How to know if you are walking in the Spirit Part 4

close up photo of a cherry fruits

Patience

The way to know whether you or someone else is walking in the Spirit is by the fruit it produces. This week we are looking at the fruit and word ‘patience.’ This word is found in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” It is interesting to me that this is mentioned in the bible in many different passages, and with the use of another word such as ‘waiting on God.’

Waiting on God takes patience, I have heard it said don’t ask for patience because then you’ll have to go through trails. That is not what the word says. It tells us that we must add to our faith and that as we have patience we will become mature. If we have no trials, how do you know if we are growing in patience?

James 1: 2-4 “Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

What does the word patience mean? It means “The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Cambridge Dictionary “The ability to wait or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.”

Well now that we know exactly what patience looks like, how do we apply patience in situations? I personally think we need to step back in our thinking when a situation is out of our control and speak truths to yourself. I speak the word of God to myself to remind myself God is in control.  My trust is not in the situation it is in Almighty God who works on my behalf. I trust my life to my Lord and Savior. It is important to step back emotionally so that we can hear clearly and make wise decisions. I do this by speaking truths to myself concerning whatever situation it is.

On Thursday, a friend and I were in a car accident. I was not driving she was cut off in the roundabout and had to apply her breaks it was icy and the person behind us could not stop. This young girl was shaken as we too, but we were gracious and patient with her. Being older and having experienced an accident before we managed to bring comfort with our words and actions. We had to wait for the police and wait through insurance calls.  With all of that going on it was important for us to have patience. Being calm in stressful situations brings peace to the situation.

My friend’s car unfortunately was damaged and now she will have to wait for it to be repaired. I was looking sideways talking to her when we were cut off and then hit so I have a mild whiplash, so I have a waiting also as I heal. All of that is just one experience of patience in action.

As we go through life, we all have different opportunities to develop and walk out patience. If you struggle with patience know that when you are His child, He is always working on conforming you into Christlikeness and we know Jesus walked in patience. Jesus endured opposition, difficulties and pressure on all sides such as family, religious and cultural pressure. Plus, He was tortured, spit upon and carried the sins of the world without complaint. The Bible says He was tempted in all areas but sinned not.

Since patience is a part of the fruit of the Spirit you will know then by that fruit if you are walking and being led by the Spirit. This aspect is a practical way in understanding the importance of our actions, attitudes and words. What we do and say truly does affect those around us and this is a byproduct of either our flesh or the Spirit.

How to know if you are walking in the Spirit part 3

Walking in the Spirit is not complicated because God tells us in His word how to recognize what is of the Holy Spirit and what is not. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” The word of God is clear on what fruit we will be producing when we are in led by His Spirit.

In the book of James, it tells us what the wisdom of God looks like in our lives. James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  This passage in scripture lets us know God’s wisdom has good fruits.

So, as we look at the third fruit of walking in the Spirit, we see peace. It is essential to our walk with and in God. This is how you know if you are walking in the Spirit of the Kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Are you walking in peace with God, yourself and others? That question holds a key to where you heart is at.

Peace is not the absence of problems; peace is an inner calmness that is produced by the Spirit of God because we are trusting the Lord for our life, He supplies what we need. We trust the Lord for the wisdom, and direction in situations.  For example, when WordPress updated to 6.0 in November my site crashed. Bluehost helped get it on line but I didn’t know that those who subscribed where not getting the emails. I found out around Christmas.  A friend and I looked at it and I talked with Bluehost twice for a lengthy period. She was on the phone for the second conversation. But with no solution. After we were done talking to the representative on the phone, I started to hum a tune. She started to laugh and said your humming! I forget her exact words, but I still had peace and joy. These were frustrating conversations on the phone the rep could not understand the problem and was not communicating well. So, there was no solution at that time. I had peace that God would supply the solution. I said a prayer and the next day God put a person to ask on my heart. God connected me through the friend with ‘Living Development.’ Maurrie Livingston who is a web designer was so helpful.  He worked through this past weekend to fix the problem and it was affordable.

It is possible to go through things with peace. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”  Keeping your mind in peace is done through trusting in God. No matter what we go through God goes with us, so we can trust He is bringing you through.

Another passage of scripture teaches us how to take captive thoughts that are not God or peaceable. We do not have to accept every thought we think. Sometimes there not you or God it is the enemy trying steal your peace and joy. We negate these thoughts through the word of God.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Stronghold thinking is negative statements believed about yourself or others that are repetitious. As a child of God, we have the authority in Christ to overcome stronghold thinking. Replace those thoughts with the Word of God.  This produces peace in our minds and hearts.

The flesh is in opposition with the spirit. Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”  When you are a child of God and you follow your own agenda you will manifest hostility, quarreling, outburst of anger etc.  but when you follow the Holy spirit you will walk in peace, joy and righteousness that is the Kingdom of God.

The Bible tells us to be angry and sin not, it also tells us to not let the sun go down on our wrath. So, in plain wording do not stay angry. Anger is a secondary emotion which means underneath the anger is either fear, hurt, frustration… Deal with that and let the anger go if we don’t, we won’t walk in the Spirit.

Peace with God, oneself and others is doable by walking in the Spirit.  Jesus purchased peace with God for us but to stay in peace takes walking in the Spirit, peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God. Put value on your peace.

Walking in the Spirit is not complicated because God tells us in His word how to recognize what is of the Holy Spirit and what is not. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” The word of God is clear on what fruit we will be producing when we are in led by His Spirit.
In the book of James, it tells us what the wisdom of God looks like in our lives. James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” This passage in scripture lets us know God’s wisdom has good fruits.
So, as we look at the third fruit of walking in the Spirit, we see peace. It is essential to our walk with and in God. This is how you know if you are walking in the Spirit of the Kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Are you walking in peace with God, yourself and others? That question holds a key to where you heart is at.
Peace is not the absence of problems; peace is an inner calmness that is produced by the Spirit of God because we are trusting the Lord for our life, He supplies what we need. We trust the Lord for the wisdom, and direction in situations. For example, when WordPress updated to 6.0 in November my site crashed. Bluehost helped get it online, but I didn’t know that those who subscribed where not getting the emails. I found out around Christmas. A friend and I looked at it and I talked with Bluehost twice for a lengthy period. She was on the phone for the second conversation. But with no solution. After we were done talking to the representative on the phone, I started to hum a tune. She started to laugh and said your humming! I forget her exact words, but I still had peace and joy. These were frustrating conversations on the phone the rep could not understand the problem and was not communicating well. So, there was no solution at that time. I had peace that God would supply the solution. I said a prayer and the next day God put a person to ask on my heart. God connected me through the friend with ‘Living Development.’ Maurrie Livingston who is a web designer was so helpful. He worked through this past weekend to fix the problem and it was affordable.
It is possible to go through things with peace. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Keeping your mind in peace is done through trusting in God. No matter what we go through God goes with us, so we can trust He is bringing you through.
Another passage of scripture teaches us how to take captive thoughts that are not God or peaceable. We do not have to accept every thought we think. Sometimes there not you or God it is the enemy trying steal your peace and joy. We negate these thoughts through the word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Stronghold thinking is negative statements believed about yourself or others that are repetitious. As a child of God, we have the authority in Christ to overcome stronghold thinking. Replace those thoughts with the Word of God. This produces peace in our minds and hearts.
The flesh is in opposition with the spirit. Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” When you are a child of God and you follow your own agenda you will manifest hostility, quarreling, outburst of anger etc. but when you follow the Holy spirit you will walk in peace, joy and righteousness that is the Kingdom of God.
The Bible tells us to be angry and sin not, it also tells us to not let the sun go down on our wrath. So, in plain wording do not stay angry. Anger is a secondary emotion which means underneath the anger is either fear, hurt, frustration… Deal with that and let the anger go if we don’t, we won’t walk in the Spirit.
Peace with God, oneself and others is doable by walking in the Spirit. Jesus purchased peace with God for us but to stay in peace takes walking in the Spirit, peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God. Put value on your peace.

Walk in peace… Three ways to keep your peace…

How to know if you’re walking in the Spirit part 2.

red apples on tree

Joy

Last week we discussed recognizing if you are walking in the Spirit. We will continue with this same passage found in Galatians. Being led by the Spirit isn’t complicated because God tells how to recognize what is of the Holy Spirit and what is not. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” The word of God is clear on what fruit we will be producing when we are led by His Spirit this should be the fruit coming forth from us.

Unfortunately, we forget the practical aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. I personally believe God is practical. I know His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts, but in understanding what it means to be led by the Spirit it seems practical to me. If I’m not walking in the Spirit, I produce the fruit or actions of the flesh.

The flesh is obvious, it’s stated in Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”  When you are a child of God and you follow your own agenda you will manifest hostility, quarreling, outburst of anger etc.  but when you follow the Holy spirit you will walk in peace, joy and righteousness that is the Kingdom of God.

Romans 14:17-19 NLT “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness (righteousness) and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18) If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19) so then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”

So, let us look at the second fruit listed which is joy. What is joy? According to the dictionary the word joy means “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” In the Strong’s Concordance joy in this passage means “cheerfulness i.e., calm delight-gladness…” Joy is more of a state of being while happiness can be based in things, joy comes from within, and it is also a promise of God. He does not promise happiness He promises joy. In Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Joy based in Christ is stable and full of thankfulness, kindness and mercy.  The joy we have in Christ Jesus outshines the trials and persecutions we experience. When joy is based in Christ Jesus it is fixed and focused on Him.  No matter what each day brings, as when we are led by the Spirit of God, we will produce joy.

Joy is a state of being that does not depend on the circumstances or people. Although, if we get our eyes on others it will steal your joy that is why the ‘Accuser of the brethren’ tries to keep us focused on people instead of the Lord. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  The word joy in this passage is the same meaning as in Galatians. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and not people.

Let us remember that fruit is seen and experienced by others, my prayer is that people see Christ and not us.

How to know if you are walking in the spirit? Part 1

shallow focus photography of yellow lime with green leaves

The Bible tells us how to know if you are walking and being led by the Spirit.  It also tells us in Galatians what is not of the Spirit is flesh and gives us the fruit (actions and attitudes) of flesh.  Verse 16 says, “I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5: 19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

So, then what is the fruit of walking in the Spirit?  And why are there nine fruit of the Spirit? Should it have said fruits?  I think sometimes we think of them separately but, they are one.  When we walk in the Spirit, we produce fruit. Jesus said, ‘you will know them by their fruit.’ He was referring to false prophets/ teachers.  My mom use, to tell us, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’  Which is a common statement, but it is true. We can tell by someone’s actions, tones, and facial expressions what they really mean.  Anyone can say anything, but the proof is in the action.

I sensed in the spirit it is time to write about the nine fruit of the Spirit. The scripture I am referring to is in Galatians 5:22-23 NKJ “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”  When you walk and live in the Spirit this is what you will produce, or I should say what will come forth from you.

Since Love is first on the list we will start with love.

What is love? ‘God is love.’ Since love is an aspect of the Spirit and appointed as fruit what does it look like in action? When a tree has fruit we are able to see, smell and taste it and we know by that it is an apple, orange, pear or lemon tree for example, therefore fruit is seen and known by distinctive traits.  It is the same with love. Love is not just a word used to describe a feeling. Love is a commitment to someone or something. Love is seen in action

The Bible says in John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” The Father sent the Son to die for our sins so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life with Him.

I Corinthians 13 describes love.  Verse 4 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself,  is not puffed up; 5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7) bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things, 8) love never fails…”

Love to me means one lays down its life, it sees the good in others, it is gentle and kind, it long endures, love makes and upholds boundaries, it serves others. Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Most of us would not harm ourselves therefor love does no harm to another. I know that love is essential to our way of life.

As a believer in Christ, it is most important to allow God to change in us what needs changing. Such as actions and attitudes that do not line up with His character.  First ask the Holy Spirt to search your heart and show you if there is anything in the way of love. God will show us when we humble ourselves, pray and ask so that we can confess it, repent and turn from it.  God cares for and about you.

What do you base your Love on? 

Three steps to walking in God’s Power and Might?


How to be an overcomer in 2023

brown mountains

overcoming in 2023

Have you ever faced obstacles that seems unsurmountable? I can tell you at the time you’re in them, it feels and looks like nothing is changing and it may even seem hopeless. But one of the things I have learned throughout life is, God may seem silent, but He is always working on our behalf. There are times that I don’t have the answer of why it happened or that the outcome isn’t what I wanted but God is not as far away as you might think.

When I lost my mom, it seemed like life would never be the same and in one respect it wasn’t but my mom is in heaven pain free and that knowledge gives me hope that I will meet her there one day. Losing my sister was unexpected and a tough time but out of that tragedy God gave me a stronger relationship with my niece and nephew. Which I am so thankful for. 

Throughout my life I have learned that the Word of God is powerful and effective. That what the bible states is true in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  When I do not understand what is happening or why it is the length of time it is, I remind myself of this scripture.  I personally like to speak out the scriptures so that I hear it when say it. It gets in the heart and mind deeper.

You may be reading this blog post and going through something so hard that you don’t understand and want to know why? We can’t answer the why all the time, but we can trust in God through Christ Jesus sacrifice for us to bring us through what ever we are going through. When I wrote this, I had been sick for weeks with on and off bronchitis but even though my lungs were congested, and my cough was rough so rough it made my eye bleed. I still could praise God in my heart and say it is well with my soul.  Because my peace comes from Christ’s peace, my joy isn’t based on my situation it is based in His joy which gives me strength. My soul is content in His love for me whether I am abased or abound I know God is with me and for me because I am His child.

How do you overcome? The answer is through Christ Jesus strength. His grace is sufficient for you. No matter what we go through God will go with us when we are His. You overcome through trusting Him, obedience to His word and abiding in Him.

You too can be an overcomer and have His peace today. How by trust, obey and abide in Him.

Trust… obey

What Are The Three ‘Starting Over’ Factors?

Are You Quieted by His Love?

How To Be Thankful And Grateful.

Gratitude to me is thankfulness in action. Being thankful is not only good manners it is a heart response to show appreciation to others.  We are celebrating the ‘Thanksgiving Holiday’ this month, but we need to be thankful and grateful all year long. Thankfulness and gratitude comes from the heart of humility. It shows appreciation to others without resentment or wanting something in return.

According to the dictionary what does grateful mean? Grateful is “feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful” received or experienced with gratitude; welcome”

“By definition: thankfulness is feeling pleased and relieved. Gratefulness is showing appreciation for something done or received. Being thankful is more about expressing a feeling like saying “thank you.” “Where thankfulness is an emotion, gratitude is an attitude of appreciation under any circumstance. Gratitude involves being thankful, but it is more than that. Gratitude means expressing thankfulness and being appreciative of life daily even when nothing exciting happens.”

These definitions show us the difference between the words but in reality they both are necessary to have in life. Feelings will follow thoughts, but gratitude shows through in your attitude.

Ask yourself these three questions to know if you are a thankful and grateful.

First, do I appreciate the little gestures of kindness?  Secondly, do I express my gratitude with words and deeds? Thirdly, do I look for ways to express my thankfulness? If you consistently do these things your living with a thankful and grateful heart. 

If not, there is hope for you. By looking at your thoughts and actions. We change when we repent and ask God to forgive us for not being thankful. Then ask the Lord to show you how to be thankful for the trivial things in life.  Start a thankful list to remind yourself of things that are good and pleasant. Enjoy the trivial things in life by looking at the beauty around you and appreciate it. These small steps will lead you to having a thankful and grateful heart.

Here are a few thankful Scriptures to mediate on: I suggest saying them out loud so that you will hear them.

Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for his mercy endures forever.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be make know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 95:2 “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.”

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”

Are You, Your worst enemy?

What does are you your worst enemy mean? It means the way we think affects our life. Our thoughts can trigger emotions and our thoughts left unchecked can become mindsets and strongholds.

When we put ourselves down through unhealthy thinking patterns, we become our worst enemy.  These patterns become automatic, before you realize it you are speaking to your self unhealthy things about yourself, life, and others.

Shame, rejection, bitterness, unforgiveness, and fear are just a few issues that affect our thinking. Abuses are the most common culprit for thinking and feeling bad about yourself. Whether it is from present or past abuse it can affect how one feels and thinks about themself.

As you read this article ask yourself 1) Do I speak negatively about myself when things go wrong? 2) Do I blame myself when things don’t workout the way I think they should? 3) Can I separate my being from my doing?

If you answered yes to those questions, then it is time to refuse the negative narrative you speak to yourself. And allow God to bring healing into those areas of your heart. Being aware of our thoughts and how they affect us is possible when you question your thoughts. Ask yourself where this negative thought is coming from? Ask is it true, is it hurtful then turn the thought around to a positive statement of truth according to the Word of God.

For example: If you think ‘I’m not good enough’ then this thought pattern will stop you from trying new things, meeting new people or changing your life. This type of thought pattern is fueled by worthlessness. To conquer this thought pattern, you must speak the truth to yourself. Yes our behaviors can be wrong but who you are as a human being is valuable. God created us with value and worth because He loves us, He sent His only Begotten Son Jesus to die for us. That means to God you are valuable and worth dying for.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” This scripture shows us how to take captive thoughts and strongholds that keep us tied up. Unhealthy negative thoughts about yourself are exalting itself against the knowledge of God. Why because God created us in His image.

Here are three areas we become our own worst enemy. 1) Thoughts, become our beliefs when we dwell on them. Thoughts left unchecked will produce emotions. Emotions are just that emotions they are not facts. Same as our opinions they also are not facts. Our perspective can also not be facts. Our opinions and perspective come from our thinking processes. Therefore, thoughts affect our actions.

2) Our behaviors left unrestrained will cause ourselves and others’ problems. My mom would say “Actions speak louder than words.” Which is true but let us add to this statement that ‘actions are thoughts being acted out.’ Usually, we do what we think on if our thoughts are unrestrained. And when we do our actions will affect our outcome. Let us clarify these statements. Unrestrained habitual negative thinking produces unrestrained actions. Actions affect our outcome. The outcome is a product of our thoughts put into actions. The bible says what we sow we reap.

3) In certain situations, our result becomes a product of our actions. We cannot control what others do or every circumstance that happens in life. But keeping in context to this article certain results come from our own unhealthy thinking patterns and actions.

When I was younger my thoughts would make me feel less than others but as I allowed the Spirit of God to teach me according to God’s Word who I am in Christ, He healed the inferiority thoughts. I wrote in my book “The Father’s Daughters” on somethings that I went through. We do not have to be our own worst enemy. There is enough problems in life we don’t have to help beat ourselves up.

We do need to admit when we are at fault or when our behavior is wrong and sinful. When we have repented and ask for forgiveness God does forgive us. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  We then need to forgive ourselves and walk in His truth.

I do recommend you read the Bible daily. God’s word is truth of who He is and who you are in Him. I also recommend the book “The Father’s Daughters.”  God wants to set His people free so that we can love others as we love ourselves. Jesus died so that we could be free in all areas of our lives.

Amazon.com: The Father’s Daughters: Affirmation, Acceptance and Affection (9798705629275): Melton, Dr. Annette: Books

Three Key Questions to Ask in Making Decisions?

black handled key on key hole

Do you wrestle with making decisions? What is a decision? A decision is a choice between options. Why do we battle in making a choice? The answer lies in each one of us, but several reasons are fear of rejection, fear of being wrong, unwise counsel, lack of prayer, instability, or a divided heart. These are just some reasons but before this article is over, I am believing you will have the tools needed to look at quality decision making as a blessing and not a chore.

In the beginning of October, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “when we run from making decisions, we prolong our problems, open the doors of confusion, distractions, and false hope.”  We make good decisions when we know the facts involved and we investigate the options. Decisions can stir up strong emotions but basing your decisions on emotions only will cause problems.

I personally pray over my decisions. Both my husband and I pray together over our decisions God is first in our life and marriage, we want Him in all our decision making.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” God gives us wisdom when we ask so therefore if you are wondering what to do ask God what you should do with the choice you need to make. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Trusting God and His word is one of the key elements in good decision making.

Oh, I have made bad decisions in my life like most of us, we don’t always realize it’s a bad decision until the outcome. Most importantly when we have made unwise decisions if we learn from them and apply it to our lives we become healthier in our decision making.

Secondly depending on our personality decision making may be easier. But no matter what type of personality you have, you can make a decision. I say that because we all were created with a will and using your choice which is your will for good decisions is best. Tell yourself you can make a good decision.

Thirdly, ask yourself these three questions. Is this decision God’s will and if the answer is yes, ask the question is it God’s timing. The timing is also an essential element in decision making. Sometimes the things we want are delayed for a season. That doesn’t mean it’s a punishment or something is wrong it’s just not the right time. Then ask yourself what is the way you need to go about it. When I process something, I’m reminded of these three things. An example is when we are planning a large purchase we save for it. Then it doesn’t become a hinderance to our budget.

Blessings on your decision making!