Do you struggle with the guilt of past sins even though you’ve confessed them to God and to the people you have wronged? Perhaps you said unkind words to a friend. You asked your friend for forgiveness and it was granted; but you still cringe when you remember what you said. Maybe you committed terribly…
Excerpted from Forgiveness: The Possible Impossibility One of the most overlooked aspects of forgiveness is how to ask for it. Asking for forgiveness should not be done according to human wisdom nor simply generated by emotional intensity. Asking for forgiveness should, instead, be based on biblical truth, especially with regard to personal responsibility and esteeming others…
Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity. There is no activity of Christian life that is more closely aligned to the love of God and the willing sacrifice of Christ than forgiving others. Believers who practice forgiveness receive spiritual benefits but, on the other hand, consequences accrue to those choosing not to forgive. May we…
Can great results come from situations that bring discomfort or even pain? Of course they can, as any athlete will attest. In any sport, it is understood that purposeful, even excruciating, training is necessary to win the prize as is accurately echoed in the phrase “no pain, no gain.” This reality is not reserved for…
There is nothing worse than a crushing trial. Since our natural inclination is to avoid discomfort, only authentic faith in Christ equips one to look beyond the valley of personal suffering to the pinnacle of suffering’s purposes. Maintaining this loftier perspective does not negate the reality or pain of walking through life’s valleys. A child…
There is a mystique about prayer that often keeps us from praying and, in the process, denies us the full benefits of prayer. Some of the misunderstandings about prayer involve knowing what words to say and what posture to assume in order to pray effectively. Prayer, however, can be God-honoring, faith-inspiring, meaningful, and effective when…
A Response of Gratefulness for God’s Glory and Grace By Dr. Gary Rieben (website: Give Me That Book)—Used by Permission * “The next time you feel like complaining, remember that your garbage disposal probably eats better than 30% of the world’s population does.” Anonymous Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,…
The typical definition of victory differs from God’s viewpoint on the subject. When believers in Christ understand God’s perspective and promise of victory in trials, they will deal with difficulties much differently than those who do not know the Lord. God’s Word presents three types of victory with regard to trials: All three types of…
by James Smith (1862) [The following was written more than 150 years ago by James Smith. His insightful perspective is timeless and eternally significant. He reminds us that sufferings of life are actually insignificant when compared to the eternal joy believers will realize in the presence of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.] “For I reckon that…
Biblical Perspectives in Everyday Life Trials are a part of life and, often, these difficulties are approached solely from a personal perspective. For a believer in Christ, however, personal trials have the potential to benefit others in, at least, two specific ways. TRIALS ARE USED BY GOD TO EQUIP A BELIEVER TO BRING HIS COMFORT TO OTHERS…