If you’ve read my testimony, then you know everything changed for me when I received the Holy Spirit. I had no idea what had happened; I just knew everything was different.

One of the things that changed was how I heard things. The same music I’ve listened to for years was now completely gross and full of sin. The words I used hit the ears sharply and bothered me. When I began to grow in God, I began to see things the way they actually were.

I was a teenager at the time which means I still lived with my parent. I love my mom very much, but even to this day, she’s extremely impatient. Every time we’re in the car together, she’s cursing and yelling about the way other people are driving. If she spends more time than expected in line at the store, she’s upset for the rest of the day. The ironic thing is she knows that behavior isn’t good because she’s admitted that. Nevertheless, she continues to be that way.

I started to notice those behaviors and told myself, “I will not be that way.” However, that doesn’t make the challenge of becoming a patient person and overcoming impatience any easier. I’m going to go over some ways I’ve used to become more patient, but first, let’s discuss impatience a little further.

All scriptures are taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

– 1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV Read more

The Bible is very clear about sex outside of marriage being a sin- it’s called fornication. Fornication is a dangerous thing and one that should be avoided at all costs. But why, you may ask? Why does God tell us to wait until marriage for sex? I thought He gave us these desires. Well, you’re right. He did, but He also gave us guidelines for these desires and they’re for your benefit. Let’s take a look at what I mean.

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

– Hebrews 13:4

All scriptures are taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

Soul-ties

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

– Genesis 2:24

When someone becomes married, they become one flesh with that person. That’s the way God intended things to be. However, we know that in today’s world many people don’t think they have to be married to have sex anymore. While in the physical realm, that may be true, there’s always something going on in the spiritual realm to be aware of.

I don’t blame the average person for the problem for the sexual sins we have today. While they play a role, they are ultimately victims of the wiles of the devil. The enemy has hijacked the media and movies of today’s time. He can easily manipulate the masses because there are screens literally everywhere that he can use. Read more

Unforgiveness is a powerful force. It can cause marriages and families fall apart. It can create a hostile environment in a nation. Churches can be completely torn apart by it. Therefore, I want to take a look at six symptoms of unforgiveness. As we go through, ask yourself if you’ve seen these manifestations in yourself or others.

All scriptures are taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

Complaining

A person who is swallowed up by the ails of unforgiveness cannot say anything good about the other person. Not only that, but they allow themselves to be engulfed in self-pity. Someone who is in the state of self-pity cannot truly enjoy anything. They may feel a bit of happiness for a second, but as soon as they are alone they go back to their own way of thinking.

Until the person forgives the one who hurt them, they will forever live in this state of feeling sorry for themselves. They will continue to point the finger and blame others for their failures in life. Read more

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.“

– Matthew 4:44-45

A part of the human experience includes being hurt by people. It’s horrible, it sucks, but we all have gone through some pain or attack caused by someone else. In that moment it seems as though we would never get over it. How dare they? How could they? Don’t they know all I’ve sacrificed for them? Trust me, I understand and you are not alone.

So how do we heal from something so traumatic? Is it really possible to move on to a future where they don’t live in your head rent-free? Well, yes it is. However, it’s no easy task and requires a strong backbone of faith in God.

The Bible doesn’t only tell us to forgive, but it tells us to go the extra mile. God wants us to speak well of those who hurt us, pray for them, and do good to them. Say what?

Doesn’t God understand how ridiculous that sounds? Of course He does! So why would He ask us to do such a thing?

All scriptures are taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted. Read more

If you’re a human being, then you’ve felt the pain of being hurt or disappointed by someone before. It’s something we’ve all gone through at one time or another. After that, we can either go through life harboring unforgiveness and resentment or we can choose to forgive.

The steps to forgiving someone are no easy task. In fact, forgiveness can be the hardest thing someone ever decides to do. It goes against human nature. Usually, we want to make things fair and equal. “An eye for an eye,” right?

But when Jesus came, He showed us a new way to live. He died to forgive all humans of their sinful condition that would have normally doomed them to an eternity in hell. The Bible says, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13) But Jesus didn’t die only for His friends, He died for His enemies as well.

He died for those men who wanted to see Him crucified. He died for those who gave Him sour wine when He asked for a drink. Jesus didn’t discriminate while He was on the cross. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Anyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Holy Son and sacrificial lamb can and will be saved.  Read more