Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
What if you don’t feel thankful? What if you feel like you’re losing a spiritual battle right now…or losing a battle at work, with your spouse, with your health, with your kids, with school, with church, or with your sanity? I’m simply writing this post to remind you that you always have something to be thankful for.
If we don’t even try to deny ourselves, we don’t deserve to have Jesus. Even if we do try to deny ourselves, we don’t deserve Him. However, the main point of this post is simply this: We have to stop acting like we don’t understand basic commands and just do them.
Though the concept of imitating Christ can feel vague sometimes, I hope these 10 ideas provide inspiration for you on how to show Christlike love to others.
Remember that God wants the best thing for you. Even though it feels good to indulge and have a little “sin party” sometimes, it will just make you want to keep sinning. It’s harder to stop once you’ve started. Keep that in mind when you’re tempted to give into a little rebellion.
Love—genuine, fervent, passionate love—is unique. It stands out. It makes a difference. Both Christians and non-Christians notice this kind of love. When a Christian shows Christ's love, it can encourage people who don't follow Him and people who do follow Him. There's something special—something noticeable—about this kind of love.
There’s only one race worth running here on earth. There’s only one battle worth fighting and one crown worth winning. It’s so much better to have God place a real crown of gold on your head than to have the world crown you with a hundred made of fool’s gold.
There is no room for coincidences here. There’s no room for cosmic mistakes or luck or fate. Think of every tiny good thing as a blessing from God, and thank Him for it. Pay attention to the pink sunsets and colorful leaves and roaring ocean. Don't overlook them or their Maker. Enjoy them and thank Him for such lovely creations.
Don’t feel like a failure if someone you care about doesn’t listen to your advice or outwardly show appreciation for your concern. Though it may feel like you’re being rejected, you never know what God is doing in his/her heart. Maybe He is using your encouragement so he/she will change. Only that person can make a choice to change. Only God’s work in their heart will make them live differently.
It’s easy to brush off the advice from a friend or the warning from a parent or sibling. It’s easy to feel like you’re being bossed and pushed around to do what you don’t want to do. Sometimes, the thing you don’t want to do is the exact thing you should do.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 