What Philippians 4:13 Means for Your Life

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What Philippians 4:13 Means for Your Life

If you’ve been in any Christian circle, you have likely heard the verse Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” What you may not know, though, is the context behind this verse and how in it, Paul teaches us how we get through hard times.

So, Paul wrote Philippians as a letter to the Church at Philippi while imprisoned. In verse twelve, he reminds the Church that he knows persecution and struggle but act he remains content through it all. And in verse thirteen, he explains why that is.

“I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

The “I” in this subject is Paul. When he says “things,” he is referring to the persecution and struggle he’s being going through. When he says “through,” this means because of. He is able to get through everything because of Jesus Christ. Christ strengthened Paul to help him stay content and solid while hard times came, and He can do the same for us.

Whether you’re going through a particularly bad bout of anxiety, a long cloud is having over you, or you’re having a bad week or something bad has happened to someone you love, you can always pray to God. Ask Him to strengthen you and help you to lean on Him to get through things.

Tell God what you’re worried about, what you need help with, why you’re sad. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “Cast all your anxieties on Him, for he cares for You.” And remember that God hears those prayers, as 1 John 5:15 says: “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

God is always with you, and with His grace comes more than salvation— He also comes with an arm reaching out to us, a gift of a relationship with Him. God wants to listen to you and guide you and be who you depend on when times get tough, but He can only do that if you let Him.

So let go of whatever the tips of your fingers are on in the world and hold on to God and His peace just as Paul did here.

10 Upbeat Praise & Worship Songs to Lift Your Spirit

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10 Upbeat Praise & Worship Songs to Lift Your Spirit

#1 – “Echo” by Elevation Worship ft. Tauren Wells

 

#2 – “King of Glory” by Passion ft. Kristian Stanfill

 

#3 – “See A Victory” by Elevation Worship

 

#4 – “Graves Into Gardens” by Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake

 

 

 

#5 – “Drops in the Ocean” by Hawk Nelson

#6 – “You Lead” by Jamie Grace

 

 

 

#7 – “Look Up Child” by Lauren Daigle

 

 

 

#8 – “Struck by Grace” by Elevation Youth

 

#9 – “Let Go” by Hillsong Young & Free

 

 

 

#10 – “Promises” by Maverick City Worship

10 Great Bible Verses about Rest

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10 Great Bible Verses about Rest

Rest, a word we like to talk about a lot. Yet how many of us can genuinely say that we are restful?  When was the last time you rested?

 

Now, we need to understand that biblical rest is different from what the world calls rest. Yes, going for vacations, watching movies and sleeping are great ways of getting rest, but the truth is you can do all that but still not be restful.

 

What is Biblical Rest?

There are two kinds of biblical rests.  The first type of rest involves physical rest where you cease doing work just like God did. He rested on the seventh day, and we also need to rest because our bodies are the temple of God. Another form of rest is the one where we put our trust and confidence in God by focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus.  It is where we cast all our cares upon the Lord and choose to trust him instead of self.

 

Want to know to find biblical rest? Here are 10 bible verses that will help you:

 

Run to Jesus

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

 

There are times when we try to do everything so that we can be restful, but all those things don’t work.  Instead of running around, go to Jesus.  He is calling upon every weary and burdened person to go him. Surrender all your burdens to him, and he will take care of you and not just that, but he will give you rest.

 

Let your Soul Find Rest in God

 

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

Psalm 62:1(NIV)

 

The world encourages us to find rest in so many things but God.  Maybe you have been running around trying to find rest the world’s way.  You have tried anything and everything that experts have said, but it is just not working.

 

It feels like you are losing it.

 

Well, how about you turn to God.  Like the Psalmist, let your soul find rest in God alone.  Go to him with all your burdens and let him take care of your soul.

Make God your Dwelling Place

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8(NIV)

The issues of life can leave you anxious.  But here is the thing worrying and staying awake will not take your problems away.  God gives sleep to those he loves so when night comes, lie down, and sleep, knowing that God is taking care of you.

 

Know that God is your dwelling place.  Do not allow anything to intimidate you.

 

Walk in the Good Path

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Jeremiah 6:16(NIV)

 The things of this world seem fun, easy, and cool.  But the truth is the fun that comes with worldly stuff doesn’t bring rest.  If anything, you will only become more anxious and fearful.  If you want to be restful, you need to walk in the good path, that’s the path God has laid out for you.  It is only in doing so that you will find rest.

Let Jesus be your Shepherd

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

Psalm 23:1-2(NIV)

Not knowing where your next provision will come from can leave you restless and frustrated. But child of God, the Lord is your shepherd. So stop depending on yourself and start looking at him.  You will never lack as long as you allow Jesus to shepherd you.

 

Dwell in God’s Secret Place

 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2(NIV)

What makes you secure? Is it your job, family, friends, business, position, or finances? See, the material things of this world will fade away one day.  But the Lord lives forever.  Today choose to dwell in his secret place and in doing so, you will find rest.

 

 

 

Allow God to Take Control

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

You will never know what resting in God means until the day you choose to taste and see.  It is only through experience that you will know how good God is.  Let your soul find rest in him.  Allow him to take control of your thoughts and heart by reading the word and spending time in his presence.

 

If you do that you will start to experience true rest.  This will not only impact you inwardly, but it will also impact you outwardly. People will see the great things God is doing through you and in you, and they will glorify God.

 

 

Find Rest by Taking the Yoke of Jesus

 

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.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:29-30(NIV)

What kind of burden are you carrying around? What about surrendering that yoke to God and allowing Jesus to give you his yoke?

 

Yes, it often feels right to be in charge, but sometimes it is better to let go and let God. Surrender that thing that is leaving you restless to God and take up the yoke that Jesus is giving you.  He said his yoke is easy.

 

Rest from your Own Work

 

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

Hebrews 4:9-10(NIV)

To truly enter the rest of God, you need to quit doing things your way.  Rest from your own work and let God show you what to do with your life.

 

Maintain your confidence in God and not self. God will lift you up and take you to places you never imagined.

 

Strive to Enter his Rest

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14(NIV)

In the Old Testament, observing the Sabbath was very important while Jesus fulfilled the law, we can still choose to take a sabbatical rest so that we can find rest for our bodies.

 

Look, God did not make Sabbath day law for his own selfish reasons. God cared so much about his children, and he knew rest was necessary.  Today he tells us to strive to enter rest, that is the rest Jesus died so that we can have. Surrender everything that is stressing you to God. Do everything from the point of rest because Jesus has already paid it all at the cross.

 

God expects us to rest, and it is not for his own good but for our own good.  Jesus loves us so much, and we can only find rest by casting our burdens upon him and taking his yoke. Vacations and other forms of worldly rest are good, but they offer temporary rest. Real rest is found in Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.

How Being Involved in Church Can Be Good for Your Mental Health

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How Being Involved in Church Can Be Good for Your Mental Health

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

 

You already have a lot to deal with. Depression and anxiety are things you struggle with every day.  You just want to live in peace.  But what if serving or being involved in your Church community is an excellent way of dealing with mental health? What if God wants to use your story to help others in the church?

 

The truth is:

 

We are living in times when one can easily attend a church service at the comfort of their home.  This is great because we can continue to feed our souls with the word of God, especially in times when we cannot go to church. But this can also lead to neglect of the most important thing, and that is gathering together as believers. (Hebrews 10:25)

 

Now, living in separation, especially for those of us that are struggling with mental health issues, can be very tempting. After all, it seems most people don’t understand us, even those in the church community.

 

But here is the thing;

 

The enemy wants us to live in isolation so that he can continue to attack our minds with negative thoughts.

 

That’s why it is essential to belong to a church community.

 

How will being involved in your church community be good for your mental help?

 

Serving others Brings Joy and Peace

One of the ways that you can worship God is through serving.  Through it, you get to express gratitude to God for taking care of you, and this brings peace and joy in your heart.

 

Not just that, but when you surround yourself with other people, you get to see life from a different perspective. You get to hear other people’s testimonies, and this will help you to keep fighting the good fight of faith. (Proverbs 27:17)

 

Improves your Self Esteem

Being involved in a church community will help you to develop your spiritual gifts, and this will improve your self-esteem.  See, most times, we end up having thoughts of how we are not good enough and how we shall never amount to anything. But serving others and being involved in a church community will help you discover, nurture, and utilize your spiritual gifts in a way that glorifies God.

 

Helps us to Shift our Focus

One of the reasons why we struggle with depression is we focus on ourselves and not God.  We spend hours and hours thinking about how we are not good enough.  Serving and belonging to a community will help us shift our focus from self to God.  We will get to see the true nature of God and his grace towards us through others. This will leave us feeling confident. Serving also acts as a good distraction from our fears and anxieties.  (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12)

 

All in all

 

God has called us to serve others, not just for their own good but also for our own.  Belonging to a community will help you learn about other people’s experiences.  You will be able to meet other people who struggle with mental health issues and learn how they deal with them.  Being around others will also help you to shift your focus from self to God.  Serving God and others will bring joy and peace in your heart.

How to Set Faith Goals

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How to Set Faith Goals

But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds, they stand.

Isaiah 32:8

Have you ever set faith goals?  Most people set goals for their careers, physical wellness, and personal growth.  Sadly very few believers set goals for their faith.

 

But here is the thing every other area in your life is linked to your spiritual life.  Your spiritual life has a major influence on your physical, mental, and emotional well being. So setting faith goals is something that every Christian should do.

 

What are Faith Goals?

Faith goals are targets or objectives believers set to help them get closer to God.  Faith or spiritual goals help us to become Christ-like. Goals give us a path or direction to follow so that we can grow spiritually.

 

Your faith goals can be something like:

 

  • Finding a Spirit-filled and word-based church.
  • Fasting one to three days per month.
  • Reading the Bible for 30minutes each day.

 

So how do you set spiritual goals? Here are ways to do that:

 

Pray

We all go through different seasons in life.  It is only God that knows what lies ahead.  So what about starting your goal setting project with prayers?  Ask God to give you direction so that you can understand what to include in your list of goals. (Psalm 37:4-5)

 

Inquiring from God will help you avoid setting vague goals. Remember to also pray over your goals after you have set them so that God can establish them.

 

Write down your Goals

It seems obvious, but most people do not write down their goals, and that is why most of them don’t achieve them. Writing down your goals will not only help you memorize what you have written down, but it will help you to keep track of them. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

 

 

 

 

Be Specific

As you write down your goals, try your level best to be specific.  It is okay to write, “I will pray every day,” but you know what is better? “I will pray for fifteen minutes every day.”

 

Being specific helps you to be more focused and motivated to achieve your goal.

 

Set Relevant Goals

 

The goals you set should matter to you.  They should match your gifts, talents, and passion.  For example, if you have the gift of serving, there is no need to set a goal for prophecy when that is not your gift.  Instead, set a specific goal on the number of places you are going to serve others. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

 

Set Goals outside your Comfort Zone

God loves to stretch us; that is why he never asks us to do easy things.  While your goals should not be vague, they should encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. For example, you can set a faith goal of keeping off social media three days per month so that you can spend time with God.

 

If you love social media, then you will find this to be challenging, but it will help you to work on your faith and build intimacy with God.

 

All in all

 

Setting spiritual goals will help you build intimacy with God and become Christ-like. Make sure to set goals that are specific, measurable, and relevant. Good goals are those that enable you to get out of your comfort zone.  To ensure that you achieve your goals, put them in a visible place like your phone or vision board.

Dealing with Anxiety Biblically

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Dealing with Anxiety Biblically

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

The idea that “Christians have it all together” is not accurate. Many people in the church are struggling with anxiety and depression. We have seen preachers and ministers of the gospel committing suicide because of depression in recent times. Anxiety should not be taken lightly.

The truth is:

However spiritual you are, there are things you are going to face that will weigh you down.  Loved ones will disappoint you, people in the church may hurt you. You may lose your job or business, and your loved one may pass away. None of us can run away from difficult times.

Pretending that you are okay so that you can save face will not make everything okay.  Admitting that you are anxious and finding ways of dealing with anxiety will help you avoid depression and its effects.

But how should Christians deal with anxiety?

By Praying

The first and best way to deal with your anxious thoughts is to pray.  See,  only God can give you rest.  He is the only one who knows what you need and how you can get it.  Go to him in prayer and pour out your heart to him. (1Peter 5:7)

Some people believe that we should not tell God how we feel. But when you look at some of the prayers in Psalms, you see the Psalmist pouring his heart out to God when he was depressed. Don’t act fine or hold back,  tell God exactly how you feel.  He can handle all the troubles of your heart. (Psalm 42:4)

Read the Word

It is hard to read the word when you are depressed, but it is the best thing to do because it is only in knowing what God says about your situation that you are able to become strong in faith. If you do not stand firm in the word of God, you will become a victim of Satan’s lies.  Study the Word,  meditate on it and use it to fight against the lies of the enemy. (Proverbs 12:25)

Talk to someone

At times we are too anxious that we fail to listen to the voice of God.  A spiritual friend or leader will help you deal with anxiety.  They may be the channel through which God will use to reach you and heal your soul.

Praise God

Yes,  you may look at praise as part of prayer, but most of us only tell God our problems when we pray.  Praise means focusing on God irrespective of what is happening to you. David encouraged himself in the Lord through prayer. So stop looking at your situation. Do not allow thoughts of anxiety to flood your mind.  Take them captive and choose to praise God.  Focus on how big God is and not how big the problem is. (Psalm 118: 1-18)

Though we are believers, we struggle with wrong thoughts from time to time.  Anxiety is not something that should be taken lightly. Turn to God,  praise him,  talk to a friend, and encourage yourself in the Lord through scriptures and songs. God loves you even when you are anxious, turn your cares to him, and he will help you.

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.

3 De-Stressing Activities That Take Less Than 5 Minutes

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3 De-Stressing Activities That Take Less Than 5 Minutes

1. Writing Things Down

A great way to handle stress is to write things down. You can take five minutes, a piece of scratch paper, and a pen to your problems. Some people will write about what is stressing them as a way to vent, and others will instead write down things they are grateful for and use it as a moment to express gratitude.

 

Either way, journaling is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety, especially if one focuses on the positive.

 

2. Lighting a Candle

Our environment can be what is exacerbating or helping to ease what is going on in our minds, sometimes in ways we are not even fully aware of. Smell is a vital sense that we often don’t give much thought to.

 

If you’re feeling stressed, light a candle. Here are some popular scents:

  • Lavender
  • Rose
  • Frankincense
  • Sandalwood
  • Orange or orange blossom
  • Geranium

3. Take a Breath

Deep Breathing can help you to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which controls your body’s relaxation responses. You can bring awareness to your breath and slow your heart rate, allowing you to feel more in the moment, in control, and peaceful.

One method is Diaphragmatic Breathing, also called Abdominal Breathing. It is breathing that is done by contracting the diaphragm. Air enters the lungs, the chest does not rise and the belly expands during this type of breathing. You can find a helpful beginner’s video on how to practice Diaphragmatic Breathing here.

A Burden Lifted: Bible Verses on Anxiety and Worry

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A Burden Lifted: Bible Verses on Anxiety and Worry

 

Going through a hard time? Distracted by all the pain and suffering in your life? We all do sometimes. The easy thing to do when we’re dealing with tough emotions or fatigue is to give in to anxiety and negativity. We can think of the slipperiest slope of situations and bog ourselves down even more.

However, if we are Christians, we have everlasting faith in a Savior that cares for us and will give us the strength to deal with hard times when they come out way. He wants us to look to Him in prayer when things get overwhelming.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God is right here waiting for us. If we call on Him, He will come, and He will take care of us. There is nothing to worry about when we have Him there to make sure we make it out okay in the end.

Things can weigh us down, but God is right there to take the load and carry it for us. God calls to us in Matthew 11 verses 28 through 30, saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

He is here for us always.

Here are some other verses on worrying:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Matthew 6:25-27

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his  span of life?” Luke 12:25

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27