Category Archives: Christian Living

Krystal R Simple explores simple ways to live joyfully as we embrace everyday Christian living.

Don’t Let Regret Steal Your Joy

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Don’t Let Regret Steal Your Joy

No one lives this life without making at least one regrettable decision. For most of us, we may feel as though we have made a few of them. God does not want us to look at the past and wonder what could have or should have been. He wants us to trust He will intervene and help us even when we take a wrong turn. No matter what, don’t let regret steal your joy. God knows how to use what the enemy meant for evil and work it out for our good (Genesis 50:20), but we must trust him.

Dont Let Regret Steal Your Joy

I prayerfully write a new post each week and want to be faithful and authentic. The truth is, sometimes, I catch myself struggling with a feeling of regret. I believe that God is leading me to write this post despite my discomfort, as I know I need to continue working in this area. Allow me to be obedient and share my testimony and personal story in this post.

I am happily married to my college sweetheart, Jeffrey, but that has not always been the case. Avery was born when I was young, fresh out of college, and unmarried. As you can imagine, this was a difficult time because back then, the thought was that if you were pregnant, you should get married. Although we loved our son, Avery, we did not marry and eventually split up. It was not until Avery was sixteen that we returned to each other.

No regret

God knows how to give His children good gifts even when it seems our lives have taken a wrong turn. God can change regret into joy if we ask and trust Him. When I dedicated my life to God and determined to live a surrendered life, God proved to me that he was in my corner. He could take all the pieces of my shattered heart and disappointing expectations, mold them in His hands, and create a life full of love and joy. Knowing that God has turned my regrets into joy, I am convinced there is no wrong turn that God can not help me correct.

I praise God for all of my blessings and am very thankful for second chances, but we all must stay alert because the enemy wants to steal our joy. Sometimes, I see myself wishing I had not lost so many precious years when Avery was young. Thoughts like that can catch me off guard and take me down the “guilt trip road.” I can get carried away wondering where I would be if only, but God does not want us to live in regret.

The Enemy Wants to Condemn Us With Regret From Our Past

The enemy wants us to condemn our past by reminding us of our poor choices. The enemy’s goal is to stop us from praising God. He makes us believe that our best days have long passed, and we have irreversibly missed out on opportunities. We must remember that we serve a God who specializes in miracles. No matter where life has taken us, we must not forget that God knows where we are. He will order our steps if we allow Him.

Psalm 103 12 1

Regardless of our past, we serve a God who has promised to forgive and forget our mistakes. The Bible says that when we ask for forgiveness, God removes our sin as far as the East is from the West. Jesus died for each of our mistakes, and we must be willing to give Him our past, present, and future.

Resist Regret From the Enemy with Prayer and Praise

Although it may seem harmless to entertain trips down “memory lane” with the enemy, he will cause us to feel bad if we are not careful. We must be mindful because we can find ourselves in an unhealthy place without joy. It is hard to be joyful about what we have if we are looking behind in regret over what we do not have. As the enemy tries to lead us down a negative path, we must resist his temptation. The Bible says that if we resist the enemy, he will flee.

Resist the Devil and he will flee JAmes 4:7 KJV

Whenever we fall into a pit of regret, we must realize that we have landed in the enemy’s trap. Next, we should defeat the enemy by praying and praising God for the good He has brought to our lives despite our mistakes. If we praise God for being with us through our trials, we will find positivity, joy, and a reason to delight ourselves in God. We must rest because God is leading our lives, and we must always trust Him.

A Prayer to Deal With Feelings of Regret

The enemy will attack God’s children in any way he can. He likes to condemn us in our minds as he attempts to pull us away from praising God for our blessings. This week’s prayer reminds us of God’s goodness for our future. Let’s pray and ask God to help us so we don’t allow regret to steal our joy.

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Four Principles of Effective Christian Communication

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Four Principles of Effective Christian Communication

Situations can cause us to become hurt, angry, or upset. When we least expect it, tempers flare or disappointments occur because the enemy is always busy. Many people believe it is perfectly reasonable to “unleash” and let others know exactly how you feel, but what does God consider effective communication for Christians? Whether at work, home, or church, we should want to bring God glory and honor at all times. There are four principles of effective Christian communication, and what we see from others may differ significantly from what God commands.

Four Principles of Effective Christian Communication

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I teach children to speak and express themselves clearly. As a Christian, I must be willing to be a student to learn what God says about how I should express myself. The Bible teaches us what God considers effective communication for Christians at home or work.

Words can build up or tear down. Our communication can make a situation better or, indeed, make it worse. The Bible tells us that we should be mindful of the power of our words at all times, as death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21 KJV).

Christian communication

Four principles should govern our communication as Christians. Whether we are writing or speaking, as Christians, we want to glorify God and bless others when we speak. Conscious of these four principles, we will honor God and others with our words.

  • Principle 1: Effective Christian communication involves monitoring what is said.
  • Principle 2: Effective Christian communication entails being mindful of the emotions or feelings behind our spoken words.
  • Principle 3: Effective Christian communication requires us to examine our tone of voice.
  • Principle 4: Effective Christian communication consists of checking the motivation behind our words.

Effective Christian Communication Involves Monitoring What is Said

Effective communication includes monitoring what is said, and the first principle should consist of truth. Nowadays, the world fights over the definition of a simple word like “truth.” For many, truth depends on which news station we listen to, how we “feel,” or what we “think.” People have begun to say things like “my truth,” as if truth ebbs, flows, and changes for each of us. For a Christian, there should only be one truth: God’s Word. God is truth, and what His Word says is true. 

truth

As children, we learned the Ten Commandments, and we know the one that says not to bear false witness. We know that we are to love one another, and loving each other does not include lying to each other. The Bible clearly states that our communication should be truthful. Why have we stepped away from this simple truth?

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Ephesians 4:5 ESV

Effective Christian Communication Entails Being Mindful of the Emotions or Feelings Behind Our Spoken Words

We have all been guilty of speaking too quickly and possibly saying something we wish we hadn’t. It can feel as if we can see the words leave our lips and immediately want to retract and put them back. When we let the words fly out without being mindful of our emotions or feelings, we may say something we wish we hadn’t. God does not want us to live with regret, so he reminds us to take our time and think about what we will say before we speak it. Love is the emotion we should feel when we speak; if we do not, we may need God’s help.

Quick to hear, slow to anger James 1:19 ESV

We are reminded not to speak in haste (James 1:19), not to be rash (Proverbs 12:18), speak in anger, or give full vent (Proverbs 29:11). Instead, as Christians, we are told to be wise, gentle, kind, and ponder how to answer. The Bible states that we must answer every carelessly spoken word (Matthew 12:36). If we are upset, it may be better to walk away and pray rather than risk saying something we can not take back.

Effective Christian Communication Requires Us To Examine Our Tone Of Voice

As adults, we often chastise our children for “how they talk to us.” In other words, we get upset with our children if they use a disrespectful tone. I know I probably sound just like my mother when I hear myself say to my teenage girls, “Watch your tone, young lady.” I am sure everyone with adolescent girls can relate. We must remember to watch our tone when we communicate with others. The Bible says that we should speak the truth in love. 

Let your speech always be gracious seasoned with salt Colossians 4:6 ESV

As Christians, we should pursue peace and mutual upbuilding (Romans 14:19). The Bible tells us that our speech should be gracious, which means we should exhibit kindness and courtesy. If our words are careless, they can be like pouring gasoline on a burning fire. If we choose what to say wisely, it can be as if we are seasoning what we say, and therefore, what we say can be more easily “digested.” The Bible reminds us to use a gentle tongue, a soft answer, encouragement, and to avoid quarreling.

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Titus 3:2 ESV

Effective Christian Communication Mandates Checking The Motivation Behind Our Words

We should always examine the motivation behind our words to ensure we are not falling into sin. For example, if tempted to exaggerate a truth, we must quickly realize and deal with why we want to tell an untruth. Perhaps we are trying to impress someone or make ourselves look good.

Oh that you would be silent Job 13:5 ESV

The enemy knows the power of our words and would love it if we become prideful, gossip, speak untruths, brag, or judge others. Our Heavenly Father does not want us to do any of these because He wants us to love each other and not hurt others. Sometimes, we would be wise to “hold our peace.”

A Prayer to Communicate Effectively

Whether at work, home or in church, our communication should indicate that we are children of God. We should want to bring God glory and honor at all times. If we lose our temper and use hurtful or obscene communication toward others, we will not be glorifying God. The Bible tells us that we will get angry sometimes, but we should not sin, and we should not remain mad. Let’s pray and ask God to help us learn to communicate effectively as Christians.

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Four Lies From The Enemy About Loneliness

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Four Lies From The Enemy About Loneliness

I am now happily married with children at home, but there have been times when I felt lonely as a single and married woman. Loneliness doesn’t care if you are married or single. It is also not defined by whether or not you have children. Loneliness is a condition of the heart and mind, and God does not want us to believe the lies from the enemy about loneliness. I prayerfully write this post out of concern for those who are feeling extreme loneliness right now.

Four-Lies-From-the-Enemy-About-Loneliness

Our feelings must be dealt with as the enemy can use loneliness as a springboard for many dark paths, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and stress. If left unchecked, we may find ourselves vulnerable to sin as we try to justify sinful behavior such as promiscuity, addictions, or being involved in unhealthy relationships.

We are currently isolated during the shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We must stay in our homes and not even have contact with extended family members. Separation is difficult for people who are otherwise “social butterflies.” It is also difficult for those who are elderly and now find that no one can visit. In this challenging time, we suffer isolation from our friends, families, coworkers, and church families.

lion lies in grass

We are like little unsuspecting sheep grazing in the pasture. The enemy waits for us to get off to ourselves because we are easy prey. As our minds wander, the enemy will try to come in and fill us with several lies. The reason the enemy tells lies is that he wants to cause us to wallow in loneliness. The enemy is after our peace, hearts, and minds. Let’s look at four of the enemy’s great lies and combat them with God’s truth.

  1. The Enemy Lies by Telling Us That No One Understands
  2. The Enemy Lies by Telling Us That No One Cares
  3. The Enemy Lies By Telling Us That God’s Word Is Not True
  4. The Enemy Lies By Telling Us That The Situation Is Hopeless

The Enemy Lies by Telling Us That No One Understands

As we find ourselves isolated from others, the enemy likes to make us feel that our situation is unlike anyone else’s and that others will not understand what we are going through. Singles may feel like everyone else in the whole world is married. Women who do not have children may feel like everyone else has children and would not understand them or the situation.

The enemy lies by telling us that no one understands because he wants us to isolate ourselves from others, grow cold toward them, and refuse to share how we feel. If we know someone going through a similar situation, the enemy may try to convince us that that person is different from us somehow. The enemy knows that if we share our feelings with others, such as family or friends, they may offer to pray with us or become a needed support system.

Bow in prayer at a church

More importantly, the enemy knows that when you bow your head in prayer to God and ask Him to help, He will. God fully understands our hearts. He knows our thoughts and feelings. Our Heavenly Father waits for us to come to Him in prayer. He will listen and help.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalm 18:6 KJV

The Enemy Lies by Telling Us That No One Cares

The enemy will work hard to keep us away from others. The enemy lies by telling us that no one cares. He wants to contribute to our feelings of isolation with negative thoughts that cause us to become more and more inclined to stay by ourselves and become depressed.

God is our refuge and strength even when we feel loneliness

When we feel this way, we must draw close to God because he cares for us. God has told us that he will be with us no matter what. He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). All we have to do is to come to Him.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

The Enemy Lies By Telling Us That God’s Word Is Not True

Ever since the days of Adam and Eve, the enemy has challenged God’s words. Satan knows what the Bible says, but the enemy lies by telling us that God’s Word is inaccurate. He opens the door to doubt if the enemy can get us to question any part of the Word.

The serpent caught Eve alone, challenged God’s words, and caused Eve to question what God said (Genesis 3:1-5 KJV). The enemy continues to work this way today. He waits until there is isolation from our prayer partners and church family members, and then he tries to convince us that there is some way of being a child of God and sinning “just a little.” 

Lies From The Enemy About Loneliness 2

If we open our ears to the enemy, we can fall prey to his untruths. The enemy wants us to doubt God’s goodness and willingness to help. He wants to diminish the risks of sin and increase its lure so that he can lead us right into his trap. We can not entertain thoughts from the enemy.

The Enemy Lies By Telling Us That The Situation Is Hopeless

Sometimes, we find ourselves caught in the enemy’s web. If we sin, the enemy will quickly try to condemn us. The enemy will point figures at us and try to convince us that we do not deserve forgiveness. The enemy lies by telling us that the situation is hopeless.

The enemy attacks our minds and tries to cause us to fall into despair. Peace comes from God, and the enemy wants to rob us. God wants to give us peace that surpasses our understanding, but we must not let the enemy steal the joy that God gives. The enemy is attacking us to get to our hearts and minds. We cannot fall into despair.

Four Lies of the Enemy about loneliness Scripture

How To Combat Loneliness and Find Peace

As we go through life and experience moments or seasons of loneliness, we need to trust God and come to him. We must know the enemy’s schemes and heed the warning signs when our peace and joy are attacked.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 NIV

The Bible warns us that we will have trouble in this world but commands us not to be afraid because Jesus has already overcome it. This world is not our heavenly home, and there will be some tough times along the way, but our best weapons against loneliness and attacks on our peace are listening or reading Bible scriptures, worshiping, and praying. All of these actions bring us into the presence of God, which is where we need to be, especially when the enemy is trying to attack our hearts and minds.

Open bible

The Bible is full of scriptures that will help us. God’s Word reminds us that, despite our feelings of loneliness, we are not alone. The Bible will remind us that we serve a loving God, and He wants a relationship with us. As His children, we are never alone.

There is a fullness of joy when we are in God’s presence. We must fight the enemy for our peace and decide not to follow his luring and temptations. When we go through difficulty, we need the presence of God to lift us. We can find the presence of God in his Word, and we can also find closeness to God in worship and prayer.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 16:11 KJV

A Prayer To Deal With Feelings Of Loneliness

As we pray to God, we acknowledge He is all we need. Praying to God is a declaration of our faith and says that we believe God can and will help. Don’t fear, don’t fall into despair, stay encouraged, and call out to God in prayer.

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Give Thanks To God in Everything

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Give Thanks To God in Everything

Despite life’s many ups and downs, we must thank God. The Bible tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This can be a difficult task, especially during tough times. But when we thank God, even amid our struggles, we acknowledge His sovereignty and goodness. We are also choosing to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

One of my favorite songs is by Tauren Wells, called “Hills and Valleys.” This song reminds me that sometimes we go through a tough time, and at other times, we feel like we are on the mountaintop celebrating. Despite the ups and downs of life, God is worthy to be praised at all times. We must know how to thank God in everything as his Word commands. Let’s take a closer look at how we can do that.

Give Thanks to God in Everything

Sometimes, it is easy to see when others are acting ungrateful. It may not be as easy to notice ingratitude in ourselves. Imagine that you give someone something, and they take the gift and begin using it but never say: “Thank you.” As a gift-giver, you would feel terrible about this visible sign of ingratitude. Perhaps you would attempt to ignore it, but you would probably be upset and hurt. Now imagine that the person you gave the gift to begins complaining that “no one ever gives them anything!”  We would all have a problem with this, but often, this is how many of us respond to God and his many blessings. We act as though we do not realize how much He has already given.

Give Thanks to God

Being around a person who does not give thanks is not pleasant. Although we may know others who act as though they are never thankful, we must thank and praise God as Christians. Christians should never be described as ungrateful. The Bible teaches us that we should be grateful for everything. Giving thanks to God is pleasing to Him.

As I write this post, many people are safe and at home. They are not sick and in the hospital with COVID-19, but many complain about staying home. Some people are blessed to work from home but complain that the children are in the way. Even the children who ordinarily enjoyed learning activities on computers now have complaints.

Giving thanks to God in Everything Scripture

Give Thanks In Everything To Maintain Our Joy

Not giving thanks can steal our joy. The Bible is full of stories where people were ungrateful and complained despite God’s provisions, and it is clear that God does not want us to act this way. One example of this is in the book of Exodus.

Exodus 16 tells a story of when God brought His people out of captivity. The people began to complain of hunger, saying they wanted bread, so God provided food. The Bible called the food that came from God “manna.” At first, the people seemed to be amazed by the manna, but that did not last.

Eventually, instead of being thankful, in Numbers 11, God’s people began to murmur and complain about the lack of variety in their diets. They wanted meat and something different.

“We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.”

Number 11:5-6 KJV

God’s people were not joyful or thankful that God provided food for them. They weren’t even pleased to have escaped slavery. The people were on the way to a promised land, but they were complaining.

It is easy to see that sometimes we are guilty of complaining when God has graciously provided for our needs. We must learn to give thanks in everything to maintain our joy. Many people should be giving thanks, but right now, as I turn on the news, I can hear an ungrateful attitude ringing on the nightly news and the internet, and I believe that it is stealing our joy. An ungrateful, lousy attitude can spread. God wants his people to rise and spread joy.

Give Thanks To God In Everything3

Why Should We Be Thankful To God In Everything?

When we do not give thanks, we risk walking along a “dark path.” Ungrateful people are not joyful. They are not content, and they are not happy. God wants each of us to give thanks and have joy. We must learn to give thanks to keep us out of the darkness that the enemy tries to lead us to.

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:21 KJV

The enemy knows that if he can stop us from praising God, we will begin to grow cold toward God and others. If we are not thankful, we can easily stop being content, and we take a chance to allow our imaginations to run wild, which can lead to sin. We must always fix our eyes on God and not our circumstances.

Give Thanks to God in Everything 2

How Can We Be Thankful To God In Everything?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states that we should rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances. Have you ever been so happy that you were singing? Have you ever had people wonder why you are so joyful? God wants us to rejoice in Him. He would love to hear us singing, praying, and giving thanks. We should all be willing to let others know of God’s goodness.

Praying allows us to thank God for all He has done for us. It also gives us peace as we remember and praise Him for who He is and all His provisions. As we pray and thank God, it humbles us and slays the prevalent entitlement attitude that the enemy wants us to have as we realize that all good things come from God, even our very breath. Praying and giving God thanks softens our hearts and helps us to be more thankful for others. No matter what we face, we should never forget that praying to our Father is a gift.

Give Thanks to God In Everything 4

We should abound in gratitude so that giving thanks spills over to others. Just as a bad attitude spreads, gratitude spreads when we are thankful and joyful. Eye contact, a smile, and a well-meant “thank you” can not be underestimated, especially by someone who feels undervalued, underappreciated, and forgotten.

A Prayer to Give Thanks To God in Everything

Despite the hills and valleys in life, God walks us through each one, and he does not change. He is the constant in our ever-changing world. God also provides for us. The Bible teaches that every perfect gift comes from God, and he deserves our praise. Let’s bow our heads and pray a prayer to give thanks.

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Do You Have Religion or a Relationship With God?

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A long time ago, people used to say they “had religion.” I don’t think we say that anymore. Instead, we say things like, “I’m a Catholic, a Baptist, or some other denomination.” Having a relationship with God is not the same as having a religion. God wants a personal relationship with all his children, regardless of where they attend church. Do you have a religion or a relationship with God? Let’s take a deeper look at this.

We enter our relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Our faith in Jesus introduces us to God, the Father. Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, God went to great lengths to allow each of us to fix our severed relationship with God. He loved each of us so much that he let his righteous son suffer and die for us.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

Jesus has made the first move, and now, each person must decide how to respond. Each person must choose to accept Jesus’ offer of reconciliation to God. Jesus allows the mending of our Godly relationship. His invitation is not to religion but an opportunity to connect with a Holy God.

A Relationship with God is Personal

Think about the connection with your spouse or significant other. These are personal relationships that start and evolve. Each of us has different stories of when we began our relationship. For example, couples have differing stories about where they met their partners, introduced them, and how the relationship evolved.

Do You Have Religion Or a Relationship With God 7

We should also have a story regarding when we began a personal relationship with God. Relations are like journeys, and no two are ever the same. A personal relationship with God is individualized. When and how we decide to follow Christ is different. Each person should have a testimony that describes when and how the connection has changed them.

For some, they decided to accept Christ at a church. Some made this decision in a hospital bed or a prison cell. After deciding to follow Christ, some people never stumbled or looked back. Others had more of a rocky on-again/off-again relationship until they finally decided to change and surrender to God’s will.

Life Is a Journey Grow Through It

When we decide to follow Jesus, he leads us individually to the end goal He has in mind for our lives. He does not want us to judge each other because we must all work out our salvation. Even though our journey may be different, we should all be pursuing a relationship with God, which requires making changes. Our relationship with Jesus is life-changing. He loves us and helps us in every area, resulting in the needed changes when we accept His assistance. 

What is Religion?

Religion means you do some things associated with the church, but your heart is not in it. Religious people may pride themselves on being good representatives in the church. They may attend service weekly, send their kids to a Christian school, choose to home-school them, or say churchy things. The religious person feels they must do religious acts but may not feel personally connected to Jesus or God.

cross and thorns

Let’s go back to the spouse/significant other analogy. Religion is based on the things you do or do not do. A relationship is based on your heart. If your spouse only does things, like take out the trash or cook dinner, but is not invested in the relationship with their heart, this would be problematic. How do you think God feels when he sees us being too busy with religion to have a relationship with Him?

What Makes a Good Relationship?

A stable personal relationship contains these five markers.

A good relationship requires:

  1. Commitment
  2. Love
  3. Trust
  4. Communication
  5. Respect

A Good Relationship Requires Commitment

All good personal relationships begin with the individual decision to be committed. Jesus committed to loving us and demonstrated love by coming to Earth to reconcile us to God. Now, we must make a decision and define our relationship with Jesus. Jesus wants to have a good relationship with us, and the first step is to create a commitment. Just like we had to decide to get serious with our spouse, we must become exclusive with Jesus.

A Good Relationship Requires Love

Nothing matters more in a relationship than love. Jesus tells us to love God and others. It doesn’t matter if you carry your Bible everywhere, whether you can quote scriptures, or even whether you go to church every day. What matters is whether you show love.

1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV Love and our relationship with God

Love is so important to God that Jesus explained that all commandments describe who and how we should love (Matthew 22:37-39).

 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV

A Good Relationship Requires Communication

If we seek a personal relationship with God, we must communicate with Him. Communication is synonymous with prayer and studying the Bible. We talk to God in our prayers, and He speaks to us through His Word. We have a communication breakdown if we are not praying or reading and studying the Word.

praying hands relationship with God requires communication

A Good Relationship Requires Trust

We cannot see God or Jesus with our physical eyes, but we need to trust. We must trust that God is real, hears us when we pray and will do what He has promised. This trust requires faith. In any good relationship, you should be able to believe that the person who loves you will do what they promised, even when they are away from your sight. Your spouse vowed to love, honor, and cherish, but God has promised even more. We need to trust Him.

A Good Relationship Requires Respect

Respect our relationship with God

Ultimately, our relationship with Jesus leads us to the Father and allows us to become Children of God. The Bible clarifies that you can not become a Child of God without receiving and believing in His Son.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

John 1:12 NKJV

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ 

John 14:6 NKJV

God is a good Father. He is worthy of respect as our Heavenly Father. We look to Him for wisdom, guidance, provision, and protection. He does not want to be one of many choices. He tells us that very clearly. We must decide whether to choose God as our Father through acceptance of His Son or remain lost, trusting in our ability or the enemy’s schemes.

A Prayer to Strengthen Our Relationship With God

We need a stronger relationship with God, not more religion. We need to hear his voice and do what he says. We all have gifts and talents that He has blessed us with, and we should be willing to use them for His glory. Let’s pray to strengthen our relationship with God.

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How Can We Find Joy in the Journey?

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How Can We Find Joy in the Journey?

As I look up today, I see a wooden plaque that hangs on my wall that says, “Find Joy in the Journey.” I bought this hanging at one of the summer festivals last year because I tend to rush through life.

There is a delicate balance between enjoying life and constantly striving for more. Have you ever encountered a person who never seems content? Someone who always seems to be chasing something? Maybe you can relate to this feeling. In reality, I believe that all of us can identify with these sentiments in some way. So, how can we find joy as we journey through life, and what does that entail?

How Can We Find Joy in the Journey

Find Joy in the Journey at Work and Home

We must find joy in the journey at work and home. When we feel stressed and overloaded on the job, being short-tempered, isolated, and unhappy is easy. We often feel like work adds “one more scoop of mashed potatoes” to our already full plate. The problem is that work stress can overtake us if we are not careful. For example, if we bring paperwork home or even think of all the paperwork while we are at home, we are less available for our spouse and kids.

As a mom, wife, or homemaker, even if we choose to stay home and not work outside, we can still find ourselves with a lot of work and very little time. We often have a mix of things we want to do and tasks we must do. For instance, we may need to clean the house, but our child has a project due for school the next day and needs our help. Viewing the project as another thing to add to our already heavy workload can be easy. However, we must be careful with our words and actions as our children may feel like a burden, and as a result, they may choose not to ask for help and end up getting a low grade. We need to remember the acronym LIVE to find joy in both our work and home life.

  • Laugh and smile often.
  • Invest your time and energy wisely.
  • Visualize each day from God’s perspective.
  • Envision each day as written in your biography or eulogy.

Laugh and Smile Often

It’s essential to take time to laugh and smile, no matter what’s going on in our lives. We should choose joy and make it a priority. I recently read an article that explained how laughing and smiling could help reduce stress and improve our well-being. The Bible also talks about the importance of joy as good medicine. Understanding the significance of laughter should motivate us to smile and be happy more often.

A Joyful Heart is good Medicine Scripture

Even when there is no time for anything, we must find something to laugh and smile about. A hug or kiss from a loved one, a smile or funny joke, or anything that makes us laugh can help us remember that living should be full of joy even if it is busy.

Invest Time and Energy Wisely

We all have 24 hours each day and no more. We watch as days turn to weeks, and weeks become months. Years come and go, and our children grow up. We should decide to invest our precious time and energy wisely. When our children are grown, we do not want to regret how we spent the years while they were young. The Bible reminds us that we never know what tomorrow brings and life is short. We must invest time and energy wisely by placing a high priority on enjoying “joy” moments.

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

James 4:14 ESV
sick child laying on mom, dad drinking coffee

Visualize Each Day From God’s Perspective

As we set our goals, it’s important to visualize each day from God’s perspective. We should prioritize and ensure that our priorities align with what brings God honor and glory. We know that God would want us to pray and ask for His help rather than worry and be anxious. Doing so can increase our joy when we see how well God works in our favor. God would not want us to misbehave at home or work. Instead, God would want us to be joyful and not overwhelmed.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:30-31 KJV

God is love, and He wants us to show love daily. According to Jesus, two commandments are essential: we are to love God and to love others. If we ever have to decide what task to do, we should let love guide us.

So now Faith , hope and love abide ! Corinthians 13:13

Envision Each Day as Written in our Biography or Eulogy

When our days end, no one says, “I wish I would have worked more” or “I wish I would have spent less time with my family.” Whenever we pass away, what will hurt most is knowing that there is no more time with those we love. When we lay our heads down at night, we should think about the good we accomplished related to showing love. Living a life of love will increase our joy and the well-being of others.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV
Live, Love, Laugh and Find Joy In the Journey

We should live each day as if it were our last, but we should envision each day as written in our biography or eulogy. If someone writes or tells about us, we want to be described as loving, cheerful, hard-working people, not irritable, rude, or impatient.

A Prayer to Make The Most of Today

We know that each day is a gift. No one knows how many days they will be on this earth. Let us bow our heads in prayer and ask God to give us the strength and wisdom to live today to the fullest, according to His will. Let’s pray to make the most of today.

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A Prayer To Make The Most Of Today and find joy

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Tame Your Tongue and Guard Your Thoughts

Posted by Live Joyfully, Christian Living 4 Comments
Tame Your Tongue and Guard Your Thoughts

As Christian adults, we must tame our tongues and guard our thoughts to speak and think words that build up and not tear down. We must use life-giving words and guard our thoughts to protect ourselves from feeling torn down if we hear negative words.

When I was a kid, we were taught not to let the words of others affect our lives. At any given time on the playground, you could hear, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  As I watch my children grow up, society has become more aware of the harmful effect that the words of others can have, and we now name this behavior “bullying.”

Tame Your Tongue and Guard Your Thoughts

Words matter. The words we speak and hear can build up and “speak life,” or they can steal our joy and “speak death.” The Bible compares the tongue to fire (James 3:6). Like fire, spoken words can cause destruction. We must learn to tame our tongues and guard our thoughts, but how?

How Do We Tame Our Tongue?

When we think of someone having a “potty mouth,” we mostly think of people who say curse words. The Bible speaks about many different ways to tame our tongues. Here are a few items from the biblical list.

  • Lying
  • Arguing
  • Complaining
  • Gossipping
  • Boasting
  • Betraying
  • Judging

The Bible tells us that we need to keep our tongues and mouth. We know we need to do better, but so often, exaggerations, half-truths, arguments, complaints, gossip, bragging, and boasting seem to fall out of our mouths.

Consider the Reason Behind Our Communications

Someone said we must “taste our words before we spit them out.” We may keep ourselves out of trouble if we slow down to consider the reason behind our communications. Looking at the list above, we can be tempted to lie, argue, complain, gossip, or boast because of pride. None of these communications are helpful to others and do not bring glory or honor to our heavenly Father.

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble scripture

We Need to Be Slow To Speak

When we talk without considering the consequences, we can speak recklessly. It’s essential to take responsibility for our words and recognize their power. Our communication can uplift and heal others, so we must be mindful of what we say. Unfortunately, we often see much hate and people speaking without thinking. Christians should strive to demonstrate self-control and honor our faith in every situation.

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing“

Proverbs 12:18 NIV

We Need To Pray Before We Speak

It is not easy to watch what we say. The Bible says the tongue is unruly and poisonous (James 3:8 KJV). The only way that we can do better is to ask God to help us. We should pray and ask God to speak through us at the beginning of each day.

I work with children with speech difficulty, so my daily prayer is that I lovingly encourage them as they learn to speak clearly. I ask God to work through me so that my words and actions represent Him and bring honor and glory to His name. I also ask God to help me know when to speak and be quiet. Sometimes, silence is what is best.

Tame Your Tongue with pleasant words

How to Guard Our Thoughts

Although we are watching what we say to others, inevitably, sometimes we are faced with some not-so-kind words spoken to us or about us. Not only do we have to relinquish our desire to get even in retaliation. We must know how to guard our thoughts to protect ourselves from negativity.

Tame Your Tongue and Guard Your Thoughts Proverbs Scripture 2

Whenever someone says something to hurt us, we must learn to let go and let God. That may sound difficult, but we must only hold on to God’s words and let everything else be untrue. The Bible reminds us of the only thoughts that should occupy our headspace.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Phillipians 4:8 KJV

A Prayer to Tame Our Tongue and Guard Our Thoughts

God cares about everything we go through and will answer our prayers. No one is perfect, but based on our love for God, we should want to live a life that honors Him. Whenever we find an area that we struggle in, we need to ask God to forgive us and help us. He is faithful, and He will answer our prayers. Below is a prayer to tame our tongues and guard our thoughts. Pray this prayer, believing in your heart.

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Deal with Anger Without Losing Joy

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Deal with Anger Without Losing Joy

As Christians, we must deal with anger without losing joy. Being angry is dangerous. The word anger is only one letter shy of “danger.” Sometimes, we get mad, but we must be careful not to let our rage become a weapon the enemy uses to attack us or others. We must deal with anger without losing joy.

Deal with Anger Without Losing Joy

The enemy wins if he can get us so angry that we misbehave, do something we shouldn’t do, or say something we can not take back. We must watch out for anger so we are not guilty of hurting others. Sometimes we get angry. It happens to all of us.


Imagine some of the terrible consequences that can occur if you do not deal with anger without losing your joy. If you get angry at your job, you could say something or do something that causes you to lose your job. If you get mad at your spouse, you can lose a day or days with bad feelings and not talk to each other. The enemy wants to steal your joy in any way he can. Do not let him do it!

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour

Don’t Let Anger Cause You to Lose Peace and Joy

You lose your peace and joy when your emotions and thoughts are angry. It is impossible to be angry and joyful at the same time. If the enemy can make you angry, you may become unforgiving. That unforgiveness will lead to bitterness and further destruction, which would be hazardous to your spiritual health.


The enemy will tell you that your anger is justified. He will tell you that everyone would be mad about the situation. He is trying to get you to become enraged. The enemy wants you to be so angry that you lose control. You may have a right to be angry, but how you deal with the anger is the difference between dealing with it God’s way or the enemy’s way. We should not want anything to cause us to lose peace and joy.

Deal with Anger

Deal With Anger Without Losing Your Joy by Praying

Praying is the first step in dealing with anger without losing your joy. Being angry is not the time to avoid prayer. Instead, being mad should remind us how much we need God to help us. We should deal with anger without losing joy by praying.


We should pray about everything, including when we are angry. We should try to settle the situation rather than let it fester. Sometimes, all we can do is pray. Praying and venting to a mighty God who can handle everything is much more helpful than unloading some unsuspecting humans.

Be angry and do not sin

When we pray, we should ask God how to handle the situation. he may lead us to speak with the person, but he can also fix the situation without saying a word. I can recall recently when a family member spoke harshly to me. I was angry because I felt misunderstood. I wanted to lash out, but I did not. I just prayed. The following day, when I looked at my cell phone, I received a text from the person who offended me asking for forgiveness. God worked it out, which was an answer to prayer. Prayer works.

Deal With Anger Without Losing Your Joy by Forgiving

We must deal with anger without losing joy by offering forgiveness to others. We must be able to forgive whether or not the person we are angry with apologizes. Perhaps the person that you are mad at is merely going through pain at home, and they inadvertently took it out on you. We must take those negative thoughts captive and instead give grace and mercy. God understands and gives us grace, but we must extend it to others. We have to be willing to forgive as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:14)

Deal with Anger Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

We should forgive others for what may feel like a personal attack by understanding that the enemy will use whomever he can to come against us. Release the person by asking God to help. Give your emotions to God and pray until you feel his love. Resist the negative thoughts, and they will flee.

A Prayer To Deal With Anger

I prayerfully write a prayer to go along with each post. Let’s pray and ask God to help us deal with feelings of anger. He hears us when we pray and will answer us when we pray.

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A Prayer to Deal with Anger

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A Joyful Attitude Doesn’t Complain

Posted by Christian Living, Live Joyfully 6 Comments
A Joyful Attitude Doesn’t Complain
A Joyful Attitude Doesn't Complain

One of the classroom teachers in a school where I work is a baseball fan, and in her room, there is a bulletin board with a baseball glove and baseballs around it. When I noticed her bulletin board, I was sitting in on a mandatory in-service, and the information did not seem relevant to me as a speech-language pathologist. The bulletin board read, “Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?” At that moment, my attitude was less than joyful, so I sat there, wondering how I could catch a more joyful attitude.

Is your Attitude Worth Catching

Later in the day, while at home, I read a Bible study, and the word attitude met my eyes again. At this point, I realized there was a pattern here, and I might need to listen up! I believe God knows how to get our attention, and He pointed out that I needed to stop and check my attitude. God speaks to us and knows how to help us listen.

The truth is, I was finding myself overwhelmed by my workload. My work responsibilities were carrying over into my already busy home life. I wanted a joyful attitude, but busyness was sapping my joy. I found that I was complaining. I believe I was complaining, even during my prayer time, which is why God had to get my attention. Even though I was overloaded, and my complaining seemed justified, God was helping me understand that complaining is not how he would want me to deal with the situations.

Choose a Joyful Attitude Instead of Complainin

JOY acrostic Keep a joyful attitude

Complaining is a way of letting others know you are overloaded, but it does nothing more and decreases everyone’s joy. Just because I am not in a good mood, I should not become a killjoy for everyone else. I wanted to do better, so I needed to figure out how to maintain a joyful attitude and avoid complaining.

J – Jesus, O – Others, Y – Yourself. I love this acrostic.

To keep a joyful attitude, we should always put Jesus first, others second, and ourselves last.

If we are hyper-focused on ourselves, it is easy to spend too much energy fighting what God may be trying to do. God may be trying to use us to help others, but instead of putting ourselves last, we complain as if our comfort is most important. We must remember that the situations we find ourselves in, even at work, maybe God-designed. By changing our focus, we will trust that God has a plan and will work everything out for our good. We have to believe that God has everything figured out. We have to cultivate a joyful attitude and stop complaining.

Attitude matters. Do all things without murmurings or disputings

As we complain to others about our situation, we seek sympathy or want someone else to know about our struggles, but why? The Bible tells us not to do things with murmuring (Philippians 2:14 KJV). We damage our ability to witness to others regarding God’s goodness. No one wants to listen to complainers, and we are supposed to be the ones with faith. Even if we speak to a friend, we leave them with dampened spirits as we walk away. We need to think about others and how our actions will affect them.

Pray and Ask God to Help With our Attitude

Whenever we realize a problem, we pray and ask God to help. God sometimes places us in situations to help us grow and to build our faith. Sometimes, those situations may seem hard. Rather than complaining, we should pray to know God’s will and ask God how we should handle every situation.

In-thy-presence-is-fullness-of-joy

We do not have a joyful attitude because all is well or everything is going as planned. Having a joyful attitude that doesn’t complain is a choice. We must be joyful despite our circumstances because we are thankful, and God can.

The opposite of complaining is praising. We should begin by praising God for his many blessings when we pray. Even in the presence of difficulty, we should be able to be thankful.

A Prayer For a Joyful Attitude

Prayer helps us to have a joyful attitude. We have to be joyful rather than complainers, which is sometimes challenging. When we pray, we are reminded who is in control, and we can give all our feelings of frustration to a God who loves us and can help us through every situation.

A-Prayer-For-a-Joyful-Attitude

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