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Exploring 4 Uncommon Facets of the Virtue of Patience

July 17, 2022 - By Sarah Luma
Do you consider patience a virtue from God? Some people say, “I am naturally a patient person.” Others say, “I have had to learn to be patient over the years.” How is this for you?

Is patience a virtue that can be developed based on time? Or does it come based on our experiences, or is it an innate personality trait?

Whichever way you define it, nobody can claim that they have not had more than one situation in their lives where they had to be patient. For some, it has been a promotion at their job, or others are waiting for a future business partner.

God demonstrated patience throughout scripture, and He still does now. We deserve punishment for our daily mistakes, but he is patient not to punish us. What a patient God! Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Examples of patience

We see in Gen 29:20 as Jacob’s patience made him serve seven years to get Rachel. Those years seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

A typical example is when farmers plant their seeds, they automatically expect the harvest. They don’t go back to the ground daily to dig and see if the seed is growing. They water it frequently and anticipate that God will make the seeds grow.

All trees require years to grow. Once a mango seed is planted, it sprouts in a week or two. But, it takes an additional year to reach 3 to 4 feet tall. Farmers will transplant the trees out to a growing field at this stage. After this process, it takes mango trees 2-4years to start bearing fruits.

Those years will sound long for a generation that desires instant results. People hunger to satisfy themselves these days as fast as possible. Fast food is preferred over cooked nutritious food. Microwaved food and instant hot water meals are choices over home-cooked meals, just to name a few.

According to Bible teacher Joyce Meyer “Patience is not just waiting, but how you behave while you are waiting.”

What is God’s patience?

Patience is a fruit of the spirit that grows only under trial. This is a virtue that grows with time and requires self-discipline. It applies to every aspect of our lives. Rom 12:12,” Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.” Heb 10:36. Everybody needs to learn how to be patient or endurant. This is because life has stages; we must scale through each level with caution and diligence.

No matter what you do, if you do it with patience, your reward is obvious. This is the promise in Gal 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

How can you be patient?

We can choose to be patient by abiding by the word of God. Below are some points to identify and evaluate yourself to know if you are a patient.
- When you are utterly patient, it will be easy to forgive people who hurt you, and it will prevent you from bearing grudges and hate. As Paul puts it in Eph 4:2, “ Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Having a patient heart makes you more tolerant and shows how deeply you love others.
God is patient
- God’s patience is displayed in several verses throughout the Bible. In it, Prophet Nahum said in Nahum 1:3, “The LORD is slow to anger but great in power;…” Patience is a fruit of love. It is not hypocritical to say, the more loving you are with people, the easier it will be to become patient with them. True love births patience, as seen in 1Corin 13:4, “Love is patient, love is kind…”.
- God’s love is what restrains him from punishing us. Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and, in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.
- When we fully grow the virtue of patience, resolving our inevitable conflicts with people becomes straightforward. Prov 15:18 explains the consequences impatience can have on a disagreement as opposed to being patient. “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”
- Patience is also evident in how hopeful we are. The aspiration you have while waiting for God to do something in your life is patience. Based on Roms 8: 24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Where can we get patience?

That intense expectancy in our hearts that God will do what His word says He will do demonstrates our patient character and how we trust Him. (Ps 5:3).

It is God’s nature to be patient, as we see in Ps 103:8. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love”. Every time you treat someone with patience, you display one of the attributes of God.

Every Christian has God’s kind of patience in their spirit. However, we have to desire and develop it deliberately. And, by extension, show us just as God has shown us.

Patience is not a feeling but a virtue.

Why should we be patient?

We all need Christ-like patience. It always makes us merciful to people, especially those who have hurt us.

“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” 1 Tim 1:16.

In everything we do, we have to be patient. Sometimes, God responds to patience in prayer. “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Ps 40:1.

In conclusion, I encourage you to build a life full of perseverance and endurance.

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Trust God: Two Simple 24/7 Methods

July 5, 2022 - By Sarah Luma

Nowadays, trusting manufacturers is a norm, but we need to trust God – our creator more. Everyone, whether knowingly or unknowingly, expects the TV manufacturers to sell their televisions with a manual describing how they should be used. Similarly, we all know, that the manual has clear directions on how to properly set up channels on the television.

In fact, there have been legal cases if the manufacturer sold a product without a manual. It has become customary for all manufacturers to produce explicit manuals, not solely as a way to protect themselves from being liable against legal claims that might come up, but as a guide to reduce the stress of the consumers and to get positive recommendations.

However, it is not uncommon these days, because people want instant gratification and immediate results. Sadly, only a handful of people spend a good amount of time reading the manuals of the products they buy before using them. We can all admit we sometimes read the manual only if we were unsuccessful in trying to use our own brains.

Also, subconsciously or consciously, those who read the manual before using the product, completely trust the manufacturer’s directions, and they always expect that the TV will function just as the guidelines stipulate.

What does it mean to trust God?

It simply means we will not know and understand everything, but we believe he has a perfect plan.

Trusting God is like playing a puzzle. We will figure only one piece at a time.

In exceptional cases, these people have had to contact the manufacturer when they needed clarification on a specific term in the manual. It is also the reason that manufacturers will always include their contact information in the manual. They want to ensure their customers have obtained maximum satisfaction.

Is it fair to say only the manufacturer of the product knows exactly how the product was made, and he is the only one who can explain clearly how it should be used? We will definitely agree with this.

Could this article be a promotion for manufacturers?- absolutely not. It is a clear description of how we honor God and His word (Bible). This explains our attitude towards God and how we neglect his designed plan for our lives.

If trusting human manufacturers for our earthly products, how much more should we trust God, our divine manufacturer?

God is our manufacturer

God is the creator of all human beings as seen in Genesis 1:1 and Him alone knows who and what is on earth. His kingdom is in heaven, but he created the earth for the man – us (Psalms 115:16).

Do you know just as God told Jeremiah in chapter 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”, He is saying the same to you?

This automatically implies we cannot do life on our own. We will certainly fail if we don’t obey the scriptures and have absolute trust in God. He is our creator, so we must stick with him.

He clearly said through Solomon in Prov 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path”. This is the only way to do life purposefully.

We need God every day, all the time, every time, and any time.

If we can feed ourselves with the word of God daily before making major decisions, there is no way we can go wrong in God’s purpose and plan for our lives. Here are the ways you can trust God.

1. Make a daily habit of studying the Bible

Just as we depend on the manual to explain how to set up that new refrigerator, we have to reverentially fear and absolutely trust God’s word in the Bible to show us how to accomplish our purpose in life.

God and His word are one. (John 1:1). It is impossible to know His will for your life without studying His word.

We can invest time with full attention and devotion to study it. We do this after asking the help of the Holy Spirit to interpret the mind of God to us. God speaks and guides our lives via the Bible.

This could sometimes imply reading a single verse/chapter for a week. It doesn’t always have to be a Bible plan or devotional, but both are great options too. To add, it is not about setting a calendar to finish the Bible in a year. Equally, it becomes literature or a history book if read without the Holy Spirit.

Everything you need in life is there. If we search and meditate consistently before making that decision, we will assuredly have a solution. Sometimes it will mean looking through the life of Jesus or analyzing the lives of the Prophets/Apostles.

2. To Believe and trust God is an absolute duty

Similar to our expectation that the phone will work just as the producer wrote in the manual, believing is the conviction that what God has said will come to pass.

There is no scripture in the Bible where God requested us to trust other people or ourselves and or the universe as some people say these days. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” Psalm 20:7.

Trusting God absolutely means we have nothing else or human that we depend on.

We cannot do life peacefully by trusting our parents, spouses, friends, and colleagues just to name a few. Total trust in God is that individual decision to obey God no matter what you feel or what others think.

Prov 28:26 says “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.” We are not permitted to trust even ourselves.

What should we not trust?

We are not equally supposed to be trusting our possessions, social status, or achievements. This is evident in Prov 11:28 “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf”.

We can always run to God every time we are unsuccessful, but we can also trust Him completely, so we don’t become unsuccessful. Like David highlighted in Psalms 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you”. Trusting God has to be a deliberate lifestyle.

Finally, Paul added in Romans 15: 13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.

Obviously, this strong assurance comes after you have invested time in the word. I encourage you to have true joy and peace by visiting the Bible. This is the key to fulfilling your purpose. Frequently study the word of God and belief in God’s power through the Holy Spirit.

If you want more scriptural articles, here are a few of my favorite

Bible verses about unbelief

Bible verses about hearing from God

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What is Unbelief?

June 17, 2022 - By Sarah Luma

Believing in Jesus is the only condition for peaceful heaven in eternity. As vague as that might sound, there is no compromise to entering heaven. Unbelief will be one of the critical things that will prevent unbelievers from entering God’s glorious heavenly kingdom.

Do you believe in God? Now is the best time to start trusting Him completely.

The dictionary says belief means an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof. It adds that belief is trust, faith, or confidence in (someone or something).

That is common and acceptable by many.

On the other hand, the same dictionary says unbelief is a lack of religious belief or an absence of faith.

It is fascinating that we can’t define unbelief without using the belief. But we can pray for God to help our unbelief. “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18 )

The name of Jesus is the medium for our belief. How do we believe in it? We do it by being persuaded in his authority as Christ and God. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Unbelief can affect our rest.

Hebrews 3: 18-19 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

The Israelites in the old are a prototype of the church and God. They were God’s chosen people, but they didn’t believe in his promise to protect and take them to the promised land. So many of them died in the desert, and several under the leadership of Joshua finally saw and entered it. (Joshua 1-24)

Heaven is the rest of God. Prophet Isaiah prophetically described this in Isaiah 57:2 “He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.” Only people who trust God will enter heaven.

Belief is a product of faith.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

God wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to please him with the way we live our lives. But we can only do that by having faith, which implies believing in whom he says he is. He reveals himself differently to everyone based on our revelation of him.

Hebrew 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” is the simplest definition of faith. If you continue reading till the end of the chapter, you will see the faith actions of several men and women of God.

God will not tolerate unbelief.

Romans 11:20-23 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud but fearful. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he would not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.

Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God can graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature and, contrary to nature, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Using the tree’s symbolism, God revealed to Apostle Paul the gravity of unbelief. He expanded to compare Christians with unbelievers. There will be no negotiations or consideration in heaven. Only our sincere belief will take us to the throne of grace.

Unbelief can restrain Jesus.

Matthew 13:58 “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”

It is widely accepted that nothing can stop the power of God. Yes, God’s power can flow anywhere and with anyone. But it can be restrained if the person(s) doesn’t understand and fully believe in God’s ability. It is a 50/50 agreement.

We have a role to play, while God has a role too. If we could do everything, then we would not need him. If he could do everything, too, he would not need us. We have a relationship. In this union, we all have our responsibilities.

How serious is unbelief?

Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

It is sad and inevitable that some people will not experience the glory of God. This is because God has given us all the ability to serve him.

1 Jn. 3:21-24, People who believe in the name of Jesus keep God’s commandments. Therefore, they are born of God

(1 Jn. 5:1-5; cf. Jn. 1:12-13) and have eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13; cf. Jn. 17:20-21; 20:31).

Do you believe in Christ? You can seek him now. It is not too late.

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Why is Hearing From God Important?

May 30, 2022 - By Sarah Luma

Hearing is the process, function, or power of perceiving sound precisely: the unique sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli. This meaning applies to our relationship with fellow men, but is different from God. We don’t use our physical ears to hear our spiritual God. We have to learn how to hear him from our hearts.

From that standard definition, the hearing takes time. It somehow takes patience and requires us to be stable mentally.

It has been the Trinity -God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s plan to communicate with us. Genesis 5:1 “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness”.

The Godhead created us for a relationship. Like every relationship, this can work only if both partners listen to each other. The two parties must decide to hear and understand each other is saying. We can only maintain true communion with God if we hear his word.

It has been a challenge for humans to hear God and do what he expects us to do because we are physically and mentally busy. We don’t create time or open our hearts to listen to him, though he wants to speak to us. We are occupied with our lives and daily activities. As such, we often don’t hear God; thus, we make mistakes/sin against him.

Hearing alone is insufficient; we must do what we have heard (James 1:22–25). This means investing time to study God’s opinion about our lives. In this post, I will explain how we can hear from God using biblical examples.

Who can hear from God?

Only true Christians can hear God’s voice.

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 8:47

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Isaiah 30:21

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.

Galatians 3:5

Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

Revelation 3:22

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.

John 5:25

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

What are the benefits of hearing God?

We improve our lives whenever we obey God’s principles.

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Matthew 7:24

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Luke 11:28

But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

John 16:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

How can we improve our hearing?

James 1:19-27

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. …”

Hebrews 2:1

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

How does God operate with us?

John 5:30

“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.

God expects u to spend time hearing from him?

Psalm 5:3

O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Psalm 85:8

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

1 John 5:14

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Isaiah 55:3

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Mark 4:24

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

Hebrews 3:15

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Luke 8:18

Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

All Bible verses are from the English Standard Version.

For more Godly posts on Bible Verses About Absolute Truth, 4 Health Benefits of Laughter From the Bible, How to Fight Fear, The Power of God’s Joy, The Honesty Virtue, and What is the Biblical Definition of Godly Friendships?

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What is the significance of absolute truth?

May 9, 2022 - By Sarah Luma

In the modern era, the term ‘absolute truth’ encompasses multiple interpretations. For some, it is deemed a virtuous quality, representing the essence of truthfulness. However, legal experts and philosophers define it as alignment with factual reality. Meanwhile, those with religious beliefs view it as an accepted, undeniable fact. The varied meanings highlight the intricate challenge of precisely defining this concept

This post is centered around defining truth from the Christian perspective. The TRUTH is a person. He is Jesus Christ. In his own words, in John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. This summarizes the essence of every character we might develop in our Christian lives. That goes to say, if we believe in Jesus, we will be truthful like him.

To further define Jesus as the TRUTH, John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Referring to the Holy Spirit as the TRUTH also, Apostle John said, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”. John 16:13. This confirms the Trinity of the God Head-God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit of truth.

Absolute truth bible verses

In 1 John 1:8, the Apostle John admonishes us to admit our former sinful nature. He said, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” This discourages pretending but encourages us to admit our mistakes whilst recognizing the power of Christ in us.

For further encouragement, he added in 1 John 3:18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” The truth here is related to sincerity and honesty as per character. How we treat people defines who we are.

For a more in-depth analysis explanation of how our relationship with the Holy Spirit defines our Christian life, Apostle John comments again in 1 John 4:6. Here, he says, “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood”. This seems to be the litmus test for us to know who is a genuine and fake Christian. God can never lie.

Newspaper talking about absolute truth

What are the effects of being truthful?

We can indirectly preach the gospel if we maintain a truthful lifestyle.

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.” 1 Kings 17:24. Without going into a lengthy explanation of what happened to the woman in 1 Kings, it is safe to say, people will see Christ in us if we speak the truth. Regardless of the ministry where we know God has called us, we will be Christian examples only if we talk and do what God wants us to do. God always backs his word, so he will not let his promises go void. (Isaiah 55:11)

The Apostle Paul describes the Bible in 2 Timothy 2:15 as the word of absolute truth. He said, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” This indirectly implies every other thing we focus on is not the truth. For instance, philosophy books shouldn’t be the foundation of our opinions. Our preaching or teaching, or ministry work should be found in the Bible. So we have to invest time in studying it thoroughly. That’s the only way we can appropriately share it with anyone.

What does absolute truth mean?

Speaking metaphorically in Ephesians 6: 14, Paul connects truth to a belt. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” Belts are used variously to secure or hold up clothing, such as trousers, shorts, and skirts. This means we can only be secure in our lives if we uphold the Word of God and Jesus Christ as the truth.

Demonstrating our eternal and spiritual lineage with Jesus, Apostle James wrote in James 1:18. “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” We have a family inheritance with Jesus Christ, and the word of absolute truth is the only language we are supposed to speak.

According to God’s designated timing, Jesus Christ’s coming on earth had to begin a new era from that of Moses. Emphasizing the difference, Apostle John said, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” This means that everything we do should be because of Jesus alone (Colossian 3:17)

Defining how we should worship God, Apostle John adds, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” In other words, if we don’t abide by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ when we worship God, we are performing vain exercises.

Given the bondage and captivity that the devil has captured in the world, everyone is seeking freedom. Quoting how we can be free, Apostle John remarks, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8: 32.

In Jesus’ final prayers, he prayed for all believers to live up to the truth. “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”. John 17:17.

How should we pray?

When we begin praying, we have to always remember God is able to do everything He said.

Just like David, our daily prayer should be from the absolute truth of the Trinity in everything we do. Psalm 25: 5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” We cannot survive a day without living by the Truth, as such we need to seek him daily.

Everything about God is faithful, and we have to acknowledge that as part of our worship every day. Psalm 119: 160 “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” We see David did it, so we ought to do it too.

Finally, God comes only to those who believe him. Psalms 145: 18 “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Therefore, God is truth, and we can live in truth if we abide with Him. Abiding means trusting and believing in him.

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Discovering Biblical Wisdom: 4 Health Advantages of Laughter

May 2, 2022 - By Sarah Luma
Were you aware that May 2nd is designated as World Laughter Day? If not, consider this newfound knowledge. On this day, countless individuals assemble in person or virtually in major cities worldwide to unite through shared laughter and enjoy the pleasures of comedy. It undoubtedly promises an enjoyable experience.

Beyond the celebratory aspect, how frequently do you find yourself laughing? Daily laughter can surprisingly become a regular exercise if we allow it. In fact, it’s an intentional action, as we’ll explore in the explanations below.

Laughing is equated to feasting in the Bible. Proverbs 15:15: “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.”

Wikipedia defines laughter as a pleasant physical reaction usually consisting of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. In addition, it is a response to certain external or internal stimuli.

Laughter can arise from such activities as being tickled or from humorous stories or thoughts.

Is laughter in the Bible?

Wise King Solomon defined laughter in Ecclesiastes 10:19 “A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.

In addition, Job 39:22 says, “It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword.” Retrospecting Genesis 21:6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”

In reality, everyone has laughed several times. Laughter takes little or no effort to do. There is a common saying, “laughter is good medicine.” How true is that for you? Let’s find out how you can try this therapy.

What are the health benefits of laughter?

The health benefits of laughing are numerous. We will not discuss all of them in this post.

1. It releases natural feel-good chemicals

Given the high level of stress on these pandemic days, a good laugh will undoubtedly be a stress reliever. Some medical research has confirmed in the short term, if you laugh regularly, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally; it actually induces physical changes in your body. That stimulates several organs in your body by enhancing your intake of oxygen-rich air.

Equally, it stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles and increases the endorphins released by your brain. In other words, it increases and decreases your heart rate and blood pressure.

Acceptably, extreme stress increases tension, laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation. These both help to reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

2. It decreases pain

Did you know your body produces painkillers? I doubt you did. Now you know. Our bodies have natural God-given potential to ease the pain. When we laugh, it causes the body to produce its own natural painkillers.

Though this is a long-term effect, as medical researchers have affirmed, there is a massive benefit to laughing.

3. It increases personal satisfaction.

In everything we do, we expect to be happy and satisfied. It’s human nature to anticipate celebration and be applauded for doing something well. Medical reports have highlighted in the long run, if we laugh, it will make it easier for us to cope with difficult situations. Since everyone also wants to hang out with joyful people, it’s not rocket science to say laughter helps us connect with other people.

If God laughs, why shouldn’t we laugh? Psalm 2:4: “But the one who rules in heaven laughs.” Agreeably, it is not easy to laugh when we are unhappy about our lives, but we can pray to God for it. Job did it in his distress, you can too. I do it sometimes. Job 8:21: “He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

If laughter is your hobby, you will not be afraid of the future. Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

4. Mood swing can affect laughter

We all can be and have been moody several times because of sad things happening in our lives or around us. Sadly, many people around the world are experiencing depression, either because of job instability or the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot deny this hard time can cause us to be stressed and feel anxious.

But laughter makes us feel happier. It improves our self-esteem and gives us a positive outlook on life. Even in captivity, the children of Isreal choose to sing joyfully because they know their joy is from God and not from the situation. Psalm 126:2: “We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’”

I am not insinuating you should pretend to laugh at all times. That is unrealistic, and I don’t do that every day too. It’s ok to accept your challenging situation as a temporal event but choose to laugh as often as possible.

There is a time for everything. Ecclesiastes 3:4: “A time to cry and a time to laugh.” God is always there in all seasons of our lives. We just need to trust him at all times. Luke 6:21: “God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now for in due time you will laugh.”

“Consider your trials as your friend” Prophet TB Joshua. That doesn’t seem like what anyone wants to do. Yes, it is, but that’s what the Bible encourages us to do. 1 Peter 4:13: “Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”

Recommendation

Doctors advise us to make it a habit to share a laugh. Yes, laughter can be a habit. This means choosing to spend time with friends who make you laugh. And then return the favor by sharing funny stories or jokes with those around you as often as possible.

Reading jokes from books or watching comedy shows on YouTube is one easy way to keep laughter updated. We all need humor; share it, and choose it. Make our world a better place.

In conclusion, laughter can be healing, it can be relaxing, and at times it can be just what we need to get through the day. Try it daily and give me feedback. I haven’t been perfect, but I try it almost daily.

Reflection questions
1. When and why did you last laugh out loud?
2. How do you make people laugh?
3. Do you have an infectious laugh?
4. When was the last time you giggled?
5. How easy do you find it to laugh at yourself?
6. What was the last joke you heard?
7. What comedy series makes you laugh the most?
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Fear: How Can You Fight it?

April 14, 2022 - By Sarah Luma
Fear is commonly initialed as False Evidence Appearing Real. This means something is superficial. According to some people, this false evidence is a true reality. How pathetic!. On the other hand, as Christians, we have to reject every piece of evidence as a reality not found in the Bible. Find out below how to fight fear whenever you feel it.

No one can claim that they have not experienced fear in one way or another. It is a spirit from the devil to torment everyone and prevent us from believing in God and acting in faith.

Everyone has felt it in one or more of the following ways:
- Fear of failure
- Fear of hardship and difficulty
- Fear of poverty and lack
- Fear of rejection and loneliness
- Fear of uncertainty about the future
According to 2 Tim 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

To excel in our spiritual life by having complete faith and trust in God at all times, we need to acknowledge that it is not wrong to feel fear, but it becomes a problem when we harbor it and entertain it above the word of God.

Fear is inevitable in life. However, we can overcome it with the help of the Holy Spirit. God expects us to live faith-filled lives and not fearful lives.

We see in Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus weeps to God as he experiences the horror of being crucified.

We all need to learn from Jesus to deal with this monster at its earliest stage by submitting our wills to the will of God.

Can we pray to God to fight fear?

Also, in Verse 43, Jesus receives strengthening from an angel of God. We can receive sustenance for our purposes if we submit our fears to the will of God.

If Jesus could be afraid even for a short time, it says a lot about us too. Therefore, we should not count it strange and doubt our God when we feel the monster fear threatening us in any aspect.

Just remember, the solution for peace and empowerment only comes when we run back to God. Be honest about the feeling but refuse to let it control you.

For example, eight years ago before I applied for further studies abroad, I had many doubtful questions. Yes, I had had visions 5 years before this time so I was confident to travel. As a result of this assurance, I had saved money and made a passport. Internally, I still had many fearful questions.

Some of them were;

What if my application was denied?

Will I get admission with my grades?

How will I cope with the food and educational system of that country?

How will I survive staying so far from my family?

Those questions sound almost baseless for someone determined to start a new life. Right? I agree. When my admission application was denied in 2014, I became even more fearful and was unwilling to try again. The fear of another rejection made me condemn myself.

Long story short, my cousin encouraged me to reapply the next year and told me to forget the rejection of the previous year. It took a lot of internal mind searching. Finally, I reapplied with more faith and believing in God for success in 2015. The good news is I was admitted and have graduated.

Is it normal to feel and fight fear?

Job felt fear so badly that is why he said What I feared the most has come upon me, Job 3:25. Still, we have to choose not to give up.

Can we admit that most, if not all our failures are connected to fear? We can relate that sometimes the things we feared most are the things that have happened to us.

That goes with the saying when you give place to fear, you give place to the devil.

In all cases, whether we are aware of it or not, fear changes our focus and gives us a negative perspective about God and ourselves. We cannot deny that fear torments, traps our souls, and handcuffs us to misery and self-imprisonment.

It is not extreme to add that, fear has the power to paralyze our potential. And sometimes, it rules our lives and disturbs our sleeping hours too. I have remarked that every time I am restless and cannot find sleep, it is usually because I am worried and afraid of one decision I want to take.

To some people, yielding to fear has made them lose their sense of reasoning and has given them inferiority complexes. I cannot belabor the negative effects of allowing fear to control us. On the contrary, I will over-elaborate on the strategies to fight fear below.

A man stooping because he is afraid

1. Abide in the word of God

Jesus said in John 15:7, “ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you”.

It is a condition and prerequisite for us to stay attached to God through his word at all times. The only way, we can receive faith is by sticking closer to the faith giver – God.

It is easiest to identify fear has crept into your life and thoughts when you start experiencing contrary feelings to the word of God. Thus, soak yourself with God’s word daily.

2. Abide in prayer

We cannot overemphasize the power of praying consistently and with devotion.

Verse 44 of Luke 22, adds “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground”.

One of the great ways to deal with overwhelming fear about something is to study the Bible by reading scriptures related to fear and praying out those scriptures.

A woman saying fear is not from God

Sometimes, we could take an overview of the lives of all the fathers/ mothers of faith in scriptures (Abraham, Moses, Ruth, just to list a few) and pray with the lessons of how they dealt with it.

In summary, fear is not preventable but we can fight it. I admonish you to fight fear with God’s word and run to God for empowerment. Fear is real but faith in God will give us joy.

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What is The Power of God’s Joy

April 7, 2022 - By Sarah Luma
Discover the profound truth that genuine joy comes from God, transcending the fleeting pleasures of accomplishments or possessions. In this post, explore the transformative power of God’s joy and learn practical ways to experience it in your life. Unlock the secret to lasting happiness that originates from a divine source, leading you on a journey of fulfillment and purpose.

Nehemiah 8:10 said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Unlike fleeting happiness, joy is a divine virtue gifted by God, free from negative counterparts like “unjoy.” This enduring joy remains constant through all seasons of life, whether in times of goodness or adversity. Embrace the timeless and unwavering nature of God’s joy, providing solace and strength in every circumstance.

The dictionary defines joy as a “lively emotion of joy and gladness evoked by a success or of well-being” or “to experience great pleasure or delight in a thing.” God’s joy is not a temporal emotion. Everyone both Christians and unbelievers have experienced one or more circumstances where it was difficult to maintain their joy and stay positive.

But for every situation Jesus kept the joy of God, thus it is imperative for every Christian to emulate Him despite the situation we are experiencing.

1 Chronicles 16:27 “Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.” God has joy.

What is joy?

Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Sadness is the opposite of joy. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

In our modern age, many individuals tie their joy and happiness to external conditions, making them susceptible to sorrow and bitterness when things don’t align with their expectations. This vulnerability creates a fertile ground for the devil’s influence, as he thrives on sowing discontent and denying the gifts of joy and peace.

The presence of perpetual sadness not only clouds judgment but also corrodes the foundations of careers, marriages, and familial bonds. This toxic cycle limits people from reaching their full potential, leading to unwarranted suspicions and overanalyzing the actions of others. It’s crucial to break free from this cycle and rediscover the innate joy within, resilient against life’s fluctuations.

There’s power in God’s joy

A sad heart can’t pray.

.

When sadness takes hold, it’s natural to adopt a victim mentality, questioning why challenging situations seem to target us specifically. These “why me?” questions can become a common refrain.

However, joy is different. It’s a byproduct of faith, rooted in the unwavering belief that God’s love encompasses us, regardless of our circumstances. This conviction gives us the strength to anticipate positive outcomes even during tough times. Joy is a force that transcends adversity, reminding us that God is ever watchful, aware of our struggles, and working for our ultimate good.

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

What is God’s will about our joy?

Jesus’ plan for us Christians is for us to have complete joy at all times.

John 15:11 Jesus Christ said, “l have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete”.

No man (spouse, husband, children, parents, etc) or achievements (job, degrees, position…) can give us full joy.

The world has temporal happiness based on its environment. For example, some people drink alcohol, travel, or read books just to forget about their troubles. Yes, momentarily they find relief, but the next day or within hours, they go back to square zero.

Romans 14:17. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit”.

God expects us to be joyful at all times, despite the difficult or happy situations we are experiencing. The power of God’s joy surpasses every form of happiness that we will ever have.

This is evident when Paul told the Philippians repeatedly in Phil 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice”.

The contentment with what you have and who you are in Christ is sufficient reason to maintain a joyful heart.

Why is a happy heart relevant?

A happy heart is a grateful heart. Psalm 81:1 “Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.”

Indeed, remaining in a state of worry or unhappiness won’t alter the challenging circumstances we face. It’s essential to recognize that this is a tactic often employed by negative forces, often associated with the concept of Satan, aiming to disrupt our joy.

These forces attempt to chip away at our well-being by introducing destructive elements, pain, and a barrage of negative experiences. However, the power to counter this lies within us, through our choice to reject these influences and maintain our inner joy.

By understanding this strategy and actively guarding our joy against such attacks, we empower ourselves to navigate through difficulties with resilience and maintain a positive outlook, no matter what obstacles we encounter.

However, as devoted Christians, we need to identify Satan’s plan to rob us of our joy by praying to God for His joy and gladness. (Psalms 51:8)

We admit everyone has failed to keep their joy, and sometimes we make mistakes and forget to be joyful, particularly during challenging periods.

Can we pray for joy?

But just like David prayed after committing adultery in Psalms 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with a free spirit”, we can also ask God for restoration every time we fail.

As Christians, we are not shielded from the inevitable health challenges, marital trials, financial hardships, and other life difficulties. It’s important to understand that such challenges are not contrary to scripture; they are part of the human experience.

However, our strength lies in the choice we make to guard our peace and joy, irrespective of the circumstances. We firmly believe that nothing should disrupt the inner serenity that comes from our faith. This choice is rooted in our unwavering trust in the enduring power of God’s joy, a joy that transcends seasons of abundance and adversity alike.

By choosing to rely on this divine joy, we equip ourselves with the resilience to face life’s ups and downs with grace and a steadfast spirit, knowing that our faith sustains us through every trial. It is through this unwavering commitment that we find solace and triumph over the storms of life, maintaining our peace and joy regardless of the challenges that may arise.

A joyful woman

What does it mean to be joyful?

Joy is that decision we as mature Christians should make daily, depending on God to be in a happy state no matter how we feel or think physically.

When you are confident as a Christian that your situation will be worked out for good by God, you will be cheerful and wear a smile on your face daily.

Joy is a choice from a God-fearing heart, recognizing only God can maintain it. When your heart is restful, and you trust God, you will experience unspeakable joy and peace.

Even though Paul and Silas were beaten and unjustly imprisoned, they choose joy by praising God.

No matter the situation you have now, one thing is sure, beyond the trial there is a triumph. That scar can be turned into a star.

Joy is our conquering power (John 16:33)

No one can take the joy of God from us. John 16:22 “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

Recommendation for God’s joy

In order to maintain the power of God’s joy every day, try the following recipe:
- Study God’s word daily.
- Listen to gospel faith-building music daily.
- Communicate with fellow Christians as often as possible.
- Pray continuously.
- Be regular and committed to a local church.
- Maintain a smile by controlling your thoughts.
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Honesty: What are the benefits?

March 28, 2022 - By Sarah Luma
Honesty is a vital part of strong moral character. It reflects values such as integrity, truthfulness, and transparency, and shows a commitment to living without deception, cheating, or dishonesty. A truly honest person strives to act ethically in every situation.

Honesty also includes being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere. While we all value the truth, the reality is that every one of us has experienced lies—both from others and sometimes from ourselves. We expect honesty from the people around us, yet it can be challenging to practice consistently.

Jesus, the perfect example of truth, calls us to live with honesty no matter the circumstance or relationship. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and as committed Christians, we are called to follow His example in our daily lives.

In this post, we will explore how choosing honesty helps us reflect God’s character and live more like Christ in what we say and do.

Honesty is a rare virtue only faithful Christians have.

…That’s a difficult statement to make, isn’t it? Yes, it is. But it’s true. God is faithful to His Word, and because of that, every Christian is called to be faithful to theirs.

Our integrity is revealed through both our actions and our words. The real test is this: are they grounded in the Word of God? Do they reflect His truth, or simply our emotions and convenience?

Honesty is towards God and man

“We are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man”. 2 Corin 8:21

Col 3:9 “Do not lie to each other…”. Lies telling is not acceptable as a Christian practice. Paul urges honesty to us.

Not surprisingly, liars are family members of the devil as seen in John 8:44.

Today, it’s common for some to remain silent or apathetic when they witness unholy actions from church friends and family. They justify this with statements like “I don’t want to hurt their feelings” or “I don’t want to judge them.”

However, these reasons should not serve as excuses for avoiding a loving, polite conversation to address the matter.

How to be honest

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Eph 4:25.

Firstly, since we despise situations where people tell us lies, let’s be sincere enough to also be truthful to everyone.

Only those with pure hearts will see God, as Matthew said in chapter 5. Honesty in your heart is first directed towards God before people.

If we become committed to the word of God and study it daily, we will speak like Jesus with confidence and truthfulness in every situation.

honesty is from God bible verse

What are the benefits of honesty?

When you are always honest, you become trustworthy, both in the eyes of God and in the eyes of your friends and family. Prov 12:22.

God is honorable, and He does what He says He will do.

God checks our integrity and intentions every time we do something. We need to be deliberate in everything we do.

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 1 Chron 29:17.

It’s important to align our actions with God’s truth.

We all recognize when we’re being truthful or tempted to tell a lie. The urge to be untruthful is a common experience that everyone faces at some point in life. Temptations are a part of our journey.

In the scriptures, we see even Jesus faced temptation from Satan, who tried to lead Him astray. However, the reassuring news is that we don’t have to give in to these temptations, just as Jesus didn’t yield to the demands of the adversary.

But as Apostle John counsels us in 1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth”, our actions and reactions should be in truthfulness.

Honesty reflection questions

Sometimes we act pretentiously in order to please our friends, but we need to sincerely examine ourselves before acting by asking ourselves some reflection questions
1. “If Jesus were here now will He do what we are about to do?
2. Will Jesus speak or respond to this person this way if He were here now?
3. What l am about to do, has anyone in the scriptures ever done it?
4. Will God be glorified in my action?…”
Let’s be bold towards ourselves and speak the truth to ourselves and others.

1 John 1:16 “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”

Isn’t it funny we can lie to ourselves and even deceive ourselves! -how unbelievable but a reality.

We need to decide to consciously define ourselves in the mirror of God’s word and be ready at all times to encourage and share with our friends or family.

It’s untruthful to tell yourself “l am uninformed, foolish…” just because you made a mistake. We do this frequently, and later we start thinking we are foolish. We do not have to give up on ourselves after a mistake. Our real identity is what God says about us. God will never reject us because we weren’t truthful, but continually lying will affect our fellowship with him. Our relationship will never change.

We admonish you to choose to speak only God’s word to yourself, even after making a mistake. God loves you.

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Godly Friendships: What is the Biblical Definition?

March 22, 2022 - By Sarah Luma

Did you know that friendships were part of God’s perfect design from the very beginning?

If God thought you could live on earth alone and still fulfill your purpose, He would have created just you. I often remind my friends and family of this truth.

The first time God recognized that His creation was incomplete was after He made Adam.

In Genesis 2:18, He said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” So God created Eve—not just as a companion, but as a helpmeet and a true friend to Adam.

Every human being desires to have someone they can confide in and share their lives and everyone has had a friend at one or all stages of their lives.

Have your childhood friendships endured the test of time?

Discover the profound impact of patience, tolerance, and forgiveness on maintaining meaningful relationships.

Today, the bonds of friendship and marriage often face challenges, stemming from impatience and an unforgiving attitude. This blog delves into the inspiring examples of Godly friendships in the Bible, providing insights on how to nurture and emulate these valuable connections.

How to maintain Godly friendships

We will maintain stronger friendships if we invest time in building sacrificially.

James. 4:11 “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”

True friendship entails sacrifice and love. It implies giving, sharing, and supporting each other in all circumstances. Jesus defines sacrificial friendship in 3 John 15:13 “Greater Love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”.

Example of true friendship

A vivid example can be seen in 1 Sam 18:1-4. “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt”.

As Christians, we have to be really cautious about the people we consider friends. “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray”. Prov 12:26.

Friendships are always beneficial, but the kind of friends you keep should be people with spirituality and integrity who can motivate you to build a positive relationship with God. As unnoticed as it may sometimes seem, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”( 1 Corin 15:33).

Sometimes, our friends may reject us and abandoned us because of irreconcilable differences, but we should remember God is our ultimate friend, and he will never reject us.

I encourage equally to refuse to give up on God because someone doesn’t treat us friendly. We might get tired of trying to maintain some friendships, but God never gets tired to be with us.

What are the qualities of Godly friendships?

Solomon’s advice in Prov 22:24-25 “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared” can be a guide in selecting your friends.

Like Job’s friends, our friends are expected to show love and compassion in both hard and good times. “…they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.” Job 2:11.

We see in Prov 18:24 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”, some friendships supersede family relationships. Friendships can be an unbreakable bond if we deliberately invest to keep it with love.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity”. Prov 17:17.

Some self-reflection questions.

Are you a reliable friend to your friends?

Are you honest and do you treat them like yourself?

It is pathetic if we cannot keep good friendships. God stresses the importance of friendships through Solomon in Eccle 4:9-10, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up”.

True friends need to always pray with and for each other at all times. Christian friendship entails jointly building a relationship that is directed to God. Like Job says, “My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend”. Job 16:20-21.

God regards us as friends, not servants.

We are friends of God. What is a privilege? God doesn’t see us as enemies, despite our mistakes. He loves us unconditionally.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:12-15.

Jesus considers us loving our friends as a command. Thus, we need to be deliberate and willing to maintain our relationships despite the disagreements that might arise sometimes.

I encourage you to treasure your friends and share with them what God has revealed to you through his Word, just like Jesus did.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil 2:3-4.

Jesus’ definition of true friendship can only be compared to our relationship with God. Therefore, we can use the above-listed scriptural guides to strengthen our Godly friendships with both God and man.

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