Focus on Jesus

by with No Comment Uncategorized

Isaiah 26:3

Hebrews 12:1-2

 

So many Christians have a desire to be on fire for God.  Often you’ll hear some of them saying that they want to be like Elijah or David. They want to do great exploits for the kingdom of God. It is great to have that desire. It is godly. But very few of us accomplish that.

 

The truth is while most of us want to know God, we allow other things to take center stage in our lives.  We are not so keen on knowing Jesus on a deeper level than we already do.  We skim through the Bible and spend little time in prayer and yet expect to be like Elijah.  Yes, we have other things to do, like going to school and doing chores, but those things should not hinder us from spending time with the Lord and focusing on Jesus.

 

Honestly, finding balance in life and ensuring that everything is in its proper place is hard. This is more so when you have to prepare for exams, engage in different church activities, and do what your parents want. It can be overwhelming, right?

 

David was a king, and that means he had a hectic schedule.  But he found time to spend with God and focused on him, and that is why he was a man after God’s own heart.  He did not let his position in Israel influence his relationship with God.  Instead, David ensured that his relationship with God influenced his position as a king.  Not that he did not make any mistakes, he did but quickly turned back to God.

 

The same should be true about us if we want to be on fire for God. Other things should not take up the place of God. Know that as a youth, you have all the time in the world to work on your relationship with God and become a great instrument in his kingdom. Yes, you have responsibilities, but they do not take much of your time now as they will in the future. This is the right time for you to deepen your relationship with God.

 

Focus on  Jesus and allow him to be your all-in-all.  Do not just focus on your family and friends. Don’t misunderstand. It is good to love them, but Jesus should be the first in your life. It is only by focusing on Him that you’ll be able to ignite a flame for Christ not just in your life but also in society.

 

 

 

Action:

Find out the things that have been coming between you and Jesus, and then eliminate them if you can. Or give them their rightful position.  Practice putting  Jesus first in everything that you do.  Focus on him even as you go about your studies and other activities at school and home.  Let him be your first priority in all that you do. Surrender every idol in your heart to God and ask Jesus to help you focus on him alone.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

by with No Comment CultureLife styleMental HealthSelf CareUncategorized

2 Corinthians 10:12

Galatians 1:10

 

In the world of likes, followers, and comments, it is easy for us to get caught up in the trap of comparison. You may be comparing yourself to your friends. You spend time following their lives. You want to know how many people they have led to Christ, what their prayer life is like, and whether they are living in secret sin or not.

 

At school, you may find yourself in the web of comparing your performance with others. Competition is good. It helps you to put in the work so that you can get good grades. But as children of God, we need to understand that there is such a thing as bad competition.

 

If you are cheating, lying, and slandering people so that you can be loved by others and they can be hated, then know that you’re not only sinning against others, but you’re sinning against God. We are supposed to love one another, and our loved ones should be a source of encouragement.

 

The word of God says that those who compare themselves to others are foolish.  If you want to ignite a flame for Christ in your life and in the body of Christ, you should not make the mistake of comparing yourself to others.  Yes, other people might be spiritually mature than you.  Your friend might be at a higher level in spiritual matters than you.

 

Or maybe the Christians you hang around live double standard lives, but they seem to be doing okay. They are drawing more lives to Christ even though they’re living in known sin, and you keep wondering why you should be different.  Why should you be on fire for God when others are not even trying, and they seem to be so comfortable?

 

Well, remember that God will judge you alone.  Come judgment day, God will not ask you whether the group you belong to obeyed him.  You will stand before the throne of God alone and give an account for your own life.

 

The Bible uses silver, gold, and wood to show our differences and how God uses our uniqueness to accomplish his purposes in life.  That means that you don’t have to be like every other person for you to ignite the flame of Christ.  You do not have to pray for one hour just because someone else prays for one hour.  You do not have to spend three hours in the Bible like your youth leader.  You have to relate to God in a way that works for you.  Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and let him show you how to connect with God so that you can be able to ignite a flame that will never be put out with the things of this world.

 

Action:

Find out how God speaks to you and which way is he telling you to go? Does he talk to you audibly, through visions and dreams, or any other way? Ask God to show you how he wants you to ignite a flame for his Son Jesus and then follow the steps he tells you.

Surrender to the Leading of the Holy Spirit

by with No Comment BibleCultureGodLife styleUncategorized

John 14:26

Romans 8:26

 

For us to know a particular subject in school we need help from our teachers, right? If you want to know Math, you will have to attend Math classes, the same is true for every other subject. Similarly, if you need to understand spiritual matters, you need a teacher who understands spiritual matters. That is why Jesus said he would send us the Holy Spirit to teach us all things.

 

The Christian walk is impossible without the Holy Spirit. In fact, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts our hearts of sin so that we can turn from our sinful ways and give our lives to Christ. But his role in our lives doesn’t stop there. We need the Holy Spirit to help us in our daily lives. That is why he is called the helper.

 

Okay, just like the Pharisees, some people appear to be zealous for God, but they’re not. They have some form of godliness but are not submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit and cannot ignite the flame of Christ in their lives or the kingdom of God.

 

To be on fire for God, we need to be led by the Holy Spirit. He knows the deep things of God. He can also search our minds and reveal to us the things that may hinder us from experiencing the fullness of God. You will never understand scripture without the help of the Holy Spirit. Sure other people like pastors and spiritually mature Christians can help you understand it, but they don’t do it with their own strength. They also need the Holy Spirit to help them.

 

Another thing to note is that it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to pray. Yes, we can choose to pray without the Holy Spirit’s help, but if we really desire to ignite a flame for Christ, we need to pray according to God’s will. The only person who can help us to pray according to God’s will is the Holy Spirit.

 

If you desire to be like David, Paul, Elijah, Peter, Esther, Daniel, and our Lord Jesus, then you need to surrender to God and allow the Holy Spirit to take over. He will lead you in truth and tell you what Jesus tells him. Let the Holy Spirit be your counselor, teacher, and best friend. Doing so will enable him to control your mind, words, actions, and attitudes.

 

 

Allow him to transform your spiritual life so that you can become bold like Elijah and Elisha. When the Spirit of God is in control of your life, he will reveal your spiritual gift(s) so that you can use them to serve God and ignite a flame of Christ in God’s kingdom.

 

Action

Ask the Holy Spirit to take over your life and teach you all things. Surrender to his leading and quit trying to lead yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you things that are blocking you from serving God faithfully.

The Sacrifice of Praise

by with No Comment BibleCultureGodLife styleSelf CareUncategorized

Psalm 150:6

Psalm 100:4-5

 

For us to be on fire for God, we need to be close to him. We need to have an intimate relationship with him. One of the ways that we can draw near to God is through praise.

 

The word of God tells us to enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. This means that praise gives us access to the throne of God. It enables us to draw near to him, and the Bible says that when we draw near to God, he will also draw near us. A look into the Bible, and you will see that great things happened when people drew near to God. Enemies were defeated, lives were transformed, and the kingdom of God expanded.

 

When we praise God, our frustrations in life are neutralized, and we end up being productive in life. It could be that you are struggling to ignite a flame of Christ in your life because of the different challenges you are facing at school or at home. Maybe you are struggling with a particular subject. It could be that your family is on the verge of breaking up because your parents are considering divorce. Perhaps your guardian is not treating you well.

 

It is hard to focus on God and praise Him when bad things are happening around you. It is easy to complain and look for other options instead of praising God. But whining and looking for other options will not give you permanent solutions. Instead of getting depressed, how about shifting your focus to the one who will rescue you from that problem?

 

Stop focusing on what is happening and focus on the one who created you. When you draw close to God, your frustrations and fears will start to drop, and your faith in the Lord will become stronger in faith.

 

When God assured King Jehosaphat that he would fight on behalf of Israel in 2 Chronicles 20, the King told his people to sing praises to God, and when they did, their enemies were destroyed by the Lord. When Paul and Silas were sent to prison for spreading the gospel, Acts 16:16-40, they sang praises to God at midnight, and the prison doors were opened. Not just that, the lives of the jailer and his family were transformed as they gave their lives to Christ.

 

It is not just our situation that changes when we praise God. Unbelievers who monitor our Christian walk also become transformed. When some unbelieving students see you praising God when all odds are against you, they will want to know this God that you serve. Not just that but some of them will give their lives to Him. When this happens, the flame of Christ will not only be ignited in your life but in your community and the world.

 

Action:

There are so many different ways that we can praise God. Find what works for you, or better still, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. You can praise God with music, the Psalms of David, or with heavenly tongues. Make praise part of your prayer life.

Short Bible Verses to Memorize

by with No Comment Uncategorized

Short Bible Verses to Memorize

Verse memory is an integral part of living the Christian life. Psalms 119:11 says, “I store your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.” We have to know God’s word to follow it. At the same time, memorizing verses can be very intimidating, and you may not know where to start. Well, here are 7 verses you may try. Choose 4 of them, take one each week, and you’ll have 4 verses memorized in just a month!

 

“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19

 

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” — Acts 16:31

 

“So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” — Deuteronomy 29:9

 

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” — Colossians 3:2

 

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32

5 Bible Verses about Joy

by with No Comment Uncategorized

5 Bible Verses about Joy

There are many commands in the Bible: Don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery…

But have you ever read the one about joy?

In Deuteronomy, scripture commands us to REJOICE ALWAYS!

Over 30 verses commanding joy are in the Bible. Today, we’re going to show you 5 of them!

 

 “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.”

— Psalm 5:11

 

 “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.”

— Psalm 98:4

 

 “Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things!”

— Joel 2:21

 

“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

— Matthew 5:12

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

— Philippians 4:4

 

Here’s some homework after reading these:

  1. Sing a song of the Lord’s praises!
  2. Fill a blank sheet of paper with all the marvelous things God has done for you.
  3. Pray to God and thank Him for His goodness!

How to Give Your Anxiety to God

by with No Comment Uncategorized

How to Give Your Anxiety to God

If you’re here, I’m sure you’ve heard all the anxiety verses. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” and Philippians 4:6-7 has told us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” And while these verses sound good, it can sometimes be hard to put them into practice.

 

As an anxious person, you’ll often be told to give your anxiety to God, but it’s less often someone will tell you how. So it’s a good thing you’re here! This isn’t a one-size-fits all step-by-step sort of endeavor, but trying some of these things may help you ease your anxiety and cling to God’s comfort.

 

#1: Try Meditating

We often thing of meditating as sitting on a rubber yoga mat in front of our beds our outside and humming “om” or “namaste,” but you may be surprised to find that to meditate in the biblical sense really means to mutter or repeat words.

 

Try talking to God. Whenever you feel anxious or that your chest is a bit tighter, close your eyes and talk to Him. It doesn’t have to be fancy or descriptive. You may also find it useful to choose a phrase. Here are a few you may try:

 

“I’m giving it to you, God.”

“Here it is.”

“I’m stressed about…”

“Please help me.”

“I know You’re here right beside me.”

“God is with me.”

 

#2: Write It Down

Journaling can often be a daunting thought. But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, you don’t even need a journal, just a piece of paper or the notes app on your phone. Write down every single thing— and I mean every single thing— down that’s bothering you or stressing you out or has you worried. By writing it down, you are releasing any fears to God.

 

And if you can’t pinpoint it? Try this instead:

  1. Write down everything you have to do in the next day. Then do the next week. Next month. Next year.
  2. Write down anything happening in the same time ranges as above.
  3. Write down 7 past things God has handled for you.
  4. Tear off (or delete) 1 and 2, and start a prayer thanking God for 3
  5. Then, take your prayer from there.

 

#3: Have a Jam Session

Music is a medium of art that can speak to our souls more than television or movies. Those can be fine, but you may find yourself even more sensory overloaded than when you started. Go somewhere quiet and set a timer for 10 minutes. Then put on your favorite worship song.

 

Now, if you’re also feeling a little sad, you may not want to make it something slow like “Oceans.” A fast or upbeat song may leave you feeling energized or fulfilled. Find a song that can remind you of God’s constant grace and care.

 

Need help finding a list? Start here.

 

Anxiety is a normal part of life, but we don’t have to let it take over or keep up from receiving the joy we are promised as children of God. Always remember: God is in charge. God is in control. The Kingdom is near.

3 Ways to Take Care of Yourself While Social Distancing

by with No Comment Uncategorized

3 Ways to Take Care of Yourself While Social Distancing

Even introverts who would normally relish an opportunity to spend a nice weekend in are finding that social distancing can be really tough. Self-isolation can be really isolating if we don’t take care of ourselves. While you won’t be able to book your hair appointment or make a fitness class, there are still plenty of things you can do while staying home and safe. Check out these tips for self-care while social distancing.

1. Try Journaling

 

Feelings are natural, and it’s important that we take time to work through all of our emotions. One way you can do that is by journaling. Putting pen to paper can be calming and give you a sense of peace. Center yourself by reserving 5 to 15 minutes a day to just sit and write.

 

 

2. Get Moving

Don’t underestimate the power of endorphins. It can be a short walk around the block if you’re allowed out or a bed exercise you find on Youtube. Get those feel-good hormones flowing and let a better mood wash in with them! Set a movement goal for yourself to meet each day and take care of your mental and physical well-being.

3. Treat Yourself!

Treat Yourself Moments happen even in isolation! Right now is arguably one of the most important times to be sweet to yourself. You can do an at-home spa night with a sheet mask and bubble bath or whip up a batch of your favorite dessert just because. Or maybe you want to go find a movie to curl up on the couch with. Anything!

3 Things That Will Help You Sleep Better This Winter

by with No Comment Uncategorized

Life is busy, and it goes fast. Sleep is the one time we have a break from it all. Studies show that sleeping more sharpens your brain, improves your mood, promotes heart health, and so much more. It’s important, so we have to make each hour we get count! I’m going to give you 3 things that will guarantee you a better, more restorative rest each night.

 

 

  • Don’t Drink Caffeinated Beverages Late in the Day

 

Caffeine energizes our bodies, stimulating our nervous systems and making us buzz with energy. While this is great when we’re getting our start to the day, it makes it much harder for us to fall asleep and then rest well once we are asleep. Limit your caffeine intake 6 to 8 hours before you go to bed.

 

 

  • Try to Go to Bed and Wake Up at the Same Time

 

Our bodies have circadian rhythms that function on a loop. If we stay consistent, we are much more likely to stay asleep longer and, therefore, wake up more refreshed.

 

 

  • Sleep on a Comfortable Mattress, Bed, and Comforter

 

Bed quality is such an important factor in our sleep that we often overlook. The right

mattress effects good quality sleep to make sure you wake up rejuvenated and ready to seize the day! You should change your mattress every 5 to 8 years. Some might think this is the hardest fix (mattresses are so expensive, after all), but there are so many cost efficient ways to buy mattresses and such online.

 

Change your habits to secure your sleep. Sweet Dreams, Reader!