Many people see Christians as hypocrites, and that is because we proclaim one thing and do another in secret. If we’re going to actually win anyone over to Christ, it is essential that we are vulnerable with them, showing them how Christ has redeemed us from our own sin and be transparent about how He is currently working in our lives and hearts.

God may not always give us the things we ask for, but He wants us to keep asking. As we grow in our relationship with Him, He begins to put things on our hearts to ask for that are according to His will and we see Him provide those things over and over.

Putting aside the influences that we may have been raised around when it comes to people who are different than us, Jesus unites us together and asks us to love one another. God’s family does not differentiate by race, economics, social standings, or anything else that our culture uses to distinguish people. We are all invited into salvation, and we can equally love Him, be loved by Him, and love each other.

When we experience consequences for the sin that we are partaking in, we need to respond in worship, thanking God for loving us enough to discipline us. The Bible is never supposed to be used as a weapon against us but rather as the Good News that there is forgiveness for those who believe and repent.

The Bible is full of stories of God using people who committed their lives fully to trusting and obeying Him. Once we receive Him into our lives and give ourselves completely to Him, He dwells in us and can do amazing things through us.

Too often we find ourselves reacting in the battles in our lives rather than acting only as God leads. When we worship God in the midst of our battles, our focus is on Him rather than the dangers we face and we can follow Him as He leads to overcome all that is in front of us.

The story of Samson shows us a man who continually made the same mistakes and ended up paying severe consequences. If we are watchful, we can see warning signs when we are approaching sins that we’ve paid consequences for in the past so that we can avoid it this time around.

Even though God is a big God who watches over everything, He also cares about every single detail in our lives. He watches over and protects us, and so therefore we can have peace knowing that we are safe in His hands.

Jesus was known for spending time with sinners and tax collectors, and it was the religious people that looked down on Him for it. Just as Jesus was sent to seek and save those who were lost, we have been given the same mission and need to be in the world spreading the Gospel.

Living in God’s family involves putting our fears aside and letting people see us for who we really are, struggles included, so that we can get help and then help others. Growth in our relationship with God will only happen when we begin peeling back our layers and letting Him and others in.