The other day I was scrolling through my Instagram feed after a very divided nation was arguing each of their sides to the issue of a recent Supreme Court ruling. I was taken back by the comments and reactions of each side. This isn’t the first time our nation has been divided on how to handle the care of human life nor will it be the last. The question we can ask ourselves in these times of heated debate is, how will the outcome be most beneficial, in our reactions or our response?
In our reactions we will always stay in the argument, the debate will never end because reactions are fueled with our emotions. The enemy would like nothing more than for us to stay in our reactions, because in our reactions is how the enemy distracts us and keeps us in the argument and chaos.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of react is: “to exert a reciprocal or counteracting force or influence—often used with on or upon. 2: to change in response to a stimulus. 3: to act in opposition to a force or influence—usually used with against 4: to move or tend in a reverse direction.”
To react is to respond without thinking, is impulsive, immediate, and chases our emotions. Our reactions are usually driven by our fears, attached to unmet expectations, and are short-sighted not able to rationally see the entire perspective of our situation. As you can see in the definition, to react is usually a negative response in opposition of something.
Definition of respond: “to say something in return : make an answer respond to criticism 2a: to react in response to a call for help b: to show favorable reaction, respond to surgery. 3: to be answerable”
In the Bible, when Jesus was presented with a situation, he responded not reacted. One of the greatest examples of this, is the woman’s life he spared from stoning in John 8. When the Pharisees brought an adulterous woman to Jesus, they wanted Him to react to her sin and make an example of her to others. But Jesus doesn’t react, He responds to what the woman needs, His grace. According to the Jewish Law of Consequence this woman deserved to be stoned publicly to shame her for what she had done. But Jesus shows a new way, one that forgives and restores, that doesn’t codon or condemn.
Jesus then stood up and said, “‘Where are they?’ ‘Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; and from now on, ‘sin no more.'” (John 8:10-11).
Jesus didn’t react to the woman’s sin, he responded to her deepest need. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to react to what this woman deserved. But this is where the enemy will entrap us to react, to cast stones at someone’s behavior, to keep us in a cycle to constantly throw stones at one another. Jesus breaks the cycle and doesn’t respond to the crazy, but sets a new path to enter into his healing grace.
The response is intentional, delayed, comes from a place of love and respect, rational, comes from self-control, and thinks about the long-term picture. From the definition, to respond is to show a favorable reaction. There will always be something we don’t agree with. An argument. A debate. We have to ask ourselves what is the outcome we desire? My desire is that everyone I know, knows the love of Jesus and one day I will see them in heaven. Life is too short and precious to spend it arguing especially with loved ones. Is my opinion and battle to be right the desire I want? Not Really. We all want to be seen and heard. We get lost in the fight to be right and miss out on God’s victory, a battle he’s already fought and won.
If there is one thing I hear Jesus telling me, is my role is to be the vessel, the messenger. My job is to bring the loaves of bread and fish, Jesus will feed the 5,000. My role is to show people the love of Jesus, not to cast stones. My purpose is to step out of the boat, not to sit there and wait until the storm is over to respond to what is happening in the world. I may get wet or even sink but Jesus will be there to hold my hand. I don’t have to like or agree with what everyone is doing, but I am called to love others no matter who they are or what they have done. We are all sinners and don’t deserve what Jesus has done for us, his gift is for everyone, we don’t have to earn it. The love of Jesus is for everyone.
Next time you see a post you don’t like or agree with, Ask God:
How should I respond?
What is the outcome you desire?
Will people see Jesus in my reaction or my response?
We may not have control over our situations, but we can control how we react or respond to our situations. Jesus came so we could have life and have it to the full. We miss out on His abundance when we allow our reactions to have the best of us. If we don’t control our reactions, our reactions will control us. How can you respond today to a situation you don’t like? We are able to have peace and serenity restored when our response is driven by God’s love.
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I love Thanksgiving. It’s a season for giving thanks, fellowship, serving one another and sharing a meal with each other. It’s a time we can enjoy each other and share what we are thankful for.
Or maybe it’s not. Maybe Thanksgiving reveals everything we don’t have and haven’t accomplished. Thanksgiving may be like a magnifying glass examining the little details of our lives that expose everything we are not.
To cover up our flaws, we assemble the perfect table and meal, making it seem like we have it all together, but really we’re falling apart on the inside.
Can you relate?
What are you Most Thankful For?
Of course, I am thankful for my family, our health and how abundantly blessed we are. It’s so easy to thank God when things are going well in our lives. It’s not so easy when they are not.
When things are falling apart and I feel like I’m hanging on by a thread, I am most thankful for Jesus. I am thankful that even in my messes, I am complete in Jesus. Even in my suffering, I am blessed.
It’s amazing when Jesus meets us in our messes, our storms, and flaws–He turns them into life’s greatest blessings.
If I never experienced failure, I would never know the deeper meaning of perseverance–How God makes the impossible, possible.
If I never trained for a marathon, I would never have known the power of God’s strength.
If I never went through the loss of our son, I would never experience the deeper meaning of God’s love and His glorious plan that one day we will see him again.
If I never had trials in marriage or as a parent, I would never have realized the value in growing my patience and building a stronger foundation in Jesus.
To remove our messes, our struggles and flaws are to remove God’s glorious blessings.
What am I Most Thankful For? Jesus.
I am not thankful for my trials but am thankful to have Jesus to walk with me in my trials.
When I struggle, I think of Job. When his cattle was destroyed he still gave thanks. When his family was killed he still gave thanks to God. When his crops were destroyed he gave thanks. When his health was at stake, he gave thanks.
When everything was taken away from him, he never stopped thanking God. His thankfulness in his devastation produced a greater blessing he could have ever received than if he focused on everything he didn’t have.
No Jesus + Everything = Nothing.
Jesus + Nothing= Everything
Even when I have nothing, I have everything in Jesus. There is always something to be thankful for. I am nothing without Jesus.
THANK YOU, Lord Jesus, not only for our family, our health and the food we will eat this THANKSGIVING But also for our TRIALS we have endured this year. We are not thankful for our suffering, but thankful that you are good and know what is BEST for US!
THANK YOU for giving us what we NEED not what we WANT. You Always have the best plans ever! THANK YOUfor going AHEAD of us and PREPARING a place for us, even in our STRUGGLES we know this is only our TEMPORARY HOME.
THANK YOU for our circumstances that are beyond our control, they TEACH US to depend and lean on you making us closer to YOU. THANK YOU for unanswered PRAYERS, they help us to TRUST in you, in your PERFECT PLAN.
THANK YOU for WALKING with US in the fiery furnace. If you we didn’t have your hand to hold onto we would never know you are ALWAYS with us and will NEVER leave US. THANK YOU for your FORGIVENESS when we fail and make bad choices. THANK YOU for your LOVE and ALWAYS being there even in our MESSES.
THANK YOU for our DESPERATE Moments when we feel like we have nothing left, we can always depend on YOUR STRENGTH. THANK YOU for our roadblocks and detours, they show us that when we follow Jesus, He knows the WAY!
THANK YOU for our failures and losses, they show us there is no greater reward than Jesus. THANK YOU for your perfect gift of ETERNAL LIFE! No matter what we go through it does not compare to the glorious reward of HEAVEN when we accept Jesus as our Savior! THANK YOU for your PERFECT LOVE AND PLAN! AMEN
What are you Most Thankful For this Thanksgiving?
Do you give thanks despite your trials?
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I’m always so amazed when I’m in my closet looking for an outfit when I pass by something I’ve worn before at an event in my life, I’m taken back to that day.
When my eyes set on my wedding gown that’s preserved in a box in my closet, I’m taken back to my wedding day.
When I browse by an ugly sweater I wore to a Christmas party I’m taken back to that day.
When I peruse past a certain dress, I’m taken back to the day of the funeral, the ball, the function I attended.
Why is it every shirt, pair of shoes or dress I wear just by looking at the outfit I’ve worn before, my mind takes me back to that memory of the day of the clothes I’ve worn.
Yet when I put on those clothes I am branded with the memory or feeling associated with those clothes.
My memory is my memory regardless of the clothes I wore, yet I identify myself with them.
Colossians 3:10 MSG, “10 Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.”
Paul is telling the Colossians they don’t have to focus on past labels or the old fashions of life. He was teaching them when their focus was on their Creator, on what He had done for them, they were putting on a new wardrobe, a new self one that was free from their past.
Colossians 3:12 MSG
12 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.
We have been chosen to live out a life of love and not bound to the mistakes of our past or ugly cycles of defeat. When we clothe ourselves with the loving kindness compassion of Christ we are putting on a new wardrobe, a new self.
So maybe the clothes I wear do define me?
The worldly clothes I wear don’t define me, but the clothing of Christ does.
I love the way Paul teaches because he uses analogies we all can relate to of physical, worldly things and translates them into the spiritual. He even tells the Colossians in (Col. 3:8 MSG), “Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire.”
We don’t have to revert back to old ways, we don’t have to keep putting on that old wardrobe that keeps us cuddled up to our sins. We can take them off and throw them away for good never returning back to them because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Do you have the one stand out garment in your closet, the go-to garment you put it on and everyone recognizes its unique and different?
Paul gives further instructions and tells us about stand out garments.
“13 Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 14 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it”. (Colossians 3:13-14 MSG).
When we put on love we are able to be kind, compassionate, humble, and forgive. We are able to leave behind the past allow ourselves to walk into the future filled with hope and freedom.
When we put on love we will be filled with God’s strength and discipline. We don’t have to try with our own strength when we put on love we are free from our sinful tendencies.
When we put away our bad tempers, irritability, meanness, profanity, and dirty talk, and put on love, others in the world will notice and recognize the love and compassion of Christ. And “When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too – the real you, the glorious you” (Colossians 3:4 MSG).
What kind of clothes do you wear?
What’s in your wardrobe?
A Prayer- Lord Jesus, help us get rid of anything keeping us in the past, keeping us from you. Help us get rid of our old worldly wardrobes and clothe ourselves with your kindness, humility, strength, discipline and above all else your love, God. I pray we will choose to wear love every day. May it be apart of our everyday lives, our everyday speech and actions. May love be our choice and response above all things, Lord. Help us put on a new wardrobe, one that you have created, never to put on our old wardrobe again. We thank you and praise you Jesus for who you are and what you are able to do. We love you. In Jesus name, Amen.
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I would love to start a conversation with you! Leave your comments below!
Have you ever gone through a hard time in your life and questioned is God even there? Or does he even care?
Sometimes I’ve caught myself questioning God and his motives when I’m going through hard times. I question God ‘why is this happening to me? Don’t you even care?’ Then he so tenderly reminds me, yes he does care more than I’ll ever know.
In my struggle I realize I’m not the one waiting on God, he’s the one waiting on me. If I just opened my eyes to see what God is trying to show me, His creations are all around me. He has made the heavens, the earth and everything in it. He has already sent Jesus to die for us.
Do I really need him to show me another sign of what he is capable of doing?
My unbelief and doubt aren’t so far off from the Pharisees and the crowd Jesus fed.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, capture the life of Jesus, his ministry, his death, and resurrection. Each gospel captures Jesus’ messages and miracles he performed. Jesus didn’t perform a miracle without there being a deeper message at hand. When a person reads the gospels one will see the pattern of a message then a miracle, a message then a miracle. When we look deeper, we can see this message and miracle pattern in our lives as well.
In the gospel of John 6, Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding 5,000 people from only 5 loaves of bread and two fish. The crowd was amazed at this miraculous sign that Jesus did. After performing this miracle, Jesus withdrew from the crowd knowing the crowd intended to make him their king. The crowd then went looking for Jesus in Capernaum.
When the crowd finds Jesus, he then says, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him and the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:26-27)
Jesus knew their hearts already. They weren’t looking for a Messiah, the one who could give them eternal life, they were looking for another miracle.
John 6:30 says, “So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?”
Can you even imagine asking Jesus, ‘what else can you do before we believe you?’ It didn’t matter the crowd had just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed a crowd of 5,000 people with just some loaves of bread and fish, the people wanted more.
The same scenario happened with the Pharisees after Jesus fed the four thousand people. Afterward the Pharisees questioned Jesus. They wanted to test him and asked him for a sign from heaven.
Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it” (Mark 8:12).
How many times have we been guilty of this as well?
There are signs all around us that God is with us and cares about our struggles, yet we search for God to prove his divine authority by performing miraculous signs.
In both scenarios, Jesus did not perform another miracle when they demanded it because they lacked faith. Their request for a miracle came from unbelief (Mark 8:11 footnote). God doesn’t need to prove his abilities he is able. There is evidence all around us of his divine abilities.
Do we seek God like the Pharisees and crowd does, only searching for the next miracle? Are we missing the point as well?
Our relationship with God goes deeper than him supplying for all of our needs and making sure everything is good in our lives all the time. Our relationship with God is more than just a good feeling that is temporary. Our relationship with God is eternal and everlasting.
What do you seek God for? To perform another miracle? Or to be your Messiah who has come to give you life?
Searching for a miracle from God without faith is like a person telling a horse to move without ears. Faith without action is dead. Seeking a miracle without receiving God’s deeper message is like sending Jesus to die for us without the resurrection. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the greatest message and miracle ever.
Jesus’ death would be pointless if there wasn’t a resurrection. Jesus was preparing the hearts of people to have faith in him was going to require believing in the unseen of what God could do.
Matthew 17:20, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Do you believe our faith in God leads to life’s biggest miracles?
Do you see the pattern of a message then a miracle in your life?
It’s all about meeting Jesus right where we are. In Him, we have life to the full that is complete and everlasting (John 10:10). Have a blessed week!
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Marriage is one of the biggest blessings in life, yet 40%-50% of marriages end up in divorce. If marriage is such a blessing, then why do so many marriages fail? I think there are many factors at play–a person’s background and upbringing, parents who had a loving successful marriage, children, poor role models, trials, dysfunctional habits. But I think one of the most important factors that help couples STAY together is PRAYER.
A study written by the National Association of Marriage Enhancement stated out of 1156 couples, those who prayed together on a daily basis less than 1% ended in divorce. The study went even further to analyze what the couples did at home together. Were they apart of the same denomination? Did they attend church together? Did they share the same beliefs and values? Did they do any worship activities at home?
The study found there was a higher level of marital satisfaction when the couples shared the same religious practices at home which included reading the Bible together. Unfortunately, despite knowing this information, only 4% of Christian couples pray together on a daily basis. The important message from the study was if you want a strong marriage that is long-lasting and able to endure trials and hardships, develop a consistent pattern of prayer and reading your Bibles together.
Who is ready to start praying!?!?!?
It all starts with prayer. Here are 5 P’s to pray over your Marriage. Make a commitment to pray together for the next 30 days and see what happens. If you are ready to start reading the Bible together there is a Bible reading plan as well. Those who pray together stay together. Those who read their Bibles together become deeply rooted in God’s word. God’s word then becomes alive and living in their lives.
5 P’s to Pray Over Your Marriage
1. Prosper
Pray for your marriage to grow, flourish and prosper. Pray your marriage will bear God’s fruits and grow deeply rooted in his love. Pray your communication with one another will be effective and prosper. Pray for unity, peace, and harmony with each other and in your marriage.
Pray God will equip and prepare you for what he has in store for you. Pray for patience along the way, because it will be tested. Patience prepares us for God’s plans. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to be working within you to dwell richly in your hearts. Pray for strength and courage to endure and persevere any trials that come your way. Pray to be in a position of readiness, to be alert and aware of anything getting in the way of God or putting your marriage at risk or in danger. Ask God to rid our hearts of any arrogance, pride deceit, malice, anger or bitterness (Mark 7:21).
Pray for God to fill your heart with His desires. Pray these verses over your marriage, Psalm 37:4, Romans 12:12, Galatians 6:9, Philippians 4:13, Joshua 1:9, Colossians 3:16.
3. Praiseworthy
Pray your marriage will be a godly example, admirable and meritorious for God. Pray that you will be gracious towards one another, express gratitude and thankfulness. Pray you are gentle, kind, patient and forgiving towards one another. Pray you will see your spouse through God’s eyes and praise your spouse daily. Pray you will love your spouse the way God loves them. Pray you will be encouraging towards one another and build each other up (1 Thes. 5:11).
Pray these verses over your marriage, Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 4:32, Galatians 5:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 115:1-2.
4. Purpose
Pray your marriage is a godly marriage that shines the light of Jesus (Matthew 5:15-16). Pray God will be the center of your marriage giving your marriage power and purpose. Pray you will not get in the way of God’s purpose and plan your lives and marriage. Pray for God to be Lord over our lives and marriages. Pray for your husband to allow God to be Lord in His life and be the spiritual leader he has called him to be. Pray you will give love and respect to one another. Pray for willing and obedient hearts that allow God’s purpose and plan to become alive in your lives. Pray you will allow God’s will to be done in your lives and marriage. Pray God will use your marriage for his greater purpose and plan.
Pray these verses over your marriage Romans 8:28, Psalm 138:8, Matthew 5:15-16, Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11.
5. Protection
Pray for protection against Satan, lies, doubt, temptations, sin, and discouragement. Pray the enemy will stay out of your marriage.
Pray the armor of God over your marriage in Ephesians 6:10-20. Pray your marriage will stand strong in the Lord by putting on the armor of God. Pray you will not fight against each other but in prayer against the enemy. Pray you will stand firm in God’s truth by buckling the belt of truth tightly around your waists. Pray the breastplate of righteousness will guard your hearts. Pray your feet will be fitted with readiness by putting on the shoes of peace (the gospel). Pray the shield of faith will be an extra layer of protection that will extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Pray the helmet of salvation will help protect and guard your minds against doubts, lies, and temptations. Pray you take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayers to stay alert and keep praying.
Most of all, pray you will stay committed and dedicated to prayer and reading the Bible. Praying these verses over our marriages gives power and purpose to our marriages. If you don’t have a Bible, download the YouVersion Bible app to your phone to be able to look up Bible verses.
There is so much more than we could add to our list. If there is something lacking in our marriages or that we’re struggling with–cover it in prayer. Maybe both sides struggle with patience or need to communicate better. Or maybe there needs to be more encouragement towards one another.
It doesn’t matter what our circumstances are or if we are going through a trial. When we are covered in prayer and in God’s word, nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38). Prayer keeps us protected against the enemy attacking our marriages, keeps us alert to what we need to pay attention to and keeps us in communication with God.
Every marriage will endure trials and hardships. Is our own strength and love enough to get us through? No, but God’s strength and love are. The love of Jesus is the glue that keeps our marriages together and builds us stronger than we ever were before.
Will you pray and/or read the Bible with your spouse for the next 30 days?
Pray the 5P’s over your marriage and watch them come alive in your life. God’s Words and prayer are transformational when they are active and living in our lives.
Whatever we lack in our lives, we are made complete in God.In Jesus, we have life and have it to the full (John 10:10)! In God, we lack nothing. We don’t need to look for another source to fulfill us when God is in the center of our marriages. I promise, your faithfulness and patience will reap great rewards than you could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20)!
Print out this Free Printable Bookmark to help guide your prayers or print out this post. Keep this handy in your Bibles so you can reference it when you pray and read. You can also follow along with the 30 day Bible reading plan to help fill your hearts with God’s Words!
Did you enjoy this blog post? Please share with others! Want more encouraging messages sent right to your inbox? Subscribe to my blog and receive a weekly Monday Message or like my Author Facebook page to catch the latest posts. Have a blessed week!
I would love to hear from you! Leave your comments below!
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