Taken from JRE MMA Show #143 w/Sean Strickland:
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Have you discovered a congregation to call home?
From Intouch Ministries
July 9, 2023
In some cities, there’s a church building on nearly every corner, but congregations can vary widely. Some focus mainly on outreach; others, on education. How can you know if a church is right for you?
When considering a fellowship, believers should be humble and curious. Take time to quietly observe services and relationships. Then ask yourself whether the church teaches these four truths:
1. Our Savior was both fully human and fully God.
2. After His crucifixion and burial, Jesus was resurrected.
3. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus.
4. The Bible is divine revelation given to us so that we can have a personal relationship with God.
A church’s primary focus should be on redemption, which can be summed up this way: Because God the Father loves us, He redeemed us through His Son, saving all who believe (John 3:16).
Our beliefs influence how we view God, others, and ourselves, so it’s important to choose a congregation wisely. Ultimately, the church your neighbor attends might not be right for you—and that’s okay. What’s important is to join the body of Christ and learn the truth about the God who loves you.
Bible in One Year: Proverbs 5-8
Nearly 100,000 more deaths involving heart conditions and stroke than usual since pandemic began
The habit of gratitude can bring joy and peace to your life, even in tough seasons.
From Intouch Ministries
July 8, 2023
Many experts agree that listing all the things you can be grateful for is an effective way to stay positive and joyful. And it’s true that focusing on what’s going right in your life can bring perspective to what’s going wrong. However, that mindset can also fall short of how God wants us to respond to our circumstances.
The Bible tells us not only to give thanks for everything in our life (including what we see as negative) but also to give thanks continually. In other words, it is possible—and desirable—for believers to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving regardless of the circumstances. That’s not easy to do, but we can trust that our good, loving God will never ask us to do something He won’t help us accomplish.
An ongoing attitude of gratefulness isn’t only a helpful spiritual discipline—it’s also medicine for the soul. It keeps us aware of God’s place in our life and reminds us to look for His purpose in every situation. A mind full of gratitude brings us into alignment with the Lord’s will and frees us from relying on ourselves instead of Him. Then our anxiety will be replaced with peace, which helps us trust God even when we don’t understand why something difficult is happening.
Remember: Gratitude begets more gratitude. What can you thank the Lord for today?
Bible in One Year: Proverbs 1-4