Some people wish that God were like Santa. He’d give us what we want. But the problem is: we don’t know what is best for us. Some people do think God is like Santa. And when they don’t get what they want, they throw God over board. But God is not like Santa. Or a cosmic bellboy. With the words of Harry Emerson Fosdick “God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things”….
Do you know what’s the difference between spiritual fruit and spiritual gifts? Do you know how or why they appear? And which one is more valuable, spiritual fruit or spiritual gifts? Let’s find out! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23, NIV) The amplified Bible explains spiritual fruit to be the result of His presence within us. We can’t produce spiritual fruit. It just happens when we abide…
Do you ever struggle with following Jesus without knowing where you’re going? It’d be nice to know where Jesus is taking you, right? It is hard to trust without any reservations. We might even doubt our own abilities to follow. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30, NIV) Taking up the…
Here are a few encouraging words for you who are right now going through hard times. Trust God to see you through. Hard times are not fun but the blessings of tested faith are huge. Hang in there. Better things ahead! My faith was tested when my first husband left me for another woman. Everything but God was taken from me. But I found God was more than enough. My God will meet your every need out of his riches…
Do you trust God with all your heart? Or do you withdraw your trust when things start looking gloomy? That’s what we so often do. But trusting when things are going well is not really trusting, is it? Trusting starts when things get rough, don’t you think? That’s exactly when we need to decide to trust God. We are to live by faith and not by sight. This is time to put faith in action. Trust in the Lord with…
Does the call to holiness intimidate you? Do you feel it’s beyond your power? Do you know what? You’ve got that right. Holiness is something we can’t attain through effort. But it is possible to obtain holiness by God’s grace. It does not happen without the Holy Spirit’s presence is our life. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (Romans 6:22, NKJV, emphasis…
The funniest thing happened to me during my morning prayer. I got a vision of what a prayer should look like. And, let me tell you, it took me by surprise. It was a vision of a person wearing a bluetooth device having an ongoing dialogue with God. And I understood that our prayer life should be like that. Like a continual conversation with God. God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. (Psalm…
Do you feel spiritually empty? Are you craving for God’s presence? Congratulations, the Holy Spirit in you is reminding you of the bliss of being in God’s presence. Just open up your heart to receive all that God has for you. The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in…
Do you ever have doubts? How do you deal with them? This is crucial in your life of faith. Because we all have doubts occasionally. We just need to know what to do with them, right? Because of Christ we don’t need to give in. What to do then? The main thing is to give your doubts to Jesus. They don’t surprise him. And he has already conquered them, every single one. Give your doubts to Jesus and watch them…
Grace invites us to try on a new kind of wardrobe. One that God has chosen for us: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Did you just audibly sigh? Don’t worry, I know. The godly, spiritual wardrobe doesn’t quite fit! But I know a Master Taylor who can help us: The Holy Spirit. When we invite Jesus to live in our heart the Holy Spirit starts working on our new kind of wardrobe. Gently he keeps on working on us…
