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Doing The Will Of God
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” Acts 21: 12-14, NIV The Holy Spirit already revealed to Paul that he will experience suffering in Jerusalem. This is the reason why the other disciples pleaded him not to go there. But even though it breaks Paul’s heart to see them weep, still…
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The Painful Situations In Your Life Will Someday Make You Stronger
Facing the challenges and difficulties in life won’t be easy. It’s like a mental battle and, sometimes, a daily struggle. When the world somehow shows you its negative side, part of you would wish that life would’ve been different. You would probably hope to go to a place where no one knows you. You just simply wanted to disappear. But that is the reality, whether you like it or not, you can’t help but experience difficult situations. It’s part of the whole package. This is the reason why it’s helpful to focus not on the things that are happening around you, but on what’s going on inside. If you start…
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Serving God Won’t Always Lead Us To A Happy And Exciting Life
When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20: 36-38, NIV Paul experienced many painful things while doing God’s ministry. When he met with the Ephesian leaders, he expressed his heart as their shepherd and then prayed for them. After that, they all wept for him because it grieved them to know that they would never see his face again. These moments were heartbreaking. We somehow thought that when we follow…
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Aim To Finish The Race
I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:23-24, NIV This is what Paul said when he was talking to the Ephesian elders. He shared to them how the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to the possible hardships that he will face. In short, the Spirit taught him how to accept and deal with it. God prepared his heart and Paul…
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Serve The Lord Despite All The Pain And Challenges
I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. Acts 20: 19, NIV Paul went through so many trials while serving God. It was not a comfortable and easy life for Him. He cried and experienced moments of pain. But despite all these, he stayed faithful to God. With great humility, he continued to serve Him with everything that he had. Sometimes, we have this mindset that whenever we serve the Lord, He will keep us from hardships and challenges. We tend to have this perspective that when a person follows God, he will then…
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The Word of God
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30: 5, NIV If you are in the middle of a very dark season, and you can’t seem to find the light, come to God and take refuge in His word. You are not alone. God is speaking to you. Open your Bible and let His word penetrate your soul. His word is pure, and it has no error. So, if you think that what God is saying is not true in your life, then keep your faith and believe that His promises will come to pass. Whatever happens, the flawless word…
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Seeing the Truth of God
The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both. Proverbs 29:13, NIV The Lord gives everyone the chance to see the truth. It’s up to us to accept that truth or not. But regardless of how we react to it, God will present to us the things that we need to see. God is not selfish. He always gives us a chance to know Him and His ways through the things that He allows in our lives. And it’s up to us if we are willing to humbly allow God’s truth to reign in our lives. At the end of the…
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Seek God’s Wisdom
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Proverbs 28:26, NIV Before I met God, I often made decisions on my own. I made plans for myself and failed to consider other people. I trusted my own timeline. There are even times when I feel disappointed whenever my goals or expectations aren’t met. I wanted everything to be in control, and it led me to a lot of frustrations. After that, I realized that I had failed to acknowledge God throughout the process. I listened to my own voice instead of consulting Him. I chose to rely on my own understanding. I…
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When Our Integrity Is Tested
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26: 14-16, NIV Judah was trying to betray Jesus by asking for something in return. He was willing to give up his relationship with Him for the sake of fulfilling his own desires. He focused on the money that He would receive rather than glorifying God in the end. In so many ways, we also have tendencies to…
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You Have A Father Who Deeply Loves You
If you are one of those people who grew up in a fatherless home, then keep this in mind: “You have a Father who deeply loves you.” The pain that you feel from your earthly father may somehow hinder you from trusting others, but keep in mind that you have a Heavenly Father who will always be there for you. You can trust Him. He will never abandon you, or make you feel alone. He will continue to do good things in your life, and He will take good care of you. So don’t just live this life on your own, remember God, for He is there with you. Surrender…
