alone, and that loneliness can be overwhelming. When you join a Christian church, you instantly have a community of people who are there for you.

Meeting with other Christians helps the church find ways to build relationships with each other. This is a type of small group that is focused on supporting and getting to know one another. Meeting with other Christians can be a good way to make connections within your church and with other Christians. Many people, Christians included, worry that talking about their faith will make others uncomfortable.

5.Treat others with love

Treat others with love. Well, that is a simple phrase. But if we are honest, most of us do not treat others the way we would like to be treated. But we can change that. We can see that by treating others with love, we are actually treating ourselves. Loving others takes the focus off ourselves and puts it on someone else.

Treat others with love. Love others lavishly. Love others without condition. While these are difficult concepts to put into practice, they are essential for being happy. These concepts are, however, very different. For some of us, love is easy. We are naturally loving people. For others of us, however, love can be a challenge.

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Time To Change Your Mind 

When was the last time you changed your mind? Maybe it was when you changed your outfit a couple of times this morning. Maybe it was changing your mind on your mail just after the waitress took your order. Maybe it was changing your mind about the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for a friend. Changing your mind over clothes, food, and gifts is not life-changing but there is a circumstance when changing your mind is powerful. 

Paul says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ”. In other words, we need to change our minds when our thoughts do not align with God’s truth. There are times when a lie from the enemy spins in our minds and the thought patterns wage war within us to keep us from living in the victory of Christ. The process to change thought is to replace the lie with the truth. 

4 Reasons to change your mind: 

Change your mind from the thought of defeat to “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

Change your mind from the thought of no value to “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). 

Change your mind from fear and failure to “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me” (Romans 8:11). 

Change your mind from pity to “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). 

Today, as believers, we have the power to change our minds through Christ! Next time you change your fast-food order be reminded of how quickly that change happened. Changing your mind to the truth of Christ will allow you to live in the freedom He so freely gives. 

Let’s Pray 

Jehovah, my God, I know that I will battle my sinful nature as long as I live. Recently, that battle is in my mind. I am begging for You to quiet all voices except Your own. Let Your voice be as clear as the birds singing at dawn. Place a wall around me and fight for my mind as I seek to follow after You. I surrender my all to You. Amen. 

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Directions

Landing in Tanzania has given me a chance to reflect on my spiritual direction. Direction, “a purpose or orientation toward a goal that serves to guide or motivate,” has an inevitable flow in our lives. In consideration of our daily direction, the above verse from Romans aligns our internal compass with the One who breathes strength and purpose into the very muscles that compel us. 

Our spiritual direction stems from faith. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to “stand firm in the faith.” Scripture tells us to take captive every thought and to align all we hear with the truth of the Gospel. Reading Scripture daily builds godly confidence, preventing the propulsion down a path that doesn’t align with His unique purpose for our lives. 

God’s direction for our lives isn’t always easy to traverse. We’re guaranteed that it most certainly will be hard in this life. Courage and strength, supplied by the Father’s love flowing through us, help our feet forge the path that is purposefully ours to trod. So “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Strength and power were ideals used to make spiritual decisions. We’re not too called to rely on our strength but to surrender to the One who is strong enough to sustain us in our spiritual paths. 

Today, Jesus Christ’s residence in our hearts through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we accept Him as our personal Saviour empowers us to set the directional compass of our hearts to His love. His love is perfect it’s direction was certain …the cross. He unwaveringly obeyed His Father and crushed the punishment of sin forever. Taking every one of our names upon His heart as He hung there, the greatest direction that was ever undertaken. That Power that should focus our direction …as we follow Christ. 

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” – 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14 (NLT) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I Praise You for Jesus’ sacrifice. His perfect love defeated sin on the cross. Thank You for loving me perfectly, and for layering my life with a unique purpose. Father, it’s hard to choose the right direction at times, forgive me for those times which have led me away from Your path for my life. Help me as we strive to be strong, courageous, and obedient to You. God, bless my heart to know the direction that You have mapped out for me. Help me to get through seasons of discouragement staying focused on Your Word and Your promises. Lord when I lose my way, remind me of who you are …Whose I am in Christ’s name Amen. 

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Spiritual Boldness

In the last few years, it seems there has been constant brutal violence and restlessness all over the world and it’s increasing before our eyes and on social media. So much hatred, strife, and division in our land, stone-cold and bitter hearts toward anyone who may look different from us or think differently. 

Most definitely, when we see injustice, it should cause us to want to rise and say something, yet our message as believers proclaiming the solution to such hatred and violence should be different than what the world offers. As believers, we must be bold as lions and not shy away from speaking the truth when the world may want to flee from the truth. 

Today the problem with injustice is sin. The answer is the Gospel. It all begins and ends in the heart. We must take a stand against injustice for the sake of the Gospel! Human effort will not transform the heart of the sinner. Only God can change a hard heart of stone and make it a heart of flesh and that’s only done by acknowledging the need for a Saviour and believing the gospel that truly saves and changes hearts! Please, Jesus, give us the boldness to proclaim this today!  

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion” – Proverbs 28:1 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for Your mercy toward me. We are living in a world; unlike anything, we have ever seen before. Chaos, confusion, and turmoil have been stirring in the hearts of so many people. Father, I trust that justice belongs in Your hand, but I also trust that You have a great plan for me. God, help me fix my eyes on Christ so when I am tempted to only look at the problems around me, I will be able to proclaim with boldness that you are the only solution to what our world is experiencing! In Christ’s Name, Amen. 

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We Are All Sinners

How to Love the Sinner & Hate the Sin

Why do we need Christ? We need Christ because we are sinners. That isn’t confined to the small “easy to fix” sins. That applies to ALL sins. We put so much pressure on ourselves, but the truth is that we need Christ. We need him because we absolutely cannot live the way we are called to live on our own. 

Don’t look down on people for sinning. That’s the most hypocritical thing we could do. We can never forget that we, sin. We were once drowning in our sin. And I don’t know about you, but I still struggle to keep my head above water every day. We are broken; we are sinful. Jesus comes in and changes that. If we could change ourselves, then we wouldn’t need him. He wouldn’t have had to die on the cross. None of that is necessary if we can “fix” ourselves on our own. What is so wonderful about Jesus is that he changes something fundamentally inside of us. It’s a change that cannot be described in words, it can only be experienced. You don’t have to change for Jesus. He is the one who changes you. 

Today even those of us who have accepted Christ aren’t perfect. We need to cut each other some slack. We need to recognize that, yes, we must live to a certain standard as Christians, but that Jesus is about forgiveness first. He forgives us before he changes us, and then he continues to forgive us over and over again. we are only human. We must remember why we need Jesus; why his sacrifice was necessary. We must remember that true change of heart requires supernatural intervention, not human intervention. We must remember not to get things in the wrong order. We should help each other up and pray for the grace to get up when we fall. 

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you that you are the one that can change me. Thank you that I do not have to change myself. Thank you for dying so that I could have life. Father, help me not judge others in sin but treat them with love and compassion. Lord, help me come to you just as I am: broken, imperfect, but fully alive and healed by the power of your blood. Hallelujah Jesus! This is good news. In Christ’s name Amen. 

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Be Brave Like Christ 

Victory In Christ

The enemy is behind most of our fears. He loves to instil fear into us so we will stay stuck, unable to move forward in the promises God has for us. The devil doesn’t want us to live out our God-given calling. For our enemy roams the earth, “prowling around like a roaring lion just seeking someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8). 

Today’s verse reminds us that we will be hated as we are “set apart and chosen” and as we are called to be his disciples. But Jesus shows us what bravery looks like. We can persevere through our fears, the attacks of the enemy, and opposition from anyone who hates us and denies us just, as Jesus persevered. 

It takes bravery to recognize your fears and continue moving where God is leading you. Jesus was brave. He had to face adversity, accusation, and affliction as he shared the truth of the Gospel. He left his family to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God. He was brave when everyone around him hated him, leaving him, and betraying him. 

Today be encouraged by 1 John 4:4 “greater is He who is in me than he who is of the world.” The world may hate you. The world may spit on you for your faith, judge you for your values, and criticize you for your decisions in following Christ. But we know that a man in the flesh, our Saviour was brave enough to walk this earth before you. And the same Spirit He had, you have inside you, so that you too, can be brave like Christ. Step out, despite fear on every hand, trusting that God has gone before you. Follow in His footsteps and be brave just as He was. 

“If the world hated you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” – John 15:18 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for leaving me with your word, which is “God-breathed” and directed by you. Father, thank you for being brave against the devil and devil inspired people. God, thank you for sending your Son, who led the way as our greatest example of what it means to be brave in the face of fear and advance the Kingdom even if we are hated for it. 

Lord, we need you and can’t do this without you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen 

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Understanding the role of a Christian life coach

For many people, the work of a counselor or a therapist is similar to that of a life coach, and they wouldn’t be far wrong. There are many areas of overlap, both in terms of the methods of helping clients and the type of problems they deal with.

However, whilst there are many similarities, there are significant key areas in how the work differs.

Let’s consider the main differences between the two and then see how a Christian life coach can best be used to advance your goals.

Angle of approach

The work of a life coach is to identify and describe any given problem. Only from here can the client work on making changes to their lives.

The work of a counselor will analyze a client’s past to understand current behaviors.

So the primary difference is that the counselor/therapist looks backwards to work out the “why”, whereas a coach looks forward to working out the “how”. This may feel like a small and insignificant difference but it has huge implications both in the way a professional works with their client, but also in terms of how to move forward with that client.

There are often great benefits from having a therapist help someone overcome trauma and difficulty with past issues and hurts in life. However there are often times when there is little to no benefit to looking back, and the goal of moving forward is all that is needed. This is where a life coach best comes in.

REACHING your goal

Counselor/therapists work with clients in exploring your current understanding of your life and also to help explore your subconscious. The benefit of this is to help everyone achieve a deeper understanding of life’s patterns and behavior. Naturally, this can be beneficial with issues of anxiety or depression.

However, it’s a completely different approach for a life coach. Taking the above approach works with the belief that it’s the past that is causing a client to be stuck in the present, when that’s not necessarily the case.

A life coach works on the principle of seeing where a client is stuck right now, and what the immediate options are to help overcome the stagnation. It’s more than possible to move forward without having to unpick the past. In short, Life Coaching is all about action and results.

Usually a life coach will measure the success of their clients, using known and proven metrics such as SMART goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

It’s through the use of proven accountability and this focus on results that enables clients to progress towards achieving their dreams.

Framework

For both life coaches and therapists/counselor, the use talking sessions is how they help their clients, but that’s where the similarities end.

Counselling sessions are often unstructured sessions and client led. The conversation may start at one point, and then zig zag all over the place, pulling at random threads in life, covering the past, the present and the future… but not necessarily in that order!

Life coaching is far more structured. The goal is to find just one actionable outcome by the end of the session. This structured method, sometimes quick, sometimes slow, provides tangible results and visible growth for the client.

What is different about working with a Christian life coach?

Christians understand that the world has come into being through a creator God. Not only does the Lord create the wonder around us, but he has also created us as unique human beings, made in his image.

Christians understand that a life with God is not about obeying rules, but about being in an intimate relationship with God. He has counted and numbered the hairs on our heads. We were knit together in our mother’s womb. God has created us for good works. He knows us and we know him. In John 10:27, Jesus says “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me”

A Christian life coach takes all of those biblical principles, and weaves them together, into the life coaching framework.

This framework does two specific things. It helps clients achieve their best. However, more important than that, it helps a client achieve their best in God.

This is the unique approach that a Christian life coach offers.

It’s also worth noting at this point that a Christian life coach differs hugely from a ‘spiritual’ life coach.

A Christian life coach will be intimate with the bible and Christ’s calling for all believers. Often they will have studied theology at a deep level, with some, including the author of this article, being pastors themselves.

A Spiritual life coach may not hold to biblical principles at all. They may be open to a client exploring whatever they consider ‘spiritual’, but doesn’t particularly agree with Jesus’ statement of him being ‘The way, the truth and the life’.

So for a Christian life coach, to bring biblical spirituality to the role, helps those being coached to walk in godliness. This doesn’t refrain a client from seeking God’s will for their lives. In fact, completely the opposite. It is the hopes and dreams that the Lord places inside each of us, his children, that we need to draw out, examine and give back to God, that creates the success that both the coach and the coach is looking for.

So is life coaching right for you? Pray about it. Seek God’s will, and pray for direction as he guides you in your life. That guidance may come through a message at church, private reflection in your study of God’s word, or maybe, just maybe, it might come through the work of a life coach, as they help you to discover how God is leading you on in the future of your life.

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Living With Liars? ?

“I Was Calling God a Liar": Can You Love Jesus & Be Angry?

Today’s Psalm is about living amid relentless trouble and lies. It begins with distress and ends with war, anxiety, and pain. This psalm is a psalm used by ancient Israelites travelling to Jerusalem for a temple festival. These pilgrims’ journeys were long and difficult, and yet they undertook them gladly. They wanted to take this trip to escape the violence and lies that often surrounded them. This psalm draws them toward Jerusalem, to celebrate God’s truth. which brings peace. 

Often, we are surrounded and distressed by trouble on every hand. When that happens, there is only one way to turn, and that’s to God. The only way to escape the lies that often surround us is to turn to and meditate on the truth found in God’s Word. The psalmist says: “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.”  Hallelujah!  

Today, God’s faithfulness is clear to the believer who calls on God and seeks to live by God’s truth. That’s why so many Christians celebrate and worship the Lord. Because in God’s presence, there are blessings and restoration. Every time we approach God, we are stepping into the presence of the one who is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). It’s time to leave lying, deceit, and distress behind and cling to God.  

Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. — Psalm 120:2 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for being my truth and my way. Father, I’m often surrounded by liars and trouble. Please Lord breathe your words of life into me, that I may be protected from my enemies and restored in your presence. In Christ’s name. Amen. 

 

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