Search Results

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.[d] 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Daniel 3:17-18 When reading the story of Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into the fiery furnace in Daniel 3:18, we all marvel at this wonderful story and the awesome outcome. But, I would like to focus on what they said at the beginning when talking to King Nebuchadnezzar. The part when they essentially said, our God has the ability to rescue us from this fiery furnace. However, if He does not, we will not bow down to the image you set up. In making this declaration, they were essentially saying no matter what happens to us, we will trust and obey God. Going back to the title of today’s thought, can we say with confidence, that we truly trust Him? Can we be like the three Hebrew boys (as they are often referred to) and declare that even if it costs us our life, we will obey and trust God? I believe we all have struggled from time to time with our faith and trust in God when it is truly being tested. As I write this, there have been recent deaths in my church of individuals who were very much loved. However, it is not only our church that has experienced loss and grief. There are countless other families, church families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and many others, who are dealing with the pain of loss and grief. And when we speak of loss, it is not only referring to the loss of life. There can also be loss due to fractured relationships, financial instability, health, mental/emotional crisis, and the list can go on and on. The question for all of us remains, will we still trust God no matter what? In the story above when Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego were about to be thrown into the fiery furnace, they did not know the future. However, they held fast and trusted God and His plans, no matter what happened to them. In order for them to have that level of faith and trust in God, they had to have developed a consistent prayer life and study of His teachings. By spending time with God, they developed the strength to hold onto their beliefs and convictions, allowing God’s ultimate plan to unfold in their lives. We all need to remember Earth is not our final home. There will be happy times as we live out our lives and there will also be devastating situations from time to time. We need to continually seek and maintain a strong spiritual connection with God so that when our trials come, we will be able to stand firm and trust God. We must remember when those trials do come, they are there to help build up and strengthen our faith. Just like soldiers training in the military, they must go through various tests and difficulties, to strengthen their resolve and build up their bodies. Therefore, when we face difficulties, we will get upset and possibly cry out but ultimately, we will withstand and move forward in God’s name. Trust and believe God knows the hurt and pain we all feel and, He shares in that pain as well. The sin and disobedience that is prevalent here on Earth, is responsible for all the evil, sickness, and destruction that we go through. God never intended any of His children to suffer. However be encouraged, eventually, when He returns, loss, pain, and suffering will all be over. In the meantime, I pray for us all to develop and/or continue our relationship with Him. And when the time comes, we can have a strong, unwavering trust in God for our lives, and for the lives of those around us. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 (ESV) If you were asked the question, is God first in your life, what would be your response? In all honesty, can we say that God is always first in our lives? It sounds good to say yes-absolutely, God is always first in my life. But in truth, is that really an accurate statement? I know for a fact I strive every day to try and have God always be first in my life. Does this always occur? There are times I’m sorry to say no, it does not. Should He always be? Absolutely! To clarify the phrase, “first in our lives”, we need to understand what this means. It means every day, in every situation, interaction, and thought we have, whether big or small, we are constantly seeking to put God first. Now that may seem hard to do for human beings that are carnal in nature however, it is not impossible. I’m not saying most of us do not place God as the ultimate authority of our lives. But what I am saying, is that on a constant basis, we all at times will fall short. However, despite our human shortcomings, we still should daily strive to put God and His teachings, first in all areas of our lives. This would mean in our everyday life of work, relationship interactions, church work, social functions, finances, our dietary needs, and the list can go on and on. Basically, in all areas of our lives, we should diligently strive to put God and His teachings first and, abide by His word. In Galatians 5:24 Paul states we need to die to fleshly lusts and desires that are from the world, and contrary to God. We need to seek to have our worldly desires be subject to God’s will and purpose for our lives. As humans, we need to resist our sinful nature, in order to listen and be attentive to God’s voice and direction. If we all allowed God to live through us, guiding our interactions and behaviors, what a different world this would be. I encourage us all to daily seek God’s teachings, to be utmost in our daily thoughts and interactions. I pray we all have the will to be true to God’s word, despite what others and the world may say in contradiction. I pray we all stand firm and not be swayed. Let us strive to have God first in our lives, now and always. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV) Here in the United States as well as all over the world people have endured pain and suffering due to the global pandemic of Covid-19, loss of loved ones for various reasons, various illnesses, contending with ongoing racial/social injustices, and the list can go on and on. Yesterday here in the United States, we celebrated Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time where most can gather with loved ones, whether it be family, friends, church family, etc., and give thanks for what God has provided. For some, it may seem difficult to feel thankful or to give thanks due to their current situation. However, I hope to encourage all of us to look around and see the goodness and mercies of God, despite our circumstances. We all can find various aspects of our lives, where we can show appreciation to God. For those who are suffering and dealing with hardships, I along with many others will lift you up in prayer. I pray for your strength as you seek to move on and move forward, despite various burdens you have had to carry. May you stay close as possible to God during this time and always know, He is there to bear your burdens (see Matthew 11:28). May we all seek to express thanks and gratitude to God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit for our lives. May we celebrate and give thanks also for the lives of our brothers and sisters, who represent God’s creation. I pray we continue to lift in prayer our world, each other, and to daily give thanks, no matter the situation. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 1 Peter 1:14-15 (ESV) Not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 1 Thessalonians 4:5 (ESV) For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; Proverbs 2:6 (ESV) Do you allow your emotions to make your decisions? Do you allow your lust or passions to make your decisions? When seeking to make important decisions in our lives, we should not base our choices on our fickle and fleeting emotions and passions. As we grow and move through life, there will be important decisions we all will have to make. And at times those choices or decisions will impact others around us as well. So, prior to moving forward with our decisions, we must allow time (when possible) for our emotions to have calmed down, and for our feelings/passions to have settled. We need to allow time to pray as well as consult God’s Holy Word. Then, once we are calm and rational, we can seek to confidently move forward with our choices. Now, will there be situations that come up where we do not have the luxury of time to make decisions? Absolutely! However, we still can learn to quiet our emotions and pray, prior to moving forward with making major life choices. Sometimes quieting our emotions is not easy during the storms of life. But, while we are in times of peace, this would be a good time to begin a practice of seeking God, by developing a prayer life, as well as reading His Holy Word. There have been many problems people have created, by making major life-changing decisions, based on their emotions and/or impulses. They impatiently move forward, not allowing a situation to settle down, not praying, nor seeking Godly counsel, prior to proceeding. Instead, they seek to charge full speed ahead based on how it makes them feel in the heat of the moment, never fully weighing the consequences of their actions. I pray that we all seek to learn to gain control of our thoughts, emotions, and our passions. May we not make major decisions, while we are in the heat of our emotions. As we go forward in life from now on, may we only make decisions after we have prayed and sought God’s Holy Word. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:20 (ESV) Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, Proverbs 22:24 (ESV) I heard a speaker once mention how anger really needs to be something we all conquer, and not allow to stay inside of us and grow. Anger can manifest itself in outbursts or as a deep-rooted resentment, due to a situation or what someone did to us. If we don’t get a handle on our anger, we can become consumed and blinded where we cannot hear from God nor receive His blessings. In essence, anger can be a serious hindrance to us in moving forward in a positive direction in all areas of our lives. When we allow dark forces of anger, resentment, and hatred to consume our thoughts and behaviors, we may find ourselves acting out in very dangerous and harmful ways. By allowing such dark and evil forces to take hold of us, we can become a danger to others, as well as to ourselves. Of course, it is human nature to become angry when someone or something has occurred, that was meant to do us harm. All of us have experienced being angry and hurt, because of others and/or due to circumstances. Even though anger takes a hold of us, we cannot allow ourselves to stay there. Have you ever thought of the effort it takes to stay constantly angry and upset? Then, have you ever stopped to realize that while one maintains anger, especially towards another, that person has usually moved on, and is now happy? But in the meantime, the one with the anger is still loaded down with negativity and resentment. Instead of carrying our angry burden, let us seek to climb out of that negative, dark pit, and come into God’s light. One of the ways to do this is to seek to forgive. We need to realize forgiveness is not a feeling but a choice. In making that choice, we are not saying what was done was right. It is not saying everything is now okay. But choosing to forgive is for our healing, and places us on the path of spiritual maturity and growth. We may or may not achieve reconciliation with the individual or the situation however, we will become stronger, and move farther along on our Christian journey. We will no longer be wallowing at the bottom of the pit of life, due to anger. Choosing to let go and forgive, will not be easy, especially if the offense is great. But our Father God never stated life would always be easy. He never said seeking to forgive and to reconcile a situation, would be easy. But, when those hard times come, may we try to seek to forgive and move forward in God’s grace and mercy. We currently live in a world where anger and resentment abound and for various reasons. May we seek to rise above the world’s negativity by clinging to God and His Holy Word. May we constantly keep His principles before us as we navigate life. And remember, as for anger and resentment, get rid of it!! Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians6:12(ESV) How many of us have dealt with people who have been caustic, combative, and who have meant us harm in some form? We all can admit that from time to time, we have had to deal with these types of individuals. And in responding to their vitriol, at times we may also have resorted to their level of response and/or tactics. But I would like to suggest, as the Bible clearly stated in the verse above, we do not fight against other human beings but against dark forces that the other individual is allowing to control them at that moment. I want to make a point here to state all of us are subject to allowing dark forces inside of our thoughts and minds as well. Every human needs to continue to connect and maintain their connection with God, in order to not fall into a dark/evil state as well. We all need to use Godly weapons, to effectively fight against evil. As hard as it is, when you are right in the middle of the situation, we still need to try and look beyond the individuals that seek to do us harm. We need to try and remember, they are internally dealing with their own issues and usually, they are projecting it outward toward another. Of course, it goes without saying, that what they are doing is not right nor should their behavior be excused. The Bible, as well as pastors and/or speakers, encourage us to always pray and have our Godly weapons ready. These warnings are very true and very much needed in this world today. Ephesians 6:11 from the Bible says this: “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil”. It goes on in verses 14-18 describing the “weapons” of God that we need: *Belt of truth -always remind yourself of the truth *Breastplate of righteousness -be Godly in your thoughts/actions *Gospel of peace – be peaceful; seek peace always *Shield of faith -extinguishes the darts of the evil one *Helmet of salvation -remember God’s saving power *Sword -the Spirit of God, which is God’s word *Prayers -petition God for strength at all times These are the weapons that will hold us all while we are going through our battles. Let us seek to have these Godly weapons ready always. There will be times when it seems our “armor” has been pierced. However, believe and trust in God that all of us will be able to withstand the various trials. One of the main reasons I share this blog is to encourage myself and others, on how to maintain your strength mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually when dealing with various individuals, as well as life in general. God inspires me to write in order to encourage and prepare us all when we encounter trials. With God’s help and provision, we will be able to withstand these tests and come out stronger, than ever before. May we fight our battles God’s way and put on the whole armor of God, always. I pray as we go through various trials, especially involving others, we will understand that we are not fighting the person before us but the spiritual evil that is present. Be encouraged and know God will be with you and, the situation will eventually come to an end. May we all stay strong and keep faith in God, always. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV) In the Old Testament of the Bible, Mephibosheth who was the son of Jonathan (King Saul’s son) was crippled in both feet however, he ended up dining with King David for the rest of his life. The point I would like to make is that despite a disability, one can still be useful and used by God if they are willing, to impact His world for the better. Today there are many disabilities and/or perhaps shortcomings some may have to endure in life. And as they deal with those challenges, they may feel no longer useful to anyone, and most importantly, they do not feel useful to God. However, despite the condition or situation, they can still be a blessing to others. If anyone is living with a disability or a significant life challenge, I pray you will be willing to share your testimony about the struggles you face with others. In doing so, this can greatly encourage those who are going through similar challenges as well as those who are not. By sharing the strength and motivation you have gained from God with others, you are helping those individuals to be encouraged to continue moving forward in life, despite any obstacles. We all need to remember that regardless of any disability or shortcomings, we all are God’s sons and daughters. We must realize we are useful not only for His ministry but for His kingdom as well. In the New Testament, (2 Cor. 12:7) Paul asked God three times to remove “this thorn in the flesh” (as stated in some translations) from him however, in response, God never removed it. Instead, He told him to keep going and that His grace would be sufficient. Here in these verses, the “thorn” may or may not have been a physical limitation; it could have been a mental, emotional, or spiritual limitation. So, when we speak on disabilities or shortcomings, we need not always think it is physical and it only pertains to certain individuals. All of us may experience various challenges whether it is a permanent, or short-term situation. However, just because we have our “thorn” does not mean we cannot move out and still use the gifts and talents God has given to us, to impact this world for the better. Does that mean life will be easy and there will be no challenges? Not at all. We all will have good days and bad. We all will feel down and like we cannot go on. I’m sure all of the people listed in the Bible had good and bad days as well. But the secret for them, as well as for us, is that we cannot allow ourselves to stay down. That we seek to get the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength we need, then move forward and seek to be a blessing to others. Now there will be times when we are not fully “healed” or feel we have the strength and/or capacity to move forward. However, just like God told Paul, my strength is sufficient for you, we too can hold fast to this promise from God. And with this assurance, despite our “feelings”, we can still move forward knowing God will handle any and all situations and, will carry us through. As you move forward in faith despite your limitations, you are a living testimony to others. They will see what you have accomplished and what you are continuing to do with love in your heart, and a smile on your face. Living your life in this way will be more effective than the most powerful sermon ever preached. It will show a life well lived with God, despite the challenges and difficulties that you must endure. May none of us allow the disabilities, the circumstances, or the challenges we face in this life, hold us back from being a shining beacon of light. May we always seek to shine for God, His people, and His world. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Ecclesiastes 7: 9 (ESV) We are living in a CPR world. Have you ever heard this term? During my devotion, I heard a Pastor break it down: Covid Ravaged Politically polarized and Racially divided world. After I heard this, I thought, what an accurate term to describe the state of our world today! Covid-19 and its subsequent variants have claimed so many lives since the very first diagnosis. Many have lost loved ones and are learning to cope and live on without them. And still, others, are having to care for loved ones who are alive, however, they are still suffering from the long-term side effects of the virus. When we talk about politics, here in the United States, as well as in other parts of the world, the political climate is very polarized. There are many with diametrically opposing viewpoints, who feel they can force their outlook onto others, and even resort to violence, in order to do so. Despite having opposing views, we all should be able to maintain and acknowledge our differences in a respectable manner. No one should seek to lash out at others, in an attempt to force their way of thinking. Racially divided. This is not new. This division has been in existence since Bible times. Where one or several groups feel they are superior to others. The reasons usually center around race however, there can also be divisions based on religion, cultural and ethnic differences, and the list can go on and on. In our world today, as in previous times in history, there are so many racial divisions. This should not be, and God is truly not pleased with how His children are behaving. So, one may ask, how do we live as God’s children, in this CPR world? In last week’s post, we talked about the meaning of the acronym T.H.I.N.K and applying it to our everyday lives. This is one sure way to keep Godly thoughts and actions ever before us. A good rule to follow when we are in stressful situations is to step back and think before we act and speak. Do not be too quick to respond. And when responding, choose to do so with kindness and empathy. May we always look to be intelligent and caring, when dealing with the world around us. Another way to navigate the world around us is to develop and maintain, a consistent prayer life. Where every day and throughout the day, we seek to talk to God. May we look to lift in prayer our lives, the lives of our family members, friends, church family, co-workers, governments, other countries, and the world as a whole. As we all daily navigate this CPR World, may we choose to be God’s “fragrance” of love and compassion, that is to be shared with all. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6 (ESV) So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (ESV) I read an article that mentioned the acronym T.H.I.N.K. and I wanted to share it here, going over the meaning of each letter. T is for Thoughtful… In our dealings with others, whether inside our family circle or not, are we acting from a place of thoughtfulness in our daily interactions? Do we think first, and consider how our words and/or actions, either big or small, will impact another? Let us develop a mindset of being considerate and thoughtful about our actions, as we go about our daily lives. H is for Honesty… Are we always operating from a mindset of honesty in our daily dealings with others, various projects, work, or school? Looking into the core of who we are, do we go through our lives with honesty being high on our list of character traits? I is for Interesting… A lot of people, places, and things can be considered interesting. This word can be used to describe someone or something nice and exciting or, it could be used to describe just the opposite. So, in looking at this word within the acronym, we always need to look at it in context with the other descriptors: thoughtful, honest, necessary & kind. So, combined with the other descriptions, the word interesting should be thought of in a positive and uplifting light. N is for Necessary… Many times, we all will have situations thrown at us that may not be kind or considerate. And our first reaction may be to retaliate in like manner or even worse. However, when I think of the word necessary in this acronym, I think in terms of, is it worth it? Do I need to go “there” with this person or situation? And even if I did, would it change the outcome? If we think things through and apply this word to our thoughts, we will be able to save ourselves and others, a lot of pain and grief, by not adding to the situation. K is for Kind… That word speaks for itself. When we consider interactions with others and our responses to what we will say or do in various situations, we always must remind ourselves to be kind. And I’m not saying to be kind when someone else is kind. That’s easy, we all can do that. The Bible speaks of it beginning in Matthew 5:47 where it states: “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?” So, when it says to be kind in this acronym, it suggests being kind always, when it’s easy and when it’s hard. Let’s look to have kindness be a part of our core matrix. Therefore, when we encounter situations as well as individuals, who are not being kind, we will still respond with kindness and consideration. As we go through life, may we incorporate this acronym internally. May we work on it being a part of our psyche and a true part of who we are. So, when we get into a situation where we’re being tested, this acronym will be right there in the forefront of our minds. It will remind us to stop, take a moment, and then respond. If we all did this, what a different world this would be. So, going forward in life let us have this thought before we respond: is it thoughtful, is it honest, is it interesting, is it necessary, and is it kind. Let us remember to T.H.I.N.K always before we act and speak. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So, you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:9-10 (NLT) In a popular film called Jerry Maguire, there is a line that has been labeled very romantic and has been used repeatedly by many couples. It is the phrase, “You complete me”. Romantic movies are great, and their famous phrases are wonderful to hear however, in dealing with reality, we must bring context to some of these romantic phrases. You might be surprised to learn a lot of people buy into the notion that another person completes them. Some go so far as believing another mate, child, pet, objects such as a car, property, money, status, etc., will complete them. This notion, however, is so very far from the truth. These thoughts/notions, come from societies in general, that places high values on obtaining a certain external status, that involves other people or things. Societies worldwide have promoted the idea that a person by themselves is not complete and whole unless they have another person. In truth, the only way every human being will feel complete, connected, and at peace, is when they maintain a connection to God. We need to realize that everything on this earth, including ourselves, is temporal. We are living in temporal bodies, and inhabiting a temporal space, during a set time period on this planet. No one knows their life expectancy. So, to feel you will not be complete unless you have another person, a position, status, or objects, can be emotionally and mentally destabilizing. Because at any time people, positions, objects, can be taken away. We have no control of their future, nor of our own. May we always seek to work on our emotional, mental, and spiritual mindset. We should strive to connect with God daily and realize you as an individual are complete. Please understand, I’m not saying everyone should be by themselves and they should not connect with other people. It is good to be with others and the Bible speaks about community and being with other people. Having community and connection is definitely good for all of us. It helps us to thrive in this life when we form connections with other wholesome, healthy individuals. What I am saying is that a person does not need to feel they are incomplete as a person, by themselves. As we continue to grow and work on ourselves, may we feel peace and completeness about who God created us to be. May we aim to learn and cultivate the gifts and talents, that God has placed within each of us. And, as complete individuals, may we seek to share what God has created us to be, with the rest of the world. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28 (ESV) All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. John 1:3 (ESV) I once had a discussion with a friend regarding God and the current state of the world. My friend focused on the negatives in this world especially, the horrible things people are doing to one another. She wanted to make a case of blaming God for all the bad that is happening in the world. I listened and let her finish, then I responded. I said God made this world, and us perfect, before sin came into the picture. Our first parents, Adam and Eve did sin however, everyone else who has lived, and is currently living on this planet, have sinned as well. At times we see commentary discussing the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. So often we like to try and “blame” Adam and Eve however, we are reluctant to point fingers at ourselves, and the wrong choices we have made. I shared with her that God gave all mankind a wonderful gift called, free will. This freedom allows us to choose to do right or the freedom to do what is wrong. The freedom to listen to God, or to listen to our own voice and/or fleshly desires, that the world is constantly inviting us to indulge. I then shared this, God created this planet, as well as every living creature. He set healthy rules in place and boundaries for us all to live by. These rules and boundaries can be found in His Holy Word, the Bible. In setting these rules, God is not trying to be strict or unreasonable. He understands all too well the repercussions that will follow our sinful choices. God has given us His boundaries in love for our ultimate wellbeing and protection. They are there to help us in making the best decisions for ourselves, and for those around us. If every person chose to abide by God’s guidelines, we would not see the current sinful and fallen state of our world. If we all decided to order our lives according to His laws, there would be no sexual sins, no cheating, stealing, lying, jealousies, disregard for the world He created, and the list can go on and on. But because mankind decides to do what they want, the end result is the current state of the world. I also shared this thought with her. It’s strange how people want to call on God as if He’s some genie in a bottle that is to come out, only when needed. So, if all is going well, then we will do what we want, even if it’s against His guidelines. Then when things go wrong, we expect God to fix it immediately, so we can go back to living life the way we want, once again. And if He doesn’t fix things on demand and the way we would like, He’s then labeled mean and uncaring. These characterizations are wrong and very far from the truth. The Creator of the universe is not a genie that we can command when we want. He is not God in a box. However, God is always there for us all. He is there to listen to our prayers and to help us out of various situations we may find ourselves in. May we be willing to follow God’s commands and choose to live our lives making choices, according to His Word. Let us not in our minds, look to put God in a box and to pull Him out only when we need Him. Let us keep God and His Holy Word upfront and the center of our lives. May we desire to seek to make choices and decisions, based on what He would do, in any and every situation. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him. 1John 2:27 (ESV) There are a few definitions regarding the word abide: to continue in a place, to live, to dwell. To abide with God and be in His presence is to seek to spiritually be near Him on a daily basis. We all live here on planet Earth. We are not presently in Heaven next to God, or His Holy Angels. However, as we dwell here on Earth, we can still be near Him and, we can abide with Him. God desperately longs to be close to all of us His children, on a constant basis. He wants us to adopt His ways and be in constant connection with Him through prayer and Bible study. Now, there will be many times you may not feel Him near you or, when you pray, you do not feel He hears nor answers your prayers. Despite your “feelings”, understand and believe, He is near, and He hears you when you call to Him. Will He always give us what we want when we pray? Maybe not. And when He says no or is silent, with our limited human understanding we may feel He is ignoring us. We may feel He is distant and does not care about what we are going through. Realize this however, He cares deeply for His children. What causes us pain also causes Him pain and grief. Just like a good parent, He hurts when we hurt. I personally can attest to God being there for me when I was in my darkest moments. There were times when I did not feel He heard me, nor did I feel Him near. During those times, I felt utterly alone. But after I cried, screamed, and called out to God numerous times, I made a final decision to trust and believe He was there, and that He would bring me through. I chose to believe without physical evidence or really knowing my future outcome. Essentially, I chose to have faith. And, true to His word, He brought me through those very dark, lonely, and challenging times. As I write this, I know there are those who have called out to God for their prayers to be answered but, the answers they have received were not what they had hoped. Trust me when I say I have had that situation as well. Even if we may not understand why God did not answer our prayers, we still need to have complete faith and trust, that He knows what is best. That He knows what must happen overall, as it concerns us, and this world. Remember the enemy of all mankind is Satan and his evil angels. They will do whatever they can to physically, as well as emotionally and mentally, distract you. They will work to make you and I believe that God does not care, and He is not working everything out for good. Seek to abide with God and His precepts. Do not look to the world or others, (who do not fully follow God) but look to draw close to Him and remain as close as possible. There will be ups and downs in life but the closer you are to Him, the more you will seek to abide in His presence. As you abide with God, you will feel His protection and shield all around you, no matter what this life throws your way. You will grow stronger and be able to handle all aspects of your life. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com