How to Serve Others like Jesus

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

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.

3 Reasons Why You Need to Build Godly Friendships

3 Reasons Why You Need to Build Godly Friendships

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

Can you honestly say you have genuine friends? Or are the people you chat with on social media the only friends you have in real life?

Well, relationships are very important, and all through the Bible, we are encouraged to build healthy relationships.

If you don’t have any godly friends know that is never too late to start building such relationships.

Will it be easy?

No, creating new friendships is very challenging, especially for adults. Friendships are built with time, and they need commitment. Care needs to be taken because some people pretend to be believers, but they are wolves in sheep clothing.

Ask God to help you choose the right friends. He is the only one who knows people’s hearts. (Proverbs 22:24-25)

If you are a Christian loner that is struggling with the idea of having friends, here are three reasons why you need to build godly relationships;

Source of Encouragement

Look, the Christian life is not easy.

There will good and bad times. We are in a war with a real enemy who wants to destroy us.

The right friends will build you up when you are down. Since they are going through the same struggles, they will be there to help you.

There will be moments when you will feel like giving up, but your godly friend will hold your hand and help you to stand firm in the word. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

With a lot of negative stuff being shared in the media and online, one can become discouraged easily, especially when going through hard times. Friends will hold you and help you to pull through the bad times.

They will encourage you to stand firm in the word and continue in it.

Godly Counsel

There are times we don’t know what to do in certain situations. Other times we may know what to do but, we don’t know how to go about it, or we may need a push from people who love us. That is where good friends come in.

Good friends will give us godly counsel. (Proverbs 27:17)

They will not tell you things that you want to hear. Instead, they will ensure to give advice that is backed up by scripture.

Accountability

A godly friend will not be afraid of asking you tough questions. Since they care about you, they will want to ensure that you are doing the right thing.

They will not judge you for making mistakes but will help you to remain true to your faith because they also care about where you will spend eternity. (Galatians 2:11-14)

The right friends will help you to grow in your spiritual walk. You will have people that will help you pray, and when you mess up, they will be there to build you up and help you see that you are in the wrong path through scripture.

Finding the right friends that love God is not an easy thing but will God’s help and guidance from the Holy Spirit you will connect with the right people that will help you, and you will also help them.

Four Ways Routines Help with Stress

Anxiety and stress love chaos. When you’re already feeling overwhelmed, anxious thoughts can sneak in and make everything so much worse. The best way to combat those feelings is to set up routines. A routine can be as simple as the order you do things in the morning before work or as complex as laying out a monthly production schedule. Whichever one you do, once it’s finished, you’ll feel loads better.

Let’s talk about the benefits of developing a routine:

Four Ways Routines Help with Stress

  1. It gives you a system. When your life is chaotic, your mind is chaotic. This can lead to decision fatigue. Should you shower before breakfast? When should you take the dogs out in the morning? If you write out a morning routine, those little, exhausting questions are answered, and your brain is freed from juggling all your responsibilities at the same time.
  2. It puts you on autopilot. Have you ever left work and spaced out the whole drive back to your house? It’s okay if you have, because this is an example of autopilot. Autopilot’s major benefit is allowing you to multitask, but it is also a routine that lowers your stress levels. If you think of your brain as a computer and yourself as a programmer, the more daily tasks you can program into autopilot, the less you have to stress about.
  3. Frees your mind. Once you have routines in place, your mind is free to work on other projects. If you want to not only be less stressed but also more productive, developing functional routines is the key. When we turn tasks into autopilot routines, we complete them faster and more efficiently than we would have by using our active brain.
  4. Helps you feel in control. Last, routines and rituals help you feel in control, which is the direct opposite of how anxiety makes you feel. There are so many things we can’t control in this life that being able to know where our keys are in the morning can go a long way in reducing stress levels.

Moving Forward with Routines

If you’re looking to establish new routines, the best way to get started is by listing all your morning tasks and arranging them into your first routine. It can feel strange at first, but after a week of having an established routine, you will be able to feel a difference in your stress levels.

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

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.

Cool Books to Cuddle Up with this Holiday Season

Reading can be relaxing for some people, a way to escape the pressures, stresses, and anxiety of the real world in exchange for another, more simpler one. Books are a great way to do that, so here are some (all of different genres) that make for fun reads!

 

1. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

The History of Love is about an old man who finds a long lost book which connects the old man searching for his son and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother’s loneliness.

2. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

“The Prophet is a book of 26 poetic essays written in English in 1923 by the Lebanese-American artist, philosopher and writer Khalil Gibran. In the book, the prophet Almustafa who has lived in the foreign city of Orphalese for 12 years is about to board a ship which will carry him home. He is stopped by a group of people, with whom he discusses many issues of life and the human condition. The book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death.”

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is the haunting tale of a man named Victor Frankenstein, who in a passionate scientific frenzy, creates a vengeful monster who is never named.

4. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank is a coming of age story intertwined in the diary of this young girl, who, in the midst of being terrorized by the Nazis, chronicled her time before and during the war, especially her life in the “secret annex.” Frank, though she died a few months before the war was over, had planned to publish her diary. Her wish was fulfilled by her father, Otto Frank, years later.

5. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

If you’re looking for an easy read with a great message, this is the book for you! Inside these pages holds over thirty vignettes that display the lives of the occupants of a Chicano community, centering around a girl named Esperanza. Themes of hope, hopelessness, escape, and more are wrapped in to create a complex but universal message that can inspire all of us!

 

These are just a few of many books that you can use to relax this upcoming holiday break. Don’t let yourself get stressed out and remember to breathe.

5 Yummy Things to Brighten Your Day or Calm Your Night

1. Put together a Bento Box!

A Bento is a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal. Throw all your creative energy into making one of these!

2. Brew a calming cup of tea (or hot coco)!

All you need is a mug and some water! Tea and other warm drinks help to calm anxiety and relive stress.

Free stock photo of food, cold, person, people

3. Bake some cookies!

Here are a few recipes!

Chocolate Chip | Peanut Butter | Sugar Cookies | Snickerdoodles

Baked Cookies on Brown Rack

4. Savor some ice cream!

Chow down on some of your favs.

Ice Cream on Green Plastic Container

5. Have a Sandwich!

Sometimes, simplicity is best.

Wheat Bread Sandwich

Music to Calm Your Anxiety

It’s often hard for even the best of us to remember that God is always in control. No matter what happens at our job, home, or anywhere else, God is here. He’s here, and He’s in control. It brings to mind scripture verses such as Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Even if we mess up, God can fix it!

We also need to remember that God can be our comfort. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all.” God is omnipotent, meaning He is all-powerful. He has the Power to protect us and give us peace no matter the situation.

God can empower us to have peace and overcome. Now, here are some songs to remind us of that when we’re doubting:

Peace Be Still by The Belonging Co. ft. Lauren Daigle

Unfinished by Mandisa

I’ll Find You by Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong UNITED

Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) by Kari Jobe

Thy Will by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family

Overcomer by Mandisa

Let’s be sure to remember our worth in God, and that He can help us overcome!