Spiritual Life

In a time when less and less Christians are reading the Bible, how can we learn it well and pass on what we've learned to others? These tools aid biblical literacy in individual and church settings.

David in Psalm 18:35 wrote, “thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.” David had full recognition of the vast mercies provided by the Lord. The provisions, protection, and empowerments were full contemplations and gentle manifestations of a righteous and sovereign God. As we inspect our own lives, we can see that the Lord’s gentleness has indeed made all the difference.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/LoveTheWind

We often hear the phrase, “God is good.” It is used in songs, sermons, and is sometimes used as a response when both good and bad things happen in our lives, for example: a person who avoids tragedy due to car trouble or a delayed flight. Other examples are good things that happen to people, like circumstances aligning perfectly for them to buy a house or replace their old car when previously things looked very bleak. In all these things, we often say, “God is good.”Still, what does this mean? According to Merriam Webster, the definition of “God" is “the being in perfect power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe," however; isn’t he more than this? God is good in so many ways--the way he provides for us, guides us, and watches over us--but it goes even deeper than that. God's goodness is who he is, and we are created in his image, so, therefore, we share his goodness.God’s goodness shows up in our lives every single day. Although we often think of his goodness when something big happens, his goodness abounds all the time--in every hour, minute, and second of the day, in the smallest of things around us. Here are five examples of his goodness in our everyday lives.“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.” Luke 18:19

A person can still have joy in the Lord while battling depression.

Many people recoil at the idea of God as their Father based upon their experience with their own father or authority figures. If the idea of developing an intimate relationship with an invisible God is a bit daunting for you, let me give you a few suggestions to get you started.

Mysteries call you to step out of your comfort zone and dance with your doubts and faith toward what may be something wonderful!

The mind God has given you is a treasure. So, it’s vital to take good care of your mind. If you do, you’ll be able to perceive the wonder of God’s work in your life clearly.

Though we all physically grow into adulthood, God always considers us His precious little children. Like young children, we are unable to provide for ourselves and should depend on God to meet our needs.

God is constantly bringing new learning opportunities into our lives. Opening your mind and heart to learning something new will connect you with wonder.

Reading Christian fiction can be a lovely method of relaxation in our fast-paced, hurried world.

Nature reminds you that you have a wise and loving Creator who sustains all of creation in powerful ways. Immersed in nature, you can feel God’s presence and discover the wonder of his work easily.

Maybe you are going through a change right now and need some encouragement. Scripture is the best place to find God’s comfort because our God is unchanging, and we can rest in Him.

It’s essential to bring your God-given senses to life so you can notice the wonder happening around you.

Often, we assimilate ideas unaware. They are marketed through cultural messaging. Before we know it, we embrace a mindset without even weighing the truth of its claims. Reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture helps us to identify if there are areas where we are off base. It also grows our relationship with God and strengthens our trust in Him.

Wonderful experiences with God are waiting for you to discover them. But you can easily miss them if you’re too busy, exhausted, or distracted to notice God’s work around you.

Thanks to continued exposure of the mental illness epidemic in our country—if not the world—and the promotion of mental health care, more people are coming to terms with this disease as being more common than not and expressing more positive views about it.Yet, sadly, there are still those who think negatively about those with a mental illness. According to the American Psychological Association’s 2019 poll, around 33% of those surveyed agreed with the statement, “People with mental health disorders scare me,” and 39% said, “they would view someone differently if they knew [they] had a mental health disorder.”Mental health is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life. But usually, when a person hears the term “mental health,” depression immediately comes to mind. And they aren’t wrong. Depression was the leading mental health disorder in America in 2021, with 57.8 million reported sufferers (one in every five persons). That’s up from 18.5% in 2019. Granted, the uptick is most likely attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.Regardless, mental health cases continue to rise in America, although our country ranks 29th in the international rating of depressive countries, with a suicide rate of 16.1 per 100,000 people. According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, one in every eight people in the world (970 million) lived with a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety being the most common.As someone who suffers from depression, I fall into that “one in every five persons” category, and, honestly, I can attest to the fact that I have been viewed differently by some once they find out. One can feel discriminated against, which is why I tend to disclose my diagnosis only when necessary. And for this article, it’s necessary, because it’s important that people—including believers—take mental illness seriously. Maybe even more so today than in any other time in our history.But how?Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Prostock-Studio

Inevitably, all of us will eventually suffer unjust treatment. We will be treated unfairly, be misunderstood, and our motives will be misinterpreted and questioned. We are responsible for ourselves and the condition of our own hearts before God. We can only do so much to try and make things right; then, we need to leave it in the hands of our loving Father, who allows us to experience unjust treatment for his purposes and our sanctification.

Regardless of religious affiliation, nearly all respondents believe heaven is the absence of suffering. Most expect to see their loved ones who have previously died—approximately half hope to reunite with pets. Forty percent also claim they will be able to watch events on Earth and perhaps even interact with people. Not surprisingly, almost half think they can become angels.Only sixty-two percent mentioned meeting God in heaven.

The impact and legacy of Timothy Keller will endure for years to come. Each and every believer serves a vital and important role in the Body of the Church, but for some, they are called to live out the calling of being a voice for the Kingdom. With all of his strength and vigor, Timothy Keller did just that. His life is one where he took every and all piece of his ministry back to the Word of God.

Anger, a fleshly desire, is controlled as we embrace divine guidance and submit to loving the Word, listening in prayer, and learning to do what God says. Choosing God’s help, self-control, and heaven’s wisdom will produce the likeness of Jesus.