Christian

What I Don’t Know Can’t Hurt Me, Or Can It?

Cindy Dawson

Despite what people might say, Ignorance is not bliss!

When the truth makes us uncomfortable, do we ignore it? Selah* (Pause and calmly think of that.)

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.  For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans 16:17-18

Many devout Christians are being led astray because they are naive. That means they are unsuspecting (easily deceived, exploitable, ripe for the picking). By definition, they don’t know they’re deceived.

I was taken in by the Word of Faith teaching myself once. In fact, I had to “unlearn” a lot of teaching, and that is not easy to do.

We must learn to identify false teaching for ourselves through studying the Word of God. If I tell someone that a Bible teacher they like teaches false doctrine, I know what they would think because it’s what I used to think: “They don’t understand because they’re in a dead church.” OR “They don’t have revelation.” OR, my favorite: “They’re just religious.”

I assure you, I am not dead or religious! (Isn’t that judging someone’s heart?)

All this stems from pride – the false assumption that I have revelation of the Scripture others don’t have. Selah

I would venture to say that all those “old, religious people at the church down the street” have more experience walking through trials with the Lord at their side than some of us ever will.

How I wish I could talk to my grandmother about God, again. She would be about 130 years old now. If only I had known to seek her wisdom when I was a youth and she was still around.

But, alas, when we’re young, we think we know it all. I know this because I used to teach in a middle school! Students will argue about anything, even how to do a math problem! (Are you kidding me?)

You can think you’re right “till the cows come home”, but that doesn’t make you right.

My point is, if you are learning about God from a Bible teacher, rather than from the Bible, be careful. Check the Scriptures given to see if they have been taken out of context. (That happens a lot and is the basis of much of the false teaching accepted today!)

Respect those “old Christians” you may think are “dead” or “religious”. It’s wise to listen to the elderly with respect.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I wish I knew then what I know now.”? Selah

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” Job 12:12

Did my journey with false teachers and false prophets affect my life?

Yes! It almost shipwrecked my faith and took many years for me to recover.  So, no, ignorance is not bliss.

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.  They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT

Dear Lord, Guide us and teach us to walk with you in Truth and humility. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 *The Amplified Bible translates selah as “pause, and calmly think of that.”

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

God’s Protection, Psalm 91

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Friday, 6/12/26

“Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:3-4 NIV

This word picture of God’s protection is rich with meaning. It warms my heart and encourages my soul every time I read it. The “fowler’s snare” is a metaphor for hidden danger, unexpected spiritual traps, and the deceptive schemes of the enemy. Pestilence brings to mind a deadly disease that spreads over a wide area.

“A mother bird will spread her wings over her babies to protect them from storms and predators. She will allow herself to be wounded to protect them. She keeps them warm and sheltered, and the baby birds feel safe in her embrace. Such is God’s fierce love for humanity.” Jeremiah Study Bible Notes

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Samantha Kennedy on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

When I Am Afraid

Cindy Dawson

A Personal Story for Thursday, 6/11/26

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 NIV 

Many years ago, when my son was a baby, I found a long snake skin in my home on two different occasions. I prayed this verse over and over every night until I fell asleep. We lived in this house for nine years and never saw a live snake. The Lord kept us safe. This is what I learned:

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
     In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.” Psalm 56:3-4 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Why I Memorize Scripture

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for 6/10/26

“Nobody can take away from you those texts from the Bible which you have learned by heart.” Corrie ten Boom

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo: Getty Images on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, DISCERNMENT

Battling Cultural Deceptions

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Tuesday, 6/9/26

When I see the beliefs that have taken hold of our culture, I wonder how people can be so utterly deceived. I learned a lot about the views of college students by watching videos of Charlie Kirk at colleges around the U.S.

Students confronted Charlie on topics like abortion and transgenderism. They claimed unborn babies are not human and can be aborted. They claimed a man can be a woman and a woman can be a man. Science proves these beliefs are false, yet college students, brainwashed by propaganda, believe these lies.

Deception is the devil’s ultimate weapon.

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NIV

God’s Word is our only protection against it.

“Indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5 NIV Read full chapter

How do we gain wisdom and understanding? By loving God’s Word.

“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.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Bible and Scripture, Christian

From NAR to Truth: How God Changed My Thinking

Cindy Dawson

A Personal Testimony for Monday, 6/8/26

As a young adult, I felt like my church was dead, and I longed to be around Christians who were excited about knowing Jesus. I was drawn to the emotional, enthusiastic praise and worship I found in a NAR/Word of Faith church.

This is how easily a new Christian, or anyone not grounded in God’s Word, can get caught up in error. That’s why pastors and teachers must teach the flock about false teachers and false prophets.

Many Christians think that when you have God’s Holy Spirit within you, He will keep you from accepting error, but this is not always the case, as when Paul had to correct Peter (Galatians 2:11-21).

The NAR movement often introduces new apostles, prophets, and ongoing new revelation, leading to a disregard for the sufficiency of Scripture. Extra-biblical revelations often take precedence over the written Word. In fact, the sermons of these false teachers are often based more on the words of their “prophets” than on the Word of God.

For example, sermons may focus on “the coming revival”, “the 7 Mountain Mandate”, or “prosperity and wealth”, none of which can be found in the Bible.

“However, a strong Biblical foundation enables believers to discern true spirituality from practices that may lack a solid Scriptural basis.” Bruce Cooper

An overemphasis on emotional experiences can overshadow the need for diligent study and accurate interpretation of Scripture. Verses are frequently taken out of context to support erroneous teaching.

These movements erode faith, trust, and dependency on the authority of God’s Holy Word by emphasizing personal experiences and extrabiblical revelations. Therefore, it is crucial that believers maintain a strong, unwavering commitment to the study of God’s Word, making it the foundation of their faith.

After a while, I started to see contradictions in what was being taught and what the Bible said. For example, my church focused on the “prosperity gospel”, which teaches that God wants to make you rich. I started to question this. I thought, ” Is that something the Bible emphasizes? 1 Timothy 6 often came to mind.

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:3-10 NIV

So, how did God change my thinking? He drew me to His Word, the Holy Bible, and showed me Truth. It’s really that simple. It took time, but I went from being enthusiastically convinced that these false teachings were true, to questioning some things, to being set free!

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV

For more on this topic and to better understand the NAR, read The Framework Series by Bruce Cooper

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Bible and Scripture, Encouragement

Overcoming Anxiety with Faith and Prayer

Cindy Dawson

A Personal Testimony for Sunday, 6/7/26

One side effect of trauma is severe anxiety. That anxiety may vary in severity, sometimes controllable, sometimes out of your control.

Recently, I had to pick up my daughter, her husband, and her baby at the Nashville International Airport. The airport has changed a lot since the last time I picked someone up at arrivals.

They had moved the Cell Phone Waiting Area, and I couldn’t find it. Lost in heavy city traffic, I became extremely anxious. Not ordinary anxiety, but intense anxiety where your heart starts beating rapidly, and fear threatens to control your thoughts.

Immediately, I remembered Philippians 4:6-7.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I started to sing the message of this Scripture to the tune of How Great Thou Art. Start the music!

🎶 Oh Lord, My God, I will not be anxious.

For I will pray, and offer up my praise.

With heartfelt thanks, I turn to You, my Savior.

And the peace of God

Will guard my heart and mind.

This peace You give

Transcends all understanding.

It stills my thoughts and heals my anxious soul.

Oh Lord, My God, I will not be anxious.

For I will pray, and offer up my praise.

With heartfelt thanks, I turn to You, my Savior.

The peace of God will guard my heart and mind.

This peace You give transcends all understanding.

It stills my thoughts and heals my anxious soul.

(repeat until calm)

I don’t know how I came up with this idea. It just popped into my mind, which could only be attributed to the grace of our faithful God, who knows how to rescue His children in times of need. I calmed down, and the next thing I knew, I had my daughter and her precious family in the car, and we were headed to my home!

“I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;” Psalm 34:1, 4-5 NLT Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Why Reading the Bible Matters

Cindy Dawson

Years ago, when I left the Word of Faith movement, I was looking for the real truth, so I read the New Testament three times in a row. Before this, I had based what I believed mostly on books recommended to me by church leaders, books available in our church bookstore.

On reflection, I would say that many Christians who follow false teaching do so because of books they read about the Bible, which are often based largely on the author’s experiences and less on Bible study. These teachers often take verses out of context.

In case you’re wondering, the first teaching that I questioned was what is often called the prosperity gospel. It teaches that God wants you to be rich, and if you give enough money, you’ll get back at least ten times as much money. These preachers are living extravagant lives. For more about this, read my post, What Does the Bible Say About the Prosperity Gospel? HERE

As I read and reread the New Testament, I learned that, more than anything else, the Bible emphasized loving others. These are some of the verses that stood out to me:

“The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another.” (1 John 3:11)

“And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

“Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

“Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law.” (Romans 13:8)

“My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18)

“No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us. We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13)

“Do all your work in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)

“Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)

“To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

Friends, READ YOUR BIBLE every day.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Scriptures are from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Photo by Brooke Cable on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Prayer

How Faith Helps Us Pray for Others’ Salvation

Cindy Dawson

Devotion for Friday, 6/5/26


When you are praying for someone’s salvation, you can’t always believe what that person says. Sometimes people say things they don’t mean.

I drifted far from God when I was in college. When my mom confronted me about not going to church, I said I didn’t know if I even believed in God. But that wasn’t true! I knew God was real.

My mom was so mad at me that she disowned me. She said, “You’re not my daughter anymore!” We lost contact for over a year. All this time, God wasn’t worried. He knew I would someday be sold out for Him.

It must have seemed to those who were praying for me like their prayers weren’t going past the ceiling. But that wasn’t true at all.

You might feel like that, too. You say you can’t see what God is doing. OK. You don’t see what He is doing! But guess what? He wants you to trust Him anyway, without seeing the whole picture. That’s what faith is!

Start thanking God for what He is doing and remember what He has done for you in the past. Pray and don’t give up!

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 NIV

Then Jesus said,

“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7-8 NIV

When Jesus comes back, will He find you trusting Him even though you can’t see what He is doing?

Read the parable.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Bible prophecy

Are We Living in the End Times?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Bible Study for Thursday, 6/4/26

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” Matthew 24:12 NIV

This verse comes from Jesus’ words in the Olivet Discourse, as He explains what it will be like during the end times. I have always been curious about this verse, so I began digging for more insight.

(The Greek word for wickedness, anomia, is translated “lawlessness” in the NASB.

The word was heavily utilized in ancient Greek and New Testament texts to describe a state of living in contempt of established laws or moral standards. 

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: lawlessness; the utter disregard for God’s law (His written and living Word).

That pretty much sums up the culture of our world today.

So what does it mean that “the love of most will grow cold”? Paul describes it further:

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—” 2 Timothy 3:1-4 NIV (emphasis mine)

The Greek word for brutal is anēmeros, which means: not tame, savage, fierce (Strongs). It refers to something—or someone—that is wild, ferocious, or brutal. The word appears only here in the New Testament, where it is used to describe the fierce, brutal, and uncontrollable nature of humanity during the last days. (Bill Mounce) 

The Greek word for treacherous is prodotēs. It means a traitor and betrayer. It is used only two other times in the New Testament: in Luke 6:16, where it describes Judas Iscariot as a “traitor,” and in Acts 7:52, where Stephen uses the plural form (prodotai) to condemn the religious leaders who handed Jesus over to the Romans.

In summary, I think the Lord is warning us that in the end times, because of the utter disregard for God’s law (His written and living Word), people will only have love for themselves and money. Love for others grows so cold that it eventually disappears completely.

I can’t help but think that this explains what happened on October 7, 2023, when innocent people in Israel were raped, murdered, and burned alive for no reason other than hatred. This savage attack launched, not an outcry for justice, but an outcry against the Jews! Jesus warned us that people will become brutal and treacherous because they have no regard for what is good.

“For the secret power of lawlessness (anomia) is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV

Are we living in the end times? You decide.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog