ChristRise

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." — 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV) God loves to choose and use people that the world often ignores or thinks are unimportant. He does this so that no one can take credit for what He does. People who believe they are smart and strong often get surprised when they see God working through someone they thought couldn’t do anything special. If you feel like the world has overlooked you, don’t think that God will do the same. God’s strength shows up best in our weaknesses! Trusting in God's Plan God doesn’t look at us the way the world does. He sees our true value and potential. Even if others think we’re not worth much, God can use us to do great things. It’s in our weakest areas that His power is the most visible. Think about David and Goliath. David was just a young shepherd, but God used him to defeat a giant. This shows that no matter how small or unimportant we...

"We speak, not as if we were trying to please people, but to please God who examines our hearts and expects our best." — 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (AMP) One of the greatest challenges in our spiritual journey can be the resistance we face from those closest to us. Friends, colleagues, and even family members can sometimes discourage us from pursuing the path God has laid out for us. While they may have good intentions, their influence can sometimes hold us back from achieving God's best for our lives. When we decide to follow God's plan, we may face criticism and rejection. People may question our decisions, and their negativity can make us doubt ourselves. But it’s important to remember that our primary goal is to please God, not people. God knows our hearts and our intentions, and He expects our best. Sometimes, people around us aren't ready to move forward in their own spiritual journeys. They may feel threatened or uncomfortable with our progress, and in an effort t...

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. — 2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV) When someone is hurt deep inside, it can affect everyone around them. It might change how they interact with others, making it hard to trust or form healthy relationships. This can be especially tough for wives and mothers because their past pain can influence their relationships with their family. It's tough to think about, but when one person is hurt, their pain can cause others to hurt too. However, the good news is that when we heal, our healing can positively impact those around us. Relationships are incredibly important in our lives. We have many kinds of relationships, from acquaintances to close friends and family. What we share with the people in our lives depends on what's inside us. If our hearts are filled with negative emotions like pain, anger, or fear, that's what we give to others. But if we're filled with positive feelings like peace, love, and joy, t...

Whenever someone goes out of their way to make me feel special, it inspires me to do something nice for them in return. I think this is similar to how our heavenly Father feels. When we show our love to Him and to others, it moves Him. It touches His heart and He blesses us even more. When we tell God, “I’m not just praising You with my words, but I’m also showing my gratitude through my actions toward others,” it pleases Him deeply. There's nothing closer to God's heart than seeing His children doing good for others. This idea is found in the Bible: "The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped" (Proverbs 11:25). God blesses us so that we can bless others through our actions and words. When you help someone—take them to a doctor’s appointment, pick them up when their car breaks down, call them, cheer them up, do something unique for them—God will do special things for you in return. When we brighten someone else's day, we...

"Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, You have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with Your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of Your purpose; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." As we journey through life, each day we wake up is a precious gift from God. He faithfully brings us to each new day, reminding us of His constant love and protection. God’s power is a fortress against sin and adversity. When we seek His strength, we find ourselves not overwhelmed by the temptations and trials that come our way. Instead, we are preserved by His might (Psalm 46:1). This mighty protection allows us to focus on fulfilling His purpose for our lives (Philippians 2:13). In every decision, let us ask God to direct our paths in ways that align with His will. When we trust in His guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6), our actions become a reflection of His love and grace (Ephesians 2:10). Reflec...

A few years ago, I decided to switch my smartphone for a simpler “dumb” phone. Before that, I remember the anticipation of seeing those little three dots, indicating the person on the other end was typing a response. Now, imagine multiplying that anxiety over a long, arduous 900-mile camel ride.  Nehemiah 1:2–3 Let's travel back to December of 445 BC. Meet Nehemiah, a trusted advisor to the king in the Persian capital, Susa (modern-day Shush, Iran). You might recall Susa from the book of Esther, which took place about 20 years earlier. Nehemiah had been waiting for news, and it was worse than expected. His brother Hanani, whose name means “The Lord Is Gracious,” informed him that “those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace” (v. 3). Even Jerusalem’s wall lay in ruins. The people Hanani referred to were those left in Jerusalem and the surrounding area when the rest were exiled to Babylon (see 2 Kings 24–25). As we’ll learn later, not e...