How To Say “No”?
How do I say “no”? The Lord calls us to set apart and consecrate not only within our hearts and minds, but in our responses and actions, as well. So, when an invitation comes for us to do participate in something that is contradictory to our faith or we know will build up our flesh desires, how do we practically say “no” to it?
Directed By Physical Reality Or Faith?
While Christians cannot be impractical, we also cannot let physical reality alone direct our thinking, emotions, decisions and life. Instead of being influenced or made helpless by the seen reality, we can trump reality by faith in God. Are you more directed by physical reality or faith? How does a faith-directed life look like?
Compromisation: A Big Hurdle For Our Faith
Compromisation can be a great thing when it comes to building relationships and coming to a common ground to blend and balance things out. However, when it comes to our faith, compromisation is a very common yet dangerous hurdle for believers. It can be very difficult as we are living in the world, and there are peer influences, societal standards, world-views or aggressive opinions of others. So how then can we guard ourselves from faith compromisation on the daily?
Train Ourselves To Give Thanks
Thankfulness is the lens to help us see God’s amazing glory, sense His presence and confirm His work more clearly in our lives. Our lives may look dull, common, or even seem like a mess, but when we focus on the right angle, like how a photographer did, we can see beauty in the ordinary or mess. However, gratitude is not something natural to us sinners, so we need to train our eyes to see reasons to give thanks and practice growing a heart of thanksgiving.
Sustenance Of Faith For The New Year
One of the hardest thing when it comes to many of our blessed wishes and prayer topics for 2021 is to sustain our faith, a consistently reliant and submissive heart and mind to God. As we begin this new year, let us grow in our sustenance of faith by continually and unceasingly pursuing God’s word and His convictions for us in our own living.
Start With A Consecrated Mind
While the world puts their hope on science and hope for a better year, believers should be consecrated in their mind, preparing themselves for action. The pandemic may have dashed the hopes of many, but let the Church see this as a window of opportunity to seek out the elect of God.
A Blessed Coping Mechanism
The world is a battlefield for our spirit and faith living, but if we rest upon a sturdy and unwavered coping mechanism, that is fuelled by the Source of all strength and hope, our Lord Jesus, then we will be able to have a firm standing against our struggles and woes.
What Next After Christmas?
Much cheer and busyness surround Christmas. Yet, before we know it, Christmas is over and decorations have to be taken down, celebrations cease, then, life back to a broken world resumes. In no time, the wonderful feeling of Christmas becomes but a faint memory. So what next after Christmas? How should we continue to treasure Christ after Christmas?
A Makeover For Your Spirit’s Home
As we are ending this year, let us go back to the Lord and rely on His leading as we go through a “home makeover” for our spirits to welcome the new year. Let us be honest with what requires unpacking and start packing up with the most blessed spring cleaning system, that is the gospel.
Not Just A Religion, But A Relationship
Christianity is not merely a religion, but also a relationship between God and man. God does not just call believers into a set of rules, but into a relationship with Him, where He will be our God and we will be His people. Religious laws alone do not save, in fact, they only expose sin, leading to judgment. But with relationship comes the empowerment of love, where God will help us with the power to obey Him. Thus, relationship brings assurance. Yet, we should not over-emphasize either religion or relationship. For there is the risk of legalism if only emphasize the religion part, and there is the risk of indulgence if over-emphasize the relationship part. We should seek to obey God’s commandments, while also building a sweet relationship with Him.
