A walk as a Christian

2.5

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Father, help me write this testimony. Bless this to touch a lost sheep of yours. Thank you for this wonderful experience.

Am sharing my testimony that happened today. I am writing this today for a reason. If I give my mind a break it will add up and subtract details. Am blessed with good imagination. So, I like to share my testimony the exact way it happened.

2.5 years ago, I was working in a multinational firm. It was like a first job for me. I loved my job a lot. Had loads of new friends. I loved this new experience. I felt like am settled. I was like on top of the world.i had nothing to worry. Though it was a night shift job, I kinda adapted to it. Unlike my other jobs, I was dedicated to this particular Job. In that firm throughout the year I never bunked a single day. I was so attached to my job. Though I got better offers, I didn’t want to move on. Major reason being my new colleagues whom I don’t want to miss. They were like a family. I loved the way they cared for me. I felt like the youngest sibling of them.

And due to some issues I was terminated from work. It was my favorite job. I was shattered. All I could think of is dark days ahead. All doors were shut. Anything I love, I end up losing it. I felt like a moving curse. It was like a shame. Being terminated is the worst nightmare for me. And I got into few other jobs, few extra courses. I moved on but still with a pain of shame. Whenever I cross that previous workplace. An unknown heaviness gets into me. I remember that fateful day. And all my hard work going waste. I curse myself for being a loser. I went and prayed to God to wipe away my shame. God’s only answer was silence. But, I end up seeing boards with words ‘Trust in Jesus’. I felt like God put this signboard on my path to encourage.

Today. 2.5 years later the same firm called me. Offered me 2.5 times my current pay grade. ( 😀 maybe I should have waited 5 years for 5 times or 10 years for 10… Lol, I shouldn’t be greedy). Its totally God’s miracle. God just didn’t wiped away my shame. He made the same people who once rejected me to do it. It’s true, GOD GIVES BEAUTY FOR ASHES.

Honestly speaking, I would never have come out of that firm if I had chance. It was my comfort zone. God pushed me out of my comfort zone. He made me go through a tough phase. But it was all for my destiny. And there is a saying, Good things comes to people who trust in God. But I didn’t trusted God. All I did was complaining. But still God showered his blessing upon me. If God can shower his blessing on someone like me. How blessed are those who put their trust on him. Trust in Him. The uncomfortable phase you are going through is only for one reason. God has a purpose for it. You have a greater destiny ahead

-Shalom-

How to overcome the urge to lie?

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“Father God, please guide me as I write this article based on Your Word. Help me to write this to glorify You, and let Your words bring clarity to those who seek You. May Your truth help people discern and embrace correct beliefs. I pray and seek everything in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

How to overcome the urge to lie. This is that particular sin that we believers doesn’t care much about.  We consider it as an acceptable sin. We got used to it.

What is a lie?
When we say something that’s not true, that is a lie.
And?
When we hide a truth it is also a lie.
And?
When we alter few details that’s a lie too.
Then?
When we talk something that we don’t have an idea about.
Then?
When we want to be listened, we tend to add and remove few facts. That could be added to lies too.
But, lie is everything that is not true. An average person lies 4 times a day.

What’s our attitude towards lie?
In reality we just don’t see the seriousness of a lie. Its still an acceptable sin in our view. Its a small thing. What possibly a small sin could do. It can’t harm anyone. There is a saying one lie ll make you say 9 more to cover it up. 1 lie = 1+9 lies = 10 lies. Cool. What’s wrong with 10 lies? If it doesn’t hurt anyone? Isn’t it totally fine if its said for something good?

Nope… The major reason for end of marriages is Lies. Not just marriages, relationships and friendships ends up with lies. I try my best not to lie thinking of the embarrassment that it might put me through.

Most of the problems that we are stuck in these days, the root cause will be a lie. Most of the friends I lost, were due to lies. Either I lied to them, they lied to me or I lied to myself. Gossip is another reason to lie. When we gossip we tend to add few facts 😉

How to overcome this urge to lie?
Let’s imagine, we are put in a situation, where the only escape will be a lie…

“I finished the homework but forgot the note in home” My most favorite lie and its the most common one during our school days. I did slipped away from punishment most of the times. When a lie can save my life what could be wrong with it?

Here is a contradiction. I got used to saying this lie and ended up being lazy. And one day my teacher caught me red handed and everyone can guess what would have happened to me next 😀

But, I was a curious teenager and I didn’t learnt my lesson by then. It was in my early twenties where I had to lie, to my Dad. By then I realized lie will lead to bigger trouble. So I prayed to God. Father, I have no other choice but to lie. I don’t want to sin intentionally. I have no way out. If I admit I would be kicked out of home, I didn’t had a solution and all the doors were closed. And I stayed in fear the whole day. But my dad never asked that question. It was like I never had that situation to lie.

I still lie. Am a human too. Most of the time unintentionally. But I guess I reduced. All praises to the Almighty God. Whenever I think I ll have to lie, I go to God ask for his help. I have to be sincere when I ask, my only motive should be I am troubled but I don’t want to fall into this sin. I shouldn’t lie. There were 2 outcomes. Either the situation disappeared or God gave me strength to go through the truth. And trust me, second was awesome I felt God’s presence in everything I did when I was bold enough to admit the truth. It was not bad to avoid the situation . I had a third option few times, to put a lid in my mouth. Being silent. God will tell you to be silent.

How to overcome the urge to lie
Answer: Ask God to guide you. When you put an effort to be right. He ll do everything in your favor to make you right. When we try to change ourselves for good, he will help us in every way to become good

Introduction
The sin of lying often goes unnoticed and unaddressed among Christian believers. Many of us have become desensitized to its prevalence and view it as an acceptable, minor transgression. This article will discuss the nature of lying, its consequences, and how to overcome this destructive habit.
What is a Lie?
A lie occurs when we say something that is not true.
Concealing the truth also constitutes a lie.
Altering details or fabricating information are forms of lying.
Speaking about topics we know nothing about is another type of deception.
Exaggerating or omitting facts to make ourselves more interesting is yet another form of lying.
On average, a person lies four times a day, demonstrating its pervasive nature in our lives.
Our Attitude Towards Lies
Often, we do not perceive lying as a serious issue. We downplay its significance and see it as a harmless, trivial sin. The assumption is that it can’t cause any real harm. However, one lie often leads to nine more to cover it up. Thus, we end up with ten lies instead of one. Many believe that lying is justifiable if nobody gets hurt or if it serves a greater good. However, this line of thinking overlooks the potential harm it can cause.
The Consequences of Lying
Lying is a primary cause of failed marriages, damaged relationships, and broken friendships. Many problems we face today have lying as their root cause. Furthermore, lies have the potential to damage our personal integrity and our relationship with God.
How to Overcome the Urge to Lie
When facing a situation where lying seems like the only solution, consider the following steps:
Ask God for guidance and strength to resist temptation. Pray with sincerity, acknowledging your desire to avoid sinning intentionally.
Trust that God will either remove the temptation or provide the courage to speak the truth.
Practice silence when you are unsure about what to say. Sometimes, God may lead you to be silent to avoid a difficult situation.
When we put forth effort to be truthful, God will work in our favor and support us in becoming better versions of ourselves.
Personal Testimony
I struggled with lying as a teenager and into my early twenties. It was not until I faced a dire situation where lying seemed like the only way out that I turned to God for help. I realized that lying would lead to bigger problems, and I prayed for guidance. Despite fearing the consequences of telling the truth, God intervened, and I did not have to lie.
While I still occasionally struggle with lying, I have made progress in overcoming this habit. Whenever I feel tempted to lie, I ask God for help. My personal experience has shown me that when we are sincere in our desire to change and seek God’s guidance, He will guide us in the right direction.
Conclusion
Overcoming the urge to lie is a continual process. However, when we trust in God and seek His guidance, we can grow in our ability to resist temptation and become more truthful individuals. Remember the words of Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” By striving for honesty, we can build stronger relationships, maintain our personal integrity, and honor God in all we say and do.

How to give ourselves to God

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Father, bless me to write this. I cannot do anything if its not your will for me. Whatever I do, whatever I write, belongs to you. Father am a clay, mould me into a pot to serve you. Thank you Father.

Today’s topic is giving ourselves to God and trusting him. Trusting his decision and knowing whatever he does is for our greater good. As a new believer, I face lots of uncertainties and doubts. I take things in my own hands and mess it up. Later I regret, thinking if I had given it to God. He would have change the results in my favor. It would have been ended up even better than I expected.  How to overcome this uncertainties and Trusting God completely.

Here is a simple question. If you have a sickness. And your suffering is beyond bearable. What would you do? Will you try you treat it yourselves? or You will consult a Physician to heal it?

If your car need an oil change. Will you do it yourself or you will take it to a car mechanic? Most probably we seek an expert. He will take care of the issue better than us. Mechanic knows what’s best way to change the oil. Doctor knows best medicine to heal the sickness. We usually hesitate to trust ourselves to change the oil . How could we expect to clean up our issues, when we clearly have no idea of doing it how 🙂

We can justify a professional does a better job than us and believe an expert can do a better job than us. Why is it hard to trust God and give all the troubles, worries, burdens to him. He is the almighty God. His works are always better than us. He sees the big picture. He got solutions for all our troubles. Is there anything that God can’t fix?

John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

My testimony – Out of 100 times, 99 times I failed to trust God completely. And the 1 time when I did, he did miracles in my life. Trusting God is opening a door to infinite number of possibilities. Its not so hard. I am writing this for me, I will read it again and again. Whenever I get urge to take things in my own hands. I might learn to trust God even more. If I learned to trust God 2 times out of hundred I will call it as a walk of faith. And I am sure God will accept my efforts and refine me more to be a true believer. Its really wonderful to taste his Grace

Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Non believers may disapprove. Here is a verse that might answer.

John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

The reward is greater for people who believes without seeing a miracle.

-Shalom

*verses taken from New Living Translation
*further reading Book of Psalm

Embracing the Call to be Peacemakers: A Biblical Perspective

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As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers, as Jesus emphasized in the Sermon on the Mount: “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NLT). In a world full of conflict and turmoil, it is crucial to understand the biblical foundation of peacemaking and apply it in our daily lives. This article will explore the importance of being peacemakers and provide practical ways to cultivate peace in our relationships.

A Personal Testimony
Before delving into the topic, I would like to share a personal testimony. For the past three days, I have been trying to share the Word of God, and I encountered challenges along the way. Through this experience, I learned three essential lessons:
I cannot accomplish anything without God’s help (John 15:5).
My motivations must be pure and not driven by a sense of duty (2 Corinthians 9:7).
I must put God first and acknowledge that everything I do is by His grace (1 Corinthians 15:10).
With these lessons in mind, I will seek God’s guidance as I explore the topic of peacemaking.
Biblical Foundation of Peacemaking
The Bible consistently calls Christians to pursue peace and unity, especially within the body of Christ: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). As followers of Jesus, we are to be agents of reconciliation, seeking to restore broken relationships and bridge divides (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Practical Ways to be Peacemakers
In our daily lives, we encounter various situations that test our ability to maintain peace, such as conflicts with loved ones or dealing with difficult people. Here are some ways to foster peace in these situations:
Practice patience and understanding: Be slow to anger and quick to listen, recognizing that everyone has unique perspectives and experiences (James 1:19).
Forgive and seek forgiveness: Genuine repentance and forgiveness are crucial for restoring relationships and maintaining peace (Matthew 6:14-15).
Focus on unity, not uniformity: Celebrate diversity within the body of Christ and work towards unity, not uniformity (Galatians 3:28).
Let go of the need to be right: Prioritize peace and relationships over winning arguments, recognizing that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Embracing God’s Grace
As we strive to be peacemakers, it is essential to remember that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace. Extending grace to others, as God has extended grace to us, enables us to be more forgiving, understanding, and compassionate in our relationships (Ephesians 4:32).

Conclusion
The call to be peacemakers is a central aspect of the Christian life. By embracing biblical teachings on peace, striving for unity in the body of Christ, and extending grace to others, we can faithfully represent Jesus and bring His light to a world in need of healing and reconciliation.

Understanding and Embracing God’s Grace

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This powerful passage from the Bible encapsulates the essence of God’s grace, which we often experience in our lives without fully grasping its profound meaning. Let us delve deeper into the concept of grace through a personal story and scriptural references.

A Personal Experience of God’s Grace
Once, I found myself unprepared for an important exam. In my despair, I helped a classmate cheat and, in turn, was tempted to do the same. However, my desire to maintain an honest reputation prevented me from giving in to that temptation. As the invigilator expressed sympathy, I noticed that many others were cheating, and a wave of emotions washed over me: fear of failure, jealousy, anger, and a sense of injustice. Amidst this turmoil, I submitted my incomplete answer sheet to the invigilator and eventually forgot about the incident.
Despite my flaws and shortcomings, I was surprised to learn that I had passed the exam. How could this be? A friend reminded me of God’s grace, which is abundant and freely given, even when we feel undeserving. In this moment, I realized that God’s grace reaches even those who know they are not righteous but still seek Him.
Defining God’s Grace
In the Bible, grace is described as unmerited favor, compassion, and love that God freely extends to humankind. It is through grace that we are saved, not by our own actions or righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is a divine gift that fills us with hope and empowers us to live a life that glorifies God (2 Corinthians 12:9).
To embrace God’s grace, we must:
Acknowledge our sinful nature (Romans 3:23).
Recognize that the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).
Accept that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross redeemed us from sin and death (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
Embrace our new identity in Christ as redeemed sinners (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Conclusion
God’s grace is a transformative force that changes hearts and lives. As we journey through life, we will inevitably stumble and fall short of perfection. However, we can find comfort and hope in knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). By acknowledging our sins, surrendering to Christ, and accepting His redemptive sacrifice, we can experience the fullness of God’s love, mercy, and grace.
Further Reading: Romans 8