-
Acts 1: 24-26, NIV
Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1: 24-26, NIV Jesus’ disciples asked for His help in choosing the right person. They acknowledged the truth that He knows everyone’s heart. They need someone who could take over the tasks of Judas – the one who betrayed Jesus through a kiss. Before they cast lots, they prayed first to Jesus and asked for His guidance. They didn’t make…
-
God can Heal the Deepest Wound in your Heart
No one really knows what it feels like to carry that pain in your heart except God. He witnessed everything. He was there. He was with you when you first encountered that event that destroyed the way you look at life. He knows the back story and the outcome. God is aware of everything that you’ve been dealing with. And if, by chance, you are wondering why He allowed those things to happen, then remind yourself that we all have free will. God may want us to experience the fullness of this life, but He usually gives us the freedom to choose. God gave you a chance to make your…
-
Acts 1:5, NIV
For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1: 5, NIV John came ahead of Jesus to prepare the people’s hearts. He preached about repentance. He encouraged people to purify their hearts for the coming of the Messiah. He baptized them with water as a representation that they were willing to follow God. And then Jesus came, and He introduced to us who God is. He showed us what life feels like when we choose to follow Him. He is the one who baptized us with the Holy Spirit. If you believe in Him with all your heart, mind,…
-
John 21:19, NIV
Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:19, NIV After Simon Peter betrayed Jesus, our Savior still invited him to follow His ways. He redeemed Peter and encouraged him to feed and care for His sheep. He trusted Peter again despite all the mistakes that He had made in the past. You see, Jesus forgives the sinners. If He could redeem Peter, then He can absolutely save you. But the one thing you need to do is humble yourself and surrender everything in His presence. Come to Him, and don’t let the guilt fully…
-
Sometimes, God speaks through your Reality
God can send a very important message through the present situation that you are facing. He speaks behind the actions and words of the people around you. He sends warning through the reality that’s in front of you, but sad to say, you make things too complicated for Him to connect to you. Sometimes, your expectations are just too far from what He wanted to say. Your heart wants something great, divine, and holy just for you to get His message. But what if God is already speaking, and you just fail to recognize His voice? What if He is already correcting you through the behavior of other people? You…
-
When things are Overwhelming, God is there to Hold your Hands
It’s not easy to go through storms on your own. You can’t help but be drowned by so many worries and fears. Instead of looking at the One who can help you, the strong waves and wind will eventually shake your faith. This is the reason why you should not focus on what you can’t control. Stop acting like you can hold everything in your hands. Learn to let go and allow God to take over. It means that you need to stop giving your situation the right to consume your soul. Instead, you need to allow God to hold you. Follow where He leads, and trust that He will…
-
John 19:38, NIV
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. John 19:38, NIV Joseph went out of His way to get the body of Jesus. He may appear to be a secret disciple of God, but at this moment, he boldly asked Pilate for the body of the Messiah. He temporarily forgot his fears and took our Savior to the tomb that he owned. Even in these most painful hours, God still used people who were willing to sacrifice their own image and position…
-
Dear God, Please give me the strength to hold on to your Promises
This life is not easy, Lord. Many times, I’m easily tempted to give up, especially when I experience pain in life. I am not a superhero who can solve all my problems. But even if I have limitations, I know that I can ask for some strength from you. So this is the cry of my heart. Please teach me how to hold on to your words, especially in the midst of the storm. I just find it so difficult to believe in your promises when negative things surround me. It seems so impossible. But even if I can’t see them yet, please give me the courage to still believe.…
-
God may send you the Right People, but it Doesn’t mean you won’t Experience Pain with them
Life is not perfect. There will be pain along the way. If you wanted to align to God because you no longer wanted to encounter heartaches, then it’s time to accept the truth that as long as you are living here on earth, you will go through pain. And it’s not that people wanted to hurt you. It’s just they are imperfect humans who are also going through so much in life. They are also walking along the healing process, and you need to be patient with them. The right people still have the potential to disappoint and sometimes hurt you. But the good thing is, they will never lead…
-
John 19:7, NIV
The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” John 19:7, NIV Jesus was accused as the son of God. Even if this is the truth, He was punished because of what He did. He suffered because the people around him couldn’t bear the truth that He was carrying. But despite the pain that He experienced, Jesus kept going. He never allowed the treatment of other people to stop Him from doing the will of the Father. He focused on what He needed to do not for the sake of protecting Himself but for…
