New Believer

Pornography Addiction: Being a Muslim to Christianity

Before I Became a Christian and Pornography Addiction

My life before Jesus Christ is an interesting story. I was not brought up as a Christian. I used to be a Muslim. When I was 9 years old, my family moved from Iran where I was born and raised and came to Texas due to a job offer my dad got. In middle school, I started to lose my faith and relationship with God. All of the issues in the world, especially the issues of terrorism and wars over religion caused me to stop believing in religion. I began to just focus on my selfish desires and going after immoral things. I began to develop a problem with pornography addiction. When I entered high school, my main focus was on pornography and sex chat rooms, instead of God or my studies.

God Used a Movie to Get My Attention

I had lost hope in living my life. I would ask God to end my life, so I could burn in hell and be punished for my sins. Then everything changed when I saw the movie, Son of God. God used that movie to help me regain my interest and desire for religion. After watching the movie, Son of God, I asked one of my friends if he knew of good churches in our area. He invited me to go with him to his Baptist church that Sunday. At first, I thought he was joking with me, but he was serious. When I went to that church, I fell in love with it and with God’s Word. After that experience, I decided to become a Christian. So on Easter 2014, I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior!

My main focus was on pornography and sex chat rooms. I lost hope. Then I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. Click To Tweet

My Family Was Against my Faith

When my family found out, they argued with me and tried to convince me that Christ is just a prophet, not the son of God. They wanted me to wait until I was 18 to become a Christian.

However, on August 10th I was baptized against my family’s will. My older brother threatened that I would be dead to him if I got baptized. However, I still did it because that was God’s will for me. My life after accepting Christ has not been easy. I keep getting persecuted for my faith. Every time I do something wrong, my parents tell me how can you do this and be a Christian or go to church.

7 Steps Towards A Porn-Free Life

God’s Message to Me

I have had times in my life where I thought God has given up on me, but through prayer and reading the Bible I was able to learn more about God’s great love for me. In my life, I feel I have had many miracles.

My first miracle was on Christmas Eve. At the end of the service, I heard God’s voice in my head saying, come home Reza, come home again to me. After I heard that voice, I went and prayed with a pastor. My second miracle was a time when God told me who I am. He showed me that I am his child that He loves me and has great plans for me. Another time God spoke to me through his Word. He told me that I should let him work things out with my brother. The most recent miracle came at a time when I was feeling depressed. As I prayed, I saw Jesus giving me his hand. It was as if he was saying, “put your trust in me and I will help you get through this day.”

What I have I learned from being a Christian is that, if it is God’s will, it will happen, no matter what. My favorite Bible verses are –

Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under the law but under grace.”

Romans 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death, but Gods free gift is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Christ Alone, Reza

Are you struggling with an addiction to pornography, know there is hope and Jesus loves you. Through His grace, you are forgiven and you can overcome your addiction. Download TheHopeLine’s free eBook today.

Photo Credit: Ashkan Forouzani

I Can’t Let a Broken Heart Break My Life

My name is Megan. I broke up with my boyfriend. We had a long distance relationship for a year and a half. During that time, he would say how much he loved me and that he couldn’t live a life without me and everything will be perfect when we are finally together in the same room one day. But those words were deceitful. He gave me this high hope. I worked so hard to save money so I could visit him. We’d been through so much together. I was blind to how I was being treated.

A Deceitful & Hurtful Relationship

I gave up a lot for this relationship. He said love is jealous, so I lost friends because he was very possessive. I even lost a career because he didn’t like my manager. He said the manager cared too much about me. My boyfriend demanded I talk with him when he had problems. I was always there to cheer him up. When he had issues, I was there to listen and to give him my opinion, when he asked for it. I gave him my all, but he never appreciated it.

He said all I ever wanted was an argument with him. If I confronted him about things, he would say we were not in sync. He would blame me for every mistake he made. When he got angry, he would talk to people online and tell them he was sick of me and call me names. Then he would later apologize to me and somehow convince me it was all my fault. He would say if I just wouldn’t argue with him then he wouldn’t do that.

8 Signs Your Dating Relationship Is Unhealthy

Enough is Enough

He broke my heart too many times. He cheated on me, but then would come to me crying saying all the right words. I was angry and disappointed, but I forgave him. He knew I would forgive him, so every time he would blame me for everything he did wrong. It was always about me not making him happy.

Finally, I realized I was a fool to keep the relationship going with the hope he would change. He didn’t. I began wondering if I am a weak person. Why would I love this man so much that I would allow myself to become so attached to him? I finally broke up with him. It was the hardest thing to do, and it hurt me a lot. I cried for days. I hoped that he would at least call me and ask if I was alright. He didn’t. I called my mom and she prayed for me in tears as she had to bear all my pain everytime this man hurt my feelings.

A Search for Hope

Not wanting to cause my mom any more pain, I searched the internet for advice on my problem. That’s when I found TheHopeLine. As soon as I logged in to chat, there was a coach available to talk to me. I didn’t expect it would work, but it did work. I told the coach my problem and the coach listened patiently and gave me some advice. It really touched my heart. Why would a stranger bother to listen and to give advice and pray for me? I felt like I was all alone with my pain, but here was someone willing to listen to me.

The coach asked me if I believed in God and tears started falling down my face. I had forgotten God for a long long time. Even though I had a good Christian upbringing, when I went to college I left it all behind. I thought God had forgotten me too because I had betrayed Him. When my mom prayed with me, I let her because that’s what she wanted. But when the coach asked me if she could pray for me, I knew I needed it more than anything. It gave me peace. I realized God had never left me…all this time He was around…watching me.

I know it is not an accident that I went to look for something to read and ended up at TheHopeLine. God led me here. I felt so dirty and so sinful. I felt I didn’t deserve God, but then my mom told me if you still feel guilty, it shows that God loves you because you can still feel it. If your heart becomes so stone cold and feels nothing, it means you reject God. That very moment I knew God never left me even though I turned my back on Him. He’s been there waiting for me, and He is using all that I am going through to lead me home to Him. I feel ashamed of myself, but also so grateful because God reached out to me through the coaches at TheHopeline.

It’s a Journey

I still struggle with my emotional pain. A coach reminded me that there is no easy way to fix my broken heart. When I wanted to harm myself, something held me back, and I went to talk to a coach instead. The talks with the coach really pushed me back to being rational. I could not harm myself for what I felt inside. It would not solve my problem. It would just keep me broken. I couldn’t do that to my parents or fail the coaches that God had provided for me. Why would I doubt that God couldn’t help me through this?

I can’t let a broken heart break my life. There is a choice between giving in to my pain or giving it all to God. I choose the second. I decided to let God give me the strength to endure my moment of pain, to let God walk with me in my darkest time, to let Him hold my hand and show me the way to deal with my brokenness.

The HopeCoach suggested I read blogs on this site, and, of course, read the Bible. It helped me a lot and I began to see myself more clearly. There are lots of people who suffer more than me, yet they aren’t giving in or giving up. We all have our own problems, even the coaches. Yet the coaches give their time to help someone in their time of need.

I can't let a broken heart break my life. I decided to let God walk with me in my darkest time. Click To Tweet

Hurt Again, but Stronger with God

After 3 weeks, suddenly my ex called me. He was drunk and crying. I asked what happened? He said after we broke up, he found someone else. He fell in love with her so bad, and he already had sex with her. But then he did something that made her break up with him. Hearing this stabbed me right through my heart. He kept on talking of how much he loves the girl and that he can’t lose her as she is the love of his life. He tried to kill himself to show how sorry he was to this girl. It caused my heart to break again to realize he didn’t feel anything for me while I was in pain.

But I knew the right thing to do, so I told him what the HopeCoaches had told me…to kill yourself over a broken heart is not wise. I asked if I could pray for him. He said okay, even though he didn’t believe in God. I put aside all my pain because his life was at stake. I asked God to give me strength because if God leads him to talk to me, then may I do that according to God’s will. So I told my ex, “Your life has a purpose, and to end your life because of a broken heart is just not fair.” He thanked me for always being there, but then once again blamed me! He said all of this wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t broken up with him.

After that, I was just numb. My heart felt cold. I just cried out to God. What is it He wants to teach me? I reached out to a HopeCoach again before I allowed myself to be flooded with bad thoughts. The coach encouraged me and prayed for me. I realized God did not let me down. I don’t know where I got the strength to keep my cool when my ex called me. Somehow God filled my heart with compassion…giving me the ability to help my ex realize that no matter what happens, our lives have a purpose and that God loves him and cares about him.

God’s Love is Greater Than a Broken Heart

Through this whole experience, my heart was torn to pieces, but it is still working and is actually stronger than it was before. I have learned the only true and unfailing love comes from God. I am grateful that God showed me His Love. A love so deep that he gave His only Son to die for our sins. Jesus experienced all the pain and hurtful things that we do and so much more. He died for people who were cursing him, rejecting him, and demeaning him. He demonstrates a love that conquers all that.

Humans can hurt each other in every worst way, but God’s love conquers it all. That’s what I have come to understand from my experience. Yes, I still feel down sometimes, but I’m no longer lost. God is putting me back together. He is shaping me. I trust He wouldn’t let me go through all this without a purpose. I know He has a plan for me. A great one!

I want to thank all the coaches who have been there for me in my time of need, you are all God’s hands. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories here. Reading all the stories gives me strength. That is the power of sharing! God bless you all.

And last but not least…Thank you, God for this wonderful site, wonderful people, and wonderful love you let us share with each other even though we are all strangers. You are wonderful, God! There is none like You! Let us all be the living proof that You are God. Amen.

If you are questioning whether your relationship is healthy or toxic, we are here to help you through this.

Photo Credit: Brooke Cagle

How Can I Find Hope?

by Dawson McAllister

LIFE.

It can be really, stinkin’ hard sometimes, right?

When your situation gets really tough…You just can’t find happiness anymore…Everything seems to be going against you…

What keeps you from just giving up?

HOPE.

Have you ever wondered, “How Can I Find Hope?”

Hope keeps you hanging on because it allows you to believe that:

Things will get better.
You have a purpose to fulfill.
There is a plan for your life.
You are cared for

But I would like to suggest that people are losing hope at alarming rates.

As the founder of TheHopeLine which has been around for 25 years, I’ve seen trends. While relationship issues with friends, dating, and parents used to be the number one thing people wanted to talk about…now it is self-worth issues, suicide, depression.

And statistically, we can look at national suicide rates and note that they are up significantly. The Centers for Disease Control recently released a report that shows that between 1999 and 2016 suicide rates went up by more than 30 percent in over half the states.

Why are we losing hope?

People are losing hope at alarming rates. But, why are we losing hope? @DawsonRadio Click To Tweet

5 Reasons for Losing Hope.

In my many conversations with teenagers and young adults, I hear variations of these five reasons over and over. I believe these statements capture some of the leading causes of hopelessness:

They have no experience receiving unconditional love which causes feelings of worthlessness.
Their identities are tied to changing circumstances and not a secure source, so they don’t know who they are.
Life is meaningless. They can’t find a purpose.
Intense feelings of being alone, rejected, abandoned…no one cares.
Inability to find anything to look forward to.

Do any of those describe you?

What Causes People to Feel so Lost?

Let’s consider the prevailing way people view the world in this moment. It’s often referred to as the postmodern worldview.

Perhaps this worldview can best be summarized with, “You do you.”

In some ways – I appreciate this saying – it allows people to be accepted for who they are without being judged harshly. “Be yourself.” There’s nothing wrong with that.

But on a deeper level, the message is, “You can believe whatever makes the most sense to you based on your life circumstances. There is no one truth. It’s all relative to your experiences.”

While this may sound good on the surface, the reality is it leaves a lot of people in a state of chaos.

Because what is true anymore and, well, what does work best for you?

When we are unstable without something solid to hold onto we start to lose our sense of self, our sense of purpose, our sense HOPE.

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To Those Who Feel Worthless

Where do you start?

There are over 4,200 belief systems in the world today.

If any of them can be true…where do you start?

As you search for your own truth, you realize you are completely untethered. There is nothing to anchor yourself to. Especially if what you believe depends upon your circumstances because circumstances change. People in your life change. Everything is constantly moving. So if you are tying your identity and your belief system to your circumstances (even if that belief system is that you don’t believe in anything), what happens when your circumstances change?

You once again feel lost. Untethered.

So let me ask you a question that the postmodern worldview would appreciate…

How’s life working for YOU right now? How is what you believe or don’t believe working for you? Is it giving you hope? Do you feel secure? Is it helping you feel loved and cherished?

What Give Us Hope?

To match the 5 reasons people are losing hope that I mentioned above, I believe we have hope when:

We feel loved and valued.
We know who we are without a doubt.
Our purpose is clear.
We don’t feel abandoned.
Our future is bright.

How can we have this security?

Only one thing has consistently provided all of these things for me and that is my Christian faith. I am not talking about religion, but about my relationship with Jesus and my faith in Him.

Now you may decide to stop reading at this point. You may think that I am failing to give you practical advice. To which I say two things:

My practical advice for HOPE is to find unconditional love, a secure identity, a purpose, a community and a confident knowledge that your future is secure.
The only way I know how to find these things is through my faith. So I ask you, what kind of person would I be if I have found HOPE and I believe it is the ONE TRUTH that is UNCHANGING, and then I chose NOT to share it with you, would I be showing my genuine care and concern for you? If I kept this to myself when I believe it is the answer, would that be right?

So I hope you will keep reading because I really do genuinely care. If you are feeling hopeless, what do you have to lose?

I am going to briefly share how my faith has provided the above 5 things for me and how it gives me HOPE. For further detail, I hope you will download our free eBook, Understanding Hope.

You are Loved

My faith gives me the hope that I am loved by God. Always and forever. And so are you.

Even when you mess up. God loves you.

He created you and wants a relationship with you. The God of the universe thinks about you personally and wants the best for you. ALWAYS.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:17-18)

And when bad things happen, that is not what He wants. He still loves you.

In this sinful world, people are going to fail you. Even those who are supposed to love you unconditionally, they are going to let you down sometimes. They aren’t perfect. And if every time a person fails you, you in turn start to wonder if you are worthy of love. You will lose hope.

That is why knowing you are loved by God is an anchor of hope! You are loved no matter what!

You have Worth

Do you find yourself tying your identity and your worth to:

What you achieve · What you look like · Who approves of you · Mistakes of your past

As a Christian, your worth and your identity are no longer defined by what the world says about you but rather by who God says you are. In the Bible He says you are:

Chosen ·Accepted ·Treasured ·Beautiful ·Protected ·Able ·Complete ·Known· Overcomer ·Masterpiece ·Rescued ·Held

Once you believe in the God of the Bible, these promises are yours to claim.

There is such hope in knowing that nothing can change who God says you are. Your identity is secure.

You have a Purpose

The whole idea that life is a vapid hole without meaning goes away when you are a Christian.

God designed you uniquely and created you in His image. He wouldn’t waste his time if you had no reason for existing.

God created you because he wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to love you, and in return, be loved by you. He is a personal God. We are here to praise Him for how great He is! To live lives that honor and glorify our Holy creator.

One way we honor and glorify God is to love others and that is our other purpose. In the Bible, God tells us that the most important things for us to do are to love God with all our hearts and love the people around us just as much as we love ourselves. Your purpose then is to:

Love God … Love yourself … Love others

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt 22:36-39)

Your purpose is to: Love God … Love yourself … Love others. #LoveGod #LoveOthers @DawsonRadio Click To Tweet

You are Not Alone

God promises to NEVER abandon his children.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5&6)

When you take the leap of faith to believe, there will be times when God feels super close and times he feels farther away, but faith allows you to trust that God’s promises are always true. Even when you feel alone, you recognize that is just a feeling. God is still there.

Years of believing in God have proven this truth to me. There have been many times in my life where my circumstances would have made me feel hopeless and alone, but God has always been my anchor to hold onto in the storms. The knowledge that He is unchanging, unmovable, trustworthy and good allow me to have HOPE.

Knowledge God is unchanging, unmovable, trustworthy and good allow me to have #HOPE. @DawsonRadio Click To Tweet

Your Future is Amazing

Do you ever feel like you have nothing to look forward to? That the same despair you may be feeling now will always be with you?

By putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, your life is made new. You get a fresh start. You are forgiven, no matter what you’ve done. God will pour out mercy, peace, grace, blessings, and love on you. Your future is secure.

And once you have given your life to Christ, you can rest assured that, no matter what you face in this lifetime, you can look forward to eternal life in heaven.

And heaven…well, it’s going to be great! More beauty than we can comprehend. But even better is the pure joy we will have. There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more death.

Is This Hope for You?

It is certainly available to you if you choose it.

If you desire this kind of hope, please download our free eBook on Understanding a Hope to learn more.

You can also visit our Get Help page to talk to someone about this.

Here’s the thing…. Christians still have problems. We still make mistakes. Bad things still happen.

Once sin came into the world, God never promised us life would be easy. However, God promises to overcome all of it, to love us always, and to never leave us.

Read this and see if you relate:

I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom.

That’s from the Bible – nothing much has changed in human feelings over thousands of years. Here is what the writer of that passage went on to say.

But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times. (Lamentations 3:19-26 MSG)

God provided hope to people then and still does today!

For more help with understanding hope and your purpose, download our free eBook!

Ronnie’s Life Changing Decision: EP 9

Is Your Life a Mess?

Find Hope and Peace Through a Relationship with God.

In This Episode:

Some of our problems are so great, only God can solve them. He is the only one who has the power to rescue us and transform our lives. In this episode, I have a heart to heart talk with Ronnie who’s been hooked on meth and needs something in his life to change or he’s not going to make it.

Did Today’s Episode Get You Thinking?

Are you at a place in your life where your problems seem unsolvable, or where you really need something to change? If you are desperate for something more, or if you need purpose and answers for your life, this is the podcast for you. Real and lasting hope can only come through a relationship with Jesus. When we reach out to God, that’s when he rescues us.

Resources for help with making a life changing decision:

Take a look at my blogs: To Those Who Feel Worthless, What Does God Say About Who We Are, ‘Identity’: A Chat with Christian Recording Artist Colton Dixon, and 7 Things I Learned About Prayer.
Are you wondering what life’s purpose is? Download the free eBook: Understanding a Relationship with God and the Basics of Christianity
Need to talk about your issues? Sign up for an Email Mentor
Need prayer? We have people that will pray for you at ThePrayerZone

Would you consider doing something for me?

If you like this episode and think someone else might too, please share it on Facebook and Twitter.

One last thing,

My podcast, our website, everything we do is entirely listener supported. If you’d like to help us to continue our work, please make a gift right now at our Give Now page.

The next episode is where we will go in-depth into Casey, Mackenzie, and Corey’s struggles. Casey’s baby is in the hospital and she’s struggling with addiction, Mackenzie has an eating disorder and Corey’s home life is a mess. My goal is to offer insights to them which could change their lives and hopefully, yours as well.

Remember, whatever you do, Never Lose Hope!
Dawson

What Does It Mean to be Saved by Grace?

Receiving Something You Don’t Deserve

If you have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation, you have been saved by grace! But what exactly does that mean?

Being saved by grace means that we have received a gift from God that we do not deserve. God gives us his favor, his love, his son…despite the fact that we have done nothing to earn it.

God sent his son to pay for our sins through his death on a cross…EVEN though we are sinners who have done nothing for God. God freely gives GRACE to us out of His love for us.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

And now that we have received His Grace – we are made right with God. We can have a relationship with him. And we can look forward to eternal life in heaven with him.

Sometimes people refer to this acronym for Grace:

God’s

Riches

Christ’s

Expense

We are the recipients of all the goodness of God through Christ’s death.

This Amazing Grace has been sung about for years by millions of people.

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

Why would God Give Us His Grace?

God knows we are sinners. He knows we mess up. He wants us to live obedient lives but knows that we will never be able to do that on our own. Even so, He still wants a relationship with us.

So Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died a sacrificial death on a cross. All we need to do is believe that is the truth and we will be “washed clean” by Jesus’ blood. When God, the Father, looks at anyone who believes in Jesus, His son, He sees them as forgiven and pure, and they can be in relationship with Him.

What does grace look like?

Picture this: You are standing before a judge who has a huge list of all the crimes you have committed that are punishable by death. However, there is someone in the crowd who promises to take your punishment of death, and you will be given their clean slate. That results in getting something you don’t deserve. And that is what Jesus did for you. But just as you would need to ACCEPT the clean slate in court which you didn’t earn, you need to believe in and receive this same gift from Jesus.

Accepting God’s gift of grace is the best decision you can ever make!

Jesus! What a Beautiful Name!

One more song for you today. It’s all about the beautiful name of Jesus because he made a way for us to be in relationship with God. As the song says:

You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now.

Be encouraged by these Verses of Hope for Salvation

Who Does God Say That You Are?

In Christ:

I Am Accepted I am a child of God. (John 1:12)

I am Jesus’ chosen friend. (John 15:15)

I am holy and acceptable to God (justified). (Rom. 5:1)

I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. (1 Cor. 3:16)

I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. (1 Cor. 6:19, 20)

I am a part of Christ’s Body, part of His family. (1 Cor. 12:27)

I am a saint, a holy one. (Eph. 1:1)

I have been adopted as God’s child. (Eph. 1:5)

I have been bought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins. (Col. 1:14)

I am complete in Christ. (Col. 2:10)

I Am Secure I am forever free from punishment. (Rom. 8:1- 2)

I am certain all things work together for good. (Rom. 8:28)

I am free from any condemning charges against me. (Rom. 8:31f)

I cannot be separated from the love of God. (Rom. 8:35f)

I am hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)

I am certain that God will finish the good work he has begun in me. (Phil 1:6)

I am a citizen of heaven, along with the rest of God’s family. (Eph. 2:19)

I can find grace and mercy in times of need. (Heb. 4:16)

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)

I Am Significant I am salt and light to those around me. (Matt. 5:13,14)

I am part of the true vine, joined to Christ and able to produce much fruit. (John 15:1, 5)

I am hand-picked by Jesus to bear fruit. (John 15:16)

I am a Spirit-empowered witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)

I am a temple of God and the Holy Spirit lives in me. (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19)

I am at peace with God and He has called me to tell others that they can also have peace with God. (2 Cor. 5:17)

I am God’s co-worker. (2 Cor. 6:1)

I am seated with Christ in heaven. (Eph. 2:6)

I am able to do all things through Christ who gives me strength! (Phil. 4:13)

More Verses of Hope.

Is My Relationship with God Secure?

Will This Last?

There are many relationships in our lives that don’t last. We might see a divorce, friends we lose track of, or maybe even the death of someone we loved. So, maybe you are wondering about this new relationship with God…will this last?

God tells us, “I will never fail you, nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). When we place our faith in Jesus, wanting Him in our lives, we become His child and forever can rest secure in His love. The following Scripture will help you see what is now true of your relationship with Him.

We did not earn a relationship with God, nor do we have to struggle to hold onto it. The Bible is clear about this. Once we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we were accepted by God.

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous [in right standing, ok with him]. He did this through Christ Jesus when [on the cross] he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” (Romans 3:22-24)

The following Scripture will help you see what is now true of your relationship with Him.

Before we became Christians…

You may not have been aware of the following. However, before becoming Christians, the Bible describes us as:

enemies of God (Romans 5:10)
helpless (Romans 5:6)
ungodly (Romans 5:6)
sinners (Romans 5:8)
lost (Matthew 18:11)
poor (Revelation 3:17)
blind (2 Corinthians 4:4)
under God’s judgment (John 3:36)
dead through our sins (Ephesians 2:1)
foolish, slaves to passions (Titus 3:3)
doing evil deeds (Colossians 1:21)
far from God (Ephesians 2:13)
without hope (Ephesians 2:12)
walking in darkness (John 8:12)

Now that we are Christians

From the moment we receive Christ into our lives, we have a new relationship with God, and a new life. Here is how the Bible describes us now that we have Christ in our life. We are:

at peace with God (Romans 5:1)
a child of God (John 1:12)
completely forgiven (Colossians 1:14)
brought near to God (Ephesians 2:13)
sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
no longer living in darkness (Ephesians 5:8)
members of His kingdom (Colossians 1:13,14)
loved by God (1John 4:9,10; John 15:9)
given eternal life (John 3:16)
secure in God’s love (Romans 8:38,39)
saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Christ dwells in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17)
chosen by God (Ephesians 1:4,5)
crossed from death to life (John 5:24)
alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:15)
righteous in God’s eyes (2Corinthians 5:21)
led by a caring Shepherd (John 10:27)

Jesus said, “…whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). He describes that further saying, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:28-30). He holds us securely.

Further we can be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Jesus fully paid for our sins and once we thank Him for that, receive Him into our lives, desiring for our lives to be His, He makes us His child, giving us full forgiveness and acceptance with Him.

Our Relationship is Protected

This relationship is protected, not by what we do, but because of God’s character and Jesus’ death on our behalf. Jesus purchased our relationship with Him, canceling the penalty of sin that stood between us and God. And so we become His child, forgiven, indwelt by Him, declared righteous in His eyes, because Jesus covers our sin. Unfortunately, we still will sin. We still will find ourselves choosing to do things our way instead of God’s way. But this does not change the security of our relationship with Christ. We stand secure in this relationship, because of what God says about it. “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (Romans 5:1).

Salvation through Jesus is purely God’s gift, received once by faith. At that moment we have begun a relationship with God that lasts eternally. Our relationship with Christ does not hinge on personal holiness, or levels of faith, or sacrifices, or good works or religious acts. God doesn’t intend for our focus to be on our performance. He desires our focus to be on Jesus.

Unlike other relationships we have in this world, our relationship with God is secure because He brought us into this relationship in the first place,and He is faithful to keep us unto eternal life. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This Guest Post comes from StartingwithGod.com, a safe place to explore your new relationship with God and ask questions about your new faith. The above article was originally published here.

How Can I Be Sure I Am Really Saved?

How do I know that Christ is in my life?

Did you receive Christ into your life according to His promise in Revelation 3:20? “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Knowing Jesus Christ is the most exciting relationship you can have. It is the beginning of a life of adventure with an all-loving, all-powerful God. If you have asked Christ to come into your life, you can be sure that your relationship with God is secure. As a result of Christ’s death on the cross, the only sufficient provision for a relationship with God, you have been completely forgiven and accepted by Him.There are many exciting things that are true in your relationship with Christ. Understanding these truths will help you build a firm foundation on which to grow.

My Feelings About God Keep Changing

1. Feelings can be unreliable

You might have expectations about how you should feel after placing your trust in Christ. While feelings are important, they are unreliable indicators of your sincerity or the trustworthiness of God’s promise. Our feelings change easily, but God’s Word and His character remain constant. This illustration shows the relationship between fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word) and our feelings.

Fact – this chair is strong enough to support you.
Faith – You believe this chair will support you, so you sit in it.
Feeling- You may or may not feel comfortable in this chair, but it continues to support you.

The moment you received Christ by faith, as an act of your will, many things happened, including the following:

Christ came into your life – Revelation 3:20, Colossians 1:27
Your sins were forgiven – Colossians 1:14
You became a child of God – John 1:12
You received eternal life – John 5:24
Your great adventure for which God created you began – John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

2. Dealing with doubts

Even though feelings are important, your relationship with Christ is based on facts, not on feelings that can change daily. Doubts, questions and varying emotions are common parts of everyone’s life, but they are very unreliable gauges of anyone’s relationship with Christ. The Christian lives by faith in the trustworthiness of God and His Word.

But what if you don’t feel like a Christian tomorrow? Place your faith in the faithfulness of God Himself and the trustworthiness of His Word. The more you learn, the more you will be able to answer any doubts with solid facts. Your feelings will begin to respond to the truth of God’s Word and not to your circumstances.

Since you have trusted in Christ’s payment for your sin, understood the basis of your relationship with God and have learned five truths about your relationship, you can be confident in your relationship with Christ.

If you would like to talk through what you have learned, you can journey with a mentor and receive prayer.

This article is an adaptation by The Life Project of Dr. Bill Bright’s material on Knowing Jesus Personally. It was originally posted here.

Photo Credit: Ben White

Your Life Has Wonderfully Changed! How to Live for Jesus.

You are a new creation!

Once you become a Christian there is a shift within you. You are born-again! You accepted Jesus and His love and His great sacrifice for you and now you want to live for Jesus!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Gift Of the Holy Spirit

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the gift of Holy Spirit is given you. You now have God’s power living in you. The Holy Spirit helps you have faith and compassion. It convicts you of right and wrong and gives you the power to resist temptation and make choices to glorify God.

This doesn’t mean you are never tempted to do wrong or that you will never sin again. You can choose to ignore the power of the Holy Spirit in you. But as you continue to pray to God, spend time in His Word, and spend time with other Christians…as you turn your heart TOWARDS God, the more you will fully desire to serve and please God with your life.

As you do this, you will be filled with such joy and peace. Your heart will be overwhelmed by what God has done for you and you will desire to put off your old, bad, self-serving habits and start living for Jesus. You will understand that your old ways can’t fulfill you the way Jesus can.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[^c^] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

As the Holy Spirit lives in you and you walk with God, you will receive the fruit of the Spirit. You will exhibit these traits:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22

How will becoming a Christian Make a Difference in your Life?

First – You can rest assured in God’s unconditional love.

You no longer need to prove yourself or feel unworthy. God loves you and He is FOR you! You find your identity in who God says you are.

“This I KNOW: God is for me.” Psalm 56:9

Second – You have unexplainable peace.

Even when things are tough in life (and they still might be) you believe that since God is for you, He is never going to abandoned you and he is working all things out for your good, even if you don’t understand it all. You trust God and know that HE IS GOOD.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Third – You belong.

You are a member of the family of God. You are welcome here. There is great joy in finding other Christians to be in community with.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Fourth – Your future is secure!

You are going to heaven! Don’t be fooled…heaven and hell are real. And as a Christian you have the security that you are going to heaven to live with God eternally. And quite frankly, heaven’s going to rock!! What a great thing to look forward to!

Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

So How Do You Please God with Your Life?

God has done so much for us. So how do we live in grateful response for all he has done? You live according to His word and you glorify God with all you say and do.

In the Bible you will find many instructions for living. God left us these instructions for a few reasons:

To protect us from ourselves.
To teach us how to love others.
To enlarge the Family of God.
To Bring glory to God.

Did you notice that, “To earn our salvation.” is NOT one of the reasons. We have been saved by grace. However, grace is not opposed to our EFFORT to live a life worthy of God’s gift, it is just opposed to EARNING the gift.

Following God’s Law

The 10 Commandments are found in the Bible and they are often called God’s Law.

The first four Commandments show us how to love God and the last 6 show us how to love others. Here they are:

You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.

Some people think that God’s Laws are restrictive. They don’t want anyone telling them how to live. But God’s laws are actually an act of love…put in place protect us. Take commandment #7, for example, “Do not commit adultery.” God desires to preserve marriages and save us from the pain that cheating can cause. Or commandment #9 – which said another way says, “Do not lie.” God knows that lying hurts you and almost ALWAYS comes back to haunt the liar. You get the picture – God wants the best for you.

Jesus summarized the law like this:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39

In the Bible God also tells us to do the following:

Forgive each other
Care for the poor
Fight for justice
Be kind and compassionate
Take care of the widows and orphans
To tell others about Jesus
And so much more

Go out into this big beautiful world with joy in your heart and Love God and Love Others.

Up Next:

You Belong! How to Find a Church.

Photo Credit – Hunter Johnson

God Wants to Hear from you! How to Pray.

We have a wonderful direct line for talking to God. Prayer.

First John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

The power of prayer comes from faith in a powerful God.

Some think prayer is a duty. Others think of it as a quick fix. And yet others consider it a last resort. The truth is that prayer is the way to talk with your Heavenly Father anytime and anywhere.

Think about your relationship with your best friend- you talk to them, listen to what they have to say and enjoy spending time together. In order to make that relationship grow and be healthy it takes communication. The same is true for your relationship with God. You need to talk to Him. Prayer will draw you closer to Him as you trust him with your heart.

When Should You Pray?

Jesus taught his followers to pray constantly. Jesus said: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10).

Many people pray before a meal asking God to bless their food. Others pray before they fall asleep. These are good practices, but your prayer life can be so much more than “Bless this food.”

Prayer to God can be a conversation anytime…when you are driving, when you are walking, when you are working. You can cry out to God in your time of need and praise God when prayers are answered.

It is also good to set aside time each day to pray. A wonderful way to start your day is by reading the Bible and praying to God.

“Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

What should you pray for?

Many feel they have to pray recited or memorized words. This is fine, but your prayer life can be so much deeper. God wants to hear directly from you. Tell him what is on your heart. You can just talk to God as you would speak to a best friend.

The whole Bible is filled with encouragement to pray: “Pray when you are sick.” “Pray when you need help.” “Pray for peace.” “Pray to confess your sins.” Why are we told to pray so much? It is because God wants to answer our requests.

Sometimes when you don’t know what to pray, read the Psalms aloud to God.

“I have called upon you, for you will answer me, O God; Incline your ear to me, hear my speech.” Psalm 17:6

How to Pray

Jesus teaches us to pray in the Bible with the words of the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13:

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”

The Lord’s Prayer can be memorized and recited. It is a beautiful prayer. But Jesus was also teaching us what’s important in our own personal prayers. The Lord’s prayer demonstrates that prayer should:

Praise God for who He is. We honor God when we humbly come before Him and praise Him for His greatness. He deserves all our praise!
Ask God to meet our needs by sharing our requests with Him.
Confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.

It is important to include all of these things in our prayers. It shouldn’t simply be us telling God our wish list.

Will God Answer Every Prayer

Many people wonder, “Does this mean that we can ask for anything and God will give it to us exactly how we ask?”

The simple answer is no.

First – our prayers need to line up with God’s will. In the Bible it says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14

But how do we know if what we are requesting, lines up with God’s will? The Bible teaches us about the character of God. For example, we know God desires life and love, peace and unity, provision for the sick and poor, and salvation for all. These are just a few of the MANY truths about the will of God.

However, if we are praying for selfish gain or with bad motives, chances are our prayers won’t line up with His will.

Prayers that go unanswered remind us that God is God. We do not control Him. His ways are higher than ours. And His answers are better for us than anything we asked for. – Greg Morse

And yet, sometimes even when we believe we are praying within God’s will, our prayers might not be answered the way we expect or think they should be answered. Sometimes it may seem like it is taking God too long to answer our prayers. It is important to remember that God always has our best interest in mind. His ways are always better than our ways. God might answer our prayers directly, and other times He may answer our prayers in a way we didn’t expect, or it may take years for us to see how God answered our prayers even when we weren’t aware.

Don’t Give Up

Even when it feels like God is not answering your prayers keep praying. Maybe you have an ongoing request such as:

Physical healing
Emotional restoration and healing
A Job
Recovery from addiction
A friend or loved one’s struggle
Finances

You glorify God by needing Him, by asking Him for help, and by counting on Him. – John Piper

If you’ve asked God for what you need and He hasn’t answered yet, don’t stop praying. It is important to keep praying because:

Praying about it will give you hope and with hope comes patience! “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25
Praying to God deepens your relationship with Him. “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8
Praying about it helps you focus on God and not the issue!
God changes you through prayer!
God answers prayers!

“If you need wisdom, ask God and it will be given to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask God, be sure that your faith is in Him alone and that your sole desire for wisdom is to glorify Him. Do not give in to selfish intentions, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do” (James 1:5-8).

Have others pray for you

It is a great blessing to have others pray for us.

“Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

We can also learn a lot about prayer by reading and hearing the prayers of others. You can see how others approach God and lift prayers up to Him.

We have two WONDERFUL ways for you to have others pray for you.

The Prayer Show – This is a live show where people get together and pray for one another. It is hosted by our founder, Dawson McAllister, and his co-host Rachel Cardinal. Join them for live prayer on Facebook, YouTube, andPeriscope on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00 am CT and Wednesday and Sunday nights at 6:00 pm CT.
ThePrayerZone.com – is an interactive prayer website. Here you can post a request for prayer and Prayer Champions will type a prayer to God on your behalf. Check it out and sign up to request prayers.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

Up Next:

Your Life Has Wonderfully Changed! How to Live for Jesus.

Photo credit: Diana Simumpande

God Wants to Talk to You – Reading the Bible.

by Dawson McAllister

The Bible is the Living Word of God. This means that it is as relevant today as it was in the time it was written. The Bible is how God communicates to us, and if we don’t spend time reading it, we will miss out on so many important things that God wants us to know. If you have ever asked yourself how and why to read the Bible, the answers are below.

The Bible is the oldest historical book on record and yet it still speaks to our concerns and issues today and provides great insight, wisdom and truth for how to live our lives. It contains hope-filled promises from the one true God about how much He loves us and will take care of us if we call on Him. This is why it is the best-selling book of all time.

A Bible for Everyone

As you begin your new life with Jesus, you will want to hear from Him each day by reading His words written for us. If you don’t have a Bible, you can find one on-line or download the Bible App to your phone or tablet here: Apple or Google Play

The ap and website both contain many translations of The Bible and Bible reading plans to help you along!

Set Aside Time Each Day

The way to spend time with God is by reading and studying the Bible. Everything that was written in the Bible is there to teach us. Not only does it educate us, but it also offers us hope and encouragement as we patiently wait for God to fulfill His promises. As believers, the more we spend time with God in His word, the more we will grow in our faith and build our trust in Him. This works in much the same way as spending time with our friends. The more we put into our friend relationships by listening to them and talking with them the more we grow to know and trust them.

And the great thing about God? He will never leave you or fail you. His is the single most important relationship you can have so why not make sure it is as strong as it could be?

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

God’s Word Lights the Way

Here’s an analogy –

There are two paths you can chose in life. One path is really difficult. It’s surrounded in darkness, and it’s very rocky. If you choose this path, you will stumble along in life, tripping, squinting in the dark, and struggling the whole way.

The other path is difficult too. There are some really big inclines and declines, but the path is lit up for you. As you take one step at a time, there’s always light a few steps ahead. You can always see the path you’re walking on.

Maybe so far in life, you’ve been choosing the first path. You’ve been stumbling your way in the dark, squinting trying to see, and falling many times. You are making decisions on your own, thinking you can do it yourself and you’re struggling the whole time.

At any time, you can choose to move to the lighted path where your steps are guided by God. God lights your path through the truths in the Bible. These truths become a part of your life by reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on scriptures. As you spend time in the Word, ask God to reveal Himself to you through the scriptures.

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalms 119:105

Where to start reading in the Bible

If you have never read the Bible before, a good place to begin is the Book of John. In reading John you will find out exactly who Jesus is and what He came to earth to do. Additionally, the John is broken down into 21 short easy-to-read chapters. Why is this significant? Experts say it takes 21 days of doing something consistently to create a habit. So, if you read a chapter a day you are forming the habit of getting into God’s Word regularly.

Here is a reading plan that includes devotionals for the book of John. This comes from the Bible website and app mentioned above: Thru the Bible – The Gospel of John, 21-day Study.

Ask God to guide you as you read His Word. May He open your heart and mind to what He wants you to hear.

Up Next:

God Wants to Hear from you! How to Pray.

Photo credit Matt Botsford

You Belong! How to Find a Church.

by Dawson McAllister

You Belong in this Family!

The moment you are saved you are welcomed into the family of God. This promise is given in the Bible, “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12). This family is called the Church. It is important to know a few things about how to find a church in your community.

The Church is so much more than the four walls and roof of a building. The Church is every believer, young and old, all across the world who have called out to God and asked to be saved. In fact, the Church is a chosen people, God’s very own possession.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

So you belong to the broader idea of the church, but how do you go about finding a local church in your community? Here are some tips:

Finding a Local Church

So how do you get connected to this family? As a Christian, you are automatically part of God’s large family called the Universal Church. God also has a smaller family for you to be a part of called a local church. A local church is simply a group of believers in Jesus who have committed to support each other and follow Jesus together. God knows you need the guidance of a pastor, the care of other Christians, and the safety and support of a good church home to help you grow as a Christian.

We have talked about church being like a family. It is important to understand that no church is perfect, just like no family is perfect. In fact, it is best to think of the local church as a hospital. It is full of broken people who are forming a community of believers while finding hope and healing from the Lord. So, how do you find the right one?

These questions might help guide your search:

What Makes a Good Church?

1. Does the church believe that faith in Jesus is the only way to be saved?

Jesus himself tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to be saved. Some churches teach that faith in Jesus is not enough, but rather that there are extra things that need to be done to be saved. This is not what God intended. We can never do enough, on our own to be saved. The salvation message presented should be that the only way to God is through believing in His son Jesus. Believing that he came to earth to die for the sins of mankind and that he also rose again after three days. Death, burial and resurrection. Salvation through grace by faith alone.

2. Does the church believe that the Bible is 100% true and teach from the entire Bible?

Some churches only believe that certain parts of the Bible are true. Others reject the Bible altogether in favor of the writings of their church founder. This is a red flag.

You will want to find a church that respects the Bible as God’s complete Word. Keep in mind that all scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16). It is essential that, in addition to the message of salvation, the church teaches about how you are to grow in the Lord and applies the Bible to our daily life. Look at the information on the church’s website and see if they offer small group Bible studies. Also many church’s post the pastor’s sermons on their website. You may want to listen to a few.

3. Is the church active in the community?

Do they reach out to the community to be the hands and feet of Jesus and serve those in need? Does the church tell others about Jesus? If not, then it is not following one of Jesus’ direct commandments. Jesus tells us to go out into our communities and tell them about God. We should all want to share what God has done for us. It is important to find a church that does the same. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

4. Does the church also have times of fellowship for its members?

Become part of a church that has ways for you to get involved for your own personal growth and encouragement. Do they offer Bible Studies, Sunday School or Small Groups? Are there opportunities to serve within the church?

5. What are the Foundational Beliefs of the Church?

Just as you would want your home to have a solid foundation to support the structure, a church also needs a solid foundation. Here are important foundational beliefs.

Belief in the Trinity. One God in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1. God the Father – Creator of Heaven and Earth
2. God the Son – Jesus who paid the price for our sins
3. God the Holy Spirit – the counselor sent to live within us when we believe.
Baptism (infant or adult) is taught as representation of your salvation. Baptism does not add to your salvation, it does not save you. It is a showing to others that you have accepted Christ into your heart and life and that you want to follow him in your life from this day forward.
Communion or The Lord’s Supper is practiced. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Jesus told his disciples this during his last supper before he died:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

Ask God for Guidance

As you start your search for a church, ask God for guidance. God wants you to find church where you will grow in your faith, be encouraged by other Christians, and serve Him. As you pray to God for direction in this process, trust that He will direct you to exactly where He wants you to be.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Photo credit John-Mark Smith

God Wants to Talk to You – Reading the Bible.

Why do Bad Things Happen?

This Guest Post comes from Everystudent.com, a safe place to explore questions about life and God. We thank them for allowing us to share their response to the very hard question everyone has asked at some point in their life…”Why does God allow bad things to happen?”

How do we explain what we see in this world?

Terrorist attacks, sex slavery, racism, world hunger?

Subconsciously, we probably ask ourselves questions like these quite often. But consciously we rarely do. We’re so busy living our lives we rarely stop and wonder WHY?

But then something happens to wake us up. Our parents get divorced. The girl down the street gets abducted. A relative gets cancer. That wakes us up for awhile. But then we can often sink back into the denial. That is, until another tragedy hits, another incongruence. Then we’re likely to think, Something isn’t right here. Something is really, really wrong. This isn’t how life’s supposed to be!

So, WHY do bad things happen?

Why isn’t this world a better place?

There is an answer to the WHY question, found in the Bible. But it’s not an answer that most people like to hear: the world is the way it is because it’s the world that we, in a sense, have asked for.

Sound strange?

What or who could make this world different than the way it is? What or who could guarantee that life is pain-free, for everyone, all the time?

God could. God could accomplish that. But he doesn’t. At least not right now. And we’re angry with him as a result. We say, “God can’t be all-powerful and all-loving. If he were, this world wouldn’t be the way it is!”

We say this hoping that God will then change his position on the matter. Our hope is that putting a guilt trip on him will make him change the way he’s doing things.

But he doesn’t seem to budge. WHY doesn’t he?

God doesn’t budge — he doesn’t change things right now — because he’s giving us what we asked for: a world where we get to treat him as though he is absent and unnecessary.

Remember the story of Adam and Eve? They ate the “forbidden fruit.” That fruit was the idea that they could ignore what God said or gave them, and strike out on life apart from God. For Adam and Eve sort of hoped that they could become like God, without God.

They consumed the notion that there was something more valuable in existence than God himself, something more valuable than having a personal relationship with God. And this world system — with all of its faults — came as a result of the choice they made.

Their story is the story of all of us, isn’t it? Who hasn’t said — if not audibly at least in their hearts — God, I think I can do this without you. I’ll just go this one alone. But thanks for the offer.

We’ve all tried to make life work without God.

Why do we do that? Probably because we’ve all bought the notion that there’s something more valuable, more important, than God. For different people it’s different things, but the mindset is the same: God isn’t what’s most important in life. In fact, I’d just as soon do it without him altogether.

What is God’s response to that?

He allows it. Many people experience the painful results of others’ or their own choices that run contrary to God’s ways…murder, sexual abuse, greed, lying/fraud, slander, adultery, kidnapping, etc.

All of these can be explained by people who have refused to give God access and influence over their lives. They are going about their lives as they see fit, and they and others suffer.

What’s God view on all of this?

He’s not smug. In fact, God could rightly be viewed as leaning forward, compassionate, hoping we will turn to him so that he can bring real life to us.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”¹ But not all are willing to go to him. Jesus commented on this when he said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”²

Again, Jesus brings the issue back to our relationship with him. “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”³

But what about when life is unfair, when bad things happen to us?

What about those horrible circumstances that hit us in life, caused by someone other than ourselves? When we are feeling victimized, it’s useful to realize that God himself endured horrendous treatment from others. God more than understands what you are going through.

There is nothing in life that could be more painful than what Jesus endured on our behalf, when he was deserted by his friends, ridiculed by those who would not believe in him, beaten and tortured before his crucifixion, then nailed to a cross, in shameful public display, dying of slow suffocation.

What To Do When We’re Mad At God

He created us, yet allowed humanity the freedom to do this, to fulfill Scripture and to set us free from our sin. This was no surprise to Jesus. He was aware of what was coming, foreknowing all the details, all the pain, all the humiliation.

“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”⁴

Imagine knowing something that awful was going to happen to you. Jesus understands emotional and psychological anguish. The night that Jesus knew they would arrest him, he went to pray, but took some friends with him.

“And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch [keep awake] with me. And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wills.”⁵

Though Jesus confided in his three friends, they didn’t understand the depth of his torment, and when Jesus returned from prayer he found them asleep. Jesus understands what it’s like going through pain and extreme sadness alone.

Here it is summarized, as John describes in his gospel: “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”⁶ “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”⁷

There is no question that there is pain and intense suffering in this world.

Some of it is explained by selfish, hateful actions on the part of others. Some of it defies an explanation in this life. But God offers us himself. God gives us the knowledge that he has endured also, and is aware of our pain and needs. Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”⁸

There is ample reason to be afraid, troubled, but God can give us his peace, which is greater than the problem before us. He is after all, God, the Creator. The one who has always existed. The one who created a universe on the backstroke.

‘Out of the Dark’: Mandisa chats with TheHopeLine!

Yet even in his power, he’s also the one who knows us intimately, even the smallest, insignificant details. And if we will trust him with our lives, relying on him, though we encounter difficulties, he will hold us securely.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”⁹ He went through our ultimate threat — death — and overcame it. He can take us through the difficult circumstances of this life, and then bring us into eternal life, if we will trust him.

We can either go through this life with God or without him.

Jesus prayed, “O righteous Father, although the world has not known you, yet I have known you; and these have known that you sent me; and I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”¹⁰

You might find yourself asking, “Why is life so hard?” Without God, humanity is easily drawn into hatred, racism, sexual abuse, murdering each other.

Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.”

This post was originally published here. If you have further questions about God? Please see www.everystudent.com If you have asked God into your heart please visit www.startingwithgod.com

Did this post get you thinking? Did it raise new thoughts or questions? We welcome your comments below.

If you are wondering what a relationship with God is all about, you may also enjoy this free eBook.

Photo credit Andrew Le

I Feel Happier

Do You Want To Feel Happier?

“I feel happier!” I was just going to say, thank all of ya’ll for the help. Now, I’m not starving myself anymore, I’ve been eating more. Unfortunately, I haven’t gained any weight, but I feel better and have tons of energy. I’ve gotten my depression and anxiety under control, without drugs. I haven’t been suicidal anymore.

I have opened up more to my parents and been telling the truth. I have a better relationship with my parents, siblings, and to God. I have given God my problems now and I’ve been reading my Bible and praying daily and more to God. And, I’ve been clean from cutting for two days now.

I feel happier now and like my life is back on track. Thank you for all of the help 🙂

-Hannah

If you struggle with self-harm, depression, or an eating disorder, TheHopeLine® is here to help. Check out TheHopeLine’s eBooks and chat with a HopeCoach.

Don’t Lose Hope

Hi! I have used the Hope Line several times already. It was a really powerful tool that actually helped me vent out stuff that had piled up for years, and now, I am no longer experiencing the same emotional turmoil I once did. Thank you for providing 24/7 free chat lines.

Chatting with your HopeCoaches seriously brought me through some of the darkest seasons in my life.

I wanted to send you this essay, which I wrote below. So many times I’ve wanted to encourage others but haven’t been able to because I myself needed encouragement and would’ve of sounded like a hypocrite. Now, however, I am at a place where I feel I can genuinely encourage others because I have personally experienced encouragement, and hope has been reawakened within me.

I wrote this essay to encourage others not to give up and just to have them feel that their trials and issues are acknowledged. I don’t know. It might not do anyone any good. But I decided to write it because it is what I truly believe, and it comes from my heart.

-Jennifer

Jennifer’s Essay and Encouragement for YOU!

I just want to take the time right now to write this short piece and encourage those who feel low. Low in joy, low in self-esteem, low in whatever else it may be. Low as in rock bottom. And rock bottom really sucks.

We all go through seasons in our life, seasons of joy and seasons of sadness and trials. It is in those seasons that we learn a lot about ourselves that we never perhaps even knew before. Sure, those seasons suck, but those that make it out of their hardships come out stronger, and I believe they have a more firmly rooted identity. And no one can tell you who you are or what you went through because, guess what, you were the one that walked through the fire, not them. And you know it.

But it can get pretty annoying sometimes hearing the phrase You’ll come out stronger when all you’re focusing on is just getting through each day without falling apart and letting everything go to pots. Sure, you may come out stronger, but you’re not at that place yet, and, frankly, you’re just learning how to survive.

I think when people go through extremely rough times in life, what they need is not someone who will explain their situation for them and tell them how to solve it. After all, if you who are in it don’t know how to solve your problems, how much less will they? No, what people need in rough times is someone who will stand by them and listen to them. And that could be all they do. Just listen. But listening is, I think, one of the most powerful ways to make someone feel better, even if their circumstances don’t immediately change.

Why? Why is listening to someone vent so powerful? It is because you are showing that you care about how they feel and what is going on in their life. Listening is, in fact, one way to show love. It is acknowledging the fact that your friends’ problems and concerns are real. We need someone who will listen to us. And just that. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Well, I know by reading this small essay, you are not being listened to. In fact, you are listening to what I am saying to you through this essay. But I wrote it not because I want to tell you everything is going to be alright nor to tell you how to fix your messy life. You see, there is another powerful tool besides listening, and that is feeling understood.

Being understood means having your feelings, thoughts, and emotions acknowledged out loud and not crushed or denied by those you confide in. It feels like walking down a busy grocery aisle when someone suddenly singles you out from all the people and says, Hey! I know you!It means having someone else say out loud and acknowledge what you have been dealing with internally. And that is super healthy because sometimes, in all the mess, you can feel like no one understands or maybe even that what you’re feeling is not real. But it is, and you need someone who will acknowledge that out loud and stand by you.

To whoever is reading this, perhaps you stumbled upon it because the Lord is right now acknowledging that He sees your pain, and He is not ignoring you. Sometimes, we just don’t have the energy to look up to the Lord because we’re so weary with our issues. And our issues may even create mistrust and stop up our relationship with the Lord. There’s so much pain inside that it’s so hard to focus our attention on the Lord. But that’s ok because in our weakness, He is strong. When you don’t have the strength to press on, He will be your strength.

It is so important to have people listen to you and acknowledge your pain and troubles. But I’ve found, that is not enough. Because at the end of the day, we were created to have a whole relationship with the One who created us. Honestly, I could sympathize with you and listen to you and show you I understand, but if you don’t have Him to fill you up inside, you will always feel empty and be dependent on others to make you feel happy or whole. No one can do for you in a lifetime what Jesus can do for you in one second.

I can recall so many times when I felt like I was at the end of the rope, and I just cried out Jesus’ name and a moment later, I felt His love and Spirit cover me. It was so incredible because I was just calling out in desperation. I didn’t think anything would actually happen. But then, I was hit with His overpowering love. And sometimes, it would just happen without me even saying anything. It is an incredible experience that cannot be explained with words, and what is so amazing about every single one of the times is that I wasn’t even expecting that to happen. He didn’t do that because I performed some works or prayed super long. On the contrary, He did it just because He wanted to. That was it.

I know Jesus wants you to experience Him in such a powerful way. And I also know there’s no formula for experiencing His power and love. In fact, sometimes, you may go through an extremely long dry season, where Jesus feels a million light years away. But I’ve found that even in those dry seasons, what gets you through is keeping your heart soft even when you want to harden it and just grow bitter.

Whether you are a believer or not, you may be going through a rough time right now. I don’t have the solution for you, but Jesus does. And even if you know Jesus, it doesn’t mean all your mess gets cleaned up, nor does it mean that your mess is less messy than that of the unbeliever’s. We are all people, and all people have problems. And I just want to encourage you not to lose hope. And I don’t want to sound cheesy, but seriously. Do not give up. A tragic story is only possible if giving up is involved. And I’m not saying things might end pretty. But they can end with you coming out whole and stepping into a new and better season of life. So let the fire of hope burn within you. Yes, you will get through even though that seems laughable now. Yes, you will know joy once again or maybe even for the first time. And, yes, Jesus is the answer. Don’t just read this as some religious jargon or spiel. Jesus can seriously give you peace in the midst of the storm. I know because I’ve walked through the fire, and He walked right beside me every step of the way, even when I felt like He wasn’t there.

If you have questions about Jesus or you are struggling with something chat with TheHopeLine or if you feel low in your self-esteem, like Jennifer has, and searching for hope check out TheHopeLine’s eBook: Understanding Hope.