Tag Archives: seekGod

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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Guiding Scripture Acts 18: 24-26
 

🔴 Major Surgery

Sometimes major surgery is required to correct a disease or an injury. Before any significant operation, a skilled surgeon would give you a full examination to determine if you are fit to undergo the operation.

Emergency or not – we want a capable, knowledgeable, and experienced surgeon holding the scalping instruments. We want someone who exactly knows what she or he is doing.

As believers, Jesus sent us to proclaim God!

  • Could we pass a spiritual examination?
  • Are we willing to tell others of the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Encouraging sympathy and understanding for a person’s “other way” to get to God is being a traitor to Jesus Christ. In today’s world, we are expected to be non-confrontational and to serve pleasantly. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John14: 6.

We can choose to follow the teaching and expectation of this world and lead people astray, or we can teach as Jesus taught and stay firmly rooted in truth. Jesus is the only way!

In speaking to the Corinthians and to us through God’s Holy Bible, Paul would not have our faith rest on human wisdom. “ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Trust the God-breathed scripture and stand firm when your Christian testimony is under examination. You may be the vital surgeon operating the power of God’s Holy Word.

 

Let us Pray: Heavenly Father, throughout your Word, you have let us know that no one can come to you except by your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus told us not to let our hearts be troubled and to believe in Him just as we believe in God. Your Word teaches us that you and Jesus are one with the Holy Spirit – our Triune God. Lord, please help those who do not believe. Thank you, Lord. Amen

 

~Diana L.W. Coleman

This devotional was submitted by Diana L.W. Coleman, a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose. Edited by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC; Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose® 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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Guiding Scripture: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3) 

 

🔴 How to Reset When You’re Overwhelmed

Right now, I’m in the middle of an unexpected move. My house is in what I can only describe as a state of barely controlled chaos, and my brain feels like an internet browser with about thirty-seven tabs open at the same time.

Which items should we take, and which ones should we give away? How much will it cost to hire movers? How are the kids coping? How am I managing? Are we all going to get to our new destination with our sanity intact?

The word that best illustrates how I feel at the moment is…overwhelmed.

It is a word that every woman can relate to at some point in her life, especially this year. So many of us are juggling a myriad of challenges: working from home, virtual learning, staying healthy, and a neverending list of household tasks with fewer options and less support. 

It can feel like you’re treading water. You pull yourself up just long enough to get a breath, only to go right back to paddling furiously again. It can feel like the cycle never ends. 
 

And that’s when you need a reset.

 
Whether it be with our careers, our relationships, or even our health, however, you can also choose to reset your life when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
 

Here are some helpful ways to reset:

 
  1. Take care of your most pressing physical needs first. In other words, if you’re exhausted, rearrange your schedule to get sleep as soon as possible. If you’re hungry, drop whatever can wait and eat. If you’re sick, force yourself to rest. I know this is much easier said than done, but the hard truth is that the longer you go without self-care, the more you’ll suffer in the long run.
  2. Find a few minutes to spend time alone with God. Isaiah 26:3 tells us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” When you make time with God a priority, he responds by giving you His peace. Not only that, but He also gives you direction about what to do next. Ironically, the times when you’re overwhelmed and think you don’t have time for God are when you need Him most. 
  3. Ask for help. That might be the most challenging step to execute. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” If you don’t have a support system, building one is a priority. Your local church is a great place to start. And if you do have support, humble yourself and ask for it. Don’t have a nervous breakdown because of pride.

These are a few of the coping mechanisms I use whenever I’m feeling stressed. They may not take my challenges away, but they give me the strength I need to fight another day. I hope they’ll do the same for you.

~Lisa C. Gant

LISA C. GANT: CEO & Founder of Purpose Without Apology, the Podcast. Tune in for weekly podcasts and connect with Lisa on Instagram. Visit www.lisacgant.com for more information. 

 

This devotional was written by Lisa C. Gant a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose®. Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC; Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose® 

 

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Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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Matthew 6:15, “But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

 

🔴 BE THE FIRST TO APOLOGIZE!

For what am I apologizing? I didn’t start it? It is not my fault; I did not cause it to happen!
 
Being the first to apologize is brave! We don’t often think humility is courageous. Our sinful nature does not want to admit to any wrongdoings regardless of who’s to blame.  
 
God wants us to live in harmony with each other. When we have ill feelings or causes of unforgiveness with each other, we are not in unity. When we are not in agreement, we are divided. Division causes discord and a means for evil to germinate and proliferate. I’m sorry, or I apologize, becomes more evident when we spend time in our relationship with God. Reading His Word and praying to Him for wisdom and understanding strengthens our spiritual character.
 
Maybe it was not your fault, and you did not instigate the situation. That’s okay, but you can be brave! In Matthew 18:21-22, a question is proposed: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” 
 
Think about all the times God has forgiven us, and nothing we do was or ever will be His fault!  
 
Who do you need to apologize to today?  Will you be courageous? If you can’t think of anyone – begin with God. Ask God to forgive you, and while you’re at it – thank Him for all that He has already done and how He continually forgives us. 

 

~Diana L.W. Coleman

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

 

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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John 8:12 Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of life.”

 

🔴 THE LIGHT WITHIN

When our grandson, Joshua, showed up at our house, he brought sunshine to us. Of course, his Papa and I would be the first to tell you that we have the best grandchildren ever and that each of them brings us great joy. Joshua enjoyed the fact that he is now even taller than his six-foot-tall Papa and how he towers over me. It’s hard to believe that he is a senior in high school; how the time seems to fly!  
 
Joshua not only kept his word, but he exceeded what he had agreed to help us do. We are so grateful and take pride in how his parents have done such a great job raising him in the teachings of the Lord.  (Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”)
 
Only Jesus can produce such Light and such joy because He is the Light, and there is no darkness with Him. When Light meets Light, it is ever so bright. When our relationships share Jesus Christ as our source for everything and everyone, we radiate more Light. The world needs Light during this dark time.
 
Will you be that Light? You can only be light when you ask God to take you out of the darkness and receive you into his marvelous light! Ask Him for His Light!

 

 

~Diana L.W. Coleman

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

 

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

Bible Study, Teen Bible Study, , ,

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 

🔴 CAN YOU HOLD IT!

Ever go to a store and see something that you think you want, but you are just unsure if it will fit in your home? Or maybe, you see a stunning garment and become reluctant to purchase it before shopping around? Or could it be you are indecisive and want more time to ponder?
 
Getting the clerk to hold the item for you seems to be a good idea until you hear, “I’m sorry store policy will not allow us to hold merchandise!”  
Now What?!  Do you feel pressured into making the purchase? But you are a quick thinker, so you ask, “What is the return policy?”  Ah! You can return the item within thirty days with the original receipt. 
 
Throughout life, we make decisions about whether to buy something now or to wait until later. The one thing we should never delay is the decision to believe and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Making that choice will determine where you will spend eternity and the blessings you will deny yourself of while one earth. The most regrettable would be depriving yourself of a relationship with God. To not accept Christ is to reject Him, and that is detrimental. If you have not already made Jesus, your choice now is a good time to do so. Ask Him to come into your heart and receive you into His kingdom of believers. It will be the best decision you have ever made!

 

~Diana L.W. Coleman

Journal Prompts

  1. Is there a difference between happiness and fulfillment?
  2. How do other people’s perceptions of you match who you actually are?
  3. What’s one thought that has been getting the best of you lately?  How has it been influencing your behavior?

 

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

 

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.