SEARCH RESULTS

By Paula Williamson, guest writer We can let many things define us, including our family of origin, our peers in school, co-workers, failures, failed relationships, Hollywood, Facebook, Instagram, or our own conclusions. How is that working? I’m guessing it’s fine if you grew up in a perfect family, haven’t faced many hardships, haven’t taken failures personally, have no learning differences, have a perfect body, and have great self-esteem. Most of us can’t say that. For some of us, life has been hard, trying, and marked by losses, disappointments, and failures. Where do we find our worth? It Is Written 1 PETER 1:3 -5 Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. Scripture Defines Believers These four verses tell us who we are: sprinkled with His blood, spiritually well, experiencing increasing abundance, and reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose, with an ever-living hope and confident assurance, an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, protected and shielded by the power of God. That’s who God says we are! Let everything else roll off! Straighten your crown and walk with your head up! Prayer Lord, I forgive those who labeled me and hurt me with their words and actions. I forgive myself for the ways I have failed and messed up. I let go of the names others have called me and the names I have called myself. I hold fast to who You say I am. Help me walk as the person You say I am and as You created me to be. Takeaway I am who God says I am.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer We are not exempt from trouble in this life. When I was young, I remember thinking that once I got out on my own, all my troubles would be over. Wrong! The troubles I had growing up were gone, but a whole new set appeared. Cars break down, days often exceed paychecks, there are still rules to follow, and conflicts to resolve. Life has an ebb and flow–times of refreshing, times of stress, storms, and sunshine. We cannot change that. Trouble follows poor choices, and problems are just part of life. One thing we can change is our perspective. It Is Written JOHN 14:1 -2 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. Look up Look up! When Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, wanted to walk on the water, he did so until he took his eyes off Jesus and immediately began to sink. When trouble grips your heart, stop! Take a deep breath and seek the face of God. There is no despair there. He says, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God and also in Me." Ask for His help. The Book of Proverbs in the Bible offers guidance on avoiding trouble and gaining wisdom. It’s a great starting place. Prayer Lord, there are so many troubles in our world and in my circle of life that it’s overwhelming. Help me shift my gaze to You. Help me take my eyes off the troubles and look to You. Help me turn my worries into prayers. Help me read Your word to equip me with wisdom. I shift my gaze to You. Takeaway Help is available. Look up.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Decisions, Decisions There are so many decisions we must make every day. There are small decisions about what to wear, what to eat, and how to prioritize. There are sometimes major decisions about relationships, loved ones, health concerns, and finances. There are decisions we do not feel qualified to make. Where can we go for help? Please don’t go to AI first. It Is Written James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. God, His Word & Trusted Others The first thing we should do is ask God. Next, we should see what scripture says. The internet makes it easy nowadays. We can just Google scriptures on a topic. Sometimes wisdom comes as a still, small voice, sometimes as a knowing, sometimes in scripture or a song, sometimes through a stranger, but it will come. Listen and look for it. If we still need help, we can bounce our thoughts off a trusted friend and wait for peace to settle in our gut. If these do not help, maybe it’s not the time to make a decision. Prayer Lord, when I have a decision to make, help me pause what I am doing and always come to You first for wisdom. Give me ears to hear and patience to wait. Takeaway Wisdom comes from God.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Do you ever feel like you’re going under for the third time? I have! In those moments, I realize the power we hold. Many times in my life, even strangers have spoken a word that encouraged me. It felt like they threw me a life preserver. We know more than we think we do. We can tell without a word when someone is discouraged by the expression on their face, or even what’s behind the smile. Speaking an encouraging word is a gift. If you see someone with a great smile, tell them. If you see someone with beautiful eyes, tell them, “God sure gave you beautiful eyes.” We can use our words to speak life! When was the last time you used your words to encourage someone? It Is Written ISAIAH 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. God Still Believes in Us Every time I see a newborn, I smile and think, “God still believes in us!” His word is full of encouragement and wisdom. If we pass through waters, He is with us. If we pass through rivers, they will not overtake us. When we walk through the fire, we will not be burned. None of us are exempt from struggles or problems. What an encouragement it is to know that God promises to walk with us. We would not all be here today if God did not still believe in us and hope in us. There is a reason we are here. What a great day it would be if we simply spoke encouragement to a soul in need. Prayer Lord, thank You for walking with us through our trials. Thank You for believing in us and not giving up on us. Help us use the mouths You gave us to encourage others, especially those who don’t know You. Takeaway Someone may need a life preserver today.

By Paula Williamson guest writer I have been told by many people throughout my life that God does not hear their prayers. Life is full of ups and downs, storms and sunshine, but if our truth comes from personal experience, it will inevitably be flawed. Why? Because no one is perfect, nor does anyone have a perfect life. Consider the difference between two children, one raised in a dysfunctional family marked by fear, screaming, conflict, and substance abuse. These experiences shape that child’s worldview. It will likely be a fear-based view that casts the world as a bad place where no one can be trusted. Now consider the other child, raised in a healthy family where conflict is resolved peacefully and where truth, respect, and dependability are modeled. This child’s view would be that the world is a good place filled with good, trustworthy people and much to explore. These two children would have very different perspectives on the same world. Experience should not be our truth. A reliable reference source that has never been disproven is a good place to learn about truth. It Is Written 1 JOHN 5:14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, God Hears We know that if we ask according to His will, He hears and answers. How can we know we asked according to His will? We need to know what His word says. According to Lifeway research, only 20 to 30 percent of Americans have read the entire Bible once. Among those who profess to be Christians, only 30-32 percent have read the whole Bible. If we don’t know God and His heart, how can we pray according to His will? We can’t. We will miss the mark, blame Him for not answering our prayers, and base our understanding of prayer on personal disappointment. Prayer Lord, when the disciples asked You to teach them to pray, and You did so in Matthew 6:9-13 ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.’ Help us to acknowledge You as Our Father, the Creator, and to revere You accordingly. Help us to be willing to lay down our will and our way, believing that You know better than we do. Help us to ask for what we need and to remember to forgive others as You have forgiven us. Help us not to give in to the temptation to live according to our fleshly desires, but to live for an audience of One. Takeaway God hears our prayers and knows what is best for us.

By Paula Williamson guest writer I have been asked what difference prayer makes. All we need to do is read the Bible to see what difference prayer makes. It is filled with miraculous stories about what happens when people pray. Our personal experience does not change scripture. It Is Written JAMES 5:13-18 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [o]they will be forgiven him.16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit. The Impossible Becomes Possible In scripture, countless miracles have occurred in answer to prayer. In James 5, the sick are healed, sins are forgiven, rain is withheld and released, and much is accomplished. If none of those things happen, God asks us to pray. That alone should be enough reason! Prayer Lord, help me hunger and thirst for Your Word so my life is equipped to know Your truths. Help me turn every worry and fear into a prayer. Help me turn every judgment or concern about others into a prayer. Help me trust You above all else and bring every concern to You in prayer. Takeaway Prayer matters.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Wouldn’t it be great if we could look in the mirror and see who is doing the talking in our minds? If our mouths were moving, we would know it was us. If an angel were speaking, we would know it was God. If a demon were speaking, we would know it was Satan. It’s not that easy! It becomes easier when we are familiar with the Word of God. If we look through that lens, we can recognize when it’s not God, and that’s the best lens to use. When we look at ourselves and all our earthly knowledge compared to God, the Creator of the Universe, we all come up short. It Is Written 1 JOHN 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. ROMANS 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? The Good News! We can see the invisible through the lens of the Bible and through Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God." We do not have to agree with every thought that comes to our minds, whether it is from ourselves or from demonic sources. In fact, 2 Corinthians 3:5 says, "we are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Prayer Lord, when our minds are swirling with thoughts, decisions, and negative thoughts, help us be still and focus on You and Your Word. Help us to Google scriptures that address what concerns us. Help us reject thoughts that do not align with Your Word. Help us come out of agreement with anything untrue and seek You first. Takeaway There is a battle for our minds, but God is for us, and through Jesus we overcome!

By Paula Williamson guest writer The biggest mistake we can make is failing to admit that we are all part of the problem and can all be part of the solution. When we speak out loud, just 9 words, healing and solutions begin: I accept responsibility for my part of the problem. That wasn’t so hard, was it? It Is Written 1 JOHN 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Own Your Part Admitting when we are wrong is the first step toward healing and solutions. Contrary to certain beliefs, no one is perfect. We are not the head! Scripture states that Jesus is the head and that the body has many members. We are all just parts of the body. Whether we are a company, a school, a church, or a team, we must realize that we are just one part of the body, and all parts deserve the same rights. Prayer Lord, our first mistake is wanting to be the head and run the show, thinking we have all the answers. Forgive us. We recognize, admit, and bow to You, the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. You are the head, and we are not. We repent and humble ourselves before You. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, You say: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Lord, we have messed up! We admit it! Help us change our thinking and our ways of life. We need You to hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land! Takeaway Repentance leads to healing.

By Paula Williamson guest writer We all walk by faith. Faith is believing in the unseen. We believe in many things we cannot see every day! We take for granted that our roofs will not fall in, that we will reach our destination without a wreck, that the people we love will return home each day, that the Uber driver will arrive, that the chairs we sit on will hold us up, that we will live to see another day, and more. We all exercise faith and believe the unseen. To say you have no faith is a lie. We each decide what or whom to place our faith in. It Is Written JOHN 20: 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed.” Truth The truth is, we put our faith in many things that are less trustworthy than God. We have faith that the pizza man will bring our pizza before we see him. God is more trustworthy than the pizza man. We sometimes put our faith in a conspiracy theory and listen to the latest supporting evidence, but the Bible has been around for over three thousand years, and no one, though they have tried, has proven it wrong. Maybe it’s time to place our faith in something proven. Prayer Lord, I have placed my faith in so many people and things that have disappointed me. I am sorry. You are the one who created the Universe and all that is in it. You set the boundaries of the oceans, the tides, the seasons, the sunrises, sunsets, and all continue to exist and support scripture like clockwork since the beginning of time. I place my faith in You today. Takeaway Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Hebrews 11:1

Paula Williamson guest writer Do you ever have those days when you think you’ve reached the point of no return–days that feel beyond repair? You know, those days when everything in the world seems too messy, too much like we’ve gone too far? Those are the days I run to the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the One who is closer than a breath. It Is Written PSALM 139: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take up the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will take hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,” 12 Even darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. The Great I AM Psalm 139 is my favorite passage in the entire Bible. It grounds me. It takes me back to a place where I can hear the heartbeat of the Great, I Am–the One I cannot run from. There is no place I can go that is too far from God. I read that Psalm, close my eyes, find my coziest place, my blanket and pretend I am curling up in the lap of my Abba Father. There, everything is quiet, still, calm, and safe. When I call upon Him, He will hear. He is near. He forgives, heals, restores, and redeems. Prayer Lord, I am so glad I can never run so far away that You will not find me. You notice when a sparrow falls to the ground and count the hairs on my head. You are intimately acquainted with me in all my ways. Nothing is too hard for You. Help me simply sit and rest in the beauty of Your presence. Takeaway He restores and heals.

By Paula Williamson guest writer There’s Always Hope! There are times in life when things happen that we do not understand, days when God feels far away and days when it feels like hope is beyond our grasp. It is on days like those that I find hope in God’s word. It Is Written JEREMIAH 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— Hope When we gaze at the world, at circumstances, and sometimes even at our own lives, we can lose hope, but when we gaze into God’s word, we will always find hope. When the disciple Peter wanted to walk on the water toward Jesus, he succeeded until his gaze shifted to the crashing waves. They caused him to begin sinking, but as soon as he shifted his gaze back to Jesus, the impossible became possible. Prayer Lord, help me keep my eyes on You. You are the God in whom all things are possible. Takeaway There is always hope!