relationship with God Archives | Page 2 of 3

Kingdom Character: Growing in Wisdom

Cindy2019-03-10T17:41:06+00:00

Wisdom is something that most people want more of in their lives. We understand the importance of making wise decisions today in order to have a better future. But where does wisdom come from? And how do we get it? First, understand that God grants us the spirit of wisdom & revelation. In fact, Proverbs 9:10 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So if we want to grow in the characteristic of wisdom, we need to start by honoring and respecting God. Defining Wisdom Many people think that wisdom and understanding are the same things, [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in WisdomCindy2019-03-10T17:41:06+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Joy

Cindy2019-03-10T17:38:33+00:00

Joy is something that everyone wants, but most never find true, deep joy. Joy is not only a fruit of the Spirit; it’s also a spiritual power with a force behind it. It’s more than “happiness” (which is fleeting). The true joy of the Lord is sustaining; we find this to be true especially when our circumstances are not ideal, and we can still have joy. Joy in the Kingdom of God Romans 14:17 tells us, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Let’s break [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in JoyCindy2019-03-10T17:38:33+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Peace

Cindy2019-03-10T17:37:58+00:00

If you turn on the television or radio or observe social media, much of what you’ll see is trouble, heartache, and fear. Peace is something that people desire to have down deep inside, but it’s not easy to achieve without God. Jesus knew that we would face trouble in this world when He said to His disciples: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We can count on His peace to sustain and comfort us during difficulties. [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in PeaceCindy2019-03-10T17:37:58+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Self-Control

Cindy2019-03-10T17:36:44+00:00

God wants us to mature in our character to become more like Christ, and self-control is an area that people can get the wrong idea about. When you hear the words, “self-control,” don’t hear, “You have to do it all on your own.” That’s not true. We can’t do everything by our own self-will. The key to self-control is having the will to submit and be surrendered to the Spirit of God. Self-Control in the Bible The Bible mentions self-control often and even shares stories of people who either had or lacked the characteristic. In Titus 1:6-9, being self-controlled and temperate [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in Self-ControlCindy2019-03-10T17:36:44+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Honesty

Cindy2019-03-14T17:04:33+00:00

Probably for most of us, honesty seems like a pretty easy topic. We don’t outright lie to people or tell lies, so honesty is one of those “been there – done that” subjects. But I think that God wants us to grow in character in the area of honesty and to challenge ourselves to really live blamelessly and above reproach. What does scripture say about honesty and lying? First of all, the Bible is clear that Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44), and Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). Not only is lying condemned [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in HonestyCindy2019-03-14T17:04:33+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Compassion

Cindy2019-03-14T17:06:34+00:00

What comes to mind when you think of compassion? Maybe giving to the poor … helping someone in need … your heart being moved for someone else and their situation. Perhaps you think of the compassion that God showed in sending Jesus to reconcile us to Himself. Regardless, one thing is certain: God’s heart beats with compassion. Therefore, we need to also cultivate a character of compassion. God’s Compassion The Bible is full of references about the compassion and lovingkindness of God. “[God] crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.” (Psalm 103:4) “Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your loving kindnesses, for [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in CompassionCindy2019-03-14T17:06:34+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Generosity (Part 2)

Cindy2019-03-14T17:07:33+00:00

We live in such a materialistic, success-driven world. It seems that everyone is looking out for number one – for themselves. But God calls His people to live differently: He calls us to live generously in every way, every single day. In order to honor God and live generously, our character needs to be refined and molded because it certainly doesn’t come naturally for us to want to be generous. So how do we grow in our character and increase in generosity? The Identity Connection How we relate to money can sometimes be like a 2-sided coin; on one side there’s [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in Generosity (Part 2)Cindy2019-03-14T17:07:33+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Generosity (Part 1)

Cindy2019-03-14T17:08:33+00:00

Growing in generosity isn’t just about giving more; it’s about the condition of our hearts as we give. We may think that we are generous because we give to the poor, help the needy, or drop a donation in a bucket outside the grocery store. But generosity is about much more than just money. God expects us to be generous in every aspect of our lives, and this requires the development of our character. God is Generous Because God is generous, we should strive to be generous too – we should want to be like our Father. It’s all about thinking [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in Generosity (Part 1)Cindy2019-03-14T17:08:33+00:00

Kingdom Character: Growing in Humility (Part 2)

Cindy2019-03-14T17:10:17+00:00

As we grow in character, humility is one of the things that we definitely want to display more and more. We understand that our model, Jesus Christ, had a gentle and humble heart (Matthew 11:29), and He demonstrated it wherever He went. No matter the circumstances, He never lacked humility, and with his help, that’s what we need to strive for too. Understand the Dangers of Pride I think it’s important to understand some of the dangers of pride. God takes pride seriously – seriously enough to kick one of His archangels (Lucifer/Satan) out of His presence because of it! Remember, [...]

Kingdom Character: Growing in Humility (Part 2)Cindy2019-03-14T17:10:17+00:00

5777: The Year of the Sword

Cindy2019-03-14T17:15:22+00:00

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 Several years ago, the Lord highlighted the Hebraic calendar to me. I think the times and seasons of the Lord are very significant for us as His people, and we can learn a lot about what is important to God by studying His calendar and His plan as it is laid out in Scripture. This past year, on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), I [...]

5777: The Year of the SwordCindy2019-03-14T17:15:22+00:00