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Sometimes, What We Need Is A Humble Heart To Accept What God Allowed To Happen
Life is unpredictable. Even though there will be instances when we need to face the consequences of our choices, there will still be moments when God allows certain things to happen. And it’s not that He wants to punish or condemn us; it’s just that His ways are higher than our ways. This is the reason why we badly need to have a humble heart to accept the things that God allows us to experience. Acceptance is not easy, especially when you have a different expectation in mind. It takes a heart willing to trust in God’s plans. It takes faith to believe that even though what’s happening is the…
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It’s God Who Will Open The Hearts Of His People
One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. Acts 16:14, NIV As Paul preached about the good news in Macedonia, a woman named Lydia was listening to them. Acts 16:14 states that “the Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” This is an important reminder for all of us. We may excellently deliver the gospel, and people may preach God’s word by using effective methods, but at the end of the day, it’s God who will open the hearts of His…
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The Hard Truths About Confrontation
It hurts. If you are the type of person who is not used to share your feelings, it feels so awkward and uncomfortable at first. It takes so much courage. It feels like you are trying to peel off all your excuses and deal with what is truly on the inside. It’s like facing a giant that you can’t see. Confronting someone is not easy. It takes a genuine and a vulnerable heart to do it. Part of you can’t help but ask if you said the right words, or perhaps you hurt someone you love because of the things you just expressed. Sometimes, you will find yourself just staring…
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Cry Out To God
But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. Psalm 109:21-22, NIV David cried out for God’s help, not out of his own righteousness. He didn’t asked God to bless him because he tried to do the right thing, or he chose to show kindness to others. Instead, he knew that God is sovereign, faithful and good. He didn’t boast on the things that He did. He simply reminded himself who God is. At times, we may find ourselves asking for God’s help, perhaps by recounting the…
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The Gifts of Pain
Nobody wants to experience pain in life. Most of us want to protect our hearts from it. But even though it’s not easy to deal with it, there are beautiful gifts behind every wound. 1. Pain will teach us important lessons in life. Sometimes, we need to experience it so that our eyes will be opened to the things we ignore. Perhaps God had already given us warnings all along the way, but then we chose to follow our own understanding. That’s why, we end up hurting. At some point, we need to humbly receive the consequences of our decisions so that we will learn. 2. Pain will keep us…
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God Has Great Plans For Paul Despite The Redirections That He Received
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:9-10, NIV Before this vision, Paul received a series of redirections. God convicted him not to enter certain places because He had greater plans in mind. Instead of answering Paul’s desire to preach the word of God in the province of Asia, God led them to Macedonia, a province lying in the north of Greece, where the churches in…
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Trust God Despite The Redirections You Experience In Life
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. Acts 16:6-7, NIV Paul was in the middle of his mission when the Holy Spirit would prompt him not to enter certain places. Even though his intention was good, which was to preach the gospel, there were still instances when God would say ‘no’ to his request. This doesn’t mean that Paul did something wrong or God doesn’t want…
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When You Finally Accept The Fact That Mere Humans Can Never Fill The Emptiness Inside
One of the things that causes people to experience pain is the common mistake of depending on other human beings. People tend to expect others to fill the empty spaces in their hearts, thinking that it would be enough. This truth may be hard to swallow, but we need to slowly accept that mere humans can never fill the emptiness inside. They may temporarily give us the affection and love that we need, but it won’t be that consistent. Humans will fail. Our love will never be perfect. The sad thing is that it would be hard for us to receive God’s love if we kept on focusing on what…
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Being Faithful In The Midst Of Suffering
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Acts 16:1-2, NIV The first time Paul visited Lystra, he was stoned and greatly persecuted. It wasn’t an easy journey for him. In Acts 14:19, it was written, “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.” If these people thought that Paul was dead, then it was evident that he was in great pain. But…
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The unspoken thoughts of A Wounded Heart: Day 4
Dear God, I just remembered a painful memory. It was when I felt so alone as a kid. There was this season in my childhood days when I was forced to grow up so that I could take good care of others. I need to forget about playing or having fun with my friends. I need to stand up and fight my own battles, without having any support. I never thought how painful it was not until I experienced what it felt like to be a child again. All along, I was carrying this memory as if it’s part of my identity. Father, I know that you have a reason…
