“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 NLT Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
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I have to make a confession. I’ve already confessed this to the Lord. Now, I openly confess it to you. Sometimes, praying seems like another thing on my “To Do” list. (I can barely type these words. I feel so ashamed.) What’s wrong with me? I’m supposed to love prayer.
Should anyone dare to confess such a horrible sin? Guess what? God already knows whatever it is that we’re ashamed to admit to Him. Confessing it is humbling.
I decided to write this confession in my prayer journal. Honestly, it took a few minutes for me to actually write the words down! I had to remind myself, He already knows. He already knows!
I followed this confession with a heart-felt request.
Lord, Forgive me. I want to look forward to prayer time. I want a more intimate relationship with you through prayer. Help me. Teach me.
Romans says,
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Roman 15:4 ESV)
So once again, I looked in God’s Word for guidance. As I studied the book of Psalms, I saw how open and real David was with God. David recorded his prayers. He wrote down his innermost thoughts, unafraid.
I decided to do this, too. I want to be a person after God’s own heart, like David. I love the story of David and the Psalms he wrote. There is so much for us to learn there.
“God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22 NIV
As I read through the Psalms, I noticed that David was completely open with God. He didn’t hide his emotions, feelings, or frustrations. (Why do I? God already knows what I think, what I feel, and what’s in my heart!)
David writes this at the beginning of Psalm 13,
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” Psalm 13: 1-2 ESV
David also wrote down what he believed at the end of Psalm 13:
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:5-6 ESV
The more secure we are in His love for us, the easier it will be to share our most private thoughts with Him. Let us pray, unafraid to be completely real with our Father in Heaven who knows us better than we know ourselves.
What A Friend We Have in Jesus
“Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.” ¹
We can strengthen our intimacy with God by taking everything to Him in prayer. What do you need to talk to God about?
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Listen to this:
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” ROMANS 10:9-11
1)From the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, by Joseph M. Scriven and Charles C. Converse.
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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NLT Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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Communism is a religion that is inspired, directed and motivated by the Devil himself who has declared war against Almighty God.”
Billy Graham
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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That’s why we complain isn’t it? To feel better. “After all, I’ve got to get this off my chest! I need to vent!”
But does it really make you feel better? I decided to do an experiment. What would happen if, instead of complaining, I thanked God.
Here’s what happened. The more I complained about my situation (to other people), the angrier I got. But when I thanked God for the positives in this situation, the more at peace I became.
What does God’s Word say?
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:14-16 NIV
When we complain, it has a negative effect. It isn’t healthy. A person who doesn’t complain is refreshing to be around. One who is always complaining, not so much. The Israelites complained about everything after God brought them out of Egypt. We think, “How can they complain after God so spectacularly brought them out of slavery?” But are we any different? Hasn’t God brought us out of bondage to sin, and yet we complain about every little thing?
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “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 chuckle every time I read the following passage written by Beth Moore from her book, Breaking Free. She states the exact opposite of Philippians 4:6-7 to drive home a point.
“Do not be calm about anything, but in everything, by dwelling on it constantly and feeling picked on by God, with thoughts like, ‘and this is the thanks I get,’ present your aggravations to everyone you know but Him. And the acid in your stomach, which transcends all milk products, will cause you an ulcer, and the doctor bills will give you a heart attack and you will lose your mind!”
It’s funny because that’s what we do!
Next, I did some research. And there’s plenty of information on it. Consider this article from Penn State University.
“Complaining is also bad for your health. When you complain, your body releases more of the hormone that shifts a human into fight-or-flight mode, the hormone known as cortisol. This directs oxygen, blood, and energy from any system that is not crucial to survival. Frequent complaining results in extra cortisol being released, which puts a person more at risk for high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and strokes.
So what can we do to stop ourselves from complaining? Every time you find yourself making a negative observation, make a positive one instead. It is recommended that a person takes time to think about what they’re grateful for. Doing this can reduce cortisol by 23%, according to research at the University of California, Davis. Decreasing the amount you complain will have an overall more positive impact on your health. So why not start today?”¹
So now science is saying what God said thousands of years ago! I’m convinced. It’s time for me to stop complaining.
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
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¹https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa16/2016/10/21/what-does-complaining-do-to-your-brain/
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“See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.” Colossians 2:8 NASB Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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realchristianwomen.blog
Real Christian Women 