Christianity – Page 2

Fully Alive

March 9, 2022March 9, 2022by Liz GossLeave a Comment

Are you fully alive? Loaded question right? We all want to say yes but let me pose a few questions about your ability to see God in the dailiness of your life:

Do you feel like you are making a mess of your life?
Do you feel like God is holding out in you?
Do you feel attacked at every turn?

How you see the world directly influences how you experience the world. If you put God’s word in the center stage before the way you feel, you will definitely struggle a lot less.

Matthew 6:22-23 says: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

So how do you have healthy eyes so that you can start to experience the life God has for you?

John 10:10 says that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Your eyes are under direct attack. How you view your life matters to the darkness and the light. And in Jesus’ name, I say you take it back from the thief!

On Friday I will be bringing this message in full but for now, I want you all to begin to ponder… what would my life look like if I saw my life through God’s eyes? Here are a few ideas:

You are not making a mess out of your life but you do have an enemy who wants you to fail. Come alive!
God is not holding out on you. His heart is for you. Approach his throne with boldness. Come alive!
In this life, we will have troubles but we can still take heart because Christ has overcome. Come alive!

You can experience life with new hope, no hesitation, and joy. You too can be fully alive with new eyes to see the world around you.

Come to the Grove on Friday, March 11th to hear more about your opportunity to live fully alive. See you there!

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Trusting His Absolute Goodness

February 23, 2022February 22, 2022by rachelleepallas1 Comment

I know many Christians, myself included, that have asked, “If I am working so hard to honor God, why am I still struggling?” It’s pretty common to wonder why bad things happen to good people. It is important to remember first that we are not the best judges of “good” and “bad.” The Bible gives us many examples of both righteousness and evil, but we still have a very limited view as humans. One thing that God did make perfectly clear is that all people sin and fall short of the glory of God. We might all agree that many people can be “good,” but we must also remember that no one can ever be “good enough” to earn salvation on their own. When asking ourselves, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” there are two crucial things to consider. First, no person ever has been nor ever will be perfect, except for Jesus Christ himself. Secondly, the world we live in is severely broken.

Our world wasn’t initially created for sin and evil, but it is the unfortunate reality of today. Bad things happen to everyone every day. At times we can pinpoint exactly which of our sins are causing our current suffering. Other times, though, life throws struggles at us for no apparent reason, like when loved ones keep getting sick or when the check engine light goes off for the third time this year. God does not promise us a pain-free life when we become Christians. In fact, many of the greatest heroes of the Bible faced persecution because they were Christians. Just a few of these examples would include John the Baptist, Stephen, and Paul. Even Jesus, the only truly perfect man to walk our earth, faced immense suffering and death while he was here.

Faith is not always easy, nor does it guarantee us an easy life. What God does promise us, though, is that trusting in him is worth it. In his word is where we can always be reminded of his promises. To list just a few examples:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalms 37:5
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” Psalms 9:10
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

Trust is such a fundamental foundation in any relationship, but it is exceptionally important in our relationship with God. Above all else, God has promised that because of His love for us, we will leave this place one day to receive an eternal life of bliss with him. All we need is to simply have faith that our sins have been forgiven because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Trusting our Lord may not always be easy when we face hardships, but we can find our hope in his promise of working all things together for our good.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” Romans 5:3-6

Verses for further study: Romans 8:28; Psalm 28:7; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Acts 6-7

Song: Trust In You by Lauren Daigle

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Ready With Him

January 19, 2022January 16, 2022by rachelleepallas3 Comments

The Bible is clear that we will not know when the second coming is, but we should still be prepared. When preparing for the second coming, we are not told to hoard and stock up on essentials nor barricade ourselves in our homes. We are said to be like Lot and Noah, working diligently in the plans God has laid down for our life.

Christ teaches about the second coming in Luke 17:20-37. He speaks about it coming at an unexpected time. He talks about the days of Noah with the flood and the days of Lot in Sodom. In these examples, Jesus lists many worldly activities that were happening right up until being destroyed. People were so consumed with the things of this world that they were utterly unprepared when the time of judgment came. Jesus wasn’t saying that these activities were sinful, but we can become easily distracted by them if we aren’t careful. How much time in our lives have we spent worrying about our finances, cleaning our house, rearranging our furniture, or deciding what we are going to wear that day? Jesus gave examples of eating, drinking, building, buying, and many others when the flood came and Sodom was destroyed. Jesus wasn’t saying that we shouldn’t do these things, but He warns that we should not become so distracted by these things that we are caught off guard by His promised return. Before all other things, we must be ready.

So what can we do to “be ready”? In Mark 13:33, Jesus says, “Be on guard! Be alert!” regarding the second coming. This means we cannot wait to be all-in. When Christ comes, we don’t want to be caught in a time of putting God on the back burner. We are meant to put God first, even in doing the things of our day-to-day lives. Putting God above all else is how we can be alert and ready to lose our worldly lives to preserve our eternal life.

Paul prays for things in Colossians 1:9-12 can give us even more clues to what “being ready” for the second coming looks like. Some of the items listed are spiritual wisdom and understanding God’s will for us. We are to live with patience, endurance, the strength that comes from God’s glorious might, and hearts that give joyful thanks to Him. Staying on alert and being prepared for Christ’s second coming looks like each of us living according to God’s will and individual plan for our lives. For the second coming, we should strive to not simply be ready for it, but instead, be prepared by living daily with Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that you help me be ready for your return. I seek a deeper relationship with the Creator of the Universe, the God who keeps all promises. You have spoken that whoever desires to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Please give me the courage to daily life for you and not for myself. Give me the heart to love you and love others far more than my love for my own life and my own worldly possessions. Thank you for all you have done for me, and help me to live a life that shows the proof of your never-ending love. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.

Song: Lay Me Down by Chris Tomlin

Verses for extra study: Luke 17:20-37; Mark 13; Matthew 6:26

liz goss

What Do You Believe?

January 5, 2022January 4, 2022by Liz Goss3 Comments

It’s January. A time for resolutions, words of the year, diets, and starting fresh. We boldly declare to the world, or at least our dog, how we intend to change for the better in the days to come. But can I ask a question? In the midst of all this decision making do we stop and ask God for direction and help?

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16

Let me break this down a bit for us. Paul was saying, considering we have someone who can continually cover for our sins (that’s Jesus) let’s keep trusting in him! Jesus understands our individual failings since he struggled against the same stuff without giving in. Now we can come directly in front of God himself… imagine!!! Because it is there that we will not get the punishment we deserve but INSTEAD favor and love when we desperately need it most.

Last time I wrote for this blog I talked about God giving us more than we could handle because we were meant to handle it with HIM (you can read that here). But so often the stresses of dealing with this world are too much and we struggle to find our help in God. This is when we tend to turn to things that we are now trying to resolve to change through the formation of resolutions, words of the year, diets, and starting fresh.

Sweet friends. We are all so so human but Jesus understands and tells God about what it’s like so he can have compassion for our troubles. Do we believe this? Do we feel in our hearts the overwhelming love our Father has for us in sending Jesus so that he could know firsthand how fragile our hearts are and forgive us? Hold firmly to this belief and it will turn our hearts to him.

This year has just begun. Take yourself boldly before the throne of God. We are promised mercy and grace so don’t be afraid! Ask God to show you the places he wants to change. Ask him to help you rely more on his strength and less on doughnuts. Tell him of your fear and ask him to give you his peace. Show him your sadness and ask for his joy. Walk right up to that throne and tell God you are exhausted and ask for his power. You will find undeserved favor for it all.

What do you believe? Jesus came to save your soul but also to empower you today. Take hold of who you are in Christ. A mighty warrior for the kingdom of God, bringing his truth to the world through the restoration of our own hearts and minds.

liz goss

Christmas Has Come

December 22, 2021December 22, 2021by Liz Goss3 Comments

We are all handling things. Hectic schedules. Kids. Marriage. Jobs. Family dynamics. Sick pets. Cancer treatment. Divorce. Death of loved ones. Disappointment. The list never ends. And because trials keep coming our hearts can get so weary.

Have you ever lost heart when things got more than you could handle?

How does it feel to lose heart? The idea that you have anything special to offer the world… fades. Adventure seems distant and life is only drudgery. And the idea that anyone cares about your heart and is coming for you is only a distant childhood fantasy.

We can lose heart in the midst of life’s really hard moments because we doubt that God is for us. And this doubt is Satan’s oldest trick.

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. Genesis 3:2-6

Satan knows that if we can take our eyes off the lover of our souls, we can begin to believe his lies. Lies from the pit of hell such as: God doesn’t care what happens to you, God is indifferent to your pain, God isn’t paying attention, or God has other priorities. Satan will throw these ideas across your path like broken glass in your hardest moments, tempting your heart to despair.

But… Christmas. That word is like a sigh of relief from the depth of our souls. God with us. The God of the universe decided that humanity was so precious to him that he would come save them himself. All they had to do was believe. Believe that he was truly for them; here in the person of Jesus Christ and offering restored relationship with God.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. John 1:10-13

God will allow you more than you can handle to come into your life, because he knows that HE can handle it. God is for you and he treasures your heart over everything else in the world he created. So when life throws hard things your way feel the sorrow, and then take it right to the one who knows you best and loves you most.

I don’t know what you’re handling right now, but Christmas is the best news your heart ever got. The God of the universe came down to prove that he is for you, he loves you, and he would move mountains to reach you.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. John 14:1

Do not let your heart be troubled. Christmas. Has. Come.

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Season of Busyness

December 15, 2021December 14, 2021by rachelleepallas1 Comment

The holiday season is almost always a busy one. In my own life, I have seen that busyness comes in waves. I will have a week of hardly any plans, and then suddenly, my calendar starts overflowing. What I have also seen is that, more often than not, fatigue and stress pair right along with mine and others’ busy seasons. Why is this? Why do seasons of busyness leave us feeling anxious and run down? Is there a way to not let our busyness turn into burnout?

Busyness is not a bad thing. We are meant to spend our time wisely and intentionally. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That means that whether you’re finding yourself extra busy with work, school, volunteering, friends, family, or some combination of everything, it is vitally important that God is at the center of it all. God can use our busyness to move mountains, but only if the work we are doing is for His purpose and His glory. Our busyness leads to burnout when God is no longer the central focus.

No matter how busy we are, though, we also need rest. Not just a good night’s sleep or an afternoon nap, but rest for your soul. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us that we can find this real rest in Him. He asks us to take time out of our busy lives and come to Him so that He may recover and rejuvenate our spirits. We know that the enemy will use busy seasons to distract us. The enemy wants us to stay tired and worn. The good news is that our God is greater and stronger than the enemy. He provides rest when we need it, and He promises that we will be rewarded for our work when we are working with all our hearts for His glory. If we keep our eyes on Him, He will stay right by our side through every busy season.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I ask that you stay close to me through this season of busyness. Please let the work I am doing be used for your will. It is so easy to get lost in the hectic nature of a busy schedule. I don’t want to be running around aimlessly, but instead, be running towards you, Lord. When my soul needs rest, I pray that you would slow me down to see you and recover with you. Please give me the courage and motivation to say yes to the opportunities you have in store for me and the wisdom to say no to paths that are not for me. Above all else, I pray that this busy season will glorify you and draw others closer to you, Lord. In your precious name, we pray, Amen.

Song:
By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North

Verses for further study:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬‬‬‬
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:1-2‬ ‬‬‬
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:23-24‬‬‬‬‬‬

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Your “Holy Yes” is Enough!

December 8, 2021December 7, 2021by Guest BloggerLeave a Comment

Hi Friends!

This subject has been rolling around in my brain for a few months, so it’s time to share it. It’s the word Yes. We are given a lot of opportunities in our trip around this world to say Yes.

Many of us wished we would have said yes to questions long past, but what about today? Right now!? What about a “Holy Yes”? Is your Holy Yes on the table for God? A Holy Yes is a reckoning that’s between you and God. Whatever He asks of you the answer is yes. What makes the yes holy is the Asker and I dare say the answerer because this is a relationship after all. As I was at a gathering in Vegas a few days ago, I was listening to a woman who had said yes to God. He had blessed and multiplied her yes beyond her dreams. Eleven years later she is standing in the harvest of fruit and rejoicing in that yes. But if she hadn’t said yes to God she wouldn’t know the joy of a Holy Yes and a Faithful God!

I began thinking about what it would take for a Holy Yes from us. I want to share a few things that were on my heart before we actually decide what we will say. The One asking is our Bridegroom. He is Trustworthy through and through. His faithfulness endures forever. He promised to never leave or forsake us. He laid down His life for us. What more could He possibly do? He forgave us, called us His very own, and restored our lives. I wonder if we are fearful because our yes is imperfect. He knows this. I wonder if it is because a yes will stretchhhh us. Please remember He isn’t into hurting us…but growing us. I wonder if we will look foolish? Or what others will think? These things cross my mind when I think about an absolute on-the-table, no take-backs, Holy Yes.

Honestly, time is short, and there are things to get done even in the Kingdom of God…especially in the Kingdom. His hand is extended to us…what will our answer be??

Don’t worry we will talk about a Holy No later, but for now, let’s ponder a Holy Yes.

Until next time, love you ladies!

Written by Tiffany Wilson

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Making the Holidays Holy Days

December 1, 2021November 30, 2021by Stephanie Murillo1 Comment

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her” (Luke 1:45).

How can we make the holidays holy days? One way is to join our praises to those of Mary, the mother of Jesus. While visiting her miraculously, pregnant cousin Elizabeth, the rejoicing spirit of a newly pregnant Mary, cried out praise known as The Magnificat. This ancient song, found in the Old Testament, was traditionally sung or chanted by boys. However, on this day, Mary, full of joy at the wonder that she would give birth to the Messiah, either said or sang these beautiful words. You can find her story in Luke 1:26-56.

The Harp with Ten Strings

Charles Spurgeon, a great British preacher of the early twentieth century, said that The Magnificat, a celebration of God’s faithfulness and power, is like a “harp with ten strings” because of the ten reasons to rejoice contained within these Old Testament praises that poured out from Mary’s rejoicing heart. Are you ready for the music of these ten strings?

God is my joy. {Luke 1:46 NIV} And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
~ Mary had profound reasons to praise God. She was joyful, having settled confidence that God is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do.

Jesus is God. {Luke 1:47 NIV} and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
~ Mary recognized that this life growing within her was “Immanuel,” God with us and mighty to save. Jesus would one day say, “Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).

God bends low. {Luke 1:48 NIV} for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
~Mary was amazed and thrilled that God was coming down to put on humanity’s skin to save us. She saw God stooping down to deliver those who were willing from the clutches of death.

God is good. From now on, all generations will call me blessed,
~ Mary remembered God calling Himself “good” in Exodus 33:19, and she praised Him for His goodness toward her, recognizing His compassion, love, mercy, patience, and power.

God’s grace is holy. {Luke 1:49 NIV} for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name.
~ Mary celebrated a pure and sinless God offering His undeserved favor to sinful humanity. His “great things” included cleansing, forgiving, and giving us a way to come to His “throne of grace” to receive love, healing, hope, and peace.

God is merciful. {Luke 1:50 NIV} His mercy extends to those who fear him.
~ Mary praised a strong but tender God who comes to us as a compassionate priest, remembering “that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14).

God does not change. from generation to generation.
~ Mary praised God for never changing. He is not subject to bad moods or difficult times. He never lies; He is always a reliable protector and keeper of promises.

God is powerful. {Luke 1:51 NIV} He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
~ Mary knew the power of reciting the specific times in which God had shown His wonder-working ability. God’s resume is a faith-builder because what He has done in the past can do now and in the future.

God is the boss. He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. {Luke 1:52-55 NIV} He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
~Mary yielded to God as a trustworthy king, believing that His will for her was good. She let God be the judge and rule-maker, which freed her to experience fulfillment in the new adventure He had for her.

God is faithful. “He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful {Luke 1:55 NIV} to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
~ Mary trusted that God would carry His plan for our salvation and the defeat of death all the way to completion! She trusted Him never to abandon His good plan for her.

What is your favorite string in Mary’s harp? Perhaps you might enjoy meditating on these ten big ideas as you move through this holiday season and add your praises to those of Mary.

Prayer:

Lord, I praise You and thank You for coming down to be with us so that death would no longer defeat us and our mistakes would no longer define us. You are a faithful, strong, good God and the source of my joy. You make the holidays holy days. Help me to play my own harp of ten strings as I praise You. Amen.

liz goss

GATHER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS

November 24, 2021November 23, 2021by Liz GossLeave a Comment

Thanksgiving Day is arguably the best holiday of the year because… FOOD. Here is a glimpse of what I cooked last year:

But menu aside, this November holiday is deeply rooted in spending time with family, and above all else, gratitude, making this special day the perfect opportunity to tap into a more reflective mindset. So after you’ve said a Thanksgiving prayer over the bounty of food, consider capping off your meal with a few meaningful Thanksgiving Bible verses to share around the table.

NOTE: Even if you are not surrounded by food and family on Thanksgiving Day, you ARE surrounded by the love of your Heavenly Father. Paul assures us of this in Romans 8:39, saying, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And that’s worth being thankful for!

I have compiled a bunch of verses from the Bible on gratitude, Thanksgiving, and praise. In case you don’t have time to make a list of your own during the hustle & bustle, feel free to use mine. Adding Thanksgiving to God into the mix of holiday traditions may just be your NEW favorite reason for loving Thanksgiving.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Colossians 4:2

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:4

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:4-5

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.
Jonah 2:9

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
Psalm 50:14

You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
Psalm 4:7

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Colossians 3:16

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
Hebrews 12:28

Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!
1 Chronicles 16:23-26

O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!
1 Chronicles 29:13

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
Hebrews 13:15

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:7

I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56:4

Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
Psalm 89:1-2

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.
Psalm 95:1-3

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre.
Psalm 92:1-3

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Psalm 107:8-9

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Godly Sorrow: The Distress that Drives us to God

September 15, 2021by Guest Blogger1 Comment

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. [2 Corinthians 7:10]

I will never forget the year I outlawed the use of the word, “sorry” in my sixth-grade classroom. For some reason, the majority of my students thought that simply saying the word, “sorry” gave them a free pass from any consequence or any need to change their behavior. Saying, “sorry” was the magic word that would stop any authority figure from holding them accountable for their slip-ups and misdeeds and would relieve any feelings of badness and sadness they felt, especially when they were “sorry” about being caught. “Sorry” became the word that could hide them from judgment for breaking the rules, but their version of “sorry” had no power to change their hearts or help them recognize the wounds in relationships they were causing.

So, to move my precious charges from a position of self-centeredness and complete self-absorption, I outlawed the word “sorry” and gave them other phrases to use instead. All year we worked on empathy for others, so that saying, “I have hurt you,” and “This offense is my responsibility,” had a real impact on their hearts. We worked on forgiving and the giving of grace by saying to a classmate dealing with a misstep, “That’s okay, you are still a good person.”

I borrowed a page from the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians as I asked God for help with this tough-hearted little crew He had given me to love. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians had really scorched their hides, demanding accountability for the sin and divisions that had turned their church into a shipwreck. Then, worrying that he had been too harsh, Paul wrote in his second letter to them, that he wanted them to feel the Godly sorrow that would lead to real change.

He wanted them to recognize how truly destructive this current sin-cycle was to their relationship with God, with one another, and within themselves. He didn’t want them to concentrate on outward behavior, but on letting the grace of God and His love penetrate their hearts. Paul wanted the Corinthians to love well, the way Jesus loves, and that meant measuring their behavior by how well they were maintaining loving, healthy relationships. He didn’t want their lives defined by hiding, regret, or being driven away from God and each other by an angry, condemning conscience.

Paul’s Holy Spirit-inspired approach inspired me to help my students move from trying harder to be good and nice and less snarky, to training their hearts to value loving well. Instead of making vows to do better and throwing out a quick, “sorry,” we worked on creating a safe environment where behavior could be evaluated without threat and tools for true change could be discovered and used. I have to admit, that the more deeply we explored this approach, the more of my own “me-sickness” surfaced. God lovingly and gracefully dealt with me, the biggest sinner in that classroom!

What about you? Would you be interested in living a life that leaves no regret, a life defined by true change and healing? Do you want out of the living death of a continuous sin cycle? Embracing Godly sorrow, rather than worldly sorrow is the key. You and I can pray for God to help us turn our perspectives outward so that we have the big picture our sin and mess are creating. The distress we feel at getting caught can be changed to a distress that drives us to a loving Father who is ready to forgive, grant us a do-over, and over time, equip us to love better. We can pray for a more sensitive heart that cares deeplywhen we hurt God, hurt others, and hurt ourselves. That is Godly sorrow. What would it look like in your life?

BY: Stephanie Murillo

For Further Study
2 Corinthians 7: 8-10
2 Samuel 12:13
1 Kings 8:47-50
Matthew 21:32
Matthew 26:75
2 Timothy 2:25-26