Back to school week: a time where students feel just about every emotion at once. With the anxieties of what the year will be like, if you'll like your classes and teachers, finding those classes and teachers, who you'll sit with at lunch, and all the work you'll be getting, it can be pretty overwhelming. School sometimes feels like a black hole of anxiety and stress, but that's why it's so important that we stay close to the Lord and live out His will for us throughout the school year. Here are just 6 ways you can stay connected and convivial this school year! 1. Choose specific Bible verses/passages to live out each day/week I personally find choosing scripture for every day life to be extremely helpful in many ways. Choosing specific Truth to live by each day and/or week will not only keep you grounded in God's Will for you, but it will also help you to memorize more of the Word. Picking something specific you want to focus on from God's Word is key to growing closer to Him. You will become a better child of God and seeker of His heart by choosing to study and live out His wishes. Once you learn how to live out the scripture you choose, you're able to build off of that and grow even more. The YouVersion Bible app provides a verse of the day, and you could definitely choose to live out the ones they put out! You can also set the app to give you that Bible verse in a notification at a specific time, so you can wake up to your inspiration for the day if you so choose. Isn't that great? I love that app so much! Devotionals are also great to choose what you live by for the day. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is a great daily devotional that gives you things to focus on for each day, so if you think that will better suit you than picking out verses yourself, go for it! You can purchase it here. Having a goal to achieve for the day/week can really help when you're not too thrilled with what school has handed you. Let's face it: it can be boring sometimes! However, having purpose will make the long school days more enjoyable and intentional. 2. Pray throughout the day Prayer is also absolutely key to having a strong relationship with the Lord. Praying is really just talking to God, so try to have at least 3 conversations with Him throughout the day. During one of the strongest parts of my walk with God, I prayed around 7 times a day. They were just little, short prayers of gratitude while I walked down the halls of my high school. They mostly consisted of things like "Hey, God, thanks for getting me through that class" or "Thanks Lord for this beautiful day." It doesn't always have to be a formal thing, in fact, it never has to be. Praying comes in all forms, so it's really all up to you and what you feel most comfortable with. God LOVES when you talk to Him! It's no secret that school is stressful and overwhelming, but that's another point where prayer comes in. Jesus once said, "'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'" (Matthew 11:28) Pray about every little thing! If you're confused or don't understand something you're learning in class, you can ask God to make it clearer to you or to give you His knowledge. If you're tired, ask God to give you the strength to get through the day. The more you talk to Him, the closer the two of you will become! 💡 Tip: Pray for the Lord to help you remember what you've learned and studied and for Him to give you His knowledge before taking a test, quiz or exam. It has helped me a lot in the past! 3. Ask God who you can help that day Praying is a 2 way street...it is in fact a conversation, a dialogue. God can and will speak back if you allow Him to! A big part of being a Christian is loving others and looking out for them. Asking God who might need help or prayers that day will not only keep you close to Him, but it has the potential to change someone's day, week, year, or maybe even their life! Through this type of conversation with God, you can start to learn what His voice sounds like to you, which is essential to spiritual growth. It also starts to build up your partnership with God, working together to better the lives of those around you. You can truly become a team! Isn't that so cool!? You can be close partners with the creator of the universe!! 4. Reach out to others about the Gospel Whether it's getting to know other Christians or evangelizing to peers, sharing the Gospel is so important to Christian life. Because of the fact that you're still in school, it can be pretty hard to find other Christians around you. Not many teens or young adults are very dedicated to their faith... and many don't even believe in anything. However, if you know of other people that share your love for the Lord, reach out to them! Maybe plan a bible study outside of school with a group of other believers, or if your school allows it, start a Christian club after school. Whatever you can do to better connect with other children of God, do it! Just like you can become a team with God, you can become a team with other Christians to be able to spread the Gospel to the world. You will be able to encourage each other, pray for each other, grow spiritually together, etc. The bond between two Christian friends is far different than a bond between two non-Christian friends or one Christian friend and another non-Christian friend. Christ-centered friendships are bound by the Holy Spirit. (Check out 7 ways to spread the Gospel ➳) "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." |
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Some of them are a little girly, sorry guys! >_<
Although school is extremely time consuming, make sure you're still setting aside time to spend with the Lord. Your relationship with Jesus comes before everything!
Sometimes we feel as though we're just going through the motions. School can be pretty bland, but choosing to live for Christ every day will give you a sense of purpose and variety. You just never know what God has up His sleeve!
Let me know in the comments: what are you most looking forward to this school year?
Sometimes we feel as though we're just going through the motions. School can be pretty bland, but choosing to live for Christ every day will give you a sense of purpose and variety. You just never know what God has up His sleeve!
Let me know in the comments: what are you most looking forward to this school year?
Ps. please fill out this form so I can get an idea of how you're liking my blog so far!
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According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 36% of Americans have diagnosed Social Anxiety Disorder, however the fear itself of being judged by others is quite possibly even too common to measure. Almost everyone deals with peer pressure from those around them, and sometimes it pushes us to become someone we're not. However, God's Word has a different approach to outside judgement and pressure... it teaches how to overcome it!
As Christians, we are called to be the salt and light of the earth. (Matthew 5:13-16) What beautiful imagery Jesus gives us in this passage!
Now, obviously Jesus wasn't saying that we are literally salt or light, but that that's what we should imagine ourselves as being. In this world, everyone seems to be following the same trends, trying as best as they can to fit in, and to be like everyone else: its so...bland. God calls us to be different. He commands us not to "be conformed to pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2), but to be set apart (Deuteronomy 14:2). We are called to be the salt in this "bland" world!
In 1 John 1:5, we learn that "God is light; [and that] in Him there is no darkness at all." When Adam and Eve sinned against God in the very beginning of time (Genesis 3), sin, also known as (metaphorical) darkness, fell on the world. When we accept Jesus, He is without sin, and that's where the phrase "to see the light" comes from. Remember that by accepting Jesus we also receive God into our hearts. He is light, therefore we become light as well, as Jesus explains in verse 14.
We need to understand that as soon as we accept Christ and become children of God, we become the salt and light of the earth: we become even more special than we already were because we now have the chance to fulfil God's plan for our lives! However, we cannot only be Christians behind closed doors!
Now, obviously Jesus wasn't saying that we are literally salt or light, but that that's what we should imagine ourselves as being. In this world, everyone seems to be following the same trends, trying as best as they can to fit in, and to be like everyone else: its so...bland. God calls us to be different. He commands us not to "be conformed to pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2), but to be set apart (Deuteronomy 14:2). We are called to be the salt in this "bland" world!
In 1 John 1:5, we learn that "God is light; [and that] in Him there is no darkness at all." When Adam and Eve sinned against God in the very beginning of time (Genesis 3), sin, also known as (metaphorical) darkness, fell on the world. When we accept Jesus, He is without sin, and that's where the phrase "to see the light" comes from. Remember that by accepting Jesus we also receive God into our hearts. He is light, therefore we become light as well, as Jesus explains in verse 14.
We need to understand that as soon as we accept Christ and become children of God, we become the salt and light of the earth: we become even more special than we already were because we now have the chance to fulfil God's plan for our lives! However, we cannot only be Christians behind closed doors!
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
(Matthew 5:13)
What Jesus is referring to here is that if we are the "salt of the earth," if we are in fact Christians, why should we hide it and lose our passion for Him? If we lose our zeal for loving Christ, our faith is essentially dead. What is our faith worth if we don't live it out... if we don't stand out of the crowd because we know how much God values us?
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket"
(Matthew 5:14-15a)
He's saying just about the same thing here, but take note of the fact that He said it twice. This is a very, very important part of Christian life! We are the light! Don't hide the beautiful light that God handcrafted you to be! Be loud about your faith and spread it to all the world!
"but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
(Matthew 5:15b-16)
I know how you may be feeling... you want to spread the message to the world and you want people to know about your faith, but you're still a little scared of what they'll think or how they will react. I totally get it. (Click here for 7 ways to spread the Gospel!) I struggle with this every day, but there is so much scripture that will help you (or really, us ☺) through it!
I've recently been studying the book of 1 Corinthians (it's AMAZING, btw) and found God directing me straight to this topic. (I made an entire post about the verses God revealed to me on my Instagram! You can view it here!☺)
The number one thing we need to remember is that Christians live life for Jesus Christ, not humanity. We live life to Glorify the One who wrote our life story, who handcrafted us and makes us joyful when we're mourning. The one who puts us back together when we're broken. The one who heals us when we're hurting.
I've recently been studying the book of 1 Corinthians (it's AMAZING, btw) and found God directing me straight to this topic. (I made an entire post about the verses God revealed to me on my Instagram! You can view it here!☺)
The number one thing we need to remember is that Christians live life for Jesus Christ, not humanity. We live life to Glorify the One who wrote our life story, who handcrafted us and makes us joyful when we're mourning. The one who puts us back together when we're broken. The one who heals us when we're hurting.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
(Matthew 16:24)
What Jesus says here is key to living as a true Christian. Jesus says to deny yourself, so what does that really mean? It means to deny our own wills and to take on God's. Galatians 5:24 says, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Flesh delights in pride, it lives to please others, always seeking approval from mankind. But it was crucified with Christ: Jesus defeated it at Calvary. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), so we must let go of our tendency to want to please man, and turn our eyes to the only One whose opinion matters: God!
"For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."
(1 Thessalonians 2:4)
We can't be defined by people around us, no matter who they are. The only one who can define us is God. If someone is judging you for spreading Truth, they haven't received the knowledge of Christ that we all have received from the Bible. We can only judge righteously, and that means judging by what God's Word says. If someone doesn't know the Word of God, their judgement is not righteous, and shouldn't mean anything to us! God's opinion is and should be the only one that matters, especially if we're consciously making an effort to Glorify Him in all we do.
You might hear Satan's voice try to convince you to conform to those around you or to stop spreading the Gospel, but stand firm in Christ! "'If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all'" (Isaiah 7:9).
Yes, it's still hard to let others' comments and judgment roll off our shoulders, but we can count on the Lord to handle our heavy burdens and replace them with His Peace (Matthew 11:28).
Our purpose here is to be the salt, the light, and the messenger! We were made to spread the Good News of Jesus to the World. If you have seen the Light, why would you want to hide it? Share it with the world like we are called to do! You will endure because the Lord is good! God can and will change the world through you! You just need to answer His call and take up that cross.
It's so important to show the world that you follow Jesus because the immense joy, fulfillment, strength, dignity, and peace you hold will bring others to want to know Him!
You might hear Satan's voice try to convince you to conform to those around you or to stop spreading the Gospel, but stand firm in Christ! "'If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all'" (Isaiah 7:9).
Yes, it's still hard to let others' comments and judgment roll off our shoulders, but we can count on the Lord to handle our heavy burdens and replace them with His Peace (Matthew 11:28).
Our purpose here is to be the salt, the light, and the messenger! We were made to spread the Good News of Jesus to the World. If you have seen the Light, why would you want to hide it? Share it with the world like we are called to do! You will endure because the Lord is good! God can and will change the world through you! You just need to answer His call and take up that cross.
It's so important to show the world that you follow Jesus because the immense joy, fulfillment, strength, dignity, and peace you hold will bring others to want to know Him!
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
(Matthew 5:16)
Let me know in the comments: what things will you do to let your light shine a little brighter for Jesus?
Scripture to remember:
Hey teens! Read more on this topic here ➳
- "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16)
- "Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." (Galatians 1:10)
- "But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not 2to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
- "I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?" (1 Corinthians 10:29)
- "We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute." (1 Corinthians 4:10)
- "When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;" (1 Corinthians 4:12b)
- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." (Colossians 3:23)
- "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44)
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"What should I say?" "Should I go?" "What am I doing for college?" "What should I wear today?" "Should I really be with this person?" "Stay home and study, or go out and party?"
Decisions. No matter how much we try to avoid them or push them to the side, they're always there to haunt us. They can be overwhelming... there's so many options of what to do and often the best one isn't clear. Even if we ask for others' opinions, we can still be conflicted. However, the one thing that never fails is the Word of God, and it's always there to direct us. Every answer is found in the Bible: all we have to do is find them!
Decisions. No matter how much we try to avoid them or push them to the side, they're always there to haunt us. They can be overwhelming... there's so many options of what to do and often the best one isn't clear. Even if we ask for others' opinions, we can still be conflicted. However, the one thing that never fails is the Word of God, and it's always there to direct us. Every answer is found in the Bible: all we have to do is find them!
"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
I love these verses so much because they're so versatile, but so specific at the same time. If we're looking at them in the context of decision-making, it's great instruction of what we should do in the midst of a dilemma. Verse 5 tells us to trust in the Lord, meaning that we have to trust that God's way is always the best way (Psalm 18:30). The second part of verse 5 says "and do not lean on your own understanding." Here, Solomon reminds us that we must seek God's will first (Matthew 6:33). Our ideals and personal choices are always flawed by our flesh, but if we seek God's will in His Word, (verse 6) we will be able to make valid decisions. We must make our decisions off of what God tells us to do, or we just aren't living for Him. Why would we accept Jesus and then proceed to making decisions by our own logic? He gives us the ability to receive His knowledge! (Proverbs 2:6) Verse 6 says: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." In ALL our ways acknowledge Him, so when we have a decision to make, consult Him (His Word), and He will show us what to do.
It is so very important that we make decisions with our spirit, not with our flesh. Our sinful nature causes us to have the tendency to choose things that lead to or have to do with sin.
Let's face it: the majority of us don't make our decisions off of God's Word. If we have friends or family members that were in similar predicaments, we tend to look back and see what their decisions were. We call up people close to us and go with advice we're given. What we need to consider is if the people we look to for help were making decisions or giving advice based on their own logic and on the trends of the world or if they're using God's Word as their #1 source of authority. Chances are, they too base their decisions off of "their gut feeling" or "what feels right." The truth of the matter is that the only way to make TRULY good decisions is through the Word of God. We should never make decisions based off of feelings. Don't fall into the lies that you should "go with your gut feeling" or do what "you feel is right." Feelings are fickle and temporary, but God's Word is never-changing truth.
We may feel like we're making a good decision, but because we didn't go with God's plan, we might miss out on something He had in store for us.
Even if you don't like the answer the Bible has, or you feel "wrong" doing what it says, remember that God can never be wrong. He never can and never will fail you. Even if after you make the decision you feel like you messed up, remember that God always has a bigger plan for you. Nothing you do that comes from the Bible will negatively impact your spirit.
God doesn't make mistakes...He puts us in the middle of certain decisions for a reason! (Read more about God's reason for allowing hardship ➳)
Let's face it: the majority of us don't make our decisions off of God's Word. If we have friends or family members that were in similar predicaments, we tend to look back and see what their decisions were. We call up people close to us and go with advice we're given. What we need to consider is if the people we look to for help were making decisions or giving advice based on their own logic and on the trends of the world or if they're using God's Word as their #1 source of authority. Chances are, they too base their decisions off of "their gut feeling" or "what feels right." The truth of the matter is that the only way to make TRULY good decisions is through the Word of God. We should never make decisions based off of feelings. Don't fall into the lies that you should "go with your gut feeling" or do what "you feel is right." Feelings are fickle and temporary, but God's Word is never-changing truth.
We may feel like we're making a good decision, but because we didn't go with God's plan, we might miss out on something He had in store for us.
Even if you don't like the answer the Bible has, or you feel "wrong" doing what it says, remember that God can never be wrong. He never can and never will fail you. Even if after you make the decision you feel like you messed up, remember that God always has a bigger plan for you. Nothing you do that comes from the Bible will negatively impact your spirit.
God doesn't make mistakes...He puts us in the middle of certain decisions for a reason! (Read more about God's reason for allowing hardship ➳)
For the most part, choosing to live by the Bible's answers is simple, but sometimes they may not fit with social standards. However, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED! We are called as Christians to be set apart from the world and its values. (Read more ➳)
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
(Romans 12:2)
We are in a battle between flesh and spirit, and we need to learn to keep choosing God over the world. This is one decision we just can't compromise on!
So am I saying to never ask anyone for advice when it comes to decisions? Of course not! Ask for advice and get opinions, but don't make final choices from those pieces of advice. If you're considering doing something that someone suggests, see if it lines up with God's Word. If it does, go for it, but if it doesn't, do what it says to do. Try to get opinions from people who believe in God's Word as truth and that have a strong relationship with the Lord: they're most likely to give you an answer based off of biblical principles.
If you're in the middle of a tough decision right now, I get it, I've been there! It can be exhausting and confusing. I have to say, there are certain situations that I wish I would've consulted the Bible in because I know I would've made better choices... but I mean, that happens to everyone! That's why it's important to start reaching for your Bible more when problems arise. Developing a habit of daily, thorough Bible study will help you automatically look into scripture when you have a problem. If you're already accustomed to living out biblical principles, teachings, etc. then you'll definitely be more likely to run to your Bible when problems arise...and that's what we should all be doing! Choosing decisions from the Bible will bring you extreme fulfillment, and you will be able to recognize why God wants us to do certain things! It's a beautiful thing!
Let me know in the comments: what decisions do you wish you had made after consulting the Bible?
Many blessings,
Let me know in the comments: what decisions do you wish you had made after consulting the Bible?
Many blessings,
ps. If you'd like any prayers regarding your specific decisions, you can submit requests to the "prayer corner" page! :-)
pps. Here's a prayer for decision-making that I'm sure will help you with any decision you may face!
pps. Here's a prayer for decision-making that I'm sure will help you with any decision you may face!
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
Prayer for Decison-Making | |
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Scripture to remember:
- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5)
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
- "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21)
- "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (1 John 5:14)
- Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14)
- "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
- "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice." (Proverbs 18:1-24)
- "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:3)
- “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me." (John 5:30)
- "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." (Proverbs 16:33)
- "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." (Psalm 32:8)
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In today's world, we are bombarded with so many different images of what we should be, believe, look like and do. Most of the time, the things that the world pressures us to do are not Holy or part of God's perfect design for us. Many of the concepts, ideas or trends that the world calls normal or acceptable are a lot of the time the same things that the Lord calls detestable, sinful or wrong. The ideas of the world are almost all driven by desires of the flesh, rather than desires of the Spirit. However, God calls us to walk by His Spirit dwelling within us and to flee from the lies of the world and their sinful nature.
Last week, I touched a little bit on the idea that sin comes from our human nature, or our "flesh." God hates sin because it pulls us farther away from Him. He wants us to be near to Him, therefore He calls us to live by the Spirit. If we were able to live in and by the Spirit 24/7, it is arguable that sin wouldn't exist because the Spirit is 100% sinless. However, because we are not divine like the Lord, we will always have that ongoing battle between our flesh that is inclined to sin and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us that wants to honor God and live in a Holy manner.
Last week, I touched a little bit on the idea that sin comes from our human nature, or our "flesh." God hates sin because it pulls us farther away from Him. He wants us to be near to Him, therefore He calls us to live by the Spirit. If we were able to live in and by the Spirit 24/7, it is arguable that sin wouldn't exist because the Spirit is 100% sinless. However, because we are not divine like the Lord, we will always have that ongoing battle between our flesh that is inclined to sin and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us that wants to honor God and live in a Holy manner.
Step 1: Surrender
The first thing we must do to begin our war against the flesh is to surrender our wills to God completely. It is crucial that we trust that God's design for life and His plan for your specific life is always the best. If we can't let go of our own desires and plans for the future and lay them all down at God's feet, we will never be able to let go of our worldly desires and replace them with Holy, Godly ones. By consciously surrendering our lives to God, it will make it easier for us to put away our "routine sins" for good and set our eyes on something higher.
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace...those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
(Romans 8:6,8)
Surrendering ourselves to God will naturally make us have the desire to please Him, and we know from scripture that those who practice the desires of the flesh cannot. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:l9-20), and we must strive to honor God with our actions. Nothing of the flesh is God-honoring.
Not only do we have to surrender to God in that way, but we need to remember that we were put here on earth to glorify and serve Him, not other people. A lot of people turn away from pursuing a relationship with God because they're scared of what the world might think. We need to accept that if others are judging us for doing what God instructs us to do, they are the ones that aren't living the right way: God's way is the only right way. I deal with this issue a lot, because it is definitely becoming harder and harder to be a Christian in today's world. If we are looking to overcome the world in search of something infinitely better, why should we worry about what it thinks?
Not only do we have to surrender to God in that way, but we need to remember that we were put here on earth to glorify and serve Him, not other people. A lot of people turn away from pursuing a relationship with God because they're scared of what the world might think. We need to accept that if others are judging us for doing what God instructs us to do, they are the ones that aren't living the right way: God's way is the only right way. I deal with this issue a lot, because it is definitely becoming harder and harder to be a Christian in today's world. If we are looking to overcome the world in search of something infinitely better, why should we worry about what it thinks?
"Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."
(1 Thessalonians 2:4)
Step 2: Remember Christ
Christ sacrificed Himself as sin, meaning He became sin and died as sin. When we accept Jesus, we are "crucified" with Him (Galatians 2:20), meaning that our sinful nature actually died when Christ did. (Galatians 5:24)
"So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."
(Romans 6:11)
Jesus' sacrifice was meant to help us win this battle between flesh and spirit! His Holy Spirit lives within us, and choosing to live through that Holy Spirit will help us to live more like Christ and honor God even more. His death conquered sin and flesh.
"'I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.'”
- Jesus (John 16:33)
Step 3: Distance yourself from worldly things
Now, this may seem a little extreme to a lot of people, however one of the biggest and most difficult steps in the journey of overcoming flesh is distancing yourself from anything that does not honor God. Christians avoid sin, so doing everything possible to try to steer clear of falling into temptation is crucial. We should be distancing ourselves from music, TV shows, movies, and literature that contain curses and sexual themes/references, as well as wearing revealing clothing, cursing, and possibly even people around us that don't value honoring God. Anything that you wouldn't consider to be God-honoring would be better to let go of.
I'm not saying to just ditch everything right away, but you should consider starting to wane yourself off of those types of things as they could already be starting to eat away at your relationship with God and "aiding" your flesh.
I'm not saying to just ditch everything right away, but you should consider starting to wane yourself off of those types of things as they could already be starting to eat away at your relationship with God and "aiding" your flesh.
"Turn my eyes [,ears, and mouth] from worthless things; preserve my life according to your Word."
(Psalm 119:37)
Step 4: Study the Word daily
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). God's Word contains the answers to every single struggle we may face in life. Diving into the Word and inscribing it onto our hearts and into our memories will help us keep our mind on Him and pleasing Him, ultimately pushing us to live in the Spirit.
If you'd like to read specifically about overcoming flesh, check out the following scriptures below:
Romans 8:1-11
Chapter 5 of Galatians
If you'd like to read specifically about overcoming flesh, check out the following scriptures below:
Romans 8:1-11
Chapter 5 of Galatians
Step 5: Develop a strong prayer life
This is something I personally really struggle with, however prayer is honestly the answer to everything. If you cannot find answers in the bible about something, pray about it and ask God to reveal it to you. Prayer is especially important in this area because it is such a difficult part of life as a follower of Christ. We can't overcome our sins without the Grace of God. We wouldn't be able to be forgiven when we mess up if it wasn't for Jesus. The flesh is weak, but God is strong.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
(Psalm 73:26)
When the battle gets tough, ask God to give you strength. Those who trust in Him will find new strength (Isaiah 40:31) and will be able to do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13).
Fighting temptation is one of the biggest issues for Christians, but we have all the tools we need and an Almighty God fighting alongside us. With Christ, we can overcome the world.
Scripture to remember:
- "'I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.'” (John 16:33)
- "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot." (Romans 8:7)
- "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)
- "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:16)
- "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)
- "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:1-10)
- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:26)
- "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." (Galatians 5:16-17)
Songs of the week:
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Hi! I'm Angie! I'm a college student, worship leader, pro-life advocate, future teacher, youth ministry intern, and above all else, follower of Jesus Christ. I would love to get to know you!
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