Among the populations most frequently studied for longevity are Seventh-day Adventists, whose lifestyle has drawn global attention from researchers, including Sanjay Gupta, as well as epidemiologists and nutrition scientists worldwide. What is remarkable is not only that Adventists live longer, but that their practices—rooted in faith—closely mirror what modern science now identifies as the foundational pillars of health.

This article explores the intersection of plant-based nutrition, faith in God, social connection, and structured rest, showing how both scientific research and biblical principles converge to support a lifestyle that promotes longevity and well-being.

A Biblical Foundation for Health and Longevity

Long before modern science began exploring nutrition, stress, and longevity, Scripture presented a framework for human flourishing that remarkably aligns with today’s research. In Genesis 1:29, God provides humanity with an original diet consisting of seed-bearing plants and fruits—an ideal that closely resembles what modern science now recognizes as a health-promoting, plant-based diet. This design was not arbitrary but intentional, rooted in sustaining life and vitality.

The story of Daniel reinforces this principle in a practical setting. In Daniel 1, Daniel and his companions chose a simple diet of vegetables and water rather than the rich food of the Babylonian court. After a short period, they were visibly healthier and mentally sharper than their peers. While the account is spiritual in nature, it provides a compelling parallel to contemporary findings on the benefits of whole, plant-based nutrition.

Faith itself is also presented in Scripture as a contributor to health. In Proverbs 3:5–8, trust in God is linked directly to physical well-being, described as “health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Likewise, Isaiah 26:3 speaks of a deep, sustaining peace for those who place their trust in God. These passages suggest that spiritual alignment has tangible effects on the human body—an idea increasingly supported by research on stress reduction and mental health.

The principle of rest is also embedded at the foundation of creation. In Genesis 2:2–3, God rests on the seventh day, blessing and sanctifying it. This rhythm is later reaffirmed in Exodus 20:8–11, where humanity is instructed to remember the Sabbath. This is not merely a command to stop working, but an invitation into restoration—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Finally, Scripture highlights the importance of community and God’s protective care. In Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, we are reminded of the strength found in companionship, while Acts 2:42–47 describes a vibrant, connected community sharing life together. Alongside this, God declares in Exodus 15:26, “I am the Lord that healeth thee,” pointing to a divine desire for human health and wholeness. These principles form a foundation that modern science is only now beginning to fully appreciate.

The Adventist Lifestyle: A Holistic System, Not a Single Habit

The Seventh-day Adventist health message is often associated with vegetarianism, but it is far more comprehensive. It represents a holistic framework that integrates body, mind, and spirit into a unified approach to living.

Adventists typically follow diets rich in whole plant foods, avoid tobacco and alcohol, engage in regular activity, and participate in strong faith-based communities. Perhaps most distinctively, they observe a weekly Sabbath—a full day set aside for rest, worship, and relational connection.

What makes this particularly significant is that longevity research consistently shows that no single habit explains long life. Instead, it is the interaction of multiple reinforcing behaviors. Research into Blue Zones—including Loma Linda, California—confirms that Adventists live approximately seven to ten years longer than average, not because of one factor, but because of an entire ecosystem of habits working together.

Plant-Based Diets and Longevity: What the Science Shows

The strongest and most consistent scientific evidence supporting the Adventist lifestyle comes from research on diet—particularly plant-based nutrition.

Large-scale cohort studies, including the Adventist Health Studies and the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), have found that plant-based diets are associated with lower mortality rates and reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

From a biological perspective, the mechanisms are increasingly well understood. Plant-based diets tend to reduce systemic inflammation, improve cholesterol profiles, enhance insulin sensitivity, and support a healthier gut microbiome. Observational data also show that individuals following vegetarian diets often have lower body weight and improved metabolic health markers.

Blue Zones research reinforces these findings, showing that populations with the highest longevity consume diets composed of approximately 90 to 95 percent plant-based foods. This consistency across cultures and studies strengthens the case that diet is a foundational pillar of long-term health.

Faith, Purpose, and Health: Evidence Beyond Religion

While diet often receives the most attention, research increasingly shows that faith and purpose play equally critical roles in longevity.

Studies in psychology and public health have demonstrated that individuals with a strong sense of purpose tend to live longer and experience better overall health. For Seventh-day Adventists, this purpose is deeply rooted in faith in God, shaping daily decisions and providing a sense of meaning that extends beyond material success.

Importantly, the connection between spirituality and health is not limited to Christianity. Research across diverse cultures shows that individuals who engage in regular spiritual or reflective practices experience lower levels of anxiety, improved emotional regulation, and better long-term health outcomes.

Faith provides structure, hope, and resilience. It reduces stress, strengthens mental health, and contributes to a worldview that supports disciplined and healthy living.

Community and Social Connection: A Biological Necessity

Another key factor consistently identified in longevity research is the importance of community. Humans are inherently social, and strong relationships are essential for both emotional and physical well-being.

Adventist communities foster connection through regular gatherings, shared meals, and mutual support. These relationships provide accountability and encouragement, reinforcing healthy behaviors.

Scientific research confirms that social isolation increases mortality risk, while strong social ties improve immune function and reduce stress. In Blue Zones, individuals are deeply embedded in networks of family and friends, and Adventists reflect this same pattern of connected living.

The Science of Rest: Why a Weekly Day Matters

Perhaps one of the most distinctive and powerful aspects of the Adventist lifestyle is the emphasis on weekly rest.

Modern research into stress physiology shows that chronic stress is a major contributor to disease. Elevated cortisol levels over time are linked to heart disease, weakened immunity, and mental health disorders.

What is increasingly recognized is that regular, predictable cycles of rest are essential for long-term health. Blue Zones research highlights that each longevity region incorporates built-in stress reduction practices. For Adventists, this takes the form of the Sabbath—a weekly interruption of work and stress.

Even outside religious contexts, similar patterns are observed. Studies in occupational health show that individuals who maintain clear boundaries between work and rest experience lower burnout and better mental health. Cultural practices around the world—from rest days to digital detox periods—point to the same principle: humans require structured recovery.

The Adventist Sabbath formalizes this into a consistent rhythm, creating space for reflection, relationships, and renewal.

A Unified Model of Longevity

When all of these elements are brought together—plant-based nutrition, faith, purpose, community, and rest—a clear and compelling pattern emerges.

The Adventist lifestyle aligns closely with what is now known as lifestyle medicine, an approach that focuses on preventing disease through daily habits rather than relying solely on treatment.

Research suggests that genetics account for only a small portion of lifespan, while the majority is influenced by lifestyle and environment. This reinforces the idea that how we live each day has a profound impact on long-term health.

The Adventist model demonstrates that longevity is not achieved through extremes, but through consistent, balanced living over time.

A Lifestyle Validated by Time and Science

Long before modern science began to explore the links between diet, lifestyle, and longevity, the Seventh-day Adventist Church embraced principles that emphasized balance, discipline, and faith.

Today, those principles are being affirmed across multiple fields of research.

A diet centered on whole plant foods supports physical health. Faith provides purpose and emotional resilience. Community fosters connection and belonging. And regular, structured rest restores the body and reduces stress.

Together, these elements form a powerful and sustainable approach to longevity—one that is both deeply rooted in Scripture and strongly supported by science.

In a world searching for answers, the evidence increasingly points to something both simple and profound:

Live with purpose. Eat wisely. Rest regularly. Stay connected. Walk with God.

Sources

• Adventist Health Studies (Gary E. Fraser et al.)
• EPIC Study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition)
• Global Burden of Disease Study (diet and mortality)
• Blue Zones research by Dan Buettner
• Reporting by Sanjay Gupta on longevity and lifestyle
• Lifestyle medicine research on plant-based nutrition and chronic disease

The post Plant-Based Living, Faith, Rest, and Longevity: The Seventh-day Adventist Health Message Through the Lens of Science first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

Looking back through the pages of Scripture and then around us in 2025–2026, the pattern is remarkably consistent: from the first chapters of Genesis to the present moment, the story of God is presented as a story of steady, persistent love.

A Love That Begins in Genesis

The Bible opens with a simple but striking image. Before there were nations, religions, or human failures, there was a world created with intention and care. Genesis describes God forming humanity with His own hands and breathing life into us (Genesis 2:7). The picture is personal, even tender. Creation is not portrayed as a cold act of power but as the beginning of a relationship.

From the beginning, God’s actions are motivated by what is good for His creation. He gives humans purpose, beauty, work that is meaningful, and a world designed to sustain joy and life. These early chapters introduce a God who does not remain distant but walks with His creation, speaks with them, and engages with them.

Even when Adam and Eve fall, the story does not shift into rejection. Instead, it begins a long history of God pursuing broken people. The consequence is real, but the care continues. Clothing is provided, a promise of redemption is given, and humanity is not left without hope.

The Old Testament’s Record of Steadfast Love

A fair reading of the Old Testament shows more than commands and judgments; it reveals a consistent theme of God acting out of love even when people fail Him. Israel’s history is full of rebellion, but also full of rescue.

God’s words to Israel in Jeremiah summarize this well:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

That love appears in many forms:

• Rescue from Egypt.
• Guidance through wilderness years.
• Patience during seasons of disobedience.
• Promises of restoration through the prophets.

When Israel turned away, God did not walk away. He sent messengers, warnings, guidance, and repeated calls to return. The book of Hosea uses the image of a faithful husband pleading with a wandering spouse, a picture meant to show that God’s love has endurance even when ours does not.

Far from being a story of a harsh deity, the Old Testament reveals a God who loves deeply, grieves deeply, and remains committed to His people.

Jesus: The Clearest Evidence of God’s Love

While the Old Testament paints love in patterns and promises, the New Testament shows it in a single life.
In Jesus Christ, the Bible claims that God stepped into the world He created. The Gospels show Jesus welcoming children, touching lepers, restoring dignity to the rejected, and offering forgiveness freely. His teaching challenged oppression, hypocrisy, and cruelty—because love demands justice as much as compassion.

The most familiar verse in the New Testament, John 3:16, expresses the heart of the Christian message:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

Jesus’ death is presented not as an accident but as the ultimate act of love: a sacrifice made “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). In other words, God’s love does not wait for perfection. It moves toward people at their worst.  For Christians, the cross is not simply a symbol of forgiveness; it is evidence—historical and personal—that God’s love is not theoretical. It is active, costly, and enduring.

Is That Love Still Evident Today?

It is easy to read ancient stories and assume they belong to a different world. But many believers argue that God’s love is still visible, even in today’s world.

In the patience shown toward humanity

Despite the violence, moral confusion, and spiritual indifference of modern society, the Bible teaches that God is patient, “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). The fact that He still calls, still forgives, still transforms lives, is seen by many as evidence of enduring love.

In daily life

Many point to answered prayers, unexpected strength during personal trials, or moments of peace that defy circumstances. These small, personal experiences are often interpreted as signs that God continues to act with care.

In changed lives

People continue to break free from addictions, reconcile relationships, regain hope, and find direction. Pastors, counselors, and community leaders regularly encounter stories of personal transformation that they attribute to God’s work.

In the presence of the Holy Spirit

For Christians, the Holy Spirit is not a relic of the ancient world but an ongoing helper—guiding, comforting, and convicting. The Spirit’s influence is often cited as further proof that God has not abandoned humanity.

While skeptics may dismiss these examples as coincidence or psychology, millions experience them as genuine encounters with divine love.

Does God Love Everyone?

The Bible’s answer is simple: yes.

John 3:16 says God loved the world, not a select few. Matthew 5:45 says He gives sunlight and rain to both the righteous and the unrighteous. Paul writes in Romans that God shows no partiality. This universal love does not mean God approves of everything. A loving parent can deeply love a child while strongly disapproving of harmful behavior. The same is true of God.

What Is Not Pleasing to God?

Because God is love, He opposes anything that destroys the people He loves.

Sin

Not because He delights in rules, but because sin damages the human soul and harms relationships.

Pride

The Bible repeatedly states that “God resists the proud.” Pride closes the door to growth and healing.

Injustice and cruelty

From the prophets to Jesus, Scripture condemns dishonesty, oppression, and violence.

Empty religion

Jesus spoke strongly against hypocrisy and spiritual complacency. God desires sincerity, not performances.

Even when God corrects or disciplines, Scripture says He does so “because the Lord disciplines the one He loves” (Hebrews 12:6). His goal is restoration, not humiliation.

What Does It Mean That God Is Love?

To say God is love means that love defines everything He does. His justice, mercy, power, and holiness are not separate qualities competing with love—they operate through love.

This means:

• God’s love is not earned.
• God’s love does not fluctuate with our moods.
• God’s love does not weaken in the face of failure.
• God’s love shapes His plans from eternity to eternity.

In a world filled with shifting values and conditional acceptance, this kind of steady love stands out.

How Can Someone Love God Back?

The Bible describes love for God as something expressed not only in emotion but in action (John 14:15, 1 John 3:18, and 1 John 5:3).

Through trust

Faith is essentially saying, “I believe Your heart toward me is good.”  Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Through obedience

Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Obedience is not a way to earn love—it’s how love responds to love.

Through loving others

1 John 4:20 makes it clear: we cannot claim to love God while refusing to love people.

Through time with Him

Prayer, reading Scripture, worship, and fellowship strengthen the relationship.

Through surrender

Living according to His purpose is one of the deepest expressions of love.

A Truth That Still Matters

Despite the arguments of skeptics, the disappointments of life, and the distractions of modern culture, the biblical claim that “God is love” continues to stand. It is a statement that shaped ancient Israel, found its fullest expression in Jesus Christ, and remains meaningful to millions today.

In a world that often feels divided and uncertain, the idea of a God whose defining characteristic is love offers a hope that is steady, simple, and profoundly relevant.  For many, that truth is not just theology—it is the foundation that carries them through the best days, the hardest nights, and every moment in between.

The post God Is Love: A Truth That Still Stands in a Troubled World first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

Amid this crisis of modern relationships, a surprising truth is emerging: arranged marriages—when embraced voluntarily and guided by faith, family, and wisdom—often create a depth of stability, trust, and long-term satisfaction that modern dating struggles to match. Not because they are forced, oppressive, or outdated, but because they are built on foundations that reflect God’s own design for covenant relationships: alignment, commitment, community, and shared purpose.

Today, YouTube has many videos, bookstores have many books and friends have much advice about todays dating tips for the best success in marriage.  But we get a sense quickly a sense of frustration and fear, a tendency for dishonesty and posturing.  Often, there may be days, weeks or months of excitement, then the break-up.  This is not a call for coercion. It is not a rejection of personal choice or the beauty of falling in love. Instead, it is an invitation to reconsider a time-tested model that prioritizes trust over uncertainty, covenant over chaos, and lifelong unity over temporary emotional thrills.

The Crisis of Uncertainty in Modern Relationships

To understand why arranged marriages often flourish, we must first acknowledge what is breaking so many relationships today: chronic uncertainty. Modern dating is built on a foundation of instability. People swipe through hundreds of faces, develop quick emotional attachments, and experience a cycle of highs and lows that condition the heart toward fear rather than trust. The abundance of choice may seem empowering, but psychologically it creates doubt. If one relationship falters, a person may wonder whether someone “better” is just one swipe away. If things begin to feel difficult, some question whether they should press on or try again with someone new. The relationship is constantly subject to evaluation, comparison, and insecurity.

This creates a silent emotional toll. The mind becomes accustomed to uncertainty and the heart never fully rests. Many enter marriage already conditioned by a history of breakups, betrayals, ghosting, or emotional instability. They bring with them subconscious patterns of self-protection, skepticism, and fear of abandonment. Even in healthy relationships, modern couples sometimes struggle to fully trust because they’ve lived in a world that normalized uncertainty for so long.

These emotional wounds do not simply disappear. Psychologists now note a rise in anxiety, depression, attachment disorders, and deep feelings of worthlessness linked specifically to unstable romantic experiences. The repeated message of modern dating is: you are replaceable. When one connection ends, another appears instantly. When attraction fades, another person is waiting. The heart internalizes this as disposability, a lie that attacks self-worth and sabotages the ability to trust future partners.

The Dopamine Trap: Excitement Without Covenant

Modern dating operates like an emotional slot machine. Each notification, each flirtatious exchange, each new romantic possibility gives the brain a surge of dopamine—the same chemical that fuels addictive behavior. Dating apps, quick romances, and fleeting passions become a cycle of emotional highs followed by inevitable crashes.

This cycle is predictable:

• A person experiences the thrilling chase of attention.
• A spark of chemistry ignites.
• A burst of passion makes everything feel meaningful.
• Then, without warning, the connection weakens. Communication slows.
• Doubt appears.
• Confusion enters.
• The once-exhilarating relationship ends in silence, shame, or ambiguity.
• And then comes the loneliness, the regret, the aching sense of inadequacy.
• The cycle begins again.

Many people think they are searching for love, but often they are unknowingly chasing dopamine—momentary excitement masquerading as genuine connection. This leaves them emotionally depleted and spiritually exhausted. The heart was not designed for constant romantic instability. God created us for covenant, not consumption.

Why Arranged Marriages Offer Deep Emotional Security

Against this modern backdrop, arranged marriages—specifically those practiced with consent, discernment, and faith—offer something increasingly rare: certainty. They begin not with fleeting feelings but with alignment of values, shared expectations, family support, and long-term vision. Where modern dating begins with emotion and hopes for stability, arranged marriages begin with stability and allow emotion to grow naturally.

One of the greatest strengths of arranged marriages is that they eliminate the early guesswork. In many faith-based arranged settings, families play a role—not to control, but to ensure the couple shares a common worldview. They help identify partners who are aligned in faith, character, and life purpose. They inquire into values, integrity, maturity, and compatibility long before emotions blur discernment.

Because of this intentional process, arranged marriages often begin with a foundation that modern couples spend years trying to build. The couple enters marriage with a clear understanding of each other’s goals, beliefs, expectations, and family culture. There is less fear of hidden agendas, mismatched priorities, or sudden revelations that shake the relationship.

Moreover, arranged marriages encourage healthy dependency, the kind that Scripture describes as “two becoming one.” In this model, husband and wife lean on each other not out of insecurity but out of mutual commitment. They are not two independent lives running parallel until emotions fade—they are partners joined in covenant, supported by families who desire their success. This shared commitment creates an atmosphere of emotional safety that allows trust to flourish.

The Biblical Pattern: Covenant Over Chaos

Throughout Scripture, we find that marriage was rarely a result of modern-style courtship. Instead, it was guided by family, community, and spiritual discernment. These unions were formed not by the whims of emotion but by alignment in faith and purpose.

The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24 is one of the clearest examples. Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac—a process driven by prayer, fasting, and God’s guidance. Rebekah agreed freely, demonstrating consent. The Scripture then says, “And Isaac loved her.” Love grew from covenant, not the other way around.

The story of Ruth and Boaz also reflects a structured approach. Naomi guided Ruth, Boaz acted with integrity, and the marriage was rooted in righteousness. Their union became part of the Messianic lineage.

Even Jacob’s marriages, though complicated by deception, reveal the enduring nature of covenant. Leah, though not Jacob’s first choice, demonstrated commitment, strength, and perseverance. Their marriage endured because covenant was not subject to emotion but to responsibility.

The common thread in these marriages is not perfection but purpose. Each marriage endured because it was anchored in something deeper than passion: faith, alignment, community, and covenantal responsibility.

Why Arranged Marriages Last—Despite Challenges

No marriage model is without challenges. Some arranged marriages begin with unfamiliarity or require time for emotional closeness to develop. But these challenges are typically met with commitment rather than abandonment. In arranged marriages, conflict is not viewed as a sign that the relationship is failing—it is viewed as part of the process of becoming one.

The reason arranged marriages last is not that they are easier, but that they are sturdier. They are built on promises instead of feelings, on alignment instead of chemistry, on community instead of isolation, and on covenant instead of convenience. When difficulties arise, the couple is surrounded by family and spiritual support rather than left to navigate alone.

Moreover, expectations are realistic. No one expects an arranged marriage to start with perfect romance. Instead, the expectation is that love will grow over time—slowly, steadily, and deeply. And when love grows from commitment rather than infatuation, it tends to be more rooted and enduring.

A Return to Covenant Thinking

As society drifts further into emotional instability and relational uncertainty, many are rediscovering the wisdom of faith-based arranged marriage. When practiced with consent, respect, and discernment, arranged marriages offer a powerful antidote to the loneliness, distrust, and psychological exhaustion that characterize modern romance.

They give what the human heart longs for most: certainty, belonging, trust, purpose, and covenant.

Marriage was never intended to be a cycle of heartbreak, temporary passion, and spiritual emptiness. It was meant to be a sacred union—guided by faith, strengthened by community, and rooted in lifelong commitment.

Perhaps it is time to embrace again the truth that our ancestors understood well:
love grows deepest where covenant is strongest.

The post Reclaiming Covenant: A Faith-Based Case for Arranged Marriage in a Modern World of Uncertainty first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

I cannot imagine what it would feel like to reject, or deny Jesus in His presence; three times.

Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

I can imagine the conversation in the upper room with Jesus and His disciples.  Jesus was explaining that He must go away.  Then Peter asked Jesus, where He was going and wanted to know why he couldn’t go with Him.   You can read the beautiful exchange in John 13:36-38, and John 14:1-4.

The question, “where are you going?” was answered by Jesus, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards,” in John 13:36  It was also answered in John 14:4.   Lets read it together.

John 13:36-38, and John 14:1-4, “Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”  Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”  Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”   Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.   In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.   And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

It is encouraging the love that Jesus has for us.  How He told Peter what he was soon to do in betraying Him, yet he lovingly told Peter not to worry.

Jesus tells all of us that we are not to worry.  We are to believe in Him and in His faithfulness to us He has gone to prepare a place for us.

John 3:16, “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”   “If you believe in God, believe also in me…”

I encourage you to cling to the promises of God when we have fallen short. We feel badly when we have given in to temptation as we strive to live a Christ focused life.  But He has promised us forgiveness of our sins if we just turn away from evil and ask.

1 John 2:1, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

The disciples weren’t asking about mansions or streets of gold.  They were asking where Jesus was going and if they could go with Him.  They loved their friend Jesus and the thought of Him being away from them was troubling.  “Lord,” Peter asks, “Why cannot I follow thee now?  I will lay down my life for thy sake.”

The Jesus comforts Peter and those in the room by promising “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”  Not only will we know where Jesus is always, but we will know the way to get to where He is.  This is a beautiful promise for those longing to spend be in His presence.

So, let not your heart be troubled.  Do not worry.

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

The post Do Not Worry first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

At the core of it, we are all tempted.  In many cases temptation can lead to bad decisions and bad decisions can lead to sin.  As Christians, we want to avoid sin and to do this, we allow Christ to live within us to strengthen us.  “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me…” Psa 28:7.

However, in many cases we work contrary to our own interests and contrary to the will of God.

Now, these points I am bringing out are simply to stimulate discussion and not to highlight a specific practice as sin.  Fair enough?  I want to present these thoughts in their entirety and then open to discussion.

I have always been a Trekkie.  I believe I have over the years watched every Star Trek movie and most of the episodes of every Star Trek series.  I believe I own every Star Trek movie that has every been released.  So, it was as a treat when I decided to take my kids to see the Star Trek movie “Into Darkness” in 3D.

The impact was profound.  My youngest became an instant Trekkie.  Not like me, but far beyond the norm.  Even attending a church BBQ, his conversations were only about Star Trek and explaining in detail about the ships.  Then the questions started about life on other planet and what that life would look like.  It was hard for him to understand that man has never traveled beyond the moon when he has seen men and women in ships travelling at warp speed throughout the Alpha Quadrant and beyond.  He was able to see inside the Starship and even admired the ships Vulcan first officer.

“Dad, what then is real?” he asked.

Recently, I had a long conversation with a close friend about pornography and his struggle keeping pornographic thoughts from his mind.  Often in the middle of his workday, sometimes in a meeting, thoughts would arise about videos he has watched.

So here are the basic discussion points that I would love to discuss today. Think about the media that we have access to.  Some of us consume hours of entertainment weekly.  It is almost crazy-talk to suggest avoiding the entertainment we love; the music and the music videos, the movies, the television shows including reality tv, even the commercials.

When you consider the sin we struggle with, strongholds that seem relentless in their temptation, how many of these sins do we witness happening repeatedly in the media we choose to consume.  I say consume because it reminds me that we are what we eat.   Or in context,” We are what we consume.” Swearing, smoking, lying, cheating, drunkenness.  In many cases the story-line lead us to cheer for the “bad guy” hoping they are successful in their sin.

I had not watched JOKER, the movie, but heard that twisted as it is, the audience sympathized with the Joker and wanted to see him succeed.

“There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.  2 Timothy:3.  Consider that everything listed in this passage of Timothy can be found in a single movie or book. And the selection of such books and movies is vast.

Is there any wonder why sometimes it is difficult to break strongholds?

The enemy seeks to devour.  Is it possible that we are being devoured by what we devour.

About a year ago I saw a funny video on YouTube.  I thought my Christian friend would have found it funny.  Not because he was Christian but because he is from the Caribbean island that this video was about.  The shock was visible and immediate.  I was surprised at the reaction because I checked the boxes.  No swearing, no nudity, no violence, no drugs, and it was funny.  However, the sensual and sexual overtones were shocking to my friend.

I realized that he is peculiar!  In the world but certainly not of the world.  I was too far in the world to even notice how far I was.  Instead of a repulsion or even unease to these types of media, I enjoyed them and even shared them with others.

It is like any addiction.  It could be time for a cleanse or rehab.  Our minds are busy trying to process what we see and hear often presenting these things to our conscious minds when we least expect.

Ok, thanks for bearing with me on that..  Thoughts?

If you would like to try something different, even for a month, try these few changes to curb temptation:

1. Change your music.  Make yourself a mixed Christian CD, or playlist on your device and listen to only this music for one month.
2. Wake a half hour to an hour earlier and spend that time in prayer and study of the bible or a devotional.  If you are used to morning worship, wake a half hour earlier anyway and spend an additional 30 minutes in prayer and study.
3. Stop watching television in all its secular forms.  News, tv series, movies, documentaries, anything that is on television, stop watching.  Find your news source (CTV, BBC, CNN, whatever it is) online and use this only as your news source thereby avoiding commercials and the temptation to surf.
4. Stop watching secular movies.
5. Praise God.  Let’s face it.  We all recognize Gods awesome handy work as we observe beauty around us in nature.  We all can see God working in our lives and recognize His awesome goodness toward us individually.  Take time to thank God and give Him praise.
6. Get connected with the awesome shows on 3ABN television, Amazing Facts or Hope TV.  Listen to some of your favorite pastors on YouTube.  Watch an Amazing Discoveries series on Health and Diet.
7. Spend at least a half hour before bed in study and prayer.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Even though a month is far too short, understanding that avoiding the appearance of evil should be a lifestyle, thirty days is long enough if done without compromise.  It should be just long enough to start getting your sensitivity back to the sin we’re in.  After thirty days you may start to realize that this new lifestyle is excellent and freeing.  You may gain a glimpse of the abundant life that God wants you to have here while we prepare to live with Him for eternity.

“Of all the lessons to be learned from our Lord’s first great temptation none is more important than that bearing upon the control of the appetites and passions. In all ages, temptations appealing to the physical nature have been most effectual in corrupting and degrading mankind. Through intemperance, Satan works to destroy the mental and moral powers that God gave to man as a priceless endowment. Thus it becomes impossible for men to appreciate things of eternal worth. Through sensual indulgence, Satan seeks to blot from the soul every trace of likeness to God.” The Desire Of Ages, Chapter 12.

The post Temptation first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

When putting this post together, I was binge-watching one of my favorite Netflix series.  I realized I needed to look no further for indicators of where society is socially and morally.

Anna Stewart made an interesting observation in her article “Television Reflects Modern Society“. “How many people haven’t had the urge to murder one or two bad guys. Sell some marijuana to make ends meet. Or behave like a bad boss. There’s a little Dexter Morgan, Nancy Botwin and Jack Donaghy in everybody. Today, couch vigilantes get their kicks out of watching shows like “Dexter,” “Weeds” and “30 Rock,” not to mention seven other WGA-nommed TV shows.”

What we watch and hear today is as full of rebellion as it was in 2009. It is part of our plot lines and placed into our entertainment to draw us back over and over. Rebellion from government, governments rebelling against its people, rebellion in marriage and children rebelling against their parents. Rebellion against employers and companies rebelling against the people they make products for or against the environment. I watch as people rebel against the nature around them. People in movies even rebelling against their own bodies.

And what we see in society is no different. All of these attitudes and rebellious behaviors are played out daily in our cities, countries and homes.

Elements in our societies seem self destructive. Some want anarchy even though if there was anarchy many would not survive. Without laws, the floodgates holding back unbridled rebellion would collapse and even the anarchist could loose what they have, daughters, sons, homes, wealth, wives, husbands, security and peace.

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12.

Start of Rebellion

When will there be peace on earth?  Why is there such suffering, pain and rebellion in the world?

Things were not always like this. There was a time that there was no rebellion, a time when things were in harmony.

Let’s read about the first rebellion.  The Bible tells  about the first rebellion and that it didn’t start on earth.  The first rebellion was in heaven when an angel that protected the law of God rebelled. We learn about this in Ezekiel 28.

“You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” Ezekiel 28:13-17.

In heaven, there is a garden of God called Eden. Lucifer was in a position close to God, a guardian cherub,  and he rebelled.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14.

Then Revelation 12:12. “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Perfect Creation

When God created the Earth, He made a perfect planet, and there was harmony among all creation. “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31.

Rebellion on Earth

Lucifer, whose name means “bearer of light”, or “Morning Star” was cast down. In his rebellion, he chose to be an “Adversary” or Satan.

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9  And mankind, being tempted by the serpent, sinned.  This rebellion brought sin and death into what had been perfect and very good (Gen 3). From the time of rebellion until now, Satan has been causing rebellion, disharmony and unrest on Earth.

The two sides in the conflict.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7-9.

Some believe that Michael is a created angel and others believe like Bible commentator Matthew Henry, that Michael is simply another of the many names for Jesus Himself. Although that is for a different study, we know that Michael is fighting with the faithful angels for God’s side and Satan and his angels fight on Satan’s side. And Satan lost. He and his angels were cast out.

We see two sides, and with only two sides, who will be the jury? Or the judge?

“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” 1 Corinthians 6:2-3.

We are created to judge the world and fallen angels. We were not made to perish. In fact, God never intended for anyone to be lost. In fact in Matthew 25:41 we understand that the “everlasting” fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. But Satan, understanding our important role in the great war that started in heaven, set out to taint the jury.

What does it take to be a juror in Canada or the USA. There are three basic requirements for jury duty. You must be a citizen of the country. You must be over 18 years and you must be a law abiding citizen. ( In the USA is says you cannot have been charged with a felony).

Satan, set out to destroy law abiding citizens in Eden. To make us law breakers makes us ineligible to be jurors. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev 12:17.

The fall of man was unfortunate. It not only made mankind part of Satan’s rebellion, it removed our ability to fulfill our purpose. But Jesus made a way to restore mankind by taking the penalty of sin upon himself. Then He gave us power to become sons and daughters of God again. He gave us power to be law abiding citizens.

Today, the devil knows he has a short time and realized one principle that by beholding, we become changed. And in these last days, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1Peter 5:8.

Consider the entertainment we watch and listen to in the context of the great war. We are all part of this great controversy and we all have a work to do in it. Consider that the war is still between God’s side and Satan’s side and every one of us is on one side or the other. By beholding we become changed. What are we beholding? Do we spend most of our days beholding evil, or sin? Do we behold rebellion? Do we act out rebellion in our lives?

How much time do we spend beholding God and contemplating the life of Jesus; the significance of the cross in restoring us or reconciling us to Him. How important is that to us in our daily thinking? While we were yet rebellious, Jesus died for us!

God’s Commandments,  if you keep them, you are God’s. If you strive to keep them and fail from time to time, you have Jesus, your advocate with the Father. “If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.

The first rebellion was over the Law of God in heaven. It has always been about the Law of God. Today we are told that the Law of God is done away with and we no longer need to keep it. This is a lie. Is this not Satan’s argument? Be not deceived. Your adversary is seeking whom he may destroy. He is making war with the remnant, those that keep the commandments of God. What better way to deceive the Christians than to turn them from God’s Law.

And what better way to turn people from God’s Law than to make rebellion attractive. Our entertainment today seeks to do just that. It aims to make stars idols. It takes God’s name in vain. It shows idol worship, whether that idol is money, or fame, or other God’s. There is no respect for God’s sabbath, in some cases claiming that God’s sabbath is on Sunday, the first day of the week and not the seventh day as God established. It glorifies disrespect for parents, often making parents seem out-of-touch, old fashioned or foolish. Entertainment glorifies killing and horror, adultery and riotous living. Entertainment shows elaborate schemes for stealing where the viewer is rooting for the thief. It also shows envy and covetousness.

Understand, as Christians, we are to turn away from the appearance of evil. Evil is sin and rebellion from God and His Law. Sin is the transgression of the Law. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4.

Things to do.

Realizing that breaking habits is hard, start making changes today. Here are a few suggestions that may help in your Christian walk.

1. Spend time beholding Jesus in His Word. Get to know the teaching s of Jesus.
2. Consider the cross and what it means. Meditate on it.
3. Reduce, then eliminate rebellious entertainment.
4. Do not follow the crowd in error. Study to show yourself approved unto God. Salvation is individual. save yourself.
5. The Bible says to wash your garments white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 22:14, “”Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” This is something we do for ourselves by the Grace of God.
6. Avoid rebellious people. Especially those living riotous lives.
7. As you move away from rebellious entertainment and people, surround yourself with people that seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness.
8. Spend time every morning speaking to God. Thanking Him for His sacrifice. Thanking Him that He has shown you truth in His Word and gave you a mind to understand wisdom.

God bless you and protect you in your walk with Him.

The post Rebellion first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

As believers, disciples of Christ, we look at this new year with great hope and recommit ourselves to the mission of telling the whole world of the Love of God and salvation through Jesus our Lord and Savior. Jesus has made a way for us and we are to ” Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:7)

This year let’s recommit ourselves to studying the Word of God and seeking Him first in our daily lives. There are so many things that take us away from spending time with God. Instead of having time daily to spend in His Word, we are rushing about often trying to keep up with our daily lives. Many mornings we awake and are rushing to get dressed and out of the house for work to spend a few moments in prayer or to read a few verses from the Bible. And at night, we are exhausted from the daily routine to spend time even thanking God for bringing you through the day.

There is a poster that reads, “Those who run from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.” You can also say that those who have no time for God in the morning will scarcely consider Him the rest of the day.

God says to put Him first and He will provide for us. That takes a huge leap of faith since we feel that we look after ourselves. But God wants us to let Him look after us.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

” If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Think about all the times that God answered your prayers in the past year. How many times He defended you and protected you. How many time He gave you exactly what you needed at exactly the right time. Remember to thank Him for His love toward us.

So this new year, remember that God loves us. He loves me and you. Commit this year to read more of His Word. Commit to spend time speaking with Him and setting aside time every day for Him.

Some tithe their time, giving ten percent of their waking time to Him, not including His holy sabbath day.

Spend more time with God and see how your Christian walk is improved, how your faith strengthens and how much more you recognize Gods blessings throughout the year.

” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ” Jeremiah 29:11

Happy New Year!

The post New Year first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

In 1775 Paul Revere made the famous midnight ride.  He was given the task of riding to Lexington, Massachusetts, with the news that regular troops were about to march into the countryside northwest of Boston. According to Warren, these troops planned to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were staying at a house in Lexington.  We are all familiar with the story.  What is not widely known is that Wentworth Cheswell, a black patriot leader and one who later would become the first African American elected to public office in the United States, also rode with Paul Revere to alert everyone that the British were coming.

In addition to being a patriot, Cheswell was a respected schoolteacher, church leader, and historian. He also became America’s first black judge in 1768. That’s seven years before America won her independence and about 100 years before the abolition of slavery in the United States.

James Mink became a millionaire – some sources say billionaire, along with his brother, George. Both started hotels, Courier companies and taxi services, in Kingston and Toronto in the mid 1800’s.

Black history.  It is sad that a month is needed to reflect on black history.   Black inventors, leaders and business people made significant contributions in science, medicine, war strategy, infrastructure development, law and order, entertainment, and so much more.   You would think it would be easy to just add the omitted records to the history books.  These stories were almost forgotten, but every year since the 1995 in Canada, as a country, we celebrate the once hidden truths and share them with others.

Elijah MacCoy invented a special oil drip mechanism for trains.  Many others tried to copy his invention, but conductors would request his by name so that there would be no confusion.  “I want the Real McCoy,” they would demand.

Literally, there are thousands of recorded stories deliberately left out of our mainstream history books but are recorded in the patent records and original historical documents.  Today they are available anytime digitally on-line.

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How God views nationality?  Really, the Bible seems to identify two groups.  God’s people, and everyone else.

God’s people are referred to as Children of Israel, Israel or Hebrews.  After Rahab helped the spies at Jericho, she and her family became grafted in as part of the Hebrews.  A Jehrico history month may not have been on the calendar.  The only time nationalities are defined is speaking about people other than Gods people.  There were the Israelites and the Hittites, the Gergashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites and the other ites.

Of the people that left Egypt, only two made it to the promised land.  It was the children of Israel in a mixed multitude that left Egypt.  And it was Caleb, Joshua and their descendants of the mixed multitude that entered Canaan.  But by that time, they were referred to as simply, Israelites or Children of Israel.  Joshua 1:2, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the (Children of Israel).”

We are also to be grafted in.

Galatians 3: 26-29, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:

for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Hebrews 8: 10-12, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,

Know the Lord:

For all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

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At the age of 12, John Marrant, well known for being a musician, went to disrupt an evangelical presentation by Methodist preacher George Whitefield.  His plan was to play the horn while Whitefield was speaking.  As the story goes, his plan didn’t succeed because once he heard the words of the evangelist “Prepare to meet thy God he promptly passed out.  Over the next few days, Marrant stayed and talked with a preacher and prayed until he found relief from his guilt.  He became converted.

After disagreements with his family about his new faith, he wandered in the wilderness, relying on God to feed and protect him. He was found by a Cherokee hunter and taken to a Cherokee town, where he was sentenced to death. However, he was spared, allegedly due to the miraculous conversion of the executioner.

Marrant lived with the Cherokee for two years and after returning to Charleston, he conducted missionary work with slaves, although some owners objected, until the start of the American Revolution.  In 1785, John Marrant became the first recorded black ordained Christian minister.

The march of God’s people in the new world could not be limited to only one skin color or a few nationalities. During the great awakening, while some white southern Christian slave owners pressured denominations to dial back or stop their anti slavery rhetoric, Baptists and Methodists supported blacks in the development of black Christian leaders and licenced black men to preach.

Early independent black Baptist churches in the 1780’s sprang up in Silver Bluff, South Carolina and the First African Baptist Church of Savanna Georgia.

During this time black missionaries headed west spreading the gospel.

Again..,  Since as far back as the 1740’s, we find records of black inventors, innovators, business people, missionaries and evangelists.   Like in 1791 when Thomas Jennings received his first patent on his dry-cleaning invention, becoming the recipient of the first patent of a black inventor, there have been countless others that did great things.  It is hard to comprehend the hatred and resistance they endured.  Prior to 1791, it was not legal for blacks to hold a patent in the USA.  So it would have been easy to give up and hate the world, but they persevered.   Since then, and I will only mention a few inventions that came about because of black inventors:

Traffic Lights   –   Modern elevators
Clothes Dryer    –    The Super Soaker
Railway Crossing Signal    –    Lightbulb Filaments
The first electronic home security System that was invented by Marie Van Britton Brown in 1969

Microphones     –     Potato Chips
Pacemaker    –    Peanut Butter
Video Gaming     –     3D Movie Graphics
and the automatic gear shift

Black history is important.  History is important.  It helps to focus on who we are.  If we do not understand where our people have been, it is hard to comprehend how we should be living and where we should be going.

But, it is especially true as Christians.   We need to study and understand where spiritual Israel, the children of God, have been.  And how God has lovingly made a way for us.  Understanding our Christian past, we will understand how we should be living today and where we are going.  We are to remind ourselves of our journey with God through history and in our lives when we wake.  We are to meditate on it though our days and study it before we sleep.  We are not our own.  Because we have been bought with a price.  We must choose to serve Him and to be called His daily, recognizing we are children of the living God.  Spiritual Israel.

The post Black History Month – first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

1. Harboring unconfessed sin will put a barrier between you and God (Ps. 66:18).

2. God hears the prayers of those who obey His commands (1 John 3:22-23).

3. God will not hear prayers that have wrong or selfish motives (James 4:3).

4. We are instructed to pray according to His will, not according to ours (1 John 5:14-15).

5. When we pray, we are to ask in faith. Unbelief is a barrier to answered prayer (Mark 11:22-24).

6. An ongoing abiding life in Christ (having regular fellowship with Him) will allow your prayers to be heard. When fellowship is broken, so is communication with God (John 15:7).

7. Sometimes we don’t have answered prayers because we do not ask. We are to pursue appropriate requests regularly and bring them to God (Luke 11:9).

8. Prayer in the Spirit (that is, under the control of the Holy Spirit) is also a prerequisite. This verse instructs us that we must also persevere in our praying. Prayers offered in the flesh will not be heard by God (Eph. 6:18).

9. If you are unable to forgive someone for something that person has done to you, then God says He will not forgive you. Restored and right relationships are essential for open communication with God (Mark 11:25).

10. We are to pray with thankful hearts. Those of us who come before God without a spirit of thankfulness will find our prayers are not heard (Phil. 4:6).

https://bible.org/illustration/prerequisites-answered-prayer

The post Prerequisites for Answered Prayers first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.

In may ways, I am in awe of how the world seems to be barreling forward in many exciting and many terrifying directions all at the same time.  These are truly the days to remember.

But each day, I recognize my need for a closer walk with Jesus Christ.  I need to be more comfortable saying His name; saying the name of Jesus!  So for this I have decided to post this year mainly about having a deeper relationship with God.

Daily Walk Checklist

A few years ago I posted a checklist for success in your daily walk with God.  This year I will highlight only a few:

Talking to God about everything.

Giving God control over everything.

Expecting God to control everything.

Giving up everything that is unpleasing to God.

Sounds simple right?  How do we get right on that?

These will be some of the topics I hope to brainstorm this year.  But there is a topic I will weave over and over throughout this year.  Praise and Thanks.

Before I get right into the “praise and thanks” explanation, I must say that I recognize that bad and good things happen to bad and good people.  With that said, consider the following.

Throughout the Bible, God makes promises to His people  It is an agreement.  If you love me, keep my commandments.   or, “If my people that are called by my name would humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land, ” 2nd Chronicles 7:14.

One of my favorites is, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” Psalm 37:25.

Praise And Thanks

When I think on the past year, I can think about what seems like deteriorating health, heavy financial challenges, a baby in an environment with no time for a baby, family troubles many miles away, equipment breaking down and car breaking down with limited resources to pay….    There is so much …

But when I think of the blessings of God and how He has answered my prayers.  How my family live in safe homes, are well clothed and well fed.  How are daily struggles feel insignificant in the environment of laughter and love.  I think of how God changed me from toxic to non-toxic, and how I know He that started this good thing in me will finish it until the end.

Today, I thank God for His promises because that’s all I have.  I know I deserve nothing yet in my unworthiness and desperation, in my darkness and helplessness I heard the promises.  Sure I still felt unworthy, I know my past and what I still struggle with, so how could the promises be meant for me, one who has broken every command and trampled every rule?

But I learned that it had nothing to do with me.  It was all about the promise maker.   All I had to do is recognize the state I am in, and want to be changed.  “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” John 1:2.   He will give me the power to become.

What does this have to do with Deeper?

Recognize Blessings

Get in the habit of thanking God for His goodness and recognizing His blessings.  We know we are messed up, but once we realize how terrible messed up we are and turn to Him, we immediately start seeing His working in our lives.   It is how God gets personal.  He personally wants you to become a son or daughter.  He wants to do this this year.  How can you not thank Him for that?   The God of the universe is personally working in my insignificant life because He wants to be with me forever, and He is hoping that I want to live with Him forever also.

Our outlook on life, on other people, on our work, our families and our wives or husbands changes when we thank God daily and recognize the blessings that these things and people are.  Praise Him for your life, and protection and when you clearly see how He has answered your prayers.

Recently, a church in Cambridge, Ontario in Canada took a Sabbath afternoon and knocked on doors in the community asking if there were anything that they would like the church to pray for them about.  A community that may have little to do with prayer in their daily lives, when the invitation was received submitted their requests.  While folks were knocking on the doors of the community, a prayer team were at the church praying for the people that were home that their hearts would not resist the invitation.

Because they believed in prayer and they know the God we serve, they went back into the same community two weeks later, to the same homes that requested prayer to ask how their lives were impacted because of the prayers made on their behalf by the church members.

This Year Of  Thanks and Blessings

When you pray, and your prayer gets answered, thank God.  Praise His Holy Name.  You prayed and heaven responded.

This year has already started.  We know we are in for some surprises this year, in the same way we met with surprises in years past.  But our goal this year must be to be closer to God.  To lay aside the things that are displeasing to Him.

“You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 20:7.
“because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 1 Peter 1:16.

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Today, start with God.  Thank Him for His love and promises.  Think of and thank Him for answered prayers.  Recognize His blessings and always trust in Him.

The post Deeper Walk With God – Blessings first appeared on The Balanced Life: Bible Study and Christian Bible Discussion.