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Our friends and community become life-shapers to us. So, who, in your life are helping to shape you and push you to be the best that you can be?
Not everyone in your life will be your coach, advocate or cheerleader!
In the Bible, Amos 3:3 asks the question, âCan two walk together, unless they agree?â
Many times, itâs healthy to respectfully disagree with a friend. But this is never acceptable if this person is hindering your growth in Christ.
If youâre in a negative relationship that is holding you back or pulling you down, you may need to cut ties.
Seek positive relationships with people who support, grow and challenge you to be the best version of who God created you to be.
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Think about the last time you went shopping for clothes. What would you do if the sweater you were trying on didnât fit? Would you force it on or look for one in the correct size?
Sometimes we do this with scripture. We may pluck out a verse here or there to suit our needs or fit our opinions. But, out of context, we can do some serious damage by reading the word of God in this way. We may end up attempting to force a verse into a situation that was never intended to fit our expectations.
When weâre studying the Bible, itâs important to know the circumstances, timeline and the audience. We should allow the Bible to teach us about who Jesus is and who we are in Him.
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In the Bible, when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of the Saviorâs garment, Jesus already knew that she was going to touch Him. He already knew she was in the crowd. After all, He is God in the flesh. Now, while He could have pointed her out, Jesus asked, âWho touched Me?â
God wants us to ignore the crowd around us, look past the chaos, and approach His throne boldly. It could have been an unmentioned miracle, but Jesus would have this unnamed woman speak up publicly, for what she sought after and received from Him. Jesus said to her, âYour faith has made you whole,â. She wasnât just made well, but WHOLE- completely restored.
So, what are you desperately believing God for? And what are you willing to risk? Whatever you do, be bold in your pursuit of God
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Thank you so much for listening to HEARTBEAT!
We have some exciting news to share! Beginning this September weâre joining Salem Media Groupâs Christian podcast network, LifeAudio.
LifeAudio is home to top charting, Christian podcasts and theyâre proud to bring entertaining, life-changing, and family-friendly podcasts for the engaged, evangelical Christian audience.
This partnership in ministry will allow HEARTBEAT to be in front of even more potential listeners as we continue to create the show you know and love.
You will not need to resubscribe or do anything different as this change will be seamless.
We will be running some advertisements on the show which will help us cover some of our production costs but the show itself will not change.
To learn more about life audio- visit https://www.lifeaudio.com/
Thank you for listening and God bless
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Consider how you introduce yourself to someone new. You might say something like, âHi, Iâm Janine and Iâm a school principal.â Or, âHi, Iâm Jake and Iâm an engineerâ.
In these examples, we say our name followed by our job title or some major accomplishment. Itâs easy for us to get so wrapped up in what we do, that it becomes who we think we are.
In contrast, God values us before we do anything. He would introduce us as Janine, Jake and Meagan as dearly loved children of God. To God, who we are is much more important than what we do.
So, certainly, take pride in your work but donât let it become your sole identity. Before anything, you are a child of God.
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In Genesis 1, verse 28, we read âBe fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earthâ.
Did you know that some people actually point to this scripture to excuse human behavior as we mistreat the planet?
Well, according to Strongâs Concordance, did you know that the phrase, âhave dominionâ is the Hebrew word, radah? This Hebrew word is related to other words which mean descend, wander and spread. Many scholars believe that the appropriate understanding of this verb- in this context means âto rule by going down and walking among the subjects as an equal.â
How are we caring for Godâs creation in this way? Are we mistreating it as a cruel leader? Or are we treating it with the Grace, love and kindness our Father has shown to us?
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A boy was told by his father not to play with his watch while he was away. However, not long after he left, the boy decided to just have a look. He put it on just like he always saw his dad and began playing around the house. Before long, he tripped, fell and landed on the watch. (glass break sounds)
When his dad came home, his son was nowhere in sight, hiding in shame for what he had done.
This isnât a new story. Adam and Eve hid from God when they realized what they had done. Sin and guilt had drove a wedge between God and His children. So, He came as a man, to die in our place, so He could call His children home.
Sin had broken something. A watch, a relationship. But nothing is ever too broken for God.
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Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 10 says: âThe joy of the Lord is my strength.â
Are you choosing to rely on God daily or are you depending on someone or something else? Trust me, that cup of coffee youâre drinking is not all you need to tackle the day.
C.S. Lewis said, âRelying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.â
Meaning, we need to connect with our heavenly Father every single day. After you pour that first cup of coffee, or before you even get out of bed, make it a priority. Whether thatâs reading scripture on your bible app, or listening to your favorite worship song, let the joy of the Lord soak in and be your source of strength.
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Author C.S. Lewis said that if our charities donât pinch or hamper us, then they are too small. People today are generally civic minded. They desire to help others and give back to their communities. But Lewis would have us ask ourselves whether or not our efforts are really enough. Are we contributing just enough to check a box for ourselves- or are we really helping our neighbors in need.
I find C.S. Lewisâ statement personally challenging. So Iâm looking to do something this week that will really stretch and challenge me. Rather than just dropping off some canned goods or donating a few dollars, I might volunteer to serve at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter.
What will you do? Hopefully, nothing too small!
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For the average car owner, what do you do when something goes wrong with it? If the engine starts making a terrible sound, do you look for a schematic diagram of your car, or do you take it someone who knows how to fix it?
The author and Bible scholar, N.T. Wright says that,
âThe Bible isnât like an accurate description of how a car is made. Itâs more like the mechanic who helps you fix it.â
When we read our Bible, we shouldnât be reading it for the purpose being able to spout out Biblical knowledge. We should be reading it to connect with God.
When your spiritual life is in need of some maintenance, donât try to fix it on your own. Look within the Word of God to refuel, tune up and get you where youâre going.
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I have always been fascinated by the process of metamorphosis. How there can be such a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism. Think, for example, of an ugly, ground-crawling caterpillar that ultimately becomes a beautiful butterfly with wings that enable it to fly.
The amazing thing is that spiritually, such a complete transformation can happen to us! The person I am today I know is vastly different than who I would have been without Christ.
2nd Corinthians 5:17 says that in Christ, we can become a new person. Do you need a real makeover or a complete overhaul? Do you need a brand new start? Let Christ transform you!
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A while back, I had posted a quote by a pastor I admire, hoping to instill some peace in someone who really needed to hear these words. But, without fail, an anonymous person commented something so hateful that it took me a while to share a message like that again. I allowed this person to make me doubt myself, made me feel inferior and unqualified to share about my own faith.
But I found peace in 1st Corinthians, 1:28. Because the Apostle Paul reminds us that God uses what and who the world despises to do extraordinary things.
No matter how little society thinks of you, God has chosen you to do incredible things for His Kingdom. So, donât let some social media troll keep you down. He has chosen and will use people like you and me to change the world.
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Life doesnât always work the way we think it should. High expectations slam against unwelcome surprises. At those times itâs hard to feel the presence of God.
If He is everywhere and loves us like he says he does, why does he allow the loss of a job or home or a loved one?
God has gone to great lengths to make himself known to usâ
through the Bible, through his people, through nature, and through his only Son who died for us.
The author and speaker, Dr. Joel Muddamalle (Mood-am-AL-Lay) says that every time he asks, âWhyâ, God reminds him,
Who created and sustains all things? Who defeated death? Who comforts us in our pain and sorrow? To all of these questions- we answer, our Heavenly Father.
Joel goes on to say that every time someone asks the question âwhy do bad things happen to good peopleâ he answers,
âGod, I donât know. But you do. And that will be good enough for me.â
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Questioning your faith or having doubts doesnât mean your faith isnât real- or that youâre a fake Christian. Having questions is perfectly normal, and healthy.
People who donât take the time to ask hard questions about their faith will eventually have a serious struggle when they experience a tragedy or come across the probing questions of an intelligent skeptic.
The pastor and author, Tim Keller writes,
âIt is no longer sufficient to hold beliefs just because you inherited them.â
In other words, if you grew up in a Christian home, itâs time to make your parentsâ faith your own. Take time to reflect on your doubts and bring them to God. He will patiently walk with you as you work out your faith.
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A lot of us avoid reading the Old Testament because we find the God depicted there scary and remote. We look for ways to make Him more tolerant, less stern.
But the truth is that God has always had relationship with people based on their covenant. God seeks intimacy with His people, but it must be on His terms.
When Moses and his people reached Mount Sinai on the way to the Promised Land, God spoke to Moses. It was there that God made a covenant with Moses and the Jewish people that renewed the one he had made with Abraham. But there were a lot of terms to this relationship.
In Christ, we too have a covenant with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Unlike anything found in the Old Testament. We now have the privilege of approaching God one on one. How is your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
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There are several research articles on the âMystery of intuitive decision makingâ. In fact, some define intuition as âKnowing without knowingâ.
As a believer, how many times have you been at a crossroads in your life and you just knew which way you should go? With prayer, you were probably even more confident with this choice, right?
In the Bible, James says, âIf any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.â
This ability we believers have is no mystery. As we continue to walk with God and learn His voice, more and more; your discernment, intuition, and decision making will come in line with His will for your life.
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What does the word happy mean to you? The Merriam-Webster definition is that happiness is âcharacterized by well-being and contentment.â
Iâm sure we can all agree that usually the state of being content comes and goes depending on our circumstances. The truth that Iâve discovered is that happiness isnât a destination but a journey. Itâs not something we find, but something we create.
Every day is truly a gift. Sometimes these gifts are obvious. Other times these blessings are hidden in the trials we face. But these gifts are always there waiting to be discovered.
If youâre looking for a key to unlock more happiness in your life- start with gratitude. It helps us appreciate what we have, and therefore helps us stay content. True happiness isnât found in material things but in the love and peace of God.
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As any parent of young kids can attest, getting your kids to clean up their room can be an absolute headache at times. You can imagine the bickering and whining. Yet, as soon as the parent begins to help them, the kids jump at the task and start to clean up.
This is what Grace does for us. It reminds us of how God jumped into the mess of our lives and started His work before we even lifted a finger. Weâre then motivated by the power of His Grace to continue what Heâs started.
The moment you accepted Christ into your heart He started a work- and in the Apostle Paulâs words, âbeing confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.â
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Are you in a difficult season right now? Unfortunately, even being a new creation in Christ doesnât grant us a trouble free life. Do you look at your to-do list and feel overwhelmed? Problems at work? Relationship troubles? I promise, that even if it feels like God has distanced Himself from you during this time nothing could be further from the truth.
So, in the midst of these hard times reach out to God and know He has not forgotten about you. In the Bible, Isaiah chapter 41 in the Message says,
âI, your God, have a firm grip on you and Iâm not letting go. Iâm telling you, âDonât panic. Iâm right here to help you.â
Calm you anxieties by taking refuge in your Heavenly Father. He is right there with you.
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A friend of mine who recently got their motorcycle license was telling me of a lesson they learned early on. When riding, itâs important to keep your eyes and your head pointed in the direction you want to go. If thereâs an obstacle in the road youâre trying to avoid, the last thing you need to do is stare at it. If you do, thatâs inevitably where youâll go.
This is a lesson we can apply to life. The Bible encourages us to speak words of faith, believing that if God has placed a desire on our heart, with His guidance, we will arrive at our destination.
So, believe, speak and act in faith. Keep looking ahead.
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