Tips for Meditating on God’s Goodness

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Tips for Meditating on God’s Goodness

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

 

Let’s be honest:

 

We’re so forgetful about the good things God has done in our lives. Really? Yes, God always brings us out of trials, but we forget what he has done for us after a few days and start grumbling about what he hasn’t done.

 

Meditating on God’s goodness is one of the ways that will enable us to draw close to him and remember the good things he has done for us.  It will help us to know God’s ways and to see how faithful he is to us even when we are faithless, and this will build our faith.

 

But in a world that promotes negativity, it is very challenging for us to meditate on the goodness of God.  So how do we do it?

 

Here are four practical ways to meditate on God’s goodness.

 

 

Go to the word of God

The first and best way to meditate on God’s goodness is to read the word of God. The Bible is jam-packed with things he has done for us through his son Jesus and the things he did for other people who believed in him.

 

Find verses that focus on the goodness of God, read them and then spend some time reflecting on what you have read until they become alive in you. (1 Kings 8:66)

 

Look for the good stuff even in adverse situations

There are so many challenges we face in this world, especially as Christians that it is easy to forget about the great things God has done. We need to be intentional about meditating God’s goodness even in bad times.  Make it a practice to look for the goodness of God even in the most challenging situations.

 

Although David went through hard times, he meditated on the good things God had done, and this practice made him strong in the middle of trials.

 

Think about the things God has done in your life

The Bible is full of so many great things that God has done.  From the creation story to Revelation, we find so many things that reveal the goodness of God.  There are also so many good things God has done in your life. Now while some of them seem small and simple, they’re worth meditating on because they will help faith to rise on the inside, especially when you’re going through hard times.

Spend time in silence and remember all the times’ God came through for you.  The good things he did for you and your family when all hope was lost.  Remember that time he came through for your friends or for people in your church.

 

If you have any testimonies written down, start meditating on them.  Remember how all hope was lost, but in the end, God came through for you. (1 Chronicles 16:12)

 

In conclusion:

 

If you strayed from the things of God because of the challenges, go back and start meditating on the goodness of God.  Doing so will help you to go back to the heart of worship because God’s goodness will help you to become strong in faith.

How to Get Out of Spiritual Funk

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How to Get Out of Spiritual Funk

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43:5 (NIV)

Ever find yourself struggling to believe the word of God, discouraged or not wanting to do anything with the things of God?

 

Well, you are not alone.

 

Every child of God goes through seasons in life where they want nothing to do with their walk with the Lord.

 

But here is the thing we cannot allow this spiritual funk to continue in our lives for long because if we do so, then we will end up opening up doors for the enemy in our lives. Like David, we need to bless the Lord and worship him even when we do not feel like it.

 

Spiritual funk is an inroad for the enemy to kill our faith and steal our blessings. We need to be on the lookout so that we do not stray from the things of God.

 

But how does one get out of Spiritual funk?

 

Find out the Root Cause

Most of us struggle with spiritual funk because our focus is on the wrong things. When all you do is focus on the challenges you are facing, then you will start to experience spiritual funk.

 

Our focus should always be on Jesus.

 

Today,  choose to find out what is causing you to be in this state so that you can stop focusing on it and start focusing on God. (Colossians 3:1)

 

Admit How you feel to God

God knows you inside out, and he wants you to be completely honest with him. He loves you so much, he can handle your feelings and emotions. Instead of saying perfect prayers, surrender yourself to him by pouring out your heart to him.

 

Tell him what you are going through and how you feel about it.  If you find it hard to admit straight up how you are feeling then buy a journal and write how you feel down. God will speak to your heart as you do this and help you to get out of the funk.

 

Fast

Maybe you do not want to hear this, but fasting will help you to get out of spiritual funk. Since your focus is on every other thing but God, fasting will help you to align your mind and will with God, and this will help you to put God above everything that is happening around you.

 

There are so many different kinds of fasts, so find out what works for you and spend time doing that.

 

Focus on the Future

The truth is, even though the thing that is making you experience spiritual funk seems big right now, it is only temporary. All the things of this world will pass away, but God will always remain to be God. (Matthew 6:16-18)

 

Shift your focus from what is going on around you to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. Great things await the children of God, so focus on eternity instead of what is happening all around you.

 

All in all:

 

We all experience spiritual funk at some point, so don’t beat yourself up because you are experiencing it right now. Finding the root cause,  admitting how you feel to God,  fasting and focusing on the future are great ways for you to get out of the funk.

The Power of Being Silent

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The Power of Being Silent

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

 

Do you know that most people struggle to be silent?

 

Being silent seems easy, but it is not.  With so many things running in our minds and the world, it is hard to quiet down our hearts and be still. But the thing is, being silent helps us to know who God is.

 

Silence is a biblical discipline that Christians need to practice. Our Lord made quiet times part of his life. There are times he would withdraw from the crowd and spend time alone.  Like him, we need to spare sometime in the day, week, or month and spend time in solitude.  (Mark 1:35)

 

The truth is:

 

Most of us fear silence because it puts us in a state where we have to deal with what is going on in our hearts or in other cases, it makes us seem weak. The Bible tells us that there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak.  We need to know when to speak and when to be quiet. 

Why being quiet is Powerful

Good for your well-being

Did you know that silence is good for your overall health?

 

Yes, silence will help lower your blood pressure and prevent heart attacks. God expects us to take good care of our bodies and what better way than through practising silence? Being quiet will also lead to soul healing as the deep hurts in your soul will be brought to the surface by the Holy Spirit so that God can heal you.

 

Helps us reassess our lives

Truth is,  it is difficult to assess your life if you are caught up with the noise of this world.  Silence will help you to spend time alone and access your life.  Now it may be difficult at first, but as time goes on, you will start to enjoy being silent.

 

Allows us to hear from God

There are different ways that God speaks to us; one of them is through the still small voice.  Silence will help you to be sensitive to the still small voice of God that is always counseling us. (1Kings 19:11-13)

 

When you spend time in silence to hear from God, the Holy Spirit refills your life with vitality.

Helps us to avoid conflict

Now, practicing silence will not help you in your relationship with God alone, it will also help you when dealing with conflict.

 

There will be times in life when people will get to your last nerve but remember you don’t have to fight all battles.  Our ego makes it hard for us to watch someone walk all over us, but it is better to keep quiet.

 

Turn to God in prayer and keep quiet when someone offends you. To the outside world, you may seem weak when you do that, but at the end of the day, you will have avoided a lot of issues. The word of God tells us to bless those who offend us and allow God to deal with them.

 

So let God deal with the person that is offending you by holding your peace and remaining silent. (Proverbs 17: 27-28)

 

All in all

 

Silence is the most powerful weapon for someone that wants to experience spiritual growth and avoid conflict.  By being silent, we open up doors for the Holy Spirit to counsel us and refill our lives with vitality.

Bible Verses for Strength

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Bible Verses for Strength

Many of us are searching for strength and some solid ground to land on. Life can be busy, stressful, and fill us with a sense of instability. There is hope in God and the strength he can offer us if we ask Him. Today, here are five verses that speak to God’s strength.

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

Nehemiah 8:10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—  my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

How to Choose the Right Church

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And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

With a lot of scandals happening in churches all over the world, it is becoming hard to find the right church.

Be very careful when looking for a local church because the kind of place you go to worship God will have a significant impact on your spiritual life.

Now some people think going to church is optional but that is not true. The church was purchased with the blood at the cross because God wants us to fellowship with other believers. So belonging to a local church is very important.

But how does one choose the right church?

Ask God for Guidance

Before going out to look for a church, ask God to order your steps. He knows the best churches around your area that can help you grow spiritually.

Praying seems to be an obvious step, but it is the most critical step because God knows what goes on in every church. You may get fooled easily by the excellent treatment you get when you visit particular churches, but God knows what goes on in the hearts of people who fellowship in that church.

A Word Based Church

Look for a church that is word-based that is one that does not stray from the word of God.

Today many people are flocking to churches with preachers who preach messages that make the congregants feel good. But the word of God is not meant to make us feel good about ourselves. It is supposed to correct, rebuke, and encourage people. (2 Timothy 4:2)

The preachers in the church you go to should preach about salvation, grace, holiness, and the coming judgment.

Some preachers only preach messages that bring fear in people’s heart so that they can instill fear and control the congregation. You need to be wary of that. The word of God is not meant to bring demonic fear in our hearts for God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound mind. 

Leadership

We are living in dangerous times where false preachers have crept into the church. They want to confuse innocent people by teaching them wrong doctrines so that Christians can fall away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The good thing is we judge true believers by the fruits they bear.

Ask your heavenly Father to give you the gift of discernment so that you can be able to differentiate true church leaders from false ones.

Ministry

We do not just go to church to be ministered to and then leave.

The church you go to should be a place that helps you to develop your calling.  God has given us different gifts. A good church will encourage you to build and grow your gifts by creating opportunities where you can serve. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The truth is there is no perfect church out there, but with God’s help, you will be able to find a place where you will learn more about God and grow spiritually. Go to a church where people worship God in spirit and truth.

How to Serve Others like Jesus

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Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

Every Christian is called to serve others.

But let’s be honest, it takes grace and a lot of patience for us to serve other people diligently.

In a world where people want others to help them get to the top, it is hard to commit yourself to help others without expecting anything in return. But biblically, we are supposed to do everything as unto the Lord, and that includes serving others. (Colossians 3:23)

The Bible does not ask us to help others when we feel like; it tells us to do it the way Jesus served us. Serve other people in your household, church, community, nation, and the world at large.

Here is how you can serve others like Jesus:

Add Value in other People’s Lives

Instead of serving others for personal gains, focus on adding value in their lives. Find out their needs and then help them out.

Jesus came on earth to serve us not to be served. Though he was fully God, he left heaven and came on earth to save humanity because he cared and loved us the same way his father did.

God has given you gifts so that you can use them to serve people that genuinely need your help.

Be Caring Towards Others

Jesus genuinely cared about people. While Christ had a lot on his plate, he did not focus on checking tasks off his to-do list. Jesus cared so much that he stopped and attended to the woman with the issue of blood even though he was headed to Jairus’ house. (Luke 8:40-48)

Have a genuine interest in people around you.

Listen to them when they talk and make inquiries about how they are faring on from time to time. Instead of putting other people down build their confidence with the word of God. Let care be part of your everyday life.

Follow God’s Leading

Ever wondered why Jesus was able to do so much in a short period?

Jesus did only what his father told him to do. (John 12:49)

But how did he know what his father wanted? He used to pray. Our Lord used to rise early or separate himself from people so that he could spend time with his father.

During prayer time, listen to your heavenly father so that he can lead you in the way you should go. He will show you who to help and how to help them best. As you carry out your tasks in the day, don’t let your busy schedule to overshadow your relationship with God. That way, you will be able to hear him when he prompts you to help.

We need to be imitators of Jesus Christ, and one of the ways that we can imitate him is by serving others. But let us always serve others to glorify God, not man. We will not do it correctly, but by God’s grace, we will be able to make a difference in the world.

Honor God by Living a Healthy, Christian Lifestyle

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So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV)

When people look at us, they should see Christ living in us.

Yes, we will fall many times, but that should not stop us from honoring God with our lives.

Our major goal as Christians should be to lead lifestyles that honor our heavenly Father. The way we live should match our faith.  Why? It makes other people who are not Christians to want to be like us, to be Christ-like.

Most of us like to quote scripture and speak about Jesus. It is not bad; it is the right thing to do. But the truth is people, especially worldly people judge us based on our lifestyle. When our lives don’t match our faith, they end up thinking that Christianity is for people who don’t practice what they preach.

So, how do we honor God through our lifestyles?

Take Good Care of yourself

Your body is a temple of God; you need to take good care of it.

Eat healthy food, drink enough water, and exercise so that you can be fit enough to carry out the assignments God has for you.

We see people changing their bad eating habits because of their loved ones. That’s great, but what if we went a step further and took care of our bodies as a way of honoring God?

Sounds great right?

We should not stop at eating right and exercising regularly. We need to also protect our minds by filtering what we watch and read. We should fill our minds with the word of God.  Some things may not see harmful now but will harm you later. Remember, the eyes are the lamp of the body.

Surround yourself with the right people

Are your close friends’ followers of Jesus Christ? What do they love doing in their free time?

The people you hang out with will influence you positively or negatively, so you have to be careful about your circle of friends (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Walking out of some relationships may be hard, but it is better to drop some friends than to allow them to lead us stray and cause us to stumble in our spiritual walk. Glorify God by being around people who love and worship him.

It is easy to get caught up with so many things that we may forget to honor God with our lifestyle. But there is more to Christianity than just reading the bible, praying and going to church. Our lifestyles need to be a reflection of our faith in the Lord.

Ask God to help you live a life that honors him. When you fall, don’t remain down, get up, and keep the good fight of faith. You’re not the only one that is going through challenges; every Christian is struggling with something. But remember, at the end of it all, we shall receive the crown of life.

It is not easy, but God is on our side; we shall make it.

Treat yourself and others right. Rest, eat right, read, and watch things that build you up spiritually, and surround yourself with the right people. Lay your life down for Christ, and God will lift you up.

4 Encouraging Bible Verses for Hard Times

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Ever wish life could be peaceful, free from; fear, sickness, failures, trials and temptations?

Well, we all want that, but we live in a fallen world.

There will be times of increase, good health, and promotions. There will also be moments of frustration, failure and disappointment.

But God has given us his word to encourage and uplift us in difficult times, to correct us when we mess up and to build our faith. Focus on scriptures and believe that God will come through for you the way he has promised.

Here are four bible verses that will encourage you in hard times;

When Dealing With Anxiety

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6(NIV)

Are you feeling anxious?

Well, here is the thing, worrying won’t change your situation; it will only leave you depressed.

Paul encourages us to pray about every situation in this verse. 

Turn the big and small stuff you are worried about to God in prayer. Stop trying to fix everything on your own. Surrender them to God and thank God for handling your situation. He loves you and is always ready to help you.

Keep believing in Him, and he will never let you down. 

When You Are Afraid

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6(NIV)

We all deal with different kinds of fear.

The devil keeps bombarding us with thoughts of death, failure and shame. There are also different kinds of experiences, new ventures and responsibilities that leave us fearful. We wonder if we will measure up or if people will like us.

The truth is we will never get rid of fear, but we can face these challenges courageously because God is with us. Don’t be afraid of people, the devil or situations that seem impossible.

Be strong and do what is required of you. God is with you. He is helping you through it all.

No, you don’t see him, and you may not feel his presence, but he is there, and he will not abandon you.

When you are in Trouble

And call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.

Psalms 50:15 (NIV)

Whom do you run to when in trouble?

Do you go to the experts, friends, family or God?

Well, it is not wrong to ask for help from people, but it is better to run to God first. Honestly, most of us see God as our last option when he should be the first.

Run to him in your day of trouble. He has promised to deliver you and not just that by the time he is done, you will know that God is almighty and he is who he says he is.

When Going Through Trials

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 (NIV)

The word of God doesn’t promise us an easy life.

We will go through different trials and temptations in this world.

Don’t give up in the middle of trial and even if things don’t change now; we are promised great things in eternity. Love God and persevere. At the end of it all, you will receive the crown of life.

The enemy would like to make you believe that you are the only one that is going through trials, but that is not true. Know that every believer is going through various kinds of trials, but it is only those who endure to the end that will be crowned.

Don’t give up stand firm in God’s word. He loves you and is with you through it all.

3 Lessons about Suffering from the Life of Hannah

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Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

1 Samuel 1:6-8

Suffering is part of life as long as we live in this fallen world.

Discouraging, right?

Well, yes, but we cannot run from the truth.

We need to learn how to handle pain and suffering, not just when it is happening but also before it does.

While we should not spend every waking moment expecting bad things to happen, we need to be prepared. We will lose loved ones, get disappointed,  there are things we want but will never have, or they may delay manifesting in our lives. All these will lead to pain and suffering.

One of the best ways to know how to handle suffering is through the life of Hannah in the Bible.

Hannah wanted a child, but God had closed her womb, and she suffered for it. Now, maybe she could have found a way of living with it, like adopt, but no, there was Peninah, always mocking her.

Are you going through something similar? There is this thing you have wanted all your life, but it is just not manifesting in your life. No matter what you do with your human effort, things are not working out.  All this is making you suffer mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually.

But, why is suffering part of the Christian life?

 

Suffering is your Battlefield

It is through suffering that we learn how to fight our spiritual battles.

While Hannah had to deal with a real person, that is Peninah; we deal with Satan and his demons. He is there to taunt us just like Peninah did to Hannah. But, not just that he also wants to steal, kill and destroy.

How we deal with challenges is very important, we can let things overpower us by spending time feeling sorry for ourselves, or we can choose to handle our suffering spiritually as Hannah did.

 

Prayer is a Great weapon when you’re suffering

Hannah spent time crying, but it was when she chose to pray that things started working for her good.

Imagine if she had continued crying instead of praying.

If you are going through a difficult situation, then go deep in prayer. We are told to pray at all times. Praying shows that you trust God and are placing everything in God’s hands.

 

Suffering Tests and Stretches our faith

Something that stands out in this story is that God himself had closed Hannah’s womb.

Could it be that God is testing your faith?

Maybe what you are going through is God’s doing.  Peninah may have been busy mocking Hannah, but she forgot that Children are a gift from God and so it wasn’t up to Hannah but God.

God uses suffering to test and stretch our faith.

Hannah promised to lend her child to God. Now it takes faith to make such an immense promise. The suffering she went through stretched her faith to a level that she was willing to do that.

After all that Hannah went through, God blessed her with a son.  While we do not know much about Peninah’s children, we know that Hannah’s son Samuel became a great Prophet in Israel. The story of Hannah should encourage us to soldier on no matter what we are facing.

If we hold on to God’s word and go deeper in prayer, he will give us great and marvelous things that are beyond our imaginations.

Why You Should Let the Peace of God Reign in Your Heart

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27 (NIV)

A lot is going on all around us today. Unfortunately, most of it is very disturbing. Switch on TV or sign in to your social media accounts and you will see or hear sad and scary real-life stories happening every single day.

Not just that our own lives are full of trials and temptations.

Jobs on the line, family disputes, health problems, business failure, are some of the things we go through.

So, what do we do?

As Christians, we need to live the way Jesus lived on earth. He said we would have trials and tribulations. So that means all the things that steal peace from our hearts will always be there one way or another, but we have to know how to handle them.

Despite the challenges, Jesus faced, one of the things that made Him standout was the peace he had. For example, He was peaceful when people insulted Him, when they wanted to push him off a cliff he slipped away peacefully, Jesus slept in the middle of a storm, and when they tried to stone him, he peaceful walked away in their midst.

Jesus had the peace that surpasses all understanding.

The good thing is you can choose to have that same peace of Jesus in your heart.

Worrying never takes your problems away. It only steals your joy and peace. Life has its ups and downs. You can never wait until everything gets better to live peacefully.

The world has come up with different systems and ways in which people can find peace. But most of the methods are temporary solutions. You need something substantial, and that is the peace of Jesus.

What are you going through right now? Are you letting the peace of God reign in your heart or are you busy looking for temporary solutions?

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

Here are things you should do to have the Peace of God.

  • Study scripture and Pray

Recognize that God is the true source of peace. Get verses about peace and study them. Meditate on these scriptures until they become alive in your heart. Then ask God to help you in whatever season you are in.

  • Stand firm

Stand firm in the word of God and believe that he has heard you and has filled your heart with peace. God will never fail you. You have to believe that everything will work out for your good in the end.

Defend your peace because the devil will try his best to steal it from you.

  • Focus

There more you focus on what is happening the more distracted you become and it leads to anxiety and depression. Shift your focus from the things that are happening in the world and fix your eyes on Jesus.

You have to let the peace of God to reign in your heart. God will not force it on you. When things seem to be working against you, choose to rest in the finished work of Jesus and let God’s peace rule your heart, let God make everything beautiful at the right time.