Praising God In Your Prison

I have always believed that patience is key when walking with Christ. Having patience means being obedient — staying calm and trusting God even when you have no idea what is going to happen. Expectancy. Expecting God to stand by your side every step of the way. As a consistent studier of my Bible, I have learned that all of the Bible’s major leaders had both of those characteristics: Patience and expectancy.

Sometimes we find ourselves in such horrible messes that it’s hard to imagine waiting one more second. We get impatient. But it is important that we continue to wait on God. Continue to trust Him with a sweet and simple faith. Then, in a way that is so out of this world to us, God acts, swiftly and suddenly.

When people patently and expectantly wait on God in the midst of their struggles and horrible circumstances, God breaks through. Do not give up. Stay full of hope and expectation. His power is limitless.

I was flipping through my Bible, trying to find something to read that started a fire in me and I stumbled upon the Book of Acts. Acts 16 has and always will be a story that has an everlasting affect on me. This account of Paul and Silas is such a great example of remaining patient with God, and not only being patient but putting your uttermost faith, first and foremost in Him. A faith that is so strong, so powerful, so moving, that doubt isn’t even an option. When reading this chapter, Paul and Silas didn’t think God would pull through. They knew He would. In Acts 16, patience and expectancy go hand in hand. Lets take a look down below:

“One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.’ She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities.” (Acts 16: 17-20 NRSV)

Now, lets just stop right there. Paul and Silas weren’t afraid to speak for The Lord. At all. They made sure to let people know that the reason they were there was to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. They weren’t afraid of what was going to happen. They were doing it all for the sake of His name. They ended up getting persecuted for it and being sent to the authorities to speak for themselves. Do you express your faith regardless of the negative feedback you may receive? If so, have you ever been persecuted for it? Regardless of the fact that they were being persecuted, they kept their patience, their expectancy levels were high, and their faith was bold. Lets read a bit further:

“Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” (Acts 16: 24-26 NRSV)

Paul and Silas knew about waiting, and they waited well. Acts 16 tells the story of how they were attacked by the crowd, beaten and thrown in jail. Verse 24 says the jailer put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Paul and Silas didn’t seem to panic. They didn’t seem to mind. They just chose to start singing and began to worship the Lord. They began to wait on God. And what happened? God send an earthquake that opened the prison doors and loosened their chains. He set them free.

Just remember when you are in a difficult situation to be patient. It may seem hard at the moment. You are going to feel like you need to do something about it. You put all of this pressure on yourself to fix the problem yourself and you rush into finding a solution and resolving it yourself, but that does not work. God works it out for you when you are patient with Him and let Him take over. He is the one that puts all the pieces together. Paul and Silas were not sitting in jail stressing about what they needed to do to set themselves free. They left it in God’s hands. And what happened? God set them free. They were patient and expectant.

He is on your side. Next time you are in a tough situation, take a breather, pray, let God know you are on His timing, and know that He will take care of it.

His clock is more accurate than yours. Wait. Rest.

Prayer Starter: 

God, no matter how bad my messes get, I choose to praise You in my personal prison. I know that You will set me free and help me in Your perfect timing.

Let it go and let God...

About the Author :

Haley Phelps is an energetic, care-free girl with a tremendous heart for Jesus and open arms that welcome everyone. She is the Vice President of Hope 4 Tomorrow, an organization aimed towards helping youth in Africa using The Gospel. She aspires to spread the love and light of Jesus everywhere she goes to everyone she meets through her everyday actions.

How Can I Enjoy Being Single?

To some, this is a piece of cake, but for others, when you desire a husband and have been waiting for a long time, it can easily become a stumbling block in your relationship with the Lord.

A few weeks after I got saved, God told me that I was going to get married “soon”. Bear in mind that I was 19 years old, and had no intentions of getting married until I was at least 30. Needless to say, I freaked out.

Acknowledge Him In All Your Ways

To acknowledge means to admit the existence or truth of, to express recognition of, or to make notice of. It is also an expression of gratitude or appreciation for or to.

Yes, worship and praise are an important part of acknowledging God, but based on the definition given above, try to look at what it means to acknowledge God in terms of being in a relationship with Him.

Sometimes our view of God is limited and we seem to think that He is untouchable and unreachable. When you know that you have a relationship with God, you understand who He is and your focus is on Him. Human friendships and relationships are not perfect but this same concept can be applied.

When we are going through tough times in our relationships, it is easy to focus on one hurtful thing rather than seeing the relationship as a whole. The hurt tends to blind us and it blots out everything that the relationship is built upon. But then again, you have to ask yourself, what is the relationship truly standing on? Is God the foundation of your union?

When we acknowledge a person that we love, the relationship we have with them is not only beneficial but it is also nurturing and full of nourishment. Our actions should say, "I love you and I want you to know it, not only through my words but in all that I do."

One time I heard a man say to a woman, “I believe you are the one for me and we belong together,” but there was no evidence of this declaration in his life or, more importantly, in his relationship with Christ. You cannot say you believe in something when your actions do not match your words.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14, ESV).

A person expressing the belief that you all belong together cannot save you or pray for you when you are truly in need. Their lives must represent this through Christ. If this is not the case, they might as well be saying, “I will pray for you,” because it sounds good, but they do not really do it.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. (James 2:15-17, ESV)

I once attended a conference in Chicago and a Christian man shared how a prideful experience changed his life forever. He said that a homeless man came up to him and asked if he could spare some change to get a cheeseburger but instead he told the man, “No, but I can tell you about Jesus.” He insisted on telling the homeless man about Jesus but would not help him get a cheeseburger. The homeless man told him, "I know you love the Lord but I am hungry." His situation is an example of the scripture above (James 2:15-17). He wanted to tell the homeless man about the love of the Lord but did not want to help him meet a need that was important to him in that moment. The man sharing the story said that maybe if he would have helped take care of the homeless man's need, then the guy might have been willing to listen to him talk about Jesus. Instead, he let his pride get in the way.

How can we say that we love God, and believe in him if we are not willing to share with others what he has so graciously blessed us with? Remember the time when you were in need and someone was willing to help you? I am sure that it strengthened your faith because someone’s actions reflected Christ’s love. We have to be willing to do this for others.

Many people struggle with believing in God because they have not experienced Him in one of the most important ways—through relationships. God created us to be relational creatures, and when people come to know Christ intimately, it is because they have encountered or experienced Him through someone else’s life.

Your relationship with God is instrumental in the development of another’s life in Christ. Never forget it.   

About the Author :

Francine E. Ott is truly thankful to have a relationship with God and is seeking Him daily for guidance and any opportunities to walk closer with Him in truth and love. Francine is a choreographer/dancer, teacher, and soon to be counselor who has a heart to see God's transforming power, renew, restore, and heal the minds, souls, and bodies of people's lives.

The Benefits of Suffering

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Sometimes, thankfulness is hard to have. It is hard to look at certain events in our lives that have caused us so much pain and learn how to be thankful for those "shadowy" moments. It is easier to accept the relief of overcoming a season of suffering rather than looking at the ways in which it allowed God to further shape us into the person He has called us to be. Believe it or not, though, our earthly suffering does have value. I know, it sounds odd, but stick with me and I will explain exactly what I mean by this.

• Suffering gives us a deeper sense of gratitude for simple blessings. Earthly things that we thought were once important to us become the things that seem not to matter in the end.  This is because earthly things cannot fill our hearts like Heavenly things. Suffering shows us the important things in life. 

• Our suffering can teach us to trust in God, not ourselves. Too often, we depend on our own strength to get us through. We are called to put our trust in our Heavenly Father and receive strength through Him by doing so. We were made for God. We cannot live without Him.

• Certain seasons of suffering yield benefits after overcoming the trial. There is purpose in the suffering, even if it does not reveal itself right away.

• Suffering helps us to connect with God on a more intimate level. Drawing near to Him with vulnerable, desperate hearts eases the fear of being transparent with Him. It is in our very moments of desperation that we realize just how much we need our Father.

• Suffering equips us better to sympathize with other sufferers, if not during our own trial, later. Suffering reminds us that we are not called to live this life alone. We are called by the Comforter to be comforters.

• Suffering makes us Homesick. In other words, it sharpens our awareness that this earth is not a permanent home. Our laid out Destination involves zero sickness, zero pain, and zero suffering. This is certainly something to look forward to.

• Suffering shapes our character. The lessons we learn along the way shape our vision and understanding regarding the true meaning of life and why we are here.

• Bearing our suffering well can be inspiring and beneficial to others. When we place our trust into the hands of God, seek our strength from Him, and remain firm in our faith throughout the waves of life, people see our perseverance and become encouraged and inspired by our desire to make it through. When suffering shows up at their doorstep, they will remember your fight to overcoming the trial and it will be one of their incentives to not give up. I guarantee it.

Ladies, regardless of what it is that we have had to face in life, and no matter how many answers we have or have not received, our Heavenly Father has always been there. We may have blurry vision in our times of suffering, but God has a clear picture. Know this, and be comforted by it.

We live in a world full of one chaotic event after another. Chaos even exists in our families. It is everywhere. But so is God. We cannot forget this.

When we surrender our chaos into the hands of our Father rather than seeking ways for the world to fix it, we acknowledge that regardless of our pain, God is in control. He is our safe haven. He loves us and offers refuge as He listens to our anguish and anger. He holds on tight.

Whatever it is you may be going through today, know that this is not the end of your story. The "shadowy" moments you have or may be facing have no say in the fact that joy comes in the morning.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. —(Psalm 30:5)

We are called to live by faith and not by sight, to lift our hearts to God in the darkness because we have the promise of the morning. We also have the promise of future joy amid our tears. We must leave our sorrows with Jesus, the Man of Sorrows.

We may be powerless, but God is powerful. Be steadfast and determined, my dear sisters.  Allow your past, present, and future circumstances to build your character. Trust God to use every detail for your ultimate good.

Because believe it or not, there are benefits to suffering.

"New mercies every morning, grace for every day, new hope for every trial, and courage all the way." —McVeigh

About the Author :

Emily Lauren Townsend is a 21 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily Lauren has a heart for worship and women's ministry. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can find her sharing her delight in Jesus by following @DaughterofDelight on Instagram.

Hannah's Hope: Standing Strong

What does it mean to be a person who “stands strong?” These type of people have many admirable traits and qualities, yet above all they have unwavering faith. They have determined in their hearts that no matter what the storms of life may bring their way, they will still choose to believe for a brighter tomorrow. Hannah is one of those incredible, inspirational individuals who despite great hardship chose to stand strong in the face of great adversity.  By doing so, her dream of becoming a mother came true and she has provided a stellar example for many to follow. Unable to conceive a child, she was heartbroken, and desperate. Her empty arms ached to cradle and nurture a child of her own. For years Hannah struggled with infertility and the cry of her heart was for the Lord to bless her with a child. 

In the Bible times, having many children was considered a sign of God’s abundant favor and special blessing upon a family. For this reason barrenness brought great shame and heartache especially on a woman. To make Hannah’s situation even more painful and humiliating, her husband Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah had many children and took great pleasure in flaunting this to Hannah on a regular basis. Hannah was discouraged, but not hopeless. She was anxious but not lost with no direction. Hannah knew that her hope was in God and she refused to allow doubt and fear to extinguish this hope she held so close to her heart. 

One day she journeyed to the tabernacle in Shiloh to pray and earnestly seek God’s blessing for a son. Not only did she pray for a son, but she promised God that one day if He granted her a baby boy that when the time was right she would give him back to God in faithful service. The priest Eli overheard her praying with such intensity that at first he was confused and thought she was intoxicated. As Hannah explained her situation, Eli was touched by her story and immediately blessed her and prayed fervently that God would grant her request. It is understood that this encounter was a true turning point for Hannah as she left with a renewed assurance that the dream of having a son was very soon to become a joyous reality. If her faith had ever wavered during weak moments, it was now steadfast. 

God looked with compassion on Hannah’s situation and blessed her with a son whom she named Samuel which means “I have asked for him from the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:20) Samuel brought Hannah great joy and personal fulfillment as a mother, yet she did not forget her promise to God. When Samuel was weaned which was described as being typically between the ages of two and five at that time, she took him to the temple to be raised by Eli the priest. I cannot imagine that journey and how her heart must have been breaking to know that this was her last moments together as mother and son. When she arrived at the temple the Bible states that she shared “I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him, so therefore I have lent him to the Lord. For as long as he lives he is lent to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:28) The Bible speaks of Hannah returning each year to visit Samuel at the tabernacle to present him with a special cloak that represented priestly status. Hannah stood strong in her belief that she served a God who answered prayer. She stood strong that he would bless her with a son. She stood strong that when the time was right God would provide her with the strength to fulfill her promise to God and give Samuel back to God. Just imagine how hard that would be to finally have a child and to know that you must eventually give him up. What a bittersweet time for Hannah, yet God honoured her for her faithfulness. Hannah stood strong in the knowledge that the God who loved her enough to answer her prayer would be with her in her heartbreak when she had to give Samuel up. The Bible speaks of God’s blessing and compassion for Hannah’s selfless sacrifice as the once barren woman went on to have five more children after Samuel. 

Of all the women in the Bible, the story of Hannah has always struck a strong chord with me. Infertility is a very common problem in today’s society and Hannah is to be admired for many reasons. She like many women had a strong desire to have a child, yet rather than suffer in silence she took her heavy heart to God. She refused to focus on negative influences but envisioned a different reality for herself. Like Hannah, I had always dreamed of being a mother and spent much of my childhood playing with dolls and imagining the big family I would once have. In my mind it was an expectation and assumption. It had never even entered my mind that having children could be a challenge for me one day. My husband Phil and I had been married for two years and decided to start trying to have a baby. We were filled with excitement and great anticipation of all the joy this little person would bring to us. Excited chatter filled our home about the precious gift from God who was soon to occupy not only our nursery but also our hearts! Never would I have imagined that not once but three times, we would conceive a child and it would tragically end in miscarriage. I like Hannah would cry out to God at the altar at church and petition him for a child. Our nursery remained empty and although I believed in God’s faithfulness, I remember one very discouraging day sitting in the lonely nursery and crying. My husband found me there and I voiced my greatest concern that a baby would never occupy that room. We cried and prayed agreeing together that a baby would come into our lives and that fear and doubt would be forever gone. A turning point occurred for us that night, and just like Hannah’s encounter with Eli, we felt encouraged and hopeful. 

Several months later we found out that I was pregnant again. Excited yet nervous we received special care due to my history and to our relief my pregnancy progressed without incident.  On January 10th, 1996 my dream came true! I became a mom to a baby boy just like Hannah and we named him Tyler Matthew. Two years later we had a daughter named Shannon Nicole. God is so faithful! 

I remember at Tyler’s dedication service I read the scripture that Hannah had shared of how she had prayed for this child and how like her we were now giving him back to God. I also sang to Tyler and it was a very emotional and powerful moment for me. My heart was so full of thanksgiving for the precious son that God had given me. I really connected with Hannah. 

We never imagined that our lives would be forever changed by pregnancy loss. Sadly we are not alone as miscarriage and pregnancy loss is widespread.  Fortunately however, there is good news too as we also live in an era of incredible medical technology. Many couples who previously would have had no hope of conceiving a child, have now been able to realize their deepest desire of  becoming parents and that is so incredible. God brought Hannah through this trial and she stood strong. God brought my husband and I through infertility and miscarriage and we stood strong. This trial has allowed us to minister to others in ways that we would never have thought possible. I even wrote and published a book on grief and loss that others have shared has been very instrumental in their healing process. It is true as it says in God’s word in Psalms 126:5 that “He turns our tears to joy.”  

Be encouraged. Maybe your struggle is not with infertility but something very different. Be assured we serve a God that knows our needs and desires and He wants to answer them. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8 that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” That means what He did for Hannah, He can do for you for whatever you are facing. Stand strong like Hannah. Don’t let others get you down. Refuse to give up and keep on praying until something happens. We serve an awesome God and He is able to meet your needs today. Rest in that assurance and anticipate the wonderful plan that God has for you. Just like Hannah God is birthing something in you and your story has only just begun.

About the Author :

Dana Romualdi is a christian elementary school teacher and former clinical social worker. She has recently written and published her first book called Magic Kisses A Grief Journey From Heartache to Hope which has been created to assist bereaved families in their recovery process. It is available on her website with her weekly blog at: www.littlelessonslearnedbydana.weebly.com. She is happily married to Phil and is the mother of two awesome teenagers, Tyler and Shannon.

4 Signs of a Godly Friend

Can I be honest with you? As a young girl I had no problems making friends. I could get around a crowd of girls and just fit right in. But as I got older and experienced hurt and betrayal from other women, I became less quick to fit in. I will admit that at times I still tend to pull away with the fear that a friend may hurt me.

What I looked for in my worldly friends was completely different from what I want and desire from a godly friendship. I believe that the gift of friendship was one of God's greatest ideas. I also believe that just how God picks our our husbands to compliment us, He does the same with our friends. It has been said about marriage that where one lacks the other makes up for it. I know Jesus made friendship to work the same way.

I spent a good part of my life searching for genuine friendships. I always would get sad when I would hear women say, "We have been best friends for over 15 years." I thought, wow. That would be nice to have. I had close friends, but those were all worldly friends. Things happened that caused us to go our separate ways, and with others we just grew apart. Temporal friendships don't stand a chance when they are built on a temporal foundation. The slightest disagreement can wash away even 20 years of what you thought was an unbreakable friendship if it was not built on solid foundation. God, The Rock.

But when you are blessed enough to find a friend that loves you enough to point out your sin even when you do not recognize it, or a friend that just knows when something is off with you and instead of asking questions they take it to God. . .That is a real friend. When times are hard a real friend will not take you to the club to get drunk and "forget your problems," they will take you before the Lord and cry out on your behalf. Your burdens will become their burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Godly friendships require transparency and trust. It is not easy to be honest and vulnerable about our deepest struggles, fears, and hidden sins. It takes crazy faith to put ourselves out there like that. Especially if you have been hurt by friends in the past. But it is a wonderful feeling when God gives you a peace about someone. When He whispers to your heart, "It is okay. You can trust them."

So, what does a godly friendships look like? 

• They rejoice in your accomplishments. There is no room for jealousy in a God-breathed friendship. As a matter of fact your accomplishments become their accomplishments because more than likely you were a big part of that success. Your prayers, your support, and your accountability was crucial during this season. 
  
  
  "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic." (James 3:14-15)
  
  
• A true friend speaks the truth in love. . .even if it hurts. You know that you can always trust that she tells you is for your own good, even if you may not want to hear it. She is a woman of prayer and you know that she goes before God for you to seek wisdom even in your situations. She will tell you if you have acted out of character whether you want to hear it or not. And this must work both ways.
  
  
  Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness. (Galatians 6:1)
  
  
• Godly friends will not gossip about you. The Bible has a lot to say about gossipers, and it is not good. So, a gossiping friend is not good either. Can you comfortably share something private with your friend and know without a doubt that your conversation will stay private? True friends are are honest and trustworthy with matters of the heart. A real friend will defend you in public and confront you in private.
  
  
  Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets. Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open. (Proverbs 20:19)
  
  
  
• True godly friends are natural givers. You will find in godly friendships that both parties give sacrificially without hesitation. A real friend makes sacrifices. I admit I have sacrificed some sleep to sit up with my crying girlfriend at four in the morning, and so have others for me. I have had friends bring us groceries when we didn't have much. Friends who take from theirs to give to ours our some of the most blessed friendships.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Do you consider yourself a true godly friend? 

About the Author :

Carmen Miller is happily married mother of 5 and wife to Jarrad. As Founder of Whole Magazine, and Co-Founder of God Over Porn; Carmen's heart's passion is to see broken women made whole through the power of Jesus Christ.

Marriage Deferred

Recently, I came across an interview from a year ago with Grammy-nominated Christian artist, Kari Jobe.  For those of you who may not know who she is, she is a very well-known Christian worship singer.  In this interview she was asked about being a single young woman and a Christian and how she walks that out. “He’s had me wait. I’m in my thirties now because His timings perfect,” Kari stated.

We Are All Vessels Fit to Be Used

One of the greatest advantages of being a follower of Christ, is sharing His Word with everyone. He is the Word. Sharing Him and His love with the people you encounter every day, is a blessing in and of itself. God chose you. God chose you knowing that you have what it takes to do good works for the sake of His name. Think about that. He knows you have what it takes to be a vessel for Him, His Word, and His abounding love.

I truly do believe that our purpose on this earth is to shine light on Jesus and His Kingdom. Whether it is birthing or leading your own ministry, completing mission work, spreading kindness to those who need it, or just simply following the path God has laid out for you—make sure it is all to shine light on the Almighty.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NRSV)

It is one thing to say that you will be a light, but it is completely different when you actually go out into the world, and boldly proclaim the Word of Jesus. Are you witnessing to the person sitting next to you on the train? In school? At work? Now remember, you don’t have to be shouting Scripture from the top of the rooftops to be a light to people. It can be through your every day actions. Simply being happy and joyful, can be a witness to people.

As a child of God, it is your job to be His voice. It is your job to speak for Him. And not only speak for Him, but speak for Him proudly. Speak for Him boldly. Fearlessly. Courageously. Valiantly. Eagerly. And never stop.

“Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:31 NRSV)

But remember, nobody said taking on this task would be easy, because it will not be. You are going to get teased for it. You are going to be ridiculed for it, and you are going to be persecuted for it. However, it comes with the job. You just need to remind yourself that a person’s opinion is not the opinion that matters. God’s opinion is the one that matters. And His opinion is good. He will reward you for all the work you are doing on this earth. When you are sitting with Him face to face one day, He will call you by name, and He will make sure to let you know just how proud He is of you.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12 NRSV)

It is hard to do, but being bold about your faith and sharing it with others is a part of taking up your cross and following Jesus. While you will have your ups and downs on your journey sharing His Word, it is important to have an unlimited amount of faith. This faith will help you along and remind you that everything you are sharing is so real and so powerful, that it could change someone’s life.

Be bold. Be brave. Be daring. Never let anyone’s negative comments bring you down and stop God’s plan for you. Keep pushing through.

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18 NRSV)

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 NRSV)

When you do get knocked down and encounter some kind of obstacle, pray about it. The Lord will reassure you that you are on the right path.

It took me a bit to get used to witnessing when I was starting out in my faith. I worried so much about what people would think about me and how it would affect my future. But God has started a fire in me to never stop sharing His Word with people. The flame continues to grow day by day. It is something that I can not fully explain, but I know that, thanks to God, I have a demeanor of boldness and fearlessness within me that nobody can change. And while I may have lost friends over it and been made fun of for it, I have had various people approach me and tell me that my confidence and pride I take in Christ and His Word, has helped them and inspired them.

Blessings, like the ones I have received, can be given to you, too. It is not all bad. When you have someone credit you for your work or tell you that you have had an impact on them, that is God talking to you and letting you know that He is aware of what you’re doing, and that He could not be any more proud.

We are all vessels. We are His Voice. His Children. As you take up your cross and set out on your personal journey with Jesus, I highly encourage you to speak out for Him. Be bold for Him. He loves you. He has chosen you to be a voice for Him. Use that voice wisely and be bold about it. You are a warrior protected with the armor of God. Nothing can stop you.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist,and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17 NRSV)

God believes in you and is waiting for you at the finish line. Keep going. You’ve already won the race.

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12 NRSV)

About the Author :

Haley Phelps is an energetic, care-free girl with a tremendous heart for Jesus and open arms that welcome everyone. She is the Vice President of Hope 4 Tomorrow, an organization aimed towards helping youth in Africa using The Gospel. She aspires to spread the love and light of Jesus everywhere she goes to everyone she meets through her everyday actions.