Deepening my series: talking to God

Last time for this 'Deepening my...' series I covered prayer where I uploaded a prayer journal resource so to continue with the topic of being able to talk to God as part of our personal relationship with Him.

He is our Father, and always has His ear ready to listen to our needs, our requests and when we just need to vent- anything, He is there. 

Feel free to use this to just pour out what is on your heart to our caring Father and let Him know everything. This comes with two sections: 1: can be to write random words, phrases or anything  2. can be to just pray and ask God for anything, on whats on your heart or even just to tell Him what you need to.

God Bless ♡

Stop pointing your fingers.

Something that constantly keeps appearing to me, in recent and distant events is that we need to stop pointing our fingers. Jesus told us to take the speck out of own eye before removing the plank from others. This is because He knows that humans are hypocritical. Believe it or not, we all can be hypocrites, some know it and some are too blind to see it. Ultimately, there needs to be change. 

Something I saw before was that when we point our finger, three are pointing back- it is a reminder to check yourself instead of being quick to point at others. We point our fingers, always being confident that the problem is not with us, but with the person we are pointing at. Do not take pride in yourself, do not be a hypocrite. We must examine ourselves as Jesus tells us, so we can seek Him to be changed. We most definitely are not perfect yet we judge and point to others as if we are. My point is, who do we think we are pointing fingers when there is only ONE who can truly judge us.

Change needs to start with yourself. As much as we would like to, we can not change others but we can change ourselves through asking and seeking God. The message that I'm trying to put across is, as followers of Christ, we are not meant to be like the world and we shouldn't be so quick to point people out. Pointing at others should not make you feel good or better about yourselves. If you want to point at anyone- point at yourself and begin to ask for change. If someone has offended you, pray that God will help you to not be quick to offence, that He will shape you to deal with the things that may offend you.

Pointing fingers also does not just come down to judging- but comes down to spreading harsh words about someone- ultimately you aim these words at them for someone else to begin to think and point negatively and harshly. It literally comes down to doing to others what you would want done to you. With having such an attitude and harsh outlook towards someone, if that was to be applied back to you, how would you feel? Of course, you would think it is not fair, or that you haven't deserved such treatment. This is why it is so important to think before we speak and act- our words and actions ( especially as Christians,) are being watched more than most people so by you saying that one harsh thing, think about how that is representing Christ. In all honesty, we can slip into moments like this, we all have, but start re-aligning yourself with God and His truth- ask yourself 'How does this represent Christ?'- don't be selfish to please your flesh. Be self-less to please God and put Him first.

Jesus teaches us to love, He teaches us to encourage others, to serve, to be kind. Pointing fingers, having a bad attitude or acting ungodly does not serve God, it does not edify you, it does not have any good impact. Light and darkness does not mix, God has made that pretty clear. We need to serve God and not serve this world nor our flesh. Change starts from you. Stop pointing your fingers and seek God to change you.

Thank you for reading! God Bless !

♡

What's Love Got To do With it?

Love. We all think we have got it right? I mean you say you love your family and friends? Yet your actions speak different. You say you love your enemies right? Until they actually do something against you? But I mean you pray for them? But how can we pray for people we don't actually genuinely love? Love comes from deep within your heart and your heart is what God knows perfectly and with detail. God- who knows our thoughts before we think them; knows our prayers before we pray them; our actions before we do them and our words before we speak them. He knows all. And He most definitely knows our hearts.

To be able to pray for others, it has to come from a place of LOVE.

To be able to help others, it has to come from a place of LOVE.

Why? I mean why can't we just act without love? 

Because without love- it is nothing.

God is Love. In John 14:15- Jesus says to us ' If you love me, keep my commandments'

You know why? Because obedience to keep commandments comes from a place of love- you want to listen to them because you genuinely want to do what they say because that is love. You can easily avoid most sin when we have a genuine heart of love. 

The greatest commandment surrounds love. 

But why is this SO important?

Because in a world full of hate and evil, there is limited space for actual love. The love you see in the world is not love. Love is laying one's life for the whole world after living a perfect life. Jesus did just that. He is love. He shows us time and time again what love is. Most people think love is just a feeling. It is so much deeper and more than that. Look how God loves us endlessly- in fact, we turn from Him daily and disobey Him- and He still LOVES us! Most of our backs have turned on Him- and He still loves us. The love He has for us is true Love. 

The world's love does not even come close. 'Love' today is full of lust, is full of sin, is full of pride. 

God defines love to us time and time again. 

Look at the words Paul writes showing the definition of Love- THIS IS GOD BREATHED. This is God telling us- look this is love not the kind you think. The world defines love yet is parading it around. Yet God tells us- Love does not parade itself. Satan has corrupted the most greatest commandment to turn it into sin. This is so true Christians are deemed against the world and different. From what may seem so small- Satan and this world has corrupted it into evil- it is all setting up towards his overall plan through the great tribulation.

I ask you all to examine your hearts. Ask God to show you if you have love and to create love within you- to let His love pour over you and surround you. To let His love be the only love you need and to be the only definition you follow. I pray you feel God's love today and that it is poured over you all- that He sets it in your heart to love.

Thank you for taking your time to read this post! Praise God for He is love!

God Bless! xx

♡ Deepening my... Series ♡

Hey everyone! ♡

I have decided to create a new series called 'Deepening my...' where I will be setting up different resources and activities to help deepen different parts of our Christian walk.

First up is 'Deepening my prayer life' .

As we follow Jesus, it is so important that we constantly seek God and talk to Him; which can be through prayer.

'But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.'

Matthew 6:6 NKJV

'pray without ceasing,'

I Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

'praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—'

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

The Word constantly tells us how important it is to pray and speak to our Father. Jesus would constantly go into prayer- He would go to an isolated place, where no one was around, early in some cases and speak to our Father. Jesus is our perfect example!

I pray you draw closer to God through these series and that the LORD will draw closer.

Thank you for reading ! If you participate- tag me on instagram '@graceoverpride' and use #GOPdeepenseries

Until Next Time.. God Bless ♡

♡ Refresh. ♡

There are times in our Christian walk where we become overwhelmed, unsure where we are meant to be and more. These times require us to just be still. As God tells us to 'Be still and know that I Am God.' We must obey this, and stop rushing around this crazy life. It calls for a refresh.

What do I mean by 'refresh'?

• Set your priorities straight. When you rise, do you start your day with Jesus or with the world? This can really set the tone for your day, when we do not give God our day, our first waking moments- just our time in general- we can be setting our day up to just be crazy. God wants us to put Him first, and what is better than starting your day with Him? Ask for His guidance- He is always MORE than enough! God is greater than this world, than your plans, than your chaos. He is the only one who can set your paths straight. 
• Do all for the glory of God. In everything we do, it should be to please God not ourselves and this world. Pleasing God means doing things for others, not out of a boasting or un-genuine love, but put others before yourself. It means, thanking and praising God throughout your day, giving Him the glory! It means, acting on the Word not just reading it to say you have read it. It means, walking in love and the Spirit, not by lust and the flesh. Ask yourself when doing anything, is this pleasing God? or is this pleasing my selfish desires? Am I actually seeking God's will or is it your own?
• Take care of yourself. The Bible clearly states how our bodies are the temple and dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. So, take care of it! It does not mean going on a mad disciplined diet, but look after it! Drink water, eat well, exercise and keep clean. In most cases, our presentation is what the world looks at- before we open our mouths, they see your presentation. We are meant to have a gentle and quiet spirit, our fruits are to produce good. But presentation is also how you physically present yourself. 
• Renew your mind. Your mind is the battlefield for satan to trick, deceive and deflate you. So, that calls for you to constantly renew your mind. How do we do this? Turn to God in prayer, turn to His word, call upon the name of Jesus! When we are not in the Word it is so easy to slip into the worldly mentality, that is why we must renew our minds with the Holy Spirit's guidance when reading the Word. Put on your armour of God. We may lose some battles, but we will win the war! Jesus has already won- remember that!

My overall message to you is that is okay to ask God for a refresh- He knows. If anything He wants us to constantly be coming to Him! He is our Father. It is okay to be stuck in chaos and to ask for help because God will pull you out- just ask Him. It is okay to just stop, because God wants us to be still and focus on Him. This world is evidentially a playground for satan, he constantly wants to trip up believers. So when you feel lost, know that Jesus will guide you home. When you feel trapped, know that Jesus will free you. When you are confused, know that Jesus will give you understanding. Jesus is always the answer. 

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who  is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

I Corinthians 6:19 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 14:14 

Thank you for reading this!  God Bless you all! 

Be Kingdom Minded!

♡

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This World Needs Love.

" Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ "

Matthew 22:37‭-‬39 NKJV

Jesus tells us that love is the most important commandment, we must firstly love God and our neighbour as ourselves. But what exactly does this mean?

1. Loving God with ALL our hearts, soul and minds. God is our Father, full of love and compassion as well as mercy! He is our creator! He is always there for us! It is so important to love God, this is through our obedience as well as putting Him before all things. In this world, you can often slip into the mentality that 'this' is so important, which then begins to replace what you are putting first. This is idolatry. Putting anything above or before our LORD! Place your focus on Jesus. Tune in to the Holy Spirit. Don't be consumed with this world. With everything we do, give the glory to God, give Him all the praise and thanks! Put Him before everything. In every aspect of our lives, we must put Him there! Love the Lord- a genuine LOVE for Him! He loved us before we loved Him!

2. Loving our neighbour as our selves. Neighbours refers to everyone in this world, whether they are your family, friends, someone from a different religion, different part of the world or even your enemy. Love them truly. Bless your enemies, not curse them. Put God first, put others before yourself. Treat them as you would want to be treated. Loving our neighbours with a genuine love, from Jesus who lives within, is not to just do something for show. It is not always about giving money. It can be genuinely being there for someone, and caring for them. Praying for your brothers and sisters in Christ, praying for those in need. It's about spreading kindness, to spread the love of Jesus. Jesus is love. When they see you, make them wonder why you are different- it is because JESUS lives within you! Spread His love. It might be as simple as a smile and conversation to someone who looks down- change someones day- shine Christ! Spread how amazing Christ is and His love for us all! 

Why is this SO important as Christians?

This world is filled with hatred, bitterness, darkness and evil- day by day the world becomes that bit more wicked and corrupt. This world needs Jesus, to see His light, love and glory.  This world is blind to satan's traps and deception. Spreading the light is so important as we are in the last days. This is through spreading love, showing the world how amazing God's love is for us. Spreading kindness and love- having a gentle spirit. Not travelling in the direction of this world and its ways. Not holding a grudge and gossiping about someone who has done wrong across you. Not insulting others. Not promoting hatred. It's about spreading love into this dark world. We must go against the direction of the world. We are not here to fit in with the world- but to be different for we are set apart.

This love is not for show, it is not to boast. It is to be genuine, it is genuine from Christ. He gives us that pure love. God shows us daily what true love is- because He is love!

How will you make a difference and spread love?

All glory to the LORD.  Thank you for reading this post. Hope you have a blessed day! God Bless xx

https://youtu.be/srwvoKpHfL4

David & Goliath: What is strength?

DAVID AND GOLAITH:

 1 Samuel 17

GOLIATH: To the world, he is seen as strong- you physically wouldn’t want to ever face him let alone battle him. He has the height, strength and stance to make you want to run away. 1 SAMUEL 17:4-7

DAVID: A man of faith, he is actually STRONGER than the giant- this being only because of one reason- HE HAS GOD! God is his STRENGTH

In fact- He wins the battle with the 5 stones he had. His faith in the LORD was all he needed 1 SAMUEL 17: 37

Strength: This being something that the world see’s as muscles, toned and physically fit. But that’s actually incorrect. You can only be strong from one source- that is the LORD! This strength can go against ALL giants, ALL powers- EVERYTHING.

GIANTS: In life we face many giants, but how are we meant to keep up and defeat them? There’s only one answer to that- that is the LORD. He is how we fight our battles. He is the only way. Put your full armour of God on every single day- ask for your strength- God will give it! This strength comes from only HIM. Your giant may seem massive,. But to God that is minor- He is bigger than all your problems!

DAVID: Has his armour on but takes it off- He had not tested it nor could walk with it on. The world can offer you it’s ideal strength- physically it seems strong but it won’t let you even walk with strength, it’s non-existent. He was himself, BUT he had GOD- his strength came from God not the armour or sword. 1 SAMUEL 17:39

You can train your body all you want- but you won't be strong. You need to be in the Word, talking to Our Father, putting the whole armour of God on and being filled with the Holy Spirit. That is the only strength you need and that is the only way you can have true strength.

Our strength comes from the LORD- creator of the heavens and earth!

God Bless!