If the enemy keeps attacking you it is because he knows that God has a plan for you and when you walk with God you will be unstoppable.

This Song Reminds Me of Good Friday

Why Good Friday Is So Good

This year was the first time in a really long time that I sat and thought about Good Friday. I asked myself how is it that we as people crucifying our Savior Jesus can be considered good?

Each day we kill ourselves. Our sin corrupts our souls separating us from eternity with God, our Creator and Father. Some days we sin more than others, some days we are closer to God than others. But one thing remains, we are sinners in need of a Savior.

Good Friday is good because it is through Jesus's crucifixion that he saves us. Now you might already know that, as this is the most common Easter message or even evangelization message. But stop and think:

Jesus died to save you. You who hurt him, you who often might not tell others about him, you who betray him. Jesus does not care.

Good Friday is Good because no matter how far we fall, no matter how far we sin, no matter what we say, do, or even think, God loves us, and Jesus loves us. Good Friday is proof of Jesus's love for us. Jesus defeated death for us. To some of you, it might be easy to think of dying for your best friend, mom, partner, sibling, etc. but it would be very hard to take a bullet for a bully, mean boss, or even someone who hates you. But Jesus died for you, regardless of what you said or did.

Our Savior is so good that he saved people who did not want to be saved, did not deserve to be saved, or did not even know they were being saved.

Good Friday is Jesus's testimony on Earth.

It is hard for me to share the Gospel with people in real life. I am even hesitant about making YouTube videos or sharing my blog with those I know because I am surrounded by people who see Christians as oppressive or judgemental. And I admit that there are plenty of Christians who are those things. But spending time in my word on this day has shown me that if Jesus can hang up on a cross to show his love for me, I need to have the courage to share the Gospel with those I know in person.

I pray for myself and anyone reading this that you see how Good Good Friday is, that you see Jesus's love for you, and that you know how much he loves you. I pray that we both gain the courage (or maybe you already have it) to share the Gospel with everyone in a way that helps them see Jesus. Amen.

The crucifixion is the fulfillment of God's promise to us. This is good.

He would go through everything on the cross just to save YOU

˚˖𓍢🌷✧˚.🎀⋆

An Ever-Present Savior

When we think of omnipresence we often think of God, the Creator of the Universe. God is omnipresent and has always existed and God exists outside of space and time. But we often do not think of Jesus and his intercession as omnipresent, but it is. Before Jesus came on Earth through Mary's virginal conception he existed.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Jesus has always existed. He is the perfect priest "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 25).

Jesus is the perfect priest who loves us, He intercedes for us and sits with the Father. Right now you might be going through a season of rejection. Maybe you have been rejected or waitlisted from your dream college, or maybe you have been rejected by a friend, a boyfriend/girlfriend, or even a family member. Jesus will not reject you. I know people who think that Jesus will reject them, because they have a huge sin, or identify as gay. But anyone who opens up their heart to Jesus will not be rejected. He's been waiting, always present, for you.

Prayer to accept Jesus: "Jesus I am here, I am seeking you. I want to know you and I want you to know me please accept me into your kingdom and allow me to know you. Amen."

Prayer to better seek Jesus: "Jesus I know you are there. But I have not been seeking your heart as much as I should. I have been neglecting my relationship with you. Lord remove the things, people, etc. from my life that are hindering our relationship and pull me towards you through prayer, scripture, and community with you and other Christians. Amen."

I’ve just discovered your blog and it brings me much peace and validation, twas not feeling the best spiritually. I wonder, how do you approach reading scripture? It seems so complicated and my brain is small 😵‍���

I'm glad my blog is helping :)

I usually just pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and to bring me closer to God. I usually will annotate my Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what God is trying to tell me. I also will do devotionals on the Bible App. If you are available it would be great to have a Bible that has devotionals and commentary in it. Blue Letter Bible is also an app that helps explain Scripture.

Some Scriptures that have helped me get closer to God are:

Romans

John

Proverbs

I think that all of these books are easier to understand compared to others.

I hope this helps. :)

Exactly do not make God into some sort of mythological God. But read His word and truly understand His ways.

Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just. Such a God is an idol of your own.

J. C. Ryle

Following Christ = Life

I often think that people do not notice me. That I walk through the halls somewhat invisibly. This insecurity leads me to a toxic mindset of jealousy towards those close to me and who I feel are noticed. Whether it is because I think my other friends like them more, they have a boyfriend, someone has a crush on them, or because they constantly receive compliments, I often find myself wishing that I was not so invisible.

Or that people felt the same way about me. But this could not be farther from the truth. This is my sin talking, the Devil talking, and trying to take away my strength given to me by being Jesus's daughter.

Yesterday I was voted for Most Likely To Win a Nobel Peace Prize at my school, yesterday I also testified for a Senate Bill I was passionate about and it passed (with a vote of 5-2). People do see me, my voice does matter, and someone else winning does not mean that I am losing.

The reason that people are seeing me is because I am walking with the Lord. My identity in Him is giving me life, and purpose, and as we walk with the Lord those around us see a shift. This shift, although in some cases may seem extreme or unlikely, is the Holy Spirt activating in our lives. It is God working in us.

Not only did Christ take on our place, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21)"

But God is so good that when we walk in Him we find our purpose, we are actually fully alive. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Do not give into the flesh for it will lead you to death (there are many, many Proverbs verses on this). Instead, live righteously with wisdom. Biblical wisdom means to have and pursue a knowledge and understanding of God and the only way to do this is through prayer and friendship with God.

So I pray that all who read this come to love Jesus, to seek Him first, to love Him first, to not fall into the lies that they and the Devil tell them. To not stand firm on what they want to but to stand firm on what they need to, which is Your friendship, Your love, and faith. God loves you and desires a relationship with you. Amen.

All the Devil does is lie. He'll say: You're unloveable.

Everyone hates you.

Not worthy of life.

No one cares about you.

A burden.

Where the Devil lies God loves. He says:

Romans 5:8 - But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

1 John 4:16 - So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him

1 John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us.

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

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

Write down verses about God's love on index cards, sticky notes, etc., and carry them around. When these lies creep into your heart, take out your cards and read God's truths.

Happiness, Who Cares?

In today's society, most people will say that as long as you're happy, you are fulfilled. That as long as you're doing things that make you happy, these things must be good. It does not matter if in the process these things hurt you because according to our flesh, as long as we do things that we like or find pleasure in it doesn't matter. However, happiness is fleeting and the heart is deceitful. As Christians, we may think that drinking, smoking, partying, meaningless sex, gluttony, gossiping, jealousy, etc. are ok because it's not like anyone is dying. But as we sin we actively are hurting ourselves.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

Last week I was on a prayer retreat and it was one of the times where I felt God's presence most. It was freeing and fulfilling because I was in God's presence I was surrounded by God's love, in the people I talked to, during church, during testimonies, and just in prayer with Him. Something I have struggled with all throughout high school is feeling behind. I have never had a boyfriend, I'm eighteen and have never had my first kiss, I've never gone to a party, I've never smoked or drank and because of this, I have always felt behind. Subconsciously I have thought that people constantly look down on me or feel bad for me because I've never had a relationship or done any of these things. I constantly felt inadequate compared to my classmates and unlovable. This is what led me to the sexual sin of masturbation. I thought I was not hurting anyone, but I clearly was hurting myself, and my relationship with Christ. These insecurities surrounding my self-worth also manifested in social anxiety. These insecurities are not a battle between me and myself but instead God and Satan. Because God has already established my inherent, intrinsic value constantly throughout, Psalm 139.

Our goal in life should not be to find fleeting happiness through the accumulation of things, or living a lifestyle that is perceived as desirable. Instead, to find fulfillment in the Lord doesn't mean our lives will always be wonderful (look at Job). But our ability to find comfort in the Lord and in community with other believers gives us the peace we seek all the days of our lives.

Proverbs 4 talks about two paths in our lives. "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them struggle" (Proverbs 4:18-20).

Happiness is nothing compared to the eternal peace and love found in the Lord. Lord, I pray that whoever is reading this learns to love you and find you. I pray they know that their sins do not define them. That Your love and goodness, that their identity in being a child of God gives them this fulfillment. I pray that if they do not know You they open their hearts to receive You and Your love. Amen.

The Devil's greatest tool is distraction. Satan seduces you with distractions that feed your flesh and lead you away from God.

Satans distractions can come in multiple forms. The devil can give you "blessings" such as money, a relationship, etc. that God has not given you because you are not ready and these things can distract you from the Lord.

For Proverbs 20:21 says, "An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end."

Satan can also feed into your vices such as alcohol, sex, gossip, immodesty, etc. and you may say "oh well it is not a sin because I do not feel convicted." But the reason you do not feel convicted is because you cannot hear the Lord's voice above feeding the desires of your flesh. An example of this for me was when I practiced witchcraft and told myself "oh it's not a sin because God isn't convicting me." I did not feel convicted because I was serving Satan and not the Lord as a lukewarm Christian. Now when I say "oh I do not feel convicted" because of my relationship with Christ I immediately feel conviction.

Satan can also distract you with realtionships. Bad company corrupts good character and you can become distracted by hanging out with people who do not further your relationship with the Lord. Especially in romantic relationships the most important thing is that you both put the Lord first above each other.

Proverbs 12:26 "The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leaves them astray."

Proverbs 12:30 "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."

1 John 1:6 "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."

Lastly the Devil tells you lies. In the garden he told Eve to eat the fruit so that she would become like God. However Eve was already like God as the Lord made us in his image. Genesis 1:27. The Devil will promise to give you things you already have in the Lord. And he will tell you lies easily debunked in the Bible.

If you're ever wondering whether you are hearing from the devil or God if it is untrue, contradicts the Lord's word, and distracts you from your relationship with Jesus, it is from Satan and our own sin NOT THE LORD.

I pray that everyone who reads this comes out of their sin, wanting to have a relationship with God above everything else. Remove sin, relationships, and lies from their life Lord, and make sure that in everything they do they live a righteous life FOR YOU. For You love them so very much and I want them to experience that love instead of the destruction that comes from Satan's lies. Amen.

God loves you. No matter what you have done, what your past is, He loves you so much. He doesn't discriminate, He wants you to be with Him ♡

I want to have that kind of relationship with God where we are always close and I talk to Him every single day, when I am happy and everything is ok. There is nothing wrong with running to Jesus when you are upset or realizing how much you missed Him in a hard season, that's what you're supposed to do, but I wanna be close to Him EVERY DAY. Happy, sad, anxious, content. I want us to be best friends.

Bible Valentines

One thing God will do is humble you and I respect Him so much for that.

The Power of the Lord

God will use anyone, and I mean anyone to spread His message. I often wonder why God allowed me to find Him, allowed me to accept Him, I often wonder why I am so blessed to belong to this kingdom.

But then I fear that by following Him I am missing out on the world. I fear I'm missing out on experiences that I will never be able to have if I continue walking in faith.

But this is so ridiculously stupid. Sure I might miss out on parties, drinking, etc. but that is nothing compared to the light, joy, and patience God's goodness and grace give me. I also remember what my life looked like when I was a lukewarm Christian. I practiced witchcraft (convincing myself that this was ok), I affirmed sin, I was depressed, I was anxious, but most notably I was so confused. I questioned my existence and if I even mattered. I felt confused in my own body and I did not truly care about myself.

But after I found God, and truly grew with Jesus I felt loved, and accepted. I still struggle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts at times but I am NOT CONFUSED. I have eyes to see the evil present in our world. I have eyes to see TRUE CHRISTIANITY and most notably I have a tongue to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, and He's my Savior. Not only has He saved me from my inevitable death but He's saved me from dying right now. Every time I sin I am digging my own grave but Jesus picks me up when I stumble and He truly loves me.

It is so hard for me to listen to the Lord's voice because I fear I am becoming a "crazy Christian" someone who is doing too much and could potentially push people away from the Gospel. But at the end of the day, I need to remember that my hope is found in Jesus. He is my Savior no one else.

For Luke 14:33 ESV says, "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." We are called to give everything up. I will be very transparent and say there are habits, shows, and friendships that I haven't given up to the Lord. But I pray that through the power of conviction in the Holy Spirit the Lord leads me and anyone else reading this to live a life where we can renounce everything for our Lord.

Isaiah 42:16-19 CSB says, "I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will turn darkness to light in front of them and fought places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them." If the creator of the universe can do this much for me I can give up my fears and worries to Him.

For while my flesh has led me astray and gives me doubt and death and destruction. Following God gives me peace and clarity which I value more than any happiness that things of the world have given me. I remember praying for people to like me, my crushes to be my Valentine, etc. and then feeling betrayed by God when that did not happen. But God sees the bigger picture and He's looking out for me. I do not need to know God's exact plans for me I just need to trust in Him. Even amid my struggles, temptations, etc. I will trust in Him.

*Also side-note but I literally was wondering how to get closer to God and I wanted to feel His presence so I opened my Bible just randomly and turned to Isaiah 42 which in my bible is titled The Servants Mission & A Song of Praise, which both perfectly told me who I am in Christ. Trust me Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are always with you.

Staying Saved

I have been struggling with deceit from my heart and flesh this week. It wants me to do things that separate me from God's love. I'm tired and weary and taking my fleshly desires to the Lord. I'm laying down my sins and asking them to be forgiven.

Proverbs 16: 1 states:

"To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue."

I am done living in my flesh. I am going to Jesus. And I am lifting up His name with the power of my tongue. My works have not shown Jesus because I sinned against my Father. I repent Lord and I pray that all who see this give up their sins and truly come to you. Lord, I pray for your strength. For it was God who delivered me from my depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts. And I know He can deliver me from my sin now. I am no longer listening to my own thoughts. But instead to the voice of God.