If you're anything like me, you like to make plans. You appreciate being organized and knowing what is ahead, and you love to be prepared. Maybe you're the opposite and prefer to go with the flow, tackle what comes and enjoy the ride along the way. Regardless of which side you fall on, we can all easily be led more by things of the world than things of God. It isn't always obvious, either. In fact, usually, it begins with subtle things and before you know it your focus is off in left field, God's desired path for you is out of your sight, and you are left feeling stressed and defeated. Intentionally seeking what is pleasing to God helps to keep your focus on His desires for you. But how do we know what is pleasing to God, and how do we keep our focus on Him and not the distractions surrounding us?
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
The world is full of distractions. There are temptations and shiny new things all over the place. Look to the right and your neighbor seems to have greener grass and a newer car. Look to the left and there's a shop with those new shoes you really want, but there's just not enough after paying that pile of bills. Look behind you and there are people that look like they are having such a great time doing things you know you shouldn't do, but they just look like they are having so much fun. Opening Twitter may seem a lot more appealing than opening your Bible right now.
It is important that we do not grow attached to things of the world or let them distract us. By being content with what we have, where we are, and what God calls us to we can find rest in God's design and desires for our lives, and we can confidently do what is pleasing to God.
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,[a]10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you[b] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
We need to constantly, daily check our hearts and align our intentions with God's design. Our life exposes our desires. If we are truly intent on honoring God, it will be evident in the way we live and the fruit we bear. If we are not, this will also be evident.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.[a]
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
We need to filter all things through the Word of God in order to test what is pleasing to God - don't test something you think might be wrong - test what is good. Bring it to scripture and to God in prayer, and lean on the promptings and reminders of God's Holy Spirit. Then, we must obey the wisdom God reveals to us through His Word and Spirit.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light[a] consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth— 10 testing what is pleasing to the Lord.11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Do you feel a tug to help someone but are not sure God is telling you to? Test that.
Think maybe you should invite that friend to church but you are worried the timing isn't good or they'll say no? Test that.
Have an opportunity to share your faith with someone in your favorite game, at the grocery store, at a party, at work, at Thanksgiving dinner? Test that.
Did someone make you angry, but you could forgive them and show grace? Test that.
Have an opportunity to serve someone just cuz? Test that.
8 Finally[a] brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,[a] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Satan is absolutely going to whisper to you, discourage you, tug you the other direction, convince you to stay where you are more comfortable, where it feels more convenient, that you will have another opportunity later, that someone else will come along and do that instead, that someone else is better suited to the task... the list of lies and discouragement goes on and on, and we latch on to these excuses far too easily. What we need to do, though, is do what is pleasing to the Lord, not what is convenient or comfortable for us. Don't let Satan throw you off and steer you away from God's desires for you. Stay watchful, diligent, and constant in your loving obedience to the Lord, doing what is pleasing to Him above all else.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
We test by doing something, not by staying still and silent when it is time to act. Testing doesn't mean we just wait around for something to happen - there is a time for waiting, and there is a time to act. Test what is good by DOING what is good, doing what scripture says is pleasing to God.
If you are doing what is pleasing to God (with the right heart and intention), you will please God. If you test what is pleasing to God by doing nothing, you will never know, and you will miss opportunities to please God. If you test by doing what is likely or clearly unpleasing to God (again filtering through scripture), you are not testing what is pleasing - you are making an excuse to do what you want even though you know it isn't what God wants. We must seek to learn what is pleasing to God, and then actively apply this wisdom and guidance to our lives.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.[a]2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What do you need to correct in your life right now? Are your intentions out of alignment with God's desires? Are you resting in what is pleasing to you over what is pleasing to God? What steps should you take to get right with God and do what is truly pleasing to Him and not the world?
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
I encourage you to go to the Father in prayer, repent, seek His forgiveness, and let Him guide you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received, and the work He has prepared for you to do.
No matter how rocky my family relationships were, they were always the most important thing in my life. I sacrificed much for them and did whatever I could to get their approval for years. If I had read Luke 14:26 while I was growing up I would have completely missed the point. At the stage in my life that I am now, all purely by the grace of God, I have a godly husband and child, have forgiven, am healing broken relationships with my family, and have a growing relationship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ. I can now better understand what Jesus is saying when He tells says to hate your family.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.
When I first became a follower of Jesus I had no one in my life that understood, and most people discouraged me from going down this path at all. I was often mocked for my faith, my shortcomings were hung over me, and I was treated as though I could never be different, that my faith was a joke, and that it was for no one's good. I lost my friends, I grew distant from my family, and I took time to focus on my relationship with God, my understanding of His Word, and being filled with the strength I needed to stand firm.
Luke 14 came to me again after spending some time with my dad recently, after not seeing him for around two years. In all that time I'd thought I was going to be separated from them forever. I thought I would never have a good relationship with my family. No matter how broken and hurtful my relationships were with my family, I have always deeply desired to be in a relationship with as much of my family as possible. I am big on family and this separation ate at me. I had made peace with being separated from them, though, because I knew God had called me to withdraw and I trusted His plan, even if it hurt and didn't make sense to me at the time.
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God removes distractions to bring our focus to Him
Sometimes God will call us away from relationships in order to rightly align our hearts to Him. In Luke 14:26 Jesus is telling us that we should love Him so much that it would seem in comparison that we hate our own family. He is not saying to actually hate your family but to put obedience to and love for Him first no matter the cost. He is telling us that there is a cost to following Him and that we must be willing to put His will and instruction first in our lives at all times, no matter what that cost is, even unto our own lives.
To follow Christ we must to be willing to give our full life to Him
I experienced this on a bit of an extreme level over the last several years. After a while, I was willing to give up these relationships with my family in order to honor and obey God. In this willingness to obediently sacrifice these relationships, God changed my heart and my priorities. I no longer live to serve other's expectations or desires for me or fulfill the labels people have given me all my life. I am firmly planted as a Child of God, and His will is the only one I strive to follow. This has brought me peace, joy, and great humility. God has been healing me and teaching me His truth, love, and kindness.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has[a] come!
The last conversation I had with my family was that of forgiveness, love, and renewal. God has changed my heart, aligning my life and heart with Him, so that now I can be effective in all the work He has created for me to do for His glory, which includes being an example to my family. I prayed for them the whole time of separation, and I am seeing that God has been working in them as well. We are all works in progress, and He is always working in all of us whether we recognize it or not.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
If you love Him, you will obey Him. If you obey Him in faith and love, you will find such great blessing, humility, mercy, and grace. You will experience what love really means and truly feels like.
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Prayer is a powerful tool and our method of communication with God. There are so many ways to pray and lots of recommended methods, but ultimately I've found that the keys to a deeper prayer life with God are praying in every circumstance throughout each day, with intention, with scripture, and also to pray strategically. To pray strategically is to encompass all of these elements together within your personal relationship with the Lord and the circumstances of your life.
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
After the Apostle Paul gave the Colossians many instructions about running a Christian household, spiritual fullness and freedom in Christ, the supremacy of Christ, and doing all you do for the Lord, he closes his letter with this instruction about prayer. He goes on to name specific items the Colossians should be praying over and gives us some encouragement about how to pray for ourselves and one another.
He begins with the instruction to pray "earnestly" and to be "vigilant" with "thanksgiving". To be vigilant is to be watchful, cautious, active, and to give "strict attention" (G1127). To be actively watchful and cautious requires a strategy to be successful. We must give strict attention to our prayers, and also to gratitude in our prayers.
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How does Paul tell the Colossians to pray strategically?
3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
For me, I have begun using a strategically planned prayer journal to help me to be praying strategically in these ways. I have found great benefit and growth in my relationship with God, and my reliance on Him. While praying intentionally, all throughout my day, and also praying scripture back to Him, and I developing an even stronger and more personal prayer strategy. Each of us has our very own personal relationship with the Lord, but none of us can grow in our relationship with Him without intentional, constant and strategic prayer.
We implement strategies in our homes, in raising our kids and having a strong marriage, with being successful in our jobs, making plans with our friends, and so many other areas of our lives. Why would we not implement intentional strategy in our relationships with God?
What is your prayer strategy and how might you encourage someone else with it? How does your prayer strategy help you to obey God's call better? How does your prayer strategy help you grow in your personal relationship with God, and therefor help others to grow in theirs as well?
I'd love to hear about how you pray strateigically below!
When I was new to reading the Bible, I was very discouraged by my incredibly terrible memory. I used to have a wonderful memory. I'd grown up doing community theatre and held many roles that required memorizing many lines. When I was pregnant with my kiddo, though, I developed what we moms call "pregnancy brain", and it never left me. I remember starting to read scripture and I was really worried about how I would ever memorize any of it, so I told myself I would never try. Fast forward a few years and the Holy Spirit has been working in my stubborn heart, teaching me to pray scripture, and bringing to remembrance His Word at the right time in the right situations more and more often.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
To pray scripture is to speak God's Word back to Him. It helps us to remember His promises and commands, and as we spend more time in the Word of God the Holy Spirit has more to bring to remembrance at the right moments.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
In John 15 Jesus is explaining how to abide in Him. He tells us that when we abide in Him, He abides in us. When we abide in Him, His Word abides in us. When His Word abides in us we can ask whatever we wish and He will do it. What Jesus is saying is that when we remain faithful to Him, when we are spending time in His Word, when we are living according to His will, commands, and instructions for our lives out of love for Him then He will grant us the desires of our heart because our desires will be aligned with His desires for our lives.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
To pray scripture, we have to be in scripture to start with. If we don't spend time in the Word, how will the Holy Spirit remind us of scripture? Spending time with the Lord in prayer and scripture every day is essential to the life of every Christian. It helps us to grow in our relationship with the Lord, teaches us to pray to God in all circumstances and to be intentional about our communication and relationship with Him. Praying scripture helps us to abide in Him, and the Word to abide in us.
Some ways that have helped me start to pray scripture are:
Being in the Word helps us to learn more about how God instructs and desires for us to live our lives, and gives the Holy Spirit more to bring to remembrance at the times we need the reminder. How do you spend time in the Word each day? In what ways do you pray scripture? Share and encourage one another, just as we are called in scripture to do.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
When I came into my faith and started to read the Bible, praying, and living a Christ-like life I had no idea how it would change me. I was familiar with crying out to God in times of pain, agony, heartbreak, and need but I had no idea there was so much more to prayer than that. I eventually learned how to pray intentionally, and this has helped me so much in my faith and relationship with Jesus.
There are many ways people explain prayer. We need, however, to filter all things through scripture, and that includes what God tells us about prayer through His Word. We have touched on how to pray without ceasing, but what does scripture tell us about how to pray intentionally?
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
While Jesus is explaining the model prayer (Matthew 6:5-15), which includes the Lord's Prayer, Jesus begins in verse 5 by saying not to be like the hypocrites who love to show off in public, praying to be "seen by men" which in the original Greek means "to meet the eyes, strike the sight, become clear or manifest". In other words, your prayers should never be for your own glorification.
Directly after this, Jesus tells us to "go into your room and shut the door". An important aspect of intentional prayer is to take time to be alone with God. Clear distractions, clear time in your schedule, step away from other people and pray between you and God alone. To pray intentionally is to intentionally make time for God every day.
Even Jesus took time to pray intentionally
Jesus, God in the flesh, took time to pray intentionally and privately with God the Father. We can take from Him the example that there are times we need to intentionally separate ourselves from others, from distraction, from the everyday things, even the important life things, and focus on God alone. Jesus took time to pray in solitude while He awaited the Romans who would come to take him to be crucified. Jesus took time to step away and pray even with His impending death approaching. While a crowd gathered, desperately wanting His attention, He stepped away from them to go "to the mountain to pray".
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
Is your to-do list really more important than time with God? Are your friends, your spouse, your kids, your job more important than God in your life? To pray intentionally is to actually live like God is truly the most important part of your life. This benefits our relationship with God, and also is a signal to others that God comes first.
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Why should we make time for God?
When we take time every day to spend with God alone we are committing to growing in our personal relationship with Him. We are placing God as a priority in our lives and our days. By creating space to be alone with God, we are able to focus on God without distraction.
God wants a personal relationship with you. We know that communication and commitment are necessary for healthy relationships to grow with the people in our lives. We schedule girl's nights with our friends, date nights with our significant other, play dates with our kids, bedtime and morning routines with our families, self-care routines, schedule me-time, and heck, we have routines at work, in serving, and in church. Why would we give any less to God? Why would we not intentionally make time for the most important Person in our lives every day, the Lord?
Make intentional time for God
Your intentional prayer time with God may look a bit different than mine, but that's exactly as it should be. What doesn't change is that we should be in scripture, pray to the Lord constantly, and intentionally invest in our personal relationships with God every day.
For me, I use my prayer journal in the mornings and spend time in the Word every morning. This sets my day up to be centered on Christ and helps me resist charging into my day with my to-do list as the primary goal and focus. Our goal and focus should always be to serve and honor God in all we do to draw others to Him as we also draw nearer to Him. We are here to share His Truth far and wide, and our lives should be a testimony to our living faith in Christ. But how can our lives be a living testimony if we aren't making time for Him in our lives?
How do you spend time with God each day?
Share some ideas with us that may encourage others in how they can make time to pray intentionally and create time and space for the Lord every day.
You have likely been told at some point or another to "pray without ceasing", or to "always be praying". This is something that can be difficult to grasp and feel impossible to do realistically. I mean, life is busy, we have things to do... how can we ALWAYS be praying?
16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
When I was newer in my faith I had a really hard time understanding this. I felt strange about prayer as it was and I had a hard time praying unless I was completely alone with nothing but quiet solitude. Any little distraction threw off my focus and left me feeling guilty for being distracted.
I now know that this is a really common experience not just for newer Christians, but for a lot of Christians. Prayer is tough and uncomfortable for a lot of us. So how can we pray without ceasing when prayer is such a challenge to begin with?
We have to start by asking another question first.
How can we pray better?
Exploring how to pray better is vital to improving our prayer lives. Seeking what God says about prayer is essential to a growing relationship with Him.
Prioritize your relationship with God
The first thing to address is our relationship with God. Do you have a relationship with your Heavenly Father? When we have accepted Christ as our Savior we invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and open up the direct line of communication and relationship with God.
After this, it is up to us to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us to grow in our faith and relationship with God through our faith in Christ and by Christ.
Make it a habit
Making prayer a habit is probably one of the most challenging parts for all of us. Our lives are busy. We have things to do. We tell ourselves we will pray later, we don't have time right now, we have other things to do. The thing is, all of these excuses are just that - excuses. This is our way of making it not seem so bad that we are putting God off and failing to prioritize God in our lives.
Making is a habit to pray doesn't always mean scheduling time, but that is part of it too. When you create time in your day to spend with God you are telling God, yourself, and those around you that this time with God is more important than your to-do list.
It took me a while to get into a routine with God every day, but it has helped me in ways I never imagined. The other side of that is when I start my day with God I am able to focus more on Him throughout my day. This better enables me to pray all day, through all the events of my day. I pray while I do laundry, while I listen to my kiddo tell me stories, while I write, while I watch TV. I pray through all of my activities.
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How does praying better help me to always pray?
I keep the line of communication with God open at all times, and I focus my attention and mind on Him. When I feel myself drift to stress, worry or selfish thoughts I discipline my mind to go back to God. I seek God's council in every little-and-big thing I do, and I take the time to listen for His wisdom and direction.
Praying without ceasing doesn't mean physically kneeling before God every day to focus on Him and neglect life around you. What it does mean is keeping your mind on Him and Heavenly things, even while you tackle your earthly responsibilities and entertainment.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
After explaining a variety of spiritual gifts Christians are given by the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul explains that no matter what gift you have been given if you use it without love it means nothing. No works, wonders, or faith means anything if it is not companioned with Biblical love as God calls on us to love.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We are called to love God and love people first and foremost, and we are also called to love our neighbor as ourselves, and love as God loves. We must know God’s definition of love in order to love others like He loves.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness
specifically, the wrong of depriving another of what is his
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How do we love?
When we love God we obey God, when we obey God we bear His fruit, and when we bear His fruit we love the way He loves us. Paul reminds the Corinthians, as well as all future generations of believers, that to love is to be patient, or long-suffering. It is loving to be kind, honest, and to bear with one another, hope for and share hope with one another, and endure with one another.
It is not loving to be selfish, arrogant, prideful, or rude. We are failing to love when we brag, envy, becoming irritable or resentful toward one another. We also fail to love when we act unrighteously or sinfully, which can show up in a lot of ways.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
What does Biblical love have to do with Spiritual gifts?
Paul recognizes that while these spiritual gifts are not eternal, love is eternal. We will not always need these gifts but without love we have nothing. We will always need love. During this lifetime we will only see and perceive a fraction of the wisdom and blessings of God.
When we see God face to face we will rest in His presence and full wisdom for eternity. This life is preparation for eternity, and in loving others we are planting seeds of God’s love to help draw more people to eternity with Him.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Faith enables us to trust in God, hope enables us to look forward to the promises of God, but love enables us to imitate God. As we grow in faith and hope we should be growing in and better imitating the love of God in our lives. If we are failing to display and live in the love of God, we are failing to be imitators of God, and therefore all we do, even if in the name of God, is useless.
Spiritual gifts refer to the special endowments that the Holy Spirit bestows on believers to use for their callings and to benefit the Church as a whole. There are a variety of spiritual gifts named throughout scripture, and all are important to know and understand.
It is vital that we, as part of the Body of Christ, understand that everyone doesn’t have every gift and that each person will be given the gifts God knows they will need in order to do the work He calls each of us to do in this life. All gifts are given to us in order to be used to bring God honor and glory, add to and build up the Body of Christ, and serve God with a grateful heart.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
While some of the spiritual gifts we find in scripture are widely believed to no longer be present in the lives of believers, most are still seen, used and experienced throughout the Church. There are differing beliefs about some gifts while some have beliefs in common. We should always lean on the Holy Spirit in order to discover and understand our own gifts as well as how we are each called to use them.
Where many of us will be blessed with some of the same gifts, the ways in which we are called to use them will be uniquely identified by the Lord using His Spirit as a guide throughout our life and the sanctification process. Being in His Word and in prayer about our gifts is also needed in order to constantly give God the reigns and let Him guide our path and usage of these incredible gifts He provides us with.
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The Gift of Speaking in and interpreting tongues:
Speaking in and interpreting tongues is to be able to speak and understand foreign languages you have never learned. Early Christians on the Day of Pentecost were empowered by the Holy Spirit and given the ability to speak in tongues so that they could share the gospel with visitors from the Roman world in languages the visitors understood. Typically speaking in tongues is a means of special prayer from an individual to God. There are a variety of differing beliefs about this spiritual gift.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
Healing is divine healing from the Holy Spirit through incredible faith.
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Some instances in scripture identify “prophecy” when speaking about all speaking gifts (1 Corinthians 14), but the unique gift of prophecy is a specific gift of the Holy Spirit inspiring a proclamation to a believer for the purpose of edifying the Church. This is commonly believed that there are no longer current-day prophets in the world, and there is much to learn throughout scripture about this gift.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Divine knowledge is insight and perception from the Holy Spirit, while divine wisdom is the application of truth and knowledge guided by the Holy Spirit. All believers are called to live wisely, but some are blessed with extraordinary wisdom and knowledge from the Holy Spirit.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Serving is an act of ministry characterized by a joy in doing things for others and hospitality is an unselfish desire to meet the needs of others without expectation of reward.
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Teaching is an instruction that can be understood. It can be recognized by understanding difficult matters and the ability to deliver instruction effectively.
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Exhortation is persuasion and encouragement characterized by the ability to inspire and persuade.
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Leadership is to be diligent, watchful, and willing to care for and labor for a people or thing. This gift of leadership in Greek means to “rule” or “govern”, indicating someone who is set over something or someone in order to provide care, guidance, and fellowship with a heart of diligent and sacrificial service.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithfulservant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Extraordinary faith is extreme optimism and confidence in the Lord and the ability to inspire others in extraordinary ways and circumstances.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Discernment is the being guided by the Holy Spirit in all circumstances to make judgements, determine good or evil, and see beyond the surface.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Evangelism is the ability to witness, love people, talk easily, and rejoice in sharing the Lord in any situation.
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
All Christians are members of the Body of Christ, and each member is related to a part of the body as a whole. Each part of the body serves a unique and different function, but no one part of the body is any less important for the overall function and health of the whole body.
All are equally important roles but all serve the Body equally in the ways in which they are called, using the gifts in which God has given to each of us. We should not be envious or disgruntled toward any other part of the Body or their gifts, but instead encourage, honor, and care for all fellow members of the Body of Christ and be united together in our shared mission.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
The spiritual gifts which have been given by the Holy Spirit should not be used for self-gain but should be used humbly for the Kingdom of God and Body of Christ. We should be seeking after gifts that deepen our relationship with and sharing the gospel of Christ versus gifts that draw attention to ourselves. We are told to diligently seek these gifts but that “the most excellent way” was faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest of them all.
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
As new believers, we are children in our faith and should intentionally be learning and growing in faith through dedicated time in scripture, prayer, and fellowship with God and His people. As we mature in faith, we mature in the way we think and the ways we understand and use all that God blesses us with. As we grow in maturity of faith we also become more mature in abstaining from sin, becoming better imitators of Christ, putting our spiritual gifts to work, building up the Body of Christ, and will also be better equipped to organically and intentionally plant the seeds of the gospel in the hearts of nonbelievers.
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.
Spiritual gifts should not be used for self-interest, self-development, or self-display but instead in accordance with the law of love that serves to build up others. The gifts God blesses us with are not our own but are His attributes bestowed upon us to be used for the furtherance of His will and Kingdom. We are not our own, and these gifts are not our own. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and these gifts are His for His purposes.
We should use discernment and be led by the Spirit, prayer and scripture in using our spiritual gifts to avoid corruption, competition, division, and pride within the Church. Paul explains that spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues, are not uncontrollable. We are given free will, therefore the Holy Spirit does not overpower you but gives you the choice to obey His promptings or not. Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians that no one is exempt from accountability in how they use their spiritual gifts.
Each member of the Body of Christ is given their own set of spiritual gifts according to their specific callings, roles, and functions as their individual part of the body. Not all parts of the Body have all of or the same gifts, but instead, all are given the gifts which God knows are necessary for the work He has called them to do. Everyone is accountable for every gift given to them by God, and any claim to having a gift should be tested and filtered by the Word of God.
There are many callings a follower of Christ may have in their life, but one, in particular, is shared between us all. This shared calling is so important, so special that we should all long to band together to tackle it with the utmost importance in our lives, and the utmost care to do it properly. We should have a true desire to grow in our wisdom and faith in order to ensure we're doing the best job we can and utilizing every bit of resource and knowledge available to us. We should be so filled with gratitude, awe, and unexplainable love that we can't help but press forward in this calling no matter what. This is the way each follower of Christ should approach obedience to the will of God.
“But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
The unfortunate truth is that we live in a fallen, broken, sinful world that is filled with temptation at every turn. This sinful lawlessness is deceptive yet alluring to our humanness. This sin separates us from God, but because of sin God sent Jesus Christ to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all mankind allowing those who choose to accept Him as their sacrifice to come into a relationship with God and no longer be separated from Him.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
God calls on us to come to Him with a repentant heart and to atone, or be reconciled to God, through the forgiveness of our sins. This forgiveness is made available through accepting salvation offered by the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we come to God in love, obediently bringing our sins to Him for forgiveness with a truly repentant heart, desiring to be in a right relationship with Him, and accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, we are then justified by faith, which comes from a heart of submissive obedience to the Lord.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
It is through Christ Jesus that we have salvation, and through the grace found in Christ Jesus that we are saved. There is only one mediator between us and God, only one way to heaven. His grace is not something that we can earn and can only be obtained through faith in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Obedience to God also includes the constant and mindful study of His Word. It is through His Word that we find help in times of trouble and encouragement when we are feeling low. His Word is alive and active, teaching, correcting, and speaking to us.
The Holy Spirit promises to bring to memory the lessons and messages we are taught and to guide our lives to be in obedience to God but we must learn to listen to Him. Learning to turn aside from our own understanding and lean into God to provide for all our needs is an act of obedience and one that strengthens our relationship with Him as well as causing our faith to grow exponentially.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
How does my relationship with God grow with my obedience?
Our relationship with God grows as we learn to come to Him in all things, through prayer, and work to align our hearts with His will. Scripture promises us that when we are aligned to the will of God that He will provide for the desires of our hearts. God is not a genie that we can simply ask for wishes and He will grant them. God does what He knows is best for us. While we can ask for all things, we need to understand that if God is saying no, or wait, it is because He knows what is best for us.
Learning to submit to God’s will is another form of obedience as we learn to cast aside the desires of our flesh and place God on the throne of our hearts, His rightful place. The peace that we receive is beyond human understanding, is not related to our circumstances, and can be obtained as we live in obedient faith.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Faith, hope, and love are at the heart of Christian values. We receive them from God and are called to continue to live in obedient faith by sharing God’s truth and blessings with the world.
Our relationship with God begins with faith, which helps us to recognize that we are freed from the sins of our past by Christ’s death and resurrection. Hope grows as we learn more about God’s love for us, that He has promised to be with us in all things, and that this life is not all there is.
We can rejoice in the fact that no matter the trials that come, nothing can separate us from the love of God when we place our faith and hope in Him. Jesus provided us with the greatest commandments of all time; the first is to love God with all our hearts, minds, and strength. The second is to love others as Christ has loved us.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Developing and growing our faith is an exercise of obedience that God calls for from all those who are known by His name. We must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and to respond to the promptings that He provides which requires effort and intent. A personal relationship with God, through Christ our Savior, facilitated through the Holy Spirit is the only way in which we grow in obedience as faith is obtained through willful submission to God’s will.
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Obedience is a personal choice
We cannot find obedience through the faith of our parents, our friends, or our church leaders. Faithful obedience is developed only through a willing heart and spirit to do as God commands. Faithful obedience is like a child submitting to the discipline of his father, not the actions of a slave submitting to his master. A slave does not know the coming and goings of his master nor does he understand the methods by which his master conducts his business.
When we submit to Christ, we are adopted into the family of God and become His children. God disciplines those He loves and when we accept that discipline with a willing heart we learn to be obedient in conforming to His will and are blessed. We will be disciplined in order to help us conform to the will of God and obtain His blessings, and we also will undergo trials and suffering that can test and grow our faith and obedience to His will.
Rejoicing in our sufferings does not mean that we celebrate the trials but rather that we can place our faith and hope in a saving God, one who promises to never leave or forsake us when we follow His commandments with obedience and trust. We can find hope in that God works all things to His glory and for those who love Him.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Endurance, or “perseverance”, is the ability to continue on without giving up, remaining obedient to the call and command of our loving Heavenly Father. It does not mean that life will be trouble-free, but that through our obedient faith in God, He will continue to strengthen us for the trials we will face.
God is using the trials and attacks that we face in this life to create a stronger faith within us which deepens our relationship with Him and instills an even greater sense of hope for the future. The more we submit to Him and His will in faith and love, the deeper He can work within us.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Character, also translated as “proof”, is used in the concept of the purification of metal. As the metal is heated, the impurities found within are brought to the surface and cast off causing the metal to become stronger. Self-discipline is necessary for perseverance, which leads to a change in habits, a transformation of character, and becoming more Christ-like.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Through the Holy Spirit, we are intimately connected with God at all times, we can receive revelation and guidance directly from Him through prayer and the reading of His Word. Prayer is our personal communication with God and through the Holy Spirit, we can receive revelation and understanding of God’s desires and will for our lives.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Redeemer, the Holy Spirit comes upon us to dwell in us, guiding and helping us throughout our life. When we don’t know what to pray for, or we lack the words to express ourselves, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groanings. Through the Holy Spirit, we are convicted of our sins, allowing for us to humble ourselves before Him and seek forgiveness.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
According to God’s plan, in His scheduled time Christ came, died, and was resurrected so that all people may be saved and reconciled to Him. Christ died for all people, but in order to receive that salvation, we must faithfully accept His sacrifice for our sins out of love and obedience to Him, fully intent on turning from our life of sin into the new life He gives us in Him.
Through faith in Christ, being justified before God, we are saved from the wrath of God. Jesus stepped in and took the punishment that we should have received. Through accepting the resurrection of Christ, we are also raised again - saved from the eternal separation from God that sin requires. Just as surely as Christ took our punishment, He has secured our future in heaven with God if we choose to accept Him in faith, love, and obedience to Him.
Because, 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Jesus taught us through a parable just how our obedient faith works. In this parable, Jesus is the Vine and God the Father is the gardener. We become the branches that the gardener prunes in and out of season, preparing us to bear more fruit in abundance. We cannot bear fruit if we are not connected to the vine and branches, and those that do not produce good fruit are cut off and cast into the fire. Jesus concludes that when we keep His commandments the fruits of the Spirit will become evident in our lives. We are not saved because of our works, but our works are evidence of our saving faith and obedience to Him.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The world we live in teaches many things. Lessons of our culture are vastly different from biblical teachings and it can be extremely challenging for Christians to discern between true and false teaching. Scripture addresses this challenge head-on in many places and gives us sound guidance on how to identify and combat false teachings. This discernment is an essential part of growing in our relationship with God, our resemblance to Christ, and our faith in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Studying scripture should be a priority in the daily life of all followers of Jesus. We need to be in God’s Word regularly in order to learn more about Him, His salvation, as well as to better understand and apply what we are called to in this life. The Bible tells us to “correctly handle the word of truth” and to “meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” How can we obey it or correctly handle it correctly if we are not earnestly studying it with a heart of edification and growth?
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
One reason earnest and constant study is so essential is so that we can discern the difference between worldly teachings and Godly teachings. This is a vital yet challenging feat in today’s world and is not only for our own edification but also to help us grow the Body of Christ in how God calls. God places each person in their roles in this life for the whole Body of Christ to function properly and grow in Christ. We should be growing in wisdom, not remaining as children in God’s Word; we must continue to grow in the depths in which we dive into God’s Word to continue to learn and grow in it and discern what it is saying without going too far beyond what is written in the text. Learning the difference between scriptural fact and speculations, and understanding how to apply His wisdom and revelations to ourselves as well as to share and teach it to others in His way and will is a key part of studying God’s Word that often gets missed.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
When studying God’s Word, diving in deeper, and striving to learn and apply all that God reveals to us, we should be filtering everything through His Word and be learning more about the world, this life, and how He calls us to live based on what He teaches us. One key purpose for this learning is to identify false teachings, which can be found in every day relationships and encounters, churches and church leaders, theological scholars, Bible teachers, and outside doctrines. They are often hard to identify and while we should not be quick to write someone or something off as either a true or false teaching we should diligently filter everything through the Word of God to let the Holy Spirit advise.
How can we identify false teachings?
Some ways to help us filter and identify different teachings and teachers through the Word of God is to ask a few different questions and look at the teachings through a Biblical lens. Again, we must be careful not to jump too quickly to either approve or disapprove of a teacher or teaching as true or false. We must be diligent in letting the Holy Spirit guide us through the filtering process.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Any teachings that deviate from salvation coming from faith in Christ alone is absolutely false and dangerous teaching. The foundation of the Christian faith is built on Christ and the salvation He died and was resurrected to provide all people with if they choose to accept Him and His works. Beyond this, we must ensure all teachings are in alignment with the Word of God and not left up to personal speculations or reading too far past what is written in scripture.
We should dive into the text by exploring the original languages, the culture of the times, and the context of what is written, but with the understanding that there is still much that we are not meant to fully understand without the discernment of the Holy Spirit or even until we can ask God face to face. If something is being taught or presented as being from scripture but it is not written in the text of scripture we should be careful to filter it as speculation or even personal revelation.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
If scripture is cherry-picked and taken out of context, or even completely void in the conversation with an emphasis placed on personal revelation, this is a clear indication that the teaching is unbiblical. There must be scripture being taught, and being taught correctly, for it to be biblical.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Sin is disobedience to God and His Word. Scripture identifies many areas we are called to refrain from, as well as many we are called to abide in. Any teaching that fails to acknowledge what sin is, and that sin is sin, is unbiblical. Scripture tells us that we all sin, but that Christ died and rose again to save us from the eternal consequences of our sin if we accept Him in faith.
Again, though, if the eternal consequences for sin are not being taught, it is unbiblical. There are very real consequences for sin as we see throughout scripture, and if we fail to repent, seek God’s forgiveness and accept Christ’s salvation then we are told in God’s Word that the consequences are eternal separation from our Heavenly Father.
God is the source of all goodness, love, mercy, and grace so if we are eternally separated from Him we are eternally separated from all goodness, love, mercy, and grace as well. We should be striving to understand the reality of sin and the consequences of intentionally remaining in our sin.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
One of the tenants of the Christian faith is that as we follow Christ we are to become more like Christ. He humbled Himself from deity to servant, fully committed to God’s will even at the cost of His life, having died on the cross for our sakes. Any failure to teach that we likewise are called to the same humble, servant attitude is unbiblical and will likely cause us to fall into the temptations of our human desires rather than to become more like Christ. The only way for us to understand the depths of servitude and how to deny human desires is to be in the Word of God and applying the wisdom that He reveals to us daily.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Does the teaching emphasize wealth, status, or position?
This may be one of the most challenging questions to answer in the American culture as our nation teaches very different lessons than what is taught in God’s Word. The hard-line is when we see it taught that prosperity comes from wealth, power, good health, and status. Our culture tells us that to be prosperous is to have a full bank account, lots of cool material things, popularity, and influence.
God’s Word, on the other hand, paints a very different picture. Scripture tells us that prosperity comes from obedience to God, and endurance that leads to perseverance and the building of your character in becoming more like Christ. Through spending time with God in His Word and in prayer we learn that the true definition of success and prosperity comes from Him rather than from the world or anything from the world.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Is health or poverty being taught as signs of faith or sin?
Any teaching that says that you deserve illness or poverty because of sin or lack of faith is completely unbiblical. Counter, any teaching that says that good health, wealth, or status is because you are sinless and earned it is likewise unbiblical. We know through the Word of God that as Christians we will suffer, struggle, and face great difficulties in many ways throughout life.
Where financial security and perfect health may be an incredible blessing from God, they are not a sign of perfect faith or salvation. Throughout scripture, we are told that when we suffer, struggle, and face trials and trouble in this life that Christ will help us, strengthen us, walk with us, and even carry us through it all.
The suffering, trials, and tribulations that we endure are to strengthen and test our faith, producing perseverance, character, and hope. So, believing that trouble-free, perfect health, wealth-filled life is a sign of true faith is unbiblical.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Is it taught that you will receive anything you pray for?
Any teaching that claims faith entitles us to material wealth, a clean bill of health, or anything else in this life and that we will receive whatever we want by asking for it in prayer is unbiblical. Scripture clearly states that when our heart’s desire is for God and His will that He will give us whatever we ask for in prayer because we are aligned with Him and His desires.
Our prayers are not to be demands for our own desires, but to help us align our hearts better with God and His will. Prayer should be in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and is intended to be our means of direct communication with our Heavenly Father, through the power of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Prayer should be lifted to God out of faith and love for who He is and what He has done and will continue to do for us, in His will, that is always superior to our desires for ourselves.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
One of the most dangerous teachings is that salvation is found in anything of the world, that we can earn our way into Heaven in any way we want or think is right for us, and that whatever you believe for you is good for you, and whatever I believe for me is good for me.
Any teaching that says salvation can be bought, or even earned by our deeds, is dangerously unbiblical. Salvation comes from one source, and that is through the acceptance of and faith in Christ, His death and resurrection on the cross, and coming to Him with a repentant heart to seek the Father’s forgiveness, and henceforth receive the Holy Spirit to dwell in and guide us throughout our daily life. Any teaching that detracts from this is flat-out false.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5 ESV
Because, 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. Romans 10:9 ESV
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 ESV
Does the teaching apply universally to all people?
The Gospel of Jesus is relevant to all people throughout the world, throughout time. It is timeless, limitless, and excludes no one from its power and truth. God is the Creator of all people, is God of all people, and sent His Son to save all people, even those who do not yet know Him or do not accept Him.
All of scripture is breathed out by God, profitable for our edification, and holds truth and relevance that should be applied to all people. If anything being taught contradicts God’s universal truth, it is unbiblical. If anything takes away from the glory and supremacy of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is unbiblical.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Identifying false teachers is an incredible challenge and is a task that should never be done lightly, but diligently, with the help of God’s divine guidance through His Spirit. We can rest in the power of Christ to help us through any difficulty we face in life, including the discernment needed when striving to learn and understand biblical truth.
God encourages us to ask questions, seek to understand His Word, and seek His truth above all, no matter what. If we seek His truth diligently, fully intent, and open to accepting whatever revelations He provides, He will reveal to us whatever He knows is right and good for us. We, in faith, must trust in His guidance and truth and apply it to ourselves, and be unashamed to share His truth in love to grow and edify the Body of Christ for the glory of God.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”
Halloween may seem like a fun holiday where kids get to dress up and enjoy a ton of free candy, and we all get an excuse to have creative fun with family and friends. There is a lot more to the holiday than this, though. Should Christians join in the celebration of Halloween? In order to answer this question it is important to know what Halloween really is and where it came from.
Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is a holiday celebrated annually on October, 31, the night before All Saints’ Day. It has ancient Celtic (or Druid) origins, specifically to the festival of Samhain (“sow-win”). The Samhain Festival celebrated the start of Winter and the bringing in of the herds, and it was believed that with the herds came the dead to visit their homes. It was a massive celebration filled with bonfires, costumes, games and “fortune telling”. Festival celebrants believed that during the festival the spirit and physical worlds could essentially intermingle, allowing the living to interact with the dead. They eventually began to leave gifts for entities they believed would visit from the spirit world, such as fairies and ghosts, and dressed up as monsters and animals to disguise themselves and prevent kidnapping by these spirits. The Samhain Festival eventually evolved further and included more creative additions such as jack-o-lanterns.
When a majority of the Celtic territories were conquered by the Roman Empire in 53 A.D., the Romans merged the Feralia Festival, a similar festival where the Romans honored their dead, and another day dedicated to Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, with the Samhain Festival. In 609 A.D., both the Catholic church and the Western church established holidays to honor Christian Martyrs. Later, in what may have been an attempt by the Christian churches to replace the original Samhain, All Souls’ Day was made for Christians to honor their dead.
The church did not do away with the original traditions when they created All Souls’ Day, also known as All Saints’ Day, but instead embraced them for their purposes. All Hallows’ Eve, the evening prior to All Saints’ Day, was then designated as a holy, or hallowed, eve by the church. This is where the name Halloween stems from. During the Reformation All Saints’ Day ceased to be celebrated by Protestants, and eventually Halloween became a secular holiday.
As a secular holiday, Halloween has become known for things like costumes, candy, trick-or-treating, pranks, and parties. We associate black cats, pumpkins, ghosts and ghouls with the holiday, and many families have a blast carving jack-o-lanterns and decking themselves or their kids out in creative costumes. It is widely known as well for being a scary holiday with haunted houses, horror movies, and lots of darkness.
Halloween certainly has some mixed history, which even includes church participation, both historically and to this day as churches host events such as trunk-or-treats. Does this make it okay for Christians to celebrate?
What does the Bible say?
As with all things, we must look to the Word of God. As we look to scripture there are some lines that God has clearly drawn in regards to the occult and their practices and we need to always be mindful of the warnings that God gives us; warnings are in place for our safety.
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you.
Strong's H5172 - nachash - to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortune telling, take as an omen
to practice divination
to observe the signs or omens
Strong's H3784 - kashaph - (Piel) to practice witchcraft or sorcery, use witchcraft
sorcerer, sorceress (participle)
Strong's H3049 - yidd?`oniy - a knower, one who has a familiar spirit
a familiar spirit, soothsayer, necromancer (meton)
Divination, or the act of “foretelling future events, or discovering things secret by the aid of superior being, or other than human means.” as stated by the Smith’s Bible Dictionary is specifically defined and Easton’s Bible Dictionary points that every type and degree of this superstition was explicitly forbidden by the law of Moses.
You shall not permit a sorceress to live. Exodus 22:18 ESV
Strong's H3784 - kashaph - (Piel) to practice witchcraft or sorcery, use witchcraft
‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying. Leviticus 19:26 NASB
Strong's H5172 - nachash - to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortune telling, take as an omen
to practice divination
to observe the signs or omens
Strong's H6049 - `anan - (Poel) to practice soothsaying, conjure
to observe times, practice soothsaying or spiritism or magic or augury or witchcraft
Strong's H3049 - yidd?`oniy - a knower, one who has a familiar spirit
a familiar spirit, soothsayer, necromancer (meton)
What does the occult have to do with Halloween?
There is a clear line that God has drawn in the sand: we do not practice the occult - matters regarding the action or influence of the supernatural. We are not to participate in their practices as they are of the world, but we are not of the world as we have been reborn in Christ Jesus. The New Testament continues these warnings:
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Strong's G5331 - pharmakeia - sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
There is clearly an aspect of Halloween that is not permissible by God’s commands, which He has clearly laid out in scripture.
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Modern Day Halloween
With its dark history, it’s no wonder the debate over should Christians participate in Halloween has been ongoing. While those dark pasts still linger and should be watched for, many in the culture today no longer associate the holiday with its roots. The holiday has taken on a new dynamic in the past few decades. Today, the holiday focuses on children dressing up in all kinds of costumes, and sugar overdoses from all the candy.
Schools have adapted to a Fall Festival where all the fun aspects of Halloween are in place: lots of candy, costumes, and games. Students are encouraged to dress up like their favorite animal or superhero. Activities like bobbing for apples no longer show worship to a Greek goddess; they are simply for fun.
With the changing of traditions, churches have an open door to interact with the world in a neutral way that has the potential to reach thousands. Churches around the country are taking that advantage and using “trunk-or-treating” and other such events as a way to get in touch with people that typically wouldn’t be on church grounds.
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
We have an opportunity, as the body of Christ, to use Halloween as a stepping stone and an extended hand to those that are outside the Body of Christ. We are to remember that while we are not to be aligned to the world, we are still involved in it and we have been told to spread the gospel to everyone.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Participation in Halloween, no matter the degree, needs to be taken seriously. There will be those who are convicted to refrain from participation completely, and that is okay. There will also be those who will enjoy the fun side of Halloween, and that is also okay. What is important is that we do not cause those around us to fall into the dark side that lurks in the shadows of the holiday.
To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. Romans 14:13-14 ESV
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
Whether you are pro-Halloween or not, the most important thing to remember is that as members of the Body of Christ we need to be respectful and informed about the choices we make. What may be a difficult challenge for one may be easily overcome by another. As Paul reminds us, the most important thing is to not cause those around to stumble with sin.
Halloween can be used to honor God if done right, but can also easily be used for the opposite purpose which is where the danger zone lies in wait. As with anything, we as Christians are called to test all things according to the Word of God; use scripture as a filter for everything, obey God’s boundaries and instructions for you, and respect that God will give each person boundaries and instructions.
It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
So, should Christians celebrate Halloween? Bring it to God, do your research, and obey whatever God leads you to. What God tells you may differ from what he tells someone else, as we all have our own struggles and stumbling blocks, but remember to honor God in all you do. Make God your focus and priority, and do all that you do for the glory of God and furtherance of His love and Truth.
'Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.'
'We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. '
In today’s culture yoga and meditation are commonly recommended as some of the best ways to relieve stress, and they have been heavily glamourized in our society. It certainly begs the question - should Christians practice yoga or meditation? In order to answer this question we must investigate what yoga and meditation are and where they come from.
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a composition of mental, physical and “spiritual” practices derived from ancient India, and is historically tied to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The word “yoga” means “to yoke” or “to unite”, and traditionally aims to create spiritual, physical and mental unity and peace. It focuses on neutralizing thoughts and behaviors to cause a sort of “spiritual awakening”.
There are a variety of yoga styles. Modern-day yoga, though, is more focused on the physical exercise, more specifically on asana (or hatha practice). There are also vinyasa, power, ashtanga, bikram and iyengar.
Hatha or Asana: Combines series of breathing and basic movements and poses
Vinyasa: Series of poses that flow together
Power: Higher intensity and faster paced, designed to build muscle
Ashtanga: Special breathing techniques with poses
Bikram: A series of more difficult poses done in a hot room, also known as “hot yoga”
Iyengar: Incorporates items such as straps, blocks and chairs to assist with proper movements and alignments
Yoga is a fantastic physical exercise that targets your core, arms, legs, glutes, and back depending on the techniques you use. It also focuses a lot on flexibility and strength training in a low-impact format. Each type of yoga can be done in a range of difficulties, and can also be done just about anywhere.
There are many studies that indicate some yoga practices could be helpful in managing stress, anxiety and depression, as well as more physical health conditions such as back pain, improving quality of life during cancer, post-stroke conditions, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been found that yoga may improve memory and brain function, emotional responses, and possibly help improve mental flexibility and awareness. Yoga might also aid in reducing some risk factors of heart disease such as blood pressure, BMI (body mass index) and cholesterol.
There are a wide range of studies done to identify yoga as a potentially beneficial practice for one’s health. In short, studies show the possibility that yoga can aid with physical, mental and even emotional health and wellbeing. (See Disclaimer at the end of our study.)
What is Meditation?
Meditation can be compared to intentional contemplation, pondering, reflection or even prayer. Culturally, meditation is the practice of intentionally clearing one’s mind. Spiritually meditations would be the practice of prayer and contemplation of God and His Word. Most sources identify it as intense concentration on something to promote calmness, relaxation, or even spiritual growth.
Traditionally, meditation is also said to stem from ancient Indian origins, but it is also something that is believed to have been practiced throughout human life. We see that “meditation” and its concept is found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. Genesis 24:63 ESV
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8 ESV
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:2 ESV
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Psalm 119:148 ESV
Strong's H7878 - siyach - (Polel) to meditate, consider, put forth thoughts
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. Psalm 143:5 ESV
Strong's H2142 - zakar - to remember, recall, call to mind
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV
Strong's G3339 - metamorphoō - to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure
Christ appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration
Strong's G342 - anakainōsis - a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better
Strong's G3563 - nous - the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV
Strong's G3049 - logizomai - by reckoning up all the reasons to gather or infer
to consider, take account, weigh, meditate on
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:3 ESV
Strong's G3421 - mnēmoneuō - to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind
“1. To keep the mind in a state of contemplation; to dwell on anything in thought; to think seriously; to muse; to cogitate; to reflect.
2. To contemplate; to keep the mind fixed upon; to study.
3. To purpose; to intend; to design; to plan by revolving in the mind; as, to meditate a war.”
Typically people hear the term “meditation” and immediately think of it in relation to Buddhism, but meditation is not in itself a Buddhist practice. However it is something Buddhist’s practice in a way that focuses on freeing the mind to create “space”. Our culture leans toward meditation as a practice of clearing your mind, but meditation is not about “zoning out, or having earth-shattering experiences, or even controlling the mind” as Mind Works explains. Meditation, when used Biblically, is to train your mind according to God’s Word and improve your awareness of and connection with God. It is about contemplating or dwelling on God with intention and a prayerful heart.
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Meditation has also been studied as to its medical benefits. It has earned a reputation for helping manage anxiety and stress, and improve mental health. It may promote self awareness and help in training your mind to be more intentionally positive, fighting off negative thoughts about one’s self or others. There are studies to indicate it might be helpful with sleep and fighting addictions, as well as reducing pain.
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
While we find many variations of “meditation” from the original languages, they all circle back to the concept of pondering or contemplating, and can also be described as the transforming renewal of the mind such as we find in
What are the "spiritual" aspects of yoga and meditation?
Yoga and meditation are traditionally said to stem from Hindu, Buddhist and Jainist origins and as such the spiritual aspects taught in many traditional settings relate back to these roots. The traditional spiritual focus of both is to “unite” one’s mind and body with the inner self as well as being a form of worship and prayer.
While the traditions arise from these cultures, it is important to understand that yoga and meditation in themselves are not religious practices, therefore when you come across practices that include techniques considered in themselves to be Hindu, Buddhist or Jainist that is the individual’s choice of bringing that into the practice, not the practice itself.
Should Christians practice yoga & meditation?
Here is where the controversy and difficulty occurs. Yoga and meditation are derived from Hindu and Buddhist origins, and as such both practices can come from a variety of sources and teachers that will feed back to these traditions. The question arises whether you can practice yoga or meditation without the influence of their Hindu and Buddhist roots.
Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;
Much like when picking a church or a study group you must ensure that they are Biblically accurate and honoring God, that is what must be done when choosing a yoga or meditation practice as well as in every other area of our lives. That said, a Christian can easily reject the false gods that other cultures bring into their practice, as well as the dangerous teachings of “clearing one’s mind” and being focused on one’s self, and instead intentionally focus on God Almighty in their practice to pray, worship and meditate on Him and His Word.
God uses all things for the good of those who love Him, and much like so many of the things we do and practice every day, God can and does take things from other cultures, religions, and purposes and turns them into something good for us as His children.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
Whether a Christian should practice yoga or meditation truly lies with the individual and their relationship with God. What I mean by this is that as you grow in your faith, your relationship with God, and your knowledge of God's Word, you are better able to discern what is of the world and what is from God. For example, I have personally practiced yoga off and on for years and began before I knew Christ and was saved. I easily fell into the "emptying your mind" and finding "my center" commentary in a lot of the videos I watched and was always left spiritually confused.
Now that I am anchored in my faith in Jesus and much more knowledgeable about scripture I understand that those parts of the practice are dangerous to one's faith and relationship with the One True God, BUT I also recognize that this is an opportunity for God to use something unexpected for His good. I have changed the sources and teachers I use for my practice and strive to only learn and practice from sources that do not violate God’s commands and His Word.
'And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. '
While yoga and meditation may be derived from unBiblical traditions, the practices themselves are not unBiblical. Biblical meditation happens when we intentionally focus on God and His Word, and allow the mind to be renewed and transformed by it. Looking at the potential benefits of the practices can be overwhelmingly positive and maybe even helpful to one's mental and physical health. As such, we can incorporate Biblical meditation into a yoga practice, replacing the cultural and unBiblical methods, traditions and techniques, and use both practices Biblically to strengthen our connection and relationship with God and His Word, as well as honor Him with our bodies.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
There are so many things in this world that have been perverted, warped, and used to place rifts between people and God. Like anything else in this world these practices can be used that way, or they can be used with the fully conscious intention to serve, worship, and meditate on God with our whole being while we surrender our complete health - mind, body and soul - to Him.
Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
I use both yoga and meditation to focus on my relationship with God, as I strive to do in all things. I believe the answer to our question is that we should do all that we do fully intent on bringing God glory and praise. We should be surrendering to and relying on Him completely in every aspect of our lives and if He has given us the gift of meditation and yoga then we must set the intention every time we practice to serve Him completely in it. This is a constant and vital intention we must set for ourselves every single day in literally everything we do, these practices being no exception.
When we consider all of this and the fact God uses all things for the good of those who love Him, we can discern that by using these practices in ways that honor and glorify God, and to strengthen our relationship, focus and reliance on Him, they can be good for us and our faith.
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Christians can and should absolutely meditate on God, His Word, and in prayer and worship to Him every single day, in all things. The techniques of yoga are primarily stretches, breathing, strength training, and low impact movements designed to calm the mind and body. Meditation is intentional concentration on something specific. As such, they can be beautiful practices done Biblically to slow yourself down, take care of your physical and mental health, while also giving that time and practice to the One True God, using that time to pray, worship and meditate on Him.
Disclaimer:
The author is not a medical professional. This post is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional. Any application of the information provided is at the reader's discretion and is his or her own responsibility.
Fasting is so often taken for granted. We see fasting in scripture and we think “okay, I can cut down my meals” or “eh, that isn’t really a thing these days. I don’t need to do that.” Let me tell you that both views are completely wrong. Fasting has taught me a lot about how, when, and why to let go and let God take control in more areas of my life.
In honor of Holy Week, my family chose to each fast from something. We prayed about it and chose something we each felt God put on our hearts to do without. For me it was coffee. Now, if you’re like me the thought of giving up coffee for any length of time sounds like a combination of silly and ridiculous, and completely unnecessary. For some, it may feel impossible, as silly as that may sound. I went into it with an obedient heart but I was not thrilled about it. I knew I could go without it but I didn’t really want to.
Why should I fast?
The point of fasting in the spiritual sense is to go without something we cherish or may feel like we need so that through going without we can gain much more from God. We should plan to learn something through fasting, and grow closer to Our Father. I’ll be honest. I really didn’t see how going without coffee was going to help me in this way, but on Day 4 I began to understand the point a lot better than I'd expected to. It hit me hard enough that I wanted to share my experience.
Day one was manageable. I woke up feeling a bit mentally prepared for my lack of delicious coffee and was completely exhausted by the end of the day. Day two, on the other hand, left me feeling horrible and ready to give up. I was so tempted to cave in that I almost did. I had a horrible migraine, was grouchy and tried really hard to keep my attitude in check. Day three was a little better on the grumpy side, and after resisting the temptation on day two I knew I could keep going.
On day four I was completely exhausted but that was when I began to understand what was really happening. Day five through seven was a breeze. I'd gotten past the temptation, recognized my cranky attitude, and trusted God to get me through it while believing He had a purpose for me in this experience.
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How does fasting help me let go and let God?
When we resist temptations we grow stronger. We break down the walls that have been built in our minds telling us we "can't". When we lean into God instead of our desires and the things we think we need, we give God space to show us what we really need and how He always provides it.
By the time my week of fasting was over I was able to see it wasn't about the coffee. It was about me thinking I needed something to help me get through each day, this staple to my routine, this awakening beverage every day. In reality God helped me see that this was really a mental stumbling block that I was placing on my road to him.
I'm not saying I shouldn't have it at all, but I am saying that sometimes we need to stop and recognize that the things we have or do, and even the blessings God gives us, need to be seen in a different light - in His light. Recognize that all we have comes from God, and all we need comes from Him as well.
Remember that He is in control and He provides. He is who we need to lean into, make the staple of our routines, the awakening of our mind and soul, and the focus of each day. Not these earthly things we think we need and tell ourselves we can't live without.
So, what are you convinced you can't live without?
What staple in your routine do you lean on too much?
Where can you let go in order to let God in?
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
When I feel stuck, being at home and sitting around not doing a whole lot is really hard on the body and mind. While we’re all dealing with stay-at-home orders it can be really tough to navigate how to stay active while cooped up for who knows how long. I have been going through the motions myself, phases of slumps and then random bursts of energy, sleeping in too long, staying up too late, sitting at the computer too much. The list can go on, but you get the point and I am sure you are feeling it as well. It’s too easy right now to just fall into the rutt of wallowing in your isolation. So what can we do about it? Here are some things that have been helping me when I feel stuck.
Routine
You may not be able to (or even have to) be on your normal routine right now but I have realized that this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be on some kind of a routine. I spent a couple of weeks with literally no routine and eventually found myself feeling stressed out, exhausted, and just all-around terrible. So, I decided to find a sweet spot where I am not stressing over a routine, but I am still staying active, tackling each day with purpose and some consistency.
Before the stay-at-home order I had an early rise and early to bed routine. I don't need to be up or lay down as early right now, but I shifted my schedule only slightly. This allows me to have some quiet hours in my morning, and then plenty of time for winding down at night. I make a point of getting dressed when I get up, have a steady morning routine, daily activities that help prevent me from spending too long on the computer, scheduled meal times, and a bedtime routine to help me get in sleep mode. When I feel stuck, having this stability helps me not dwell on how different life feels right now, or get absorbed into mindlessness or restlessness.
Exercise
Yes, I said it. Exercise. The thing so many of us procrastinate doing. I was just getting into a workout routine before the stay-at-home orders, and it all fell apart again when the shut-downs came. I've started slowly working in daily yoga after I've had my morning coffee, and then again before dinner. When I feel stuck, this helps me step away from the pc and get moving. It also helps me sleep better at night, and feel more stable and relaxed during the day. Let’s face it. Sitting around is not healthy. We should all be doing things to help keep our bodies healthy right now, even more so than usual, so yes. Exercise daily.
Read
I know a lot of people are not readers, but here’s my point. Most of us are probably spending hours reading the various news networks right now. All that does is heighten the negativity, anger, frustrations, anxieties, panic, and stress - all the things we need to be combating, not feeding ourselves more of. Find something you enjoy reading whether it be comic books, magazines, novels, and especially the Bible.
Pick up a Bible reading plan. Find free and inexpensive book deals on BookBub. Check out eLibrary books on Libby by OverDrive to read on your phone, tablet or eReader. Find some fun audiobooks. There are all kinds of ways to find great content to feed your mind that doesn't always require money.
Reading is a great stress reliever when I feel stuck. For me, it takes my mind away from the stress of the world around me and throws me into a new world or adventure. You may not think you’re a reader, but hey - now is a great time to put that to the test and dive in to give your mind a needed break.
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Hobbies
Whether it be learning a new language, taking classes online, a yarn or sewing project, painting, writing, drawing etc. it is a great time to jump in when I feel stuck. I’ve been taking this time to get into my adult coloring books, yarn projects, and I will also be sewing medical masks. My family and I are learning some fun origami and playing board games, and we have started doing movie marathons at dinner time (note we reserve this for a specific time of day rather than sitting in front of the TV all day long). Soon I plan to also get into a little baking, and I have started doing some Spring Cleaning in my closets and drawers. The options are limitless! You have much less reason to put these things off, so why not just go for it?
Connect
We live in a time that is so incredibly easy to be isolated and not worry about social interactions. Hiding in our homes away from the world probably sounds really nice to many of us, but honestly this is something we really need to be careful with. We were not designed to be alone. We were designed for community, for relationship. Right now it is vital that we stay, or get, connected to others.
I am finding it all too easy to just worry about myself and myself alone when I feel stuck at home, but I urge you to reach out to your friends, connect with loved ones, share what you’re up to with others and talk to people about how you’re feeling and coping. Don’t shut the world out right now. Remember that we need to let the light in so we don’t get consumed by the darkness penetrating our world right now. Be a part of something more than yourself and get connected with people.
Life is tough as it is, but even more so right now. Don’t forget that we’re all going through this together. Stay connected, create a sense of routine for your days, get into your favorite hobbies, and grab a good book. We can all get through this, but it helps when we do it together.
Sometimes life takes a totally different direction than we expected it to. Sometimes it feels like I'm being dragged down a path I really don't want to be on; like I cannot keep my head above water, or I just can't seem to break free of the grip pulling on my collar. My mind wanders, fears increase, the anxiety is palpable. Nothing I say makes sense and I can't seem to be calm and collected no matter how hard I try.
I think that's a bit like what we're experiencing in the world right now. Not just the coronavirus pandemic, but stress of politics, education, work, relationships, parenting, and even faith. We live in a culture that is so embedded in the "go, go, go" and "me, me, me" mentalities that it is too easy to get tunnel vision and lose sight of what really matters. With that tunnel vision, we also lose our sense of God and all the amazing blessings He is literally dangling right over us waiting for us to notice, reach out, and snag.
When this whole pandemic started, my anxieties went pretty high. I have been losing sleep, getting angry and irrational about things and toward people who don't deserve it, and feel like I am in a constant state of panic mode. It all makes it feel like the world is collapsing. It doesn't make sense why some people don't give this virus a thought or care in the world, while others are literally out in stores fighting over packs of toilet paper.
I have 3 words for you that are exactly what we need right now to get through the panic, whether it be the coronavirus, or any other stressor in your life.
Armor of God
I have done so many studies on the Armor of God and every time, I go through an intense phase of attacks and then an incredible awakening. The Armor of God is certainly something I believe most Christian's have probably heard of, and heck even non-believers have as well! I want to talk about the Armor of God from a bit of a different light than what you have likely heard before.
In Ephesians, we learn so much about the armor; each piece we need to put on, what it's for, and how it helps. One thing we need to put some real emphasis on is why we need the armor in the first place.
Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens.
Because we are fighting against things we cannot see. We are fighting against completely different enemies and problems than we often blame for our stress and anxiety. We are absolutely fighting a battle every day against a real enemy, but we cannot see that enemy. God gives us His own armor to put on, His armor from Heavenly realms, to shield us against these unseen evil powers that are also from the heavens. We cannot fight cosmic darkness without the appropriate cosmic protection.
We have always been fighting an invisible enemy. Every day, every battle, every struggle is against an unseen force. Right now it feels to me like our knowledge of that and our trust in God’s truthfulness, is being put to the test while we are caught panicking over this virus; Covid-19. We can’t see this virus. It is something we must trust science to tell us is there, and we have to choose whether to believe that it is a real problem or not.
We have all kinds of sources telling us it isn’t a big deal, it’s just a political agenda or a scare tactic, while the other side of the coin is putting temporary laws in place to keep us isolated at home and reminding us to take proper care of ourselves. Regardless of what we may believe about it, science shows us that we are in fact fighting. Belief or non-belief does not change that this invisible enemy is on the move, and no one in this world is immune.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
This is a prime example of Satan on the move around the world as well. Just like the virus in so many ways, Satan is an invisible enemy, prowling the earth, inflicting fear, panic, pain, suffering, rebellion and disobedience wherever he goes whether we believe he is there or not. Seeing is not always believing. Believing what God tells us, even when we cannot see it with our own eyes, is a necessary aspect of faith.
Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand.
God wants us to be protected against this invisible enemy. He wants to equip us with the right tools, the right armor, to be able to stand firm when we come under attack. He doesn't want us to just put on His armor, though. Armor requires some action on the wearer's part to reap the full protective benefits.
We are meant to use His armor through all the muck and grind of daily battles, and at the end of the day still, be able to stand firm and keep going. If we don't use the armor, we'd be knocked down, drug down, and beat down all day and the armor would be no help at all. So how do we use invisible armor on an invisible enemy?
So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.
When we gird ourselves with the belt of truth, we basically use the Word of God as a fact-checker. Before we make choices or react to a situation, we check in with the Word to see what God says we should be doing. Then we act on that truth, trusting it to be our guide. When we lack trust in the truth, we trip up on lies and deceit, and we let panic and anxiety hinder us. God’s truth is our unmovable standard to help us see the right path more clearly.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Wearing the breastplate of righteousness is how we put the Belt of Truth into practice. Trusting Jesus is how we obtain righteousness, and then we need to use that righteousness to protect our hearts, emotions, and conscience. When we put on righteousness we welcome the Holy Spirit to fill us up. The Holy Spirit brings us peace and focus. It is our mental and emotional guide to help us navigate deep waters and battles. In order to remain focused on God’s truth, we must protect our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill and guide us.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
One thing that is important to recognize is that Satan is certainly there, he is wreaking havoc, but he is not always the cause of the chaos. He does, however, quite enjoy sucking our peace away and leaving us to wallow in our very human anxieties, jeopardizing our stability, and causing us to stumble.
This is where the Shoes of Peace come in. When we are locked into God’s peace which surpasses understanding, that peace stabilizes us through the mess. This peace is a guard for our stability. When we don’t stand firm in this peace, that is when we panic, worry, and get caught up in the crazy storms of this unseen battle raging around us.
Peace is an anchor for your soul. It is activated when we put our trust in God’s truth, and it is fueled by our thankfulness to Him for all that He provides. And trust me, there is always something to thank God for. Always. Even in the darkest of valleys.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The thing about faith is that so often we think of it as a noun. A thing. Something we just have or don’t have. Faith is much more than just something we possess. It is something we use. In the NIV translation Eph. 6:16 says “take up the shield of faith”, meaning pick it up and put it to use. If you don’t have active faith you have dead faith. It needs to be exercised in order to be strengthened, tested to be made pure. When we use the shield of faith we are relying on God to shield and lead us in all things.
Something I find incredible about the Roman shield is that when enemies would launch flaming arrows at the soldiers, distracting them from the true fight just like our daily complaints are distractions from the real battle happening, the soldiers would pick up the shield and use it to cover their whole body from the attacks of their enemy. Then when the enemy would come at the soldiers even harder, the soldiers would lock their shields together to create a shield barrier all around them.
While they stood firm and their shields did not waver, it was impenetrable. This is what it is to have active faith. Use your faith to guard you against distractions, keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus, and lock your faith in Christ with others to strengthen your faith and add further protection.
Satan sure would like you to be so distracted by all your daily complaints that you don’t notice the actual battle, you don’t see him coming, and you never step out into the waters of faith, pick up your shield, and use it to protect yourself. Have faith that God will protect and guide you, and activate your faith by blocking out those things that distract you from Him.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
The Helmet of Salvation is a guard for your mind. This is how we block out negative thoughts, keep Satan out of our heads, and focus on the Holy Spirit speaking to us. Just like faith, Salvation is meant to be applied. You have to put on the helmet to protect your head otherwise you leave it open to any number of injuries and attacks.
The Salvation we have through Jesus Christ has the power to change, redeem and restore us. It is not just protection, it is transformative. When we trust in Christ and accept the Salvation He died to give us, we put on the Helmet of Salvation and allow it to change the way we think and act. It sanctifies us, renewing our minds, and aligns us with the God-centered mentality we need.
While Satan works to build walls in your mind, making it a very dark place to be, the Helmet of Salvation tears down those walls filling your mind with God’s light, truth, peace and redemption.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are then filled with the Holy Spirit. This is our sword, our weapon against the enemy. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence within us. We face problems every day and we struggle to know how to defend ourselves. I have some good news for you! The war has already been won. God has already solved every problem ahead of us. We just need to take us His sword, put on His armor, and follow Him to the solutions and the victories already laid out before us. The Holy Spirit is our guide along this path, pointing us in the right direction, giving us the right words, and leading the way to His victory.
and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
'For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. '
Each piece of armor is essential, but it is vital that we don’t stop there. There is one more piece that we must always include in our tactics to fight these invisible enemies. Prayer is what holds it all together. It is how we communicate with God. God may know our thoughts, our heart, and everything we do but He still wants us to be in an active relationship with Him. Every relationship requires communication and a relationship with God is no exception.
In one of my Bible study groups, we grow stronger in our prayers by following a prayer strategy.
P: Praise God, what are you grateful for?
R: Repentance, what do you need to ask forgiveness for? Who do you need to forgive?
A: Ask, what requests do you have? What do you need help with?
Y: Yes, remember that God fulfills His promises and that He does hear you. Go to scripture and use God’s own words in your prayer request that relate to your needs.
So often in our culture, we find ourselves or others saying “all I can do is pray” like it is a disappointment. I assure you, prayer is the best thing we can do. It is the first thing we should do. God wants to hear from us, and this particular strategy is a great way to talk to God while also getting your heart and your focus realigned to Him. Prayer is so incredibly powerful. Never take it for granted.
Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.
