Tag: christian counseling

AWESOME GOD (14) Having a Sound heart devoid of envy.

When I read Proverbs chapter 14, and verse 30 stood out which says,

“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: But envy the rottenness of the bones”, I was grateful that I am not moved by what belongs to others. 

Because, I understand that what I have, I need. And what I don’t have, I don’t need.

To Envy is to want what belongs to another person. 

Why would I want what someone has? I don’t want their cancer, curses, yokes, etc. Nah! I definitely don’t want any of theirs!

Envy is as corrosive as bitterness, for it destroys the envious from within, before it destroys the object of the envy.

Envy is very destructive, it activates chain-sinning.

 You must refuse to accommodate it any further in your life. 

As Believers, we have the mind of Christ, and the love of God has been poured into our hearts. There is no room for envy to function in us.

How I Overcame Envy & Jealousy:

Godliness with Contentment is great gain(1 Timothy 6:6)

A long time ago,  I learned to appreciate where people are at, but never to ENVY what they have. 

Because, I knew that every good and perfect gift is from God (See James 1:17). And that all I needed to do was to ask God in prayer, as well as work towards provisioning to acquire something better.

I always aspired for excellence and not what anyone has. 

Why would I jeopardize my mental health with ENVY, and open up doors for demonization, when I can ask God for anything in Jesus name?(John 14:13-14)

 That was, and still is my mindset.

If I see something about somebody that I like, I thank God for them, and mention to Him that I will appreciate something superior. 

I know Whose I am and I know who I am

Soul Searchlight / #SpiritualWarfarePrayers :

1).Why were you envious?

2).Repent and renounce the spirit of ENVY, jealousy and their relatives.

3).Determine to never be envious again, but to rejoice when people are doing well, and to ask God to remember you too for good.

4) Thank God for giving us the spirit of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

5).Command ENVY, jealousy, wrath, destruction, violence, murder, and all other evil spirits to leave your world and relocate to the feet of Jesus Christ. 

6). Thank God that you are blessed already because God is your Source and Resources, and He supplies your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

7) Proclaim a new season of enjoying the benefits of salvation and walking in the pathways of righteousness,  divine health,  excellence and productivity,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ  

Thank you for following this Spiritual exercises.  We proceed to Proverbs chapter fifteen.

 Be free to bless others with insights that you are gaining as you study and pray.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior,  December 14th, 2024

AWESOME GOD (13) Choose Your Companions Wisely.

Although you did not have the privilege of choosing your birth family, you have the right to choose your friends and companions.

If your friends, affiliates or associates are evil, or involved in illegal activities, such could put you under much unjust scrutiny and unfair  assumptions.

For you would be unjustly considered guilty by association.

Hence the Bible states that   ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’ (1 Corinthians 15:33)

You may be thinking that if we only befriend the good people, who will take the Gospel to the unjust.

Jesus Christ our example:

Jesus is a friend of sinners (Read Matthew 9:10-17, Mark 2:15-22, Luke 5:29-39).

The base of that relationship is love, and the purpose is to bring a change in lifestyle and destiny (Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Although Jesus Christ  interacted with His friends he never partook of their evil deeds. 

It is important to clearly define the purpose for your relationships, so that you will deter the corrupting influences of such a relationship.

Soul Searchlight:

How did you handle peer pressure this year?:

a). Were you victimized?

b) Read 1 John 4:4 & 5:4 to build up your spiritual self-esteem.

This is the time to redefine relationships. 

1) Understand whose child  you are and who you are (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:10)

2). You  are on a mission and not an aimless wanderer here on earth (Mark 16:15)

3). Although you were saved by grace, you shall be rewarded according to your works. A child that sleeps during the harvest is a child that causes shame( Proverbs 

4). The Kings business requires haste. Learn precision and accuracy by acknowledging God in everything you do, and He will direct your ways. 

Cut yourself some slack and be smart- smart people pray and don’t gamble.

5). Beware  if you are not winning your friends over to Christ, a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20)

A fool is Biblically defined as a person who denies the existence of God (Psalm 14:1-3)

Let Us Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for protecting us from the wrong kinds of friends that would have ruined our reputations.

Help us Father to be intentional in befriending people who you would save and deliver from destruction. 

As this season is ending, O God, we commit all our friends to you and ask that you grant them supernatural favors and unlimited goodness. 

We also ask that your goodness that leads to repentance show up for our friends who are not yet born again. 

Thank you for loading us with benefits as this season closes,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. 

Tomorrow will be Proverbs 14.

Thank you for your feedback and comments. You can email spiritualwarrior24@gmail.com  if you need counsel.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D.,#TheSpiritualWarrior 

December 13th, 2024

AWESOME GOD (12) Brought out of Trouble!

My heart is full of praises to God who sees and knows how the wicked functions.

As I read through Proverbs chapter Twelve, gratitude welled up in me: for the times that God took me out of troubles that I had no idea that they were pitfalls!

The human foes so camouflaged their wicked intentions to the extent that I fell for it.

But God took me out of it and made the situation favorable for me. To the perplexity of the antagonist.

We are in a world where wickedness seems to be thriving. But that is just a temporary situation. As 

Proverbs 12:7, 13, states 

“The wicked are overthrown, and are not: But the house of the righteous shall stand.

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: But the just shall come out of trouble.” Proverbs 12:7,13

Make a point of reading the full chapter and be encouraged that wickedness has a terminal point.

You may be at a very dark place in your life right now. Meditate on this Bible verse, and keep declaring that you are justified by your faith in Christ Jesus, and that you will come out of this trouble triumphant,  and with ever increasing glory.

We are already into the 12th day of the Spiritual Exercises. 

It has been such an edifying time as we conduct this Spiritual reappraisal of our relationship with God, based on a daily faith-walk with Christ Jesus. 

Soul Searchlight:

How did you process the challenges of the workplace, and those other “troublers” in your life –

a). Did you allow their negativity and narcissistic behaviors to traumatize you?

b) Did you start relating with them and have now become like them- bitter, angry, vindictive, manipulative, controlling, gossipy and blaming others?

Do you know that when you internalize hurts, you activate the self-destruct mode?

That is one good reason to not allow cantankerous people in your life to project their evil demeaning behaviors to you.

You must learn to tell the person about how insidious they are. 

And above all else,  you must learn to vent to God in prayers.  

Never internalize your hurts. Always pour out your feelings to God first, and others, if you are led to.

When you are  praying about the situation, keep on being the righteousness of God that you are,  then, you will surely come out of those troubling circumstances.

 But, if the wicked continue against you, according to scripture, ‘whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and if they roll a stone against you,  it will roll back on them’ (Read Proverbs 26:27)

As we move on to the next level of life, be decisive about becoming more Christlike in worship, character and service.

Read your Bible and know God for yourself. 

Let Us Pray.

Father, we are thankful for your lovingkindness and tender mercies.

Thank you for loving me so passionately that nothing can separate me from your love. 

Thank you for the lessons of the past 11 days, and for the grace to fast off food for some hours, and entertainment for 40 days.

I come against the spirits influencing anger, hate, and abusive words against God’s people in the workplace.

I command cantankerousness, vindictiveness, frustrations, perfectionism,  and other demonically influenced behaviors to stop at once.

Let peace, harmony, understanding, and respect become the reality of all the employers and employees.

We affirm that the wickedness of the wicked has come to an end.

Thank you Father for the healing of all hurting hearts and for the release of the grace of forgiveness.

I pray that Believers will utilize the workplace as a chariot for lifeStyle evangelism, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ 

Tomorrow we move on to Proverbs chapter Thirteen.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior , December 12th 2024

AWESOME GOD (11) The Breastplate of Righteousness.

Greetings. Trust your day went well. 

Today was such a great day for me because there were over three verses that were pulling at my heartstrings.

However, I will only discuss one verse here today, from Proverbs 11:6 Which says,

“The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: But transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness” (Proverbs 11:6).

Deliverance in the  Past, Present and Future:

Righteousness is who we are when we are born again for Christ has “delivered us from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13).

However, Christ still continues to deliver us as we apply God’s Word  to problems and receive solutions.  

And He will finally deliver us from death, the last enemy (I Corinthians 15:26)

I am thankful that Deliverance is ongoing (See 2 Corinthians 1:10). And in order to sustain my deliverance,  God has given me His armor,  among which is the “Breastplate of Righteousness” (Ephesians 6:10-18), which is both a defensive and offensive weapon. 

The “breastplate of righteousness” is a spiritual body armor that protects the vital organs in the chest cavity. Such as the heart, and lungs, as well as the ribcage, breastbone, and diaphragm.

The importance of the heart cannot be over emphasized, hence we are told to guard the heart because everything we do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23)

When you guard your heart,  you will forgive easily,  cast down evil thoughts, not be bitter against any one,etc. 

In James 4:1, it is explained that fights and quarrels begin from the heart. 

In addition, in guarding your heart, you will eat right and not take substances that will cause harm to your heart or lungs.

Remember that likes attracts. 

So, if you allow evil to fester within you, it will attract or magnetize similar evils to you.

Same as when you flood your body with evil substances, you become prone to illnesses. 

But when you refuse to be bitter, angry, resentful, or evil hearted, and allow love to be your guiding principle in all relationships,  you would have successfully put on the “Breastplate of righteousness”.

And as scripture says,  you will  be delivered  from all transgressors, no matter who or what they are.

Read further to Proverbs 11:8 where it is written that the Righteous shall be delivered from trouble“

Soul Searchlight:

Do I always have on the breastplate of righteousness?

With the breastplate of righteousness the boomerang effect is activated over me- good are attracted to me whereas, evils are repulsed. Hallelujah?

What about you?

Let Us Pray:

Thank you Father for the breastplate of righteousness that is activated in me. 

I repent of all anger, bitterness,  resentment and all related evils.

I receive forgiveness of sins and cleansing from all unrighteousness. 

I affirm that I have on the breastplate of righteousness and refuse to accommodate any unrighteousness in my life.

Thank you Father for delivering me from all troubles, and displaying your AWESOMENESS in my life, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior, December 11th 2024.

AWESOME GOD (10) Overcome the yoke and circle of poverty.

Greetings everyone.  Today’s Bible reading from Proverbs 10, is so insightful. 

However, verse 15 which says that  “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty “ (Proverbs 10:15), spoke volumes to my Soul. 

Which brings to mind Ecclesiastes 7:12 which says that “…money is a defence”.

These two Verses of Scripture confront the reality of the world that we live in, that it is important to have financial security.

It is however unrealistic for Christians to think that poverty is a synonym of, or a yardstick for (measuring) righteousness. 

Poverty, like sin, sickness, and shame, all are the results of the Fall: Man disobeyed God, and became slaveOf sin and servant of satan, until Jesus Christ came and changed tge status quo. (Read Genesis 3, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Just as Christ carried our sins, and bore our sickness and sorrows, He also took our poverty so that in Him we shall become rich (Read Isaiah 53:4-6,11, Matthew 8:17, Hebrews 9:28, 2 Corinthians 8:9). 

However, in order to enforce the victories of the Cross requires that you fight the good fight of faith. Because satan and his evil forces are in this world to steal, kill and destroy  humans (John 10:10)

That is the reason poverty is destructive, and it is not easy to break the yoke or the circle of poverty.

Poverty is demonic, and destructive,  contrary to popular religious opinion 

Once poverty enters a family line,  it sticks like superglue and  It is a very unrelenting foe that  goes round the generational lines. 

#SpiritualWarfareTeachings:

Fight the Good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12)

You have to fight both the circle and yoke of poverty  with both spiritual weapons and lifestyle changes. 

1). Repent of all the ways that you have accepted poverty as God’s allowance for you. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9 again!

2). Command all the evil spirits influencing poverty, hardships,  mediocrity,  wretchedness, with their relatives to leave you and your bloodlines, and go at once to the feet of Jesus Christ. 

3) You must start Giving: Read Genesis 8:22

It is not enough to just cast away evil spirits. You must work on the application of God’s Biblical Principles for prosperity.

God so loved the world that He gave (John 3:16)

It is most unfortunate that most poor Christians  do not see the importance in giving. 

Giving  is similar to sowing seeds.

In order to have a harvest, it is necessary to sow/plant.

Again, The Bible says it is more blessed to Give than to receive.(Acts 20:35) 

Because, The more you give, the more you will get (Read Luke 6:38) 

If you don’t give, how can you have a turnover?

Unfortunately,  poor people use the excuse of poverty to not give, and thus keep on circulating poverty from generation to generation. 

You must decide to give away your poverty. 

4).Command that poverty mentality to disintegrate and affirm that you are the child of the Creator and Owner of the world.

Please answer this question honestly:

When Jesus Christ said “the poor you have with you always,(Matthew 26:11) 

Did HE mention your name, or did he say you are “the poor?”; was HE referring to you? 

YES OR NO- write your answer as a comment.

5). Pray and renounce poverty and like David, pray “ O God, send now prosperity” (Psalm 118:25)

Every child of God is born again with the same opportunities.  

God is our Father, we are saved by grace through faith,  and given the same Holy Spirit.( Ephesians 2:8-10)

Things begin to change for the better or for the worse when you either grow in your relationship with God, or you grow away from Him.

The more your focus is on God, the more you prosper.

The more you pursue prosperity at the expense of your relationship with God, the harder your life  experiences will be.

Until you understand that God is able to make all grace abound towards you….(2 Corinthians 9:8), the yoke and circle of poverty won’t go away!

My earnest desire is to never be poor again in all aspects of life.

So, I am intentionally confronting areas of my life that I let go, this past year, so that poverty will not creep into my life like a thief!

I pray that you will renew your mind and refocus on God, so that you will have life in all its fulness, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior, December 10th 2024.

AWESOME GOD (9) Clamorousness vs Godliness

Greetings everyone. Today I had to run some errands out of town, which is why this article is coming so late.

Once again, I apologize. 

However, from Proverbs chapter 9, verse 13 caught my attention that;

“A foolish woman is clamorous: She is simple, and knoweth nothing.” Proverbs 9:13 KJV.

My Thoughts (How my mind processed this):

Not all women are foolish, but a woman who is clamorous is foolish. 

The Bible defines a foolish person as one who says and acts like God does not exist  (Psalm14:1-3)

A woman who believes that God exists will not be clamorous, but would exhibit

 a meek and quiet spirit, and take matters to God in prayers.

Peacefulness and meekness are great in the sight of God (See 1 Peter 3:4).

Clamoring involves making  blatantly insensitive noise, or  discordant protesting, such as we experienced recently when some women were clamoring for the right to murder their children.

The shocking aspect of the clamorousness is that even women who professed to be Christians were noisily insistent in their demands.

Soul Searchlight:

*As Christians, what should we do when we face hard situations –

 a) should we go through it trusting God to help us through it. Or

b) Seek an easy way out by clamoring for governmental legalization of what God’s Word clearly defines as wrong?

Which reminds me of Apostle Peter and John’s response in a similar situation. They said:

“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Read Acts 4:18-20)

As these thoughts went through my mind, I repented of the many ways that I compromised my faith in God, in order to have an easy life. 

*Do a soul search today of your life whether you have walked in faith with God. 

If Christians are being persecuted today, will you stand up and be counted or will you take the easy way out?

To live a Godly life in Christ Jesus comes with persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).

We must take hold of the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God,  in order to overcome challenges in our world. 

The more we look to other sources for outlets, the more we become more like the world, Instead of being salt and light in this world. 

If salt loses its saltiness it ends up as thrash (Read Matthew 5:13-16)

#Prayer:

I pray earnestly that we will not forget God, our first love in the heat of trouble. Instead, we will stand out and stand strong in faith despite persecutions.

And God who rewards diligence, will show up strong for us with His awesomeness, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

Tomorrow we continue with meditations from Proverbs chapter 10.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior,  December 9th 2024

AWESOME GOD (8) Be Excellent in Speech & Personality.

I apologize for sharing this so late.  I had a great day and can only now publish my meditations for today.

For those who are doing this end of year self evaluation with me, remember that God’s Word admonishes us to examine, and to test ourselves to see whether we are still in the faith (Read 2 Corinthians 13:5)

Soul Searchlight:

“Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.”Proverbs 8:6 KJV 

As I read Proverbs chapter 8, verse quoted above, it ministered to my soul so much.

And it got me thinking whether  my speeches and behavior reflected who I am in Christ Jesus.

As Christians, God has great expectations of us. Hence we are to think on things that are excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). 

Because thoughts inform actions and expose personality. 

How many times I failed to let my speech be gracious and seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6).

As we go into the new year, I should remember to not take things personally, so that I will respond in love and not react because I feel hurt.

I should under no circumstances, conform to this world (Romans 12:2). Rather, my focus should be in functioning as the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.

Simply, I should endeavor not to let my emotions control my personality, but rather renew my mind with the Word of God, and do as the Royal Priesthood,  the light and salt in this world.

Have you been able to examine yourself  with the Words of the Bible as you engage in this end-of-year spiritual self examination?

It is never too late to start from today.

*Commit to pray more regularly, e.g. 9am, 12 noon, and 3pm.

*Fast off-food for a few hours, and  fast off entertainment for the duration- 40days. So that, you can give time to Bible reading, meditation on the Word read, and prayers at regular intervals.

*It helps to have a prayer list to guide you as to set goals.

*Prayer can be vocalized or internalized. So that you can pray in your mind while at work. 

Prayer is holding a conversation with God who is Spirit. It doesn’t have to be loud, noisy, or vocalized.

  God hears even the faintest cries from the heart.

Let us Pray:

Thank you Father for revealing to me areas that I need to work on in my interpersonal relationships. 

Thank you that your grace is at work in me both to will and do your good pleasure. 

I repent of all the ways I have been obnoxious and receive forgiveness of sins and cleansing from all unrighteousness. 

Thank you Father that my mind is renewed, and I commit to walk the pathways of exemplary conduct and excellent speech,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior .December 8th 2024.

AWESOME GOD (7) Mortification  of the Flesh.

Time flies when you are busy. We are already on day seven in our year ending Spiritual Exercises. 

As I meditated on the Words of Proverbs chapter 7,  verses 

2-3 came alive for me:

”Keep my commandments, and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, Write them upon the table of thine heart.”

These verses made me recollect how I processed my deliverance from anger and some other deep rooted character flaws, by the mortification of the flesh.

The Bible says in Romans 8:13 KJV that,  “…if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” 

I knew I had a deep-seated problem which had to go bye bye. I wanted to live but I was a ticking time-bomb.

Whenever the anger in me was triggered, bile would rise from my bowels,  and I could lash out verbally or physically at whoever triggered it.

Neither me or people around me were safe. I wore my emotions on my sleeves!

It was so scary! 

What was more scary was the thought that I could harm someone during those fits and end up in jail.

I knew it was demonically influenced, and that only Christian Spiritual Therapy could heal me without adverse side effects.

But back in the day ( 1970’s), even though  I knew I had to do something about it, there were no ministry outlets for healings or deliverance. The focus was on evangelism, speaking in tongues, and prosperity.

Conventional treatment was available only in the psychiatric ward.

Anyways, then I happened unto God’s Word that says;

”Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.” Deuteronomy 11:18 KJV

Thank God that the Evangelicals and Pentecostals did a good job in my training. 

I so much desired to become Christlike in worship,  character and service because I was already familiar with the characteristics of the Holy Spirit which every Christian should develop!

With the insights I got from Deuteronomy 11:18, I copied the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23, and placed it strategically around our home.  

It was all around me and in my face wherever I looked! 

The Words were always straight before my eyes 👀.

Therefore, as soon as I feel anger welling up in me, I would start countering it by personalizing the Fruit of the Spirit, and declaring out loud,

 “I have self-control,  I am full of joy, kindness, gentleness, and goodness. Peace from God garrisons my soul, and I am patient. I refuse to be angry and it is well with my soul.

The struggle was real.

Eventually,  not only did I overcome anger, I became everything I declared. My character changed completely!

That is what Spiritual Warfare involves- eviction of demons, mortification of the deeds of the flesh, and enforcing the victory of the Cross in our world. 

Simply put, spiritual warfare involves doing God’s will in this world- and that is not easy by any standards,  because of the opposing forces. 

Instead of looking for “deliverance ministers”, why don’t you search the scriptures and “fight the good fight of faith” by mortifying the deeds of the flesh.

No demon can stand against the power and presence of God that you carry.

However,  even If you are born again of God and do not wrestle against the forces of evil, evil will mess with you and everything around you.

As we end this year and proceed into a new year, be determined to manifest the awesome greatness of God in your world. 

Know whose child you are, and the authority you command.

 Proceed to Proverbs  chapter 8.

Question: Soul Searchlight 

1). What verses spoke to your heart?

2). How do you plan to implement it, going forward?

You can share your insights as comments or send me an email:

spiritualwarrior24@gmail.com 

#SpiritualWarfarePrayers:

I pray that you will grow in grace and in knowledge of God.

I stand with you against all those character flaws that are standing against your marriage and other relationships. 

I command all the evil spirits to back-off, and proclaim that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you, to strengthen you, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ ♥️ 

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior,  December 7th 2024

AWESOME GOD (6) Enhanced Core Values.

Thank you for your wonderful feedback.  They have been so edifying. 

We are not into ‘ new year resolutions’ instead, we review our core values to ensure they are not in contrast to God’s Word.

Our Bible Reading is from Proverbs 6. My meditation today was on verses 16-19, which points out the six things God hates and that should not be in our core values. 

Do a soul-search and repent if you are involved in any of these things that God hates.

Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV

“16] These six things doth the LORD hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, [18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, [19] A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)

 Be sure to read the complete chapter and see how doors are opened for calamities.

Let us Pray.

#SpiritualWarfarePrayers:

1). Thank you Father for Your Word that brings deliverance, healings, salvation, restorations,  and blessings.

2). I hereby acknowledge that I have not been an excellent representative of your Grace.

3). I thank you for the grace to do these regular self examinations, to help me discover where I have become vulnerable to evil behaviors and fallen away from grace.

4). From today, I stand in faith against all character flaws and commit to work on them until Christ is formed in me.

5).Therefore,  I separate haughtiness from me and embrace humility, and declare that from henceforth I will never underestimate others, nor put them down. 

6) I refuse to lie and declare that I will always speak the truth. I also refuse to be sarcastic, or use exaggerations.

7) I affirm that I will build up people, and not tear them down, and will never act treacherously or maliciously by destroying people behind their backs.

8). I declare that I will never be the cause for anyone’s suicide,  depression, job loss. or faith-loss.

9). I am a life giving source. Nothing dies in me. Therefore,  everyone who is connected and related to me will connect to the Source of Eternal life, and will have life in all its fullness.

10) Thank You Father for making  my life count in the here and now. I affirm that I am a blessing to my world, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. 

Tomorrow is on to Proverbs 7.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior,  December 6th 2024

AWESOME GOD (5) Dishonor & Moral choices:

We continue with our year-ending Spiritual Exercises with the reading of Proverbs chapter Five and meditation on the verses that caught our attention. 

After reading the whole  chapter, I doubled back to verses 8 to 9 Where it says,

“Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house:  Lest thou give thine honour unto others, And thy years unto the cruel” (Proverbs 5:8-9).

Soul Searchlight:

What moral choices would make me vulnerable to dishonor?

When honor is lost, shame, discredit, ignominy, contempt, infamy and related evils are manifest.

I definitely don’t want any of those negatives in my life and bloodlines!

Digging Deep to avoid pitfalls:

This particular chapter draws  contrast between the enduring  joy of marital fidelity and the fleeting pleasure, and lasting pains of infidelity.

The world we are in, under the influences of the forces of evils,  have tried to redefine morality, in order to accommodate laxity, sexual promiscuity, and other forms of debasing conduct. 

If as a Christian, I judge your morality by the world and not by the Word of God, then, I should brace up for the oncoming dishonor and related shame, ignominy, etc.

Gem:

However, in order to avoid dishonor, I need to know and understand Godly values, and be ready to make right choices, even if it goes against the popular opinions. 

Judah: The Man who compromised on Godly values and gave out his honor.

Read Genesis 38 so that you can follow me as I retell the story.

Judah was the fourth son of Israel (Jacob). He was the one who came up with the plan to sell Joseph.

Possibly, he was either remorseful or his guilty conscience was eating him up, in the face of his dad’s griefs.  

So he left his covenant family, and went to his friend Hirah, a Canaanite, who lived in a morally corrupt society.

Judah married a Canaanite woman, against God’s Word to them. They had three (3) sons, and appeared to be prosperous. The eldest son had a wife, Tamar.

Then disaster befalls! God killed the first son Er, because he was evil (what’s strange about that- the culture was evil). God took out the second son , Onan,  for his selfishness.

In order to preserve his 3rd son’s life, Judah sent away Tamar, to remain in widowhood in her father’s until the last son Shelah, will  be ready for marriage.

In the days gone,  levirate marriage was the trend. And Shelah was to continue his brother’s bloodline with Tamar.

However,  Judah had no intention of risking the life of his son over Tamar.

Eventually, his wife died,  he traveled, and his daughter in-law, who knew about his non-existent moral values, faked a prostitute and entrapped him sexually.

For the fleeting pleasure, he gave her tokens that signified his authority and honor.

She got pregnant by that encounter.

When Judah heard, he stood on a high moral ground and approved the death sentence on her.

But the scheming woman presented evidence of his immorality and culpability in the debacle.

Can you even imagine how shaming it was for Judah’s sexual escapade with his daughter in law to be exposed publicly?

But wait a sec!

Judah repented. Although he took responsibility,  he never had sexual intercourse with her ever again. Read verse 26-30 and other chapters of Genesis, to know about his restoration to God’s perfect will.

The essence of doing these seasonal spiritual exercises is so that we can examine ourselves, repent, renew our minds, and continue to live as light and salt in this world, without demonization.

My takeaway from today’s Bible Reading is to always follow and uphold God’s moral values and never have to suffer shame or dishonor.

Let Us Pray. 

Father God, thank you for this soul searching lesson.

I repent of all the ways I compromised on your moral laws and supported the declining morality in our world.

Help me Father,  to stand out and stand strong as I live as your righteousness in this world. 

Help our world ,  especially the USA as we work towards standing against and overcoming obnoxious laws that  depraves or dehumanizes.

Help us Father, to stay faithful in marriage, not exploit our sexuality, and to act responsibly, and not kill our young,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. 

Coming up next is chapter 6

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly,Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior,  December 5th, 2024.