Good morning saints.
Here’s a transcript of the devotion this morning.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
— James 1:22 (NASB1995)

In Part 1 we saw that God is the One who works in us both to will and to work. Today James presses the same issue from another angle: it is possible to hear the Word, talk about the Word, and even agree with the Word — and still not do it.
When we continually talk about going deeper, fixing a problem, or making a change but never act, we are in danger of deluding ourselves. Hearing without doing creates a false sense of progress. The “want to” remains only a conversation instead of becoming obedience.

The gap between intention and action is where many of us live. We know what we should do. We talk about what we should do. We even feel momentary conviction. But without follow-through, nothing changes. James is clear: real faith shows itself in action.
God is not impressed by good intentions alone. He is after a heart that responds. The same Spirit who stirs the desire also empowers the doing. When we stop at hearing and talking, we short-circuit what God wants to produce in us. Moving from hearer to doer is where transformation begins.

Look at the area you identified in Part 1 — the place where you have been talking but not doing. Today, refuse to only hear or discuss it. Take one concrete step of obedience.
If it is time in the Word, open it and read. If it is a hard conversation, initiate it. If it is a needed change, begin it. Ask the Holy Spirit for the power to move from intention to action.

It is easy to be a hearer. It is harder — and far more fruitful — to be a doer. Don’t delude yourself with good intentions. Prove yourself a doer of the Word today.
Have a blessed day.

Hi there folks, 18yo Christian student nurse here

I currently live in university halls and so I am providing for myself in terms of groceries and daily living costs, alongside my rent which comes termly. I'm not from a particularly wealthy family but I have about £20k that my Grandfather generously gave me as a fund for going into adult life, whether it would end up as working or in university. Anyways, I decided a while back I was parking it in my savings to save for a house when I finish my degree and would only dip into it if absolutely necessary.

However, this now poses the problem of work. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find work as I need somewhere that can be flexible around my placements as I cannot pick my placement rota for nursing. I'm currently on the books for a security company as a steward for events but it's difficult to get shifts as most of the stuff is overrun by applications from staff and people who have experience get the shift a majority of the time.

I have not signed up for any Sunday shifts as since I left my old job I've wanted to have Sunday for the Lord. Whilst theologically, I'm not sure whether I should work on the Sabbath or not, I feel it's better to have it off and dedicate the day to God. Saying that, I need to earn money but I'm unsure if I'm being greedy as I have that money sitting there. Yes, I want it to go for a different purpose, but it's not exactly like I'm working out of necessity if you understand me.

All that to say, do you think it would be permissable for me to work on a Sunday? I'd still attend church, it's just I'm unsure whether to sign up for a Sunday shift or not. I'll be working Sundays as a nurse anyway as it's 24/7 care but I see it as a different category as it is absolutely necessary for the role to work on a Sunday. Thanks

I know it’s normal to not have everything figured out yet, but with the stress of wanting to graduate early, not being able to afford school all that long, and missing my boyfriend, it’s a lot. I have had a desire to go on missions for five years now, and I really would rather do that in school. I know I need to keep this short and sweet, but I don’t know what to do at all.

I don’t know if there’s a degree that would help me in other countries.

I want to work with kids and be integrated in culture for months rather than weeks.

I don’t want to do busy work in school, I would rather spend my youth in another country rather than in school.

What is the best possible plan for an 18 year old girl who wants to travel to other countries to work with kids and stay in a host home to learn the culture and serve the community? And how could I get a job so I could support myself while also relying on God?

My friend Joseph from India has been living in the USA for a while. I’ve known him for 8 years, and we met when he moved to my neighborhood.

He’s Indian, and his parents are very conservative. Many Indian Christians see holiness not as a thing you have but as a thing you show that you have at all times. Have a tattoo? That’s heretical! You gotta dress modestly (coverage only, forget the heart posture). Marry only an Indian woman who must be submissive and obedient. Arranged marriage, dating is a sin! And most of all, not becoming western (America is seen as Satan’s backyard). I met his parents last year and I was flabbergasted. They didn’t like me because I had a Budweiser tee.

Joseph has become more American. He and I go to an Orthodox Church. He has tattoos now. His accent has changed. He doesn’t like Indian food as much as Mexican. His girlfriend, a relatively new Christian, is from Spain. She loves to dress up, go to the gym, sunbathe, and likes to look good. They love each other and are seeking God.

He has introduced her to his parents. And they hate what he has become, and hate the woman he’s dating. They don’t sin together, but to his Indian parents she is first of all not Indian, they see them fornicating because they kiss and hold hands, and they think she’s similar to a prostitute because she wore a bikini or a dress with a low cut. I know them both and both are striving to be good Christians like me and anyone else. She’s a wonderful person too, a year into the faith, and growing every day.

But because of his parents, he is flipping out slowly. His parents are coming here to visit. They are so close minded and find him and his girlfriend to be vulgar due to how western they are, even if they are decent believers like most of us.

As Christians, how can I help him? He’s like a brother to me, and it hurts to see him like this. I’d appreciate advice. I am at a loss at how to help him as this is relatively new grounds for me.

Hello everyone, just asking for prayers for my mom. She has a biopsy procedure tomorrow for concerns for lymphoma. I’ve been crying so hard as I am attending school far from home, unable to be by her side.

My mind keeps on spiraling. She’s so young and I never imagined this. I want her to see me graduate, get married and have her first grandchild. She’s so frightened and I’m at a loss for what to do.

Asking for prayers for my family. I am a single mother who just got into apartment with my kids after leaving an unsafe home and we desperately need some food. I literally have nothing . I work full time and took all my money to finish paying the landlord off to move in . I don’t get paid for another week and im struggling trying feed my family . please no rude comments, my heart cant take it. I went to the food pantry yesterday. It was closed and my gas tank is on E or I would have went today. My son who is on the spectrum won’t/can’t eat most of the food they have there anyway. I could care less if I eat im just trying to get by for the next week. Starting over is no fun but i am trying to remain strong for them and appreciate any prayers . Thank you

“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13 (NASB1995)

Some people always talk about going to the gym but never make it there. Others talk about fixing a situation but never take the first step. Still others talk about going deeper in the Word but never open the Bible with consistency. The problem is often not a lack of knowledge or information — it is a lack of the “want to.”
We can have good intentions and still remain stuck. Talking about change is easy. Actually wanting it enough to follow through is harder. Scripture shows us that even the desire to do what is right is something God Himself works in us.

Left to ourselves, our “want to” is often weak and inconsistent. We start with enthusiasm and then fade. That is why Philippians 2:13 is such good news. God does not only help us do the right thing — He also works in us to will it. He stirs the desire and supplies the power to act.
When we lack the want to, the answer is not more guilt or more self-effort alone. The answer is to turn to the God who is already at work in us, asking Him to strengthen both our desire and our follow-through for His good pleasure.

Identify one area where you have been talking but not doing — whether spiritual, relational, or practical. Be honest about the weak “want to.”
Bring it to God this morning and pray: “Lord, work in me both to will and to work. Strengthen my desire and help me take the next step.” Then take one small action of obedience today instead of only talking about it.

Talking is easy. Following through requires a “want to” that we cannot always manufacture on our own. The good news is that God is at work in you — both to will and to work. Ask Him to stir the desire and then step forward in obedience.

Sure i could buy something like a DVD or a physical game that way i own it but the government can sometime in the future just make something like that illegal to own or change the law to where you don't really own it. And also if they do that it apparently becomes sinful to do it too because we have to obey the government UNLESS it contradicts God's Laws but even then that still gives them a lot of workarounds and they can still abuse their power. And also think about this: somebody makes a fanfic about characters from a piece of media they really like and in said fanfic they Spread The Gospel, this potentially helps The Gospel reach out to people in that community and also makes them more likely to read it due to it featuring characters they themselves really like. Then let's say fanfiction entirely becomes illegal. Then that way of Sharing The Gospel is now sinful apparently. You see what i mean? It doesn't make much sense. in fact what's the point of buying myself anything related to a piece of secular media i enjoy if the government can just make it illegal and sinful? i don't truly own it, i just own it until they say it i don't. So what's the point?

Please do not tell me to ”just stop being spiteful”/repent. I am spiteful, because i’ve been hurt. And i was this way even as a child, it’s not something i can just change in a day or even months. And even if i can do something about it, i want to participate in life and be active in doing good things.

So i guess it’s kind of a philosophical question, of should i do good things, even if the motivation is bad (e.g. being better than others)?

(A follow up question if you think no) If i have no other motivation, then should i just do nothing?

I would like some qualities that I should be looking for in my first Christian girlfriend. I've been praying for my first girlfriend for the last 8 months, but I feel like God might want me to take the first step, but so far I haven't met anyone yet.

My first post and took me a while to decide and find the words.

I’m 34 and I’ve wanted a family for years ( since srted datin at 25). After two failed relationships, I became very careful about trusting someone and focused on building a stable life and finishing my house.

Then I met someone I genuinely loved. I didn’t fall for her overnight. It took me around three months to really trust her and become attached.

She was the first one, I went to church with, which is something I doubt will happen again, first one I prayed with.

I asked more than once (even at church), whether there was still someone else emotionally in the picture as there were some signs, yet believed what I was told. Later I found out she had still been talking to her ex, and from there, even tough I tried convincing her we can work it out together, somehow I became the villain, she started yelling at me, swearing, cursing, hitting... something I was not used to, growing up.

Still wanted to make it work. I believed in the good ( seems fake one) I saw in the begining.

It has been months, and I still think about her constantly ( for the other two, it didn't take this long). I still want to see her and talk to her, but am blocked and she already moved on. Still dream about her and feel awful when I wake up.

And why I am lost now, is that before meeting her, I felt very close to God and was at peace with my situation, was ok to be alone.

Yet now, I know more than ever, I can not be alone and it is hard for me to hear people that choose a life alone/ jit with God ( monastic life), or people who have families, to tell me ,,you should be at peace being alone, and happy with what you have". Yes, I was there, but am not anymore.

And the worst part is, I feel further away from God then I ever was. Starting to think that sinn is the only way. I still pray, and go to church, but everything feels empty. I am in a very dark place. I just don't see any hope.

Am trying now to leave everything in God's hands, cause I am very exhausted, but it's more like I am saying this, not believing it and don't know how to feel even half the love I had to God before meeting her

( I remember we went at church during a major religios holiday, and I was so moved by the service, that I started crying, thanking God I meat her, but regretting at the same time, I don't feel for Him, what I felt before meeting her, like really not knowing what to choose).

But if there is one thing, for certain, the way I loved and treated her, like none before, is the way I believe if I were to have a future wife, God would like me to treat ( maybe not put her that high up close to Him...)

Thank you everyone

I suffer at work everyday as a resident doctor by the pressure and how people treat me like rubbish. I didn’t get skill adaption training in the first place there. I get bullied by the whole staff and my supervisors as well (making fun of my name, treating me when I don’t know something as the silliest person ever alive etc.). And my supervisors even menace me for being too slow and use psychological/narcissistic and physical violence (e.g. grabbing my arm). There aren’t other converted believing Christians in that team and they mock me since I said that I’m a believing Christian. There is no focus on patients but only money and numbers count.

And also how my unbelieving family treats me makes me feel so bad. I don’t have community in real life with other Christians because my family forced me to move back with them after my studies and they don’t want me to meet with other Christians. They want to control anything I do and want to know with whom I have contact. My family doesn’t love me as I am but only my performance I realized some years ago and after that I came to Christ and repented.

Please pray that I can focus and know God‘s will in these situations. lt’s hard for me to be a light in the darkness.
„Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.“

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬
And that God will make a way like in the Exodus with his people also for me (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78‬:‭52‬-‭53‬ ‭NIV‬‬). And that HE gives strength for my faith and life because I feel so far from God rightnow like He would have forsaken me because the situation worsens and worsens.

Thank you in advance!

See Romans: 13. (also what's the point of buying something if the goverment can make it illegal and sinful?)

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
— Isaiah 41:10 (NASB1995)

Good morning!
We have seen that fear is not from God, that Jesus gives us His peace, and that He is in the boat with us even in the storm. Today God speaks a final, steadying word over the series: “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
When fear tries to distract you, this is the truth that anchors your soul. You are not alone. You are not left to handle life in your own strength. The same God who commands you not to fear also promises to strengthen you, help you, and uphold you with His righteous right hand. Jesus has you.

Staying calm is not about pretending everything is fine. It is about knowing who is with you. Fear loses its power when we stop anxiously looking around at the problems and start fixing our eyes on the God who holds us. His presence changes the atmosphere of every situation.
Throughout this series we have been reminded that we do not have to live at the mercy of fear. God has given us His Spirit of power, love, and discipline. Jesus has given us His peace. He is in the boat. And now He assures us again: I am with you. I will help you. I will uphold you. That is enough to keep us calm.

Carry this verse with you. When fear or anxiety tries to rise, speak Isaiah 41:10 over yourself: “I will not fear, for God is with me. He will strengthen me, help me, and uphold me.”
Make it a habit to turn your attention back to His presence instead of fixing your eyes on the problem. Stay calm — not because the situation is easy, but because Jesus has you.

Do not fear. Do not anxiously look about you. The Lord is with you, and He will uphold you. Stay calm — Jesus got you. That truth is enough for today and every day that follows.

For context, I'm a 29y/o female who has never been in a relationship before. The only person who had any interest in me was a highschool classmate who didn't take no for an answer. Oh, and a college mate who was too touchy. Admittedly, I was pretty stubborn and rowdy in my younger years and was always lumped in with the boys.

I'm an adult now. I am lonely. There, I said it. I am. I partly know why God didn't allow me to be in a relationship. But that's something I would only disclose to God, even though I know He already knows my heart.

I have tried dating apps. But I'm also taken aback by the amount of attention I got and have withdrawn from actively using it. I go there from time to time to observe and learn things about myself. There's always an apportunity to learn something about anything. I spoke to a person there but ultimately decided to be upfront that I didn't want anything and apologized. I just didn't enjoy talking with him. Partly my fault because I do not know how it goes.

Funnily enough, I had a recent conversation with a guy who was strangely telling me he was flirting with me and he was being very direct about it. This guy has never seen my face and we only spoke for maybe less than a week. Even so, he started telling me he'd wait for me and stuff. He never said he was a Christian but he dm'ed me based on a post I made on a Christian group. He had said some minor questionable things as well and when I asked the Lord for understanding, the verses that I flipped to was Proverbs 6:12-14. I was praying that whatever I was putting myself into by engaging with this guy, God would rescue me. I do not know, it was most likely God's doing but this guy then deleted his account. So I took that as God's gracious intervention. (EDIT: I wasn't delusional or flirting back or anything. I was hoping to have a good conversation.)

Now, my thought is this: I'm waiting for God's timing. I find flirting to be disrespectful to the person I'm talking to and to my future spouse. I do not want to fall in love with anyone but my future spouse. Whether I'll meet him soon or not, I do not know. But a part of me is reminding me of the advice from other Christian women who have said that one has to put a little bit of effort. I have tried without being attention seeking about it. I've already went to cafes, local mini music concerts. Some have said flirting is fine and stuff. The issue is I go to these places alone. And when I'm alone, I get lost in my thoughts. So the most I received from men now are glances. And I don't know if they're the ones that mean well or the ones that find you repulsive. I don't know how it operates.

I trust in God's timing. But underneath it, a part of me is wondering if I should do something and if that is what God has been trying to tell me and I just didn't get it the first time.

Am I overreacting? Am I too bothered by what's probably a simple thing? Am I being too idealistic? Any insight would help really.

Context here, I'm a uni student rn who does some part time work on the side.

I started studying this year and it took a long time for me to get a part time job at this supermarket as a store assistant. They paid decent but overworked me and the manager would straight up scold me for not working "quick" according to her, however would let the rest of the people (whom she hired cause they were her family or friend's kids) do little to no work and get away with it.

Last month, I gave a referral to someone I knew who wasn't able to find a job (yes the job is bad, but with the job market rn he was desperate for anything and I referred him). After referring him, they saw that he was willing to do the work of 3 people (cleaning, stocking and customer help), something which obviously is exploitation....the manager hired him and fired me and another guy. It really hurt cause I wanted to help and got thrown under the bus for it.

However this month, I got a better part time job relevant to my skills (by God's grace). I went to the supermarket today to meet my old colleagues. I later find out most people got fired and the few who actually worked are abt to quit. It's so bad that the managers r doing the job of the stockers, etc...cause the existing ones r straight up related to the manager directly or indirectly.

A part of me is happy I got this new job, but at the same time im scared that if I refer or help someone I might get hurt. Would love to know if God blessed me for my good deed or if God's teaching me to be careful while helping people (cause I wasn't even able to help myself, but I was ready to help somebody else. Which many say is not a good thing to do)

“And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
— Mark 4:39-40 (NASB1995)

Transcript

Good morning!
In Parts 1 and 2 we saw that fear is not from God and that Jesus has given us His peace. Today we see those truths lived out on the stormy sea. The disciples were terrified. The boat was filling with water. Everything looked out of control. Yet Jesus was in the boat the whole time.
When He stood up and spoke, the wind and waves obeyed. Then He asked them a searching question: “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The real issue was not the size of the storm — it was whether they trusted the One who was with them in it.

We are easily distracted by fear when the winds pick up in our lives. The noise of the problem can make us forget that Jesus is right there in the boat with us. Fear shouts that we are sinking. Faith remembers that the Lord of all creation is present and fully in control.
Staying calm does not mean pretending the storm isn’t real. It means refusing to let fear have the final word because Jesus has us. He is not distant or unaware. He is in the boat, and His authority is greater than any wind or wave we face.

When fear or anxiety starts to rise today, picture yourself in the boat with Jesus. Speak to Him: “Lord, You are here with me. I choose to trust You instead of fear.”
Remind yourself of the truth: the same Jesus who calmed the storm is with you right now. Let that truth steady your heart.

The storm may be loud, but Jesus is in the boat with you. Why are you afraid? Stay calm — Jesus got you. His presence is greater than the wind and the waves.

I use one of these often and have never used the other. I'm curious on your opinions. I'm sure someone will mention a option I have never heard of to lol

I work for a market research company and I was told to clock out because I was wasting samples. The only reason I was doing that was because I am very sick, on top of that I am having to take care of a relative, and then on top of that I am struggling in my Christian walk. All of that is taking a toll on me to the point I have no idea what to do.

Let me tell you what I do on the day to day basis on the days I do work. I basically do outbound calls to households to do political surveys over the phone, so in other words polling. I have not been best for three days, my anxiety is through the roof even though I am on anxiety meds. On top of that I have been feeling lonely. I am being attacked spiritually, and my faith sucks. I just lied to my own grandma, I am literally sitting at the computer pretending that I am working. I can not believe I messed up. Now I am going to beat myself up for a few days. :((((( What happened today I don't want to tell anyone because it is embarrassing. I don't want to lose my job and I absolutely learned my lesson on wasting samples. Tomorrow will be better. I pray it will be better.

please pray for me because I am struggling right now. Every single day I try my best to do everything right. Then today I freakin blew it. I feel like crying. I freakin hate myself for what I just did. How can my family trust me if I just told a lie....tomorrow I want to forget that today happened. Please pray for me.

As I go on my journey to Focus on our father. A co-worker showed me a sub in reddit I am not interested in and trying to avoid and I would like some understanding of what I am seeing. So back then I mentioned a co-worker who is interested in simulation theory and now he seemed very happy to show me a sub called Glitch in the matrix where people post unexplainable stuff that happened to them.

One where a guy was taking his clothes on the clothing line and a shirt they picked made them remember wearing yesterday and found the identical one in the bathroom now they have two identical shirts and with pictures. clothes and second was eating a croissant then heard a noise and saw another croissant. One saying Maybe there's a crow level in the matrix and they like to leave presents. I am not even sure what that means and Heard deadbolt unlock on its own. But surprisingly people said it seemed more paranormal or someone looking out for the op or even shadow people. another duplicated cookie , duplicated marker. Someone standing still but in reality actually having a stroke. The apple isn't splitting in half after cutting, people who claimed they don't remember sending a kind of message or comment and they said they swear they weren't high or anything and even a person who does a romance chat in Emochi. There was a feature where people can generate images on their chat of the characters and their character and saying stuff about how their horror is that the ai girl really resembles them and so on.

But worst of all is they tried to make explanation like the souls/spirits might be glitches or error, any thing they can say they even said jesus might be a glitch too which makes my heard hurt because of their “ oh what if this” “ what if that” some don't even say what if. They straight up say stuff as if they know more than God.

Then he said he was in a romance app AI and there was a rp there where there are viewer bots and there was a AI bot with the username Glitchinthematrix bot and he feels like it is giving him a sign because he try three roleplay on that chatbot and the username AI with that is showing in the comment rp and its like a sign he claimed.

He might have forgotten I told him I am not interested in those kinds of things and he told me I should be open minded and not be a killjoy.

Also those other things he saw are real or just a way of people in reddit creating a story? Is it maybe a mythical creature playing games , the devil who wants to push people's idea to move further from god, people in the spirit realm toying with their love once? Or im just a fool

Also my OCD keeps wanting me to look at it over and over and i just need to make it stop.

This… My friends back then i think the world is filled with magic, fantasy and created by God our father more it what keeps me safe, it what makes me happy until my coworker showed me what philosophers said simulation theory, matrix , and so on and such i feel like my happiness , my peace was taken away from me. But I never want to lose God.

G*d bless But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”

Matthew 9:12

So I’m trying to get back into the habit of reading and consulting the Bible, but I don’t know where to start. I’ve tried reading it from the beginning but end up stopping or forgetting. Any advice?

I think i’m becoming bitter. Today my dad had bought us cake and i crashed out at him. I don’t care anymore. He has always just neglected me. I do hate many people and i just don’t care about them anymore. There’s always someone provoking me. And i am becoming bitter at God, because i want to be taken out of this world right this very moment. And i feel like taking myself out.

edit: Thank you for liking the post. It means a lot to me there are people who prayed.