The way you understand your mistakes can evolve over time. At first, you might feel like a failure. Over time, if you seek God’s presence, you can gain a deeper understanding.

You see, God isn’t a school teacher – he’s our loving Creator. He doesn’t just want us to learn how to behave well. Instead, his Spirit guides us along a more profound journey.

Jesus proved God’s love to you. Return to him when you do something wrong. Let him show you how to open your heart to receive the full mercy of God.

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…but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:19

Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:13

GRACE POURS IN

Dear loving Lord,

I’ve been down this road before, but this time  it’s different.

I fall down into temptation. I make a mess.

Before I would get sad, since I wasn’t perfect.

Now – after smacking my head so many times – I know.

It’s the hurt. That’s the problem. The wounds I cause to others, to me… to you. Yes, I let myself down, but this matters less  to me now. I think more about nails and hands and feet.

I want to change. I want to be free.

Isn’t that what you want for me?

And the enemy blocks my way saying, “See? You can’t do it. You should give up already. You’re too weak.”

And I say, “Yes. You’re right. I’m weak. But my mighty God doesn’t care. Instead, he gives me a second chance.

That’s what a good Father does for his child.”

And the enemy flees,

As grace pours in.

Do you focus only on the benefits of your faith? Or do you look deeper into its meaning? To get the true benefit, it’s important to contemplate the full meaning of the Christian faith.

The Gospel message is clear. God came as man to earth to live among us. Jesus was brutally crucified for our sins. He rose from the dead to defeat sin and death. He sits at God’s right hand. The Holy Spirit lives in us, and Jesus will come again in glory.

And yes, our belief gives us many practical advantages such as clarity, courage and direction. God soothes our hurt and comforts us, and he gives us great joy.

Still, if we don’t recognize our sins, the message won’t sprout deep roots. Then Jesus just becomes another self-help tactic instead of being our life-changing, soul-saving Redeemer.

So go back to the crucifixion and think about what it all means to you. Let your soul be touched again by the mercy and love of God.

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So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

ALL FOR ME

Do I forget? How much do I truly understand? What you went through, what you felt.

For me.

I want the feel good Jesus. The one that forgives, frees, heals and loves me. But I forget the suffering Christ.

All my shame. The worst of me. I know how far I squandered your blessings.

But he stood up for me and said, “I did it. Treat me Father as if I did those things wrong.”

The hammer strikes. Nails drive deep into innocent flesh. There is blood, pain and death.

For me.

Still, the true cross is the hurt you felt as your Father surrendered you to be my sin.

You got what I deserved.

How can I possibly accept such a gift? How can I begin to comprehend such love?

Let it burn me, oh Lord. Let it break my heart.

Then I may truly begin to know what it means to be forgiven, free, healthy and loved.

Have you ever doubted  your faith? It happens to almost everyone at some time. This doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It’s better to be sincere about it instead of faking it.

While more prayer is essential to get past moments of doubt, it also helps to use your head. Remember, the Bible is more than just a religious text. It has many historically accurate narratives backed up by other non-Christian sources of evidence. Also, there are centuries of saints, martyrs and modern-day Christians who can inspire us with their testimonies of faith.

Our belief in Jesus Christ gives us eternal answers about our origin, meaning, morality and destiny.  In the end, it all rests upon the Gospel message. If God exists, and he sent his Son to give his life for you… what does this mean to you? What impact does this have on your life? On your soul?

Go back to God and his Word. Let him reveal the answers to your heart.

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“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:1-3

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life;

John 6:68

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

BEYOND DOUBT

Oh blessed Lord,

Despite my sin and shame, you set me free.
I never knew true mercy until I knew you.
At first, it was all fresh, new. Perfect.

Now, as the years pass I see hurt and pain. I see
confusion, even betrayal in your church.
My mind wanders. My heart begins to doubt.

Is it worth it, this thing called faith?

The world mocks and ridicules and gives me a million reasons to not believe.

Is Christ still real to me?

So I toss and turn and struggle. I wrestle with God.

And then I remember…
That deep dark pit. When I was all alone. Only you came. Nobody else could. I was unreachable.

And I remember…
All the transformations, the miracles you showed me. I pull them from the warehouse of my soul. Countless testimonies. Lives restored.
Souls saved.

And I remember….
Where I came from. Where I’m going.
And who I am.

I go to the house of my Father… to my King…

No greater love.
Fresh. New. Perfect.

Just this for today.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

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In any difficult situation, you might be tempted to give up hope. It takes an effort to dig deep into your faith and find the strength to go on. Sometimes it even seems illogical to look for God’s presence.

Don’t give up. Run to him. Never, ever substitute your time with God for worldly solutions. Yes, you have to live your life responsibly, but never exclude the Lord. Instead, rest firmly on him and his promises. God acts upon your faith. You can count on it.

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Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress;
he led them by a straight way,
    till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to the sons of men!
For he satisfies him who is thirsty,
    and the hungry he fills with good things.

Psalm 107:6-9

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:35

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Luke 4:18

But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Romans 8:9a

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For millions of Christians around the world, Easter week represents the most important truths about our faith… the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Take time to mediate upon the events surrounding the last days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. What does the cross of Christ mean to you? How does its significance apply to your circumstances now?

Never lose hope in the resurrection. Still, you can’t get there without the cross. They are like two sides of the same coin. One is obedience, sacrifice, mercy, redemption, and love. The other side is the Glory of God.

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Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

John 4:43

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

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For those that suffer greatly, there are no words that can truly help. Only you fully understand your situation and pain. Seek help from those you trust, but above all, cry out and find strength in the Lord.

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In the course of those many days the king of Egypt died. And the people of Israel groaned under their bondage, and cried out for help, and their cry under bondage came up to God.

Exodus 2:23

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Once in a while things calm down. You get a break from all the turmoil. When this happens, stay centered. If you go to God only when you have trouble, you miss out on a huge blessing.

When times are good, get ready for the next struggle. This doesn’t mean you need to be pessimistic. Instead, it means you are a solid person. No matter what, Christ is your center.

You don’t need an excuse to celebrate. In good times and bad, every day is a reason to praise God for his good work in your life.

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Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:42-44

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You can always go to God when you need help, but it’s better to avoid problems if you can. If you’re always hurrying around, you don’t have time to listen to God. So stop. Listen. He will show you things. He’ll warn you about danger ahead.

In God’s presence, he gives you his perspective. You remember and see things with more clarity. You make connections and come to conclusions that weren’t there before. This saves you time since you avoid mistakes. Life won’t be perfect, but you’ll reduce unnecessary suffering.

Take time to pray. Let the Spirit of God light a clear path for you!

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He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

Psalm 18:33-36

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The mystery of human behavior never ends. What explanation do we have for the pain and hurt we see? Is God responsible for it all?

Sometimes you want answers from God. You get upset or frustrated with how your life turned out, so you blame God. What’s his answer? Would it be better if he waved a magic wand to make it all go away? No more hurt, no more worries… and what about love?

The greatest love is not an emotion. It’s a sacrifice. When we hurt, bleed and struggle for others the heavens rejoice in our humanity. Christ experienced this in the most profound way. For this he is glorified. The intensity of his love changes your history forever.

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For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 

John 3:16-17

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