If you experience anxiety, is it because you’re not trusting God? This question drifts through the minds of many Christians, and the best place to turn for the answer is God’s word.

According to National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults a year, causing them to feel filled with fearfulness and uncertainty for an extended period of time.

As a person who struggled with how to handle anxiety for many years, I can remember the fear of not knowing when or where it would strike; the sick stomach; loss of appetite; sleepless nights; attempts to avoid whatever could invoke it.

Nothing helped me overcome anxiety (meaning, not be overcome by it) until I gave up control, turned over my life to God and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. It required complete trust, and I can only describe the change as “total.”

“Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.”
–St. Ignatius Loyola

Does Anxiety Mean Not Trusting God?

In her post The Cause and Cure for Worry, bible scholar Joyce Meyer says that worry is the opposite of faith–it steals our peace, physically wears us out and can make us sick.

She writes:

Worry is caused by not trusting God to take care of the various situations in our lives. Too often we trust our own abilities, believing that we can figure out how to take care of our own problems.

Before studying the bible, I didn’t know the security of God’s word and that He always keeps His promises. I didn’t know verses to pray in times of need and that I could choose, by faith, to trust His word and not the fearful thoughts.

This makes all the difference, because Jesus said we can’t serve two masters. We either choose to trust God’s truth in times of fear, or we choose to trust fear.

Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.
– Isaiah 44:8

“‘Fear not’ is the most frequent command given in the Bible,” says Monica Reynolds, a Master of Divinity student at Wesley Theological Seminary. “Some estimates tell us that the Bible mentions fear, worry, or anxiety over 500 times.”

When anxiety looms, it can feel like a huge step to trust that God is mightier than what attacks us. Yet God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)

“I believe that anxiety, or generalized fear, is probably the biggest detractor from many us reaching God’s purpose in our lives,” Reynolds adds.

Trusting God over Anxiety

When we feel the first flashes of anxiety, we can brace ourselves for disaster (no security), or we can take it as a sign to turn to God (security), believing Jesus’ promise: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
–Deuteronomy 31:6

Call it out!

Senior Pastor Deano Ishiki of Calvary Chapel San Mateo says that in our ‘fallen state’ (yes, even as Christ followers), God equips us with safety mechanisms that provide warning signals–such as anxiety–so that when dangers arise, we will turn once again unto His mercy seat.

He adds that in 1 John 4:18, God promises His “perfect love which casts out fear (and anxiety).”

This perspective on anxiety made me realize something: Anxiety may be a warning sign to turn to God, yet if we linger too long in it, we end up turning away from God and toward the anxiety. Battling anxiety and worry in faith means holding on to the truth, over and over again, however long the battle lasts. Sure, it may feel uncomfortable while it lasts, but we know there will be an end.

It’s not easy, especially in the midst of our worst anxiety, but we are told that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

“Understand that the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows you are closest to your breakthrough. He’d leave you alone if he thought you were going to live in mediocrity. If you keep pressing on toward your promise, through faith and patience, you will get there.”
–Joel Osteen

If you’re reading this right now, feeling consumed by fear and dread, searching for answers, know that you are not alone. Our God saves.

“When I am afraid I will trust in you.”
–Psalm 56:3

If you’ve ever heard people talk about following God or hearing from God and felt confused about what that meant, I can offer one small, real-life, recent example.

So a couple weeks ago my husband and I had a spat. I can’t remember what we argued about, but it felt serious at the time, and the result was me going to bed early and him staying up late to work on the computer.

The standoff began. The rules were clear: Ignore the other. Act like you don’t see the other. And of course, don’t break the silence!

In the bedroom, alone, I felt moved to pray. But how could I pray sincerely with a feeling of strife between us… and in my own heart? I could try to ignore him, but I couldn’t ignore God. I couldn’t pray as if nothing was wrong and then go to sleep.

Following God’s Lead

I prayed about what it means to submit in a situation like this, and this is how it went:

Me to God…
Shouldn’t he be the one to step up and encourage us to reconcile? Shouldn’t he come in and say, “Come on honey, let’s talk” or “let’s pray together”? Or even, “let’s drop it”??

Lord, help me to follow my husband in the right way.

God to me…
First, follow me.

Me to God…
But if I go in there first, he’ll think I’m weak and I’m giving in and he’ll just keep acting like this. He should be the first one to put down his pride and come in here. How am I suppose to follow if…

God to me…
The first one to put down pride is following me.
Follow me.

I sat there, on pause. It’s a feeling of “that’s the truth, so now what?” I realized any move that ignored God (for example, going to bed as if I hadn’t heard) would not be good.

So I thanked the Lord for speaking his truth and love into my heart, prayed for courage to outweigh pride, and then went in to my husband.

Me to God…
Yes, God. I will follow you.

And you know what? God protected my heart.

I didn’t go in to stir the pot. I went in to tell him I loved him, and even though we were having a rough patch, we’d get through it. And that was it. Over, done, hugs, kisses, happy.

While I can’t say every argument has ended so wonderfully in the past, I can say that God is good, and He points us in the right direction. We just have to follow Him.

When do you most often hear from God?

Photo Credit

We all have moments when we question our faith; when we feel the temptation to wonder, Is God real? If you want inspirational quotes about believing in God (and bible verses about belief), here are 55.

Because like C.S. Lewis once said, “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.”

Quotes and Bible Verses about Believing in God

1. “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. (Matt 11:22)

2. “A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

3. “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” (Jesus in John 14:10)

4. “You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” (Rick Warren quote)

5. “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21)

6. “Faith activates God – Fear activates the Enemy.” (Joel Osteen)

7. “For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

8. “As believers in Jesus Christ, our work is to believe while God works on our behalf.” (Joyce Meyer quotes)

9. “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. (Hebrews 10:39)

10. “No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief.” (John Calvin quote)

11. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

12. “The essence of faith is being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus.” (John Piper quote)

13. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)

14. “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right. (Abraham Lincoln quote)

15. Faith is like a seed; plant it in your heart. God gives the harvest at the appointed time. (Mark 4:26-27,28-29)

16. “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

17. “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.” (Mother Teresa)

18. “…Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” (John 10:36a-38)

19. “We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito.” (C.S. Lewis)

20. “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.” (Jesus in John 14:11)

21. “Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He’s going to accelerate your times and lead you into the life of victory He has for you.” (Joel Osteen)

22. “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” (John 5:36)

23. “But for my faith in God, I should have been a raving maniac.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

24. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

25. “I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.” (Mother Teresa)

26. “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true–even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

27. “Our belief in God is not blind faith. Belief is having a firm conviction something is true, not hoping it’s true.” (Max Lucado)

28. “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” (James 2:19)

29. “If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.” (C.H. Spurgeon)

30. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

31. “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” (C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer)

32. “That 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.” (Romans 10:9)

33. “Faith is not something you have to get. It’s something that you, as a born-again child of God, already have. Act on it by releasing it to God. That’s when your healing starts!” (Oral Roberts)

34. “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32)

35. “Because God is with you all the time, no place is any closer to God than the place where you are right now.” (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I Here for?)

36. “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.” (Acts 2:32)

37. “Likewise today, some Christians are content to merely exist until they die. They don’t want to risk anything, to believe God, to grow or mature. They refuse to believe his Word, and have become hardened in their unbelief. Now they’re living just to die.” (David Wilkerson)

38. “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:10)

39. “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.” (St. Ignatius Loyola)

40. “Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, ‘I believe. Help my unbelief!’” (Said by the father whose possessed son was healed by Jesus in Mark 9:24)

41. Christ said, “I am the Truth”; he did not say “I am the custom.” (St. Toribio)

42. “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

43. “No matter how dark it looks, no matter how long it’s been, no matter how many people are trying to push you down; if you will stay in faith, God will always take you from Friday to Sunday. He will always complete what He started in you!” (Joel Osteen)

44. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (John the Baptist in Mark 1:15)

45. “Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.” (Pope John Paul II)

46. “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)

47. “Believers, look up – take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.” (Billy Graham quote)

48. “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.” (Titus 1:15)

49. “For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists and strives against God.” (John Calvin)

50. Yahweh said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them? (Numbers 14:11)

51. “As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises.” (David Wilkerson)

52. “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.” (Psalms 119:66)

53. “Understand that the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows you are closest to your breakthrough. He’d leave you alone if he thought you were going to live in mediocrity. If you keep pressing on toward your promise, through faith and patience, you will get there.” (Joel Osteen)

54. “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” (Psalm 33:4-5)

55. “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.” (Billy Graham)

Do you have any favorite quotes about believing in God?

Photo Credit

You might also like: Can We Really Trust God?.

Gossip is like a secret craving. We say we don’t like it, but when it’s within reach, we almost can’t resist it. We get a sudden appetite to know what we don’t know… about somebody else.

Why is it so hard to stop? Proverbs 18:8 says, “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.”

No, you might think. Not me. I’m not into sharing the dirty details about a person’s life just for fun. But gossip comes in many flavors, and it involves listening as well. Proverbs 17:4 notes: “Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.” Yikes!

Types of Gossip and What the Bible Says

How do we know what’s gossip and what’s not gossip? We can find a number of bible verses about gossip, especially in Proverbs, and we can also ask God to reveal it to us. James 1:5 tells us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Have any of the types of gossip below been too tempting for you to resist lately?

Slander
It’s defined as spreading rumors or lies about a person to cause damage purposely. The written form of it is libel.

The bible mentions slander countless times in lists like this one: “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Colossians 3:8).

James 4:11 tells it straight: “Brothers, do not slander one another.”

Dishing

“Dishin’ the dirt” basically means sharing the “juicy info” you learned about someone. Maybe the intent isn’t to directly cause damage, but by keeping the gossip alive, it continues to spread and taint the image of the person it’s about.

Proverbs 20:19 tells us that a gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

James 5:9 says, “Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”

Rumors

You hear something, and it’s not good, and it’s also not confirmed as true. But you tell someone or ask someone else about it to get more info. The rumor mill turns and turns and the gossip spreads.

Proverbs 13:3 says, “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”

Backbiting

It’s a flavor of gossip that involves speaking spiteful or slanderous words about another who is not present and can do nothing in defense. It’s secretive, and the bible actually mentions it by name in Proverbs 22:23: “The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.”

Also: “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure” (Psalm 101:5).

Not-Really-Joking Jokes

Have you ever taken some part of truth and turned it into a joke about someone that makes other question their character? It also serves as a passive way to spread more gossip. Example: Maybe he/she will actually get off the couch today long enough to blahblah. haha.

When the joking is harmful to another, it’s mockery. How can you know a mocker? It’s in the bible. Proverbs 21:24 says, “Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.” And verse 9:8 says, “A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise.”

In addition, Proverbs 22:10 says, “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.”

And Psalm 1:1 starts out: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”

Planting Seeds

The bible tells us we reap what we sow. With that in mind, this type of gossip is said in such a way to make the listener question or assume something about the character of a person. For example: Isn’t it weird how he keeps staring at your girlfriend when you’re not looking?

James 3:5 tells us, “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”

A warning from the bible from Proverbs 16:28: “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.”

Whispered Innuendo

These subtle insinuations can mislead others into thinking wrong thoughts, especially if the conclusions are based on gossipy hunches. Here’s an example: It’s interesting how he was “out of town” the night she was murdered.

Proverbs 26:30 tells us, “For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.”

And a warning from the bible: “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs” (Luke 12:3).

Got-This-All-Wrong Gossip

You admit you probably got it wrong, but spread it anyway, because it’s still touching on some points that could be true. Or would sound exciting if true. Either way, it usually starts out like this: I probably got this all wrong, but apparently…

This is one of the most common types of gossip. We think we’re just passing on the latest news. Could it hurt someone? Meh. Maybe. But if we don’t even know the person, does it matter? James 4:17 says, “Anyone, then, who know the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

Thankfully, Jesus gave us an example to follow:

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is said whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Matt 10:26-27).

Photo Credit

You might also like: 10 Ways We Sin Without Knowing

As a person who used to run away from problems, who ran away from people who loved me, who could never feel good enough about anything, and who placed hope in the attention of others, I am continually touched by the order God brought to a once chaotic life.

Are you living in the hands of the world, or the hands of God? Your answer means everything.

Reading the comments left on this blog over the years, especially on posts like “Losing Friends, Gaining Faith” and “How to Find Joy in Miserable Moments” opened my eyes to how many lives have been saved, shown mercy, given peace and brought into the fold of cleansing, purification and love that can only come from God.

When we place our life in his hands, we trust in his guidance rather than our own. Crooked paths are made straight; sinful lives are made clean.

This morning, while driving in the car with my kids, I heard “By Your Side.” It brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the life God rescued me from. A life of a person who couldn’t see the actions that hurt others and couldn’t hear words of truth.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” — Luke 23:34

Here are the lyrics to “By Your Side” by Tenth Avenue North. Pass them on to someone who may need them today.

And thank you God for filling this group with your talent and spirit to move us, remind us of your love and even draw us closer to you.

By Your Side
Tenth Avenue North

Why are striving these days
Why are trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don’t turn away.

‘Cause I love you
I want you to know
That I love you
I’ll never let you go

This is the song as it was used in a sermon illustration at Pleasant Valley Church in Niles, OH

Despite a life of sin, he wants us. He will use us. I am just one person who can testify that he gives us a crown of beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

May God bless you and keep you strong in your walk with him. And may all the goodness in your life glorify God.

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” — James 1:18

Photo Credit

Months ago my husband and I hit a rough patch that got so bad we could no longer communicate about it without being bitter and mean. It seemed easier to hang out in different rooms or just not talk at all because when we did talk, we kept trying to convince the other of his or her wrongdoing.

It went around and around. The Love & Respect book would call this the “crazy cycle.”

And then it all got a little worse, coming to a head the night of our office holiday party. The same night my mother-in-law came to watch the kids so we could “go out and have fun.”

I couldn’t get past the issue and find a way to just make it disappear.

“Forget it,” I said, “I’m not going.”

Bitter Spouse

And so there we sat, at the kitchen table, defeated, looking at leftovers, mumbling negative commentary back and forth, all while Mom urged us to get out. She said we would feel better.

How? We could barely look at each other. It felt impossible.

There was nothing in me that wanted to go. And it was a bummer, especially because we looked forward to the event for weeks. Especially because Mom traveled so far to get there. Especially because we were tired of fighting amongst ourselves and around our kids.

But I was at a standstill in my heart. There seemed no other option. I couldn’t imagine how to submit in that kind of a situation.

And then God told me to go outside and pray.

I went outside, sat on the front step and started praying for our marriage. When the focus turned to God, calling on him, delighting in his presence, a breath of fresh air entered my entire body, from head to toe, and everything felt … different.

Better Spouse

It was suddenly a good idea to start fresh. What?

Yes, and also to shove aside the details. Heh?

I jumped up from the step and went back inside.

That’s it?

Yes, it was like getting a text from God: Go to party tonight. Thanks

The amazing thing about it (and there ALWAYS is something amazing), is that at that moment I wanted to go… with my husband. Minutes before, the idea was out of the question.

Scripture says God can turn the heart of a king (Ezra 6:22), and I realized that with a single breath, he could also change the heart of a bitter wife.

He actually breathed his spirit into me–bringing me back to a life in him. A life that overlooks the things we can’t seem to overlook in our humanness. A life filled with love and new beginnings.

A life that is worth living.

“The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

With no transition or appropriate segue whatsoever, I entered the kitchen, sat down and started smiling.

“Want to go to the party?”

The whole thing probably seemed a little crazy, since moments before a completely different person sat in that same chair. But my husband knows how God works.

It is by his grace that we go from bitter husband to better husband; from angry wife to loving wife; from self-centered spouse to God-centered spouse; from worldly marriage to faithful marriage; from sinner to saved.

Going by faith in marriage isn’t easy when we go it alone. It’s unthinkably easy when we go it with God.

I love you Lord! Who knows how many marriages are ravaged, destroyed and torn apart by the enemy. You alone have the power to change our minds and hearts.

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” -Psalm 62:7

How has God changed your heart in marriage?

Resources You Might Like:
Post: Confessing Bitterness.
Post: 34 Ways to Pray for Your Marriage When Stressed, Sleep Deprived, Frustrated and Fed Up

Sometimes I pray long and hard about certain issues… the kind of prayers that go on and on and on. And then I’ll hear God, and his message is short and clear and to the point, and it makes perfect sense.

It’s like we’re texting, but his side doesn’t have errors or random craziness.

Example: I’m in bed praying, feeling discouraged, or encouraged, or remorseful, or joyful and it’s so intense that I have to get out of bed and kneel down and pray about it. (Have you ever done that?) Then as soon as I stop to take a breath: Rise.

And I climb back into bed feeling comforted. Somehow in the word “Rise,” I know he has heard my prayer and it is done.

Or when I prayed for months and months about going back to work or staying home with the kids before maternity leave ended. I kept hearing him say: Trust me.

ME: Should I give notice? What about medical benefits?

HIM: Trust me.

ME: Let me know how you want me to proceed Lord.

HIM: Follow.

ME: Ok Lord, I will wait on you.

HIM:

The answer is there, but not always as detailed as I’d like.

What does he mean by “Trust Me” exactly? How do I go about doing that when I have to meet with my manager tomorrow? Etc. etc.

(Psst… His word is forever faithful: 15 Prayer Text Messages)

And there are so many good examples in the bible. This is how I’d imagine a “text” between Moses and God during the burning bush incident (Exodus 3:4-14)…

GOD: Moses!

MOSES: Here I am.

GOD: Take off sandals. Holy ground…

GOD: My people are miserable in Egypt. Go down & bring them out.

MOSES: Me?

GOD: I’ll be with you. You’ll worship me here when you’re back.

MOSES: How?

GOD: Tell them “I AM” sent you.

And we know how that story ends.

He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert. (Acts 7:36)

In what could have seemed like absurdity, awkwardness and impossible victories, God provided, lead the way and kept his word.

Granted, God did give Moses further details about how to address the elders and Pharaoh. He did provide signs, like turning his staff into a snake. But he does this for us too, ultimately. Maybe we don’t always recognize the signs.

As I’m learning, when we hear from God–even when it seems like he’s sending us the condensed, text-message version–we just have to follow with the discernment he has given us. It takes faith; it takes wisdom. Both come from him.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)

Photo Credit

If God texted you, what would the message say?

There are few things sweeter in life than sacrifice. How close we bond with the Lord when we walk in His spirit. How much we feel His heart beating!

But I used to hate it. Going out of my way was often out of the question. The word sacrifice meant suffering, and who needed that?

Things to do. Places to go. People to see. Whims to gratify. Lies to believe.

But the spirit changes us. It infiltrates the dark and makes it light. We find pleasure in helping others, even (especially) when it means going out of our way. Praise God!

Small Sacrifices of the Heart

Today my son wanted to go out and see the rain, again. It was cold, and I wanted to finish that last load of laundry before dinner. I mumbled something under my breath about “you need your coat and shoes first.”

Here’s my 20-month-old, in the blink of an eye, standing before me holding his coat and shoes. I felt that moment cross my heart: This is good learning for him. He wants to experience it.

I smiled down at him, and we walked out to the porch so he could feel the raindrops, watch the pitter-patter of wet leaves and hear the cars swooshing by on the street. It was such a small sacrifice of time and convenience — and it was awesome!

So unlike the “sacrifice” just a night before when an argument broke out between me and my husband over cookies.

In my foolishness, I had things to say — juicy things! — things that would have won that argument! They were bubbling up to pop out of my mouth, but it was better to say nothing.

He had a few more things to say. I sat there and felt that moment cross my heart: Sacrifice yourself.

It felt like a burn to sit and listen and say nothing else. And not just to sit and listen, but to sit and listen without feeling angry or offended or bothered inside. And to not react, but to love him.

Now the whole thing seems ridiculous… and I don’t remember the juicy things, so guess they weren’t that juicy. Whew!

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
– Mother Teresa

Our Sacrifices are Just Sacrifices

But in the end, small or big, the sacrifices we make do not make us holy. They don’t win us points in heaven. We are moved to do good because God gives us the right spirit to do His work. And the joy is in becoming more like Him and being used by Him!

“There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in – that we do it to God, to Christ, and that’s why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.”
- Mother Teresa

The Book of James opens up with him, James, introducing himself, explaining his position:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (James 1:1)

It’s simple and clear. It communicates his role and desire. It involves faith.

Sacrificing It All

As a good servant, filled with the spirit of God, we will be empowered to make good sacrifices in faith that have eternal benefits and rewards.

“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”
–Hebrews 11:4

Giving up our sinful nature, while it might seem like quite the sacrifice (What’s so juicy about hurtful words anyway?), is actually giving up everything that keeps us in the dark.

Because the hardest part is already done: the ultimate sacrifice has already been made.

Jesus:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
– John 6:51

Thank you, Lord for sacrificing your life for ours. Bless us with hearts that serve you and offer a continual sacrifice of praise. Amen!

What small sacrifice did you make today in faith?

Sometimes we feel a stirring to get involved. We think about how we could use the talents and gifts God has given us… for His work. We start googling ideas, wondering how it will all come together, wondering how to hear His voice in our crowded heads.

And just then, as fast as this stirring arrives, the worries, things, voices and ideas of the world push their way into our minds to drown it out. We shrink back in fear or intimidation. We get confused about what’s important. We conclude that another time will be better.

We forget who’s in control.

And then we read His word:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith,
If it is serving, let him serve;
if it is teaching, let him teach;
if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
–Romans 12:6-8

In the two verses prior, Paul writes about how together we form one body in Christ, and just like with our own bodies, each part has its own proper function to keep the body working and thriving.

What Gifts Has God Given You?

As Christians, we all have different spiritual gifts given to us. Yes, “we all” as in every one of us. And yes, “different” as in we all play a part to keep the body working together. And most importantly, these spiritual gifts aren’t just there to serve ourselves, but to serve the Lord!

So in comes the confusion for many of us. What gifts has God given to me, and am I using them the right way? It might be first worth mentioning that we can’t look to others for this answer.

This post puts it nicely:

Never feel like you must fit into someone else’s mold, serving the Lord in the same way that they are. God has not made us all to be pastors, missionaries, street evangelists, etc. We have not all been given the character traits to do these things. Find the methods of service God has prepared for you specifically, and then rest in them.

What things come naturally to you? Where are your strengths? What kind of personality traits do you have? What special abilities, talents or circumstances has God blessed you with to further His kingdom?

Are you letting God use you, or are you getting in the way?

This week alone I’ve heard about the way my mom loves to help the elderly. A friend’s love for helping people find healing when they’re vulnerable or weak. My husband’s love for sharing God’s word with others. A family’s love for helping younger members get on their feet by dropping by with food and household items.

Do you believe God will open doors for you to do His work where He wants you to do it? While some may be called to mission work, others are called to work in the cubicle. God wants us where He wants us for reasons we may or may not every really know.

So how do you use the gifts God has given to you?

And if you don’t know, His word is a wonderful place to start:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. — Romans 12:9-19

Whether He lights you on fire for a certain name, moves you to choose something you didn’t think of before, inspires you with figures from the bible or gives you an answer through praying or dreaming, the experience of praying about a baby name is unique for each of us.

And all the while other pressures, expectations and desires compete for our attention.

Trends that judge popular and unpopular names abound. One tabloid praises unique baby names while another calls them bizarre.

The pope says to choose baby names from the bible as “an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit will allow the person to blossom in the bosom of the Church.”

And who can forget when the 2005 book Freakonomics predicted top baby names for 2015 and those that would likely lead to career success? Now just three years from the end date, many of those names missed the mark.

Does the name make the person, or does the person make the name? Either way, God makes the person and the name.

“The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

Praying for he Right Baby Name

With all the clamoring voices, where do you look? How do you know what name will “fit” the child? What if it sounds silly when the baby gets older? What if a biblical name wasn’t in your top 10? (Hint: Baby names from the bible still make the “most popular lists” year after year.)

There is one place to turn that will yield the right answer.

God knows our children before we do, and He loves them more than us. When we pray about picking a baby name, we’ll get the Creator’s guidance.

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” — Jeremiah 1:5a

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” — Psalm 139:13

Trends come and go. Studies come and go. God stays the same through the ages.

He hears our prayers and requests in line with His will (1 John 5:14), so of course He will guide us toward a name that best fits His beloved babies. This peace from the Lord lets us overcome stress and worry.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” — James 1:17

Baby Name Testimony

We didn’t set out to choose biblical baby names for our kids, necessarily, but we did stay open to what God had in store for us. The result? We ended up with two biblical baby names

The first time I was pregnant, I did what everyone else does — googled “popular baby names,” “biblical baby names” and “baby name meanings.” Paged through a few books. Checked top 10 lists, top 100 lists.

My husband had some ideas, but I didn’t like them. I had some thoughts, but he said no way.

It was hard to imagine a name without even knowing what we were having… and without knowing the baby. We prayed that God would show us the name.

He did.

One night around month three, I had a dream. God was speaking to me and said, “You’re having a boy and His name is being spelled in the sand.” One letter at a time spelled out: ABEL.

I started to say the name. There was a story from the bible about Cain and Abel, but wait, which one was Abel? I had to turn back around to ask God if I had the name right, feeling uncertain, but the dream was done.

I woke up David to tell him about it.

Half awake, he goes, “Are you sure it was God?”

I started to think, “Did that just happen? What if I don’t have a boy. What if…”

I got out of bed, anxious, even nervous, and prayed, “God, please let me know what you want.” I heard immediately, “You will see the name tomorrow.” I told David that we would see the name, felt a little weird and went back to sleep.

The next day we didn’t really talk about it, but I looked for the name. I looked at a waiter’s name tag, at license plates, at signs we passed. Nothing.

Then I just let it go.

Sure enough, as we were walking in our neighborhood and stopping to look at films playing at the foreign cinema, we saw it, right there on one of the signs.

We felt confirmed, and I told some people about the name and the dream (yes, they thought I was crazy). A few months later at the ultrasound we found out he was a boy. We praised God!

With baby number two, we immediately prayed that God would give us a name. There were no dreams or movie signs, but there was much prayer … and then a long period of silence.

Finally, my husband came to me and said he heard the name Aaron.

I loved it, prayed about it, and felt God confirming the name.

Neither of these names were really on my mind originally, but I can’t imagine my kids with any other names.

God is good, and all that comes from Him is good.

Resources

Prayer for Healthy Marriage: 34 Ways to Pray for Your Marriage When Stressed, Sleep Deprived, Frustrated and Fed Up

Calvary Monterrey 2012 series on figures from the bible and how they demonstrated faith: Online Video Sermons About Biblical Names