My prayer for us is that as we read her article and meditate on the Scriptures, we will truly begin to live daily in the fear of the Lord and yield our entire lives to God in obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Until next time…

Chizobam Idahosa

As I read through the Word of God, His Word teaches me to fear Him. It is amazing how many Scriptures talk about the fear of God. This inspired me to write about the fear of God and how the Scriptures teach us to fear Him, highlighting the benefits God bestows on those who do so.

What is the Fear of the Lord?

 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 ESV

 

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10 ESV

Proverbs 9:10 ESV and Proverbs 1:7 ESV tell us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.

The Hebrew word for fear in these verses is yirah, which means dread, fearfulness, terror, and reverence. (Source.)

These words describe how we ought to respond to God and His Word. We are to be in awe of God, manifesting our reverence for Him by our behavior and having a healthy fear of the consequences of disobeying God just like Noah did. When God warned Noah about God’s coming judgement, he responded in reverent fear and constructed an ark to save his family (Hebrews 11:7 ESV).

In Proverbs 1:7, the word “beginning” is the Hebrew word reshiyth, which means beginning, chief, first, choice part, and principal thing. (Source.)

Therefore, having a reverential fear of God and a dread of the consequences of disobeying Him is not only the beginning of wisdom but also the best and the principal part of knowledge. It is the very foundation of true knowledge and wisdom.

Who is Required to Fear God?

Psalm 33: 6-9, ESV tells us that every inhabitant of the earth ought to fear God because He brought creation into being by His Word. Moreover, we, His children, who have been bought by the blood of the Lamb, are commanded to fear Him. Consider these Scriptures;

“Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!” Psalm 34:9 ESV

 

“But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:13 ESV

 

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV

 

“Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him!” Psalm 33:8 ESV

 

 Fear God: Not Man

 In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul told Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and self control.

This, at first glance, seems to contradict the instruction to “fear” God. However, the “fear” talked about by Paul refers to timidity, fearfulness, and cowardice before people when preaching the gospel of Christ and living as a Christian (see 2 Timothy 1:7-8 ESV). Therefore, we are not to fear people or circumstances but God alone. Meditate on these Scriptures;

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6 ESV

 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 ESV

 

“Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31 ESV

 

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 ESV

Understanding the Fear of the Lord

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2: 1-5 ESV

Proverbs 2:1-5 teaches us that there is a way to handle the Word of God that will cause us to understand the fear of God. We are told to lay hold of the Word of God like we would a prized possession and then treasure it by hiding it in our hearts, seeking to know it, understand it, and apply the wisdom from the Word of God in every area of our lives. Only then will we understand the fear of the Lord because it is rooted in the knowledge of His Word and how we handle it.

Therefore, we cannot understand the fear of God if we have a casual or indifferent approach to the Word of God! If we handle the Word of God rightly in obedience to Proverbs 2:1-5, it will cause us to develop a reverential fear of God, and also, we will not disregard Scriptures that warn us about the consequences of disobedience.

The LORD is righteous (Psalm 11:7 ESV) and righteous in all His ways (Psalm 145:17 ESV). His ways are just and true (Revelation 15:3 ESV). He hates all who do evil (Psalm 5:5 ESV).

If we approach God’s Word with the intention of growing in our knowledge and understanding of Him, we will learn what pleases Him and will be empowered by His grace to live our lives to please Him while shunning everything that is evil in His sight.

This is what the fear of God looks like – God’s saints loving what He loves and detesting what He detests. Consider these Scriptures;

“By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil” Proverbs 16:6 ESV

 

“Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:7 ESV

 

 “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” Proverbs 8:13 ESV

How is the Fear of the Lord Expressed?

As we grow in the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God, we also begin to learn what pleases God and what is detestable to Him. As we pursue doing what pleases Him and make a practice of abstaining from what He hates, the fear of God begins to manifest in our conduct. The fear of God is expressed in our behavior when we believe the Word and respond in obedience to it.

Biblical Examples

Consider Noah. He expressed his fear of God through his response to God’s warning about the coming flood. He believed God and built the ark to save his household (Hebrews 11:7 ESV).

Consider David. In 1 Samuel 26:8-11, he had the opportunity to kill Saul while Saul was sleeping. Saul and his men had come after David in the wilderness with the intention to kill him, but David rejected the counsel of Abishai to kill Saul because he knew it was wrong to take the life of a king whom God had anointed. David showed he feared God when he chose not to take Saul’s life.

Consider Joseph. Day after day, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph to sleep with her. Despite the pressure she mounted on Joseph, he refused her because Joseph knew that not only was it wicked to sleep with his master’s wife after Potiphar had entrusted so much to his care, but also that it was a sin against God. Joseph’s fear of God was expressed in his refusal to sin against God (Genesis 39: 7-9 ESV).

Just like Noah, David, and Joseph, believers get to express their fear of God every day. For example, when in obedience to Colossians 3:9, we tell the truth, forgive one another in response to Ephesians 4:32, or abstain from sexual immorality in obedience to 1 Thessalonians 4:3, we show that we fear God. We manifest our fear of God every time we choose to turn away from evil and do what pleases Him.

Meditate on these Scriptures,

“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:7 ESV

 

“and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil’’ Proverbs 16:6b ESV

 

“And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,” 1 Peter 1:17 ESV

Fear of God Brings Great Gain

There is great gain in pursuing the fear of God and turning away from evil. Many Scriptures highlight the benefits of fearing God. God blesses those who fear Him in various ways. He grants their desires, protects them, and crowns them with long life. His steadfast love remains on them. He is a friend to those who fear Him. He is their help and their shield. The benefits are numerous. Here are just a few to meditate on:

“He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them” Psalm 145:19 NLT

 

“ The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life” Proverbs 22:4 ESV

 

“ In the reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge’’ Proverbs 14:26 AMPC

 

“But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children,’’ Psalm 103:17 ESV

 

“The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.’’ Proverbs 19: 23 ESV

 

“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.” Psalm 25:14 ESV

 

“ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7 ESV

 

“ The fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27  NLT

 

“ The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.” Proverbs 10:27  ESV

 

 In Conclusion

Scripture clearly teaches us that to fear the LORD is to depart from evil. God requires this of us just as He required it of His people before Christ came to the earth to establish a new covenant (Psalm 34:9 ESV, Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ESV).

1 Peter 2:17 tells us to fear God. Acts 9:31 tells us that the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria increased and multiplied as they walked in the fear of the LORD and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. They left us an example; we are to follow in their steps! We learn the fear of the Lord by reading, meditating, understanding, and obeying the Word (Deuteronomy 17:19 AMPC).

God takes pleasure in those who fear Him (Psalm 147:11 ESV). Therefore, we must pursue the fear of the Lord every day (Proverbs 23:17 ESV). This is possible because under the new covenant, the LORD has given us a new heart and spirit and has placed His Holy Spirit within us, thus empowering us to obey Him! (Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV)

“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you to fear the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil to cut off the memory of them from the earth.” Psalm 34:11-16 ESV

Footnotes

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How To Receive and Enjoy God’s Rest

As a busy mother of two and a physician, I have experienced profoundly busy seasons in my life when my plate was full of tasks and obligations. Busy led to chronic sleep deprivation, fatigue, and eventually burnout. As I picked up the pieces, reset my priorities, and learned how to prioritize REST, I realized how sleep impacted our health and wellness journey. As I prioritized REST, I learned how to stop struggling and start trusting.

My coaching and consulting practice has revolved around this message, helping busy moms and their children rediscover rest. I hope you will be blessed and helped as I share what God has placed in my heart about embracing and fully entering His rest.

What is Rest?

Miriam Webster defines rest as freedom from activity or labor OR a state of motionlessness or inactivity.

God, the creator of rest, has called us to follow His example. The Bible tells us that God rested on the seventh day after His work of creation. He worked on the details of creating the earth and rested after His hard work.

 “On the seventh day, God finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.” Genesis 2:2-3 NLT

What Happens When We Rest?

1. Energy is renewed and restored.

Jesus is our role model for rest. Although His earthly ministry was tasking, He took time and encouraged His disciples to rest. In Mark 6:31, we see that the day had been so busy that neither He nor His disciples had even gotten a bite to eat.

 “Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” Mark 6:31 NLT

Jesus recognized their need for both rest and food. There were probably still crowds of people who needed healing. He still had messages to preach and lives to touch. However, He also realized that adequate rest was an important part of His mission as He went about His Father’s business.  He encouraged the disciples to follow His example and get some much-needed quiet time. When we rest and replenish, we have the renewed energy to follow our calling without burnout.

2. We build a reserve for the journey ahead.

Elijah ran from Queen Jezebel. He was at a shallow point in his life. He was afraid, burnt out, and depressed, and he likely fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

“Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around, and beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 1 Kings 19:5-7 NLT

During this time, the angel ministered to him, and he was able to renew his strength. We sometimes need to build on reserving energy for the journey ahead. You may anticipate a stressful season of life, travel, or other significant life changes. You must make rest a priority during this time.

3. We get out of our way and let God get to work.

Sometimes, our inability to rest comes from the fact that we are overburdened with the cares of this world. We are constantly worrying instead of trusting. As a result, we stay in fight/flight mode, which makes it hard to focus on what God is teaching us. When we rest or cease from our endless activities, we let go and let God.

 “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.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

4. We enjoy God’s special gift to us.

Rest is a gift from God. Many times, we see rest as a luxury and not His promise. He calls us to come boldly to His presence and receive the rest we need.

“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” Hebrews 4:16 AMPC

We are not coming to seek help from a mere human. We receive help from the God of the universe. When we come into His presence, we can embrace His grace. This grace shows up when we need it most. Imagine fully relying on His mercy and grace for areas where you have failed and fallen short. Being able to rely on Him rather than your limited ability. Full trust in Him allows us to rest. We can go to bed knowing He takes care of things on our behalf.

If our Father doesn’t sleep or slumber, we can be reassured that He will take care of things while we do.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat, for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalms 127:2 NLT

How To Receive and Enjoy God’s Rest

God gives rest, but it takes faith to receive it. It takes us embracing this beautiful gift rather than feeling like we must work for it. How do we enjoy God’s rest on every side?

1. We follow His example by responding to His invitation.

We can learn from the source of rest Himself. Jesus saw that His mission on earth was so critical, yet He still needed to set time apart for rest. He welcomes us to do the same. We may feel like the world will stop moving when we rest, but it turns out life goes on!

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways, and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, and easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” Matthew 11:28-30 TPT

2: Engage in prayer.

Prayer is communicating with God. Just like Jesus found rest in an intimate relationship with the Father, learn to cast your cares and commit your worries into His hands, knowing He will take care of you.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.“ Hebrews 4:16 NLT

3: Receive God’s Rest Through His Word.

We don’t just go into the Word religiously. We approach His Word to learn His will, to draw closer and hear from Him. His Word has authority over our circumstances. When you approach the Word, pray for a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and that you will encounter the presence of the Holy Spirit.

 “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45 NLT

4. Walk in gratitude.

Gratitude takes the focus off your circumstances and worries and helps you focus on God’s faithfulness.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good, and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

5. Be intentional About Entering God’s Rest.

The devil will always try to steal your rest. It is up to us to be alert and aware of these peace stealers. Avoid negative company, and limit exposure to social media, news, and other content that can deprive you of peace.

Author and Pastor Mark Buchanan said, “The rest of God is not a reward for finishing. It’s not a bonus for work well done.” When we embrace rest, we realize that it’s not about getting more done but more about getting the right things done.

Remember, without God, no rest can be enjoyed. He is the source of everything that restores and replenishes. He gives us rest that lasts. We can fully trust in Him when we embrace His rest.

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:11 NIV

Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown is a sleep medicine physician passionate about helping people discover the gift of sleep as a superpower. 

Dr. Brown is a speaker, coach, educator, writer, and the founder of RestfulSleepMD. She helps busy women and their children prioritize sleep to achieve optimal health, thrive, and live to their fullest potential. 

Dr. Brown is also passionate about empowering women through her gift of encouragement. She is a frequent speaker nationally and internationally.

Connect with Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown: RestfulSleepMD | YouTube | Instagram 

Footnotes

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© How To Receive and Enjoy God’s Rest. All Rights Reserved.

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Four Prayers for Following the Peace of God

As a dentist specialized in oral medicine and orofacial pain, I spent an inordinate length of time in graduate school and multiple residency programs. My husband and I had three daughters at various stages of my training. When that season finally ended, I joyfully accepted a position as a faculty member at a dental school. My goal was to establish a robust clinical, teaching, and research career.

Four years later, I started sensing in my spirit that God was directing me to reduce my work schedule from full-time to part-time. On the surface, I wanted to keep my full-time job because of the financial benefits, job security, and career opportunities. However, deep down, I desired a position that would allow me the flexibility to take care of my children and home. So, I prayed to God for direction.

As I prayed and reflected on which path to take, God made it crystal clear to quit my full-time job. Different verses from the Word and multiple sermons preached by several pastors seemed like loud buzzers resounding in my spirit to confirm what I had already heard from God.

God’s peace permeated my spirit. The problem was that my mind was not entirely at peace. My spirit was united with God in peace, but my mind was calculating my perceived loss of career status and financial stability.

Following the Peace of God

In obedience to God, I requested and was granted a part-time position. I decided to trust God and follow His peace.

Hearing God’s voice accurately is crucial to our success. But how can we be sure that it really was God’s voice we heard? Two important ways to confirm whether we have heard from God is to ensure that what we heard aligns with God’s Word. God will never ask us to do anything that goes against His Word.

A second confirmation is to check if the peace of God is present in our hearts. God’s voice always produces peace. Like an umpire who officiates a sports game, God’s peace acts like a signal that guides us to make the right decisions.

Colossians 3:15 reminds us to yield to the peace that comes from Christ. As we follow God’s peace, it will supersede our understanding, calculations, and perception of our situation, bringing peace and rest to our minds.

“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds,” Colossians 3:15a AMPC

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NIV

God followed through and captured my heart with four verses and prayers for peace from His Word, which ultimately became my testimony as my mind found rest in Him.

Four Prayers for Following God’s Peace

Prayer Number 1

“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

As I placed my trust in God, He filled me with His joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit. I quit striving over my career and stopped allowing it to drive my self-worth and identity.

Prayer Number 2

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV

God reminded me that peace comes from Him, and He is always with me. I could trust Him with every situation and every challenge, knowing He would grant me peace and rest.

Prayer Number 3

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT

As I prayed to God and stayed in His presence, His peace permeated my whole being – spirit, soul, and body. My mind rested and trusted His provision and faithfulness regarding my new job status.

Prayer Number 4

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV

I rested in the truth that the God of peace is my great Shepherd; therefore, “I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 NKJV). I put my trust in Him, knowing that since He directed me to shift my career from full-time to part-time, He must know what He is doing. He was working in me and transforming me to conform to His will and please Him.

He sees and knows my children and husband’s spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.  So, He called me home to attend to my tribe. To make myself available for my husband and train my children to know Him and live for Him.

It has been almost four years since I switched to a part-time schedule, and I have seen the benefits of my career shift. It is an honor to serve God, and I trust Him to continue equipping me to faithfully obey His will through Jesus Christ. Amen!

Related Articles:

• Peace with God through the Cross
• 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 1
• 7 Biblical Principles for Choosing Peace in Troubled Times: Part 2

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Four Prayers for Following the Peace of God. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

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Developing a Heart of Gratitude

As a little girl growing up in church, we regularly recited Psalms 23 and 100 during worship. The church atmosphere was always filled with exuberant joy as the organist played. You could hear the rattles of the tambourines as we opened our mouths, declaring the goodness of the LORD. It was a time of thanksgiving and praising God for who He is and for all He has done.

Psalm 23, written by the shepherd boy, David, who later became king, was etched in my mind and made its way to my heart to change my life. All I knew at the age of ten was that God was the Good Shepherd, who loves me, and would take good care of me. Learning, understanding, and reciting these Psalms would help create a heart of gratitude in me.

What is Gratitude?

If you look up the definition of gratitude, you will find various meanings: focusing on what’s good in one’s life, being thankful for the things one has, or the state of being grateful or thankful.

In the Strong’s Greek Lexicon, eucharistia means thankfulness, giving of thanks.

In the United States, as we approach the holiday season, people often want to focus on being thankful for thirty days. I have never understood the significance of thirty days; what happens during the other 335 days? If we are breathing, shouldn’t we always be thanking God?

In this life, in addition to good days, we will all experience hardship, suffer loss, and spend some time walking through the “valley of the shadow of death.” Still, God’s Word reminds us that we should give thanks in all circumstances, but not necessarily for the adverse circumstances themselves (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Because we live in a world that does not honor God, life will not always be easy. But we can still thank God because He holds all things together for our good. The Psalmist assures us that even amid a storm or a fiery circumstance, we will experience God’s constant goodness (Psalm 23:6a).

Personal Testimonies

Each day, I choose to honor God by being thankful for not just the big things but even the smallest occurrences in life. As I sit here writing, I am thankful for my college-aged sons who willingly share what’s going on in their hearts, whether good, bad, or indifferent, which is rare these days. But you should also know that I am actively choosing to be thankful that I have a heavenly Father who sees and knows all things, as I currently have a family member battling a very challenging situation that, if not fixed, will affect many family members. Still, through this, I remember that “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38).

My joy and faith rest in knowing God is working something out in their lives. My faith also leads me to read about the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 and how they endured battles but continued to honor God by trusting in Him.  And, if I’m going to trust Him, I may as well get busy thanking and praising Him for their breakthrough.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6 ESV

A Heart of Gratitude: Reflecting on the Life of David

When I think of a person in the Bible who was full of gratitude, I think of David, King of Israel. A flawed king who made some selfish, terrible decisions, but one who loved the LORD. David didn’t doubt God’s love and faithfulness; because of that, his heart was full of thanksgiving.

David knew to seek God’s guidance. He trusted and gave God glory through difficult times. He did not place thanksgiving on the back burner. It has been said that out of the 150 Psalms, David penned at least 73, if not more.

What is a Psalm?

 A psalm is a sacred song or poem used in worship to praise God and express the depths of one’s heart. David expressed gratitude towards God in good and bad times and even in times of correction. God called David “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Wow, beautiful words that I’m sure we all want God to say about us.

David trusted God to work out His will and His way, which God expects of us as well. When we are after God’s heart, we are able to offer heaps of praise to God because we are focused on Him and not our circumstances. As I stated earlier, this enables us to give thanks in all things.

So, how about you? Are you thankful and trusting God in all things? Remember, if you allow your problem to overshadow God’s truth, you will have difficulty embracing gratitude. Let’s be like David and believe God.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, thank You for being my Jehovah-Rohi, my personal Good Shepherd. Because of who You are, I have everything I’ll ever need. You have made it clear that in You, I can calmly rest. Thank you for being responsible for me and tending to my every physical and spiritual need.

Thank You that it gives You pleasure to lead me through life’s journey. If I should travel through a shadowy valley, Your Word reminds me that I don’t have to fear because You are with me. Your rod will beat anything that wants to attack me, and Your staff will guide me and pull me away from harm.

Though the enemy of my soul may surround me, You prepare a bountiful table for me in their presence, meeting my physical and emotional needs. Thank you that You anoint my head with oil whenever I need healing, You take away all pain, You are my Source, and because of You, my cup never runs dry.

 I am thankful that You cover my every need, including my eternal need, by reminding me that I will dwell with You in Your house FOREVER. Thank You, Lord, for rescuing me in Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is my prayer of gratitude, based on Psalm 23. I invite you to write out your own prayer of gratitude and ask God to create a heart of gratitude in you.

About Michele

Michele Featherson is a lover of Jesus Christ, wife to her best friend of 29 years, and mother to two amazing, God-fearing sons. One of her greatest desires is to change the lives of people, both young and old, through sharing God’s Word. She enjoys breaking Biblical principles down so others can understand and apply them to their lives. Michele is the creator of Michminutes, an Instagram page that offers a daily word of inspiration.  She believes that although our lives may be busy, we are never too busy to talk with the Triune God.

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted, without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa unless otherwise indicated.

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3 Biblical Ways to Choose Joy Every Day

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 NKJV

 

Have you ever had a day, maybe even a week or two, when you couldn’t quite pinpoint what was happening within you? When it felt like something was trying to snatch your joy?

Every day you wake up, pray, and experience good, quality time with the Lord. You’re filled with praise and worship for the Lord. You hear the Holy Spirit speaking into your day, and once He has poured into you, you begin the busyness of the day… only to be hit with the state of blahs.

Well, my friend, you are not alone.

The good news is that God has given us the power to overcome these blahs. So join me as we study three biblical ways to choose joy every single day.

1. Choose Joy By Identifying Your Blahs and Resisting the Devil

Those blahs may take the form of boredom, depression, dissatisfaction, indifference, or just plain tiredness.

We have an enemy of our soul, who has studied everything about us, and his job is to interrupt and disrupt our lives. He wants to stop us from enjoying our journey with Jesus. He desires to cause a disturbance, whether big or small. The devil uses tactics such as dropping all kinds of slanderous thoughts into our minds. He hits us with the day’s “what ifs.” He may highlight some concerns we have or shoot a fiery dart at us when we least expect it.

Satan is a liar, and he works to divert and distort God’s truth. He hopes to get us to turn our attention away from God and doubt Him. For this reason, we need to put on the armor of God daily.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10 NKJV

If the enemy cannot have our souls, he attempts to steal our joy. Imagine a sour, grumpy, miserable Christian… not attractive, right? And definitely not an effective footman for the Lord. Jesus has given us eternal life, and while we are here on Earth, we should be experiencing life in abundance – a life marked with joy, which is the opposite of being in a state of blahs.

We resist the devil by not allowing our thoughts to dwell on “what ifs” and doubts. If we don’t resist, we open a door that gives Satan more access to deceive and rob us of our joy. We negate our faith in God’s promises by entertaining the enemy’s lies and acting on wrong thoughts, which is the sin of unbelief. And sin has consequences. When we habitually do this, we forfeit our peace and joy (1 Peter 5:8-9).

2. Pray Continually and Abide in God’s Word

Walking in joy requires us to consistently call on the Lord in good times and during struggles. We are to open our mouths and let the Spirit fill them with His truths.

“Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:2 NKJV

Every morning in prayer, we should put on the armor of God by faith, knowing that when we pray, Heaven is on our side. Paul instructed the Thessalonians to rejoice always and pray continually, and this directive also applies to us (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).

It can be hard to rejoice if we are unaware of God’s promises. Paul tells us that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Reading, reflecting, and applying God’s written word to our daily lives gives us the assurance that we can take Him at His word. God is always working things out on our behalf (Romans 8:28).

So, who are you listening to? What are you focusing on? If your focus isn’t on God’s absolute truths, then your joy is susceptible to being hijacked.

3. Choose Joy By Trusting Jesus: Our Savior and Sure Foundation

The psalmist wrote that we are to rejoice and be glad every day that Jesus has given us (Psalm 118:24). This is not a request but a directive. Therefore, we are to consistently choose joy regardless of what we face or feel.

We choose joy because our Savior is the chief cornerstone and our foundation (Ephesians 2:19-20). Jesus has stabilized our footing because of His finished work on the cross. Now, I’m not saying we can’t cry in sadness or be disappointed when things go awry. I’m saying that if our hope is anchored in Christ, the Sure Foundation, we can trust Him with our heart, our pain, and with life’s hardships and disappointments.

“… the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

The Triune God has given us His joy and His peace, and it ISN’T circumstantial. It isn’t fleeting, and it is ours forever. Ahh, joy is offered in place of sorrow. God makes all the difference in the world.

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”   Romans 5:2 NLT

Faith grants us access to God’s grace which equips and enables us to stand firm against woes and wiles so we can walk in the fullness of joy.

Remember, joy flows from knowing who you are in Christ!

Now join me in the book of Genesis to study the life of Joseph and reflect on how he chose joy amidst tremendous adversity.

Joseph: A Story About Choosing Joy

Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, grandson to Isaac, and great-grandson to Abraham, was adored by his father. He spent most of his time with his father while his brothers were out in the field. The brothers hated Joseph and were jealous because of the love and admiration shown to him by their father.

Joseph was also dearly loved by God. So much so that God gave him two dreams showing him that he would rule over his family in the future. His brothers were so enraged that they plotted to kill him but ended up selling Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37).

Joseph ended up in Potiphar’s house and became successful as an overseer of his house. But his success was halted when Potiphar’s wife lied against him. Joseph was imprisoned and spent many years there (Genesis 39). As if that was not enough, Joseph was forgotten in prison for an additional two years after Pharoah’s butler (whose dream he favorably interpreted) forgot to help him out of jail (Genesis 41:1).

But the Lord was with Joseph

Joseph could have been overwhelmed by his circumstances but he never complained because he knew and trusted God. God gave Joseph favor with the chief jailer and prospered him (Genesis 39:23).

Joseph experienced God’s hand at work in his life. God enabled him to accurately interpret Pharoah’s dreams and gain his respect and admiration. Pharaoh made Joseph second in command and gave him great authority over the entire land. Joseph governed Egypt with God’s wisdom and was eventually reunited with his brothers during a period of great famine. He chose to love and forgive his brothers instead of retaliating against them (Genesis 41-45).

“Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”  Genesis 50:19-20 NKJV

Joseph maintained his joy through all his challenges! Friend, choose to walk in joy every day… it’s a choice.

Be Blessed,

M. Featherson

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Walking in Forgiveness: Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Forgiveness may often feel like an enormous challenge. Thankfully, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you do not travel the path of “forgiving” alone.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised that He would send us a Helper – the Holy Spirit, who is our Advocate, Comforter, and Helper (John 14:16; 16:7 ESV). The Holy Spirit enables and helps us do whatever God has commanded us to do, including forgiving others and ourselves.

Forgiveness Has No Limit

Jesus not only offers forgiveness to us, His children but also to those who are lost (1 John 1:9; Acts 2:38-39; Ephesians 1:7). He taught the subject of forgiveness on multiple occasions and even included it in the prayer He modeled for His disciples, known commonly as the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:12 NKJV). When Peter asked Jesus how often we should forgive those who offend us, Jesus’ response was seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV).

Jesus wasn’t saying 490 times is the limit. He was making it clear that forgiving others has no limit. The number seven and seventy in the Bible represents perfection, completion, and wholeness. In other words, Jesus wants us to forgive others completely. And, as I indicated earlier, God has equipped us to do so by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

How To Walk In Forgiveness

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”  Ephesians 3:14-17 NKJV

Walking in Forgiveness by Yielding to the Holy Spirit

Walking in forgiveness requires us to be totally yielded to the Spirit. Each day we wake up, we need to spend time with God before involving ourselves with matters of the day. During this time, we pray, read the Word, and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as God begins to pour out the provision we need for the day. Then, when we need to forgive, we can lean on Him to empower us, to have a heart that is willing to do so.

In our strength, walking in forgiveness can be a daunting task because, really, who wants to forgive someone that has hurt them! Thankfully, God has equipped us with the ability to forgive.

Walking in Forgiveness by Obeying God’s Word

Praying, personalizing Scriptures aloud, meditating on God’s Word, and applying what you read and hear from the Holy Spirit to your life will shift your perspective and bring healing and deliverance to whatever situation you are in.

If you need healing, deliverance, freedom, and or extending forgiveness, let God’s Word perform the necessary work in you. Just be surrendered and implement these practical steps.

 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV

Offering forgiveness isn’t about saying you weren’t wronged or harmed in any way. It’s about obeying God’s Word, choosing not to hold a grievance against the offender, and walking in freedom.

Extending mercy to the person that has wronged you is the same way our Father gives grace and mercy to us. In Lamentations 3:22-23, Jeremiah reminds us of God’s mercy, compassion, and faithfulness to us.

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV

Putting On Christ…Dying To Self

As believers, we are exhorted to clothe ourselves in righteousness. But what does that look like? It looks like choosing to obey and apply God’s precepts to your mind, speech, and deeds: it’s looking and acting like Jesus.

 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV

Conclusion

A great story on love and forgiveness is found in Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the Lost Son often called the Prodigal Son.

It’s a story of a father and two sons. The younger one wanted his inheritance immediately, so he could leave and enjoy life without his father’s restrictions. He received his portion and squandered it away, leaving him stuck, desperate, broke, and starving.

Because of his poor choices, he took a job feeding swine to sustain himself — the young man sunk so low because of his disobedience that he had no food to eat. He even longed to eat from the pods the pigs ate, but no one offered him anything. Then one day, he came to his senses and realized he should never have left home. Even the hired servants of his father lived better than he did. So, he decided to return to his father, confess his sin and ask for forgiveness.

His father saw him from afar and, with compassion, ran to him and kissed him. What a welcome home! He confessed his sin and professed that he was not worthy of being called his son. “Make me a servant,” he asked, but the father restored him by placing a robe, ring, and shoes on him and celebrating his return with a feast.

This is a story of reconciliation and restoration, from an earthly father to his son, and it’s also every believer’s story of salvation and restoration from our Heavenly Father to us.

Be Blessed,

M. Featherson

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2 Kings 17 gives the account of the downfall of Israel under King Hoshea’s leadership. The King of Assyria captured Israel and deported the Israelites to Assyria.

“All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. ” 2 Kings 17:7-8 NIV

I spent a while reflecting on the downfall of the Israelites. God made a covenant with Abraham, their father, promising prosperity and protection to him and his descendants if they would honor Him (Genesis 15:18-21; 17:1-8).

“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,” Genesis 22:17 NIV.

Honor Him they did not! They made Asherah poles, erected forbidden altars, sacrificed their children, and worshipped idols. So, after generations of warnings through the prophets, God handed them over to suffer the consequences of their betrayal to Him.

So, how does their story relate to us?

How To Recognize Idols in Our Lives

After reflecting and soul searching, I asked myself the following question. Do I have Asherah poles or idols in my life? Anything that God has warned me repeatedly to get rid of, but I hold onto because obviously I do not trust Him in those situations, or I do not revere His authority.

As professing Christians, it is unlikely that anyone reading this article bows down to carved or sculpted statues or images. But that does not mean that we are exempt from the temptation or sin of idolatry. So, what is an idol, and how can we recognize idolatry in our modern culture?

An idol is anything we value above God. ANYTHING that takes the place of God in our hearts and draws our attention away from Him (1 John 5:21 NLT).

Examples of Modern-Day Idols

Maybe we are drawn to emotional hang-ups that God has repeatedly warned us to quit. Perhaps, we keep intentionally toying with pride, anger, resentment, self-pity, jealousy, or whatever.

How about greed? When we chase after money or professional advancement when God has made it clear that the way we are going about it is against His will?

“You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We can get hung up on anything and make an idol of it:

• career
• fashion
• houses and possessions
• entertainment
• relationships
• social media/online presence
• mobile phones
• ideologies/philosophies
• OURSELVES – our identities, personality types, weight, facial features, etc.

The ultimate idolatry is when someone believes that they do not need God in their life. They either believe there is no eternity or they plan on getting there on their own merit. God has no place at all in their hearts and lives.

Red Flags for discerning idols

It is not that everything listed above is inherently sinful. However, when we as Christians ascribe unnecessary value to them and derive our worth and identity from them, that’s a red flag that we are making idols out of them.

If we allow these things to distract us from serving God and abiding in His presence, they will lead us away from the narrow path that leads to life. When these things begin to consume our thoughts, drive our emotions, and dictate our actions, that’s a red flag.

If we are willing to sin by compromising God’s holy standard in an attempt to hold onto something, perhaps we are caught up in emulating and mimicking the lifestyle of the world. That’s a definite red flag that we are clinging to an idol.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17

If we close our ears to the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17) and choose the strange ideologies of today, we are serving a modern-day idol.

Eliminating Idols

Eliminate Idols By Repenting

If God reveals an idol to us, our immediate response should be repentance. When we choose to co-habit with idols, we stunt our spiritual growth, hamper our witness to others and open the door to the devil to wreak havoc in our lives.

Then, we can expect God to “discipline us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10 NIV).

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 NIV

Eliminate Idols By Loving God

We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). And loving God means obeying Him  (1 John 5:3).

When we are intentional about loving God with all our hearts by obeying His Word, the temptation of idolatry loses its grip on us. Nothing can take the place of God in hearts that are fully sold out to Him.

^“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NIV

Jesus Himself echoed these same words as the first and greatest commandment. (See Matthew 22:37-38; Mark12:30).

Eliminate Idols By Giving the Word First Place

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17

Truth is not relative. Truth is the Word of God, and truth is Jesus Christ (John 1:1). Therefore, let us consistently fortify our hearts with truth from the Word of God. Refuse to buy into the ideologies of modern culture that go contrary to the Word of God, and surrender completely to God’s will and purpose for your life.

Eliminate Idols By Deriving Your Identity From Christ Alone

As Christians, our identity should never be based on anything or anyone else other than Jesus Christ. If you realize that you have traded Jesus, the source of your joy, peace, security, and contentment for anything

or anyone, then it is time to tear down those idols. Find out who Jesus is and discover who you are in Him from innumerable Scriptures in the Word.

“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 by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”  1 John 5:20-21 NIV

“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21 NLT

Conclusion

The Israelites defied God by persisting in idol worship despite His warnings. They disobeyed God instead of honoring Him and loving Him with their whole hearts. They did not give the Word first place in their lives, and they were more concerned with fitting in with the customs of their ungodly neighbors than following God’s holy standards. It did not go well with them.

I invite you to do some soul searching. Ask yourself and ask God if you have any idols in your life. If you do, repent, and get rid of them. Then resolve to put your faith and trust fully in your Father who has promised that He will go before you, be with you, never leave you, nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8).

My prayer for us is that God will reveal any idols in our lives and help us destroy and eliminate them through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

P.S. God did expose an idol that had sneaked into my heart. I am grateful that He revealed it to me and thankful that He forgave and gave me the wisdom and power to tear it down, eliminate it from my life, and continue to grow in His grace.

Except indicated, all Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV).

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© 2021. How to Recognize and Eliminate Idols from our Lives. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

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Offering the Gift of Forgiveness to Others

I couldn’t sleep, so I lay down, tossing and turning. I was anxious and worried sick over an out-of-control situation that I had tried so hard to avoid. Multiple scenarios played through my mind. What if I had done this or that? Would the outcome have been different?

I prayed for deliverance from worry as the Holy Spirit tugged at my heart to offer the gift of forgiveness. Then, I realized that the redemption I was praying for was rooted in my willingness to forgive.

When someone hurts us, we may want to get away from the person or situation as fast as possible. But things are not always as easy as we desire.

The Lord revealed to me that my desire to avoid this specific situation was rooted in my unforgiveness, and I prayed for His forgiveness. Not just for my heart but also for the one who may bear a grudge against me.

I have experienced God answering my prayers in dynamic ways. We open the door to miracles when we pray for the hearts of those who offend us to be touched by the Lord.

As I prayed, I felt God’s peace wash over me.

Offering the Gift of Forgiveness:

Taming our Tongues and Guarding our Hearts

Our world is filled with hate, intolerance, and impatience. People are in an awful hurry to close doors and burn bridges with little consideration of how their choices affect others. But it is vital to remember that life is too short to hang on to grudges. We can’t run from every confronting situation. Offenses can come at the slightest provocation. Even very close friends and family members may say hurtful words – intentionally or not.

As Colossians 4:6 states, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

James 3: 2 tells us that “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” (Read James 3:2-14 for more insight.)

The content of our hearts determine the outcome of our lives. You see, bitterness, strife, envy, anger, unforgiveness begin in the heart. The same goes for love, kindness, forgiveness (Ephesians 4:22-32; James 3:14-18). Unless we learn to tame our tongues and guard our hearts by renewing our minds with the Word, we will fall into the trap of giving offense to others.

Offering the Gift of Forgiveness through Prayer

Instead of praying for challenging people to get away from our lives, let’s pray for their hearts to be touched by the truth of God’s Word.

The purpose of the offense we experience may be for us to

• learn the gift of forgiveness
• nurture a heart of patience
• learn the practice of praying for difficult people, and
• receive joy from winning over difficult people.

The Power of Forgiveness

As I soaked in the blessings from my prayer today, I reflected on the power of forgiveness over toxic thoughts, anger, and bitterness.

Forgiveness begins here, dear friend. It starts with a choice for life, peace, and to live like Christ. It begins with speaking the truth to our hearts and others. Forgiveness doesn’t deny the hurt or offense. It pursues peace with the right attitude and pure intentions.

Forgiving may not change their attitudes, or at least not right away but forgiving changes us in a good way.

Forgiveness is a life-giving virtue. It is what Christ did for us on the cross. The pardon we received earned us a place with Him. None of us were deserving, which makes it so much easier to see how God modeled forgiveness.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

Our forgiveness is life-giving for us and others. Not because those who offend us deserve the pardon or even acknowledge the forgiveness.

Forgiveness starts right here in your heart.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to tame my tongue. Purge me of vain thoughts. Give me a heart of compassion and patience towards others. Let me have a healthy response time to adverse situations. Pull me away from unnecessary conversations. Plant the truth of your Word in my heart, and help me offer Your gift of forgiveness to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Dr. Ifeoma Samuel is your down-to-earth Bible Study writer and speaker who is passionate about teaching and helping women find true joy in everyday life.  Dr. Samuel enjoys encouraging women to go deeper in search of God’s truth for their lives. Through many conferences, books, videos, and articles scattered all over the web, she shares her stories of inspiration and faith. You can find her Bible Study and devotional books for women and resources for children on her blog PurposefulandMeaningful.com.

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Raison d’être is a French phrase, which, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is defined as “the thing that is most important to someone or something: the reason for which a person or organization exists.”

I stumbled upon this phrase many years ago, and it immediately struck the core of my being. I asked myself the same questions I’m asking you now: “Are you personally aware of the reason for your existence?” If so, “Are you fulfilling the ultimate purpose of your life?”

We will tackle these two questions in this post, starting with the first one.

The Reason for your Existence

The Scriptures make it clear that God’s glory is the ultimate purpose of our existence.  To give God glory is to give Him honor and praise. God created us, and we live to bring glory to Him. Everything else in life is secondary and pales in comparison to the central goal of bringing honor and praise to God with our lives.

Whatsoever you do, NEVER lose sight of the fact that God is the essence of who you are, and without Him, you are nothing!

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory. Isaiah 43:7

In order that we, who were first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:12

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands. Psalm19:1

If the whole creation declares the glory of God, how much more then should we who He created in His image and likeness bring glory to God (Genesis 1:27)?

Fulfilling your Purpose

Now that you know why God created you, how can you fulfill your purpose?

First and foremost, if you are not born-again, you need to yield your life to God by repenting and accepting Jesus Christ as LORD. Declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). To all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, he gives the right to become children of God (John 1:12). If you are not a partaker of the kingdom of God, you cannot bring glory to God.

To know God and make Him known

You were created to know God and to make Him known, for your heart to be on fire for Him so that you can set the world around you on fire for Him.

You bring glory to God by spending time fellowshipping with Him in prayer and the Word, by obeying His commands, and by being a faithful ambassador of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The more time you spend with God, the more you get to know Him. Then, you can be an effective minister of the gospel.

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV)

To praise and worship God

You exist to praise and worship God. You bring glory to God when you praise Him. His praise should continually be on your lips, irrespective of your circumstances. He chose you and called you to declare His praises.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Whoever offers praise glorifies me. Psalm 50:23 (NKJV)

To walk in the fruit of the Spirit

You exist to walk in the fruit of the Spirit so that you may attract your world into the kingdom of God. Your life should so reflect Him that you act as a magnet drawing people to Him. This brings glory to God.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8

You were created for Him to be the essence of who you are so that He becomes the essence of everything you do. Everything about you should point to God and glorify Him. The way you think, talk, treat people, act at work or school, dress up, eat, etc etc. Every detail of your life should be for the glory of God.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Conclusion

To conclude, I’ll go back to the two questions;

“Are you personally aware of the reason for your existence?” If so, “Are you fulfilling the ultimate purpose of your life?”

Reflect on these questions and determine to bring glory to God through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives and dwells in you.

Your life is an open book to the world; live it to the glory of God.

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Except where indicated, Scriptures are taken from the NIV.

© 2021. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus.

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV

What command DOES THIS Scripture GIVE US?

• To choose joy

When are we instructed to choose joy?

• When we face all kinds of trials

What happens to us in the midst of trials?

• Our faith will be tested

Why are we commanded to choose joy?

• Because there’s something to gain.

What do we gain by choosing joy?

• We become stronger, more mature and equipped to overcome obstacles so that we can accomplish the work assigned to us by God.

So, what do we learn from this verse?

Trials will definitely come, but we can choose joy by changing our perspective and walking by faith.

Since we know that our faith will be tested in the midst of trials, we must determine to build our faith by abiding in the Word of God. God has given each of us His faith. Therefore, we can grow and develop the faith we have by meditating on the Word, believing it, and obeying it.

When we fill ourselves with the truth of the Word, our spirits become energized and strengthened. We are then able to withstand the winds and waves of trials. By placing our faith in God, we can then shift our perspective during trials because we know that God will be with us through it all.

Instead of getting beat up and frustrated, we look forward to how God will use the situation to build and equip us for His service. We look forward to being used by God and comforting others with the same comfort we received from Him. Then, the joy of the Lord becomes our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

ACTION POINT

When trials come our way (and they will), we will choose joy through the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us!

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