ChristRise

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...

Sometimes, when we pour out our hearts in prayer, we might feel like our words don’t get past the ceiling. But take heart, for God listens to every prayer, even those whispered in sorrow. Nehemiah 1:4–11   The Book of Nehemiah offers us profound lessons on prayer. First, Nehemiah shows that we should pray to God even in our sadness and mourning (v. 4). God desires to hear from us in every season of life. Second, just as Jesus taught His followers, prayers should begin with worship and honor toward the Lord. Nehemiah acknowledges God’s greatness and faithfulness saying, “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love” (v. 5). Third, Nehemiah seeks God’s attention, presenting his requests humbly (v. 6; Phil. 4:6). Third, our prayers ought to include genuine confession and repentance (vv. 6–7). Nehemiah openly confesses, “the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.” There is no pretense, only an hones...

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments." - Deuteronomy 7:9 Our God is full of love, and He cares deeply for us. He described Himself to Moses as "the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7). God's love is reliable, abundant, dynamic, radical, and eternal. Knowing we are loved by God is the best feeling ever. It's wonderful to start each day knowing God's love is with us and to keep that thought in our hearts all day long, no matter what happens. Love gives us strength and helps us relate better to others. Sharing God's love is a powerful testimony. God's love in us shapes how we treat others. The Spirit of God guides us to be patient and kind, not boastful or rude, not s...

Thanksgiving is a wonderful way to begin our prayers, grounding us in gratitude before anything else. As 1 Chronicles 23:30 highlights , praising the Lord every morning and evening is crucial . One effective practice is to initiate every prayer with thanksgiving. For instance, you might say: “Thank You, Father, for all You have done in my life; Your love and grace truly amaze me, and I am deeply grateful.” Reflecting upon our lives, it’s essential to observe the nature of our thoughts and words, noting how often we express gratitude. Are we prone to complaints, or do we genuinely appreciate what we have? Consider setting a personal challenge: go through a whole day without voicing a single complaint. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude in every circumstance can profoundly enhance our connection with God, leading to greater blessings and a strengthened relationship. Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Father, for guiding my prayers. Help me to bring a heart of thankfulness to every prayer, ...

Many people mistakenly believe that God controls everything in the world and blame Him for disasters, accidents, and illnesses. Some even turn away from faith, thinking a loving God couldn't allow such suffering. But what they don't realize is that there is a very real and destructive force in the world: the devil. God is not behind the calamities and sicknesses. Jesus came so that we might have life abundantly! The devil, however, comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The world we live in is fallen. God gave Adam and Eve authority over the world, but when they disobeyed by eating the forbidden fruit, sin and death entered. They handed control over to the devil, who is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), and “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). This doesn't mean Satan has unlimited power. Believers in Jesus Christ are no longer under his dominion. In Christ, we may be in this world, but we are ...

The story of Jesus’ birth, as recorded in Luke 2:12, is one of the most cherished accounts in the Bible. The angel told the shepherds, "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." While this scene may seem simple and peaceful, it carries a deep and powerful message about God’s love for us. The Manger and Its Meaning A manger is a feeding trough for animals, and in Jesus’ time, it was often made of stone. Imagine the Savior of the world, not born in a palace, but laid in such a humble place. This setting reminds us that Jesus came to identify with the lowly and the ordinary. His humble beginning points to the kind of life He would lead—a life of service and sacrifice. But the manger also holds a deeper meaning. It foreshadows what was to come. When Jesus died, His body was laid in a tomb carved out of rock, similar in appearance to a stone trough. Just as He was wrapped in swaddling cloths as a baby, His body was ...