There are four benefits of being honest about our errors, our feelings, our faults, and our fears.

• Emotional Healing

The Bible says in James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” There is a difference between forgiveness and emotional healing. If you need forgiveness for something in your life, all you need to do is confess it to God. Emotional healing comes from telling God and somebody else.

• A Fresh Start

Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” One of the most helpful things you can do in your inner circle of family and friends is to help them forgive themselves. A lot of individuals need somebody to say, “If you have admitted it to God, then you are forgiven. Now, it is time for you to let it go.”

• God’s Power to Change

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10). How does this work? The Bible says that God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. God’s grace is the power to change. When you get God’s grace, you can change the things you have always wanted to change in your life. But it only comes through humility, and humility comes through honesty.

• Deeper Fellowship

The Bible says in 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” We think that if we are open about our fears, hang-ups, imperfections, and secret faults, people are going to think less of us. The opposite is true! Actually the more honest you are, the more people like you and want to be around you.

Some of the best lessons I have learned were from my failures and letdowns. Please understand that the mistakes of your past is your wisdom for the future. God wants to turn your hurt into healing. Then He wants to use you in the lives of other people. He is just waiting for you to surrender.

Is it sometimes harder to admit your mistakes to people within God’s family? Why do you think this is so?

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The Bible tells us that the enemy (Satan), who the Bible describes as a thief, comes to steal, kill and destroy. He wants us to live our lives in defeat, and one of the ways he does this is through strongholds. These strongholds can affect our attitudes, emotional state, and our reactions to different situations. They influence our spiritual liberty.

A stronghold is a false principle or idea that rejects God’s truth and promises. According to 2 Corinthians 10:5, strongholds are disdainful opinions raised against the knowledge of God and takes every thought to obey Christ captive.  In other words, strongholds attempt to magnify the problem and minimize God’s ability to solve it.

To help you understand a little more, here are a few examples:

• God will never forgive me. – The stronghold of guiltiness
• Bad things always happen to me. – The stronghold of depression
• I am far too good to have to put up with this. – The stronghold of pride
• I am not worthy of love. – The stronghold of rejection

Most Christians are not aware of strongholds in their lives, but you do not have to be among them. You have the divine authority to demolish any stronghold that is keeping you from God’s blessings, that is preventing you from experiencing spiritual freedom through Christ. Remember, you are a victor through Jesus Christ.

Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see. God made us conquerors; therefore, we will be victorious!
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Are you ready to break the strongholds in your life? You must start by being transformed by the renewing of your mind!

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

As you renew your mind daily through the Word of God and prayer, your thoughts are transformed, and strongholds are torn down; false thinking patterns are corrected with the truth. Nonetheless, I would like to give you two tips to help keep the strongholds broken.

1. Submit to God in humility. Humility is one of the best weapons against pride. When pride is removed, strongholds are weakened. “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:6-7)
2. Exchange every lie with God’s truth. For example, if the lie is “I am a failure, I can do nothing right”—memorize Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” The more verses you have committed to memory the stronger you will be when the enemy attacks your mind with negative thoughts.

Now you know the truth! Begin today to fill your mind with the amazing and loving thoughts of God. Start feeding your soul with God’s truths. Your health, your peace, and your prosperity will go to another level when those strongholds are destroyed.

Visualize faith rising in your heart and declare what God says about your future. Be determined that you will not be denied. Now, arise precious child of God, and go have a great day!

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A few years ago, my wife and I abandoned our daily routine and escaped to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for a week. One night, after enjoying an evening of fun on a 6-hour desert safari tour, I became very thirsty and started looking for a bottle of water. Upon my search, I stumbled across a full-length mirror with the following words written on the frame: ‘Take a good look at yourself; this is what the world sees.” The owner of that mirror was reminding everyone to examine themselves because all noteworthy battles are waged within yourself.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn’t living in you, you have failed.” In other words, we need to look in the mirror for the growing presence of Christ’s power in our lives. It is only then will we know if we are becoming everything God created us to be or if we are merely imposters taking active steps to a life of emptiness.

Here is what I believe:

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Everything you perceive, externally, is the manifestation of some internal part of you. If it was not, it would not be present in your perceived reality.
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Therefore, to accelerate to a place of success, we have to stop blaming others, discover our inner battles, and do the hard work of resolving the issues that are causing us problems. Remember, your only competition is the person you see in the mirror. Start working on yourself and eventually you’ll realize your competitors are fighting for second place.

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Over the last ten years, I noticed that very few are committed to God’s best. All too often, individuals respond to their future by simply settling into boring, mediocre lives. However, that is not the type of life God wants for anyone!

Did you know that we have been conditioned by the world to “dumb down” and accept far less than what God has provided? As a matter of fact, the only reason we are not receiving God’s best is that we are willing, consciously or unconsciously, to settle for less.

Here are five warning signs that you are settling for less:

1. You blame other people.
2. You think a lot but do very little. <–(This is me at times)
3. You are continuously jealous.
4. Food, alcohol, or TV are the highlight of your day.
5. You do not think you can.
6. Justifying the poor behavior of others.

Listen, you are the child of the Most High God. You are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, which means you have far-reaching influence, access to unlimited resources, and endless opportunities. Therefore, seize the opportunities!

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The minute you settle for less than you deserve is the same minute you settle for less than what God created you for.
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It is time for you to put your faith in God’s power and take advantage of the opportunities He gives you. If you refuse to settle for a life of mediocrity, you will be able to pursue the excellence God has in store for you. You will be able to fulfill your greatest potential.  You will live fearlessly in the face of difficulty.

So, get out of your comfort zone and take the risks God calls you to take. Be on the lookout for divine appointments because He is getting ready to promote you. Ask God to give you the wisdom to do the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way, at the right time.  Remember, God is faithful to keep all of His promises, and He has far more for you than what you are experiencing.

Set your mind on the things of God and not on the things of this world. Jesus has paid a way for you to be free from the strongholds of mediocrity. He stands ready to lead you to His perfect plan for your life. For that reason, stop putting limitations on your thinking. God did not create you to be average. You were created to shine. Keep pursuing God’s very best for you!

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Answer:
As a new Christian, I know these are exciting and confusing times for you. I completely understand you may be asking a lot of questions about Jesus Christ, and to be honest, many of your questions don’t have a simple answer. But that’s ok. I have a doctorate degree in theology, and I still have many questions.
My recommendation is to start praying, asking God to send you some individuals who can help you grow in your faith. Please understand, your faith is personal and corporate, which means you will need a community of believers to help you grow. God never intended for you to be alone in your faith. Nevertheless, I pray my response is a starting point for your lifelong conversation about faith.

Was Jesus even a real person?
The historical account of Jesus is beyond debate. Jesus did exist. He was a Jewish man, born to a Jewish mother in the first century. He went by the name of Yeshua, and He was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth. Throughout history, Jews and gentiles alike have been gripped by the person of Jesus as documented in the accounts of four books of the New Testament called “the Gospels.”

What was Jesus like on earth?
I cannot truthfully answer this question, but if I had to guess, an encounter with Jesus was rarely a casual chat. Jesus is the authority of God, and on earth, His words would have raised profound questions in people’s hearts about God and human life. I don’t think you could have met Jesus and leave unchanged or unchallenged by the encounter. I believe He was a man who had calluses on His hands, a unique sense of humor, and compassion for His people, especially the vulnerable, afraid, hopeless, and oppressed. He expressed that compassion in words of truth and acts of healing.

Was Jesus a Jewish rabbi?
The Jewish leaders and rulers of His day acknowledged Jesus as an equal, calling Him “Rabbi” (Luke 19:39), which means Jesus was considered to be a Jewish scholar or teacher, especially one who studies or teaches Torah (Five Books of Moses).

Who did Jesus claim to be?
This question is a difficult question to answer without being long-winded. There are so many layers to Christ’s identity you would need to comprehend before you could truly understand. Nonetheless, Jesus revealed His identity by doing the loving and mighty acts that only the authority of God can do by accomplishing the works of restoration and forgiveness that only the authority of God can accomplish and showing sovereignty over creation that only the authority of God can have.
When asked directly if He was the Messiah, He not only proclaimed that to be true (John 10:25) but went on to say, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Some have said that Jesus was a good Jew, an observant Jew, or perhaps even a prophet to the Jewish people. However, the most important thing to consider is the testimonies of the Apostles about Jesus.

Why did Jesus die?
In the Old Testament, there are at least three references to someone’s death stopping judgment against or serving as atonement for a group of people or a nation. Even some of the Jewish rabbis teach that Messiah’s death will serve as atonement for sin. Jesus chose to die an atoning death that would provide a reconciliation between humanity and God. Jesus’ death was not an accident. It was the very purpose and goal of His mission.
By dying, Jesus willingly stood in our place and took the penalty of sin, which rightfully belongs to each one of us. But He didn’t stay dead. By rising from the grave, He defeated the power of sin and death and enabled us to be reconciled with God. And it is this resurrection power, the power of life from the dead, which is available to anyone who believes in Him. This resurrection power has been changing the lives of both Jews and Gentiles since the first century.

Once again, many of your questions don’t have a simple answer but I hope and pray my responses have helped you a little bit. Please take some time to pray to God, asking Him to help you find a community of believers who will help you grow and learn more about your faith.

The post Was Jesus A Real Person? appeared first on Tony Warrick.

 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

This revelation is so powerful that if even one person at the lowest level job gets it, it can change an entire company. There are two things I want you to see in today’s verse:

• You will have a better attitude about work once you understand that, no matter where you work or who you work for, your real boss is Jesus.

It’s easier to be enthusiastic about your job when you stop thinking, “I’m doing this for my boss” or “I’m doing this for a paycheck” and instead start thinking, “I’m doing this for the Lord.” By understanding that truth, you can do anything — from running a company to washing dishes — and turn it into an act of worship.

• When you turn your work into worship, you start storing up treasures in Heaven. As you work for God, you are making eternal deposits in Heaven.

It doesn’t matter if you’re vacuuming the rug, repairing a car, serving in the military, or managing an office, any job can become an act of worship if you do it enthusiastically for God: “So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Question: How do you respond to the truth that your real boss is Jesus?

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I think it is vital for you to understand that insecurity is not a stumbling block because it makes you unhappy, but for more serious reasons than that. Here are at least four reasons why insecurity is a stumbling block:

1.            Discontentment with God

In most cases, insecurity is nothing more than complaining for better circumstances, grumbling for something better. In other words, we have a problem with what God has given: money, position, appearance, personality. Insecurity is an insult to God’s wisdom.

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

2.            Dissatisfaction with Self

Insecurity distracts us from doing what God has called us to do: love Him and others. It makes life more difficult because we waste time and opportunities obsessing with ourselves. If we pull back the layers of insecurity to the root, we will see our dissatisfaction with self is often nothing more than our dissatisfaction with God.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14

3.            Validation from Others

Insecurity reveals that we long for validation from people more than from God. We put more focus on attributes we think make us worthy of people’s attention. When our minds are yearning after more social media likes or a better career to increase our value, we forsake the righteousness of Christ that actually makes us worthy. In other words, we only care because they care.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

4.            Validation by Works

Insecurity demonstrates that we are believing that our validation is based upon our endeavors and accomplishments. Finding self-assurance in those things is a direct rival to finding confidence in Christ.

“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26

Nevertheless, I bring you good news:

•             You are loved. (Romans 5:8)

•             You are chosen. (1 Peter 2:9)

•             You are redeemed. (Ephesians 1:7)

•             You are favored. (Psalm 5:12)

•             You are blessed. (Psalm 146:5)

•             You are healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

You do not have to live an insecure life because you were created to feel intact, protected, courageous, and unfazed. It’s part of your spiritual DNA as a born-again believer in Christ.
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If you want to experience true security in your life, then you have to form the habit of putting God first in everything in your life — your conversations, how you spend your time, what you do with your finances — everything! You must keep your eyes focused on Jesus and learn to love and be content with His plan and calling for your life.

God has a desire for you to live with deep contentment in your heart, but you can only experience this when you spend time with Him every day. And if you do, your joyfulness and peace will increase, and you will finally be utterly secure in Him, becoming who He created you to become.

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We can’t control the economy; therefore, we worry about it. We can’t control our children; consequently, we worry about them. We have no control over the future, so we worry about it. Worry never solves a problem! It’s like simmering without doing anything.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents four reasons why you shouldn’t be worried.

Worry is unreasonable. Matthew 6:25 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Jesus is saying, don’t worry about it because it isn’t going to last. In fact, it’s pointless to worry about something you can change. Or, it’s pointless to worry about something you can’t change. Therefore, it’s pointless to worry in any case.

Worry is unnatural. Jesus gives us an example from nature in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Human beings are the only creation of God’s creations that worries. We are the only creation God has created that doesn’t completely trust Him, and the Lord is letting us know that it is unnatural.

Worry is unhelpful. It doesn’t change anything. Matthew 6:27 says, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Worrying about an issue doesn’t get you closer to finding a solution. It’s like rocking in a chair – there’s a lot of movement, energy, and motion, but no advancement. Worry has no effect on anything but you. It makes you unhappy!

Worry is unnecessary. Matthew 6:30 says, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” You don’t have to be concerned if you have faith in God. Why? Because God pledged to look after all of your needs: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Does that include your bills? Yes. Does that include conflicts? Yes. Does that include your aspirations, goals, and dreams? Yes. Does that include the health difficulties you’re unsure how to handle? Yes. In Christ, God will provide for all of your needs.

Don’t worry about it!

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When situations like this happen, we try to find a way to fix ourselves in a calming and empowering way. If we are honest, we would like to create an invisible shield to protect our vulnerable selves from hurtful remarks, cruel jokes, and judgment that would force us to second-guess our life ambitions. Unfortunately, that piece of body armor isn’t available, so we’ll have to develop other ways to get through life and make it fantastic despite being a target for bad guys.

How do we deal with unpleasant news, particularly when it comes from someone who is supposed to be on our side? Here are some helpful hints to make you feel better about yourself. I’ve used these methods to persuade myself of my own worth and excellence. Remember, we can only control our actions and thoughts.

1. Stop with the negative self-talk. It’s tempting to hop on the “I’ll never be good enough” bandwagon when something terrible happens. But it would be best if you got off quickly because your mind can bombard you with insult after insult; that inner voice inside us is arguably our worst foe. Therefore, turn that negative conversation into a positive one by being kind to yourself. Start saying something like, “I’m strong, successful, and I will never give up .”

2. Achieve some short-term wins and create long-term goals. Decide what you can achieve almost immediately if you need some self-satisfaction quickly. You can feel successful by achieving quick successes, such as cleaning your home or exercising. These minor victories can also help you stay motivated as you work toward your long-term goals and objectives.

3. Appreciate the “NOW.” Stop focusing on the past and worrying about the future for a while. Being engaged in what is currently going on will give you an opportunity for peacefulness and an opportunity to savor the moment. We’re sometimes so preoccupied with what has happened or will happen in the future that we miss the present.

4. Walk away from individuals that suck the life out of you. This strategy involves those that make you feel like crap. Of course, it may be easier said than done if you’re related to these life suckers, but if you’re not, you can easily detach yourself. You’ll never feel better if you’re constantly surrounded by folks whose sole purpose in life is to knock others down.

5. Use relaxation techniques. When I want to calm down and relax, I listen to a lot of Jazz. Also, I write down my thoughts, make a list, and connect to nature or go for a walk. Relaxation takes practice, and it’s a wonderful feeling when you can do it naturally and without effort.

6. Make a list of all the good things and people you have in your life. We have a habit of playing the victim for far too long, and making a list of the good things and positive people in our lives helps us understand that it isn’t all bad. A daily journal could also be beneficial.

7. Don’t compare yourself to others. Did you know that comparison is the thief of joy? Focus on your achievements and blessings, and realize that you have come a long way. Making someone else and their stuff a focal point can be depressing and isn’t worth the time or effort.

8. Watch or read something inspiring. Watching the news and reading the comments on your social media feed all day will put you in a funk, so do something positive to counteract it. Watch movies like Forrest Gump, The Pursuit of Happyness, or It’s a Wonderful Life! If you do this at the end of the day, you might even go to sleep with a smile!

There are numerous additional things you may do to make yourself feel happy and more powerful. Please share anything that has worked successfully for you in the comments area. I’m always looking to add to my self-help repertoire, and maybe it might inspire others.

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