Tag: Bible Study

Emotional buildup: Easily offended? Irritable?

Today I was in a restaurant, and looked out the window to see a river. The Lord said to me, “Do you see the rough surface of that water? That is because there is turmoil under the surface. The same is true with people who are rough around the edges and are easily triggered to things such as pain, anger, hurt, etc.”

Have you ever seen somebody who is tense, where it is easy to get on their nerves? Do they always seem irritable? Does this describe how you feel? Have you ever wondered why a person is like that? It is certainly not part of God’s design for us, for His Word is clear that we are given a sound clear mind:

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Turmoil in one’s system is usually caused by emotional buildup (things in the past that were never let go of) or unclean spirits. If something is bothering us, we need to make the choice to release our concerns to the Lord. Whether it be bitterness, fear, hurt feelings, emotional damage, feelings of rejection or abandonment, those feelings are devastating to our spiritual health and must be released from our systems. God’s Word clearly tells us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us:

1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

God wants us to release our emotional buildup, hurt feelings, etc. and give those things to Him. Why did God tell us to do this? Because He knew the devastating effects that such negative buildup can have on our systems. If we don’t fail to follow God’s command, and allow an emotional buildup in our systems, we then make ourselves available for spirits of anger, hate, bitterness, rejection, etc. Once that happens, those spirits can lay under the surface, and continually remind us of why we are hurt or angry. It’s like a record playing in your mind over and over again, continually escalating you to higher levels of bondage and turmoil. If this has happened, the first step is to release the negative buildup to the Lord, stop listening to all the reasons as to why you are upset, etc., and if the problem seems to linger… seek deliverance from those spirits! It is not normal for our rivers to be rough from turmoil that has been brewing under our surfaces!

Read More

CONFESSING HATE

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “hate” is defined as intense hostility and aversion, usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury. If  Jesus boiled down the 10 commandments to two laws, which were “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself,” how can we find it OK to disobey?

If we ever find an excuse to justify hating on another, especially someone who is innocent of the attack, we directly refuse the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Welcome to part 4 of the Going By Faith series “Uncovering Sin and Finding Forgiveness.” For last week’s confession on cowardice, click here.

How it works: First pray with the Bible verse and then read the questions one by one — answer them truthfully. This is between you and God.

Every “yes” answer means sin in your life, so spend time confessing it. Name it to God. Let there be no excuse for it — just admit it and ask forgiveness.

PRAY

Verse: John 13:35 (NLV)

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

CONFESS

  • Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of others?
  • Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another?
  • Are you guilty of any contention or strife?
  • Do you quarrel, argue, or engage in heated discussions?
  • Are you a partaker in any division or parting spirit?
  • Are there people whom you deliberately slight?

—————————————————————————
We already know that whatever is in our hearts determines what we say (Matt 12:34), so take it a step further and question the secret thoughts that no one hears. They are still things we say, just not aloud.

Luke 5:45 tells us:

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

It doesn’t matter what others do or how others act, let’s leave nothing undone on our part. We’re not perfect, and we need God’s Holy Spirit to help us turn the tide of negative thoughts, feelings and words, but hating on other people is sin at work displayed for all to see. We know it’s not the right way.

Read More

Confessions of a Hater

Most of us don’t think of ourselves as haters, but most of us also turn a blind eye to activities we enjoy — especially when it comes to hearing about the misfortune of others.

While there’s a clear difference between spreading malicious gossip and listening to the latest news, it’s how we process the information that matters.

If you feel put off by it, you already realize the destruction it causes enough to stay away. But if you find yourself encouraging it… enjoying it… that’s a whole different issue.

Read More

CONFESS

  • Have you robbed God by withholding his due of time, talents and money?
  • Have you given less than a tenth of your income for God’s work?
  • Have you failed to support mission work either in prayer or in offerings?

—————————————————————————
It sounds strange to ask if we’ve robbed God of what he gives us, but the deep truth is that God provides everything to us and we will show if we can be trusted with it. We have all met people who are happy to take. Are they just as happy to give? Are we this way?

Or how about giving on “my terms.” We want to give what we no longer need or want to whom we choose. Do we disregard what God’s asking us to do… and to do joyfully?

God tells us what he wants for us. He lets us know where we can help, especially when we pray about it. Perhaps we are called to give more of our personal time to serving others. Maybe it’s donating to a special charity, a Christian radio station, a friend or family member in need.

While we confess greed in our lives, we can combat it by giving. The most important element is giving God’s way, which he tells us in our hearts.

Read More

PRAY

Verse: Acts 20:35 (NIV)

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Read More

CONFESSING GREED

When we worship the things of the world, we do not worship the Lord. We can’t serve two masters. In our worship of the world, we end up making choices that hurt others… and ourselves.

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” — Colossians 3:5

Welcome to part 5 of the Going By Faith series “Uncovering Sin and Finding Forgiveness.” For last week’s confession on hate, click here.

If you want to confess greed in your life, first pray with the Bible verse below. Then, read the questions one by one — answer them truthfully. Confess other areas of your life that are controlled by greed instead of God. Be honest — this is between you and Him.

Every “yes” answer means sin in your life. Name it to God. Let there be no excuse for it — just admit it and ask forgiveness.

Read More

Confessions of Greed

Greed leads to a lonely place. I know because for a short time in my life, I lived there.

And it’s a cruel master when you become its slave. Nothing is ever enough. Nothing can satisfy. Worse yet, it deceives us into thinking we will run out  of the very thing that often keeps us locked in its grasp.

The Bible warns us about greed repeatedly. Luke 12:15 tells us, “Then he said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’”

When does the Bible ever tell us to beware of something without good cause?

Read More

CONFESSIONS OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN

Welcome to part 6 of the Going By Faith series “Uncovering Sin and Finding Forgiveness.” For the previous confession, click “confessions of greed.”

If you feel like you’ve been living like a part-time Christian, living for God sometimes and turning away other times, take a moment to repent. You can do this by praying with the Bible verse below. Next, read the questions one by one — answer them truthfully. Confess it if you’ve been irresponsible toward God. Be honest — this is between you and Him.

Every “yes” answer means sin in your life. Name it, and let there be no excuse — admit it and ask forgiveness.

PRAY

Below are three translations of 1 Corinthians 4:2. Reading all three can give us a special glimpse into the true meaning of being responsible with our saved life in God’s eyes.

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (NIV)

“Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” (NLV)

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (ESV)

CONFESS

  • Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord’s work?
  • Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord but doing nothing about it?

—————————————————————————
Keeping faith in everyday Christian life helps us get through trials, but it also helps us to live, think and trust like Christ — keeping our hearts open to God to do His work in us, through us and around us. In other words, we become responsible and trustworthy stewards of our faith.

Heavenly Father, shine the light of your love into our hearts so that it can pour out to others. Help us walk with you full-time, in every area of this life you have given us to live. May our life show your glory.

Thank you Christ Life Ministriesfor granting permission to use your content (concept and confession questions).

Read More

Confessions of Irresponsibility (the Part-Time Christian)

This weekend I heard a sermon that touched on a few of the biggest disasters throughout history, one of them being the sinking of the Titanic.

Of the 1,347 people who perished, something close to 90% were men who gave up their lives so women and children could live.

In another story, the sinking of a ship called “The Empress of Ireland” in 1914, there were 130 Salvation Army officers on board — some of them old women — who gave up their life preservers, even to strong men, saying, “I can die better than you can.”

What the pastor said made me think: If you were one of the survivors and someone gave his or her life up to save yours, wouldn’t it change the way you lived from that day forward?

Most of us would agree — Yes, definitely!

And yet Jesus gave up His life for us. We have all been on that sinking ship (and maybe still are), but Jesus gave us a life preserver — one he paid for with his life. We have been saved, ultimately, from the greatest disaster.

Has if profoundly changed the way we live? Are we living a true Christian life, or are we only walking with God when it’s convenient?

Read More

Keeping It All to Yourself?

Are there some feelings better kept to ourselves? Most of us would answer yes to this question. I always did. But then I learned a better answer.

A little while back I went through what felt like an eternity (a few days) of feeling extremely vulnerable. Maybe it was due to pregnancy, or maybe because some days we just feel more vulnerable than others. Either way, I admit that in this vulnerability, I was open to attack from the enemy.

My feelings were hurt over something I heard my husband say, and I thought it would be best to confront the issue. I began by asking him not to take offense and to pray for me, knowing in advance I’m not the most tactful when hurt feelings are involved.

What started out as “sharing feelings,” turned into my husband feeling attacked, and me feeling more hurt and alone. Reactivity and counter-reactivity followed.

Then silence.

Then I felt the attack continuing on me.

The words that went through my mind sounded something like this: Maybe it’s better to keep some feelings to myself from now on.

And that’s when a most beautiful realization set in.

As I prayed those words to God, he gave me a much better answer. He told me I wasn’t alone with my feelings and I never had to feel that way. I just had to turn to Him with them.

In Him I am safe to express myself. And so are you.

We can begin by asking Him to hear us, and to hold us in his great mercy, endless love and compassion. When we express our feelings to God, He helps us to see — and also to hear — the truth.

And so if we ever wonder if it’s better to keep some feelings to ourselves rather than share them, the answer is: We don’t have to keep them to ourselves and we don’t have to share them with another, but we can always start by sharing them with God. If it is something to be shared, He can give us the guidance and timing needed.

Only the Spirit can fill us with the wisdom and discernment we need to take the right course. Even when we are not speaking out loud, God is always listening.

Read More