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Transfigured by the Starter of Heartbeats

Closer than Ever

Change. It is such a lovely thing to change for the better. When you recognize your faultiness, it is so wonderful to improve. Now, there are those of you who suffer from depression, anxiety, addiction, mental health disorders, and a list of other things. But, no matter the suffering or issue, there is always a solution. And to experience change in all its glory, I invite you to be transfigured by the starter of heartbeats. Continue reading to find out what this all means.

Who is the Starter of Heartbeats?

Before talking about anything concerning the thought of change, I must introduce you to the starter of heartbeats. Believe it or not, no one knows the precise second or detailing of time when your heart first began to beat within your mother’s womb. Nobody knows!

Think about it… Your biological parents, your doctor, your closest friend, your spouse, your romantic interest, and every other individual, except one, knows not the first heartbeat that echoed in your mother’s womb.

Job 31:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

The starter of heartbeats is the only one who does know your first heartbeat. And that being is none other than God, Himself. I can only imagine the care He invested into you when He made you in a unique but lovely way. He ignited that human heart of yours into being, He knows you to the most intimate detail. It is only God who knows you better than you know yourself.

And I strongly hold onto the belief that God came down as Jesus Christ to Earth as a human being to die on the cross as a sacrifice for you. He suffered the penalty for your sins so that when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you would not have to pay the penalty in hell. Instead, His blood on the cross allows us full freedom to be with Him in Heaven.

And only Jesus Christ lost His heartbeat to give you new life and new meaning. A purpose although new, was His plan before time began. That is why three days after His crucifixion, Jesus’ resurrection means so much. His resurrection means your heartbeat will always belong to Him.

Jeremiah 10:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

How to Experience That Transfiguration?

Continuing on, God designs your heart beat in such a way that it never stops beating. It’s working it’s hardest to keep you alive.

There is such importance which emanates from your life because God wants you alive so badly. Your life is significant and if you want to ever remind yourself of that, just feel your heartbeat, it constantly works hard to keep your precious life going.

Now, when you know your life is so precious, you must realize who He says you are. In the Bible, it talks about how Jesus Christ takes three of His closest disciples to witness His transfiguration.

Matthew 17:1 World English Bible (WEB)
17 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.

Upon further examination of the scriptures, one sees that Jesus Christ does this after six days from the end of the previous chapter. This signals the seventh day, a day of rest as God declares it in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 2:2-3 King James Version (KJV)
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

So, Jesus wants you to rest on His grace and when you do that, He fully reveals Himself to you. He revealed Himself in all His power and glory to His disciples during the transfiguration

Now, to be transfigured means to be transformed into what you really are! It is like unveiling what you really are.

Matthew 17:2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.

And when you rest in His grace, transfiguration’s a matter of time. He will unveil who you’re supposed to be, to you. You are a spiritual being and God created you for His purpose.

What Does It Mean to Be Transfigured?

This means that when you rest on God’s unfailing grace and realize that you are His beloved child, there is nothing which can stop you. It is so important to know that you are of His blood and that He loves you.

In the stormy situation when it is easy to become frantic or worried, learn or at least practice your trust in God. Lay your hand on your chest and remember that God started that heartbeat, He’s not going to let anything destroy it or cause it worry!

Romans 8:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The verse above says that we should know this hence why the verse starts with “And we know.” It says that God will ensure our bad situation or good situation will end up blessing us in the end. And you’ve got to know that you are according to His purpose.

His plan for your life is the only way you will ever have some true meaning. Without Him, there is no purpose. With Him, you’re full of purpose.

So, in conclusion, rest on His grace, and witness the transfigured Christ in your life. I can only imagine how it feels to see the transfigured Christ in all His glory and splendour living in us. That is why we can be transfigured, too. Being transfigured by Him means that we change into who we are supposed to be.

When people see us, they should see someone who is living for God’s glory, who’s mental health is blessed and secured by God, and they should see us as loving people.

We should not be scared of God or what He has in plan for our lives, we should only respond to Jesus’ caring words, and understand that we are His beloved children. Let us be transfigured and understand how God really sees us!

Matthew 17:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7 Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”

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Thanking the God of Heavenly Revelations

For most people, it is often easy to adapt the nasty attitude of ingratitude. And if there’s ever an attitude ranked as the worst of attitudes, that’d be ingratitude. Ingratitude affects your mind, your relationships, and shuts you off from a life-changing perspective. So, continue reading to find out the power of thanking God and others for being in your life.

Appreciation in Relationships

Now, appreciation is a very important thing. It is essential within relationships with friends and family. If someone does you a favour and you don’t thank them for it, your heart is ungrateful.

Moreover, ingratitude is very bad for one’s mental health. It’s not good for your relationships and goes to show how you take things for granted. In fact, patriotism for one’s nation is a form of gratitude and that is also very important.

2 Timothy 3:2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

And the Bible says that in the future, people will become more and more ungrateful. In the verse above, it says that people will become unthankful as that is simply and sadly a trait of human nature. So, the decision is up to you, as always.

Do you want to give in to your corrupt, self-loving (selfish) nature, or do you want to do what is right? Since you are someone who wants to please God and be remembered as grateful, start acknowledging the great things people do for you.

Be grateful.

And that is very important with God, too. He makes it a part of your relationship with Him to be grateful. It’s deeply integrated to your spiritual health. In fact, that is why we have a phrase known as “Thank God.”

There are situations you may face where the only one you can depend on is the God of Revelations, Jesus Christ.

Psalm 100:4 World English Bible (WEB)
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
    and into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him, and bless his name.

His Word says to “enter into [H]is gates with thanksgiving,” because thanking God is a way of entering His presence. Furthermore, there is so much to thank Him for. If you can’t come up with anything to thank God for, then look unto the cross.

Thanking God Above All

When you look unto the cross of Calvary, you see the most gruesome appetites of human evil manifested on a single individual. That single individual is none other than our precious Lord Jesus Christ. He is God who came down to Earth, 2000 years ago, in the form of a man.

And He lived a life on this planet, healed people, set people free, and more in His ministry, but the jealous religious leaders of that time convinced their government to crucify Him. They tortured and crucified Him, but it was all part of His divine plan. His plan was to suffer the hell meant for us to save us.

John 10:18 World English Bible (WEB)
18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”

After three days and nights, He rose again from the dead, full of power and authority. So, when we believe Him, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, our hell transfers to the cross. Now, you only need to expect God to be with you through the easy as well as tough times. I talk more about it in this post.

He’ll always be at your side. This is what we call the Gospel, and your heart should fill up with thanksgiving to God for all He does for you. He let nails and whips tear Him apart to heal, deliver, save, and bless you. No one else would do that for you, but He did it.

Romans 5:7-8 World English Bible (WEB)
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

No one loves you as much as He loves you, so thank Him for what He’s done!

Life With Him

A life with Him is a life lived well, I can guarantee that! Bow your knee to God and thank Him for all He’s done for you. And keep on thanking Him for the things you don’t have yet know that He’ll provide for you.

“What! How can you say that, Andre?” is what some of you may be thinking. But, what I’m saying is nothing less than what the Bible says.

Philippians 4:6 World English Bible (WEB)
6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

God does not want you to worry. He loves you, and whatever depth of suffering you endure, put your trust in His grace. The scripture above says to let God know your needs, you should thank Him for the solution.

He loves you so much because He created you, He formed you, and He decided how you were meant to be. And He wants His plan to come to fruition once you give Him everything you are.

Thank Him for healing because of the broken body of Jesus Christ, even if you are sick because then, He will heal you. Make it a point to give Him praise for the restoration of your mental health, because He will restore your mental health.

Take the communion!

Hebrews 11:1 King James Version (KJV)
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Therefore, trust God and keep on thanking Him for all He’s done. Thanking Him and thanking others should become a thing associated with you. When people think of you, they should think of you as a grateful person. Thank God, above all, and allow God to take care of you.

John 11:40 King James Version (KJV)
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

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How to Resist the Temptation of Anger

Self-centered anger is often a temptation. And there are a lot of people out there, well-meaning people, who think it okay to remain angry. But for the sake of your mental health, I believe it is more important to deal with your anger. Anger can be a very dangerous thing with any person and has ruined countless lives throughout history. So, to find out as to how to resist the temptation of anger, continue reading.

Is It Really a Temptation?

Now, anger is a spontaneous emotion, usually. It is something you can’t always control. If someone does something which really upsets you, then, you get angry immediately. And a lot of the time, anger is not a bad thing. I’ll talk about the positive side of anger in the next subsection.

But, what I am mostly talking about in this post is the negative side of anger. This type of anger is when you are upset at an individual and you remain upset for a long time. It’s the type of anger which you label as a grudge. Another type of bad anger is the anger that causes you to do things which God does not like. These things include making derogatory remarks or assaulting the offensive individual.

Romans 14:23 World English Bible (WEB)
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

And whenever anger leads you to do something which you know God doesn’t like or something which manifests your self-centered behaviour, it is a temptation. The decision to indulge in that temptation or to resist its appeal is up to you. Even more, the decision you make, reveals your priorities. Do you prioritize yourself or God? Whatever you do which is apart from faith, is wrong in God’s eyes. So, clearly, doing something out of anger with evil intentions is as far apart from faith as you can get.

I can tell you right here and now that God prioritized you over His anger. He came in the flesh as a human being, Jesus Christ. And with the authority to call down legions of angels capable of annihilating any trace of human existence, God allowed Himself to be tortured and crucified by people who hated Him. And why is that? It is because His love for you and me is more powerful than anything on the face of this planet! I talk more about it in this post.

That is why I plea to you to accept God’s love, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour where He will enter your life to transform it.

Romans 10:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Godly Anger

Moreover, I will grant you this. The Bible says if someone angers you, don’t act out your anger. And by the end of the day, get a hold of yourself. Ask God to give you the grace to calm down by the end of the day.

Ephesians 4:26 World English Bible (WEB)
26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.”Psalm 4:4 Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,

Make sure you don’t do anything outside of what you know God wants you to do. God does not want you to hurt others or to say mean things. He wants you to love people. But if you can’t love that person at the moment, at least forgive that person. Forgiveness is just a choice where you decide to let go of the debts that person owes your conscience just as God forgave you.

Now, there’s a type of anger which is not sinful. This type of anger is godly anger. It is when you are angry for the sake of others or for the unjust things people do to God’s kingdom.

So, if someone is abusing another person, that will naturally anger you because God loves people. Or if someone is mocking God or harming His creation such as the environment, that should also anger you. However with all these things, make sure it doesn’t cause you to sin in retaliation just as the above Bible verse says.

John 2:13-17 World English Bible (WEB)
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. 16 To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”Psalm 69:9

So, in the example above, Jesus was full of zealous anger. Jesus Christ grew angry when people were being corrupt and selling things for profit in God’s sacred temple. This type of anger is good, it is not a sin to be angry when angry because of your faith in Christ Jesus. But even with this, God knew what He was doing.

2 Corinthians 5:21 World English Bible (WEB)
21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In verse 15, it says Jesus made a whip of cords to throw over the tables, this shows that Jesus planned what He was going to do and was doing it with purpose. He did not kill anyone or do anything which is rash. He manifested His righteous anger without sinning as we should do if our righteous anger is incurred.

How to Resist the Temptation of Anger?

In conclusion, how is it that you must resist the temptation of bad anger? It is only through Christ Jesus. When someone offends you, give it straight away to God. Ask Him for the grace to forgive and just don’t act out your anger. Allow God to calm you.

If you know yourself as an angry person in general, then put your selfish anger to death. Remember that when Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and for me, your selfish anger died with Him, too. Now, it is not in you to be an angry person.

Colossians 3:5 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Surrender yourself alongside your pride, to God, and remember that you are a child of God who He loves. That is your identity. The Bible does not call you an angry child of God, it calls you a beloved child of God.

Ephesians 5:1-2 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

Therefore, let God’s love and His Holy Spirit transform you. Soak yourself in the Word of God and really get to know Him. If you are tempted to do something out of anger, remember that Jesus Christ loves you and that you should forgive others as He forgave you of all your mistakes.

Luke 23:34 King James Version (KJV)
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

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The Hidden Yet Precious Value of Your Trust

The Hidden Yet Precious Value of Trust

No one can deny that there is a hidden yet precious value in your trust. And the sad truth is that many people do not know how to deal with situations where they should or should not trust certain people. In fact, trust occur only within relationships and these relationships heavily connect to your mental health. So, we will be exploring the issue of trust and as to how you should trust others.

Establish the Hidden Yet Precious Value of Your Trust

You must first realize that your trust is significant. It is not something to be toyed with. In fact, it has such a power, that even God is very careful when dealing with your trust. He makes it so important that He centers His very relationship with you on trust.

Romans 10:9-10 World English Bible (WEB)
9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.

Not only do you need trust to enter a relationship with God, you also need it to maintain a relationship with God. God makes it clear that you must trust Him with your entire life and He is very much pleased with you placing your faith in Him.

Hebrews 11:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

John 8:24 World English Bible (WEB)
24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

And the same goes for all your other relationships. Trust is simply vital. And if you don’t realize that, then, you will put your trust in all of the wrong places. You need to know the value of your trust whether you’re entering a marriage, friendship, or any other relationship.

Furthermore, your trust has value because you have value. God came down to Earth in the form of a human being as Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. And since God did not want you to pay the eternal price for your mistakes and sins, He died on the cross for you. After three days He rose again so that He could put His eternal life in you, once you accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. I talk more about it in this post.

Discern the Motives Behind Your Trust

Next, it is absolutely crucial that you judge your thoughts. When you are trusting someone to do or uphold something, you must make sure that you are assigning your trust with the right motives. Don’t trust people out of “pity” or something similar to that.

It is very easy for an individual to trust others for all the wrong reasons. And such relationships tend to lead to destruction. Remember that your trust has a hidden yet precious value in the sight of God. You should only trust people with good reason.

Also, trust is an expression of love. When you love someone as a friend or as a spouse or as anything similar to that, trust will come out of that relationship.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 World English Bible (WEB)
4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Another translation for the word, “believes” in the verse above is “trusts.” So the verse is saying that love trusts all things. And in the context of that passage, it doesn’t mean you’ve got to trust everything and everyone, it means that love involves trust. That is why you can trust God and that is why He can trust you.

In conclusion, ask yourself why you are trusting the person you trust, and make sure your motives for doing such a thing isn’t twisted, foolish, or evil before entering a relationship. If you’re already in a relationship, let God bless that relationship so that your trust will grow as your love grows.

2 Corinthians 13:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Place Your Trust in the Heavenly Counselor

Above all, it is best for you to place all of your trust only in Jesus Christ. People will fail your trust because imperfect people are imperfect, that’s just the way it is. And even you are imperfect, but God is perfect. Only God is qualified enough to never fail someone who rightfully puts their trust in Him.

Psalm 118:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh,
    than to put confidence in man.

Even Jesus Christ could not trust certain people. God knows that people are not perfect, He knows the twisted nature of human beings. But, that does not compromise His love for human beings. That is why you should learn to love people as Christ loves them, but at the same time, know not to trust everyone.

John 2:23-25 World English Bible (WEB)
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did. 24 But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them, because he knew everyone, 25 and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.

There may be people who are deceptive or crooked in mind, and so, discern well. Discern the motives of those who approach you, and although God loves them, don’t make yourself vulnerable to wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Matthew 7:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Therefore, I advise you to know the hidden yet precious value of your trust and to wholly trust Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit will guide you and if you seek His counsel, He will help you discern who you should trust and point out the motives of your own heart which require correction. That is why the Bible calls Holy Spirit as our “Counselor.”

John 14:26-27 World English Bible (WEB)
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

By Andre Wijesekera.

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Reading the Word of the God Who Lives

Reading the Word of God

Reading is a very important part of life. When driving, you must be able to read signals and road signs. But, if you’re doing a math test, you must know how to read certain equations and symbols. It is almost inevitable for you to read at some point of the day. That’s the way we communicate to each other. And there is this one book which I believe is tremendously helpful if not momentous to enjoying a mentally healthy lifestyle. So continue reading to see the benefits of reading the Word of God.

Is It That Important?

I propose that reading the Word of God is essential to addressing the needs of all of the aspects of your life. Now, I can only imagine the sheer number of people who might disagree with such a bold proposition.

And even you may be asking, “Is the Bible really necessary to satisfying all the needs of one’s soul?”

Before I respond to that question in this subsection of the post, I must first tell you that I understand the sincerity of such a response. And it indeed does seem a bit arrogant to claim such importance for one religious book. So, I understand where you’re coming from.

However, we are not talking about just a religious book. We’re talking about a book that claims to originate from the very inspiration of the living God!

2 Timothy 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

And if it’s right, then according to what it says, God has given it quite a lot of power!

Hebrews 4:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Furthermore, the Word of God has a bunch of testimonies to back it up. There’s been countless people I’ve known who have been positively changed from what they read in the Bible. Just a few examples of people impacted by the Word of God include Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr, William Wilberforce, along with more.

And I believe the reason for that change, is the constant hinting or describing of the good news of Jesus Christ.

What It’s All About!

Moreover, the Word of God gives us a closer look at the heart of God. And I don’t know anything better for one’s mental health than knowing the heart of God! The heart of God changes you, informs you, overwhelms you, and interestingly, redefines your perspective.

Reading the Word of God teaches you that the living God is interested in you. And reading the Word of God shows Him that you’re interested in communicating with Him. It shows that you value Him and that you care about what He says. Certainly, God will not ignore your sincerity and He will reward you for seeking Him if you do seek Him.

Matthew 7:7-8 King James Version (KJV)
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

When you read His Word, you will find some sort of reference to the history-altering event of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Even before Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you and me as I talk about here in this post, there were references to the blood of the innocent lamb shed for the people’s protection during the Biblical Exodus, prophecies in the Book of Isaiah, and more.

John 8:58 World English Bible (WEB)
58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM. Exodus 3:14”

And the message of the Bible is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. If you accept this message, I guarantee you that your will not be disappointed. As when you accept Him and His atoning sacrifice, you allow Him to carry your burdens, you allow Him to save you from everything that endangers you. You allow Him to give you mental peace, physical health, and a prosperous destiny.

1 Corinthians 2:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Reading the Word of God in Enjoyment

If you’re just starting to read the Bible, I would strongly advise you to start with the New Testament. This is because reading the Old Testament of the Bible requires a knowledge of the New Testament since it is sometimes hard to spiritually discern what God is saying if you do not fully understand His grace.

1 Corinthians 2:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Another thing to remember when reading the Bible, is to let go of pride. Reading the Word of God relies on one’s dependence on Holy Spirit to teach you. It is a time when you humble yourself before Him and seek Him as a child would seek his or her father.

Matthew 18:2-4 World English Bible (WEB)
2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them 3 and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Even more, it is essential to read the Bible with enjoyment. Make the process enjoyable. When you read the Bible, you could use highlighters or write notes as you study it. Or you could type your notes into a notepad app as I do. Look for ways to have fun while reading the Bible whether aloud or silently. This will help to reinforce your reading of the Bible as an enjoyable habit.

And finally, set some time to read the Word of God. If you must, wake up 10 minutes earlier than you usually do, so you can read God’s Word.

In conclusion, make it a priority to read the Word of God. It will be a blessing to you and the pages you read will be a series of stairs that lead you closer to His glorious heart!

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Confidence in What the King of Kings Can and Will Do

The Key to His Heart!

The power of confidence is quite entrancing. These days, many motivational speakers and authors develop ways to develop confidence. But, what if you were to place your confidence in someone much bigger than you. That’s going to be the topic of this post as we learn where to put our confidence in, and as to how that should connect to our mental health. Continue reading to find out more.

Toxic Confidence

First of all, it is absolutely necessary to know that overconfidence can be extremely toxic. And by extremely toxic, I mean that it can come to the point of being disastrous to one’s relationships, leadership, spiritual life, and mental health. How?

Well, if you’re confident in yourself and start stroking your ego, people will find you displeasing to work or live with. No one likes someone who is confident in none other than themselves.

Proverbs 16:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Another thing with overconfidence or confidence not used properly is that sometimes the truth is that it cannot solve all problems. And confidence can get you nowhere as long as you are repeating motivational mantras and recalling the last five seconds of an inspirational YouTube video.

Confidence in yourself cannot deal with overcoming sickness, it cannot deal with your character, and there’s a list of other things which it cannot do. Confidence in yourself cannot deal with the things outside of your control.

Isaiah 40:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

And this thought can be very, very sobering. However, do not misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying that you should hate yourself or that you are completely incapable of doing anything worth doing.

I am only emphasizing on the scary delusions which people download into their mindsets when reading motivational books, watching motivational videos, or attending motivational seminars dealing with confidence. One thing I’ve noticed from all of this, is that people entertain themselves with all these things and nothing meaningful ever changes in their lives!

Proverbs 16:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Sadly, if you are one of those who idolize confidence, motivational speakers, and self-help books, I promise you that one day, you’ll realize that it was all meaningless. So, I want to save you the time, with this post.

Please, don’t go down a path that leads to nowhere!

Confidence in Jesus Christ

Furthermore, confidence relies upon a decision. If you put your confidence entirely and solely upon yourself or another individual, your life depends on the capabilities of that person.

Proverbs 23:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

And you, as a human, cannot escape the weaknesses, limited resources, disadvantages, and blind spots infused into your being, no matter how hard or valiant the effort.

But, there is a being who is superior to you in character, resourcefulness, advantage, wisdom, and almost every other comparable trait. Even more, this being cares about you, and wants to be part of your life.

The being I’m talking about is the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. He is the God who came down to Earth in the form of a human being to die on the cross so that you would not receive the punishment for your failures. And three days later, He rose again to declare you as a new creation once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

2 Corinthians 5:17 World English Bible (WEB)
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

If you limit yourself to you, there is a cap on the possibilities of where your life’s headed. However, when you limit yourself to God, there is no limits as to where He can direct you. That is why, my proposition is to invest your confidence into God so that you are guaranteed to reap a blessed life.

Proverbs 16:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Beyond Your Control but in His Jurisdiction

Therefore, put your confidence in Christ Jesus. I have seen lives changed because they made this decision. In fact, my life has changed due to this decision. And there have been times where God intervened in my life for my own good.

The thing is that confidence in yourself can only do so much. But it definitely cannot change things like sickness, financial opportunities, or any other factor out of your control. On the other hand, confidence in God does make it possible for Him to change any factor in your life. It does not matter how far away that factor is from grasp of your influence.

2 Corinthians 12:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Paul the Apostle penned the Holy-Spirit inspired scripture, above. He said that he’d take pride in His weaknesses so that God would answer his weaknesses with God’s unlimited capability. And Paul’s mission was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, God did give Paul the strength to spread the gospel, and even now, 2000 years after Paul’s death, God’s words penned through Paul’s hands continue to transform the hearts of people around the world.

Proverbs 14:26 King James Version (KJV)
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Read the above proverb. It says that when you fear the Lord, and that means to respect and acknowledge Him, your children (if you have any) will be safe. Again, whether your children are safe or not is out of your control and no amount of self-confidence can change that, but, confidence in God’s faithfulness will ensure the safety of your children.

In conclusion, be confident, but be confident in God who has made you a new creation. Be confident in that His finished work on the cross saved you. And be confident in His promises such as protection, wisdom, prosperity, health, along with more.

James 4:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

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Brokenness in the Eyes of the King in Purple

Jesus crucified for me

The focus of this post deals with the issue of brokenness. It is quite easy to adapt the belief that restoration is impossible. And that leaves many of us in brokenness or despair. Those who see themselves as permanently broken cannot progress from their depressed state. That is why we’ll be exploring a new angle on the mental health issue of depression, and despair, in this post.

The Purple Robe

To approach this issue, I must start at the cross. In the landscape of the Biblical narrative, there is one event that ties EVERYTHING together. That event is the cross of Calvary where Jesus Christ was crucified.

Jesus Christ is God and He came down to Earth in the flesh as a human being with one purpose in mind. His purpose was to provide an atoning sacrifice for mankind. You see, humanity is flawed. And we have all sinned or done something which isn’t right.

And so, to accept an imperfect, far from godly-natured, beloved people into God’s presence in Heaven, is impossible without an atoning sacrifice. That is why Jesus Christ made it His mission to experience the hell which we deserve, on the cross.

Now, pharisees and religious leaders pressured the Romans of that time, to crucify Jesus. They could not help but be jealous of His perfect nature, and persisted in the belief that they are good enough to enter Heaven, all by themselves.

They detested change, and so, the same devil who tempted mankind in the garden of Eden, inspired a hellish hatred within the hearts of the people. But, God used that hatred to His advantage as the devil could not understand how Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for those who are lost.

And so, it is with this premise, that I want to introduce the below scripture to you.

John 19:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

The Brokenness Behind the Crown of Thorns

So, as the above verse now states, Jesus stood on the platform after a cruel scourging. And as He stood, He wore a crown of thorns embedded into His skull, along with a purple-dyed robe.

Furthermore, the verse offers quite a few surprises to those willing to dig deeper. I looked at the HELPS Word Studies on the Greek word used for “purple” in this verse. The Greek word used for “purple,” transliterates as “porphurous.”

The interesting part of this word study is the conclusion that porphurous is a word describing a purple-reddish dye or cloth. So, this purple cloth was a mix between purple and red. And in the culture of that time, purple symbolized royalty. Whereas, red represents His sacrifice, His blood shed for you.

Even more, I believe God is communicating to us a message through this scripture. The message is that He let himself become physically BROKEN for you and for me. And to further emphasize His brokenness, I must call to remembrance a verse from the Old Testament of the Bible.

Numbers 4:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 “They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.

In the time of the Old Testament, the priests were responsible for taking away the ashes from the altar after a burnt offering. Then, they’d spread a purple cloth over the altar. God instructed more steps as to how they should conduct the burnt offering. But, for the sake of this post, I am referencing only this scripture from the chapter.

Nevertheless, I believe God was instructing Israel to do this seemingly strange act to symbolize the way in which He’d come to actually atone for us, permanently, as Jesus Christ. He was symbolizing how He’d be in ashes as the burnt offering when He wore a purple robe.

His instructions would serve as a prophetical image of the future, one-time, burnt-offering sacrificed for the people who’d choose to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The Living God Among Us

And so, if you haven’t already, I urge you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. But, the point of this examination of the scriptures is to really carve a proper understanding of the brokenness of Jesus at the cross.

As I mentioned earlier, many of you are suffering from depression, despair, brokenness, and more. You might just even feel like you’re in ashes. And I sense a very similar vibe through the picture painted of Jesus in the scene of His crucifixion.

Jesus became physically broken. He was in ashes. And He died, He actually died on the cross. But, that’s not the end of the story. After three days and three nights, Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. He physically resurrected.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 King James Version (KJV)
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

What am I getting at, then? I’m getting at the vivid picture of His resurrecting power! You may feel dead and in ashes, but, there’s always a chance to rise. I am declaring to you that there is life in the Christ.

You may have an excuse to despair or to sulk in depression, maybe it’s some kind of terrible experience or it could even be as petty as a mood swing. But, that’s why the cross is about dying to one’s self. And by dying to one’s self, I mean to put an end to the beliefs or mindsets which ruin your life.

Put depression to death, put negativity to death, put fear to death, and put the selfish appetites or behaviours to death! Furthermore, as Christ rose again, so also you rise again. You are a new being in Christ Jesus, and not even depression can stop you from being the child of God who Jesus loves.

Romans 6:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;

Therefore, Jesus Christ calls the brokenhearted to Him. He does not delight in your suffering, He delights in you realizing that you are His child. And that you’ve always been His from the day He let those rusty nails pierce Him to a cross, and even before then, in eternity, when your lovely image pierced the tender heart of His imagination.

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Reflecting on What God Has Made!

Jesus is the Latter Rain!

The importance of reflecting on one’s self is very significant. There is no telling in the results of an individual who reflects on how they can improve. In fact, many of the issues we face today, such as the stigmatization of mental illnesses or the guilt-laden youth, arise from a lack of self-awareness and self-reflection. And even the Bible supports reflecting and being aware of one’s condition, as it guides us to do it in the right way. Because anything good done in the wrong way could end up in unnecessary disaster.

Self-Awareness in the Bible

It is quite apparent when reading the Word of God, that when God uses people, they tend to be self-aware. And what self-awareness really means is that a person is capable of analyzing where they’re at in life, and that they understand who they are in the context of their situation.

An example of this from the scriptures is Peter, who is one of the twelve apostles of the early Church.

1 Peter 1:24-25 King James Version (KJV)
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

As you can see from above, Peter was aware of his state. He recognized that we are all people, and as with all people, we are immensely fragile.

Psalm 103:14-16 World English Bible (WEB)
14 For he knows how we are made.
    He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass.
    As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone.
    Its place remembers it no more.

Furthermore, King David, another significant character from the Bible recognized his status when compared to God’s status. He acknowledged himself as grass compared to God, and was self-aware even as the King of Israel. And so, when you are aware of how fragile and how small you are in comparison to God, you start to realize that life is not only about you. It’s about the One who created you.

You may be the toughest person on the planet, with a cold heart, an unbreakable will, and a stubborn attitude, but you are still a human being. Nothing less, and certainly, nothing more!

Reflecting on the Fragility of Man

After world wars, civilizations rising, societies crumbling, and all the likewise, God stands tall above it all. He is the God who blessed Abraham, He is the God who delivered Israel out of Egypt, and He is the God who came to Earth in the flesh as a human being to die on the cross at the hands of His own people, both for you and for me.

Romans 5:17-18 World English Bible (WEB)
17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins and died a cruel, hellish, death, but, after three days, He rose again victoriously so that your salvation would be justified. And I urge you today, if you have not already, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

I cannot imagine a better outcome in my life, if I had not accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Why? Because there are countless times from the day of my birth to the day I write this blog where God has intervened in my life only to bless me and to guide me. He is my Lord because my life belongs to Him, and He is my Saviour because He paid a heavy price to save me.

Once you’re aware of that, there’s meaning in your life. You’re not just a random product of time plus matter plus chance. Ultimately, with God in the picture, you become a sacred being.

So in the example of your case, you must ponder where you’re at in life. You can ask yourself, “Am I happy with where I am in life?”

If happy, do you believe your life has any meaning and can you justify that? I believe the only coherent justification to a life with meaning, is only possible through Jesus Christ. If you’re unhappy with your life, or mental health for that matter, why? And, how can you fix it?

As I said earlier, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Whether happy or unhappy, read the Word of God and commit yourself to prayer. God will hear you, and He cares for you. And as you walk with God, you will feel a comfort and love like never before. So, be aware of your limits as a human being, but recognize also that God still cares for you!

1 Peter 5:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Self-Reflecting in the Bible

Now, if self-awareness is the bread, then, I’d say self-reflection is the butter. Self-reflecting is identifying what you’ve done wrong and as to how you can improve yourself.

This is very different from guilt. In fact, self-reflection relies on conviction whereas guilt relies on condemnation. Now, the only one who can really convict you, is Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 World English Bible (WEB)
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

And Holy Spirit is the spirit of God (Jesus Christ) who comes to guide you and lead you once you accept the atonement work of Jesus. He does not condemn you, but, He does convict you.

Godly conviction, furthermore, is when God aids your heart in identifying where you’ve gone wrong and as to how you should do better. On the other hand, condemnation is a fallen nature which punishes your conscience for the ways you’ve erred.

John 16:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;

So, throughout your life, allow Holy Spirit through prayer and through reflection on the Word of God to convict and correct you so that your life and mental health aligns with His love. This is the self-reflection which God wants. Spending your time reflecting on Him allows you to improve and to make yourself more like your Heavenly Father.

Therefore, trust God that He forgave you, and through time spent with Him, you will face a life saturated with blessings. God’s very spirit will guide and convict you to be the best person you could possibly be. And be aware of yourself in God’s eyes, don’t be proud, but, be humble and have faith in the love of God in Christ Jesus. The key to self-reflection or self-awareness is in reflecting on the love of God.

By Andre Wijesekera

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Recognize Yourself in the Grand Weaver’s Picture

Life is full of changes!

The reality and society in which we live in, is driven by a variety of factors that are totally out of our control. There are some things you just cannot stop or change. And these changing factors can lead us to feel as if we’re out of place. Whether it be in your workplace, your home, or any other environment, it is very difficult to feel as if you don’t fit in. And to deal with that, the topic of today will be on how to recognize yourself in the bigger picture.

Who’s the Grand Weaver?

Life is not just a combination of chemistry, biology, physics, and chance. It’s more than that. There’s intention and design to how we work and to how the world works. It was not random.

I believe that someone weaved all of this together. Hence why I call Him the Grand Weaver. For me, I can only see Jesus Christ as my Lord, God, and Saviour. The reason being, is that He’s kind, He’s wise, He’s my guide, He cares for me, He sets a line between what’s right and what’s wrong, and He orchestrates everything with purpose.

Colossians 1:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.

More specifically, there is purpose in you, there is purpose in me, there is purpose in the cross, and there’s purpose in everything that He initiates.

Even more, the Grand Weaver, God Himself, is not excluded from what He orchestrates. He’s always at work, in fact, 2000 years ago, He came in the flesh as Jesus Christ to die on the cross on behalf of you, so that the punishment of your weaknesses, mistakes, and sins would be upon Him as the Lamb of God. After three days, He rose again, and now, He is known as the Lion of Judah!

Revelation 5:5 World English Bible (WEB)
5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

Therefore, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. That’s the best thing I’ve done in my life and I’ll never regret it. And the same goes for you, it’s the best thing you could possibly do. I talk more about it in this post.

But, the point is that you are part of a tapestry weaved by the hands of the very living God. This does not mean your sufferings are initiated by God, there are multiple reasons why we suffer at times, yet, God is never responsible for unjust suffering.

However, God, being as good as He is, desires to weave your life into a good life, and He will mend out the sufferings until they become part of the beauty of His tapestry, until they turn out for your good!

Psalm 104:24 World English Bible (WEB)
24 Yahweh, how many are your works!
    In wisdom, you have made them all.
    The earth is full of your riches.

So, your first step is recognize and acknowledge the Grand Weaver.

Recognize Yourself as He Does

Now, the next step is to recognize yourself as God does. Unfortunately, many people don’t have a good view of themselves. You ought not to compare yourself with others. You should not compare your physical appearance with those in magazines or with other people.

Deuteronomy 5:21 World English Bible (WEB)
21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Furthermore, you should not compare yourself with other people with greater academic ability or financial power. If you compare yourself with others, it will only be disadvantageous for yourself, because it will never allow you to recognize what God has given you.

As a matter of fact, God never intended for us to compare ourselves with others in any way or manner. Moreover, the same God who made you, also made everyone else. And He has assigned different purposes along with different plans for each and every one of us.

You must recognize that He has given you something unique to do, so, do everything that you do for His glory.

He sees you as His. And that’s all which matters. As the famous poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde, said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken!” At the same time, I do not quote this to state you can do whatever pleasures you, as that is not the you who God intended you to be.

So, remember this, God has assigned a unique identity to you with your own personality and strengths. Trust God with everything you’ve got and recognize that you are part of His tapestry.

1 Peter 4:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

Recognize Yourself In Him!

As said in the introduction, our world is full of changes. And there are many of you out there who feel like the times are changing too fast. Technology is developing, it’s impossible to keep up with cultural trends, and more.

As a matter of fact, this can be a serious issue as it affects many people, today. People who served in the army know how painful it is to fit in modern society, especially after all they’ve faced in harsh environments for lengthy period of time.

Obviously, life is not easy. But, if you have that feeling of loneliness, as you experience different but extreme changes within your environment, I want you to know there is one constant through it all.

In a life full of variables, there is always this one constant. That one constant precedes all the variables. Your relationships may change, your workplace might change, and even you might change, but there is one who will never change.

Isaiah 41:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.
    I will strengthen you.
    Yes, I will help you.
    Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

Moreover, that one constant is God. He is with you through the storm and through it all. Subsequently, you don’t need to feel lonely, just be still, and know that you are never alone. He is with you through all of the changes around you.

Hebrews 13:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Enjoying the Beauty of the Grand Weaver’s Tapestry

So, take a step back, and soak in the beauty of His tapestry. As God, the mastermind behind it all, weaves your life into His big picture. Be what He calls you to be, love others and love Him with all of who you are.

Matthew 22:36-40 King James Version (KJV)
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Furthermore, your life should not center upon self-esteem, it should center upon how much you esteem God in you. He is the Grand Weaver, and every relationship, every person, every gift that He puts in your life is a blessing to thank Him for. And each situation He provides for you, is an opportunity to show that God-given love to others, to not act selfishly, but to act out of sacrificial love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 World English Bible (WEB)
4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

In conclusion, do not forget His kindness, but instead, count your blessings, and commune with Him. Read the Word of God (start with the New Testament first, because that’s what He says to you as part of His Church), discover what He says about you, and spend some time in prayer.

Luke 11:11-13 World English Bible (WEB)
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

By Andre Wijesekera

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Acceptance and Tolerance of That Which Is Sacred

Give it to God!

Sacredness and humanity is something that goes hand in hand. But, how do you view yourself? We often talk about issues dealing with how people view others. Yet, we mustn’t forget that to enjoy a good life, you must first deal with how you view yourself and inner-acceptance. Food-eating disorders, low self-esteem, and many mental health issues which our society faces, relate to how a person views himself or herself. So, to find out what’s the right way to deal with the matter, continue reading.

What is Sacred?

The acceptance of that which is sacred first starts with what you define as sacred. To be sacred means to hold a divine purpose. And so, do you hold a divine purpose? Has God willed your life into being?

These are all valid, thought-provoking questions which one must answer in order to live a life worthwhile. I believe God assigns everyone a divine purpose. And God created you with the intent of you bearing His image, to represent Him.

Genesis 1:27 World English Bible (WEB)
27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

You are sacred. I placed a period directly after the previous sentence because it is a fact and there’s no way to argue the contrary. God intends for you to be in His image because you are a sacred individual.

Now, just because you hold divine purpose, doesn’t mean that whatever you do is divine. In fact, your lifestyle might be as far apart from divine purpose as the East is from the West. But, there is a way to come back to your divine purpose.

When mankind rejected God, the devil found a way to ruin mankind’s perception of its own sacredness. You could read more about that in Genesis 3 of the Bible or in this post.

Thank God, He (God) came in the flesh 2000 years ago as Jesus Christ and died on the cross to take your sins and my sins upon Himself so that He may restore us to our divine purpose and in His image; after 3 days, He rose again to fully justify your salvation.

So, if you haven’t already, please acknowledge with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour.

The Hideous Made Beautiful

Furthermore, there are those of you who hate your physical appearance or hold what many people and psychologists call a “low self-esteem.” This is why many people, especially women, seem to hold eating-disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

Anorexia is when one has a severe fear of gaining weight even when unhealthily skinny. And bulimia is when someone binge eats unhealthily but then tries to purge what they ate, or fasts for a while through unhealthy means.

Now, scientists and doctors relate the causes of such eating-disorders to a combination of biochemistry and environmental factors. Whatever the cause is, I know this is a fallen world where things don’t function the way God intended them to. And what I need… is a solution.

I believe that solution is, in the case of people with eating disorders, in taking your eyes off magazines along with media that limit a person’s worth to their physical ideal, and to realize that God loves you just as you are, physically. And to really drill the right idea into your head, read the Bible (start with the New Testament) and commune with Him.

If you want to be physically healthy and fit, then follow a proper, healthy, nutritionally-sufficient diet and exercise at a moderate level. Just don’t forget that God loves everyone, fat or skinny, poor or rich, black or white, and He will always considers you as sacred.

Colossians 3:9-11 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

Jesus is the key to a healthy lifestyle!

When in Christ, there is no factor by which one is worth less than another. You are all created for God’s glory in the way God calls you to be. So, read the Bible, pray, and worship Him. When you do that, you will automatically renew what you know of His image so that your life will closely resemble His perfection. There’s power in acceptance of who you are in Christ Jesus.

Acceptance of the Temple of God

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 World English Bible (WEB)
19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

There’s a stark reminder in the Word of God that you do not belong to yourself. When you make a paper airplane, does that paper airplane belong to itself or to you? It belongs to you, and in the same way, God made you and He owns you. You were never supposed to belong to yourself. It’s just not possible to live a life of purpose in a life not surrendered!

Your body is sacred and holy to God. It’s a living temple which His Holy Spirit inhabits. Moreover, I can argue that not only are you sacred but that you are sacred on top of sacred. You are the pinnacle of sacredness of all creation to God.

And that’s because God made the animals and all nature, for your existence, which He subjects to you. So, those things are sacred, but they are sacred because they were made for you! Thus, making you a divine purpose of purposes.

Genesis 1:28 World English Bible (WEB)
28 God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Surrender your everything to God before it’s too late!

Even more, whether you look good on the outside or not to yourself, God is pleased with you when you surrender your physical being (alongside your entire self) to Him. If you want to be healthier, you can workout and eat healthily, but, do it for the glory of God, not out of fear or unhealthily obsessive conditions.

1 Samuel 16:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.